Improvements in Skates.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skates.
I, RICHARD EMIL KRAUSE, of Gothenburg, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to the construction of skates.
In skating it is important that the bottom edge of the runner of the skate which
comes in contact with the ice, shall have a proper curve, and the object of my
invention is to so construct skates, that a skater can easily regulate such curve.
This regulation of the curve of the bottom edge of a skate-runner can be accom-
plished in various ways.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations of skates, shewing by way of example three
different means of carrying out my invention, which I will first describe by reference
to figure 1.
The runner of the skate consists of two parts, viz. a top or rigid part A, and a
bottom or sliding-blade B. Both these parts are shewn in the drawing connected to
each other at the ends by means of small bolts or pins (
In the drawing the sliding-blade B is shewn, for example, furnished with vertical
projections D and E, which pass through slots in the rigid part A of the runner.
The front projection D of the sliding-blade is extended, so that it forms a support for
the front or sole-plate or foot-rest F of the skate. To prevent any strain between the
sliding-blade and the sole-plate, the hole, through which the connecting pin is passed
is made oblong. At about the middle of the rigid part A a screw G is applied,
which, when it is screwed down, presses against the sliding-blade, so that the latter
can be bent or curved to the required degree. This bottom end of the screw enters
a hole in the sliding-blade, which is thereby prevented from moving laterally. On
the rigid part A is a projecting heel H, which, when the adjusting screw is unscrewed,
bears against the sliding-blade and prevents the latter from being pressed inwards by
the weight of the skater.
It is obvious that the invention can be modified in various ways.
For example,
instead of using only one adjusting screw, as hereinbefore described and shewn in
Figure 1, two or more of such screws can be employed, and instead of using a screw
or screws for adjusting the curve of the runner, an eccentric or eccentrics, welges or
their equivalents can be employed. Instead of the projections D and E, which
connect the part A with the sliding-blade being formed on the latter, they can as
advantageously project from the former. On one of the parts of the runner one or
more pins can be applied, which pass into holes in the other part or embrace the
same on the sides. Both parts are thereby rendered more secure from lateral move-
ment in relation to each other. Instead of jointing the two parts of the runner at
their ends and fitting the adjusting screw or screws or the like between the said
joints, I can place the joint at about the middle of the said parts and apply the
adjusting screws or the like near their ends. The screws or the like can then be
made to operate by pressure or by tension according to the way in which the runner
is to be curved.
Moreover the rigid part of the runner can be so modified, as shewn in figure 2,
that by means of a screw or the like it operates by tension in a longitudinal direction
on the sliding-blade so as to stretch or contract it.
In hoth these latter cases the rigid part A of the runner can be entirely dispensed
with as illustrated in figure 3 and between the sole and heel plates of the skate
mechanism can be applied, by means of which, the said plates can be contructed or
expanded.

page_text: The sliding-blade can also by the same means have the required curve given to it.
If contracting-mechanism be used, it can be applied at the middle or towards the
ends of the runner; and it is obvious that the blades need not be connected by
means of movable joints, but simply be connected to each other by means of suitable
clips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
:-
(1) Means such as those hereinbefore described for varying the curve of the
bottom edges of the runners of skates, the runner being for this purpose made in two
parts, connected to or resting against each other at the ends or the middle, and
adapted to be forced apart or contracted by means of adjusting screws, eccentrics,
wedges or the like, applied to one part of the runner and working against the other
part.
(2) A skate having adjusting-screws, eccentrics or the like applied between the
runner of the skate and the supports for the heel or sole-plates or between the heel
and sole plates, by means of which adjusting screws, eccentrics or the like, the said
plates or the supports can be contracted or forced apart from each other in order to
vary the curve of the edge of the runner, substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3) The modified arrangement in which both parts of the runner are firmly
secured to each other at one end, the other end being moveable lengthwise through
the medium of a screw, eccentric or the like, by means of which the curve of the
sliding-blade is adjusted substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the 13th day of I nouct 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.