IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Morgan of Frome in the County of
Somerset, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Morgan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1883.
HENRY JOHN MORGAN of Frome in the County of Somerset Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES"
The present improvements in Boots and Shoes relate more particularly to
waterproof boots suitable for shooting and other purposes, the object being to
properly ventilate them and to facilitate their attachment to, or removal from, the
foot of the wearer.
In carrying out the first part of my invention I make or arrange within the
boot, one or more passages or tubes for the admission of air the said passages
leading from the top edge of the upper to an opening or series of openings in the
inside of the boot, and preferably near the heel, so that the foot, in the act of
walking, will cause air to be drawn in by the said tube or tubes and be diffused
throughout the boot around the foot of the wearer.
The upper and quarter of the boot are preferably made of a double thickness of
leather and the ventilating air tubes can be conveniently formed in, or arranged
between, the double walls of the quarter.
The air passages or tubes may be kept open by means of flexible spirals of wire,
or may consist of india rubber tubes attached to the inside of the boot and in
proper communication with the outer air.
If necessary, valves may be arranged within the said air passages or tubes to
facilitate the pumping action of the foot in drawing in air from the outside and
diffusing it around the foot, while at the same time completely excluding all
water.
The flexible ventilating tubes may terminate in simple perforations in the
lining of the boot, or may be connected with a small bellows or flexible air
[Price Bd. 1

page_text: chamber which is actuated by the movement of the foot in walking, and this air
chamber may be arranged in any suitable part of the boot where it will be exposed
to alternate compression and expansion, and pump in air. By these means a
current of air will be diffused through the boot and the foot will be kept cool and
healthy.
The second part of my invention relates to improved means for facilitating the
fastening of the boot upon the foot, or its detachment therefrom, and consists in a
novel combination of short tubes or loops, and eyes which come into line when the
parts are brought properly in place, and which are secured together by a flexible
rod or by a cord or lace passing through them alternately. By withdrawing the
rod or slackening the cord or lace the loops can be separated from the eyes, and
the boot be readily removed from the foot. Or, the metal eyes may be passed
through the flap and be secured by a rod or cord in the manner above described.
The tongue is of soft leather in one single piece and prevents all water below
the level of the top of the boot from entering when the loops and eyes are
separated.
This arrangement of fastening is extremely neat in appearance and offers
nothing in the shape of a projection for heather, stalks or briars to catch in, a
source of great inconvenience in the case of boots fitted with hooks as ordinarily
used.
The short tubes or loops are preferably made of leather, formed in one with or
secured to the front flap, and the eyes are preferably made out of wire and passed
through holes in the quarter, their bases being secured behind the quarter, or
between the double walls thereof.
In some cases, the loops might also be made of metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry John Morgan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1883.
HENRY JOHN MORGAN of Frome in the County of Somerset, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES"
The object of the present invention is to provide Boots and Shoes with means
for proper ventilation and to facilitate the attachment of the boot upon the foot or
its removal therefrom.
The invention is more particularly applicable to waterproof Boots such as are
used for shooting and other purposes, and in which the tongue is necessarily made
continuous with or is attached continuously to the upper, for the purpose of
excluding water; but it may be used with Boots and Shoes in which the tongue is
not continuous or in one with the upper
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated my improvements as applied to
a waterproof Boot which I propose to call the "Viscount" shooting boot
Fig 1 is a side elevation of a right-foot boot laced-up, with my improvements
applied thereto, Fig: 2 is a corresponding view of the boot, unlaced; Figures 3
shew in partial side elevation and cross section the construction of my ventilating
tubes; and Fig: 4 is an outside view of a portion of a left foot boot shewing an
alternative method of attachment upon the foot.
In Fig: 2, A is the tongue made of soft waterproof material and having its
edges continuously attached to the "quarter," so as to entirely prevent the ingress
of water.
