AN IMPROVED SELF-SECURING SKATE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Skevington Ellin, of the Firm of Tho*.
Ellin & Co., Sheffield, in the County of York, and Halifax, Nova
Scotia, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SELF-SECURING SKATE."-
-
A communication from abroad by John Forbes, of Halifax, Nova
Scotia.
Scaled the 10th July 1868, and dated the 11th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Skevington
Ellin at the Oco of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 11th January 1868.
I, THOMAS SKEVINGTON ELLIN, of the Firm of Tho. Ellin & Co.,
of Sheffield, in the County of York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-SECURING
SKATE," to be as follows:-
The skate is made entirely of metal, and is rendered self-securing by
means of adjusting sole and heel clips. The runner is formed with
three risers or posts, one at the fore end, one at the heel, and one under
the ball of the foot between the two latter. Inverted L-shaped slots
are cut out in these posts to receive grooved headed screw buttons; the

page_text: grooves in the heads of these buttons are made slightly wider than
the thickness of the runner to enable them to be inserted in the
slots before-mentioned. These buttons are the media for securing the
runner to the bearing plates to which they are fixed and which are
formed as follows:--The toc plate which rests upon the fore and centre
risers or posts is made somewhat similar in shape to that of a horseshoe
with a transverse plate at the back, this plate has a top and bottom
flange along cach edge. The top flanges form a groove in which the
adjusting sole clips slide in and out, the lower flanges fit over the
middle post, their lower edges resting upon notches or steps cut therein.
The transverse plate of the horseshoe is bored in the centre to receive
the shank of the button headed fixing screw, and has two short slots cut
in it on each side of the centre hole. The adjusting clips are cach fitted
with a pin which works in these slots; the lower portions of these pins
are screwed and fitted with a clamping nut underneath and are formed
with a circular flat head which projects above the upper surface of the
clip. A lever sole plate (upon which the ball of the foot rests) is centred
upon the middle post and carries the slotted button headed screw
therein. The lever of this plate is formed in the shape of the letter T,
the long limb of which extends nearly to the heel post where it has two
dipping side flanges which fit on to the runner. This lever has a certain
amount of spring given to it in order to press it downwards and keep it
in position, and when raised until the dipping flanges are clear of the
runner, this lever can be turned laterally on its centre; two eccentric
slots are cut in the head of this lever plate, the slots receive and are
traversed by the pin heads before described in the sole clips. The jaws
of these clips are serrated to increase their holding power upon the sole
of the boot or shoc. By moving the lever laterally the eccentric slots
act upon the pin heads fixed to the sole clips and cause the latter to
slide outwards so that the foot and boot or shoe can be placed between
them, when the lever being again brought back into its normal position
it causes the jaws to clip the sole firmly and secure the fore part of the
skate thereto, the position of the pins by which the clips are worked
in and out can be adjusted to increase or diminish the width or space
between the jaws so as to make the skate capable of being fixed to boots
of different sizes, the heel plate which is formed with transverse dipping
flanges notched into the heel post of the runners is fitted with a button
headed screw for fixing it thereto, upon which it can also turn laterally,
the heel plate is coupled to the sole plate by a middle or waste plate;

