IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Frederick Richardson and Francis
Hacker, both of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
America.
;
Sealed the 10th September 1872, and dated the 14th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th March 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to so constructing heels for boots and shoes
that they are adapted for special service, and are rendered more durable
than those of ordinary construction.

page_text: According to the said Invention the heel tap is constructed in such a
manner that it can not only be shifted from one boot or shoe to another,
and thus secure a true and even wear on each, but can be wholly
reversed so as to present alternately two distinct wearing surfaces.
A metallic socket plate or shell is to be united either to the heel of
the boot or shoe, or directly to the sole of the boot, or to an intermediate
heel-like structure. When attached to a boot heel the socket plate is
secured thereto by screws, which enter through exterior corner flanges.
When in the form of a heel shell, for instance, it is sometimes attached
to an interior heel-like structure of wood or composition by nails or
screws, which pass through an intermediate socket plate. In other cases
it is secured to the sole direct by screws or nails, which enter through a
tap or central plate.
I also use a changeable and reversible heel tap provided with wearing
surfaces, and so fitted that it can readily be changed from one socket
plate or shell on one boot to another socket plate on another boot, or in
other words from right to left; and it may also be readily reversed in the
same socket shell, and thereby secure a true and even wear of the tread,
and also render the tap of great durability.
I
In most cases the said tap is provided with a laterally projecting
bearing flange, although tolerable results may be attained without the
flange when the tap is employed, with its upper or unused side in direct
contact with the under side of the boot heel proper.
Instead of a continuous flange projecting lugs may be employed,
which enter recesses provided therefor in the socket plate or shell, and
thereby prevent the tap from slipping out of place after one side has
been worn out and the reverse side presented for wear.
:
The said heel tap may consist of an exterior vertical rim and a
horizontal central plate. The recesses on each side of the central plate
are filled with wood, leather, or other suitable material. If wood be
employed it should be so cut that its end grain will be presented as a
wearing surface.
I sometimes use an elastic heel tap. Such are sometimes deemed
desirable either for avoiding the shock of a metallic heel as it strikes the
ground, for securing a good foothold on ice, or for obviating somewhat
the noise of walking on floors or pavements. The two tread pieces are

page_text: composed of vulcanized india-rubber, and one is placed with the central
horizontal plate interposed between them, but with its outer edge pro-
jecting and forming the bearing flange. The rubber may be applied to
the plates while soft and then vulcanized in suitable moulds, or the tread
pieces may be separately moulded and vulcanized, and then attached to
each other and the plate. The plate should be in skeleton openwork to
insure a positive unity between the two pieces or masses of rubber.
When desired metallic studs passing through the central plate or cast
with it are employed in combination with the rubber.
To meet the requirement of rough usage the "miner's heel" has
been devised, and is constructed as follows:-Attached to the central
plate or forming a part thereof, and projecting therefrom at right angles,
are frictional surfaces, the ends or tops of which are flush with the outer
rim. The corrugations correspond in form and character with the outer
rim, and afford a practically absolute security against slipping, as the
sharp edges are always presented for frictional contact. These taps can
readily be made with one wearing surface plain, and filled with leather
or wood for ordinary use, and with the reverse side provided with
frictional surfaces, as described, for rough service.
O SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: A denotes a metallic socket plate or shell to be united either to the
heel of the boot or shoe, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, or united
directly to the sole of the boot or to an intermediate heel-like structure,
as in Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13. When attached to a boot heel the
socket plate is secured thereto by screws, which enter through the
exterior corner flanges a, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6. When in the
form of a heel shell, as shown in Figure 10, for instance, it is sometimes
attached to an interior heel-like structure of wood or composition by
nails or screws, which pass through an intermediate socket plate, as
clearly shown in Figure 11. In other cases it is secured to the sole
direct by screws or nails, which enter through a top or central plate, as
clearly illustrated in Figures 13 and 15.
B denotes a changeable and reversible heel tap. It is provided with
two wearing surfaces, and is so fitted that it can readily be changed from
one socket plate or shell on one boot to another socket plate on another
boot, or in other words from right to left. It may also be readily
reversed in the same socket shell, and thereby secure a true and even
wear of the tread, and also render the tap of great durability.
. In most cases the said tap is provided with a laterally projecting*
bearing flange C, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, for instance, although
tolerable results may be attained without the flange when the tap is
employed, with its upper or unused side in direct contact with the under
side of the boot heel proper, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
Instead of a continuous flange projecting lugs 6 may be employed,
which enter recesses provided therefor in the socket plate or shell, and
thereby prevent the tap from slipping out of place after one side has
been worn out and the reverse side presented for wear.
•
The heel tap, represented in Figures 1 and 2, consists of an exterior
vertical rim and a horizontal central plate. The recesses on each side of
the central plate are filled with wood, leather, or other suitable material.
If wood be employed it should be so cut that its end grain will be pre-
sented as a wearing surface.
In Figure 5 I have shewn an elastic heel tap, such as is sometimes
deemed desirable either for avoiding the shock of a metallic heel as it
strikes the ground, for securing a good foothold on ice, or for obviating
somewhat the noise of walking on floors or pavements, which latter is
by some people considered objectionable. In the heel, Figure 5, the two

