IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ADDITIONS TO SKATES
Year: 1870

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to Robert Marsden, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Skate and Edge Tool Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ADDITIONS TO SKATES."-A communication from
abroad by Adam Elijah Clarke, of the City of Montreal, in the
Dominion of Canada.
Sealed the 28th February 1871, and dated the 21st October 1870.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Marsden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st October 1870.
I, ROBERT MARSDEN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Skate and
Edge Tool Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ADDITIONS TO SKATES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in and additions to
skates, whereby they are made available for boots of various widths and
lengths, and on or to which they can be fitted in a secure manner
without the aid of straps or other appliances over the toes, insteps, or
ancles of the wearer.
•

page_text: The Invention consists in fitting an adjustable plate between the toe
and the heel plates, which can be drawn towards the heel by a screw
under the heel plate to force spikes, teeth, or a serrated edge of the same
into the fore part of the boot heel, as well as to draw other plates closer
together to bite or clamp the side walls of the boot sole, whereby the
skate is held firm on the boot. The fore end of the adjustable plate is
slotted with diagonal holes or slots which act upon nuts or lugs on the
clamps, and as the plate is drawn towards the heel or pushed towards
the toe the clamps are moved in and out sideways to hold them fast or
release them. The toe and heel plates are centred upon pins or studs in
projections of the skate blade, and the plates are perforated to admit
of the skate being used by youths or grown up men. To prevent the
heel of the boot slipping up and down while the wearer is skating
spikes or pins are formed in the back wall of the heel plate which are
forced into the heel by the action of the screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Marsden in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MARSDEN, of Sheffield; in the County of York, Skate and Edge Tool
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Marsden, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Marsden, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Marsden, 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 AND
ADDITIONS TO SKATES," (communicated to me from abroad by Adam Elijah
Clarke, of the City of Montreal, in the Dominion of Canada,) upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Marsden, 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 Robert Marsden, 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 thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in and additions to
skates whereby they are made available for boots of various widths and
lengths, and on or to which they can be fitted in a secure manner.
without the aid of straps or other appliances over the toes, insteps, or
ankles of the wearer..
The Invention consists in fitting an adjustable plate between the toe
and the heel plates which can be drawn towards the heel by a screw
under the heel plate to force spikes, teeth, or a serrated edge of the
same into the fore part of the boot heel as well as to draw other plates
closer together to bite or clamp the side walls of the boot sole, whereby
the skate is held firm on the boot. The fore end of the adjustable plate
is slotted with diagonal holes or slots which act upon nuts or lugs on
the clamps, and as the plate is drawn towards the heel or pushed towards
the toe the clamps are moved in or out sideways to hold them fast or
release them. The toe and heel plates are centred upon pins or studs.
in projections of the skate blade, and the plates are perforated to admit
of the skates being used by youths or by grown up men.
To prevent
the heel of the boot slipping up and down while the wearer is skating
spikes or pins are formed in the back wall of the heel plate, which are
forced into the heel by the action of the screw.
The Invention will be more fully understood by referring to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, of which Figure 1 represents a plan of a
skate on the bottom side and shews the fastening; Figure 2 is a top view ;.
Figure 3 is a side elevation; Figure 4 is a plan of key for adjusting
fastening. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: a is the blade of the skate of the form shown; 6 is a toe plate or foot
rest of metal, and firmly attached to the blade. On the upper side of
this rest are two dovetailed recesses c, c, for the reception of the
movable dovetailed adjusting clamps d, d. These clamps are provided
with a number of holes e, e, for the reception of the adjusting screws ƒ,f,
which pass down through slots g, g, in the lower plate or slide h. These
screws terminate at their lower ends in heads, with flanges projecting
over the sides of the slots. By this arrangement the clamps are flush
with the top side of the foot rest, thereby placing the clamps at the
greatest possible distance from the ice, and avoiding contact with the
same when skating. The slots g, g, are placed in the direction shown
in Figure 1. The adjusting clamps d, d, may be provided with teeth or
serrated edges for making a secure and firm connection with the sole of
the boot when operated on by the slide has afterwards to be described.
As before-stated these clamps may be adjusted to any size boot, by.
shifting the screw connections f, f, into either of the holes e, e. The
sides of the foot rest are turned over underneath in order to form
recesses for the edges of the slide h, and in this manner retain it in its
correct position. The slide is continued in the direction of the heel
end of the skate and attached to the heel clamp i of the form shown in
the Drawings by means of the adjustable screw k passing through either
of the regulating holes i, , as required. This heel clamp is also
provided with teeth or serrated edges, and held in place or connected
with the heel plate by a suitable arrangement, being actuated by the
screw passing through the pillar m of the heel rest n; this heel rest
or plate is constructed with two vertical stationary cramps o, o, with teeth
or serrated edges as shown in the Drawings. The screw is provided
with a square head, and is operated by the key p or other suitable
arrangement for rotating the same, it is provided with a collar q and
held in place by a recess in the skate blade.
l
The skate and fastening being arranged in the manner shewn in the
Drawings, the cramps d, d, are placed in the correct position to suit the
boot, to which the skate is to be attached by means of the adjusting
screws f, f, in the holes e, e, also the slide bar h is adjusted to the
required position by the screw k. This being done the adjustments are
allowed to remain as placed for the special boot made use of, to be
attached to the said boot it is only necessary to place the foot on the
skate and rotate the screw / by the key p or other suitable appliance.

page_text: The rotation of this screw has the effect of moving the clamps i against
the fore part of the heel of the boot, fixing its teeth into the same,
while at the same time the teeth of the stationary clamps o, o, are also
forced into the back part of the heel, making a secure attachment of
the skate and boot. While this has been in progress the clamps d, d,
have also been in motion through the medium of the slide bar h, but in
consequence of the diagonal direction of the slots g, g, which guide the
motion of the clamps d, d, an inward movement has been communicated
to the clamps, bringing them with their teeth into close and secure
connection with the sole of the boot. It will therefore be evident that
all these motions are communicated simultaneously by the action of the
screw in a simple and most effective manner, giving the firm and
secure fastening required. To remove the skate from the boot it is only
necessary to reverse the action of the screw.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth, as
they may be slightly varied to suit circumstances in the different styles
of skates employed; but what is claimed as the Invention and desired
to be secured by Letters Patent is, the improvements in skate fastening,
viz., the novel arrangements of foot and heel rests b and n, sliding
plate h with diagonal slots y, adjusting screws f and k, rotating screw l,
clamps d, i, and o, all working together substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Marsden, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of April One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Robert Marsden in
the presence of
W. E. TATTERSHALL,
ROBERT MARSDEN. (L.S.)
Solicitor,
Sheffield.