Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
JOHAN ALBERT SEGERBERG, of 2084 Jay Street Denver Colorado, U.S.A.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in roller skates, and its object is to
provide a skate of a light and inexpensive construction, which will accommodate
itself to the movements of the feet and by the use of which the skater will be:
enabled to turn without undue strain either upon the ankle or upon the skate
itself.
The invention also contemplates the provision of a reversible tire, together with
other details of construction, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated a skate embodying my
improvements, in which drawings
Fig. I is a side elevation of the skate,
Fig. II is a front view of the same.
Fig. II is a transverse, vertical section taken axially through the skate in the
plane indicated by the line in Fig. 1, and
Fig. IV is
similar section taken through the padded ankle brace.
Fig. V is a section of the tire, showing the reversible character of the same.
Figs. III, IV and V are drawn to a scale larger than that of Figs. I and II.
In the views 1, 1 represent two wheels constructed similarly to the wheels of a
velocipede, and having each a metal rim 2 provided with a V shaped groove in its
outer face, wherein fits one angle of a rubber tire 3, which is, in section, of a
triangular form, having one curved exterior face and two plane faces, as clearly
seen in Fig. V. By constructing the tires in this manner, it is evident that after
they have become worn at one angle they may be removed from the rims 2 and
reversed, the tire on one wheel being substituted for that on the other.
The wheels 1, 1 are mounted on the opposite ends of a tubular axle 4, and the
ends of the axle are set in different planes, being inclined downward at their outer
extremities, so that the plane inner faces of the tires 3 contact with ouc another, as
clearly seen in Fig. V, thereby rendering the two wheels at their point of contact
with the ground substantially one wheel, as will be readily understood by inspection
of Figs. II and V.
The axle 4 is formed in two sections, by preference, and in order to secure these
sections together in an adjustable manner, each section is provided at its inner end
with a depending, tubular shaped portion 5. The lower horizontal arms 5', 5'
of these shaped portions 5 extend toward one another, and are provided with
opposite interior screw-threads to receive the oppositely screw-threaded ends of a
tie-rod or bar 6 as clearly seen in Fig. III. By turning the tie-bar 6 it is evident
the wheels 1 may be set nearer together or farther apart, as desired. Thus it will be
seen that a wedge-shaped space is provided between the two wheels 1 and in this
space, which extends below the axle of the wheels, is arranged the foot-support or
shoe 7. The shoe has a metal bottom plate 8 resting on the lower arms 5 of the
axle, and at its sides slotted metal straps 81, 81 are provided, the ends of which are
adjustably secured to the portions 5 of the axle.
In order to still further strengthen the skate, so as to prevent undue strain on

page_text: the outer ends of the axle, whereby the wheels-might be spread' apart; and to
support the heel and toe portions of the shoe 7, I provide a brace comprising a
series of tie-rods which I will now describe. At: their outer ends, just inside the
wheel hubs, the sections of the axle 4 are each provided with a transvere interiorly
screw-threaded bore, wherein screws the upper end of a tie-rod 9, which extends
down substantially parallel with the depending portion 5 of the axle, and screws at
its lower end into an oppositely threaded sleeve 10 guided in a bearing piece 11
projecting from the angle of the parts 5 and 5' of the axle, and screwing at its
lower end into a screw-coupling 12, arranged below the horizontal portion 5¹ as
clearly seen in Fig. III. The screw-couplings 12, 12 are connected to one another
by a,tierbar, 13, having oppositely screw-threaded ends, and by turning said tie-bar
the screw-couplings 12, 12, may be drawn nearer together or thrown farther apart so
as to give greater strength to the axle at its outer ends. In order to support the
heel and toe portions of the foot-support or shoe, 7, braces 14, are provided, each
screwing at one end into one of the screw-couplings 12 and at its other end into a
sucket formed on the, under side of the bottom-plate 8 of the shoe 7. There are or
will be, by preference, four of these braces 14, a heel and a toe-brace at each side of
the shoe.
In order to secure the skate in place on the foot, shoe 7. is provided with a suitable
securing device 71 passing over the instep; and to further secure the skate, as well!
as.to.brace the ankle of the skater, and to prevent contact with the upper portions
of the wheels in, turning, I provide ankle braces comprising pads 15, having slightly
tapered or conical sockets 16, to receive, the upper ends of tubular supporting
rods 17. The pads may be locked fast by means of locking nuts. 18 screwing on
the rods 17 over the upper ends of the tubular socket 16. When said nuts 18 are
loosened, pads 15 may be turned around so as to receive the ankle; and when said
pads have been turned back so as to bear on opposite sides of the ankle, the nuts 18
may be tightened to lock the pads in place. The rods 17 are each provided at the
lower end with a perforated lug 19, through which passes. a screw. 20, serving to
secure the rod to the inner end of one of the sections of the axle 4. The rods 17
swing.on the screws 20 as pivots, thereby accommodating themselves to the move-
ments of the feet. In the opposite side of each rod 17. are formed two openings
through which pass the threaded ends of a bent wire or rod 21, the euds of which
pass through slots 22. formed in an arm or tongue 23 projecting substantially at
right angles from a sleeve 24 loosely fitting the end of the axle 4 just inside the
wheel hub. Thumb nuts 25 screw on the ends of wire 21 so that when said nuts
are turned, rod. 17 is clamped firmly to tongue 23. Thus it is evident that when
said screws 25, are loosened, rods 17 may be adjusted so as to stand at greater or
less angles to one another, and while held in the. desired position, may be clamped
fast by tightening screws 25:
In order to equalize the strain upon the wheels 1 and axle 4 in turning, and to,
prevent the whole weight from being thrown upon one wheel and one end of the
axle, whereby the skate might be damaged or broken, I preferably provide
the rim 2 of one of the wheels with a thin annular metal strip or rib 26, projecting
at right angles from the inner plane face of the rim 2, as seen in Figs. 11 and V,
and hitting, at the point of contact between the two wheels into a corresponding
annular groove 27, formed in the rim of the other wheel, as clearly seen in
Fig. V.
My invention is susceptible of considerable modification without material
departure from its principles and therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the
precise construction, and arrangement herein shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A roller skate consisting of two wheels set at angles to one another, their rims
touching each other at their point of contact with the ground.

