IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF FASTENING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Thomas Weston, of Havelock Square, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OR METHOD OF FASTENING BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 23rd April 1880, and dated the 23rd October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Thomas Weston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1879.
..
HERBERT THOMAS WESTON, of Havelock Square, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF FASTENING
BOOTS AND SHOES."
"
My Invention consists in the application to boots and shoes (in part) of the
device now used in fastening stays, that is, with studs and slots, either round,
square, or oval.
My improvement consists in the use of thin plates of steel, one on each side of
the opening of boots and shoes, so that when brought in contact the openings are
effectually closed by the use of one or more buttons, round, square, or oval, made
fast in the bottom plate, but so as to turn or snap like a solitaire snaps. The upper
plate (when in use) having corresponding holes to those in the lower plate, through
which the said buttons or snaps pass, then by the turning of one or more buttons,
fastens the two plates together, thus saving a deal of unnecessary labour in
buttoning of boots and shoes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Thomas Weston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1880.
HERBERT THOMAS WESTON, of Havelock Square, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS FOR FASTENING OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
The said Invention relates to improvements in the mode or method of fastening
or securing boots and shoes on the feet of the wearer, and it consists chiefly in the
adaptation and application to boots and shoes of a somewhat similar device to that
now used to secure corsets or stays, the object of the Invention being to provide
a more expeditious plan than that of lacing or buttoning boots or shoes.
The Invention may be described as the use of thin plates or strips of steel of a
suitably curved shape, one being attached to each side of a suitable opening in the
side of the boot or shoe, and secured by buttons or studs or similar equivalent
devices, one strip carrying the buttons or studs, and the other strip having the
holes, slots, or other counterparts of the fastenings used.
.
. By preference I use studs, and the heads of an elongated shape, and to swivel,
so that when they are passed through the correspondingly shaped holes they may
be turned partially round, and thus firmly secure the two parts together, but the
said fastenings may be made to snap together if desired.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents a pair of steel plates before being secured to the boot or shoe,
the top plate being shown separately; the bottom plate is provided with a central
stud and a cap with a recess at each end, the top plate is provided with a slot near
the centre, and is pointed at each end to fit in the recesses before mentioned.
Fig. 2 has only one recess or catch, and two studs.
Fig. 3 has no end catches, being secured by three studs.
Fig. 4 has one end catch, and one stud at the opposite end; it is intended that
the steel plates shall be covered by the material of which the boot or shoe is made.
A is the cap provided with a recess or hollow, into which the points B of the top
plate fit; C is the stud; D is the slot for the stud to pass through.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The application and use of steel strips provided with catches, studs, or other
similar or equivalent means of securing the strips together, as applied to boots and
shoes for the purpose of expeditiously fastening the same, substantially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Thomas Weston, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eightv.
HERBERT THOMAS WESTON. (L.S.)