A New or Improved Manufacture relating to Covering for the Feet.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Manufacture relating to Covering for the Feet.
I WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL George Hotel Stockport near Manchester
in the County of Chester Patentee do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
1st. This invention relates to a new or improved manufacture of wooden clog
soles which form a covering for the feet in conjunction with leather or other
flexible uppers of which is better known as the Lancashire clog, under the present
system the soles are given the necessary arch for the tread, by cutting to shape
from wooden blocks, the grain of the wood going the lengthway of the clog sole it
will appear obvious that to obtain the aforesaid arch the toe portion of the clog
sole becomes more or less crossed grained, transverse, or broken, thus the sole at
this part is very liable of being split or fractured. My invention is intended to
obviate this & insure the grain of the wood following the arch of the clog sole
lengthway or unbroken to its whole extent, requiring less material to form the
sole & guarantees the same being more uniform in size & shape and generally more
durable & efficient than heretofore.
In carrying out my invention I compress or shape the aforesaid soles by
hydraulic or other pressure & so obtain the necessary arch & thereby ensureing
the grain of the soles being unbrokin or lengthway to their whole extent.
The clog sole may be more or less shaped by cutting either before or after the
above mentioned arch is formed for the clog sole by the aforesaid pressure &
suitable apparatus.
.
2nd. To form the clog soles I may combine a series of thin wooden layers in a
transverse manner, (obtaining adhesion by glue or other suitable material) com-
pressing the whole together & arching by the aforesaid or other suitable means &
either more or less shaping before or after giving the arch if required.
3rd. I may form the clog soles from paper or other pulp or composition
compressed in suitable moulds, I may use heat for drying composition or steam for
steaming the wood so as to prepare or assist in compression if required or other
suitable means so as to give effect to any of the aforesaid (viz.) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, as
herein provisionally specified.
Dated this 9th day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Manufacture relating to Covering for the Feet.
I, WILLIAM HENERY BLACKWELL, George Hotel, Stockport, near Manchester,
Patentee, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates principally to what is known as the "Lancashire" clog, which
consists of a wooden sole with a leather or similar flexible upper torming a covering
for the feet. The sole of the clog is arched in the direction of its length to suit
the tread of the wearer and hitherto such arching has been effected by carving the

page_text: sole out of a solid block of wood with the grain running parallel to the length of
the sole and continuously as far as the instep, but owing to the arching, such sole
is short grained at the toe part and therefore liable to break off at that point.
Now my invention has for its object to ensure of the grain of the wood following
the arch of the sole to its whole extent, and consists essentially in producing such
soles under pressure from blanks or blocks of wood in the flat state and with the
grain extending lengthwise from heel to toe.
In carrying out my invention I employ a, by preference, hydraulic press with
the ram acting downwards upon a movable table or carriage carrying die plates
which under pressure from the ram give the arch formation to the blanks aforesaid
placed between them. Before pressing, the blanks are steamed or wetted to afford
pliability and after pressing the movable table or carriage on which they rest is
travelled from beneath the ram and allowed to stand until the soles are thoroughly
set and dry and whilst other tables or carriages or die plates are run under the
press.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a drawing and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hydraulic press suitable for the purposes of my
invention, fitted with die plates, which die plates are shewn partly in section for
the better illustrating of the dies.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate forms of clog, blanks previous to pressing and Fig. 4
illustrates the clog blank shewn in Fig. 2 after pressing.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are plan and sectional views respectively of the die plates.
In accordance with the construction of the press shewn in Fig. 1, (A) is the
cylinder and (B) the ram, this latter carrying at its lower extremity the presser
plate (C).
The water for operating the ram is admitted to the cylinder (A) through ports
in the cylinder side controlled by a slide valve, or equivalent means, operated say
by the lever (D).. The said cylinder (A) is supported by a framing (E) on four
pillars (E) from a suitable foundation (F).
In accordance with my invention (G) is a carriage or trolley either mounted on
V slides, or mounted on wheels (H) running on lines (1). This carriage carries
two die plates (J) and (K) made of steel or cast iron with the dies for giving the
arch formation to the clog blanks cut or moulded in the opposite faces of such
plates as illustrated more clearly in Fig. (5). These dies are formed according to
the shape of blank, the dies on the right-hand side of the plates in Fig. 5 being
used for blanks of a rectangular shape and the dies in the left hand side of the
plate in Fig. 5 being used for blanks partially prepared. These dies may therefore
vary according to the blank under treatment.
The die plates are fixed in proper relation to each other by means of the
studs (L) and nuts (M) at each corner of the press, or as shewn.
of
The blanks from which the soles are pressed are of the form shewn in Fig. 2, or
any other shape, form or size suitable for the manufacture of a clog or wooden
sole. In some cases the blanks may be partly prepared as seen in Fig. 3.
Before being pressed the blanks are subjected to the action of steam or other
moistening medium, by preference in a closed steam heated pan or vessel to render
them pliable in the pressing operation.
The operation of pressing the blanks to produce my improved clog sole is as
follows: The carriage (G) carrying the die plates (J) and (K) is first run out
from beneath the press. The die plate (J) is then released and raised from the
lower die (K) leaving the said lower die plate clear to receive the blanks of the
clog soles which are placed in the series of dies. The top die plate (J) is next
lowered onto the bottom plate (K) and fixed in position by the studs (L) and
nuts (M) which being done the carriage is run under the press again until it comes
in line with the ram, when the lever (D) is operated, causing the water to enter

