Improvements in or relating to Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM CHURCH, of 9, St. Georges Place, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to boots and shoes, and has for its object to form the
soles thereof with protectors which will act to prevent wear and tear on the
leather, and constitute also gripping pieces to reduce the danger of slipping.
My invention consists in forming the wearing surfaces of the sole with one or
any suitable number of holes arranged at regular intervals on each side at, or
near the toe, and into these holes I place plugs or insertions of rubber com-
position or gutta percha, leaving preferably the ends slightly projecting. They
are held in place by the grip of the leather on the rubber or gutta percha inser-
tions, or they may be cemented in, but they are preferably not stitched to the
leather.
In use these plugs or insertions protect the leather from undue wear, and so
prevent it being worn at one part more than another. When the plugs get
worn they can be taken out and substituted by new ones, thus keeping the
leather sole with a level surface for ease in walking, and reducing the danger
of the wearer slipping on wet or greasy pavements.
Improvements in or relating to Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM CHURCH, of 9, St. Georges Place, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to boots and shoes, and has for its object to form the
soles thereof with protectors which will act to prevent wear and tear on the
leather and constitute also gripping pieces to reduce the danger of slipping.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;-
Figure 1 shows the tread of a boot or shoe with my invention applied
thereto:

page_text: Figure 2 a similar view showing the protectors in a different position for a
cyclist's boot or shoe;
Figure 3 a perspective view of the protectors (depicted in Figure 2) separated
from the sole.
My invention consists in forming the wearing surface or tread of the sole A
with preferably three holes arranged at regular intervals on each side Figure 1
(or near the toe, Figure 2) and into these holes I insert plugs or insertions B
of rubber and guttapercha mixed, or rubber or guttaperchia alone, leaving pre-
ferably the ends slightly projecting. They are held in place by the grip of the
leather sole A on the plugs or insertions B, or they may be cemented in, or
they may have a flange which prevents them coming out when once fixed in
place. They are preferably not stitched to the leather. In use these plugs or
insertions B protect the leather from undue wear and so prevent it being
worn at one part more than another. When the plugs get worn they can be
taken out and substituted by new ones, thus keeping the leather sole with a
level surface for ease in walking and reducing the danger of the wearer
slipping.
Figure shows a cyclist's boot or shoe with one of these plugs or insertions B
arranged near the toe of the sole, this plug being secured in a strip of leather C
arranged crosswise of the toe. This cross strip of leather C projects slightly
from the sole so as to form an abutment against which the rubber tread of a
cycle pedal will abut and so form a stop which will prevent the foot slipping
back. It is obvious that as many of these cross strips C, each with one or
more plugs B, may be used as required. Thus in Figure 2 there are shown
two additional ones D, leaving a space between for the rubber treads of a cycle
pedal to fit into, thus keeping the foot in the exact position required on the
pedal to secure the most advantageous pedalling of the machine, and also to
prevent slipping. The said plugs may, if preferred, project from the sole A
without any strip C being used. The plugs may also be fitted to the heel as
shown in Figures 1 and 2. The heel depicted in Figure 2 is that of a lady's
boot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
―:
1. In boots and shoes, the combination with the treads of boot and shoe soles
of rubber composition or guttapercha plugs or insertions B socketted into the
sole and slightly projecting from the surface thereof, the said plugs being held
in place by the grip thereon of the leather sole or cemented in or by flanges
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In boots and shoes, the combination with the treads of boot and shoe soles
of rubber, composition or guttapercha plugs or insertions arranged either along
each side, near the toe, or transversely across the tread in one or more rows,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 8th day of June 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.