IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR BOOTS AND
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macintosh, of North Bank, Regent's Park, and
William Boggett. of Lindsey Houses, Chelsea, both in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR BOOTS AND
Sealed the-31st December 1867, and dated the 29th August 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macintosh and
William Boggett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 29th August 1867.
We, JOHN MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, and WILLIAM
BOGGETT, of Lindsey Houses, Chelsea, both in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRINGS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention is to produce boot and shoe springs more durable
and less expensive than those hitherto in use, which we accomplish in the follow-
ing manner-We first take two pieces of sheet rubber of the size and shape of
the required spring, which we coat on one side with india-rubber cement; we
then stick the two cemented sides together, having previously inserted a strip
of tape between them at their sides to prevent the stitching from giving way.
Plain sheet rubber may be used, but we prefer ribbing it in imitation of the
springs in use, which we-effect-by-passing the sheets of rubber or compound
between ribbed rollers, or else placing the springs upon a ribbed metal surface
Price Sd.]

page_text: under pressure while warm, and then vulcanizing them in the usual manner. Pure
rubber may be used, but being liable to decompose we prefer the compounds of
rubber and paraffin ingredients (described in a Patent granted to John
Macintosh, dated 12th March 1866, No. 748,) which compounds besides
being much cheaper is more durable and can be made of any colour.
In some cases we use elastic cloth or web, upon which we spread either
rubber or the above compound so as to coat it therewith in the manner
practised in making india-rubber goods, by which means we obtain an elastic
fabric of any desired colour, which when strengthened at the sides by tape and
vulcanized answers for making the springs in question. Metal eyelets or other
analogous means may be employed for. fastening the springs to the boots in
place of sewing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Macintosh and William Boggett in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, and WILLIAM BOGGETT, of
Lindsey Houses, Chelsea, both in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Macintosh and William Boggett, Her special licence that we,
the said John Macintosh and William Boggett, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Macintosh and William
Boggett, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at. all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRINGS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES," upon. the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said John Macintosh and William Boggett, our executors or administrators,.
by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals; or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, 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
.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that
the said
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of our Invention is to produce or manufacture springs for boots
and shoes of a more durable and less expensive character than the elastic woven
web or fabric generally employed, for this purpose having threads of india-
rubber interwoven to give it elasticity.
According to one method of carrying our Invention into practice we take
two pieces of sheet india-rubber (previous to its being vulcanized or converted
so as to render the same permanently elastic as is well undertood) of the size and
shape of the boot or shoe spring required, and coat them on one side with
india-rubber cement. We then place the two cemented sides' together with
a strip of tape or woven fabric inserted between them at the edges to prevent
the stitching from giving way when applied as a spring to the "
upper" of a
boot or shoe. Plain sheet rubber may be used in making up the springs as
above described, but we prefer to give a ribbed appearance thereto which we
accomplish by passing the sheets of india-rubber (or compounds of india-
rubber) between ribbed or grooved rollers; or we place the sheet rubber springs
upon a ribbed or grooved metal surface, and subject them to pressure whilst
warm. The india-rubber springs thus manufactured are afterwards vulcanized,
converted, or subjected to chemical treatment so as to render the india-rubber
permanently elastic, as is well understood in the manufacture of other descriptions
of india-rubber articles.
We would remark that in making springs for boots and shoes 'according to
our improvements india-rubber alone or its compounds with sulphur and other
materials (hereinafter called rubber) may be employed, but as the same is
liable to decompose we prefer in carrying out our improvements to employ the
compounds of india-rubber and paraffine or stearic acid, such as are described
in the Specification of an Invention for which a Patent was granted' to John
Macintosh, dated 12th March 1866, No. 748.
In place of making springs for boots and shoes in a separate form as
previously described according to one part of our improvements we prefer to
prepare the materials of which such improved springs are made in-the-form-
of sheets according to the several methods herein-after-described-the-sheets
so prepared or made up being afterwards cut up to form springs for boots and
shoes of this improved description of the size and shape required.

