IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO SKATES FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY SECURING THE SAME TO THE FEET OF THE WEARER, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE AS A FASTENER FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Brown, of the City of Manchester, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO SKATES FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY
SECURING THE SAME TO THE FEET OF THE WEARER, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING
ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE AS A FASTENER FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Scaled the 15th June 1877, and dated the 16th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Brown at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1876.
JACOB BROWN, of the City of Manchester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE
TO SKATES FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY SECURING THE SAME TO THE FEET OF THE
WEARER, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE AS A FASTENER FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
For securing the skate to the heel of the boot of the wearer I dispense with the
ordinary screw and employ a T or button-headed screw (herein-after called the
adjusting screw) screwing into the body of the skate, so as to project more or less
according to the thickness of the heel of the boot, and in that part of the boot
known as the waist, and immediately in front of the heel, I secure a metallic
socket, into which the head of the adjusting screw on the skate may be passed, and
thus when pushed backwards, and such head has retired behind a slot formed in
the socket, the skate will become locked in position and securely fastened to the
heel of the boot.
For securing the front of the skate I dispense with the ordinary buckle and
employ a buckle of peculiar construction, which forms an essential feature in my
Invention. This buckle consists of a rectangular metallic link, which at one side
is connected to one extremity of the strap in the ordinary manner; but upon the
other side of such link I form a short hook, projecting at such an angle that when
the strap is passed through the link and then drawn back in the ordinary manner
of tightening a strap, such hook may enter one of a series of holes formed in the
strap when a sufficient degree of tightness has been attained, and becoming engaged
therewith may thus effectually secure the front part of the skate. This form of
buckle may be termed self acting, inasmuch as it does not require to be touched
by the hand. It will be readily apparent that such a form of buckle is applicable
as a fastener for ordinary skate straps, and for all purposes where a degree of
[Price Gd.]

page_text: tightness is constantly maintained, for instance, as a fastener for the driving straps
of machinery, and for other analogous purposes.
Another method of securing the front of skates, and forming a modification of
this Invention, consists of a pair of screws working at right angles to each other on
either side of the front part of the skate, one set of screws being provided for
adjusting sideways, according to the width of the boot of the wearer, and the other
net of screws for adjustment, according to the thickness of the sole of the boot, the
heads of these last-mentioned screws being capable of turning when the desired
adjustment has been effected, so as to grasp the edge of the sole, and thus effectually
clamp the front part of the skate to the boot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jacob Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th June
1877.
JACOB BROWN, of the City of Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE
TO SKATES FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY SECURING THE SAME TO THE FEET OF the
WEARER, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING PARTLY Applicable as a FASTENER FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
For securing the skate to the heel of the boot of the wearer I dispense with the
ordinary screw and employ a T headed screw (herein-after called the adjusting
screw), screwing into the body of the skate, so as to project more or less according
to the thickness of the heel of the boot, and in that part of the boot known as the
waist, or immediately in front of the heel, I secure a metallic socket, into which
the head of the adjusting screw on the skate may be passed, and thus when pushed
backwards the skate will become locked in position and securely fastened to the
heel of the boot.
For securing the front of the skate I dispense with the ordinary buckle and
employ a buckle of peculiar construction, which forms an essential feature in my
Invention. This buckle consists of a rectangular metallic link, which at one side
is connected to one extremity of the strap in the ordinary manner; but upon the
other side of such link I form a short hook, projecting at such an angle that when
the strap is passed through the link, and then drawn back in the ordinary manner
of tightening a strap, such hook may enter one of a series of holes formed in the
strap when a sufficient degree of tightness has been attained, and being engaged
therewith may thus effectually secure the front part of the skate.
Another method of securing the front part of skates, and forming a modification
of this Invention, consists of a pair of screws working at right angle to each other
on either side of the front part of the skate, one set of screws being provided for
adjusting sideways, according to the width of the boot of the wearer, and the other
set of screws for adjustment, according to the thickness of the sole of the boot, the
heads of these last mentioned screws being capable of turning when the desired
adjustment has been effected, so as to grasp the edge of the sole, and thus effectually
clamp the front part of the skate to the boot.
And in order that this my said Invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trating two modifications of my improvements in the fastenings of skates, similar
letters marked on the several views being used to indicate similar parts.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a boot having a skate affixed thereto in
accordance with this Invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of part of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a side view of the strap and buckle used in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a partial plan or top view of the body of the skate; and Fig. 5 is a plan
of the under side of the boot, shewing the socket affixed thereto.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. are full sized details of parts of Figs. 1 and 2.

