A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for Rendering the same more Suitable for Cycling.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for Rendering
the same more Suitable for Cycling.
I, TURBERVILLE SMITH, of 1, Boyle Street, Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to a new or improved device applicable to boots or shoes
for rendering the same more suitable for cycling.
A common cause of accident and inconvenience in cycling is the slippage of the
boots or shoes of the rider with relation to the pedals, and in order to obviate this
trouble the "rat-trap_ pedal is sometimes employed, but this is very destructive
to the boots and to the dress of the rider especially in the case of ladies.
""
Another device which more or less overcomes the difficulty is the toe-clip but
this marks the boots of the rider and is troublesome to get into position, added to
which in the event of a fall it is, as is well known, extremely dangerous to the
rider, and more especially to lady riders.
Special boots and shoes formed with serrated soles are sometimes worn in order
to overcome the difficulties above pointed out but there are many occasions when
these cannot be conveniently worn, and when a cyclist wishes to take a short ride
it is troublesome to put on special boots or shoes for the purpose.
Now the object of the present invention is to provide a simple attachment to an
ordinary walking boot or shoe, which is adapted to be instantaneously fixed in
position without removing the boots from the feet, and which will prevent the
boots slipping with relation to the pedals, and thus more or less obviate the
difficulties above pointed out.
In carrying the invention into effect a base plate of vulcanised rubber is employed
of the width of the sole of the boot or shoe to which it is to be applied, and this
base plate upon its underside is provided at each end so as to lie transversely
across the hoot with bars or ribs of vulcanised rubber, whilst the sides of the device
are provided with clips or hooks adapted to engage the sole of the boot by sliding
the same into position thereon so that it will thus be held firmly against movement.
These hooks or clips may be applied to the device in any suitable manner for
example by embedding in the transverse bars or ribs of rubber strips of metal
having hooked ends, or the clips or hooks may be otherwise applied to the device.
As a modification of the device herein before described the base plate may be
formed of leather or other suitable material covered with rubber or as a further
modification the base plate may be formed of thin steel or other suitable metal or
material turned up at its edges to form hooks or clips adapted to engage the sole
of the boot or shoe, and the face of this base plate may be covered with rubber and
fitted with bars of the same material in the manner herein before described and the
base plate may if desired be perforated for the sake of lightness or it may be
formed of two or more diagonally arranged bars either immovably fixed or pivotally
connected together.

page_text: If desired the base plate on the back thereof may be provided with short spikes
adapted to engage the sole of the boot and prevent slippage of the device with
relation thereto and in some cases the base plate of the device may be perforated
to receive nails or screws by the aid of which the device may be more or less per-
manently fixed to the sole of a boot or shoe. +
It will be obvious that the details of construction of the device the material
employed therefor, and the means for clamping the same in position upon the
boot may be further more or less varied without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
When in use the device is fixed in position upon the sole of the boot or shoe
by sliding it thereon or otherwise clamping it in position beneath the ball of the
foot when the pedal will naturally occupy a position between the two bars or ribs,
and thus any danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
By the employment of the means hereinbefore described a cyclist may safely
ride in ordinary boots or shoes, and thus avoid the necessity for wearing special
boots or shoes which in some cases are inconvenient and out of place.
Dated this 27th day of September 1897
WHITE & WOODINGTON, .
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
A New or Improved Device applicable to Boots or Shoes for Rendering
the same more Suitable for Cycling.
I, TURBERVILLE SMITH, of 1, Boyle Street, Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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:-
The invention relates to a new or improved device applicable to boots or shoes
for rendering the same more suitable for cycling.
A common cause of accident and inconvenience in cycling is the slippage of the
boots or shoes of the rider with relation to the pedals, and in order to obviate this
trouble the "rat-trap" pedal is sometimes employed, but this is very destructive
to the boots and to the dress of the rider especially in the case of ladies.
Another device which more or less overcomes the difficulty is the toe clip but
this marks the boots of the rider and is troublesome to get into position, added to
which in the event of a fall it is as is well known, extremely dangerous to the
rider, and more especially to lady riders.
Special boots and shoes formed with serrated soles are sometimes worn in order
to overcome the difficulties above pointed out, but there are many occasions when
these cannot be conveniently worn, and when a cyclist wishes to take a short ride
it is troublesome to put on special boots or shoes for the purpose.
Now the object of the present invention is to provide a simple attachment to an
ordinary walking boot or shoe, which in one form is adapted to be instantaneously
fixed in position or detached without removing the boots from the feet, and which
will prevent the boots slipping with relation to the pedals, and thus more or less
obviate the difficulties above pointed out.
In carrying the invention into effect a base plate of vulcanised rubber is
employed of the width of the sole of the boot or shoe, to which it is to be applied,
and this base plate upon its underside is provided at each end so as to lic trans-
versely across the boot with bars or ribs of vulcanised rubber, whilst the sides of