page_text: the upper part of the cylinder and force the ram (B) and presser plate (C) down
onto the upper die plate (J). The pressing of the blanks to the desired arch
formation now takes place and as such blanks take up the shape of the dies the
nuts (M) are screwed up to clamp the die plates together with the pressed blanks
between them. Sufficient pressure having been applied to the blanks the lever (D).
is reversed causing the water to enter the lower part of the cylinder (A) and
reverse the action of the ram and so raise it clear of the top die plate, the water
above the ram escaping by an exhaust port in the cylinder side.
The carriage (G) is now run from beneath the press and the blanks are allowed
to remain under compression until they have become thoroughly set to the form to
which they have been pressed when they may be removed to make room for the
pressing of another set of blanks.
To ensure of the top die plate being kept in proper relation to the lower die
plate during the pressing operation and that the thrust of the ram shall be equally
distributed, the presser plate (C) is, by preference formed with one or more
V shaped projections taking into correspondingly shaped recesses in the top of the
die plate (J).
To relieve the carriage axles of all strain during the pressing operation such
axles are mounted in spring axle boxes and projections or ledges are formed at (N)
on the inner faces of the framework of the press onto which the underside of the
die plate (K) may come and thus sustain the load instead of such load being
sustained by the axles or wheels.
By employing a series of carriages and die plates the operation of pressing may
be more or less continuous. The die plates may be made in various sizes to suit
the number of dies required and if required the bottom die plate may be made
separate from said carriage, the carriage merely serving as a vehicle for conveying
the dies to and from the press.
The steaming may be done simultaneously with the pressing by forming a steam
chamber around the carriage or carriage and press having a suitable air tight door
or doors for the introduction and withdrawal of the die plates, the pressure in this
case being gradually applied.
The blanks are cut or pared in the usual way for wearing purposes after pressing,
but they may be partly, or in some cases wholly, prepared before pressing. The
dies may be so shaped as to produce the usual hollowing or arching of the sole
crosswise. In lieu of the movable carriage (G) I may employ a permanent bed or
support with the dies or plates movable only.
In accordance with the further features of my invention I form the clog soles of
a series of layers of wood obtaining adhesion by glue or other suitable means and
the whole compressed in arch shape by the means aforesaid. The adhesion of the
several layers may take place before, or during the pressing operation and be
dried by heat.
In accordance with a further feature of my invention I form the clog soles of
wood or other pulp or similar composition, either moulded in suitable moulds in the
flat form and afterwards pressed into arch shape, or moulded and pressed into arch
form at one operation, from more or less plastic blocks causing both heel and
instep to be formed in the mould and the well known groove I prefer to shape
after.
My invention applies equally to wood pattens and to other coverings for the
feet in which a wooden or similar sole is used and requires to be arched.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details hereinbefore described, but what
I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st. In the manufacture of clog soles and the like from wood, making blanks in
a flat form, steaming and softening said blanks and pressing them to the desired
arched form by mechanical pressure substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

page_text: .
1:
2nd. In the manufacture of clog soles and the like the use and application of
the hydraulic press, movable die plates and clamping bolts when mounted and
operating substantially as set forth.
3rd. Making clog soles and the like from wood or other pulp or composition as
set forth.
Dated this 8th day of September 1894.
JOHN E. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.