A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for rendering the same more suitable for Cycling, Golfing, or other Sports.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for rendering
the same more suitable for Cycling, Golfing, or other Sports.
I, TURBERVILLE SMITH, of 1, Boyle Street, Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to a new or improved device applicable to boots or shoes
for rendering the same more suitable for cycling, golfing, or other sports.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a simple attachment to an
ordinary walking boot or shoe which is adapted to be instantaneously fixed in
position without removing the boots or the like from the feet, and which in one
form will prevent the same slipping with relation to the pedals of a cycle when
the wearer is cycling, and in another form will prevent the boots or the like
slipping with relation to the ground when the wearer is golfing, cricketing, or
taking part in like exercises.
In carrying the invention into effect a base plate or
frame is employed
approximately of the width of the sole of the boot or shoe, and
shaped to the sole of the boot or shoe either left or right, to
which it is to be applied, and this base plate is preferably formed of two end
bars connected by two longitudinal bars of spring steel, which preferably cross
one another and are rivetted at the crossing, and which lie diagonally across the
sole of the boot or shoe.
The front one of the crossbars at its ends terminates in clips or hooks adapted
to slide upon and engage the sole of the boot at the welt, and the rear one of
these crossbars is at one end furnished with a similar clip or hook, whilst a
fourth clip or hook is formed upon a bracket projecting forwardly from such
crossbar at the opposite end thereof, and to which bracket one of the connecting
bars is fastened, whilst that end of the rear crossbar is provided with a short
arm at one end horizontally pivotted thereto, and at the other end provided with
a vertical lug or flange, apertured and threaded to receive a set screw.
By this arrangement of parts the base plate is adapted to be slidden into posi-
tion upon the sole of the boot, the peculiar position of the hook or clip carried
by the bracket enabling the same to engage the sole at the widest part upon the
inner side of the boot, beyond which point the sole narrows, so that it would
be impossible if a clip were placed on that end of the rear crossbar to slide the
device into position and yet obtain a firm grip of the sole.
When the base plate or frame is slidden into position in the manner herein-
before described the pivotal arm is turned until the set screw occupies a suitable
position to lock the device against-endway movement when the screw is screwed
home until it obtains the required grip of the sole, and the device is thus locked
against accidental displacement.
The end crossbars of the base plate or frame are preferably formed of mild
steel, or like comparatively soft metal, and the clips are formed of the same
material so that the end crossbars may be readily bent to the shape of the

page_text: bottom of the sole, and the clips may be readily shaped to the form and thick-
ness of the sole, and thus the necessity for keeping in stock a great variety of
sizes will be avoided.
When the device is intended to be used for cycling thick strips, bars, or stops
of vulcanised india-rubber or other suitable material are placed beneath the end
crossbars, and are there fixed in position by any suitable means, but preferably
by means of tongues or metal formed on the end bars and turned over or bent
round the india-rubber stops.
The device herein before described when in use is fixed in position upon the
sole of the boot or shoe in the manner hereinbefore described when the pedal
will naturally occupy a position between the two stop bars of rubber or the like,
and thus any danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
When the device is intended for use in playing games such as golf, or cricket,
or in walking, the rubber stop bars are dispensed with, and spikes or spiked
nails are fixed in suitable positions beneath the crossbars and other parts of the
base plate or frame.
In some cases where it is desired to convert an ordinary pair of boots into a
special pair of boots, to be kept for a given purpose,. the clips may be dispensed
with, and the frame or base plate may be provided with screw holes to receive
screws by means of which it may be fixed to the sole of the boot or shoe.
By the employment of the means herein before described the necessity for wear-
ing special boots or shoes is avoided, whilst by permanently fixing the device to
the soles of ordinary boots or shoes, the same may be rendered more suitable
than heretofore for taking part in exercises such as those named.
Dated this 20th day of November 1897.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for rendering
the same more suitable for Cycling, Golfing, or other Sports.
