STRUCTION OF SKATES TRAVELLING BY MEANS OF WHEELS OR ROLLING BODIES OF GLOBULAR FORM
Year: 1876

page_text: ZE
LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Collingridge, of Gracechurch Street, in the City
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
of London, Gentleman, for the Invention of
STRUCTION OF SKATES TRAVELLING BY MEANS OF WHEELS OR ROLLING
BODIES OF GLOBULAR FORM."
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 24th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Collingridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1870.
"'
AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES TRAVELLING BY
MEANS OF WHEELS OR ROLLING BODIES OF GLOBULAR FORM."
Heretofore in the construction and arrangement of roller skates the use of springs
of metal or india-rubber have usually been adopted for aiding the skater so to
regulate the action of the axles or spindles of the rollers or wheels as to allow of the
execution of certain curvilinear movements commonly known and described as the
"outer edge" and the "inner edge," and as springs by reason of their inherent
nature are more or less deficient in such equality and certainty of action as is
Now my
necessary to ensure mathematical accuracy of motion by tension alone.
Invention has for its object imparting mathematical accuracy to the above
With this view I construct my
mentioned curvilinear movements of the skater.
roller skates with two parallel foot plates connected with each other at the ex-
tremities of the toe and the heel of such plates by a swivel joint so adjusted as to
admit of the oscillation of the planes at a right angle to their longitudinal axis.
To the lower foot plate are attached the rollers (whatever their number or their
form may be) by means of traversing axles or spindles working on pivots similar
in action to the pivots of the axles of the fore wheels in ordinary land carriages.
Or, in certain cases, if preferred, the lower foot plate may be constructed with per-
manently fixed axles or spindles; the plate being made in two pieces connected
together by means of a horizontal hinge or joint allowing, upon lateral force being
exerted, the convergence of the axles or spindles towards a common centre, out-
wards or inwards as is the case in what is known in railway locomotives as the
bocie system.
"

page_text: In the case of the foot plate fitted with traversing axles or spindles the con-
vergence of these latter at the desired angle is produced with mathematical exactitude
by means of the pressure of uniform keys set in guides and working vertically, or
nearly so, in contact with the axles or spindles on each arm extending from the
pivot at equal distances from the centre. The depression of the inner key is
accompanied by the corresponding elevation of the outer key, and vice versa.
Such depression and elevation being obtained by the lateral inclination of the plane
of the upper foot plate at right angles with its axis. The edge of the cuniform key
in contact with the arm of the axle may be formed strait or with a segmental curve,
and the arm of the axle may be encased in a metal cylinder so contrived as to
answer the purpose of a roller in order to diminish friction and to ensure an easy
movement.
In the case of a "bogie" jointed lower foot plate with permanently fixed axles
or spindles the cuniform keys are so set as to work in contact with the inner and the
outer edges of the planes of the lower foot plate, and are elevated and depressed by
the lateral inclination inwards or outwards of the upper foot plate.
The perpendicular position of the body of the skater (when not voluntarily sway-
ing himself in order to describe a curve) is rendered secure by means of semi-lunar
(or nearly semi-lunar) brackets fixed at right angles to the axis of the foot in
between the parallel foot plates.
The action of these brackets may be further supplemented by the addition in
between the foot plates of two or more small pneumatic cylinders furnished with
tight pistons or plungers, and so adjusted that the swaying of the body of the skater
may bring his weight to bear upon the piston and thereby cause compression of the
atmospheric air in one cylinder and proportionate exhaustion of the air in the
corresponding cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Augustus Collingridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
September 1870.
AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Gentle-
man, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES TRAVELLING BY MEANS
OF WHEELS OR ROLLING BODIES OF GLOBULAR FORM."
"
Heretofore in the construction of roller skates the use of springs of metal or of
india-rubber has usually been adapted for the purpose of aiding the skater so as to
regulate the action of the foot piece conjointly with that of the axles or spindles
of the rollers or wheels as to allow of the execution of certain curvilinear movements
commonly known and described as the "outer edge”and the inner edge" and
'figures"; and as springs by reason of their inherent nature are more or less deficient
in such certainty of action as is necessary to ensure mathematical accuracy of motion.
Now iny Invention has for its object the substitution of such mecanism (in lieu
of springs) as is adapted to ensure mathematical accuracy in the execution by the
skater of the above mentioned curvilinear movements. With this view by one
method I construct my roller skate with two parallel foot pieces, connected with
each other at the extremities of the toe and heel by a swivel joint, so adjusted so
as to admit of the lateral oscillation of their planes within certain given limits
sufficient for the purpose.
The lower foot piece which is planed narrower than the upper one may be sup-
plemented, or, if preferred, replaced by a tube, through which the swivel pin can
traverse in the line of the longitudinal axis of the skate.
Either to the lower foot piece or to the longitudinal tube when employed alone
are attached a pair of axles or spindles carrying the travelling rollers whatever
may be their form or number. Each such axle or spindle is constructed to traverse

page_text: 2ndly. The substitution of a longitudinal tube for a lower foot piece, and the
introduction of pneumatic cylinders as described for the purposes set forth.
3rdly. The construction of roller skates where the convergence of the axles or
spindles is effected by the instrumentality of a bogie joint, as hercin-before set
forth.
And lastly, I do not confine myself to any preciso combination of the mechanical
parts or any of them above described, but I claim any other suitable arrangement
of such mechanical parts or any of them, substantially tending to produce the
same effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Collingridge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundered and seventy-six.
A. COLLINGRIDGE. (L.S.)