THE IMPROVE- MENT OF LADIES' BOOTS AND SHOES, CALLED THE CAMELEON BOOT AND THE
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis le Prince, of No. 261, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Boot Maker, for the Invention of "THE IMPROVE-
MENT OF LADIES' BOOTS AND SHOES, CALLED THE CAMELEON BOOT AND THE
Sealed the 19th July 1859, and dated the 21st January. 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis le Prince at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1859.
I, LOUIS LE. PRINCE, of No. 261, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Boot Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "THE
IMPROVEMENT OF LADIES' BOOTS AND SHOES,. CALLED THE CAMELEON BOOT AND THE
CAMELEON SHOE," to be as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMELEON SHOE:
1st, the cameleon shoe is made of the usual fibrous materials, or of leather,
and presents as Figure "A." A variety of designs in flowers or ornaments cut
like fretwork; the edges of them are bordered in crochet, embroidery, or
chain stitch, as Figure B.
2nd, the open spaces which form the design are so left or are ornamented
with embroidery according to the design, as Figure C.
3rd,. the lining of the shoe, which is seen through the fretwork, is left
entirely separate from the top to the extent of about two inches in width, as
Figure D.
4th, each part of the top as well as the lining is separately bound, and an
elastic loop is fixed on the lining, as Figure E.
5th, a button, buckle, or some kind of fancy ornament is also fixed in the
middle of the top of the shoe to fasten the said loop, as Figure F.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMELEON BOOT.
1st, the cameleon boot is made of fibrous material, or of leather, and
presents as Figure "A." A variety of designs in flowers or ornaments cut like
fretwork, the edges of which are bordered in crochet, embroidery, or chain
stich, as Figure B.
2nd, the open spaces which form the design are so left or are ornamented
with embroidery, according to the design, as Figure C.
3rd, in stitching the front of the boot an open space of about two inches in
width is left, as Figure D.
OF THE TRANSPARENCY OR DOUBLE LINING.
1st, the transparency or double lining to which the name caméleon is given,
is a piece by itself, independent of the shoe and boot; it is shaped to the
design of the shoe or boot, but rather larger; it is cut of stiff fibrous material
or leather.
2nd, this piece of buckram, cardboard, gutta percha, or leather is covered
on one or both sides with colored silk, woollen, or cotton stuff, also with black
or colored leather, see Figure G, to enable the wearer to match the color
of dress.
3rd, this separate piece of double lining is introduced into the reserved open
space between the inner lining and the open, cut, and ornamented outer part
of the shoe or boot, see Figure H.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be applied, I claim the sole right of making all kinds of
boots and shoes open spaced between the inner lining and the outer part
suitable for introducing the colored transparency to enable the wearer to
change the color according to taste and toilet.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis le Prince in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL 'COME, I, LOUIS LE
PRINCE, of No. 261, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, Boot
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Louis le Prince, Her special licence that I, the said Louis le
Prince, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Louis le Prince, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "THE IM-
PROVEMENT OF LADIES' BOOTS AND SHOES, CALLED THE CAMELEON BOOT AND THE
CAMELEON SHOE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis
le Prince, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis le Prince, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
I construct ladies' boots and shoes with ornamental perforations or pierced
work in the upper leather or outer material, and I make a cavity or space or
sheath between this portion of the upper leather or material, and the lining,
and I insert into this sheath or cavity a moveable piece of card or leather
or cloth, or other suitable material of any required color, or covered with silk
or cloth, or other material of any required color. This colored material or
backing is visible through the aforesaid perforations, and it can be removed and
replaced by pieces of different colors at pleasure, and if it should be required
to obtain the appearance of a plain boot or shoe, I insert a piece of the same
material, or material of the same color as that of which the upper part of the
boot or shoe is made. In this way the color of the ornament may be varied
and caused to harmonize with the color of the dress of the wearer.
The per-
forations may be plain openings, or they may be partly filled with lace or
needlework or crotchetwork, through which the backing is visible. The edges
of the perforations may also be ornamented by needlework. The backing may
be a plain fabric, or it may be ornamented with a check or other simple
pattern or device.
:
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a shoe constructed
according to my Invention. A is the upper leather or cloth or other material;
B is the sole; C is the lining. Between the upper A and the lining C is a cavity

page_text: or sheath, into which is slipped the colored backing D, made of blue silk, sewn
upon a piece of card or cloth, of the form shewn in Figure 2, or of any other
suitable material. This backing is seen through the ornamental perforations
-in the upper, as shewn in Figure 1. The opening of the cavity or sheath may
be concealed by placing over it a bow or rosette, which is attached by two
elastic loops to two buttons at a, a.
Figure 3 is a view of the under side of the bow, which has two elastic
loops b, b, attached to its base c; or the sheath or cavity may be concealed by
inaking the lining C and the backing D somewhat shorter than the upper "A."
Figure 4 represents a boot constructed according to my Invention. The
ornamental backing D is inserted in the cavity or sheath between the upper A
and the lining. The mouth of the sheath or cavity is within the boot, and is
therefore concealed; or it may, if desired, be on the exterior, and may be
covered by a bow or rosette, as herein-before described in reference to
Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 5 represents a boot of the sort called a Balmoral boot. This is con-
structed and ornamented like that shewn in Figure 4, and it has also some
additional perforated ornament on one or both sides of the lacing. A sheath or
cavity is formed between this perforated part and the lining, and a strip of card
covered with colored silk or other suitable material E is inserted in the sheath.
This sheath may open at the upper edge of the boot, or it may open
laterally within the boot by the side of the row of eyelet holes, which receive
the lace..
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,
constructing ladies' boots and shoes with ornamental perforations in the upper
leathers or upper parts, and with sheaths or cavities immediately beneath or
behind the same for receiving moveable pieces or backings, which are visible
through the aforesaid perforations, and are capable of being removed and
replaced by others when required, as herein-before described.
In wituess whereof, I, the said Louis le Prince, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
LOUIS LE PRINCE. (L.S.)