Improvements in and relating to the Fastening of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Fastening of Boots and Shoes.
GEORGE STEVENS, No. 1, Stratford Place, Speedwell Road, Hay Mills, in the
County of Warwickshire, Plasterer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows: —
This new and necessary invention in boots and shoes is that all the front
and sides of the boot and shoe are closed and plain. The opening for the foot
is at the back. The seam is left open, and a narrow piece of leather is put
inside the boot or shoe and both the edges of the upper and the piece of leather
are sewed together at each of the opening for the foot to enter at the back of
the boot or shoe. Half an inch from each edge of opening is a second row of
stitching both pieces together. A small rib of steel is inserted each side of the
opening fastening at the top with one short strap and small buckle so that the
opening for the foot opens and shuts like a workman's rule, with a close and
nice seam. It can be put on and off in half a minute.
It is perfectly watertight and requires no laces, or buttons or other fastenings.
It has no wrinkles. It requires no more work to make the shape which is the
same as before, and is more comfortable to wear.
Improvements in and relating to the Fastening of Boots and Shoes.
I, GEORGE STEVENS, of 1, Stratford Place, Speedwell Road, Hay Mills, in the
County of Warwickshire, Plasterer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in the fastening of boots and shoes,
the object being to provide means for quickly and easily securing boots and
shoes of all kinds in a simple, neat and efficient manner and without recourse
being had to the ordinary boot laces, buttons and button-holes, or other similar
fastening devices of this kind, and to this end my invention consists essentially
in dividing the boots and shoes at a certain suitable point at the back, suitably
C

page_text: stiffening the divided edges, preferably by the insertion of a stiffening rib within
same, and drawing the said divided edges together for closing and fastening
the boot or shoe by means of a strap and buckle, straps and buckles, or their
equivalent.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot closed and fastened according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a back view of such a boot shown closed.
:
Fig. 3 is a similar view but with the boot open for the insertion of the foot,
and with the strap or band for securing same removed.
Fig. 4 is a back view of a top boot closed and fastened according to this
invention, and
Fig. 5 is a detail.
According to this invention and as applied to an ordinary walking boot as
shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the boot is closed at the front and sides but divided
vertically at the back so as at a forming two divided edges b b which can be
drawn back as shown (Fig. 3) for the insertion of the foot. The edges of these
divided parts b b are stiffened in any convenient and suitable manner, but pre-
ferably by the insertion of stiffening ribs or flat metal bands cc (shown in dotted
lines) contained within pockets or recesses in the edges of the said divided
parts bb.
:
For drawing the divided parts together to close and fasten the boot, a suit-
able strap or band d is passed through the openings dd formed in the sides b
of the boot, the ends of the said band d being then crossed over in opposite
directions so as to pass under guiding loops e e whence they proceed to the front
of the boot where they are secured by a buckle such as f or other suitable
fastening device.
The boot may be completely divided down the whole length of the back or
only for such a distance as may be considered sufficient for the comfortable and
easy insertion of the foot within same, the divided edges being suitably
stiffened preferably by the insertion of a stiffening rib within each of the divided
edges and drawn together and fastened by strap and buckle or straps and buckles
or their equivalent. Where the boot is divided down the back as shown in
Figs. 1 to 3 the tongue 9 may be furnished with a projecting rib g¹ designed
to come between the divided edges bb of the boot and thus give it a neat
appearance, while that part of the band or strap d passing under the divided
edges may be suitably secured to the tongue g as shown (Fig. 5) for the purpose
of keeping the said tongue in a central position while drawing the boot together
by the band or strap d.
As applied to a top boot as shown in Fig. 4 the boot is divided for a sufficient
distance down the back and the edges bb suitably stiffened preferably by the
insertion of stiffening ribs cc, while the divided edges are drawn together and
fastened by suitable straps and buckles such as kk or other suitable fastening
devices.
:
In cases where top boots arranged to be fastened according to this invention
are furnished with large flap tongues at the back, the edges of which are perma-
nently secured to the divided sides of the boot, the said tongue may be suitably
stiffened or provided with stiffening pieces so as to form permanent creases at
which points the tongues always folds when the divided edges of the boot are
drawn together.
A boot designed to be closed and fastened as herein described and shown may
be more easily put on and taken off than with boots of the ordinary well known
kind, while they are neater in appearance, more comfortable to wear, and
wrinkling at the ankle, instep and other parts of the boot is reduced to a
minimum, furthermore the fastening is very durable and there are no parts
liable to readily get out of order,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performned, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1/. The improved method of and means for closing and fastening boots and
shoes consisting in the dividing of the boot or shoe at the back, suitably stiffen-
ing the divided edges, preferably by the insertion of stiffening ribs and drawing
together and fastening the divided edges by means of straps and buckles, sub-
stantially as herein described and shown with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and for the purposes specified.
2/. The application of the invention above claimed to ordinary walking boots,
substantially in the manner herein described and shown with reference to Figs. 1
to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3/. The application of this invention to the closing and fastening of top boots,
substantially as herein described and shown with reference to Fig. 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
T
L
1
101
1633.
CASSELL & Co.,
(Of Cassell & Co.)
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.