AN IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LEARNING OF SKATING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Knox Dallison, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SAFETY APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE
LEARNING OF SKATING."
Scaled the 11th August 1876, and dated the 9th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Knox Dallison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1876.
JOHN KNOX DALLISON, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey.
SAFETY APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LEARNING OF SKATING."
"AN IMPROVED
This Invention relates to an apparatus to be used in connection with skating on
ice, "glaciarums," or "skating rinks," or on other smooth or even floors or surfaces,
to enable learners and timid or nervous persons to commence the practice of skating
with fuller confidence, so that they may the sooner ascertain their capabilities and
acquire proficiency in skating without the risk of falling.
This apparatus is constructed so as to surround the legs or lower part of the
body of the skater, allowing, however, amplo freedom of movement thereto, and
it reaches upwardly to about the hands. It is made of a light but strong frame-
work of tubular or rod iron, or of other suitable metal, with surrounding hoops
braced and kept apart by uprights, which are securely rivetted or connected thereto,
and the bottom of the uprights are provided with castors, wheels, or rollers to
allow of the apparatus having travelling movement in every direction according to
the movements of the skater. The top rim or hoop is also provided with side
handles, which are grasped by the hands, so that in the event of the skater's feet
sliding from under him, as they very frequently will, his weight is immediately
borne by the apparatus and he is prevented from falling, and is enabled immediately
to stay his progress and to regain his foothold.
The apparatus may be variously constructed in all cases, having a comparatively
enlarged base forward by the said castors, wheels, or rollers to prevent its canting
or overturning, and having upper handles, so that the skater may save himself
from falling in the event of losing his foothold.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Knox Dallison in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 9th
December 1876.
JOHN KNOX DALLISON, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVED
SAFETY APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LEARNING OF SKATING."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus to be used in connection with
skating, sliding, or travelling on ice, "glaciarums," "skating rinks," or other smoothi
or even floor surfaces, or roads, or pavements, to enable learners and those unskilled
in the practice and timid or nervous persons to commence and continue the practice
or exercise of skating with the usual skates, or of sliding, or quickly and skilfully
travelling over such surfaces with fuller confidence and more enjoyment, so that
they may the sooner ascertain their capabilities and acquire proficiency in skating
without the risk or liability of falling.
The improved apparatus is illustrated (in one modification of its construction) on
the accompanying Drawing. It is constructed usually so as to surround or nearly
surround the legs or front of the lower part of the body of the skater, allowing,
however, of ample freedom of movement thereto, and it reaches upwardly to about
the hands when the arins are hanging down. It is formed or made with a light
but strong framework of tubular or rod iron or other suitable metal; this frame-
work may receive in its conformation and shape any variety of figure or ornamen-
tation, depending upon the cost of manufacture and the requirements of the user.
The configuration of the framework is therefore altogether immaterial and apart
from the principle of the Invention, but its provision in some form is absolutely
necessitated as an intermedium or connection between the two other material
parts of the Invention, and these consist, the one of a comparatively wide spread base
provided with castors, wheels, or rollers, so that the apparatus may receive travelling
inovement in every direction and may even turn about its own centre, and so
that it may be rendered next to impossible to upset in ordinary or even very
rough practice; and the other of a couple of handles or equivalent supports, which
are intended to be grasped by the hands to enable the desired travelling move-
iments to be given to the apparatus, and to serve as the means of preventing the
full of the skater in the event of his feet sliding from under him, as they very
frequently will do, and to enable him immediately to stay his progress and regain
his foothold.
The annexed Drawing illustrates one of the most simple modifications of the
construction of such apparatus.
The framing is represented as constructed with semi-circular or partly surrounding
hoops 1, braced and kept apart by inclined standards or "uprights" 2, much wider
apart at their bottoms than at their tops, and which are securely rivetted or con-
nected thereto, and further strengthened and ornamented by other metallic rod or
tube stays 3. This framing, as above referred to, forms (one modification of the
construction of) the necessary intermedium or connection between the base and
the handles. The base consists of a series of castors, wheels, or rollers 4, which, in
the case of the framing above described, are attached or connected to the bottoins
of the standards 2, which, as above mentioned, are inclined and spread outwardly
and apart from each other much wider at their bottoms than at their tops. A firm
base is thus obtained, which will practically prevent the upsetting or overturning
of the apparatus, even if the weight of a heavy man using the apparatus is suddenly
made to bear on one side or part, and the apparatus attains perfect freedom of
travelling movement in every direction according to the movements and wish of
the skater. The handles 5 (or their equivalent supporting medium) are, in the
case of the framing above described, attached or connected to the top rim or hoop 1,
and they they thus afford convenient means of giving any desired travelling move-
ments to the apparatus which the skater may desire to take, and of preventing the
fall of the skater in the event of his fect slipping from under him or of his

page_text: stumbling, and of allowing him to stay his progress immediately and regain his
foothold, his weight being in the meantime supported by the apparatus.
The safety of the apparatus and of the skater are thus each fully provided for.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said Invention, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
carried into practice, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention-
The novel and peculiar construction of apparatus specially designed and arranged
to facilitate the learning and continuance of the practice of skating, sliding, or
quickly and skilfully travelling over ice "glaciarums," "skating rinks," or other
smooth or even floor surfaces, or pavements, or roads, the same having handles or
supports to be grasped by the hands at the top or upper part of the apparatus, and
an extended base formed of a series of castors, wheels, or rollers, and an intermediate
framing connecting the handles and base, the framing being made of any desirable
shape or configuration.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Knox Dallison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
"
JOHN K. DALLISON. (L.S.)