Improvements in and Apparatus for Supporting the Ankle in Skating.
Year: 1891

page_text: .
Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Supporting the Ankle in
Skating.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, W., in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Norman Oliver, H.B. Majesty's Vice-Consul,
Goa, Portuguese India,) to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an attachment which can be readily fitted to skates by
any mechanic, and is intended to support the ankle of the skater so as to
completely prevent it from twisting or bending. It is formed in three parts as
follows:-
1. An upper part which is a leather strap with a buckle to fasten round the leg
just above the ankle of the skater. This leather strap is stitched on to the upper
portion of :-
2. The middle part, which is made of flexible sheet steel, from 1 to of an inch
thick, (according to the support required by the skater) and about 4 of an inch
broad, so shaped as to form in its upper portion a semi-circular band to fit round
the front part of the leg above the ankle, horizontally; and from the front centre
of this upper portion, the same steel piece is continued downwards for about one
inch in length, thus forming a neck, having a breadth of about of an inch; it then
opens into two prongs, or arms (each having respectively the same breadth and
thickness as above) which pass down either side, clear of the skater's foot, from
above the instep, in a sloping direction backwards towards the heel, as far as the
sole plate of the skate; there it is connected, or hinged by means of two screw
bolts with nuts, one on each side of the foot to:-
3. A cross piece, of flat steel of an inch broad, and of an inch thick, and of
about 3 inches in length (sufficient to admit over it easily the heel of the skater's
boot) having its ends turned upwards at right angles to the extent of about of an
inch, so as to allow of their being connected, or hinged to the lower ends of the
two prongs, or arms of the middle part by means of the two screw bolts referred to.
This cross piece is firmly fitted and fixed to the sale plate, at right angles to the
longitudinal direction of the skate, by screws, or screw bolts and nuts, in such a
manner as to grip both the sole plate and the upper portion of the blade of the
skate, and thus secure the requisite rigidity. The cross piece is arranged in two
parts, one to each side of the sole plate.
The attachment, when fitted to suitable skates does not interefere with the
mechanism, or action of the skates in any way, or prevent the skate from being put
on, or taken off the foot. In the case of the ordinary skates with wooden soles,
however, as the screw at the heel of the skate has to be screwed into the heel of
the skater's boot, the combined upper parts of the attachment will have to be put on
over the foot and connected with the cross piece after the skate is screwed to the
heel of the boot. A small spanner will be necessary for this purpose for turning
the screw nuts.
The novelty of this invention consists in placing the narrow blade of the skate,
on which the whole weight of the skater is sustained, in firm yet flexible connexion
with that part of the leg just above the ankle, so as to prevent the blade of the
skate (and with it the sole plate) from completely inclining over to one side, or the
other, when the weight of the skater, in consequence perhaps, of a very slight
twisting, or yielding of the foot, or ankle, happens to fall outside the narrow support
afforded by the blade.
It is claimed that this attachment for skates will give such support to the ankle

page_text: as to enable skaters to enjoy that most agreeable of pastimes-skating, without any
particular straining, or exertion of the muscles of the ankle and foot. Almost any
easy fitting boots may be worn, provided the soles and heels thereof are reasonably
strong and stiff; and all necessity for tightly lacing the boot, or strapping the foot
to the skate, (thus interfering with the circulation of the blood) will be obviated
completely. To beginners, or to those who have weak ankles, this invention will
be invaluable; and even proficient skaters will find that it will greatly assist them
in executing the most difficult figures. Lastly accidents, or falls, or sprained ankles
which so frequently occur through the bending, giving way, or twisting of the
ankles will be almost entirely prevented.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1891
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
•
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Supporting the Ankle in
Skating.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, W., in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Norman Oliver, H.B. Majesty's Consul, Goa,
Portuguese India,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of an attachment which can be readily fitted to skates by
any mechanic, and is intended to support the ankle of the skater so as to completely
prevent it from twisting or bending.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
in which-
Fig. 1, is the attachment and fittings as adapted to ordinary skates ;
Fig. 2, refers to the "Caledonia "
"
skates;
Fig. 3, to the "Acme and similar skates.
Figs 1, and 3, are broken off for want of space.
The dotted lines indicate the various parts of the skates and boots.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
This invention is formed of three parts:-
An upper part a, which is a leather strap with buckle, to fasten round the leg,
just above the ankle of the skater. This leather strap is stitched on to the upper
portion of:-
The middle part b, which is made of flexible sheet steel, from 1 to of an inch
thick, (according to the amount of support required by the skater) and about of
an inch broad, so shaped as to form in its upper portion a semi-circular band to fit
round the front part of the leg above the ankle, horizontally; and from the front
centre of this upper portion, the same steel piece 6 is continued downwards for
about one inch in length, thus forming a neck, having a breadth of about of an
inch; it then opens into two prongs, or arms (each having respectively the same
breadth and thickness as above) which pass down either side, clear of the skater's
foot, from above the instep, in a sloping direction backwards towards the heel, as
far as the sole plate of the skate; there it is connected, or hinged by means of two
screw bolts with nuts d d, one on each side of the foot to :-
A. cross piece c, of flat steel, of an inch broad, and of an inch thick, and of
about three inches in length (sufficient to admit over it easily the heel of the
skater's boot) having its ends turned upwards at right angles to the extent of
about of an inch, so as to allow of their being connected, or hinged to the lower
ends of the two prongs, or arms of the middle part by means of the two screw bolts
and nuts d d referred to. This cross piece is firmly fitted and fixed to the sole plate,
at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the skate, by screws, or screw bolts

