Year: 1898

page_text: I, THOMAS THOMPSON, 40, Sanvey Gate, Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer,
de hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements which are applicable to boots
and shoes.
The object of the invention is to construct such articles so that they will allow
the fullest and freest movements to the feet of the wearer by expanding or yield-
ing to any temporary swelling or enlargement of any particular part of the foot
without the wearer experiencing any uncomfortable pressure on such part.
In boots or shoes constructed in accordance with this invention, the uppers
may be of the well known lace up type or of a combination of elastic sides or
elastic gusset insertions and lace.
In cases where the uppers partake of the lace type, an elastic cord or lace may
be threaded through or around the usual eyelet holes or hooks and be perma-
nently fastened so that it is unnecessary to unlace the upper before it can be
taken off or put upon the foot.
According to one method of carrying out the invention I construct a boot or
shoe upper with elastic side gusset insertions and the front of the upper of the
usual open type eyeletted up each side of the opening so as to admit of the two
parts being drawn together when on the foot for which purpose I employ an
elastic cord or lace.
This elastic lace is threaded through the eyeletted holes or around the usual
hooks in the well known manner and fastened permanently or knotted at the top.
A boot or shoe made in this manner has the appearance of a lace boot, when
on the wearer's foot, but has all the advantages of an elastic side boot or shoe for
putting on and taking off the foot, as the employment of the elastic lace renders
it unnecessary to unthread the lace for these purposes while it at the same time
allows the boot upper to stretch or expand across the instep and front of the foot
to give to any part where additional room is required.
The elastic gussets or insertions may be employed at other parts of the upper
in combination with a lace front closed by an elastic lace, or the sides, back and
front, or one or more of such parts of the upper may be made open and to lace
up with an elastic lace, and have a bellows tongue at the back and thereby dis-
pense with the elastic gussets or insertions if desired.
101 da of Fahruary 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS THOMPSON, 40, Sanvey Gate, Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer,
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 follow-
ing statement:--
This invention has reference to boots, shoes and the like and has for its object
certain improvements in the construction thereof for the purpose of allowing a
maximum of comfort to the wearer and of affording the fullest and freest move-
ments to the foot with a minimum of pressure thereon from the upper.
It has been proposed to obtain this result by various constructions of uppers
having elastic web insertions, but these, as far as I am aware, have all been more
or less unsuccessful and if the strain of the upper has been removed from one
part of the foot it has existed at another part thereof and no construction of
upper has apparently fulfilled the conditions of and given the freedom from
pressure and allowed such unrestricted movement with perfect ease to the wearer
as the one which forms the subject of the present invention.
Moreover an upper constructed according to the present invention will yield
and expand to any temporary swelling of the foot which may be caused by gout,
rheumatism, bruise or enlargement without the wearer experiencing any unplea-
sant pressure thereon.
A boot or shoe constructed according to my invention may be of the well
known lace up type combined with elastic gussets or insertions in any part of the
upper.
The invention will be fully understood by anyone versed in the art of boot and
shoe manufacture and from the following description without it being necessary
to illustrate it by drawings.
According to my invention the upper as regards the front may be cut in all
respects as a lace upper that is open down the front and provided on each side of
the opening with eyeletted holes or lacing studs which may be drawn together
before the upper is placed on the wearer's foot by means of an elastic cord or lace
threaded through the said openings or passed around the studs and permanently
tied or fastened.
The sides of the upper may be provided with gussets of elastic webbing in the
usual well known manner.
These elastic gussets may be inserted in the sides of the upper after the manner
of the well known elastic side boots and shoes or the elastic insertions may be
placed so as to run from the top of the side of the upper to some point nearer the
front where the leg quarter joins the vamp or golosh.
It is claimed that by the present invention a boot or shoe can be worn which
to all appearances is a lace boot or shoe, while as regards the facility of putting
it on and taking it off the foot it has all the advantages of an elastic shoe (it
being unnecessary to release the lace for that purpose) while by the employment
of an elastic lace in the front of the shoe every opportunity is afforded for the
upper to expand to any movement of the foot.
It will be understood that if necessary the lacing may be at the side or sides
of the upper, as is adopted in some classes of goods, in which case the elastic
gusset insertions would be at the front or back of the upper.
According to a modification I may dispense with elastic insertions and con-

page_text: struct the upper so that in addition to it lacing down the front it may lace down
the back and sides or one or more of such parts each of the said parts having a
dividing opening down it, each side of which is eyelet holed or furnished with.
lacing studs which are drawn together by an elastic lace as herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A boot or shoe the upper of which is constructed substantially in the manner
and as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.