Improvements in Boots.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots.
I, WILLIAM CAINES HUNT of 85 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, 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 improvements in surgical boots and has for its objects,
firstly, the application of a continuous electric current to the foot of the wearer,
and secondly, an improved method of construction whereby the source of the afore-
said electric current may be adopted to said boots, and the same rendered
impervious to external dampness and more durable than obtains with the ordinary
methods in general use.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of a preferred form of electric battery, and Figure 2
is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.
These two views are, for purposes of
clearness drawn to a larger scale than the other figures upon the sheet.
Figure 3 is a view of the under side of the inner sole of a boot made according
to my invention, and Figure 4 is a general view of a boot, shewing by a dotted
outline, the arrangement of the electric battery and its contacts.
Within
In carrying out my invention I construct a suitable case A, Figures 1 and 2, of
insulating material, and provided with two or more lugs a for attachment.
the hollow interior I arrange a battery or electric pile B, composed of a number
of voltaic couples, consisting of discs or plates of dissimilar metals, separated by
a porous medium. Said couples are arranged in series or multiple as the case may
be, and the final terminals + and projected through the top of the case A. Any
suitable clectrolyte may be employed to saturate the porous mediums and primarily
excite the battery.
a
-
The boots or shoes are constructed without tingles or pegs in the soles, and the
uppers C Figure 3 are first stitched to the inner sole D, in the same manner as in
sewn round "boot or shoe. A space is thus left for the insertion of the
electric battery as above described, and the filling in may be of cork, rubber or
other suitable material, or said battery may be dispensed with, and the space
entirely filled in with said material. The outer sole F, Figure 4 is then stitched on
to the uppers C and inner sole D, rendering the boots or shoes durable and damp-
proof.
-
When the electric battery in its case A is placed in position as before described,
between the inner sole and the outer sole, illustrated by the dotted outline Figure 4,
a connection is made between the + terminal ' and a contact bat or near the
ankle, and the terminal c is connected to a similar contact upon the opposite
side. Or I may arrange one of said contacts to touch any other part of the foot,
other than the sole, the cuticle thereof being of too high resistance to permit of
the passage of an appreciable electric current.
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 I
claim is ;-
First. In a surgical boot or shoe the construction and use of an electric battery
or pile. substantially as herein described and shewn by the appended drawings.

page_text: Second. The method of constructing a surgical boot substantially as and for the
purposes herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the appended
drawings.
Dated this 31st day of August 1891.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.