A New or Improved Appliance for Sharpening the Blades of Skates.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1893—Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance for Sharpening the Blades
of Skates.
I, JOHN ROBERTSON of 2 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, in the County of
Wigtownshire, Scotland, Wine and Spirit Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved appliance for sharpening or hollow
grinding or both, the wearing surface of the blades or runners of skates, as used
for skating upon natural or artificial ice, the object of which is, that being con-
structed of such dimensions as to be carried in the coat pocket of the skater if a
gentleman, or in a satchel, hand bag or muff if a lady, the skates as they become
worn or convex during use may be easily and quickly resharpened or rendered
concave by the wearer, and if desired, without removing the skate from its fixed
position upon the foot."
I carry my invention into effect by casting, hammering, swaging, pressing or
otherwise constructing of any suitable metal or material, or combination of metal
and wood or other material, and of such a size as to be capable of being carried in
the pocket, an appliance formed at its upper surface, either in the shape of, or
adapted to receive and hold, a suitable handle, or holder, the lower or under surface
of said appliance being provided with a longitudinal groove or slit, of any desired
depth, for the reception of the blade or runner of the skate, and I may find it
convenient to arrange, that the one or the other, or both, of the sides of said
appliance may be adjustable, in order that the width of said groove may be
enlarged or diminished to suit blades or runners of different widths, bolts, pins,
buttons or any other suitable contrivance being employed, if necessary, to retain
the said sides in their adjusted position.
The bottom of said groove, or that part nearest to the aforesaid handle, or place
for the reception thereof, I prefer shall be of greater width than the remainder, in
order that a space or clearance may exist between the outer sides or edges of the
blade or runner, and the sides of the said groove, and within this enlarged space,
I place an emery block of the same length, or thereabouts, as that of the appliance,
which may be fixed to, or upon, a metallic or other plate or its equivalent, attached
to the appliance by screws, pins, cleats or any other suitable means, or the said
plate may take the form of a block, made of wood, vulcanite, bone or other suitable
substance, upon which the aforesaid emery block may be adhesively or otherwise
fixed, or I may arrange to fit within the said groove, and be retained therein by
any suitable means, a block of wood or other material, carrying upon one of its
faces a rasp or file, and upon its opposite face a block of emery, or a strip of emery
cloth, or I may arrange to fit within the said groove, and retained therein by like
or other means, a metallic block, one face of which may be cut or formed as a
rasp, while the opposite face may be cut as a file, or a wooden or other block may
be used having a rasp fixed upon one side and a file upon the other, in which case
I may provide in each side of the appliance a longitudinal slit or aperture com-
municating with the said groove, through which may be passed a strip or strips of
emery cloth, the back or cloth side of which would be next the aforesaid file, and
if necessary, fastened thereto by an elastic band or other suitable means, or I may
place within the said groove a wooden or other block and pass the said strip or
strips of emery over the face thereof and attach it or them thereto by an elastic
band as in the previous case, or gum or glue it or them thereto if desired.
In either of these methods, the face of the sharpening or grinding medium
employed is presented to the wearing surface of the skate blade or runner, when

page_text: the appliance is placed thereon, and by drawing the apparatus to and fro a few
times, and exercising a slight pressure thereon, the wearing surface of the skate
becomes quickly sharpened or ground, without removing the skate from its fixed
position upon the boot.
In cases where the skate is much worn and the face of the blade has become
abnormally convex, and the rasp has to be employed, it may be advisable that the
grinding operation be performed before the skate is fixed upon the boot, and under
these circumstances, greater pressure would be needed, while the skate was held in
some fixed position, and I provide for this by forming a transverse opening or
aperture in the solid part of the appliance, and fix therein a suitable bar or handle,
so that both hands may be employed to give the extra power needed, and when the
grinding is perfected the rasp and file and the cross handle may be removed, and
the emery substance placed in position, when the appliance may be placed in the
pocket and accompany the skater, for periodical re-sharpening during use.
