AN IMPROVED STILT."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED STILT."-A communication from abroad by Franklin
Beaumont, Junior, and William Henry Beaumont, Gentlemen,
both of Dallas, Dallas County, State of Texas, United States of

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been communicated
to me from abroad by Franklin Beaumont, Junior, and William Henry
Beaumont, Gentlemen, both of Dallas, Dallas County, State of Texas,
United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to a new and improved stilt, and it consists in a
stirrup to receive the foot pivoted to a sliding tube or sleeve that
embraces the stilt rod, the said stirrup being provided with a serrated
extension which when the weight is upon the stirrup passes through a
slot in the tube, and grips the stilt rod so as to form a rigid connection
therewith. The said pivoted stirrup is also provided with a spring which
maintains the connection or engagement between the serrated extension
and stilt rod, when the weight of the person is not upon the stirrup.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stilt with portions of the rod broken
away; Figure 2, a perspective of the sliding tube or sleeve; and Figure
3, a perspective of the stirrup with spring attached.
A represents the stilt rod which is preferably made of wood and of a
shape to conform to the sliding tube or sleeve B here shown as square or
nearly so; C represents the base of the stirrup which is provided with a
curved upper frame or guard D, and a lower elbow extension c at right
angles or nearly so to the base of the stirrup. The said stirrup is pivoted
upon a horizontal axis to lugs b₁ constructed upon the tube B, and its
lower extension c is serrated and forced through slot b in the tubes by
means of a spring E, whereby the serrated edge of the extension is made
to engage the stilt rod, and the position of the device upon the stilt rod
is controlled. By means of the above described arrangement, it will be
seen that when the weight of the person is upon the stirrup, the lower
extension carrying the serrated edge is made to act as the arm of an
elbow lower, and the rigidity of the devices increased just in proportion
to the weight imposed thereupon.

page_text: Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,—
1st. The combination with a stilt rod and sliding tube or sleeve of any
desired shape of a stirrup or foot support pivoted to said tube, so that
weight imposed thereupon secures the same to the stilt rod.
2nd. The rod A, sliding tube or sleeve B having lugs b₁, b¹, and slot b,
the spring E, and pivoted stirrup C, having serrated extension c, all
combined and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.