page_text: the device are provided with clips or hooks applied thereto in any suitable manner,
and adapted to engage the sole of the boot by sliding or springing the same into
position thereon so that it will thus be held firmly against movement, or the
vulcanised rubber base plate and stop bars may be otherwise and if desired per-
manently fastened to the sole of the boot.
As a modification of the device hereinbefore described the base plate may be
formed of leather or other suitable material covered with rubber, or as a further
modification the base plate may be formed of thin steel or other suitable metal
or material turned up at its edges to form hooks or clips adapted to engage the
sole of the boot or shoe, and the face of this base plate which is fitted with trans-
verse bars of any suitable material may if desired be covered with rubber and
the base plate may if desired be perforated for the sake of lightness or it may be
formed of two or more diagonally arranged bars either immovably fixed or pivotally
connected together.
If desired the base plate on the back thereof may be provided with short spikes
adapted to engage the sole of the boot and prevent slippage of the device with
relation thereto and in some cases the base plate of the device may be perforated
to receive nails or screws by the aid of which the device may be more or less per-
manently fixed to the sole of a boot or shoe.
When in use the device is fixed in position upon the sole of the boot or shoe by
sliding it thereon or otherwise clamping or fastening it in position beneath the
ball of the foot when the pedal will naturally occupy a position between the two
bars or ribs, and thus any danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view representing the device applied to a boot or shoe and
engaging the pedal of a cycle.
Figure 2 is an underside view thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device separately.
Figure 4 is an underside view thereof, the outline of the boot being indicated
by a dotted line.
Figure 5 is a plan thereof.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the device representing a slight modification.
Figure 9 is a side elevation representing a modified construction of device.
Figure 10 is a plan thereof.
Figure 11 is an underside view thereof.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a plan view representing a further modification in the construction
of the base plate or frame.
Figure 14 is a similar view representing a further modification.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a similar view to Figure 14 representing a further modification in
the means for fixing the device to the sole of a boot or shoe.
Figure 17 is a similar view representing a device adapted to be permanently
attached to the sole of the boot or shoe, and
Figure 18 is a sectional view of a form of device intended to be cemented to
the sole of a boot or shoe.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to a reduced scale with respect to the other
figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 a represents a cycle pedal, b represents a boot or shoe,
and represents the attachment which forms the subject of the present invention.
In constructing the attachment a base plate c formed of soft vulcanised india-

page_text: rubber, hard vulcanised india-rubber, vulcanised fibre, or other suitable material
is employed, and this base plate or frame c which is approximately of the width
of the boot or shoe is shaped to the sole thereof according to whether it is to be
applied to a right or left boot or the like, whilst the examples given in the
drawings are designed to be applied to left boots.
The base plate e upon its underside is provided at each end thereof so as to lie
transversely across the sole of the boot or shoe with stop bars or ribs c* of vulcanised
india-rubber, leather, vulcanised fibre, or other suitable material, whilst the sides
of the device are provided with clips or hooks adapted to engage the sole of
the boot by sliding the same into position thereon and by the aid of which the
device may be firmly fixed in position as hereinafter described.
The hooks or clips ² and the transverse stop bars c* may be applied to the
device in any suitable manner by moulding or otherwise, but the following is a
description of the method represented in the present example.
Transversely across the base plate or frame c at each end and upon the upper
side thereof are provided crossbars or plates c¹ of metal preferably steel, which lie
across the sole of a boot or shoe, and these crossbars c' are provided with laterally
projecting pointed metal tongues c³ formed in the process of stamping the cross-
bars out of a sheet of metal, and these tongues c³ are bent downward and, except
at the rear and front ends of the base plate c passed through corresponding slots
formed therein, and they are then forced laterally into so as to lie embedded in
the stop bars * and the latter when necessary are previously formed with holes,
slits, or openings adapted to receive the tongues 3 and the crossbars c¹ and stop
bars care thus securely fixed to the base plate c.
Or, in lieu of the tongues or fastenings the several parts might be rivetted
together as will be readily understood.
The front one of the crossbars or plates cis furnished with clips or hooks c
adapted to slide upon and engage the sole 61 of the boot b at the welt, as repre-
sented at Figures 1 and 2, and the rear one of these crossbars c¹ is at one end
furnished with a similar clip or hook 3, whilst at the other end thereof it is pro-
vided with a vertical lug or flange apertured and threaded to receive a pointed
set screw adapted to impinge upon the sole 61 of the boot b and by the aid of
which the device may be firmly fixed in position against endway. movement.
Or, the device might be otherwise fixed to the sole of the boot or shoe as will
be readily understood.
By this arrangement of parts the device is adapted to be slidden into place upon
the sole b¹ of the boot b, the position of the set screw enabling the same to engage
the sole at a point rearwardly beyond the widest part thereof, so that when the set
screw is screwed home the device obtains a firm grip of the sole 6 of the boot,
and is securely locked against accidental displacement.
In the example given at Figure 8 the base plate or frame c is formed of a thin
sheet of steel or other suitable metal covered on its underside with a sheet or thick-
ness of india-rubber, leather, or other suitable material c in order to present a
cushioned surface to the cycle pedal but this is more especially useful in cases
where the cycle pedals are formed of metal instead of rubber.
In this case the hooks or clips 2 are formed in one piece with the base plate c
by providing projections on the metal base plate and turning the same up vertically
and then horizontally thereto as shown in the drawing, and the transverse stop
bars which are assumed to be of leather, vulcanised fibre, or similar hard
material are fixed with the base plate c by means of rivets 3 passing through the
stop bars c*, the leather, rubber, or other covering co and the base plate c but in
other respects the device is substantially the same as that shown and described
with respect to the previous figures.
In the example given at Figures 9 to 12 the device is substantially the same
as that lastly hereinbefore described, except that the rubber or other covering c
is dispensed with, and the base plate or frame c which is formed of steel or other
suitable metal is centrally perforated for the sake of lightness so as to leave a