page_text: this waste plate is fitted to the sole plate lever in which a slot is cut to
receive an adjusting centre pin and clamping screw, a slot is also cut in
the heel plate where it is joined thereto in a similar manner to allow it
to be adjusted and fixed forward or backward as required, the heel plate
has only a lateral motion on the post, but the waist plate has a
longitudinal sliding motion as well as a lateral motion, the back of the
heel plate has a curved rising flange, the top edge of which is turned
down or has its hollow surface serrated to give it holding power upon
the licel of the boot, the waist plate is also formed with a rising flange,
the edge of which is turned backwards and presses against the face of
the liccl, by turning the buttons of the securing screws in the runner
posts the whole of the plates can be removed therefrom.
For fixing the skate to the boot or shoe (the sole clips and waist plate
having been first adjusted) all that is necessary is to raise the lever clear
of the runner and give it a slight lateral motion. This will open the sole
and heel clips so that the boot can be placed within them when by
returning the lever to its normal position the skate will be firmly fixed
as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas Skevington Ellin in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 11th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SKEVINGTON ELLIN, of the Firm of Thomas Ellin and Co., of Sheffield, in
the County of York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Skevington Ellin, Her special licence,
that I, the said Thomas Skevington Ellin, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others, as I, the said Thomas Skevington Ellin, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-
SECURING SKATE," a communication to me from abroad by John Forbes, of
Halifax, Nova Scotia, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Skevington Ellin, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Skevington Ellin, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
The skate is made entirely of metal, and is rendered self-securing by
means of adjusting sole and heel clips. The runner is formed with three
risers or posts, one at the fore end, one at the heel, and one under the
ball of the foot between them. Inverted T-shaped slots are cut out to
receive grooved headed screw buttons; the grooves in the heads of these
buttons are made slightly wider than the thickness of the runner to
enable them to be inserted in the slots before mentioned; these buttons
are the media for securing the runner to the toe, sole, and heel-bearing
plates, to which they are fixed, and which are formed as follows:-
The toe plate, which rests upon the fore and centre risers or posts, is
made somewhat similar in shape to that of a horseshoe, with a transverse
plate at the back; this plate has a top and bottom flange along each
edge; the top flanges form a groove, in which the adjusting sole clips
slide in and out; the lower flanges fit over the middle post, their lower
edges resting upon notches or steps cut therein. The transverse plate of
the horseshoe is bored in the centre to receive the shank of the button
headed fixing screw, and has two short slots cut in it on each side of the
centre hole. The adjusting clips are each fitted with a pin, which works
in these slots; the lower portions of these pins are screwed and fitted
with a clamping nut underneath, and are formed with a circular flat
head, which projects above the upper surface of the clip. A lever sole
plate (upon which the ball of the foot rests) is centred upon the middle
post, and carries the slotted button headed screw therein; the lever of
this plate is formed in the shape of the letter T, the long limb of which

page_text: extends nearly to the heel post, where it has two dipping side flanges,
which fit on to the runner; this lever has a certain amount of spring
given to it in order to press it downwards and keep it in position, and
when raised until the dipping flanges are clear of the runner this lever
can be turned laterally on its centre. Two eccentric slots are cut in the
head of this lever plate; these slots receive and are traversed by the pin
heads before described in the sole clips; the jaws of these clips are
serrated to increase their holding power upon the sole of the boot or shoe.
By moving the lever laterally the eccentric slots act upon the pin heads
fixed to the sole clips, and cause the latter to slide outwards, so that the
foot and boot or shoe can be placed between them, when the lever, being
again brought back into its normal position, causes the jaws to clip the
sole firmly and secure the fore part of the skate thereto. The position of
the pins by which the clips are worked in and out can be adjusted to
increase or diminish the width or space between the jaws so as to make
the skate capable of being fixed to boots of different sizes. The heel
plate, which is formed with transverse dipping flanges and notched
into the heel post of the runner, is also fitted with a button headed
screw for fixing it thereto, upon which it can also turn laterally. The
heel plate is coupled to the sole plate by a middle or waist plate; this
waist plate is fitted to the sole plate lever, in which a slot is cut to
receive an adjusting centre pin and clamping screw; a slot is also cut
in the heel plate where it is joined thereto in a similar manner, to allow
it to be adjusted and fixed forward or backward as required. The heel
plate has only a lateral motion in the post, but the waist plate has a
longitudinal sliding motion as well as a lateral motion. The back of
the heel plate has a curved rising flange, the top edge of which is turned
down or has its hollow surface serrated to give it holding power upon
the heel of the boot. The waist plate is also formed with a rising
flange, the edge of which is turned backwards and presses against the
face of the heel. By turning the buttons of of the self-securing screws
in the runner posts the whole of the plates can be removed therefrom.
For fixing the skate to the boot or shoe the sole clips and waist plate
having been first adjusted all that is necessary is to raise the lever clear
of the runner, and give it a slight lateral motion; this will open the sole
and heel clips so that the boot can be placed within them, when, by
returning the lever to its normal position, the skate will be firmly fixed
as required.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side clevation, Fig 2 a plan, showing the toc plate, sole
plates, and clips, and heel plate, as fixed upon the runner; and Fig. 3 a
transverse section at the line A, B, Fig. 1. The following reference
applies to cach Fig. where the index letter is marked :-
a is the runner, which may be made in any suitable form; b, the toc
post; ', the sole post; and 62, the heel post; these posts may form a
part of or be fitted to the runner. c, the toe plate, the centre part of
which is cut out, as here shewn; d, the heel plate; e, the sole plate,
with its lever e¹, sole clips e², e², and waist plate es, the latter being
jointed at each end to the sole and heel plates respectively. 9, 9', g', are
drop flanges, which form part of the toe plate, 9, 92, being similar
flanges of the heel plate; these flanges may be slotted to receive the top
of the posts, as shown at g; or the posts may be notched, as shown at g'
and g', to receive the flanges. These drop flanges are fitted loosely to or
upon the posts, and retain the bearing plates c, d, and e in position upon
the runner, but allow them to be removed therefrom when desired.
h, h, are flanges formed by turning up the edges of that portion of the
plate c which joins the two side limbs and extends across the space
under the sole plate e; these flanges form a channel or groove into
which the sole clips e³, e, are fitted, and in which they slide in and out,
as herein-after explained. Slots are cut (as shown by dotted lines at
Fig. 2) in the horizontal parts of the clips, and also in the transverse part
of the toc plate just described. i, i, are flat-headed bolts, the lower ends
of which are screwed and fitted with slide plates or washers and
clamping nuts. The slide plates are made a little thicker than the toe
plate, and are fitted into and traverse the slots therein; these slots arc
made a little wider than those in the sole clips in order to allow the slide
plates to work therein; the slots in the clips only require to be wide
enough for the bolts i, i; these bolts can be adjusted and fixed along the
slot of the clips, as the varying width of the sole of the boot or shoe may
require. jj, curved, straight, or segmental slots, cut out of the sole
plate e to receive the heads of the bolts i; k, a pin, upon which the
sole plate is centred, and upon which it is capable of being turned by

