Process of and Compound for Waterproofing the Soles of Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Compound for Waterproofing the Soles of Shoes.
I, EDWARD HENRY LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, of No. 304 North
Eighth Street in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of
America, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to a new and useful process of, and compound for, water-
proofing the soles of shoes, and consists in the application of a waterproofing
compound to the inner sole of the shoe, in such manner that the iron tack, wooden
peg, or awl holes, or the inner seams are filled with the compound, preventing
water or oil being led to the interior of the shoe by following such punctures, said
compound being held in place or confined by the outer sole.
In practice, to make a perfectly waterproof shoe, the upper and the insole and
outer sole are, preferably, treated so that they themselves will not absorb water.
By the application of a waterproofing compound, whose ingredients will herein-
after be described to the inner sole, which compound is smeared freely over the
inner sean, if it be a welt shoe, or over the tack, peg, or awl holes, if the upper is
crimped and lasted over the insole, when the shoe is sewed, to attach the outer sole,
or pegged, as the case may be, the compound, being interposed between the two
soles, or between the turned-under upper and the outer sole of a lasted shoe, the
stitching or the nails and pegs will pass therethrough and carry with them a
portion of the waterproofing compound, which will make the openings or punctures
so formed absolutely waterproof, at the same time preventing all oil from the
upper seeping through said holes or punctures or following the thread to the outer
sole channel, or the peg, as the case may be, which would deface the white bottom
finish of the shoe.
Should the compound be used on a McKay sewed shoe, which is a pegged or
nailed bottom, it is preferable that the same be freely applied upon and under the
edges of the upper, which is lasted over the insole, and, also, that it be applied on
the insole, to make sure that all tack, peg, or awl holes, which might be made in
retaining the outer sole in place, when it is being sewed on, are filled, to make the
sole absolutely water and oil proof.
The compound which I use in this manner consists of wax, powdered talc, or
steatite, and rubber paste or caoutchouc. This preparation is preferably made in
the following manner, and in the following proportions: Of wax (which is
preferably beeswax, or mineral waxes or spermaceti could, also, be used), I take
two and one-half pounds, and place it in a suitable receptacle, where it is subjected
to the action of heat, which reduces the wax to a molten state. To this molten
wax, I add about three pounds of talcose or steatitic powder, preferably soapstone,
which is thoroughly mixed with the wax. I then add about four pints of rubber
paste or caoutchouc, which is sometimes known as Brazilian gum, and thoroughly
mix the same. The preparation is then set aside, when it is ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The process herein described of preventing water or oil from passing through
the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes, of shoe soles, which consists in applying
over the welt and insole, or over the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes of the
shoe, a waterproofing compound, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The herein-described process of preventing water or oil from passing through
the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes of shoe soles, which consists in applying
over the welt or over the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes, a waterproofing
compound, and then attaching the outer sole, substantially as described.
3. The herein-described process of preventing water or oil from passing through
the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes of shoe soles, which consists in applying
over the welt and insole, or over the seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes a water-
proofing compound consisting of wax, powdered talc, or steatite, and rubber,
substantially as described.
4. The herein-described compound for waterproofing the seams, joints, tack, peg,
or awl holes of shoe soles, which is composed of wax, talc, or steatite in a powdered
form, and rubber or caoutchouc, substantially as described.
5. The herein-described compound for preventing water from seeping through the
seams, joints, tack, peg, or awl holes of shoe soles, consisting of a composition of
wax, two and one-half pounds, powdered talc or steatite, three pounds, and rubber
paste or caoutchouc, four pints, compounded in the manner stated and substantially
in the proportions herein specified.
Dated the 20th day of February 1894.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.