IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Powley Alexander at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1878. A communication
from abroad by Emile Louis de Waroquier, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS
AND SHOES."
A communication from abroad by Emile Louis de Waroquier, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to an improved mode or method of uniting or securing the
soles and heels of boots and shoes of all kinds, applicable also for securing the
uppers to the soles in single soled shoes, whereby greater simplicity of construction,
increased durability, and a neater and more ornamental appearance are obtained,
whilst the ordinary methods of securing by stitching, nailing, or screwing are
rendered unnecessary.
According to this Invention, it is proposed to unite the soles and heels by the
application round their edges of a continuous band or hoop of metal of any suitable
kind, which encircles or encloses the edge or contour of the sole and heel, such hoop
having its upper and lower edges turned over so as to grip or fit on to the upper and
under edges of the soles and heels; nails, rivets, or other fastenings being employed
if desired for securing the said metal hoop in position.
In some cases the said encircling hoop may have its upper edge carried upwards,
so as to extend over or cover more or less of the upper leather at the sides thereof,
thereby affording greater protection to the feet, whilst if an ornamental contour be
imparted to the said raised parts a highly ornamental appearance will be given to
the boot or shoe.
In lieu of the said encircling hoop being continuous or in one piece, it may be
made in two parts united by hinged joints at or about the middle of the length of
the boot or shoe, so as to avoid unnecessary rigidity by affording facility for the
flexure of the sole in walking.
.
One or more transverse tie bars or cross pieces of metal may be introduced in
heavier makes of boots for connecting together the opposite sides of the enclosing

page_text: hoop, the said cross pieces being disposed either outside of or between the soles as
preferred.
The use of the encircling band or hoop as herein-before described affords facility
moreover for the ready fixing of projecting nails, spikes, hooks, or other hold fasts
to the soles; also for the adaptation thereto of metal soles for protecting the feet of
workmen when walking over hot surfaces or over sharp or cutting objects, and by
grooving or channelling the said metal soles they are rendered more serviceable for
pounding or reducing substances by stamping.
Rollers and skate irons for use on floors or on the ice may also be obviously
attached with ease if required.
The construction and putting together of the several parts of the boot or shoe is
greatly facilitated by the use of the said metallic encircling band or hoop, and the
wear and tear of the leather when in use is considerably diminished.
The said hoops may be composed of any metal, such as iron, steel, copper and the
like, and may be ornamented to any extent or coated with other metals, or with
enamel paint or varnish of any desired colour, according to taste.