AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE. CONSTRUCTION OF SOLES AND HEELS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER COVERINGS, FOR THE FEET
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Caplen, of Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE.
CONSTRUCTION OF SOLES AND HEELS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER COVERINGS,
FOR THE FEET."
Sealed the 4th May 1860, and dated the 16th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Caplen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
February 1860.
I, EDWIN CAPLEN, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " AN IMPROVEMENT IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOLES AND HEELS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER COVERINGS
FOR THE FEET," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists principally in the combination for such purposes of
iudian-rubber (either by itself or in any of its compounds) with leather or
the bark of the linden tree or other similar and suitable material in alternate
and distinct strips, running either transversely, diagonally, or longitudinally,
but by preference the former.
The boot, shoe, or other article to which my Invention is to be applied is
(if new).to be completed in.the usual manner with an even single sole, but
as it were unfinished, or in the rough. This first or false sole is to be care-
fully covered with a solution of indian-rubber or other suitable cement. I
[Price Sd.]

page_text: then take a piece of jean or stout canvas, or other similar fabric, rather
longer and broader than the sole, and to or upon which strips of indian-rubber
or other similarelastic material have been cemented, vulcanized indian-rubber
being preferable. The back of the fabric is to be similarly covered with
cement, and laid and pressed carefully and evenly on the prepared sole of the
boot or shoe; I then take strips of leather, prepared linden bark, or other
suitable material of a sufficient width, and size to fill up the vacancies or
intervals between the strips of indian-rubber or other elastic material above
named, and cement or otherwise fix them between the strips ofindian-rubber.
The heel is prepared and fixed in the same way.
And, secondly, my Invention consists in the application to such purposes of
the prepared bark of the linden tree, either in strips or otherwise. This
Invention may likewise be applied to soles and heels that have been worn,
but in that case the thickness of the sole and heel when finished will be
materially increased.
The object of this Invention is to give to boots, shoes, and other coverings
for the feet, great elasticity of tread combined with increased durability,
and at the same time to render them waterproof, and prevent them from
slipping.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Caplen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
CAPLEN, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS
ost Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by He Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto
me, the said Edwin Caplen, Her special licence that I, the said Edwin Caplen,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edwin
Caplen, my 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 AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SOLES AND HEELS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR

page_text: THE FEET," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edwin Capleu,
my executors or adininistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
within six calender months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edwin Caplen, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say :-
My Invention consists principally in the combination for such purposes of
indian-rubber (either by itself or in any of its compounds) with leather or
other similar and suitable material in alternate and distinct strips, running
either transversely, diagonally, or longitudinally, but by preference the
former.
The boot, shoe, or other article to which my Invention is to be applied, is
(if new) to be completed in the usual manner with an even single sole, but as
it were unfinished, or in the rough. The first or false sole is to be carefully
covered with a solution of indian-rubber or other suitable cement.
I take a
piece of jean or stout canvas or other similar fabric rather longer and
broader than the sole, and to or upon which strips of indian-rubber or other
similar elastic material have been cemented, vulcanized indian-rubber being
preferable. The back of the fabric is to be similarly covered with cement,
and when nearly dry laid and pressed carefully and evenly on the prepared
sole of the boot or shoe; I then take strips of leather or other suitable
material of a sufficient width and size to fill up the vacancies or intervals
between the strips of indian-rubber or other elastic material above named, and
cement or otherwise fix them between the strips of indian-rubber. The heel
is prepared and fixed in the same way. This Invention may likewise be
applied to soles and heels that have been worn, but in that case the thickness
of the sole and heel when finished will be materially increased.
The object of this Invention is to give to boots, shoes, and other coverings
for the feet, great elasticity of tread combined with increased durability, and
at the same time to render them waterproof, and prevent them from slipping
I may here remark that, in the Provisional Specification filed with my appli-
cation for the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, I mentioned the
prepared bark of the linden tree as a suitable material to be used, either in

page_text: strips or otherwise, as a substitute for leather in constructing the soles and
heels of boots, shoes, and other coverings for the feet; at that time I was
engaged in making experiments upon the subject, which experiments I.have
not yet been enabled to bring to a satisfactory result, and I therefore hereby
disclaim that portion of the Invention.
The manner of carrying my Invention into practical effect will be readily
understood on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and the
following explanation thereof:-Having prepared and coated the sole of the
boot or shoe with the indian-rubber solution, I take a piece of jean or stout
canvas rather longer and broader than the sole, and to which strips of indian-
rubber or other similar elastic material have been cemented, see Figure 1, in
which a, a, represents the jean or canvas, and b,.b, the strips of indian-rubber
or other elastic material cemented thereon, vulcanized indian-rubber being
preferred.
The back of the fabric being similarly coated with cement, is to be laid
and pressed carefully on to the prepared sole of the boot or shoe. If well
pressed or hammered all over, the adhesion should be perfect and permanent.
I then take strips ofleather or other suitable material of a sufficient width and
size to fill up the vacancies or intervals between the strips of india-rubber or
other elastic material, and fix them with cement, brads, pegs, or other means
between the strips of indian-rubber, and trim off the edges, as shown in
Figure 2; b, b, being the strips of indiau-rubber, and c, c, the strips of leather.
The heel is prepared and fixed in the same way,b being the indian-rubber, and
c the leather.
The waist d of the sole not being subject to much wear and tear, may be
made of either indian-rubber or leather in one piece. It in any case it be
thought desirable to have the edges of the sole and heel entirely of leather, this
may be done (without interfering with the process above described) as shown
at e, e, in Figure 3, the-strips of indian-rubber being made proportionably
shorter, but this edging is not recommended except for the trifling advantage
of a slight improvement in the a
appearance.
I would here observe that it may not be essential to the above described
Invention that the strips of indian-rubber should be attached to a linen basis,
but greater uniformity and security is obtained by the use of this or other
suitable fabric or material that can be vulcanized in connection with the
indian-rubber.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for an
improvement in the construction of soles and heels for boots, shoes, and other
coverings for the feet, together with the manner in which the same may be

page_text: performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that
I claim as my Invention, the combination for such purposes of indian-rubber
(either by itself or in any of its compounds) with leather or other similar and
suitable material in alternate and distinct strips, whether running transversely
across the same or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Caplen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
GEORGE DAVIES, Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inu.
EDWIN CAPLEN. (L.S.)