I, TURBERVILLE SMITH, of 1, Boyle Street, Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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:―
The invention relates to a new or improved device applicable to boots or shoes
for rendering the same more suitable for cycling, golfing, or other sports.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a simple attachment to an
ordinary walking boot or shoe which is adapted to be instantaneously fixed in
position without removing the boots or the like from the feet, and which in one
form will prevent the same slipping with relation to the pedals of a cycle when
the wearer is cycling, and in another form will prevent the boots or the like
slipping with relation to the ground when the wearer is golfing, cricketing, or
taking part in like exercises.
boot
In carrying the invention into effect a base plate or frame is employed
the
of the sole of
approximately of the width
or shoe, and
shaped to the sole of the boot or shoe either left or right to
which it is to be applied, and this base plate is preferably formed of two end
bars connected by two longitudinal bars of spring steel, which preferably cross
one another and are rivetted at the crossing, and which lie diagonally across the
sole of the boot or shoe,

page_text: 5
The TroԱՆ ՍԱԵՍ ՆԱԵ ՆՍ
to slide upon and engage the sole of the boot at the welt, and the rear one of
these crossbars is at one end furnished with a similar clip or hook, whilst a
fourth clip or hook is formed upon a bracket projecting forwardly from such
crossbar at the opposite end thereof, and to which bracket one of the connecting
bars is fastened, whilst that end of the rear crossbar is provided with a short
arm at one end horizontally pivotted thereto, and at the other end provided with
a vertical lug or flange, apertured and threaded to receive a set screw.
By this arrangement of parts the base plate is adapted to be slidden into posi-
tion upon the sole of the boot, the peculiar position of the hook or clip carried
by the bracket enabling the same to engage the sole at the widest part upon the
so that it would
inner side of the boot beyond which point the sole narrows
be impossible if a clip were placed on that end of the rear crossbar to slide the
device into position and yet obtain a firm grip of the sole.
When the base plate or frame is slidden into position in the manner herein-
before described the pivotal arm is turned until the set screw occupies a suitable
position to lock the device against endway movement when the screw is screwed
home until it obtains the required grip of the sole, and the device is thus locked
against accidental displacenient.
When the device is intended to be used for cycling thick strips, bars, or stops
of vulcanised india-rubber or other suitable material are placed beneath the end
crossbars and are there fixed in position by any suitable means but preferably
by means of tongues of metal formed on the end bars and turned over or bent
round the india-rubber stops.
The device herein before described when in use is fixed in position upon the
sole of the boot or shoe in the manner hereinbefore described when the pedal
will naturally occupy a position between the two stop bars of rubber or the like
and thus any danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
When the device is intended for use in playing games such as golf or cricket
or in walking, the rubber stop bars are dispensed with and spikes or spiked
nails are fixed in suitable positions beneath the crossbars and other parts of the
base plate or frame.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view representing a cycling device applied to a boot or
shoe, and engaging the pedal of a cycle.
Figure 2 is an underside view thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device separately.
Figure 4 is a plan or top view thereof.
Figure 5 is an underside view thereof.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a plan or top view of a slightly modified device.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a device designed for playing golf and similar
games.
Figure 11 is an underside view thereof and
Figure 12 is a sectional view of parts illustrating the method of fixing the
nails or spikes with the frame.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to a reduced scale with respect to the other
figures of the drawings.
b
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 a represents a cycle pedal, 6 represents a boot or

page_text: shoe, and c represents the attachment which forms the subject of the present
invention.
In constructing the attachment a base or frame is employed preferably con-
sisting of two end crossbars c¹ connected by longitudinal bars c of spring steel
which cross one another and are rivetted at the point of crossing, so that they lie
diagonally across the sole 6 of the boot or shoe, and this frame which is
approximately of the width of the sole of the boot or shoe is shaped thereto
according to whether it is to be applied to a right or left boot; whilst the
examples given in the drawings are designed to be applied to left boots.
The front one of the crossbars c¹ at its ends terminates in clips or hooks c²
adapted to slide upon and engage the sole of the boot at the welt, and the rear
one of these crossbars c¹ is at one end furnished with a similar clip or hook c³,
whilst a fourth clip or hook 2* is formed upon a bracket or offset c* projecting
forwardly from the rear crossbar el at the opposite end thereof, to which bracket
one of the connecting bars c is fastened by rivetting and the clip or hook c²* is
so arranged that it occupies a position at or near but not rearwardly beyond the
widest part of the sole of the boot.
