An Improvement in Acme" Skates.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
An Improvement in Acme" Skates.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to skates of the "Acme" type, and consists of improved
means for securing the lever whereby the sole- and heel-gripping pieces are
operated.
According to the usual method of construction, the rear end of the lever is
bent downwards and engages, by means of two checks, with the upper edge of
the skate-iron. In use, there is considerable risk of the engaging end of the
lever becoming lifted off and disengaged from the skate-iron in consequence of
the latter entering a rut in the ice or being struck against frozen snow.
Upon
becoming thus disengaged, the lever flies open and the skate is completely
released; many serious accidents having resulted from this cause.
In an
"Acme" skate provided with my improved means for securing the lever,
the rear end of the lever is turned upwards and engages in a notch formed on
the under side of the heel-plate. The notch may be formed by stamping and
bending portions of the heel-plate downwards, in a similar manner to that
commonly employed in producing the lugs for holding the skate-iron; the bent
and turned down portion or portions being by preference set at an inclination.
When the hereinbefore-described means for securing the lever are employed, the
prominence, commonly found upon the upper edge of the skate-iron, and presumably
intended to afford the lever some protection against being lifted, may be dispensed
with and the skate lightened.
Dated this 10th dox of Tanu 1901
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
$6
An Improvement in Acme" Skates.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISHI HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to skates of the "Acme" type, and consists of improved
means for securing the lever whereby the sole- and heel-gripping pieces are
operated.
According to the usual method of construction, the rear end of the lever serving
to operate the sole- and heel-grips is bent downwards and engages, by means of two
pendent lips, with the upper edge of the skate-iron. In use, there is considerable
risk of the engaging end of the lever becoming lifted off and disengaged from the
skate-iron in consequence of the latter entering a rut in the ice, or of the lever
coming into contact with frozen snow or other firm substance. Upon becoming
thus disengaged, the lever flies open and the skate is completely released; many
serious accidents having resulted from this cause.
The accompanying drawing represents in side elevation an "Acme" skate
provided with my improved means for securing the operating lever. A is the
skate-iron, B the toe-plate, C the heel-plate, D the lever pivoted at d and serving
to operate the sole- and heel-grips E, F. The rear end of the lever D is turned
C

page_text: upwards and engages in a notch G formed on the under side of the heel-plate C.
The notch G may be formed by stamping and bending portions of the heel-plate
downwards, in a similar manner to that commonly employed in producing the lugs
for holding the skate-iron; the bent and turned-down portion or portions being by
preference set at an inclination in the direction of the path traversed by the free
end of the lever.
When the hereinbefore-described means for securing the lever are employed, the
prominence, commonly found upon the upper edge of the skate-iron, and presumably
intended to afford the lever some protection against being lifted, may be dispensed
with, and the skate lightened, as shewn in the accompanying illustration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
In an
"Acme" skate, engaging the rear end of the operating lever in a notch
formed in the heel-plate, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 19th day of October 1891.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.