page_text: skeleton frame consisting of side bars c and cross end bars c¹ to which latter are
fixed the transverse stop bars c* by means of rivets c³.
In the example given at Figure 13 the device instead of being stamped out of
a sheet of metal is built up of cross-bars c' of spring steel united by diagonally
arranged bars c which cross each other and are rivetted at the point of crossing,
and at their ends are similarly fastened to the crossbars c¹.
In the example given at Figures 14 and 15 the device is constructed in a similar
way to that described with respect to Figure 13, but the means of applying the
same to the sole of the boot or shoe are somewhat different, that is to say in this
case the flange and co-acting set screw care dispensed with, and a hook or
clip is substituted therefor, and instead of sliding the device wholly into position
the natural spring of the frame is relied upon to enable the same to be sprung
into position upon the sole of the boot or shoe, and in this case in order to prevent
endway movement of the device the crossbars care provided with spikes c* adapted
to engage the sole of the boot or shoe. To place the device upon the boot the two
front clips together with the rear outside clip are slidden into position and the
fourth or rear inside clip is sprung into position by giving a twist to the rear part
of the frame.
In the example given at Figure 16 the device is also arranged to spring into
position upon the sole 6 of the boot or shoe, and for this purpose the crossbars c¹
are divided longitudinally of the frame the diagonal connecting bars c are pivotally
connected together at c and a coiled spring c hooking into extensions of the bars c
forces the divided parts together.
In the example given at Figure 17 the base plate or frame c is assumed to be
stamped out of sheet metal in a similar manner to that described with respect to
Figures 9 to 12, but in this case the clips and co-acting devices are dispensed
with and the base plate or frame c is provided with holes 8 adapted to receive
ordinary screws, by means of which the device may be permanently fixed to the
sole of the boot or shoe.
In the several examples given at Figures 13 to 17 the stop bars c* are assumed.
to be of leather, hard rubber, vulcanised fibre, or other suitable material and to
be fixed with the crossbars c¹ by rivetting as hereinbefore shown and described
with respect to Figures 9 to 12.
In the example given at Figure 18 the base plate c is assumed to be formed of
comparatively soft vulcanised rubber backed with a thickness of canvas 10 and
the transverse stop bars c* are formed in one piece with the rubber by moulding
whilst in this case the device is assumed to be fastened to the sole of the boot or
shoe by the aid of india-rubber solution or other suitable cement.
When in use the device is fixed in position upon the sole 6 of the boot or shoe b
by sliding it thereon, or otherwise clamping or fastening it in position beneath
the ball of the foot when the pedal a will naturally occupy a position between the
two transverse stop bars or ribs c* as represented at Figures 1 and 2, and thus any
danger of the foot slipping off the pedal will be obviated.
It will be obvious that the details of construction of the device, the materials
employed therefor, and the means for clamping or fastening the same in position
upon the boot may be further more or less varied without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
By the employment of the means hereinbefore described a cyclist may safely
ride in ordinary boots or shoes and thus avoid the necessity for wearing special
boots or shoes which in some cases are inconvenient and out of place, whilst by
permanently fixing the device to the soles of special boots or shoes he may render
the same more suitable for riding than heretofore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
:-
1. A boot attachment comprising a base plate or frame provided with side clips
or books adapted to engage the sole of the boot and transverse stop bars fixed to

page_text: the underside of the base plate or frame and adapted to engage the pedal of a cycle
substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose stated.
2. A boot attachment comprising a base plate or frame provided with side clips
or hooks adapted to engage the sole of the boot transverse stop bars fixed to the
underside of the base plate or frame and adapted to engage the pedal of a cycle
and means for preventing endway movement of the device substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. A boot attachment comprising a base plate or frame, stop bars fixed to the
underside of the base plate or frame and adapted to engage the pedal of a cycle
and means for fixing the device to the sole of the boot substantially as herein.
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
:
4. A device adapted to be fastened to the sole of a boot and comprising a base
plate or frame and stop bars formed on or fixed to the underside of the base plate
or frame and adapted to engage the pedal of a cycle substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.