IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS OR SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOOTS OR SHOES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the Invention is to devise a boot having a wooden sole and yet
possessing the elastic qualities of a leather-soled boot; and it consists essentially
in providing a boot with a wooden sole and a wooden heel connected together by a
leather shank, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter
explained.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOOTS OR SHOES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the Invention is to devise a boot having a wooden sole and yet
possessing the elastic qualities of a leather-soled boot; and it consists essentially
in providing a boot with a wooden sole and a wooden heel connected together by a
leather shank, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter
explained.
Figure 1. is a sectional view of a boot constructed in accordance with this
Invention.
Figure 2. is a detail of the leather shank.
Figure 2 is a detail of the heel
Figure 4. is a detail of the leather strip. F.
Figure 5. is a detail of the iron band employed for connecting the shank to the
sole and forming a finished binding around the leather and the wood where the
upper connects with the sole.
A, is the ordinary upper of a boot provided with the usual insole and lasted to
the wooden sole, B, in the ordinary way.
C., is the leather shank provided with a curved flange a at the end of the shank
which fits against the end of the wooden sole, B. This shank, C extends to the
back of the boot and has nailed or screwed to it the wooden heel, D. This wooden
heel is made with the grain running vertically.
7 so that the heel will not split off
like an ordinary leather heel made in layers.
E, is a metal band designed to fit over the sole and extend around the edge of
the leather where it connects with the sole.
This metal band also extends over the flange a formed on the end of the leather
shank, C, and when tacked in position not only connects the leather sbank, C to
the wooden sole, B but also forms a finished binding around that portion of the
upper which is connected to the sole.
Figure 4. is a detail of the leather strip. F.
Figure 5. is a detail of the iron band employed for connecting the shank to the
sole and forming a finished binding around the leather and the wood where the
upper connects with the sole.
A, is the ordinary upper of a boot provided with the usual insole and lasted to
the wooden sole, B, in the ordinary way.
C., is the leather shank provided with a curved flange a at the end of the shank
which fits against the end of the wooden sole, B. This shank, C extends to the
back of the boot and has nailed or screwed to it the wooden heel, D. This wooden
heel is made with the grain running vertically so that the heel will not split off
like an ordinary leather heel made in layers.
E, is a metal band designed to fit over the sole and extend around the edge of
the leather where it connects with the sole.
This metal band also extends over the flange a formed on the end of the leather
shank, C, and when tacked in position not only connects the leather sbank, C to
the wooden sole, B but also forms a finished binding around that portion of the
upper which is connected to the sole.

page_text: A boot constructed in this manner will not only be completely water-tight at its
sole, but also, owing to the manner of connecting the upper A to the sole B, the
recess usually left between the sole and the upper where now and wet mud
accumulate is avoided, consequently a boot constructed in accordance with this
Invention is, to all intents and purposes absolutely water tight.
Another feature of importance to be considered is that while the introduction of
the leather shank gives to the sole all the elasticity which is necessary for a
comfortable boot the sole B, is itself inflexible consequently the upper immediately
over it will not be subjected to any cracking strain caused by the bending of the
sole when walking, therefore a boot constructed in accordance with this Invention
will last longer than those as now made.
It may be mentioned that in the event of any joint occurring in the metal band
that joint must not occur at the junction between the leather shank and wooden
sole, as at that point a strain is caused by the movement of the flexible shank.
It should also be mentioned that in order to finish the joint between the band, E,
and the wooden sole a leather strip F, is inserted shown in detail in Figure 4.
This strip it will be noticed is doubled over so that the edges come together
when bound beneath the band, E the bend in the strip extending above the
upper edge of the band E, forming a sort of bead extending around the edge
between the sole and the upper.
It will of course be understood that while a metal band, E, is preferred a band
of other material might be used, and that although the leather shank will generally
be adopted, a rubber shank, or a shank of any flexible material would, in a
measure if not altogether, accomplish the object of this portion of the Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with the rigid or inflexible sole B and heel D of the
flexible shank C substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. A wooden heel in which the grain runs vertically for the purpose
specified.
Third. The metal band E substantially as and for the purpose specified.