IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hucknall Rimes, of Bradford, in the
County of York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 14th August 1868, and dated the 15th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hucknall
Rimes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th February 1868.
I, RICHARD HUCKNALL RIMES, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obtain elasticity of the soles at
the toe joints or bend of the foot and thereby give ease in walking,
and also to prevent slipping or to get better adhesion to the ground.
The improvements consist in the insertion of india-rubber or other
elastic material into the soles of boots and shoes (at the toe joints or bend

page_text: of the foot), which may be. secured to the leather or other material of
the said soles by either stitching, pegging, cementing, or by any other
suitable means. For some purposes of wear (as dancing) this elastic
material may be covered with leather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Hucknall Rimes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
HUCKNALL RIMES, of Bradford, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
Sand grant unto me, the said Richard Hucknall Rimes, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard Hucknall Rimes, my' executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Hucknall Rimes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition (amongst
others), that I, the said Richard Hucknall Rimes, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
,of their hands,and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW, KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Hucknall Rimes, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings (that
is 'to say):

page_text: The object of this Invention is to obtain elasticity of the soles at
the toc joints or bend of the foot and thereby to give ease in walking,
and also to prevent slipping or to get better adhesion to the ground..
The improvements consist in the insertion of india-rubber or other
elastic or flexible material into the soles of boots and shoes at the toe
joints or bend of the foot, which may be secured to the leather or other
material of which the said soles may be made by either stitching,
pegging, or cementing, or by any other suitable means, and for some
purposes of wear, such as dancing, this elastic material may be covered
with leather.
In order that this Invention may be clearly understood I herein
give reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings, illustrating the
manner in which the same. is performed or carried into practical
effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig: 1 represents the side elevation of a boot or shoe, and Fig. 2 the
sole underneath or bottom thercof, which is cut away, as shewn, leaving
an opening therein opposite to the toe joints or to the bend of the
foot, and a piece of india-rubber or other elastic or flexible material
A is inserted, which may be cemented to the insole and may also be
either stitched, pegged, or nailed around the jointing edges to further
or more effectually secure the same. The material here shewn is
specially prepared for the purpose, the parts marked B being of the
soft or springy india-rubber while the remainder is of the hard kind,
the former to obtain adhesion to the ground and the latter to sustain
the stitching or other mode of fastening the same to the adjoining
parts of the sole.
::
.
The size, form, and position of the opening may be varied, and
may also extend to near the tip of the toe to obtain better adhesion
if necessary; but I have found by practical experience during the
Provisional Protection of this Invention that the size, form, and
position herein shewn is the best. When it is not desirable to have
such firm or close adhesion to the ground or floor, as in dancing,
where a gliding or sliding of the feet is required, or for walking upon
carpet or such like purposes, then this elastic material may be covered
with leather or other suitable substance, or may be inserted between
the insole and the outsole, as shewn at Fig. 3, or it may be inserted

page_text: into the insole, as at Fig. 4, in which case I recommend that the india-
'rubber be perforated for ventilation to the feet of the wearer, as shewn.
By the use of this Invention ease is obtained in walking and slipping
prevented, also the feet are protected from injury by hard substances
coming in contact therewith. when walking on uneven ground.
Having thus fully described the nature of this my said Invention,
'and shewn by Drawings the best manner. I am acquainted with of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details as herein set forth;
but what I claim as my Invention is, the insertion of india-rubber or
-other elastic or flexible. material into the soles of boots and shoes, in
manner and. for purposés substantially as herein. described. and shewn
by the accompanying Sheet. of Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hucknall Rimes; have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
(Signed, sealed, and delivered'
the within-named-
by
Richard Hucknall' Rimes,
in the presence of
W* TASKER,
RICH?. H. RIMES.: (L.S:):
Patent Agent;
Halifax & Bradford.