page_text: the lever e when raised; this lever is made to spring down upon and
clip the runner, and thus hold the plate and clips in their respective
normal positions. The slots j, j, are eccentric (or tangential and
divergent) as regards the circle 1, 1, 1, 1, marked on the plate e, so
that by turning the latter the heads of the bolts i, i, will slide laterally,
move the sole clips, and increase or diminish the space between them.
l, a moveable screw bolt or pin connecting the waist plate with the
lever of the sole plate. m, another bolt or pin connecting the waist
plate with the heel plate by a toggle joint; this bolt is made with a flat
cross head, so that it can be passed through a slot m¹ in the plate d, and
the head being then turned across the slot under the heel plate joins the
two plates together. o, a slot in the plate e. The screw bolt which
works in this slot is fitted with a sliding plate and clamping nut formed
as before described in reference to the sole clips; by this means the
waist plate can be adjusted and fixed as required. p, p, are buttons for
connecting and securing the bearing plates and runner together; the
heads of these buttons have grooves cut on their opposite sides; the
width of these grooves is a little greater than the thickness of the runner
plate. The tops of the runner posts have spaces cut out to receive the
heads of the buttons, and by turning the latter till their slots are in line
with the runner plate they can be dropt into the spaces in the runner
posts; upon then giving the buttons a quarter turn the runner will be
secured as required. To remove the plates bodily from the runner turn
the button heads 6 and 6' till their slots are in line with the runner, when
the latter will drop or may be knocked off. To separate the plates from
cach other take out the bolt and turn the cross hed of the coupling
pin m into lino with its groove; the plate d can then be detached
from e, and the latter from e. Take out the pin k, and then the plates e
and c, and also the clips et may be all readily separated from each other;
when the whole of the parts may be cleaned or repaired as required.
I claim as new and desire to secure by the above in part recited
Letters Patent,-
First. The eccentric slotted lever plate e, slotted sole clips e², sliding
in a slotted channel or groove formed by plate c and toggle-acting heel
grip formed by combining the toggle waist plate e³ with the radiating
heel plate d.
Second. I also claim the manner of forming the drops or standards
g, g¹, on plate c, and g³ on plate d, upon and being part of their

page_text: respective plates (said plates constituting the foot rest of the skate) by
punching and bending down from said plates as shewn and described.
Third. I also claim the method of securing the runner to these plates
or foot rests by means of slot-headed buttons fand f fitting in T-shaped
holes in runner, as shewn and described.
I am aware of the method in use formerly of securing the runner to
wood skates by means of a screw, the heads of which were shaped as
heads of said buttons f and f, but without the slot or notch in them,
as shewn and described, and consequently not being adapted to adjust
in the same manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Skevington Ellin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.