IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Dobson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents ou the 3rd February 1881.
HENRY DOBSON, of Hull, in the County of York.
SKATES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in skates, and it consists in the attachment
of boot uppers to the ordinary wooden clog skates, the object of my Invention
being economy and simplicity.
In carrying out my Invention I attach the boot upper to the wooden clog of the
skate by nails or by other equivalents and secure the same to the foot by means of
laces or other fastenings.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Dobson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July
1881.
HENRY DOBSON, of the Willows, Newland, Hull, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATES."
My Invention relates to improvements in skates, and it consists in shaping the
ordinary wooden clog of what may be termed the old fashioned skate, so that it
may fit comfortably against the underside of the foot, and in attaching thereto the
upper portion of a boot of any suitable shape, fashion, or material, by any suitable
fastenings, but by preference I cut or otherwise form a channel or recess round the
edge of the beforementioned clog into which the edge of the leather or other
material of which the upper portion is made is firmly secured by means of what
are technically known as sprigs, or by other analagous articles.
The skate iron or blade is fastened to the underside of the clog in the usual or
any suitable way best adapted to the purpose.
The object gained by my Invention is a more comfortable method of securing
the ordinary skate to the foot of the wearer than by the use of straps, which
cramp the foot and tend to prevent a proper circulation of the blood; whereas a
skate made according to my Invention, and to which I give the name of the
Sabot skate," is, on the contrary, warm and comfortable to the feet, combined
with absolute security. It is obvious that no damage is sustained by the ordinary
walking boots of the skater, as is always the case when skates are screwed or
clasped on to them.
And in order to render my Invention perfectly clear I will now refer to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corre-
sponding parts in both the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents a complete "Sabot" skate made according to my Invention.
Fig. 2 represents the same skate with the leather portion removed to show the
channel or recess round the edge of the clog or sabot. A is the upper part of a
boot secured to the clog or sabot B in the channel or recess E by means of the
sprigs C, C; D is the skate iron.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that a Patent has been obtained
for skates in which boots with wooden soles and heels shaped like those on
ordinary boots and attached to skate irons by metallic attachments and screws are
claimed.
I am aware that such skates are expensive to manufacture and are therefore
beyond the reach of the general public. I therefore wish it to be distinctly
understood that I do not claim the use of boots with wooden soles that are shaped
to represent the soles and heels of leather boots, but I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,―
The manufacture and use of skates in which the old fashioned wooden clog skate
is shaped to fit the underside of the foot, and to which is secured the upper part of
a boot of any desired shape, pattern, or material, substantially for the purpose and
in the manner as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
In witness whereof whereof, I, the said Henry Dobson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY DOBSON. (L.S.)