Improvements in the Manufacture of Socks for Boots or Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
Improvements in the Manufacture of Socks for Boots or Shoes.
I, HEINRICH CARL BIEDERMANN, of 28, Burgstrasse, Giebichenstein, near Halle
on the Saale, in the Empire of Germany, Cheese 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:
Felt socks heretofore in use have the disadvantage, (especially when compara-
tively thin) that they are easily pushed out of place and creased, thereby causing
discomfort to the wearer when walking.
The object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage and for
this purpose the felt soles or socks are fastened to a layer of woven hemp, linen,
jute or the like which is stiffened by saturating it with glue or other similar
substance.
In the accompanying drawings are illustrated two methods of carrying out this
invention. Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of a sock
in which the upper layer a is made of felt and the lower layer 6 of woven hemp
saturated with glue.
Figure 3 is a plan and Figure 4 a longitudinal section of a sock consisting of
three layers, that is to say of upper and lower felt layers a and c with a hemp
or linen layer 6 arranged between the two and saturated with glue.
These socks constantly retain their even and smooth form and any shrinking
or pushing to one side in the boot or shoe is entirely prevented. I am aware of
course that stiff socks have before been made of cork, loofah etc.; but they possess
the disadvantages that on the one hand they are rough and therefore damage the
stockings, and on the other hand they do not keep the feet sufficiently warm.
Socks made according to this invention not only possess the advantage that they
are sufficiently stiff not to become displaced, but that they also keep the feet far
warmer than socks of ordinary manufacture.
It is obvious that instead of felt, woollen cloth or other material which is a
bad conductor of heat, can be used.
There is to be taken into consideration the fact that the warmth of the foot
tends to somewhat soften the glue in the woven layer 6 and the cohesion of the
felt socks to the boot sole is thereby increased, and the displacement of the sock
made still more difficult. The glue does not however stick so firmly to the boot
sole as to prevent the sock from being readily withdrawn from the boot, but on
the contrary, it can be removed by the hand in the simplest manner.
I have found that glue is the most suitable substance to be employed as the
impregnating material for the woven layer but it is obvious that any other suit-
able stiffening material may be used which is capable of bringing about a similar
result to that effected by the glue.
For example, the woven layer may in some cases be impregnated with varnish
or with a quick drying lac or gum, by which means the said woven layer, and
thereby the entire sock, has a sufficient stiffness imparted to it.
In some cases the sock may be provided with a woven layer made after what is
55

page_text: known as the "Schering" process that is to say, in which the glue has been
coagulated by formaline.
In some cases, especially when socks are required of an increased thickness,
they may be made from several layers of felt or wool and several layers of
stiffened woven stuff.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
imvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. A sock for use in boots or shoes in which a sole piece made of felt,
woollen cloth, or such like material, is provided with a woven layer stiffened by
means of glue, varnish, lac. gum, or other similarly acting material, substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
Second. The method of manufacturing socks for boots or shoes, substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
Dated th20th day of December 1899
H. C. BIEDERMANN.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.
H. C. BIEDERMANN.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.