page_text: 2. A roller skate consisting of two wheels set at angles to one another, their rims.
touching each other.at. their point of contact, with the ground, in combination with
jeans for adjusting, the distance between said, wheels..
3. A roller skate consisting of two wheels set at angles to one another, their rims.
touching each other at their point of contact with the ground, and of an inter-
mediate foot-support arranged below the axle.
4. In a roller skate, the combination with the axle having its opposite ends
inclined downward, and having a depressed. central portion, of the wheels mounted
on the inclined ends of the axle outside of the depressed portion thereof, means for
adjusting said wheels toward and from one another, and a foot support mounted on
the depressed central portion of the axle.
5. A roller skate consisting of two wheels set at angles to one another, their rims
touching each other at their point of contact with the ground, and provided with
two rubber tires so constructed as to be interchangeable.
6. A roller skate consisting of two wheels set at angles to one another, their rims.
touching each other at their point of contact with the ground, and provided with
two rubber tires so constructed as to be interchangeable, means for adjusting the
distance between the wheels, and an intermediate foot-support arranged below
the axle.
7. In a roller skate, the combination of the wheels the axle formed in two
sections each provided at its inner end with a depending portion provided with a
screw-threaded bore, the tie-bar having oppositely screw-threaded ends fitting the
respective screw-threaded bores, and the foot-support mounted on the depending
portions of the axle.
8. In a roller skate, the combination of the axle having a depressed central
portion, the wheels mounted on the axle outside the depressed central portion
thereof, the foot-support mounted on the depressed portion of the axle, a tie-rod
extending down from each end of the axle outside the depressed portion thereof,
screw-couplings mounted on the lower ends of said tie-rods below the depressed
central portion of the axle, and a tie-bar connecting the respective screw-
couplings.
9. In a roller skate, the combination of the axle having a depressed central
portion, the wheels mounted on the ends of the axle outside the depressed portion
thereof, the foot-support mounted on the depressed portion of the axle, tie-rods
secured to the ends of the axle outside the depressed portion thereof, screw-
couplings mounted on the lower ends of said tie-rods below the depressed portion of
the axle, brace rods extending from said screw-couplings to the toe and heel-
portions of the foot-support, and a tie-bar connecting the respective screw-
couplings.
10. The combination of two wheels arranged to rotate in planes at angles to one
another and tires mounted on said wheels and each provided with two plane
surfaces arranged at angles to one another, the corresponding surfaces on the
respective tires being arranged at corresponding angles, whereby when the tires
are in position on the wheels, two of said surfaces will be in contact.
11. The combination with the axle having downwardly inclined ends, of the
wheels mounted on the inclined ends of the axle, the adjacent faces of the wheel
rims being in contact, one of said rims having an annular concentric groove and the
other rim having an annular concentric rib engaging said groove.
12. A roller skate comprising the foot-support 7 intermediate the wheels 1, and
provided with the adjustable ankle braces 17, carrying the adjustable ankle
pads 15, and pivotally supported by the ends 4 of the axle.
13. In a roller skate, the combination of the axle, the wheels mounted thereon,
sleeves collared on said axle between the wheels and provided with slotted tongues,
the supporting rods having on their inner sides perforated lugs secured to the axle,
and clamp screws for clamping said supporting rods to the elotted tongues on the
sleeves.
14. The combination with the wheels arranged to rotate in planes at angles to

page_text: one another and having grooved rims provided with contacting surfaces one having
a concentric groove and the other having a concentric rib engaging said groove, of
the tires mounted on the grooved rims and having in cross section a triangular form
with plane inner contacting surfaces.
Dated this 8th day of April 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.