Improved Metal Hobs or Studs for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Metal Hobs or Studs for Boots and Shoes.
1, HUGH THOMSON, of "Thornton" Studley Park Road, Kew, near Melbourne
in the Colony of Victoria, Tanner, 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 of improved metal hobs or studs for boots and shoes has been
devised for the purpose of superseding the hob nails and sprigs at present used for
the purpose of increasing the durability of the soles or heels of boots and shoes
by providing a stud or hob which will when in use be flush or practically so with
the surface of the heel or sole, and will therefore be invisible under ordinary
circumstances.
It is made of different lengths to suit the various thicknesses of leather used for
soles and heels, and what is its upper end when in use is made with a comparatively
wide flange having downwardly and outwardly projecting pins or prongs adapted to
be driven into the outer sole or top piece. This flange serves to make a perfectly
water-tight joint around the stud or hob, and said pins or prongs serve to secure it
to the outer sole or top piece, so that it will not press unduly against the wearer's
foot.
If preferred, the weight of the hobs or studs may be reduced by making them
more or less hollow, whilst the pins or prongs above referred to may be barbed or
serrated to enable them to obtain a better hold on the sole or top piece.
Said hobs or studs may be stamped out of the solid, in which case blanks of the
required size may be punched or stamped out of sheets of the requisite thickness
and a flange formed around the end of such blanks by means of one or a series of
dies, after which notches may be cut out of the edge of such flange by means of a
cutting die, and the prongs or teeth thus formed may be turned over to a certain
angle relatively with the flange by means of another die or pair of dies, as will be
well understood by persons who are skilled in the art of metal stamping.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan of one of my improved metal hobs or studs, whilst
Figure 3 is a section thereof on line 3-3, Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a section through part of the sole or heel of a boot or shoe, showing
one of my improved metal studs or hobs in position.
Figure 5 is a plan of part of the sole of a boot or shoe fitted with my improved
metal studs or hobs.
Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating a modification of my invention, whilst
Figure 7 is a part section thereof, illustrating the details of construction of such
modification.
Figures 8 and 9 are sections illustrating other modifications.
Of these figures, 1 to 4, as well as 6, 8, and 9, are drawn about three times the
full size, whilst Figure 5 is about full size, and Figure 7 about six times full size
in order that the construction of my improved hob or stud might be more clearly
understood.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same or corresponding
parts in all the figures.
A represents the main part or body of the stud or hob, and B the flange on its
upper end, whilst C-C represent the prongs which project downwardly and
outwardly, as shown, from the edge or circumference of said flange and are driven
into the outer sole or top piece D, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

page_text: Instead of making the prongs C-C integral with the body A of the hob, they
may consist of separate pins or sprigs fixed firmly in the flange B, as clearly
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In either case, said pins or sprigs may be serrated
or barbed, as illustrated in Figure 7 in order that they may obtain a more secure
hold in the leather, and thus be prevented from pressing unduly against the
wearer's foot.
In order to lighten the hob or stud it may be made more or less hollow, as
illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
By bending the prongs or pins outwardly, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, as
well as downwardly, they obtain a better hold in the leather than they would if
simply driven straight into it, as in the case of the stud or hob shown in Figures 6
and 7, and by stamping them they can be made very cheaply. The hollow ones,
shown in Figure 9, are specially useful for puddlers and others having to walk
over the surface of hot iron, and by preference should be so used as to project
slightly beyond the surface of the soles or heels.
It will also be readily understood that my invention can be used in bootmakers'
pump work, because my hob is so constructed that it will not come out of the sole
or heel, even if nearly worn through, whilst in welted boots and shoes it will not
injure the seam, like sprigs, which often penetrate the inseam, and sometimes pass
right through the sole into the upper.
Having now 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 I
claim is :-
First. A metal hob or stud for boots and shoes; having a projecting flange at
its upper end provided with downwardly projecting pins or prongs, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second. A metal hob or stud for boots and shoes made more or less hollow, and
having a projecting flange around its upper end, said flange having a series of
prongs or pins projecting downwardly from it, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of December One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-three.
HUGH INUMSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.