According to my Invention I provide for the efficient ventilation of the interior
of the boot by means of one or more passages or tubes B leading from the top edge
of the upper C to an opening or series of openings in the inside of the boot and
preferably towards the front of the heel or below the instep. These openings are
indicated by dotted lines in Fig: 1 and are marked b. The tube or air passage B
is formed in the thickness of the wall of the boot and may consist of a separte
tube of leather or other flexible material secured in place between the several
thickesses of leather forming the upper; or it may be, and preferably is, formed
on the outside of the boot at the time of stitching the back to the quarter, by
lapping the back over the quarter, and stitching along the edge, so as to leave a
hollow ridge on the outside of the boot; and preferably following the contour of
the edge of the back piece, as shewn in the drawing.
The hollow ridge thus formed on the outside, or within the wall but towards the
outer side of the boot, does not offer the inconvenience to the wearer which a tube
of rubber or other material projecting within the boot and pressing against the
foot would be liable to do.
By this arrangement moreover the air tube is not so liable to become flattened
and obstructed by the pressure of the foot, as I arrange the tubes so as to occupy
that part of the boot which lies behind the ankle and is consequently least
subjected to distension from within. Moreover, to prevent all risk of the tubes
becoming closed and useless, I fit within them fine closely-coiled spiral springs B'
as clearly shewn in Figs 3.
The same arrangement may be applied to shoes, the tubes being arranged
externally as before, and situate behind the ankle so as to offer no inconvenience
to the foot of the wearer.
The air tubes fitted with distension springs may communicate with a small
rubber hemisphere, or an equivalent bellow's arrangement such as have been

page_text: previously applied for other purposes to the interiors of boots and shoes, and this
bellows arrangement may be adapted to the insole of the boot preferably beneath
the instep.
To secure the boot or shoe in place upon the foot, or to facilitate its detachment
therefrom, I employ a series of short tubes or cylindrical loops of leather or metal
which, when the parts to be fastened together are in proper juxta position,
interlock with another series of similar tubes or cylindrical loops of leather or
metal, or it may be with a series of metal eyes or eye bolts, the several loops or
tubes and eyes or eye-bolts being secured in line by a flexible lace or coupling of
leather or wire.
D. D. are the tubes or cylindrical loops of leather or other
E is the lace. The ends of the tubular portions when in
the lace appears to run through a practically continuous
In Figures 1 and 2
suitable material, and
line, almost touch and
tube.
In fig: 4 I have shewn the leather tubes or loops D. D. combined with metal
eyes or eye-bolts D¹ D', instead of with loops similar to D D. In this case also the
ends of the loops abut closely against the eye-bolts.
The tubes or loops D. D. shewn in Figures 1. 2 and 4 might be made of metal
with flat extensions or plates to facilitate their attachment to the quarter, and the
Jace E might take the form of a flexible rod or strip of metal.
By withdrawing the rod or slackening the cord or lace the loops can be separated
from the eyes and the boot be readily removed from the foot.
This arrangement of fastening is extremely neat in appearance and offers
nothing in the shape of hooked projections for heather stalks or briars, to catch in,
a source of great inconvenience in the case of boots fitted with hooks as ordinarily
used.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
manufacture of Boots and Shoes," and, explained in what manner the same may be
carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim :-
1
First The adaptation to boots and shoes, of non-collapsible ventilating tubes
constructed and arranged as herein above set forth, whereby efficient ventilation is
maintained within the boot, and comfort is secured to the wearer by the absence
of internal ribs or projections, as described.
Secondly The combination with a flexible air duct leading from the top of
the boot or shoe to the interior thereof, of a distending coil substantially as
described.
Thirdly The adaptation to boots and shoes of the tubular fastening described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.
Fourthly The modified construction of fastening described with reference to
Fig 4 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Henry John Morgan have hereunto set my hand
and seal the fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
לדמSTRAET
T
Witness
E. G. AMES,
Solicitor,
Frome,
PR
MORGAN (S.)