IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Keighley, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES FOR
BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 28th February 1878, and dated the 11th December 1877.
Sealed the 28th February 1878, and dated the 11th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Keighley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1877.
JACOB KEIGHLEY, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of this Invention is to make wooden soles available for boots and
shoes by giving to them an amount of flexibility at the part where the toes join on
to the foot, and at the same time to keep them waterproof.
To effect this object I form a light wooden sole in the ordinary manner, and I
divide it across the bend of the foot in a slight curve, removing about a quarter of
an inch in width along the curve at the inner side of the sole, and about three
quarters of an inch in width about half through from the outside. I then take a
strip of india-rubber of such a section as will supply the place of the wood cut away
or removed, and I cement it into the place thereof, thereby obtaining a flexible and
waterproof joint. The whole "tread" of the sole and heel may then be covered
with india-rubber or gutta percha, or with leather if preferred.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jacob Keighley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th June
1878.
JACOB KEIGHLEY, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOLES FOR BOOTS AND SHOES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of this Invention is to make wooden soles available for boots and
shoes by giving to them an amount of flexibility at the part where the toes join on
to the foot, and at the same time to keep them waterproof.
To effect this object I form a light wooden sole in the ordinary manner, and I
divide it across the bend of the foot in a slight curve (or in a slightly diagonal
line), removing about a quarter to half an inch in width along this line at the
inner side of the sole, and about three quarters of an inch to one inch and a half in
width about half through from the outside. I then take a strip of india-rubber of
such a section as will supply the place of the wood cut away or removed, and I
cement it into the place thereof, thereby obtaining a flexible and waterproof joint.
The whole "tread" of the sole may then be covered with india-rubber or gutta
percha, or with leather if preferred, and a heel of the required height may also be
affixed in the usual manner.
In order more clearly to illustrate the manner in which my said Invention is to
be or may be carried into practical effect I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of
Drrwings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference, corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, this is to
say:
Fig. 1 is
side view of one of my improved soles; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
same; and Fig. 3 is a cross section through about the line A, B, in Fig. 2.
a, a', represents the wooden solo, which is made with a groove b, b, all round for
the reception of the edge of the upper leather, which is secured therein by means of
nails, or otherwise, as usual. In order to prevent water from entering the wooden
I prefer to coat the outside and edges of the sole with boiled linseed oil or paint.
In order to give elasticity to the sole I divide the same into two parts across the
road in a slightly diagonal line (either curved or straight), removing therefiom a
certain position of the wood, as shown, say, three-quarters of an inch in width
about half way through from the upper surface, and about three times that width
for the lower half. I then take a strip of india-rubber c, c, of a corresponding
section and fix it with cement so as to unite the two parts of the sole and form a
flexible hinge to accommodate the sole to the bend of the foot, and by these means
I make wooden soles available for boots and shoes by giving them a certain amount
of flexibility at the tread and at the same time keep them waterproof. The "tread "
of the sole may then be covered with gutta percha, india-rubber, or leather, and a
heel affixed in the usual manner, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, the manufacture of
wooden soles for boots and shoes with a flexible tread, substantially in the manner
herein-before particularly described, and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Keighley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight
JACOB KEIGHLEY. (LS)