I prefer in all cases that the surface of the sharpening medium shall be slightly
rotund or convex in cross section, in order that a reverse or concave surface may
be made thereby upon the blade. or runner, but I do not confine myself to this
arrangement, but may use such other form as may be desirable.
Dated this 16th day of December 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance for Sharpening the Blades
of Skates.
I, JOHN ROBERTSON, of 2, Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, in the County of
Wigtownshire, Scotland, Wine and Spirit Merchant do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved appliance for hollow grinding and
sharpening the wearing surface of the blades or runners of skates, as employed for
skating upon natural or artifical ice, the object of my said invention being, that by
reason of the small dimensions of the appliance the same may be carried in the
coat or other pocket of the skater (if a gentleman) or in a satchel, handbag, or
muff (if a lady,) and that the skate blades or runners as they become worn or
convex during use may be easily and quickly sharpened or rendered concave by the
wearer, and if desired, without removing the skate from its fixed position upon the
boot or shoe.
In order that my invention and the manner in which it is employed may be
clearly understood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the said appliance according to one method of
construction employed by me.
Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical central sections of Fig. 1, shewing the manner of
fixing therein different forms of grinding or sharpening surfaces.
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but constructed in a different manner, while
Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3, but relating to Fig. +.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are slightly enlarged perspective views of different
forms of blocks which may be fitted into Figs. 1 or 2, for sharpening or grinding
the skate blades.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a coiled strip of emery cloth, to be hereinafter
referred to.
Fig. 12 is a view of the form of handle or lever I prefer to use, in connection
with Figs. 1 and 2 for certain purposes, while Fig. 13 illustrates the manner of
fixing the same thereto, and the position of the apparatus when upon the
skate blade.

page_text: Similar letters of reference are used when referring to the same
In carrying my invention into effect I cast, press or otherwise construct of any
suitable metal or metalloid, and of such a size as to be easily carried in the pocket
of the skater, the body portion A, which may have formed integrally there with, a
hollow handle or holder B, as at Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 13, or the upper portion of A
may be formed with a dovetailed extension a, in order that the apparatus may be
provided with a wood, bone, vulcanite or other handle C, in which a groove would
be formed for the reception of a as at Fig. 1, or the extension a may be formed
screw or its
upon C, and a groove formed in A for the reception of same, a
equivalent being used for retaining C in position.
The lower or under surface of A is provided with a longitudinal groove D, of
such dimensions as to be capable of freely and easily receiving the blade or runner
of an ordinary skate as at Fig. 13, but I may find it convenient to arrange, that
one or the other of the cheeks of A, at either side of said groove D, may be
detachable, and be fastened to the body of A by screws or other means, in order
that the width of D may be enlarged or diminished to suit blades of different
widths.
The bottom of said groove D or that part nearest to the handle B, or C,
I prefer shall be wider at this part than at the mouth, as at Figs. 5 and 6, in order
that a space or clearance may exist between the outer sides or edges of the blade
or runner, and the inner surface of the sides or jaws forming the said groove, so
that the dust and small particles of metal worn away during the said sharpening,
or grinding, may find an easy exit through the slots or openings c in each side of
the appliance. Within the said enlarged space in DI place an emery block E,
of the same length or thereabouts as D, which may be fixed to or upon a metallic
or other plate F, and this be attached by screws, pins or the like to the body A.
Such a block is shewn in perspective at Fig. 7, and in position at Fig. 2, the face
of E being rounded or rendered convex in order that a concave surface may be
formed upon the edge of the skate blade thereby, such sharpering being effected
by placing the appliance upon the skate blade G as at Fig. 13, and moving the
same by the handle, to and fro upon the blade from end to end, and exercising a
slight pressure thereon.
