IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATE ATTACHMENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATE ATTACHMENTS." A
communication from abroad by Charles Brewster, of the City and District
of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Licentiate of Dental Surgery.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1876.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SKATE ATTACHMENTS." A communication from abroad by Charles Brewster, of
the City and District of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Licentiate of
Dental Surgery.
This Invention has reference to certain improvements in the arrangements of
mechanism for attaching the skate to the boot, whereby the revolution of a screwed
spindle or similar device in one direction clasps for holding the heel and front
part of the sole are caused simultaneously to act in taking hold of the boot or
shoe, while the revolution of the spindle in the contrary direction frees the boot
from the clasps.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed similar letters of reference indicate like parts,
and
Figure 1 is a side elevation embodying my Invention.
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2 a plan of Figure 1.
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reverse side.
a sectional elevation on line A, A, Figure 1, looking towards rear end of
skate.
a sectional elevation on line B, B, Figure 1, looking towards front end
of skate.
6, 7, 8, are first modifications of the arrangement of the heel clasp and
attachment of the plate with the runner.
9, 10, shew first modification of the mechanism for working the sole
clasps.
11, 12, shew second modification of both of the heel clasps and second
modification of the sole clasps with means of working them.
13 is a third modification of the means for working the sole clasps.
[Price 6d1

page_text: Figure 14 is a fourth modification of the means for working a sole and heel clasp.
15 fifth modification of the means for working a sole clasp combined
with a heel clasp similar to that shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3.
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sixth modification of the means for working the sole clasps to be
combined with heel clasp, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12.
seventh modification of the means of working the sole clasps to be
combined with a heel clasp, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 15.
18, 19, are an eighth modification of the means for working the sole clasp
combined with a heel clasp, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 15.
It will be observed that the first three Figures are drawn to a scale of about
half size, while Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, are full size of a large sized skate.
The remainder of the Figures are full size of a small sized skate.
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I shall now first describe the construction and operation of the mechanism as
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, after which I shall pass on and describe in
order the modifications shewn in the rest of the Figures. Letter a is the runner of
any desired configuration; b is the sole plate, and c is the heel plate. As shewn in
Figure 1 the sole plate has attached to it a double bracket d connecting with the
projection of the forward end of the runner, and two brackets e connecting the plate
with the central portion of the runner. Between the two brackets e, e, a sufficient
space is left, as shewn in Figure 3, for the passage of a screw spindle between them.
As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the heel plate c is attached to the runner by two
brackets f, one on each side of the runner, answering the purpose also of a guide to
the neck g of the heel clasp h, which slides within them. The neck g is provided
with a projection i, in which an eye is formed for the reception of the end of the
spindle on the extremity of which after passing through the eye, it is provided
with a collar rivetted on or secured to attach the spindle to the clasp h, while it is
free to revolve. The other extremity of this spindle is provided with a screw
thread, preferably of double pitch, for the purpose of giving a sufficient travel for
the nut and parts actuated thereby to a suitable amount of revolution of the
spindle, otherwise a fine thread may be used. is a plate having a nut m attached
or made in one therewith, which nut is screwed to agree with the thread on the
spindle k. The plate is provided with inclined slots n set at any suitable angle,
say from about thirty to forty-five degrees, with the line of the spindle. The plate
is provided with mitred slots o in the position shewn at right angles with the line
of the spindle. p are the sole clasps attached to the plate b by bolts q, passing
through slots in the clasps, and rivetted into the sole plate at the ends of the slots o,
as shewn at in Figure 2, a sufficient space being left between the clasps p and the
plate for the plate to slide freely lengthways of the skate; and by making the
plate with its side edges parallel, and filling the space between the bolts
bolts q serve also to prevent lateral motion of the plate l. s are bolts made with
dovetail-shaped heads to agree with the mitred slots o. Their necks pass through
the inclined slots m of the plate l, and their extremities are rivetted into the ends of
the clasps p at 8, Figure 3, sufficient shoulder being provided on them to prevent the
riveting from closing down the clasps too tightly on the plate l, and obstructing
the free sliding of the plate by the revolution of the spindle k, the screw end of
which is received within the nut m, the spindle being rotated by any desired
thumb and finger device or wheel. u, t, are the back heel clasps of any ordinary or
desired configuration.
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In the modifications shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8, instead of the brackets f, f, the
projection V near the end of the runner is carried up a sufficient height to receive
the heel plate, the end of V being rivetted in a suitable opening cut in the plate c
to receive it. The neck g of the heel clasp h is slotted to slide on the part of V
immediately below the plate c. Two pieces W are cut and bent down out of the
plate c to receive and guide the neck g, and hold it in its place under the plate c;
they also serve to keep the two parts of the neck from spreading or opening; or
instead of these pieces may be attached to the plate c by screws or rivets, for both
guiding and holding the neck g in the desired position.

