Year: 1852

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Gidman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th December 1852.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within
the time prescribed by the Act.)
I, JOSEPH GIDMAN, of Prescot, in the County of Lancaster, House
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
SKATE" to be as follows:
It is proposed to construct a framework, varying in dimensions
according to the size of the human foot, and either of wood or metal,
as shown in Figure 1, hereunto annexed. This framework will
contain three axles marked on the Figure, little a, b, c, and d. On
axle a, and d, it is proposed to place one wheel respectively, and on
axle bc, two wheels. Figure 2, shews the framework longitudinally,
and it is seen that it is intended to carry down the hinder end or
heel, so as to form a break or stop. On reference to Figure 1, it
will be observed that each of the axles, a, and d, have two circular
holes through them; into these it is proposed to insert pillars, as
hereafter mentioned.
The Figures N° 3, and 4, are sections of the axles, and N° 5, is
the framework with all the wheels inserted in it.

page_text: It is proposed, instead of using a solid nave to the wheel, to
insert between the axle and the wheel metal rollers of cylindrical
shape, as a means of obviating friction; these will revolve round the
axle, between it and the nave of the wheel. These are not, however,
essentially part of the skate, or claimed in this Invention. They
are shewn in Figure 6. Between the two centre wheels it is proposed
to place two scotches or stops, the sockets of which will just fill up
the space between the wheels shewn in Figure 5. These scotches
will extend to the outside surface of the nave of the fore wheel, and
are intended to prevent that wheel from moving round at the time
the stride is being taken. Drawings, numbered 7, and 8, are sections
of these scotches; and it will be observed that the distance is greater
from a, to b, than from a, to c, (the divergence from the centre
being gradual from c, to b). To prevent as much as possible the
mutual wear and tear of these scotches and the fore wheel, it is
intended to make that wheel a little less than the other three.
Drawing Number 10, is a section of the sole or top of the skate.
Four round steel pillars, a section of which is given in Drawing 11,
are intended to be inserted in the sole in the places indicated by the
letters a, b, c, d. These pillars will not pass quite through the sole,
and they will be held in their places and supported by thin pieces
of steel, which will be screwed to the under side of the sole, a hole
being made in the steel to admit the pillars. The sole will be hol-
lowed out at the under side in such places as may be necessary in
order to make room for the wheels, the tops of which are intended
to extend a little into the sole, see Drawing numbered 13. The
pillars being made fast in the sole, will be placed in the four holes
prepared for them in the fore and hind axles, and will be prevented
from coming out by a piece of steel similar in shape to this
which will be passed through the hole at the
bottom of the pillar, a washer being placed between the steel and
the axle. See Drawing numbered 12, which shews the position of
a pillar in a spring.
Between the sole and the fore axle and hind one it is intended

page_text: to have 4 springs (see Drawing N° 13); each spring is to consist of
one, two, or more layers, according to the weight of the person for
whom the skates are intended. At each end of the springs will be a
hole through which a pillar is to pass (see Drawing numbered 12).
The springs will be allowed very little play, it being intended to
fasten them down almost at the point to which they will sink when
all the weight is on them.
It is proposed to fasten the skate to the foot by means of a strap,
which, being made fast at a (sec Drawing numbered 13), one end
is intended to pass through the holes and rings b, c, d (one ring at
the outside, is not shewn), and to be secured by means of a buckle
at the other end of the strap.
On the top surface of the heel of each sole, or from E, to F, (sec
Drawing 13), it is intended to screw a piece of sheet iron or steel,
in order to fasten the skate more firmly to the foot. The top part
of this, or from g, to f, is to be bound with leather, which is to
extend to the ring at each side of the foot.