Improved Foot Coverings and Leggings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Foot Coverings and Leggings.
THOMAS HARRIOT. of No. 2, Elm Place, South Kensington. London, Middlesex,
Retired Tradesman (formerly Bine Factor, of Westminster, S.W.) do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1. Foot coverings made of leather, cloth, gutta percha india rubber or other
suitable material are made without a sole. The leather, cloth, canvas &c.
coverings, are shaped to the foot by neatly folding the material and holding the
folds to the form of the foot by studs, rivets, cords or other fastenings; or the
surplus material in such folds may be cut out and the severed edges of the foot
covering be sewn or fastened to the shape of the foot. The foot covering is.
preferably, opened, midway, at the top of the foot, from about the metatarsal
joint, to the height of the covering, to admit of its being drawn easily on the foot,
or, in lieu thereof, it may have elastic sidesprings, or buttons as in ordinary boots.
The foot covering in the former case is buttoned straight up the top of the foot, to
the shin-bone, to height desired, and for durability and protection, may have a sock
formed of soft leather or strong cloth, sewn to the bottom or treading part of it.
2. The sole, whether of leather, wood or other material, quite disjunct from the
foot covering is, in its adjustment, a most important part of the invention, and
must not as in common shoes, & boots be larger than the treading part of the foot ;
and must be exactly conformable with the shape of the wearer's foot. The said
sole is worn with, and held firmly beneath the foot covering, preferably by a piece
of soft, dressed leather, cloth or other material, being nailed or otherwise fastened
to the upper part of the sole, at each side, from the toe end to about the position
which the metatarsal joint would cover, and then be turned upwards at each side, so
carefully shaped to each side of the toes and the said joint, that the leather will
not gape when the wearer walks, and be indiscernible from the foot covering; the
leather should then be narrowed to the form of a strap and pass over the top of
the toes, and the strap ends, there be sewn, together or held by stud, rivet, or
tie: or; the ends of a small strap across the toes may be sewn or fastened to
the turned up side leather at each side of the sole; as so little tension is required to
hold the sole to the toe part of the foot covering. There is no need of a buckle
to this strap, the toes should be as free as possible. The main holdfast of the
sole to the foot covering, being round the foot, under the plantar arch, a strong
strap (or cord), should, preferably with buckle, there surround the foot, beneath
the bottom sole, and be fastened at the top of the foot, near the shin-bone.
Another, longer strap, or cord, should be placed against the perpendicular part of
the sole heel (or nailed thereto), beneath the plantar arch, and be drawn, right and
left, round the back of the leg, above the heel, and by the ankles to the front of
the shin bone, and there be fastened. The portion of this strap under the plantar
arch may be protected with metal, or wire, or a short chain be there attached.
Another convenient adjustment of the sole is to nail or rivet dressed leather, face
downwards the whole length of the top surface of the sole, but leaving three
grooves between the said leather and sole, through which straps may be passed,
one, half way between the toe points and the metatarsal joint; the second groove
beyond that joint, and under the foremost part of the plantar arch; and a third
groove at the binder part of the said arch, the said straps to fasten one over the
toes, one over the top of the apex of the foot, and the strap that has gone round
the heel, to fasten at the front of the shin-bone. Probably the best way is to shape
the said sock from the higher side of the metatarsal joint, at each side of the

page_text: sole, along the plantar arch, and attach a strap at each side thereto, one having a
buckle, and fasten it firmly over the apex of the foot, the fastening over the toe,
being left to the preference of the wearer, of either of the two described ways.
3. The said sole and adjustment may be worn in hot weather without any foot
covering, and beneath ordinary socks or stockings.
4. Divested of the toe part, the said foot covering, buttoned at front of the foot
and the shin-bone to any desired height up the leg, forms an excellent legging, to
be worn with any low shoe, and inside low boots.
Dated September 8th 1893.
THOMAS HARRIOT,
2, Elm Place, South Kensington, S. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Foot Coverings and Leggings.
