Improvements in Skates.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan.,
1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skates.
I THOMAS BERNEY, of Bracon Hall, Bracon Ash, Norwich, Clerk in Holy
Orders do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
:-
The invention for which Provisional Protection is applied for consists
1st. In the form of the heel of the iron being about that of the longitudinal
section of a well-formed youthful heel, and by preference projecting beyond the
wood of the skate; and
2ndly. Unusually deep both ways, suitably not alone for overcoming obstacles;
but especially for supplying an additional and long bearing of several inches, for
resting upon, with safety and comfort, in fast backward outside skating, as well as
in forward inside and outside rolling ;
3rdly. In the forward curve of it rising up, as in the foot, under the centre of the
leg bone, or thereabout.
The head of the skate iron, as not unusual in front, is of nearly the same form
reversed, but carried backward until the deepest part of it, but
4thly. Ranging by preference in depth from the wood with the heel, begins at
about the middle of the foot, and
5thly. Its after-curve rising up in like manner, so as to bisect the said forward
rising-curve of the heel under the said centre of the legbone, or thereabout.
Thirty-first day of December 1891.
THOMAS BERNEY
(Usual signature) Thos. Berney,
Bracon Hall, Norwich.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skates.
1 THOMAS BERNEY of Bracon Hall, Bracon Ash, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 only to improvements in the form of the hinder half of the
irons of skates, and for purposes hereinafter to be mentioned. The drawing Fig. 1.
part of this Specification represents a skate of the form and size preferred for a
boot eleven inches in length. A foot rule is, therefore, a scale of proportions for
any length of boot.
It is standing on it's centre on the horizontal line ICE. The wood is limited
by preference to a thickness of of an inch at W: and the depth of the iron is
also limited by preference to a depth of of an inch below the wood, which by it's
curve rises an eighth of an inch at each end.
My invention consists
1st. In the backward curve of the skate iron from C A Fig. 1. rising by a
rapidly increasing curve to the point G under the centre of the leg bone, and at an
elevation of of an inch above the horizontal line I C E.
2ndly. In the form of the heel of the iron being a modification of the longitudinal
section of a youthful heel, but projecting by preference beyond the wood of
the skate.
3rdly. In being unusually deep for any curved skate irons, both before and after
the perpendicular let fall from the end of the wood at F to point B, a depth of

page_text: of an inch thus ranging with the central depth of the skate iron in distance
from the wood. Thus from a centre on that line, and distance of an inch to B
I describe a full quadrant of a circle backwards, and, carrying the line upward by
a slight ogee, let it die in the line of the wood at F.
4thly. In carrying the lower end of the quadrant at B forward of an inch only,
but in the direction of X, a straight line tangent to the curve of the skate
iron at A.
5thly. In its then rising, as under the foot, by a rapidly increasing curve to meet
the before said curve of the skate iron at the said point G under the centre of the
leg bone and
6thly. In the long span-bearing, as I will call it, thereby obtained, and in this
sized skate amounting to 4 inches from A to B, under and about the natural centre
of gravity, and the intervening spanned space not touching the ice beneath it.
Furthermore my invention has for its object by such formations, or any modifi-
cations of them, the securing to skaters, both the beginner and the expert, greater
safety, comfort and confidence.
Thus if the beginner have new long straight skates quite sharp, and he strike out
boldly, throwing his weight in one direction, while the skate takes a line of its own
in an oblique direction, he must come to grief; but, with my span-bearing skate,
the point A would take a line parallel to his line of gravity, making probably a
curve, point B necessarily following it, to his great satisfaction. He will also
always have a proportionate span-bearing under his centre of gravity, and he will
learn with confidence quickly.
Again, on hard rigid snow ice, curved skates are liable to fly-up under any one,
causing a severe fall; but my span-bearing would span all, or at least it's width of
the ridge, giving support before and behind.
Again, the expert will cut figures of 3 and scollops on the middle of the skate:
but then by dropping onto the span-bearing he will be able to make very large
circles as steadily as a rock-and with the same span-bearing roll inside or outside
forwards or backward with perfect comfort.
Again, there are various modifications of the section of the heel, and may be
adopted in conjunction with the span-bearing of this invention, such as H Figures 2
and 3; but I greatly prefer Fig. 1: for in elegant backward skating, where the
one skate is set down immediately behind the other which is about to be taken up
and used to give impetus, the heel at H cannot catch the toe of the other as shewn
at T Fig. 1. A.
Again, any of these modifications of heel are sufficient for good ice; but in
furious backward skating à la Russe, when the skate in air is brought down after
the other which is ready to strike, the body being leant forward, the fore part of the
skate is used, and the heel is raised inch above the ice, ready for all reasonable
obstacles; but not such as I once met with between two bridges on the Thames,
with not another soul in sight, even another gentleman, equally seeing no one,
equally skating furiously backwards à la Russe. We met, in mid career, dos à dos
bang!!
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I further state that I do not
restrict myself, to the precise details herein described and illustrated because,
from the nature of the said invention, these may be considerably modified without
departing from the chief characteristics of the said invention; but I declare that
what I claim is-
1st. The backward curve of the skate iron from C A Fig. 1. rising up to a point,
and by preference to the point G, the natural centre of gravity under the centre of
the leg bone, and at an elevation of of an inch above the horizontal line I C E.
2ndly. The form of the heel being a modification of the longitudinal section of a
human heel H but projecting by preference beyond the wood of the skate.
3rdly. The depth of the said heel, whether before only, or before and after a

page_text: perpendicular let fall from the end of the wood at F to the point B, being of the
same depth from it as the iron at the centre of the skate is from the wood, the
whole wood being slightly curved upward towards it's end as shewn.
4thly. The carrying of the iron, whether the heel extend beyond that perpendicular
or not, in the depth from B forward a little way only; but in the direction of X
the tangent of the curve of the skate iron at point A.
5thly. This short length then rising as under the foot, as shewn, to meet the said
similar by preference rising curve of the skate iron CA at the said point at G.
6thly. This long span-bearing, as I will call it, thus obtained, and in this sized
skate amounting to 4 ins. from A to B, under G the natural centre of gravity, and
the intervening spanned space, so as not to touch the ice beneath it: and
7thly. The special form of the heel Fig. 1. H, which, while giving a full length
of span-bearing even beyond the point B, is so formed in the ogee curve of it, that
the toe of the other skate iron at T Fig. 1. A, when set down behind it in skating,
cannot foul it.
1000
THOMAS BERNEY.