As alternative methods of construction I may employ in lieu of the plate F, a
block of wood, vulcanite, bone or other suitable substance H, upon which a block
of einery E may be adhesively or otherwise fixed; such a block is shewn in
perspective at Fig. 8, and in position at Fig. 3. Or I may employ a block of
material H of such dimension as to nearly fill the space in D as occupied by
Figs. 7 and 8, and fix upon the face thereof a strip of emery cloth J, previously
curled as at Fig. 11 so as to more readily conform to the shape of the face of said
block; such a block and emery is shewn at Fig. 10. Or I may use a block H
only, in the position stated, and to accommodate the use of this horizontal slots d, d',
are formed in the sides of A communicating with D, and through these may be
passed one of the emery strips J, so that the back or cloth portion would be next
to H. The position of J in this method will be understood by reference to Fig. 3
in which J is shewn by a dotted line.
I may arrange to fit within the said groove, and be retained therein by any
suitable means, a reversible block of wood, or other material H, carrying upon one
of its faces a rasp or file K, and upon its opposite face a block E, or strip of emery
cloth J; or one face of said block may carry a rasp, and the opposite face a file,
or the block may be of solid metal having a rasp and file cut thereon in a like
manner. Such a reversible block is shewn at Fig. 9 and the purpose of the said
reversible blocks are for use upon skates that have been laid by from one season to
another and become badly oxidized, or the face whereof may have become much
worn or chipped, or abnormally convex, in which case the face would require to
undergo a process of grinding before being used, and under these circumstances,
greater pressure would be needed, while the skate would require to be held in a
vice or in some other fixed position, and to accommodate this, I form a transverse

page_text: opening L, in A, and provide a handle or lever M (not necessarily of the shape or
configuration shewn) the centre of which fits tightly into L as a Fig. 13, thus
enabling both hands to be used to manipulate the apparatus and impart the
necessary pressure to effect the said grinding, and when this is completed, the
handle M, and block Fig. 9 or its equivalent, may be removed, and an emery faced
block substituted therefor for periodically sharpening the blade G during use.
The apparatus may be made and sold accompanied by the whole of the
accessories, Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in order that either may be used at will for
the purposes stated, and in so far as regards Fig. 11, a reserve of these may be
stored in the hollow handle B (when the appliance is so constructed) as at Fig. 6,
for replacing worn sheets, if necessary, during skating, the said hollow in B also
serving to lighten the weight of the appliance as a whole..
In order that I may be enabled to make and sell at a less cost, an appliance
possessing all the facilities of that previously described for sharpening skate blades
during wear, I construct the apparatus as at Figs. 4, and 5, which differs from
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, only in the depth of the groove D, and the hollow handle B, in
lieu of the solid handle C. In this method the junction of the grooves d d¹ form
he bottom of the groove D, and a convex surface on which may be seated the
sharpening medium employed, which in this case would be the strip of emery
cloth only, this being passed through d and d' as at Fig. 6, and in extreme cases
the handle M may be employed therewith, in the manner previously described, and
shewn by Fig. 13.
I wish it understood, that whatever substance or material may be employed as
the sharpening or grinding medium, that the face of this must, in all cases, be
convex, in order that a concave or hollow surface may be formed upon the wearing
edge of the blade or runner of the skate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of the herein described pocket appliance, and
the alternative methods of constructing the same, and the several movable, and
detachable accessories used alternately and in combination therewith, for hollow
grinding or sharpening the wearing surfaces of skate blades, the whole connected
and operating substantially as herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
Second. As an improved pocket appliance for hollow grinding and sharpening
the wearing surfaces or edges of skate blades, the construction and use of a metallic
body A, cast or otherwise, having a hollow handle B, or an upper extension a for
receiving a grooved wood, or other handle C, or a groove for the reception of a
like extension upon C, and provided with a transverse opening L for the reception
of a handle M, and having longitudinal apertures c, and grooves d d', the latter
communicating with a groove D of any desired depth and shape capable of receiving
and holding either of the appliances Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 with or without Fig. 11, or
any suitable equivalent therefor, the whole connected, combined, and operating
substantially as herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Third. In combination, the construction and use of a metallic body A, provided
with a hollow handle B, opening L, apertures c, and grooves d, and d', the latter
communicating and forming the convex bottom of the groove D, and a seating for
a strip of emery cloth or its equivalent J, the whole connected, and operating with
or without a handle M; substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn by the appended drawings, reference being made more particularly to
Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 11.
4
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.