THOMAS HARRIOT of No. 2 Elm Place, South Kensington, London, Middlesex,
Retired Tradesman, (formerly Bine Factor, of Westminster, S.W.) 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:-
These foot coverings have no sole permanently attached, and to shape such
foot-coverings of leather, cloth, gutta percha, or other suitable material onto
ordinary "lasts" the size and form of the feet, lay down a square of the material
in a diamond-like position or pattern, and place a "last" with its toe-end towards
the point of one angle, and the heel in the direction of the opposite angular point
of the said square; then draw the front triangle of the said material over the toe
and foot part, towards the top of the said "last," to height desired; and the back
triangle of it up the heel and back of the leg to a corresponding height, or higher
if desired.
Temporarily fasten the said points of the material to the "last"; a strap may
be sewn up the heel and back of leg part thereof, to strengthen the material when
shaped to the leg. Neatly fold the material at each side of the front part of the
"last," and draw the folds towards each other, over the foot, as far as the material
will extend. Cut out the inner portion of the said folds (if neatness be specially
desired, and "close" (stitch) the said cut edges together, to fit the foot, as shewn
on the accompanying drawing (a). If the said folds are not cut out, as above
described, they may be held above the foot by one or more clasps, ribbon, or other
device, and unloosened whenever the foot coverings are taken off the feet. Again,
(if preferred) both junctions of uncut folds of the said material, might be sewn
together, so as to avoid any difficulty in drawing the foot covering on or off the foot.
Other enclosures of the material to complete the foot covering must be wrought
to fit the foot, according to the shape designed, as in ordinary-boots and shoes.
Foot coverings may be made to button up the foot, from near the metatarsal joint,
and up the front of the leg, to the knee, if desired. This covering, if divested of
the toe part, will form a gaiter to wear with ordinary low shoes or boots that have
soles attached.
The sole, to wear beneath the foot covering, must be the exact length and breadth
of the tread of the foot, so as to be most closely held by the straps to the feet.
When loose straps are desired to be worn to adjust the sole to the upper foot-
covering, fix the heel about half an inch from the back end of the sole (6) nail,
screw, or otherwise fasten, a bar of leather, or other suitable material, across the
outer (i.e. lower) surface of the sole, about an inch and a quarter from the toe end,
in front of where the metatarsal joint would rest, (c) aud another similar bar
beneath the foremost part of the plantar arch, (d). Nail, or otherwise fasten to both
the said bars, a lower, but shorter sole, extending from about an inch from the

page_text: front of the higher sole, to half an inch beyond the bar (e). One strap will have.
to be passed between the two soles and the bars, (f) and drawn over the foot, to-
be buckled or otherwise fastened just in front of the metatarsal joint; and the
second strap beyond (i.e. outside of) the bar, but above the ledge of the lower sole-
beneath the plantar arch (9), and buckled or firmly fastened above the foot; the
third strap must be passed under the ledge of the sole beyond the heel of it, (b).
then right and left by the ankles, and buckled or otherwise fastened at the top of
the foot, in front of the leg.
When a single sole, only, is desired, the heel of it, may be fixed (if preferred) at
the end of the back part of the sole, as on ordinary boots soles, and a strap fastened
near the top of the said heel by nail or screw, or, held by metal bar or clip fixed in
the heel, (h). Then, fasten, by nails or stitching, two straps on the inner (i.e. upper).
part of sole, and level therewith, one of them to buckle or otherwise fasten near
the apex of the foot (i) and the other just in front of the metatarsal joint (✓).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the particulars of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. That the adjustment of leather, or other suitable material to the shape of the
front part of the foot,-without the use of pincers to distort such material, is new.
2. That the aperture between the soles, also the impending ledge beyond the
heel, admitting the use of loose straps, are new.
3. That the legging, fitting round, and under the foot is new.
4. That the single sole and strap adjustments are new.
THOMAS HARRIOT,
2, Elm Place, South Kensington, London, S.W.
THOMAS HARRIOT,
2, Elm Place, South Kensington, London, S.W.