page_text: tread pieces care composed of vulcanized india-rubber, more or less
elastic, and one is placed with the central horizontal plate interposed
between them, but with its outer edge projecting and forming the
bearing flange C. The rubber may be applied to the plate while soft
and then vulcanized in suitable moulds, or the tread pieces may be
separately moulded and vulcanized, and then attached to each other and
the plate by any suitable adhesive compound. The plate should be in
skeleton openwork to ensure a positive unity between the two pieces or
masses of rubber.
When desired metallic studs passing through the central plate or cast
with it may be employed in combination with the rubber.
To meet the requirements of rough usage the "miner's heel" has
been devised, and is clearly illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Attached to
the central plate or forming a part thereof, and projecting therefrom at
right angles, are frictional surfaces, the ends or tops of which are flush
with the outer rim d. Three styles or kinds of surfaces are shown, viz.,
the solid cylindrical studs e, the hollow cylindrical studs f, and the cor-
rugations g. The corrugations correspond in form and character with
the outer rim d, and afford a practically absolute security against
slipping, as the sharp edges are always presented for frictional contact.
These taps can readily be made with one wearing surface plain, and
filled with leather or wood for ordinary use, and with the reverse side
provided with frictional surfaces, substantially as described for rough
service. I thus adapt them for application to the hunting and fishing
boots of amateur sportsmen. For miners, lumbermen, and other similar
craftsmen this class of heel is of great practical value.
In order to meet a more general demand for changeable or reversible
heels several forms or styles have been devised, which are more particu-
larly adapted for application to the boot by the manufacturer. Several
of the most desirable styles or kinds are illustrated in Figures 10 to 16
inclusive. In-these cases the socket plate or shell A is in the general
form and outline of a perfect boot heel, and is cast or struck up in metal.
The exterior is preferably enamelled to give the heel a neat and tasty
appearance, and is thereby admirably adapted for ladies' and children's
wear. In some instances the shells are provided with a plate, which
corresponds in function with the flange a, as shown in Figures, 1, 2, 3,
and 4, as it is the medium by which, with screws or wire clasps, nails (or

page_text: even hand stitching with thread or wire) the heel shell is permanently
attached to the boot. This plate may be located near the top of the
shell, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, or midway therein, as shown in
Figures 14 and 15. In Figure 11 an auxilliary socket plate / is used.
In all cases the reversible or changeable tap is preferably held to its
place by a single central screw E. When applied with the socket plate,
as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the screw E enters the centre of the boot
heel proper; when used in connection with the heel shell it engages
with a tapped hole in the central plate, as shown in Figures 11 and 15,
with an interior heel-like structure, as shown in Figures 14 to 17 inclu-
sive, or with an oval cylindrical boss 1, which is preferably filled with a
leather plug, and sustained in the top plate, as shown in Figures 12
and 17.
When a spring heel is desired in combination with a metallic or other
hard tread piece, it is produced by combining a spring plate m with an
interior heel-like structure, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. In this
instance the plate m is attached to the interior heel-like structure, and
has a bearing with its outer edge upon an interior projecting flange,
extending wholly or partially around the interior of the heel shell.
In some cases this spring plate is constructed with a semi-triangular
form, and in others with the true horizontal outline of the heel, in which
case it should be freely perforated for the sake of elasticity.
In Figure 18 I have shewn a heel the body of which is of solid wood,
and its upper edge is protected with a strip n of sheet metal. To the
lower end the socket plate is attached in the usual manner. When thus
constructed a light serviceable article is produced, and if properly ena-
melled it, like the others, presents a neat appearance.
Many other modifications could readily be presented, but a few of the
most desirable have been described and illustrated.
By proper care in moulding it is practicable to cast the metallic ;
portions of these heels (except the spring plates) in iron or other
suitable metal. If iron is used the castings should of course be properly
annealed, or rendered sufficiently soft to prevent their being readily
broken.
In Figures 21 and 22 A is a metallic plate, b, b, are wooden studs in
two parts, all the rest of the heel tap being vulcanized india-rubber.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination of the socket plate or shell with the change-
able or single-faced heel tap, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the socket plate or shell with the change-
able and reversible or double-faced heel tap, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCH.
W. ROBT. LAKE.
(L.S.)