Novel Means for Protecting and Increasing the Durability of the Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
Novel Means for Protecting and Increasing the Durability of the
Soles of Boots and Shoes.
I, DAVID SIM of Barry Burnside, Carnoustie, Forfarshire, Scotland, Railway
Signalman, 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
-
My Invention has reference to a novel method of finishing the soles of boots and
shoes in accordance with which the strength, durability, and wearing properties of
same are considerably increased.
In the drawing herewith Figure 1 is a view of the underside of a boot or shoe sole
made up in accordance with my Invention, Figure 2 being a cross section on line A B
to enlarged scale
In carrying out my Invention the sole A of the boot or shoe is studded with
ordinary hob nails, tackets, or studs a, an outer row extending around the edge of
the sole of the boot or shoe the inner rows being either straight, curved, or arranged
in the usual ornamental manner; or, I may provide an outer row or rows only
thus leaving a clear space within the centre of the sole; although it must be under-
stood that I do not specify any particular arrangement of the studs or tackets as same
form no distinctive or essential feature of my Invention. I then build or fill up the
intervening space or spaces between the studs a up to the level of the heads with a
suitable plastic or semi-plastic material or composition B, preferably of a slightly
resilient nature.
I first treat the sole of the boot or shoe to be finished in accordance with my
Invention with a coat of any adhesive compound or cement, the composition B, which
has first been reduced preferably by heat into a plastic or semi-plastic condition
aforesaid, is pressed into the intervening space or spaces between the studs, and is then
smoothly and evenly rolled or finished off level with the heads of the studs by any
suitable means. I wish it to be understood that 1 do not confine myself to any
particular material or composition for filling up the spaces between the studs to finish
the sole of the boot level with the heads thereof, as I may in practice employ any
suitable material such for instance as guttapercha, india rubber or the like which
whilst capable of being reduced to a plastic state to allow of its filling up the spaces
between the tackets tends to preserve and strengthen the sole of the boot
1 employ leather to seive the purposes aforesaid, it is first reduced to a pliable or soft
condition then pressed into the spaces between the studs and finished off as aforesaid,
the retaining of same in position by the adhesive compound or cement may be also
supplemented when desired by the employment of rivets or analogous fastenings.
Should
By the above described arrangement I an enabled not only to produce a close
and evenly wearing surface for the soles of boots and shoes, but I also overcome the
disadvantages inherent with boots and shoes as ordinarily made of the continual loss
of the studs or nails from the boot or shoe sole by becoming loose, as also the
constant clogging of the space or spaces between the studs or nails by dirt, stones, or
other extraneous substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The novel means herein described for protecting and increasing the durability of
the soles of boots and shoes by filling or building up the intervening spaces between

page_text: the studs or nails up to the level of the heads thereof with a suitable composition or
material, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 3rd day of Mov 1889
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.