At the bracket end of the rear crossbar c is provided a short arm which at
its inner end is horizontally pivotted at 4* to the crossbar c and at the other
end is provided with a vertical lug or flange c³ apertured and threaded to receive
a set screw co.
By this arrangement of parts the base plate or frame is adapted to be slidden
into position upon the sole 61 of the boot b, the peculiar position of the clip or
hook carried by the bracket or offset c* enabling the same to engage the sole
6 at or at about the widest part of the boot and upon the inner side thereof,
beyond which point the sole narrows rearwardly, so that it would be impossible
if a clip were placed on that end of the rear crossbar c¹ to slide the device into
position and yet obtain a firm grip of the sole 61 by the clips or hooks c² 2*.
a
When the base plate or frame c is slidden into position in the manner herein-
before described the pivotal arm is turned until the set screw e occupies
suitable position as represented at Figure 2 to lock the device against endway
movement, when the set screw c6 is screwed home until it obtains the required
grip of the sole 61 of the boot, and the device is thus securely locked against
accidental displacement.
are
In this example the device is designed to enable the boot b of a cyclist to
obtain a firm grip of the pedal a and for this purpose transverse bars or stops c*
consisting of vulcanised india-rubber, leather or other suitable material
placed beneath the end crossbars c¹ and there fixed by any suitable means such
as those shown, and which consist of tongues c³ formed in the stamping out of
the crossbars c¹ and which are turned over or bent round the india-rubber or
other bars or stops c*, and thus hold the same in position beneath the crossbars c¹.
In the example given at Figures 8 and 9 the bracket c* is of slightly different
form to that herein before shown and the adjacent connecting bar instead of
being fastened to the outer end of the bracket is fastened to the crossbar c¹ at
the inner end of the bracket, which renders the device more flexible and assists
its application to the boot.
In this example also, instead of the transverse stop bars c* being fastened to
the end crossbars c¹ by means of tongues of metal they are fastened thereto by
means of rivets c³, and this method of construction is especially useful when
forming the stop bars of hard material such as leather, vulcanised fibre, or the
like, but in other respects the device is substantially the same as that herein-
before shown and described.
The device when in use is fixed in position upon the sole o¹ of the boot or
shoe b in the manner hereinbefore shown and described, when the pedal a will
naturally occupy a position between the. two stop bars of rubber or the like c*,
and thus any danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
In the example given at Figures 10 to 12 the device is similar in construction

page_text: to that herein before shown and described with respect to Figures 8 and 9, but
in this case it is designed to prevent the feet of the wearer slipping with
relation to the ground when playing games such as golf or cricket or in
walking, and for this purpose the rubber or other stop bars hereinbefore
described are dispensed with, and spikes or spiked nails c* are fixed in position
beneath the crossbars c' and bracket c* and the device is thus enabled to obtain
a firm grip of the ground.
By the employment of the means hereinbefore described the necessity for
wearing special boots or shoes may be avoided, whilst by permanently fixing the
device to the soles of ordinary boots or shoes, the same may be rendered more
suitable than heretofore for taking part in exercises such as those named.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A boot attachment comprising a base plate or frame having stop bars or
spikes fixed to the underside thereof and provided with side clips or hooks
adapted to engage the sole of the boot and arranged two at the front of the
device, one at the rear, another in a suitable position between the front and rear
and an arm swivelled to the rear extremity of the base plate or frame and pro-
vided with a set screw for engaging the sole of the boot and preventing endway
movement of the device substantially as herein shown and described, and for
the purpose stated.
2. A boot attachment comprising a skeleton frame having stop bars or spikes
fixed to the underside thereof and formed of end crossbars connected by diagon-
ally arranged connecting bars a forwardly projecting bracket at one end of the
rear crossbar side clips or hooks adapted to engage the sole of the boot and
arranged two on the ends of the front crossbar, another on one end of the rear
crossbar, and another upon the end of the bracket in a suitable position between
the front and rear, and an arm swivelled to the bracket end of the rear crossbar
and provided with a set screw for engaging the sole of the boot and preventing
endway movement of the device substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
O
1
C
1000