IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: I LEWIS WATERMAN of the City and County of Bristol do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES to be as
follows:-
This invention is intended to apply more particularly to Boots and Shoes for the
use of velocipedists, the object being to afford a firmer hold than heretofore on the
pedals, by preventing slip, but the invention is also applicable to Boots and Shoes
for Tennis and Football players, and in fact to Boots and Shoes generally.
It is well known that a firm foothold is absolutely necessary in Bicycle or Tricycle
riding, and many plans have been tried to prevent the feet of the rider slipping off
the pedals, but hitherto without satisfactory results.
In carrying out my invention, I form the Boot or Shoe with a light sole in the
ordinary way, and I secure thereto a corrugated clump sole of leather. The
corrugations are mado transversely of the sole, nud may be made entirely across
the sole or across the central part only, leaving an uncorrugated edge by which the
clump sole may be attached to the Boot or Shoe. When the corrugations are made
entirely across the sole, I prefer to attach it to the Boot or Shoe by sewing or
pegging along the indentations. The number of corrugations will of course vary
according to the size of the Boot or Shoe, but for a medium man's size I find about
eight to be a sufficient number, as this number of corrugations will fit most readily
into the pedals of the vehicle.
In ordinary use, the number of corrugations may be increased or diminished
according to fancy, but for heavy walking Boots, the number may be decreased
and the size increased. I am thus enabled to obtain a Boot sole which has all the
advantages of a sole of considerable thickness without the weight.
In preparing the sole for use, I take a piece of leather of the size and form
required, and after wetting it freely, I subject it to considerable pressure between
a pair of fluted rollers. This will have the effect of consolidating the leather and
of giving it the desired "set."
The soles of Boots and Shoes made with the corrugations will wear longer than
the ordinary flat soles, and will not bo so liable to slip in snow or on greasy
pavements.

page_text: I, LEWIS WATERMAN of Rupert Street, in the City and County of Bristol, Boot
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOOTS AND SHOES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is intended to apply more particularly to boots and shoes for the
use of velocipedists, the object being to afford a firm hold or grip on the pedals,
but the invention is also applicable to boots and shoes for tennis and football
players and in fact to boots and shoes generally.
It is well known that a firm foothold is absolutely necessary in bicycle and
tricycle riding and many plans have been tried to prevent the feet of the rider
.slipping off the pedals but hitherto without satisfactory results.
In carrying out my invention I form the boot or shoe with a sole in the ordinary
way and I secure thereto a corrugated clump sole of leather, metal or other, suitable
hard, pliant material, or I may use the metal and the leather or other material
combined. The corrugations are made transversely of the sole, and may be made
entirely across the sole, or across the central part only, leaving an uncorrugated
edge by which the clump sole may be attached to the boot or shoe. When the
corrugations are made entirely across the sole, which I prefer, I attach it to the
boot or shoe by sewing, pegging or rivetting along the indentations. The number
of corrugations will of course vary according to requirements; thus, for a cyclist's
shoe to be used with rat-trap pedals I find about eight to be a sufficient number,
but for what are termed rubber pedals, four corrugations will be found most readily
to fit the pedals.
For lawn tennis or cricketing shoes and for boots and shoes for ordinary use, the
number of corrugations may be increased to say ten or twelve, but for heavy
walking boots the number may be decreased (four being a convenient number) and
the size correspondingly increased. Iam thus enabled to obtain a boot sole which
"has all the advantages of a sole of considerable thickness without the weight.
In preparing a leather sole for use, I take a piece of leather of the size and form
required, and after wetting it freely, I subject it to considerable pressure between
a pair of fluted rollers. This rolling will have the effect of consolidating the
leather, and of giving it the desired "set," or the leather may be consolidated by
pressure between corrugated plates, or in any other convenient manner.
The soles of boots and shoes made with the corrugations will wear longer than
the ordinary flat soles and will not be so liable to slip on snow or on greasy
pavements.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown, at Fig: 1, a side elevation of a shoe
.having a corrugated clump sole, the corrugations of which extend entirely across
the sole and at Fig. 2 an underside plan view of the same.
A, is the upper, B a sole, which is secured to the upper in the usual way. C is
the corrugated clump sole, which, if of leather will have been previously prepared
in the manner above described, is secured to the sole B by pegging, sewing or in any
other convenient manner along the bottom of the recesses or indentations formed
during the corrugating operation as indicated at a.
When the corrugations are few in number, and the spaces between correspondingly
large, I prefer to fill these spaces with some light material, such as cork dust or
shavings, mixed with some waterproof binding substance, as indicated at b, to
prevent the entrance of water and mud. I may also back up the corrugated
leather or other clump sole by a corrugated metal plate.

page_text: Boots or shoes for the use of cyclists made as above described, will practically
prevent overtreading and the feet slipping off the pedals, especially on rough roads,
and will give the rider a powerful grip on the treadles, thereby enabling him to
ride up bill with comparative ease, and relieving to a considerable extent the strain
on the wrists. At the same time they will lead the cranks round further than any
other boot or shoe used by cyclists, and by keeping the foot straight on the pedal,
will prevent the contact of the heel with the spokes, thus avoiding a danger to
which bicyclists are much exposed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
The application to a boot or shoe of a wholly or partially corrugated clump sole
of leather, thin metal or other suitable hard pliant material substantially as
described and for the purposes setforth.