page_text: According to one method of combining and preparing elastic materials in
sheets for making improved springs àccording to our Invention we take
unvulcanized sheet rubber and pass it between a pair of heated rollers, one
of which is covered with a jacket of felt, over which there is another cover, by
preference of converted rubber, to prevent the unvulcanized rubber and felt
adhering together. The other roller is fluted or formed with grooves or ribs
by preference in the direction of its length, in order to impress the sheet rubber
with ribs in imitation of the elastic fabrics usually employed for the springs
or elastic sides of boots and shoes. In place of producing the ribbed
surface by means of rollers, the unvulcanized sheet rubber may be laid
upon a flat ribbed metal surface, then a sheet of converted rubber is placed
over it, and upon that a sheet or layer of felt or other suitable fabric,
the whole is then subject to pressure whilst the rubber is warm, or the
ribbed metal surface may be previously heated for this purpose. The
sheet rubber thus prepared with ribs may be cut up into pieces of the shape
and size required. to form springs for boots and shoes; strips of tape are then
cemented to the edges to prevent the stitching from giving way when such
springs are sewn to the uppers of boots or shoes. Plain sheet rubber may
if desired be applied to the backs of the springs thus made up, which are
finally completed by being vulcanized, converted, or otherwise chemi ally
treated in order to render the rubber (or its compounds) permanently elastic,
as is well understood.
Or we produce an elastic fabric suitable for making improved springs
for boots and shoes according to our Invention by spreading a coat of
plastic rubber or unvulcanized sheet rubber by means of rollers upon
knitted or other looped or elastic fabric (a thin and rather coarse fabric being
preferred). The elastic fabric thus coated is afterwards vulcanized or converted
and cut up to form springs for boots and shoes without the necessity of applying
tape to the edges as previously described; or the knitted or looped fabric can
be enclosed between two sheets of rubber; or one sheet of rubber may be
enclosed between two layers of fabric, for the manufacture of boot and shoe
springs according to our Invention.
According to another mode of carrying out our improvements in making
springs for boots and shoes we take elastic fabric (made of vegetable fibrous
materials) coated with rubber and vulcanized or converted as previously
described, and we lay another coat of unvulcanized sheet rubber or cement
upon the elastic fabric. We then place a second sheet of elastic fabric upon
the soft coat of rubber, and press the fabrics thus combined between rollers
so as to incorporate the whole into one fabric, which requires no subsequent

page_text: process to vulcanize or convert it into a permanently elastic fabric, which
may now be cut up into springs for boots and shoes, as previously described.
Or the unvulcanized sheet india-rubber employed in carrying out our
improvements may be prepared by coating it over with finely divided materials,
such as flock or powdered pumicestone, which is pressed into the surface of
the warm unvulcanized sheet rubber by passing it between rollers, and when
ribbed as previously described it may be cut up into springs of the desired
size and shape, to the edges of which tape or other woven fabric is cemented, the
springs thus prepared being afterwards finished by the vulcañizing or other
process to render them permanently elastic. For some purposes after the sheet
rubber has been coated with flock or other finely divided materials and
vulcanized or converted we apply a coat of india-rubber cement to the flock
surface and place a sheet of knitted or other elastic fabric thereon, subjecting
the materials thus combined to pressure between rollers or otherwise in order
to cause them to adhere firmly together, The fabric thus prepared may
be cut up into springs for boots and shoes in accordance with our Invention.
Or according to another method having given a flock or other finely
divided materials to sheet rubber, and when such rubber is vulcanized and
coated with cement, we stretch it to the extent of the elasticity required, and
whilst so distended we apply any suitable open woven fabric, such as tarlatan,
barege, net upon the cemented flock. When dry, and the india-rubber
is released from its state of tension, the threads of the woven fabrics are drawn
together as the india-rubber contracts, and an elastic fabric suitable for
cutting up into springs for boots and shoes is produced in accordance with our
mprovements.
In manufacturing the elastic materials for springs of boots and shoes as
previously described we generally employ the hot process for vulcanizing
vhen india-rubber alone is used, and the material to be made into springs
s black, or when combined with vegetable fibrous materials, such as cotton,
ut when the india-rubber is either colored or affixed to animal fibres (such
s wool or silk) we employ what is now well known as the cold process
f vulcanization for converting and rendering india-rubber permanently elastic.
We would remark that although we have described various methods of
aking up fabrics suitable for springs for boots and shoes according to our
mprovements we do not confine ourselves strictly thereto, as the same may
e varied without departing from the true character of our Invention.
We are aware that it has before been proposed to employ vulcanized-sheet-
dia-rubber in combination with woven fabrics cemented thereon for-the-
rings of boots and shoes, but such springs were defective, owing to the fact

page_text: that cement will not adhere with sufficient tenacity to vulcanize rubber to
attach the fabric firmly thereto so as to be serviceable for this purpose, we
therefore make no claim to the application of vulcanized india-rubber for
making springs for boots and shoes, except when it is previously prepared of
combined with other materials for this purpose, as herein-before described;
nor do we claim the manufacture of elastic fabrics as herein described for
other purposes than as springs for boots and shoes.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Macintosh and William Boggett,
have hereunto set our hands, and seals, this Twenty-seventh day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
JOHN MACINTOSH.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM BOGGETT. (L.s.)