page_text: and nuts, in such a manner as to grip both the sole plate and the upper portion of
the blade of the skate, and thus secure the requisite rigidity. In Fig. 2, the cross
piece is arranged in two parts, one to each side of the sole plate.
The attachment, when fitted to suitable skates does not interfere with the
mechanism, or action of the skates in any way, or prevent the skate from being put
'on, or taken off the foot. In the case of the ordinary skates with wooden soles,
however, as the screw at the heel of the skate has to be screwed into the heel of
the skater's boot, the combined upper parts a and b of the attachment will have to
be put on over the foot and connected with the cross piece after the skate is
screwed to the heel of the boot. A small spanner will be necessary for this purpose
for turning the screw nuts d d.
The novelty of this invention consists in placing the narrow blade of the skate,.
on which the whole weight of the skater is sustained, in firm yet flexible connexion
with that part of the leg just above the ankle, so as to prevent the blade of the
skate (and with it the sole plate) from completely inclining over to one side, or the
other, when the weight of the skater, in consequence perhaps, of a very slight
twisting, or yielding of the foot, or ankle, happens to fall outside the narrow support
afforded by the blade.
The attachment can be adapted and fitted with slight modifications of detail to
most other kinds of skates, or the sole plates of all such skates could be made with
the cross piece c forming part thereof, so that the combined upper parts of the
attachment a and b could be affixed when required. The sole plates of skates thus
made, should be firmly connected with the upper part of the blade of the skate, so
as to give the necessary rigidity to that part of the sole plate where the arms of the
cross piece project laterally beyond the otherwise usual edge of the sole plate.
This connexion can be made in such suitable manner as the make of the skate will
allow. Three different ways of effecting this for the three kinds of skates referred
to, respectively, are shown at ein Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
In the drawings the parts a and b are shown plain. But they may be made with
any elaborate ornamentation that may be desired, provided their utility and fit be
not interfered with. There is room too for latitude in respect to their shape and
the strength of the steel. They must fit and be adapted to the size of the wearer's
foot and ankle, the kind of boot worn and height of heel. The form and size shown
in the drawings are intended for skates of a suitable length.
The object of this attachment for skates is to give support to the ankle as to
enable skaters to enjoy that most agreeable of pastimes-skating, without any
particular straining, or exertion of the muscles of the ankle and foot.
Almost any
easy fitting boots may be worn, provided the soles and heels thereof are reasonably
strong and stiff; and all necessity for tightly lacing the boot, or strapping the foot
to the skate, (thus interfering with the circulation of the blood,) will be obviated
completely. To beginners, or to those who have weak ankles, this invention will
be invaluable; and even proficient skaters will find that it will greatly assist them
in executing the most difficult figures. Lastly, accidents, or falls, or sprained
ankles which so frequently occur through the bending, giving way, or "twisting" of
the ankles will be almost entirely prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a support for the ankle in skating, the combination of the strap or band a
flexible steel fork or prong b and the cross piece c or cross pieces c, c, bolts and
nuts d d, with attachments e, substantially as herein described and according to
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawing.
2. The combination of the attachment fitted to the ordinary skates, Acme,
Caledonia or of any other known skates, to support the ankle of the skater so as to
completely prevent it from twisting or bending, substantially as herein described
and according to the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 3. The combination of the apparatus for supporting the ankle in skating, to be of
any size, shape or of any material, or with any modification of the various parts,
substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of December 1891.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.