Roller-skate.

Application filed November 4, 1907.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Serial No. 400,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Thomas M. Ferguson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hattiesburg, in the county of Perry and 5 State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RollerSkate's; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in 10 the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to. the letters and figures of reference marked.thereon, which form a part of this specification. ,

My invention relates to safety attachments for roller skates particularly designed to be used by beginners who are not familiar with the art of roller skating, and my invention has for its object to provide certain safety devices,which will prevent a novice from falling and will therefore enable him to more quickly and readily learn the art of roller skating. -. ·

With this object in view my invention con25 sists in the novel arrangement and construction of a brake or drag at the forward and after ends of each skate...

My invention also consists in the arrangeinent of a strap or brace extending from the 30 toe of the skate to or. near the knee of the skater as will be hereinafter fully descrioed.

Referring _;to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the employment of my safety device.. . Fig; 2 is an . 35 elevation of a roller skate constructed in accordance with iny .invention, having one pair of wheels removed, and Fig. 3 is ah end elevation of a roller, skate showing safety attachment. ' . . ·_

Like numerals of reference indicate the same, parts throughout the several figures in which: . . .

indicates the roller skates which may be of any desired style or construction, either 45 four wheel skates or two wheel skates. 2 indicates the usual rollers and 3 the running gear therefor. ' . ' ' . :/

A metallic strap 4 carrying a yoke 5 which accommodates a piece of rubber or like .ma50 terial: 6 is arranged as shown in the drawing, and 7 is a bolt passing through said rubber or other material 6 for the purpose of securely holding the same in position within the yoke 5. The strap 4 extending from the 55 toe portion downwardly and rearwardly ..to the front running gear lies obliquely or on· a slant as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the metallic strap 4 being secured by any suitable means, it being of course obvious that the specific means of attachment must vary 60 according to the particular design and construction of the skate.'

At the rear or after end of the. skate a similar strap 8 is employed which extends downwardly and has its forward end suitably se- 65 cured to the running gear of the rear or after Tollers:—a yoke 5 and piece of rubber or other material 6 identical with that on the forward strap is employed on the after strap 8, a bolt 7 securing the rubber or other mate- 70 rial rigidly within the yoke 5. As shown in Fig. 2 the yokes 5 and rubber or other material 6 is adjustable on the metallic straps 4 and 8 in order to fit the same to tlie wishes and particular requirements of the skater, it 75 frequently happening that some, beginners have a greater tendency to fall backward than forward; while in other instances the reverse is the case. By means of the adjustment of the brake or drag 6 the- same can be 80 set to more quickly catch the skater very pear the skate on the forward or after wheels which Ts the position the' skater assumes when the skater is falling.

As shown in Fig. 1 a strap or brace 9 is pro- 85 vided which passes from the, forward or toe portion of the skate to a garter strap 10 secured around the leg, of the skater at or near the knee. This strap .9 can be tightened or loosened in such manner that when the 90 skater is,falling backward the strap 9 will more quickly raise the forward wheels from the floor, thus insuring a quick and sudden engagement of the rear or after brake 5 with the floor thus stopping the forward motion of 95 the skate and preventing a fall.

' . 'When the beginner has sufficient self con-: fidence the strap 9 pan be removed and the brakes 6 thereafter, relied upon to prevent falling. The construction of the safety 100 brake apparatus, however, makes this arrangement particularly desirable to be used by persons versed in the art of skating, for the reason that it at all times enables the skater to make a quick stop without scarring '105 or marring the floor- or surface upon which he is skating.. · ·