IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Colonel Edward Harnett, Commanding 7th Regiment
Dragoon Guards, Aldershot, in the County of Hants, for an Invention of
« IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Harnett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1881.
Colonel EDWARD HARNETT, Commanding 7th Regiment Dragoon Guards,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS."
Aldershot, in the County of Hants.
This Invention is applicable to boots such as are worn by cavalry soldiers and
others, and which are made with long leg pieces that extend from the foot over the
leg of the wearer.
The object of this Invention is to enable boots of this class to be readily put on
or taken off, even when much shrunk from having for a long time been exposed to
heavy rain.
For this purpose I form in the front of the boot a slit of about four inches long,
extending upwards from the instep past the ankle and up the lower part of the
leg piece. Over this I place a guard or flap of leather of a width of about
24 inches, so that it may cover over that part of the front of the boot in which the
slit is made. The guard or flap is made to fit closely over the front of the boot,
and extends equally on both sides of the slit and also beyond both of its ends.
At the top the guard is sewn to the front of the leg piece and also from the top of
the guard for a distance of 2 or 3 inches down one side, viz., the outer side of the
boot.
When a boot formed in this way has been put on the leather guard or flap is
kept in its place tight over the opening on the instep of the boot by the front
strap of the spur by which the latter is secured to the boot. This strap can easily
be loosened a hole or two when it is necessary to pull off the boot, and when the
boot is worn is strapped tight over the flap, thus keeping the latter close to the
opening so as to prevent the entrance of mud, gravel, dust, or any other substance.
When the boot is to be taken off the spur strap is unbuckled and the boot can then
be taken off with the greatest ease, even though it has for a long time been exposed
to wet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Harnett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd July
1881.
Colonel EDWARD HARNETT, Commanding 7th Regiment Dragoon Guards,
Aldershot, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS."
This Invention is applicable to boots such as are worn by cavalry soldiers and
others, and which are made with long leg pieces that extend from the foot over the
leg of the wearer. The object of this Invention is to enable boots of this class to
be readily put on or taken off, even when much shrunk from having for a long time
been exposed to heavy rain or other moisture.
For this purpose I form in the front of the boot a slit of about four inches long,
extending upwards from the instep past the ankle and up the lower part of the
leg piece. Over this I place a guard or flap of leather of a width of about
2 inches, so that it may cover over that part of the front of the boot in which
the slit is made. The guard or flap is made to fit closely over the front of the
boot, and extends equally on both sides of the slit and also beyond both its ends.
The guard is sewn to the front of the leg piece at the top and also down one side,
viz., the outer side of the boot, for a distance of 2 or 3 inches.
When a boot formed in this way has been put on the leather guard or flap is
kept in its place tight over the opening on the instep of the boot by the front
strap of the spur, by which the latter is secured to the boot. This strap can
easily be loosened a hole or two when it is necessary to pull off the boot, and
when the boot is worn is strapped tight over the flap, thus keeping the latter close
to the opening so as to prevent the entrance of mud, gravel, dust, or any other
substance.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed I have shewn a boot formed in the manner
above described. Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a front view of the boot;
Figure 3 shews the spur with its strap and chain.
A is the slit in the front of the boot; B is the guard or flap of leather which
covers over the slit A. This guard or flap is sewn along its upper edge and
partly down its outer side or edge to the front of the boot, as shewn by the dotted
line C.
The spur, with its strap and chain, is formed in the way now usual. The chain
passes below the instep of the boot; the strap passes over the instep and bolds
down the guard or flap closely over the front of the boot when it is being worn.
When the boot is to be taken off the spur can, if necessary, be taken off or its
strap loosened a hole or two; the boot then can be taken off with perfect ease.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the construction of boots,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Colonel Edward Harnett, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.