IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, of Weybridge, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES."
Sealed the 23rd February 1864, and dated the 29th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Cholmondeley
Pennell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th August 1863.
I, HENRY CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL, of Weybridge, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES," to be as follows:-
I propose constructing skates with a double instead of a single iron, the
double iron consisting of a hollow square tube, one side being removed and the
two parallel edges thus left being downwards on the ice when the skate is
used. The upper side of the tube forms foundation for foot or sole plate, straps,
and heel plate, for placing which the tube is cut so that the heel plate is'
slightly below the level of the plate which supports the ball of the foot:* I
further propose to pass the peg which holds the heel of the boot through the
heel plate and between the parallel irons, so that it may be made to slightly

page_text: project beyond their edge and serve as a check or stop should the skater throw
his or her weight backwards. This combined heel peg and check may be
applied to ordinary skates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Cholmondeley Pennell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,, HENRY
CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL, of Weybridge, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Cholmondeley Pennell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, 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 Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SKATES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, 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 Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawing forming part
of this my Specification, and to the letters of reference placed thereon and
denoting similar parts in each of the Figures respectively.
.
The use of my Invention will enable persons (especially ladies) who desire.
to become skaters to attain their object without being subject to personal

page_text: injury from falls, which in using the ordinary skate they seldom avoid; and
while the skate made according to my Invention ensures safety to beginners,
it may be used with advantage by all skaters however skilful in the art. I
construct my skate with a double instead of a single iron, or rather with a
single piece of iron formed into or with a double edge. The iron may be
described as consisting of a hollow square tube or piece, one side being removed
and the two parallel edges thus left being downwards on the ice when the
skate is in use. The upper part of the piece forms foundation for the foot or
sole plate, straps, and heel plate, for placing which latter the tube is cut so that
the heel plate is somewhat below the level of the plate which supports the ball
of the foot, as will be seen on reference to the Drawing: The heel peg which
holds the heel of the boot passes through the heel plate between the parallel
irons slightly projecting beyond the edges of the skate blade or iron that it
may serve as a check or stop should the skater throw his or her weight back-
wards, and this combined heel plate may be affixed to the ordinary skate and
one or more pegs be used.
In the Drawing Figure 1 shews a side elevation of a skate made according
to my Invention.
a, being the sole plate; b, the heel plate; c, the heel peg; and d, the blade
or skate iron. Figure 2 is an under plan or view of the bottom of my skate,
shewing the double edges d, d, of the skate iron, the sole plate a, a, the heel
plate b, b, and heel pin or peg c; Figure 3 is a cross section taken through the
skate at the line A, B, of Figure 2, and serves to shew the shape of the skate
iron (in section) and the position of the beel pin or peg c as it passes through
the heel plate b, b. It is needless to describe the position of the straps or
fastenings, as they may be made and placed as shown, or in any other way or
position the skater may desire.
Having now. described the nature of my said Invention, and means by which
I carry it into practical effect, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not
strictly confine myself to the details herein given and illustrated in the Drawing,
as modifications may be made therein without in any way departing from the
principle of my Invention, and I claim,-
Firstly, the exclusive use of the skate iron made of one piece and so bent as
to produce two edges or skating surfaces.
Secondly, the exclusive use of the heel plate furnished with heel peg or
pegs.
Thirdly, the exclusive use of the combination of parts described and denoted
by lettering in the Drawing, forming when combined as directed an improved

page_text: skate, the whole essentially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
four..
HENRY CHOLMONDELEY PENNELL. (L.S.)