Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS of Leicester in the County of Leicester, Boot and
Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Heretofore when using soles made of india rubber and securing such soles to
boots or shoes by sewing it has been customary either to attach a leather rim to
such sole or to secure such india rubber sole to a leather outer or middle sole or
welt by solution or otherwise before sewing such sole to the boot or shoe.
Now in order to dispense with the leather middle or outer sole,.rim, or welt and
to provide a sole which may be attached directly to the boot or shoe by sewing
and at the same time avoid the danger of the stitches cutting through the india
rubber in wear, I place in the interior of the sole and on the surface next to the
upper, a sheet of strong canvas or wire gauze or such like material which will
afford sufficient stiffness to enable the sole to be readily sewn to the boot or shoe
without puckering or puffing up in the centre and which will afford sufficient
support to the stitches and thereby prevent their cutting through or tearing the
sole in wear.
By the use of soles constructed as above described I also avoid the expense of
finishing the edges which is necessary when employing rubber in combination with
leather as above referred to.

page_text: •
I WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS of Leicester in the County of Leicester, Boot and
Shoe Manufacturer 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 :-
Heretofore when using soles made of india rubber and securing such soles to
boots or shoes by sewing, it has been customary either to attach a leather rim to
such sole or to secure such india rubber sole to a leather outer or middle sole or
welt by solution or otherwise before sewing such sole to the boot or shoe.
Now in order to dispense with the leather middle or outer sole, rim or welt and
to provide a sole which may be attached directly to the boot or shoe by sewing
and at the same time avoid the danger of the stitches cutting through the india
rubber in wear, I adopt the arrangement represented in the accompanying drawing
and according to my invention I place in the interior of the sole a a sheet a¹ of
strong canvas or wire gauze or such like material and on the surface of the sole
next the upper b I place a similar sheet a² of like material which will afford
sufficient stiffness to enable the sole to be readily sewn to the boot or shoe without
puckering or puffing up in the centre and which will afford sufficient support to
the stitches and thereby prevent their cutting through or tearing the sole in wear.
The sole is vulcanized with the sheets a¹ a³ of strong 'canvas, wire gauze or
such like material in position so as to effect a strong union between the rubber
compound and the sheets a¹ a².
By the use of soles constructed as above described I also avoid the expense of
finishing the edges which is necessary when employing rubber in combination
with leather as above referred to.
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
A sole constructed of rubber compound with a sheet a¹ of strong canvas or wire
gauze or such like material in the interior thereof and another sheet a' of similar
material, on, the surface next to the upper substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.