page_text: For securing the skate to the heel of the boot of the wearer I dispense with the
ordinary heel screw and employ a button headed adjusting screw A, screwing into
a metallic socket B (seen full size in Fig. 7) affixed in the body of the skate. This
screw A is thus capable of adjustment, so as to project more or less above the body
of the skate, according to the thickness of the heel of the boot, and in that part of
the boot known as the waist, or immediately in front of the heel, I secure a
metallic socket C (seen in Fig. 5, and also full size in Fig. 6.), which is provided
with a slot D opening into an oblong hole E.
In placing the skate in position upon the boot F the head of the screw A is
passed into the socket C by entering the open end of the slot D, and passing with
its head behind such slot until an oblong projection G formed on the under side of
the head of the screw A. enters or drops into the correspondingly shaped oblong
hole E in the socket C, and thus effectually holds the head of the screw A and
prevents it turning whilst the skate itself is turned round, and thus screwed up
fast to the heel. For securing the front of the skate I dispense with the ordinary
buckle and employ a buckle of peculiar construction (seen full size in Figs. 8
and 9, illustrating a front and side view respectively). This buckle H is con-
nected to one extremity of the strap I, either by stitching in the ordinary manner,
or by having a projecting pin J on the inside of the buckle (as seen more clearly
in Fig. 8), which enters a hole formed in the strap near its extremity K, as illus-
trated, and thus when such extremity is passed beneath the central bar or
prongs L effectually secures the two together. The other side of the buckle is
arranged with a short hook M projecting outwards at such an angle (seen best in
Fig. 9) that when the strap I is passed through the link O, and then drawn back
in the ordinary manner of tightening a strap (as seen dotted in Fig. 2) such hook
may enter one of a series of holes P formed in the strap when a sufficient degree
of tightness has been attained, and, becoming engaged therewith, may thus
effectually secure the front part of the skate, the extreme end of the strap being
slipped into and retained by the loop Q.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent a modification of the buckle, which, when the strap
is once passed through the body of the skate, may be slipped on to the strap close
up to the skate, when by its tongue or peg N entering one of a series of holes
formed in that part of the strap, such strap may be prevented being withdrawn in
the act of tightening up the skate. This construction of buckle may be termed
self acting, inasmuch as it does not require to be touched by the hand. It will be
readily apparent that this form of buckle is also applicable as a fastener for
ordinary skate straps, and for all purposes where a degree of tightness is constantly
maintained, for instance, as a fastener for the driving straps of machinery, and for
other analogous purposes.
Fig. 12 of the accompanying Drawing represents a side view of a boot having a
skate affixed thereto in accordance with a modification of this Invention; and
Fig. 13 is a front view of part of Fig. 12.
In these views a is the body of the skate; and b, a screw screwing into it, as in
the last mentioned modification, but the head of which is formed oblong, as seen in
detached views, Figs. 14 and 15; c is a metallic socket, a bottom or plan view of
which is seen in Fig. 16, and a side and front view respectively in Figs. 17
and 18. This socket c is also affixed by screws to the waist of the boot, and forms
a hook to grasp the head of the heel screw b (which is introduced to it from the
front, as in the last modification), and to prevent the same revolving whilst the
skate itself is turned round, and thus screwed up fast to the heel. This form of
socket is preferred, as capable of being stamped out of sheet steel; e and fare a pair
of screws working at right angles to each other on either side of the body of the
skate, the screws e screwing into the body of the skate and being provided for
adjustment sideways, according to the width of the boot; and the other screws f,
which screw through the heads of the screws c and may be turned by an ordinary
button hook, as illustrated, being provided for adjustment, according to the thick-
ness of the sole of the boot, the heads g of these last mentioned screws, which are

page_text: suitably shaped for the purpose, being capable of grasping the edge of the sole of
the boot when the desired adjustment has been effected, and thus to firmly clamp
the front part of the skate to the boot.
It will be readily apparent that the screws c and fmay be employed for fastening
skates with the ordinary screw or other heel attachment.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions
of the various parts of my improved fastenings herein-before described and illus-
trated, as the same may be considerably varied without departing from the
Invention, and that I claim,-
1st. The socket C and adjustable screw A, and the modification of the same,
described in reference to Figs. 12 and 13, as and for the purposes herein-before
described and illustrated.
2nd. The buckle H when constructed and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
3rd. The screws e and
when mounted and operating substantially as and for
the purposes described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Brown, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 15th day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
412AR TRAWY
JACOB BROWN. (L.S.)
(क)