page_text: In operating my Invention I proceed as follows:-The range for which the skate
is made being suitable to the boot to which it is applied, I turn the spindle k with
the thumb and finger device u to cause the nut m to approach the heel clasp h,
thereby causing the clasps to diverge to receive the heel on the plate c, and sole of
boot on the plate b. I then turn the spindle to push forward the plate 1, causing
the inclined slots acting on the bolts s to draw in the clasps p and clasp the front
part of the boot. It will be seen that by the action of the spindle k the clasp h is
thrust against the front of the heel, thereby causing the back clasps t to engage
with the back of the heel in proportion as the front clasps p are brought to bear
upon the sole of the boot. The amount of thrust given to h in proportion to the
amount of power exerted to draw in the clasps p, p, will be in proportion and due
to the amount that the slots u are inclined; thus if they be put at a less angle with
the spindle k the power to draw the clasps p, p, together will be greater for the
amount of thrust given to h, and vice versa.
It will be seen that the object of my Invention could be carried out by reversing
the position of the spindle and placing the eye i on the plate and the screwed nut
m on the neck g the thumb and finger device remaining at its present position in
the skate; or that the spindle might be screwed at both ends, one with a right and
the other with a left handed thread, the eye i being changed to a nut to agree with
the screwed end while the nut m and end of the spindle remain as they have been
herein-first described.
As a first modification of my Invention Figures 9 and 10 are given. In this case
the rear part of the skate remains the same, as also the spindle k, plate b, and runner
a; the nut m is however provided with lugs a¹, to which are attached by pivots
links b¹; these are pivoted at their other extremity to the clasps p, in this case
made with necks c¹ attached by pivots at d¹ to the plate b, and for the purpose of
keeping the clasp ends close up under the plate 6 segmental mitered slots e¹ are
formed having d as a centre, holes being made in c¹ to receive bolts f¹ which have
heads to agree with the mitered slots, and their ends riveted into the necks c¹ in a
similar manner to that described in the bolts 8, so that the neck c¹ and clasps p while
being guided and retained close under the plate b freely rotate on their pivots d¹.
As shewn in Figure 10 the parts are in the position that they will assume when the
clasps p, p, release the boot, and the action will be very similiar to that herein-
before described. The thrust of the clasp on the heel will, however, vary with the
varying positions of the links b¹ and the amount of angle that they assume when
the clasps p are brought to a fair bearing on the edges of the sole of the boot.
Figures 11 and 12 show a plan of under side and side elevation of skate. Here a
different form of heel clasp is employed, the heel plate c being provided with a
stationary clasp 62 in front. The heel clasp is made by forming a bar a² with a
projection d screwed to receive one end of a right and left handed screwed spindle e²,
actuated by any suitable thumb and finger device f. This bar has a slot to receive
the part of the skate-runner V similar to that shewn in Figures 6, 7 and 8. On the
extremity of the bar a³ and made in one with it is an upturned extension gå upon
which are formed clasps, the whole forming or being the equivalent of clasps t, t,
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, only that in this case they are attached to
the bar a² instead of being attached to the plate c, and therefore move with the bar;
hare two guides or brackets attached on the under side of the plate c for further
holding and guiding the bar a². The plate b, runner a, and brackets e are similar to
those parts herein-before described; the brackets e are however spread out a little
further at the top to allow a bar to pass between them, and to serve as a guide
for the bar. This bar is attached to the plate b by a staple k² in which it freely
slides, one end is provided with a projection 2 similar to that d* to agree with the
other end of the screwed spindle e², while at the other end of the bar is a pin head
m² to which is attached a small wire cable n², or it may be a chain cable or other
flexible cable or cord; this passes through a friction block o² and has its other end
attached on a pin head p² secured in the clasp p, the other clasp p is provided with
a slot q² and bolt and nut for setting it to any desired position with regard to

page_text: the size of the boot and also with regard to the position in which it is desired to
bring the runner under the boot, so that if it is wished to place the runner not
exactly in the centre of the foot, as with many persons, this may be accomplished
in the setting and securing of it by the bolt and nut, the bolt being provided with
a countersunk head flush with the upper surface of the plate b.
The corners of the passage in the friction block o should be well rounded off to
prevent them biting on the cable. In this case the clasp p, to which the cable n² is
attached, is guided in brackets 82, in all other respects the parts of the skate are
like those described in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In attaching and detaching the skate to the boot after the clasp p attached by a
bolt and nut has been set, the same is accomplished by revolving the spindle e²,
either in one direction or the other, to draw up the clasps upon the boot or cast
them off.
In Figure 13 a third modification is shown of the means for working the clasps
p, p; this modification is very similar to the last, but instead of having one adjust-
able clasp and one moving, they are both made to move by forming the cable with
a double end and providing a pin head p² on each clasp; in this case both clasps are
supported in guides or brackets &² and the friction block o² is of double form to
suit the double cable.
Figure 14 shews a modification of working the sole clasps which may be combined
with an adjustable clasp attached by a bolt and nut 72, as shown in Figure 11; in this
case however the bar and screw spindle e² will be dispensed with, one end of the
cable being attached to a pin head similar to m² placed on a², while the other end is
attached to a clamp p of exactly the same arrangement as in Figures 11 and 12. The
tightening is in this case effected by making the friction block o² movable, and
drawing it in a diagonal line agreeing with the chain line D in Figure 11; this is done
by attaching to the plate da bracket a³, and providing the block with a screw b³
attached or made in one with it. The screw passing through the bracket passes
through a washer c³ having a balance centre projection received within a notch d³
of the bracket a³. e³ is a nut configurated to be operated by the finger and thumb.
