An Improved Protector for the Heels or Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1996
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK WESTON WHITCHER, of 17 Melville
Avenue, Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Merchant.]
An Improved Protector for the Heels or Soles of Boots and Shoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention has for its object to provide an improved protector for the heels
and soles of boots and shoes. My invention is fully set forth in the following
description and the novel features thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in
the claims at the end of this specification.
In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. is a view in perspective of a protector embodying one form of my
invention.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 21 are top views or plans enlarged showing other forms
thereof.
At Figs. 7 to 20 inclusive I have shown in elevation enlarged several forms of
protectors embodying my invention, the said elevations corresponding in shape
with the cross-sectional shape of the protector shown in each case.
Protectors as hitherto made so far as known to me are difficult to set or drive;
are liable to be spread or distorted in setting; and when set are liable to become
loosened as the leather shrinks and dries, and to drop out. These are serious
objections which I am enabled to overcome by the employment of a protector
made as hereinafter set forth. A protector embodying my invention is preferably
of the shape shown in plan in Figs. 2 to 6, and in Fig. 21 of the accompanying
drawings. I do not, however, desire to limit myself to any particular shape, but
preferably the form or shape is such as to partially enclose a portion of the leather
in which the protector is set, the said enclosed portion remaining attached to the
sole or heel at the mouth or open side or end of the protector. It will also be
understood that when the protector is set the wear resisting edge thereof is usually
flush, or substantially flush, with the surface of the heel or sole. My protector
may be forined in any well known manner, as by forging to shape or by the
employment of a strip of metal which has been previously shaped to the proper
form in cross section and which is then bent to the desired shape. Referring to
the cross sectional shape of my protector, it is preferably so formed as to present
a relatively thin or wedge shaped entering-end, which while it facilitates the driving
or setting of the protector is yet of sufficient strength to permit it to be forced into
the leather. At the opposite edge, which takes the wear when the protector is io
position in the boot or shoe, I preferably thicken the metal so as to obtain an
efficient wear-resisting face. This will be clear by reference to Fig. 7 in which
the cross-sectional shape is nearly that of a wedge, the entering-end being at 1

page_text: .
while the wear-resisting end is designated as 2, the outer and inner sides 3 and 4
respectively being formed by a line. which converges from. the wear-resisting end 2
to the entering edge 1. By thus forming the protector a minimum of metal is
employed, the metal being so disposed as to ensure effective wear-resisting quality,
while at the same time forming a protector which may be readily set with a
minimum of power, a consideration which is important when the protectors are
set by the aid of. an auto atic setting machine, as I contemplate setting them. To
ensure the protector against becoming loosened and dropping cut of the heel or sole,
1 provide either the exterior or interior wall, or both, with slight projections 5.
These are preferably formed by striking up or roughening the surface of the
walls of the protector at intervals. This striking up or roughening of the walls
may be effected in any well known manner. Instead of separate barbs or
projections, two or more continuous barbs or shoulders, extending from end to end
of the protector around the outer or inner wall or side thereof may be employed,
as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. At Figs. 7 to 20 inclusive, protectors of varying
cross-sectional shape are shown, each having projections or barbs on the exterior
or interior of the protector, all of which are modified forms of securing means
which serve to prevent the protector from becoming displaced or dropping out
after it is in position in the sole or heel. I prefer to form the entering edge of
substantially wedge shape while the opposite edge which receives the wear in use
is thickened or enlarged to increase its efficiency, but as will be obvious from
Fig. 18, I may form the entering edge 1 of the same thickness as the wear
resisting edge without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not desire
to limit myself to any precise form of barb,. or projection, or other retaining
means, as this may obviously be modified in a large variety of ways. Neither do
I desire to limit myself to the use of such retaining means in connection with a
protector having the entering edge or end sharpened or thinned down and
the driving or wear resisting edge thickened or enlarged. It is possible by the
employment of a protector of uniform thickness from the entering edge to the
driving or wear resisting edge, see Fig. 18, and which is provided with barbs or
projections or similar retaining means to obtain fairly satisfactory results in use.
I prefer to form my protector with a sharpened entering edge and a thickened.
wear resisting edge and to employ in connection therewith the barbs, projections,
or shoulders on one or both of the walls or sides of the body of the protector. By
the employment of my invention a very efficient protector or wear resisting device
may be made which when properly set in the sole or heel will remain in position
and will not drop out or be easily displaced.
As hereinabove stated, it is usual to set the protectors flush, or substantially
flush, with the surface of the sole or heel. In some kinds of boots or shoes which
are designed for special use, it is desirable that the protectors should project
slightly above the surface of the heel or sole. Protectors embodying my invention
herein set forth are especially adapted to be set so as to project slightly above the
sole or heel since the retaining nieans described serve effectually to prevent them
from becoming loose and dropping or being knocked out while the boot or shoe is
t in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A heel or sole protector provided with projections intermediate the entering
end and the wear-resisting end which engage with the leather when the protector
is set and serve to hold it in place, substantially as set forth.
2. A heel or sole protector shaped to partially enclose a portion of the leather
in which it is set and provided with projections intermediate the entering eud and
the wear-resisting end which engage with the leather when the protector is set and
serve to hold it in place, substantially as set forth.
3. A heel or sole protector shaped to partially enclose a portion of the leather

page_text: in which it is set and having in cross section a sharpened or substantially wedge
shaped edge and a thickened wear resisting edge and provided intermediate the
said edges with projections for the purposes and substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.