Improvements in Foot-ball, Cricket, and other similar Athletic Boots.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Foot-ball, Cricket, and other similar Athletic
Boots.
I JOHN ROBERT GRIFFITHS of 20 Bold Street, Moss Side, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Salesman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
Hitherto the uppers of foot-ball, cricket and other similar athletic boots have
been made entirely of leather and when completely laced up have been so stiff and
uncomfortable at that part which embraces the leg whilst walking or running as to
cause the wearer to partly unlace the same in order to obtain relief.
Now this invention consists in providing a foot-ball or other similar boot with an
elastic gusset of thin sheet india-rubber or other similar material, one on either side
thereof, and extending say by preference one third or half way down; the said
gusset being inserted and stitched in between the leather and lining of the boot and
made or cut in a V or other suitable shape or form, the leather being cut away
accordingly.
It will be readily seen that by so providing this class of boot with an elastic gusset
on each side the same can be worn laced up to the top without inconveniencing the
wearer whilst running or walking.
Dated this 26th day of September 1890.
JOHN ROBERT GRIFFITHS,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Foot-ball, Cricket, and other similar Athletic
Boots.
I JOHN ROBERT GRIFFITHS of 20 Bold Street, Moss Side, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Boot Salesman, 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:—
Hitherto the uppers of foot-ball, cricket and other similar athletic boots have
been made entirely of leather and of an extra thickness and thus when laced up
have been so extremely stiff as to hurt the wearer in his efforts of running or
walking.
Now this invention has for its object to render this class of boot more easy and
comfortable in wear and consists in inserting in each side of the boot a gusset of
elastic material.
.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1. is a side view of so much of a foot-ball boot as is necessary to illustrate
my improvements as applied thereto.
A is my improved gusset let into each side of the boot and extending about half
way down as illustrated. This gusset is formed by preference out of sheet india-
rubber, although elastic webbing or other suitable elastic material may be used.
The respective edges of the gusset are inserted between the two thicknesses of
leather B and C which compose the boot as illustrated in Fig. 2 and then are
stitched in position. This improved gusset may be of a V shape as illustrated or
of any other desired shape. In this way the boot when laced up affords considerable
ease and comfort to the wearer in his efforts of walking or running as the gusset will
"give" at every step to suit the peculiar motions of the foot.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is :-
1st. In a foot-ball, cricket or other similar athletic boot the employment of a
gusset of elastic material substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 27th day of June 1891.
JOHN ROBERT GRIFFITHS,
Applicant.