US329556A

US329556A - Roller-skate

Info

Publication number: US329556A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1902-11-03

Description

(No Model.)

C. F. HIRT.

ROLLER SKATE.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885. faQ/a1.

Der Mmo/c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HIRT, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,556, dated November 3, 1885.

Application filed February l2 1885. Serial No. 155,682.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLEs F. HIRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to roller-skates; and it consists in improvements in the means for allowing lateral iiexure of the foot-plate.

In most roller-skates in common use lateral ilexure is effected by pivoting the trucks to hangers on the under side of the foot-plates, and elasticity of flexure is secured by interposing a spring of rubber. In a few cases 'metallic springs are used.

Fora skate to operate perfectly it should bend in joint easily, so as to require no extra exertion on the part of the skater, and at the same time it should react when the foot is lifted from the floor and bring the wheels into proper line with the foot for the next step or stroke.

The object of myinvention is to so construct the joint as to insure a perfect reaction into line with a light and easily-deflected spring,

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure lis a side elevation of the skate with one of the truck-joints "in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same 3 5 joint at right angles to the section shown in -sockets on the trucks; C', the journal-sleeve of the axles; D, the axles; E, the wheels; b, the pivot of the point; b, the inclined bearing-faces of the hanger-stud. F is a follower in the joint-socket; f, the inclined bearingfaces ofthe follower, f@ the spring-seat on the (No model.)

under side of the follower. Gis the spring, and H the adjustable or tempering spring-seat.

Such other letters as are used will appear in proper relation herein.

In all the skates of this type of which I am acquainted the spring is depressed on one side as the joint is flexed. I know of no skate having a verticallyguided bearing-piece interposed between the spring and the pivot of the joint-such, for instance, as the follower F, in the construction here shown. This follower is so guided in the socket C that it cannot be tipped, and hence it must bear upon the spring directly or evenly at all points. It is not essential that the part B and the top of the follower F be beveled, as shown, for if they are perfectly flat when they bear upon each other the effect Will be the same, substantally; but I prefer the beveled or V shape shown, as it gives the necessary flexure with less depression of spring and the same reactive elasticity.

I have shown a metallic spring, as I prefer its use, as it will retain its elasticity better than rubber, and can be used in my construction equally as well as rubber. The tension of the spring is regulated by the follower I-I in the bottom of the socket C, which may be adjusted by screwing up into the socket by the screw-thread h,or the lever H2 and adjustingscrew H (seen in Figs. 6 and 7) maybe used.

The operation of the joint is clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be easily seen by observing this figure that it Will require very little force to deflect the foot-piece to one side, and that the instant the pressure which deiiects it is removed the joint will react instantly, even though the spring be a very weak one, it requiring little more than enough force than is needed to overcome the friction of thefollower F on the wall of the socket C. The spring G supports none of the weight ofthe skater. It is only depressed by the movement of the point of the V on the stud B up the incline face f of the follower F. This action is the same as regards the force to be exerted, whether the skater throws his foot over to one side more or less, which gives great freedom and ease to the movements of the skater, much more so than where the action of the joint in bending is to pinch a rubber block down on one side or depress a metallic spring sidewise.

I OC

While the spring G may be made light and weak, as above stated, I find many'preferit to be strong, and so I make it medium, so it can be adjusted to suit any one by adjusting the lower follower, H.

Vhat I claim as new isl. In a roller-skate, the combination, substantially as shown, of the following elements: the stud B, the socket C, the pivot b, the spring G, contained within said socket, and the fol- .'lower F, interposed between the spring and the stud B and held against lateral tipping on` the spring by the Walls of the socket C.

2. [n a roller-skate, the combination, substantially as shown, of the following element-s:

the stud B with V-forrned.A end, the socket 0 the pivot b, the spring G, contained within the j socket, and the follower F,having a Vfformed notch to receive the V-formed end of :the stud,

interposed betweenvthe spring and the stud and guided against lateral movement vvby the-walls,-

of the socket C.

3. In a roller-skate, the combination, lsubstantiall y as shown, ofthe following elements: the stud B and socket C, pivotedtogether, a

the stud B on the foot-piece, having a V-formed end, the socket C on the truck-frame, the pivot b, the follower F, having a V-formed notch on its upper side to receive the end of the stud, a springseat on its lower side, and

guided by the walls of the socket againstlateral action, the springV G, andthe adjustable spring-seater follower H.

In testimonywhereof I affix `my signaturein 4 5 ypresence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. HIRT. Witnesses: p

J No. K. HALLOCK, RoBzcH. PORTER.