Improvements in Tennis and like Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tennis and like Boots and Shoes.
I MAUD ALICE CHAMPION of 188, Holland Road, Kensington, W. Journalist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what monuer the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to an improvement in connection with shoes used for
tennis and other purposes, and has for its object to provide a shoe which is
suitable for such purposes, and will at the same time be more comfortable in
wear.
Shoes used for tennis and like purposes are required to have a flat sole, so that
the turf may not be injured as would be the case if ordinary soles were used
Shoes of this kind are commonly uncomfortable to wear, owing to the want of a
heel, as the wearers are used to shoes in which a heel is provided.
In order that a shoe may be provided of the usual form and also suitable for
playing tennis in, I fit to a shoc provided with a heel, and otherwise made in the
ordinary manner, a special sole extending from the toe to the heel and flat, so that
a clear space is provided below the instep. This sole can be made entirely of
rubber or a thin leather sole may be used preferably covered with rubber. To
secure this to the ordinary sole it may be stitched or fixed in any other well known
manner. If it is desired to make the flat sole detachable it can be secured at the
toe by means of a clip or rubber band passing over the toe of the boot. To fit the
sole to the heel a rubber clip is employed on the upper face of the rear end of
the additional sole. This clip or band is stretched so as to encircle the heel and
grip it tightly. The sole may be further secured by means of ordinary shoe spikes
or nails, or by stitching.
This additional sole can be permanently fixed to the shoe, or may be fitted to an
ordinary shoe and detached when desired, any shoe being thus adaptable for use
when playing tennis.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a shoe in side elevation with my improvement fitted to it, the
special sole being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slight
modification in which a detachable sole is shown.
According to Fig. 1 the detachable sole A is secured to the shoe B by stitching
it to the ordinary sole around the edges. The additional sole is shown of
slightly larger size than the ordinary one, but may be of any dimensions
suitable for the purpose.
It is secured to the heel by means of the rubber clip a
which fits tightly around the heel, the rubber being stretched to permit of the
insertion of the heel. A space is thus provided underneath the instep, and this
arrangement permits of easy ventilation, holes being formed in the sole of the shoe
without fear of damp penetrating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
(1.) Improvements in boots and shoes for tennis and like purposes, consisting of
an additional flat sole fitted to a shoe of the ordinary form, and extending from the

page_text: toe to the heel, secured by stitching or like means to the sole, and by a rubber
clip to the heel, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes
specified.
(2.) Improvements in shoes for tennis and like purposes consisting of an
additional flat sole stitched to the ordinary sole of the shoe, and secured to the
heel by means of a rubber clip in which the heel tightly fits, substantially as
described and shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
(3.) Improvements in boots and shoes consisting of a detachable flat sole secured
to the ordinary sole and heel by means of rubber clips, substantially as described
and shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
(4.) The improved boot and shoes for tennis and other purposes, consisting of an
ordinary boot or shoe with ventilation holes under the instep, and an additional
flat sole secured to the heel by means of a rubber clip encircling the same sub-
stantially as described and shown, and for the purposes specified.
Dated thia 17th day of M., 1903
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.