Reversible Oversoles for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Reversible Oversoles for Boots and Shoes.
I, GEORGE LING of Dell View, Ashmere Grove, Ipswich, in the County of
Suffolk, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the invention is to keep the feet dry and the Boots and Shoes of
the wearers clean when the roads or surfaces on which they tread are wet or
dirty, also to prevent slipping when walking Running or Climbing when the roads
or surfaces on which they go are wet dry or slippery,
This Oversole is made in shape generally to agree with that of the soles of the
boots or shoes with which it is to be used, and of any suitable thickness and with
ribs, corrugations studs or projections of any shape on one or both sides to prevent
slipping and perforated when desired for lightness.
To attach it to Boots or Shoes. An eye is fixed to the narrow or heel end (or
the eye may be formed in the oversole itself) which fastens or couples on to a
Hook, Stud, Spring or Catch, which is fixed to the waist of the boot or shoe, as
close as is practicable to the heel. The sides of the wide or forward end are
furnished with reversible Eyes through which Laces, Cords, Tapes or suitable
Strings of any kind are passed, and when drawn up tightly and tied, fastened
or buckled over the top of the foot the Eyes grip the sides of the sole of the Boot
or Shoe and so fixes the Oversole.
It can be made of Leather India-Rubber Gutta-Percha, Cork, Wood, Wire, Metal
or any Fibrous Material, Cut pressed into or cast in a Mould or Built up into any
shape to suit the various forms of Boots and Shoes. The ribs studs or projections
on the Oversole may be of the same material as the Oversole combined with it or
separate but in certain cases it may be necessary to make them of a different
material to that of the Oversole.
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I, GEORGE LING of Dell View, Ashmere Grove, Ipswich, in the County of
Suffolk, Gentleman 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide, a reversible oversole, which may be
quickly and easily attached to or detached from an ordinary boot or shoe. The

page_text: advantages of its use are that the boot or shoe will last much longer; in wet or
muddy weather the boot or shoe will be kept clean and the foot of the wearer
dry, moreover the projections on the said oversole will afford an effective grip on
slippery surfaces either for walking, running or climbing.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have caused to
be attached hereto one sheet of drawings in which similar letters refer to similar
parts.
Fig. 1. represents an elevation of a shoe with the oversole attached.
Fig. 2. represents a plan of the oversole.
Fig. 3. represents an enlarged view of the heel attachment.
The oversole consists of a central web A of any suitable material such as leather,
india-rubber, gutta-percha, cork, wood, wire, metal or any fibrous material.
The web A will be made of various shapes, sizes and thicknesses to suit the
boots or shoes with which it is to be worn and will preferably be symmetrical so
that the oversole will fit a boot for either the left or right foot as hereinafter
described. The central web A has attached to or formed on it on both sides,
ribs, studs or projections B of any suitable size, shape or number, preferably
of a similar material to that of the central web. The oversole may be made either
by cutting or stamping the central web out of a sheet of material, and attaching
the ribs studs or projections B or it may be pressed into or cast in a mould. If
desired the oversole may be perforated to reduce its weight.
The oversole is attached to the boot as follows. The web A has attached to it
towards the heel end a metal clip C pivotted at D. By this means the oversole
will adjust itself to suit either a right or left boot. The end of the clip C is
preferably formed into a T-shaped projection E which can be slid into a suitable
catch Fattached to the heel of the boot. Instead of the aforesaid projection E
and catch F, I may use a hook and eye, spring catch or other device. The front
part of the oversole has attached to it a suitable number of double eyes G pre-
ferably four. These said double eyes pass through suitable holes H in the web A,
and are formed from one suitable piece of wire, twisted so that one eye is at right
angles to the other.
Suitable laces, cords, tapes or strings are passed through the upper eyes, and
fastened on the top of the boot or shoe. It will be readily understood that this
oversole may be reversed by taking off and fastening on the other way up as
herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is:
1. In reversible oversoles for boots and shoes, the central web A and projec-
tions B on both sides as and for the purposes herein described.
2. In reversible oversoles for boots and shoes the catch F, double eyes G, laces J
as and for the purposes herein described.
3. In reversible oversoles for boots and shoes the clip C pivotted at D as and for
the purposes herein described.
4. In reversible oversoles for boots and shoes the combination of the various
parts to form a complete oversole as and for the purposes herein described.
Dated this Second day of June 1897.
E. F. HARRAP,
Agent for Applicant.