Improvements in Football and Cricket Boots.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Football and Cricket Boots.
GEORGE HENRY HICKSON, 10, Lightfoot Grove, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Boot
Shop Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A light steel plate, passing from the heel of boot to the forepart, at the forepart
having four arms into which are made square or oblong holes, through these holes
pass metal screws having small heads with square shoulders, these screws also
pass through holes prepared in the middle and top soles of boot, and project about
half an inch beyond the topsole-upon the part projecting are screwed (for foot-
ball boots) specially prepared leather or composition studs, (for cricket boots) a
metal cap, which being screwed up tight, secures the whole firmly together,-
the said plates are also made in separate parts so as to be applied to the heels
or soles of boots in the same manner, but independent of the plate going through
to heel.
Tinted this 22nd day of December 1898
Improvements in Football and Cricket Boots.
GEORGE HENRY HICKSON, 10, Lightfoot Grove, Stockton on Tees, Durham, Boot
Shop Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement;-
A light steel plate which may pass from the heel of the boot to the forepart,
and at the forepart has four arms in which are made square or oblong holes.
Through these holes pass metal screws having small heads and square shoulders.
These screws also pass through holes prepared in the top sole of boot and
project about half an inch beyond the top or outer sole. Upon the part pro-
jecting are screwed (for football boots) prepared leather or composition studs,
(or for cricket boots metal caps forming studs) which being screwed up tight
secure the whole firmly together. The said plates are also made in separate parts
so as to be applied to the heels or soles of the boots in the same manner.
For purposes of illustration, I will now refer to the annexed drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a boot fitted with my improvement
for football players.
Figure 2, plan view of same.
Figure 3. sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement.
Figure 4, view of stud for use with football boots.
Figure 5, a stud for use with cricket boots.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the plate a is formed of steel or other suitable
material and is provided with the arms which extend over the forepart of the

page_text: boot. These arms are provided with apertures through which pins or bolts c
pass, the cross section of the pin or bolt c at the required part corresponding to
the configuration of the aperture. These pins or bolts c are passed through the
plate a and the sole of the boot d from the inside, and the stud or metal cap e
is screwed thereon, this stud or metal cap e being employed for instance, in the
case of cricket boots. In the case of boots used for football I employ a suitable
composition for the manufacture of the studs f which are screwed upon the pins
or bolts c projecting through the steel plate a aforesaid. It will be seen that
owing to the aperture in the plate and the cross section of the bolt at the required
part corresponding, the bolt will be prevented from rotating when the stud is
being screwed into position as if ordinary apertures were employed, the end of
the bolt engaged therein would have a tendency to turn or rotate and so prevent
the securing of the plate to the sole. This steel plate performs a double function.
The first consists in allowing the sole a certain amount of flexibility and at the
same time a sufficient amount of rigidity. The second function consists in
maintaining the studs or projections in their operative position. Now in the
leather sole provided with the ordinary studs or projections for use when as foot-
ball or cricket boots, in the event of the sole becoming moist, a softening action
takes place and the studs or projections have a tendency to be driven inwards
owing to the want of rigidity in the sole and this causes discomfort to the wearer
and to a great extent renders the studs or projections inoperative. By the employ-
ment of a metal plate such as thin steel, as in my invention, this inconvenience
would be reduced.
Although for purposes of illustration I have described my invention as applied
to football or cricket boots, it will be readily understood that in running shoes
the same invention may be advantageously applied.
Referring to Figure 3, in this case I place the plate a' on the outside & inter-
pose a lining of asbestos or other non conducting material g between the sole of
the boot d and the outer plate a¹, and this arrangement is particularly applicable
to boots or shoes worn by foundry men and others where it is desirable to prevent
the conduction of heat towards the interior of the boot or shoe. In this case the
pins or bolts c are employed as before and pass through the insulating material
and the studs or caps h may be formed of any desired substance. In ordinary
studs or caps for use with boots of the class. herein described, a great objection
lies in the fact that the expense of renewing these studs is so considerable as
to often prevent an individual from employing them as it requires skilled labour,
and again the sole or surface into which they are fixed is more or less damaged
as it is not possible to insert a stud or nut into the same aperture twice, and
this means destroying the sole. By my invention the position of the studs or
nuts need not be altered as a fresh stud or nut may be affixed in position when
required by merely removing the worn nut or stud and fixing a fresh one in its
place.
It will be readily understood that although I have described my invention as
applied to football, cricket, running and foundry boots, there are other purposes
to which the principle of my invention might be applied, and that is the
providing of a stiff or resisting base formed preferably of a metal plate upon the
inner or outer surface of the outer sole of the boot or shoe, and being attached
in position by means of studs or nuts engaging upon pins or bolts passing through
the sole and plate aforesaid.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:
1. In boots of the class herein described the employment of a flexible plate
secured to the sole of the boot substantially as described and illustrated herein
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. A flexible steel plate with arms through which bolts or studs pass then
through the outer sole of the boot. Caps or pieces secured upon the external
ends of said studs as and for the purpose set forth and illustrated herein.
3. In combination with boots or shoes a steel plate adapted to allow studs or
the like which have been passed through the sole of the boot to project a sufficient
distance for the purpose of carrying caps, points or pieces which are secured
thereon and may easily be renewed when required, such as in the case of cricket
or football boots.
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