Improvements in Skates.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Skates.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER DUTHIE, of Twenty-eight, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, in
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Shipbuilder and 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:—
My invention relates to the means of attaching and detaching the sole and heel
pieces to the keel or runner; adjusting the same to fit various widths of boots ;
attaching and detaching the skate to the boot all in a simpler, quicker, and more
secure and efficient manner.
For this purpose there are formed in the keel or runner of the skate at three places,
what is known as bayonet slots, or in other words, slots, with a vertical upper part and
longitudinal lower part, that is to say, an angular slot, two where the sole, and one
where the heel pieces are respectively affixed.
The two front or sole slots with their
upper or vertical parts towards the back or heel end, while the heel slot has its vertical
part at the opposite or front end, this latter vertical part leaning towards the back or
heel end at the top forming an acute angle. The sole and heel pieces are provided
with parts hanging down (either of a piece with themselves, or attached thereto by
rivets brazing on a combination) in the line of keel or runner, one at either side of
keel, at each of the aforenamed slots, in corresponding position thereto, that is, two
at each sole slot and two at the heel slot, being one at either side of each respective
slot. These pieces each to have a hole made to receive a rivet, which passes through
each of these hanging pieces, and is riveted thereto, and placed so that, when inserted
into the respective slots, provided for them in the keel or runner, they will be at the
lowest part of said slots when the upper part of keel or runner is pressing against the
lower side of sole and heel piece respectively. Thus it will be seen that the sole and
heel pieces can be removed at will from the keel or runner by simply pushing the
sole or heel respectively back or forward, and raising them out of the vertical part of
the slot, thus enabling the skate to be easily packed for carriage and handled for
cleaning or sharpening of keel. Further the sole piece has a cross slot at each side,
through each of which passes a bolt, the head of which is under sole. This bolt is
securely screwed into a clamp or angle plate placed above the slot for its reception.
The angle plate is of such a shape as to form two upright ends at each side of sole
piece when so affixed, which ends when fitted and permanently fixed to the desired
width along the afore mentioned slot in sole piece to fit the sole part or front of
the boot of the wearer of the skate at the desired part, to suit the heel adjustment
in such a manner as to allow the wearer to insert the fore part of the sole of
the boot, and by pressing the boot forward or pulling the skate backward, until the
sides of the boots sole becomes fixed in a dove-tail grip between the upright ends;
Thus attaching the front part of boot to the skate in such position that the after or
heel end is in the necessary position for receiving the heel part of the attachment.
The heel part consists of a flat piece with two uprights at the back or circular part of
the heel, each of which uprights has a sharp knife or prong piece on the top made by
turning over the top part of these uprights in a forward direction, that is, pointing
towards the front of the skate. The heel part is placed below the heel of boot in
such a way that the knives or prongs are embedded a little into the leather at the
back of the heel of the boot.

page_text: The keel or runner of the skate being in such a position that a slight pull would
enable the wearer to place the mouth of the vertical after slot in line and just under
the rivet of heel piece. The skater, then, by placing the foot on the ground, and
putting the full weight on the skate will cause the after rivet to fall down the
vertical part of the slot, when the whole skate will become firmly attached to the
boot; by reason of the shape of this slot, namely acute angle, which will incline
decidedly to contract the boot at the instep during the descent, thereby putting the
after or heel piece forward making the back knives or prongs take a firm hold, at
the very back end of the lever formed by the keel when in use, at the same time
making the front clamps also take a firm hold of the sole, but on reaching the
bottom of said slot, any undue tension and contraction of the instep during descent
will be relieved by the very pressure caused thereby springing the rivet backward
into the back end of the horizontal part of said slot, so securing the whole skate
firmly to the boot. It then cannot possibly come off, till the wearer so desires.
Then, all that is required for removal is to place one hand on the after part of the
boot and with the other pull the keel backwards till the rivet is forward enough to be
raised up the vertical part of the aforesaid slot.
Alternatively at the fore adjustment I arrange between the bolt heads and the
sole piece a washer, which has two raised parts one at either side, made to fit into a
series of indentations made to receive them along each side of the cross slots of the
sole piece, and on the under side of same. This washer arrangement being for the
purpose of providing a firm hold to the angle pieces or clamps avoiding the necessity
of hard tightening up of the bolt, which is necessary when this washer is not
used.
No special material has been named for the manufacture of the various parts of
this invention, it being the intention to use any material in common use for like
purposes.
The accompanying drawings are
First A plan looking down on sole of skate adjusted for a narrow size of boot,
also showing by dotted lines the adjustment for a wide boot.
Second: A side elevation showing boot attached at front, and ready for attaching
by means of the after slot as above described.
Third: A side elevation showing skate where completely attached to boot.
Fourth A part side elevation, and part plan showing alternative arrangement
with washer.
In each of these respective drawings
A is the keel or runner.
B the bayonet or angular slot.
C the sole and heel pieces.
D the hanging down parts of sole and heel.
E the rivets which pass through hanging pieces and angular slots.
F cross slots in sole pieces.
G bolts in sole piece.
H clamps or angular plates.
K heel uprights with knife or prong tops.
L washer.
M raised part on washer.
N indentations for raised parts of washer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:-
First The herein described method of attaching and detaching the sole and heel
parts of the skate to and from the keel or runner substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
No claim is made of exclusive right to use sole and heel pieces, nor the hanging
down parts, nor rivets thereon, all of which are in common use, but the combination
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 5
I claim is :-
First The herein described method of attaching and detaching the sole and heel
parts of the skate to and from the keel or runner substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
No claim is made of exclusive right to use sole and heel pieces, nor the hanging 5
down parts, nor rivets thereon, all of which are in common use, but the combination

page_text: of them and the other parts herein described as used for the purpose herein set
forth.
Second-The herein described method of adjusting skates to fit various widths of
boots, by means of slots, bolts, clamps, or angle pieces in such a manner as to be fitted
permanently previous to the insertion of the boot thereto, substantially and for the
purpose herein set forth.
No claim is made of exclusive right to use cross slots, bolts, or side clamps or angle
pieces, all of which are in common use, but only the combination as and for the
purpose herein set forth. While as commonly used they are accompanied in com-
bination with either cross or longitudinal screws, levers or some such other mechanical
and complicated contrivance for the purpose of drawing the side clamps or angle
pieces hard against the boot after the boot has been placed on the skate; while by this
method the clamps are dead fixtures before the boot is placed between them.
Third: The herein described method of attaching or locking of the skate to the boot
by means of the heel acute angle slot arrangement combined with the back knife or
prong uprights, hanging down parts and rivet, arranged on the heel part, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
No claim is made of exclusive right to use the heel part, hanging down part, back
uprights or rivet all of which are in common use, but to their combination with the
other parts, as and for the use herein set forth.
Fourth: The alternative arrangement of washer with raised parts and indentations
for receipt of same at sides of cross slots, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
All of which improvements may be used together or separately.