US102971A - Improvement in roller-skates - Google Patents

Description

f UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

HIRAM ROBBIN S, CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WM.

' R. MORRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEM ENT IN ROI- LER-SKATES.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 102,9?1, datedMay 10, 1870.

- To all whom it may conce/rn:

t Be it known that I, HIRAMV RoBBINs, of Cincinnati, 'Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new'and useful Improvement in Roller-Skates; and I hereby declarethe following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exact description to enable one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains toy make and'use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates lo the class of rollerskates in which the rollers are automatically radjusted to run in either straight or curved lines by the natural motion ofthe body in the act of skating; and it consists, in connection with swinging roller-trames connected by levers together, ot' a spring foot-pad and oscillating arc connected to and operating the levers, the 'spring-pad serving not onlyito communicate-the pressure from the foot to the levers, but to return the levers to the central position after the pressure has been withdrawn from either side. Y

In the accompanying drawings illustratingV my invention, Figure 1 isa perspective view, andFig.2 a plan, of the under side-of the skate. Fig. 3 isa cross-section of the skate, showing the spring and are device for operating the levers. I

A is the stock of the skate, to which the roller-frames are attached. The stock is so constructed that the foot of the skater can rock or tilt on it when thebody is leaned in turning curves. In other words, the stock is made V-shaped or crowning on the upper side.`

"I he rollers B are journaled in the fra-mes O C', and the frames are pivoted to the stock A at a a/V in such a manner as vto permit horizontal oscillation. The frames O O are connected together by levers c c', which cross each other at the ends, and are secured in the manner shown, for simultaneous vibration. The adjustment of the levers `c c serves to direct the wheels in straight or curved tracks7 agreeing with the bodilymotion of the skater, and this 4adjustment is accomplished automatically by means of the following peculiar device.

The stock A is perforated at each side for the reception of the arc D, which rests upon the pin E, the latter being firmly secured to the lever c in the manner shown. A iiat steel spring, F, is riveted or otherwise secured to thevcenter of the stock A, and rests upon the arc D at the ends, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring AF receives the pressure of the foot, and a preponderance of pressure upon either side, such as is produced by the leaning of the body in skating a curve, serves to force (by means of the are) the levers c c to the opposite side to auextent agreeing with the bodily inclination and consequent amount of unequal pressure. When thepressure is relieved from either side by the removal of the foot from the floor or straightening up the body the spring F serves to return the levers to the central position. t

I am aware that springs have been used in skates heretofore for returning adjustable rollers to the central position, but the spring in these serves no part in the automatic adjustment of the rollers from side to side.

Iam also aware that the stocks of rollerskates have been so constructed as to permit of the rolling or tilting ofthe foot independent ofthe stock, and that roller-frames connected by levers for simultaneous action in swiveling have been used heretofore; but

What I claim herein as new and of my invention is- The spring-pressure pad F and oscillatingi

Images