The whole is situated so that the centro-line, drawn through the centre of the
screw 63, when placed in position on the plate b, will fall upon the chain line D, and
by causing the block o' to approach the bracket a³, the heel and sole clasps are
drawn up, the washer c² allowing the parts to swing to accommodate the clasp
attached at one end of n² to come to a bearing before the other, as well as the sliding
of the cable in the friction block.
In Figure 15 the parts marked by the same letters of reference are exactly similar
to the parts herein-before described for Figures 11 and 12 as referred to by those
letters. In this case the heel plate and parts relating to it are similar to those
shown and described in Figures 6, 7, and 8. The screw spindle e², bar i², brackets e,
staple k, brackets or guides 83, and clasps p, p, are exactly similar to those described
in Figure 11; in this case however to the pin m² of the bar 2 is attached a link f³,
and to that again a link g³ pivoted at h³ to the plate b. At the pivot ³ connecting
the links g and f is also attached between them a link ³, having its other end
pivoted at to the clasp p. It will at once be seen that by the operation of the 4
screw spindle e² the clasps h and p are caused to act upon the heel and sole, while
the other clasp p is secured in any desired position by a bolt and nut r².
Figure 16 shews my sixth modification. Here the whole of the heel and centre
parts are exactly similar to those shewn in Figure 11. To the bar ² are pivoted
two links a' and 64, attached respectively to pivots c and d on clasps p. e¹ and f 5
are links attached to pivots g* and h* on the links a and b ; these have their other
extremities attached together and to the plate b. By careful adjustment of the
pivot g' the parts may be made to work as a parallel motion, but I should prefer to
provide both the links a* and 6 with a slotted end k³ to compensate for any unequal
action.
Figure 17 shews another modification agreeing most particularly with Figure 15,
only that the links ƒ³ and o³ are duplicated by the links a³ and 65 and instead of the
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page_text: link g³ having one of its extremities pivoted to the plate b, as at h³ in Figure 15, it
is pivoted to the corresponding extremity of the link a³, the link e being attached
to the pivot d³ connecting the two links a³ and 65 together, while its other extremity
is pivoted at e to the other clasp p; thus by a pulling or pushing strain caused by
the revolution of the spindle e, as shewn in Figure 15, the clasps p, p, and the
clasp h are simultaneously operated to close upon or to cast off from the boot.
In the modifications shewn in Figures 18 and 19 it will be at once seen that the
arrangement of the heel and parts attached thereto is exactly similar to that shewn
in Figure 15. The bar is however lengthened to cause its extremity to come in
front of the clasps p, p; it is provided with a pin head m², agreeing with that shewn
in Figure 11, receiving and connecting with the slotted ends of two bell cranks a
and 68, the other slotted ends of which connect with the pins c and d of the
clasps p, p.
What I claim is as follows:—
First. The combination of the clasp h, screwed spindle k, plate l, having inclined
slots n and clasps p, substantially as described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
, and 8.
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Second. The combination of the clasps p, plate d, having slots o, bolts a and
plate l, substantially as and for the purposes set forth, and as shewn in Figures 1, 2,
3, and 5.
Third. The combination of the spindle k with the clasp h, substantially as described
and set forth, and as shewn in Figures 7 and 8.
Fourth. The combination of the spindle k, nut m, links 6¹, and pivoted clasps p,
substantially as described and shewn in Figures 9 & 10.
Fifth. The combination of the screw e, cable n², and clasp p, and friction block o³,
constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as described and shewn in
Figures 11, 12.
Sixth. The combination of bar a² with upturned extension g², constructed and
operated substantially as described and shewn in Figures 11 and 12.
Seventh. The combination of the screw bar 2, double cable n², double friction
block o², constructed and operated substantially as described and shewn in Figure 13.
Eighth. The combination of the cable n with a movable friction block o², con-
structed and operated substantially as described and shewn in Figure 14.
Ninth. The combination of the table n2, movable friction block o², screw b³,
bracket a³, washer c³, and nut e³, constructed and operated substantially as described
and shewn in Figure 14.
Tenth. The bar 2 in combination with the links f³, g³, and k³, and clasp p, sub-
stantially as described and shewn in Figure 15.
Eleventh. The adjustable clasp p secured in a stationary position by bolt and
nut, nut in combination with movable clasp p, links g³, fs, and k³, bar iº,
actuated as described, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination of the bar is, links a, b, e, f, and clasps p, operated
substantially as described and shewn in Figure 16.
Thirteenth. The combination of the bar 3, links b³, ƒ³, a³, g³, k³, c, and clasps p,
operating substantially as described and shewn in Figure 17.
Fourteenth. The combination of the bar i, bell cranks a, b, and clasps p, operated
substantially as described and set forth, as shown in Figures 18 and 19.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)