Improvements in Athletic and other Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Athletic and other Boots and Shoes.
We EDWARD ALBERT BOYNTON of No 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, London, Engineer
ARTHUR HURBERT LOFTS also of No 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, London, Engineer, and
ERNEST LOFTS of No 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, aforesaid, Metal Worker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That our invention is an improvement in the construction of the soles of Athletic
and other Boots and Shoes. That for Athletic and other purposes we employ a thin
Steel or other plate shown and marked B on Figure 1 of the drawing, furnished
herewith, and into this plate we fix conical spikes of suitable metal marked A. The
plate may be made to any convenient size and shape as also may the spikes.
Our mode of proceedure is as follows:-
:-
The plate is cut to size and shape desired, then we cut out, punch or otherwise
take out pieces of the metal, which we may dispense with (these holes are shown by
letter D on Figure 2-then we take and place the spikes, which may be conical or
in any convenient form and which by Figures 4 and 5 are shown to have a shoulder
or other protrusion marked G, with a short projection marked F, into the holes
already cut or otherwise taken and made in plate, and either weld or otherwise rivet
them into the said plate. We may take any convenient size and length of spike we
require using the same method and obtaining a like result. Then we take the inner
sole of either boot or shoe of any description shown, by C in Figure 3 and make the
corresponding number of recesses, and also in the respective places where the heads
of the rivets (marked F on Figure 5) are to lie, then upon this inner sole we place
the plate B with the spikes A-already fixed thereto and therein,--with the heads of
the rivets next the inner sole C so that the plate B may butt or lie against the said
sole C.
On Figure 1 we see the plate already placed in position with the points of the
spikes upermost and the plate B lieing upon sole C. Then we take another and outer
sole marked E-on the sectional view Figure 3-and cut or punch or force out a like
number of holes which we so cut out as to receive the points of spikes marked and
seen by Figures 4 and 5 when we force the spikes into the said outer sole E until we
obtain the result, of the Plate and spikes, respectively marked B and A being firmly
pressed thereby, when we may either in the usual way sew or rivet the two soles E
and C together and the Boots or Shoes are ready for wear.
For ordinary purposes of walking we may use spikes of a like character and of the
same general description and fixture, but of a less length or any length which is
more suitable for use, on roads, or other hard substances.
We also describe this invention to be cheap to manufacture, durable and in no way
injurious to the ligaments of the feet of the wearer, and giving ease and facility in
either running or walking, more especially in Athletic sports, as the spikes, all of
which are firmly attached to the plate which, thereby forms a common base, so that
the spikes do not receive the weight separately, but all weight is transmitted. from
the body to the plate, and thence to the spikes which all take a proportionate strain,

page_text: an advantage in this invention over the spikes now or generally used is that the
spikes do not make any impression in the sole next the foot so that we have an
entirely smooth surface for the foot to oscillate or move in, and thereby saving the
wearer much pain and inconvenience, another advantage is that they all act together
so that when the Boot or shoe with them in, strikes the ground they grip, because
all being on one base it is impossible for one to spread away, or give, to any extent
from the others, and again, the use of these spikes makes no difference in the weight
or apearance of the Boots or shoes now worn.
In ordinary wear we use a similar sort of article but with the result of giving the
leather a longer period of useability, inasmuch, that the spikes, which we should use
for that class of wearing, would be of length enough to save the leather, a large
percentage of friction, thereby giving a longer life to the ordinary leather.
EDWARD ALBERT BOYNTON.
ARTHUR HURBERT LOFTS.
ERNEST LOFTS.
Improvements in Athletic and other Boots and Shoes.
We, EDWARD ALBERT BOYNTON, of No 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, London, Engineer,
ARTHUR HURBERT LOFTS, also of No. 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, London, Engineer, and
ERNEST LOFTS of No. 5 Rollo Street, Battersea, aforesaid, Metal Worker,
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:―
This invention relates to improvements in the soles of athletic and other boots and
shoes and is illustrated in the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.
In these drawings fig. 1 is a plan showing the plate B, hereinafter referred to, in
position on the insole.
Fig. 2 shows said plate separately.
Fig. 3 is a section showing the insole, plate and outer sole.
Figs. 4 and 5 show the spikes hereinafter described.
In boots or shoes for athletic and other purposes we employ a thin plate B of steel
or other elastic metal shown in fig. 1 of the drawings, and into this plate we fix
conical spikes A of suitable material. The plate may be made of any convenient
size and shape as also may the spikes.
From the plate we cut, punch, or otherwise take out, pieces of the metal so as to
lighten the same and make it more elastic, this is shown at D fig. 2.
The spikes which may be conical or of any convenient form are illustrated by
figs. 4 and 5; Each has a shoulder or other protrusion G with a short projection F
and is fixed into a hole provided in the plate for this purpose, and is welded, riveted,
or otherwise firmly secured into the said plate. We may use any convenient size
and length of spike employing the same method and obtaining like results. The
inner sole C of the boot or shoe (fig. 3) has a number of recesses in those places
where the heads of the rivets (F fig. 5) are to lie; upon this inner sole we place the
plate B with the spikes A fixed as above set forth, the heads of the rivets being
next the inner sole C so that the plate B lies closely against the said sole C. In
fig. 1 we show the plate in position with the points of the spikes uppermost and the
plate B upon the sole C. We also provide an outer sole E (see the sectional
view fig. 3) and cut, punch, or force out holes to receive the points of the spikes, the
spikes passing into or through the said outer sole E, the two soles E and C being

page_text: then sewn or rivetted together in the usual manner so as to make the boot or shoe
ready for wear.
For ordinary purposes of walking we may use spikes of a like character and of
the same general description, but of less length or any length which is most suitable
for use, say on roads or other hard surfaces.
Boots or shoes made as set forth are cheap and give ease and facility in running
or walking (more especially in athletic sports) as the spikes are all firmly attached
to the elastic metal plate which thereby forms a base common to all the spikes, so
that the latter do not receive the weight separately, but all the weight is transmitted
from the body to the plate, and thence to the spikes which all take a proportionate
strain. Another advantage presented by this invention is, that the spikes do not
make any impression in the sole next the foot, an entirely smooth surface being
presented to the foot. Moreover the spikes all act together so that when the boot
or shoe strikes the ground, all being on one base, it is impossible for any of the spikes
to "spread away" from the the others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
A boot or shoe with spikes rivetted to a metal plate forming a base for all the
spikes, said plate being inserted between the insole and the outer sole, the spikes
passing through the outer sole, all arranged as and for the purposes set forth and as
shown in the drawings.
BERNHARD DUKES
226 High Holborn London W C Agent for the Applicants.