American inventor James Leonard Plimpton obtained several patents in the course of his life. He obtained his first two on January 6, 1863 and June 26, 1866. Plimpton’s roller skates were safer and easier to use than the previous versions. His “rocker skates” – or quad skates – allowed people to steer by simply leaning to the left or right. Plimpton also opened some of the earliest roller skating rinks in America, which were located in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. He also established the first roller skating club, which included rules of roller skating rink conduct, roller skating lessons, and proficiency tests for skaters.