Improvements in Stays for Boots, Shoes, and similar Foot Coverings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stays for Boots, Shoes, and similar Foot
Coverings.
I WILLIAM ADDISON NEELY of Lynn, County of Essex, in the State of
Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is customary in the manufacture of boots and shoes, especially those worn by
ladies, to lay upon the seams and especially the heel seam, a stay.
These stays are usually stitched through and through to the material of the
shoe, but in practice the friction of the skirt against the stay cuts the stitches, thus
loosening the connection of the stay with the shoe, which is objectionable.
In my experiments to improve this class of shoe, have produced a stay wherein
the stitches uniting the stay to the shoe are contained within a groove and prefer-
ably entirely concealed within said groove, so that in wear the stitches are not
subject to abrasion, and consequently the stay does not rip or come off.
This invention therefore consists in a stay composed of thick leather sub-
stantially as described, slit and grooved sufficiently from its upper toward its
under side to receive, conceal and protect the stitches used to unite the stay to
the material.
Dated the 1th den of Annil 1909
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stays for Boots, Shoes, and similar Foot
Coverings.
I, WILLIAM ADDISON NEELY of Lynn, County of Essex, in the State of
Massachussetts one of the United States of America, 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 following
statement:-
°
It is customary in the manufacture of boots and shoes, especially those worn by
ladies, to lay upon the seams, and especially the heel seam, a stay.
These stays are usually stitched through and through to the material of the
shoe, but in practice the friction of the skirt against the stay cuts the stitches, thus
loosening the connection of the stay with the shoe, which is objectionable.
In my experiments to improve this class of shoe, I have produced a stay wherein
the stitches uniting the stay to the shoe are contained within a groove and partially
or entirely concealed within said groove, so that in wear the stitches are not subject
to abrasion, and consequently the stay does not rip or come off.
Fig. 1, in perspective, shows a stay embodying my invention;
Fig. 2, is a strip of material from which it is made;
Fig. 3, in perspective, shows another form of my stay ;
Fig. 4, is a perspective of a strip of material from which the other form of stay
is made; and
Fig. 5, is a section view of the top part of a boot or shoe, with the stay shown in
Figs. 1 and 3 secured to the two halves.
In the manufacture of my improved stay I preferably take a strip a, see Fig. 2,
of strong material such as leather, and shape or fashion the same to present a

page_text: convexed upper side d between the opposite longitudinal edges b and c, the said
convexed side having along its central or median line a groove or chamber e, the said
groove or channel running from one to the other end of the strip.
In manufacturing the stay shown in Fig. 1, I take a thick strip of material,
such as shown in Fig. 2, and cut or shape it to present the convexed upper side d,
and then I groove or slit the strip longitudinally in the median or central line of
the said upper side d to leave a groove or channel e running from one to the other
end of the strip.
The stay shown in Fig. 3 is made from a thin strip of the material, such as shown
in Fig. 4, the opposite longitudinal edges b and c being folded over towards each
other, and upon the main portion of the strip, to thus form the continuous upper
side d, and along the median or central line thereof I make a groove or channel e,
by compressing the stock, preferably with a dull roll.
When the stay thus described is applied to a seam of a boot or shoe the lower
edge of the stay is placed next the material and over the seam s, as in Fig. 5,
and a series of diagonal stitches 1, 2, is made in the bottom of the groove or
channel, the said stitches passing, one series, as 1, into one half of the top part r of
the shoe, the other series, as 2, into the other half of the top part, securing the
stay in place over the seam.
The stitches are thus sunk below the outer or upper side of the stay strip
and are protected from abrasion and wear by the portions of the material of the
stay at each side of the groove or channel, and in the form of stay shown in Fig. 1
the tension of the stitches draws the sides of the stay together over them, as shown
at the left, Fig. 5.
Thick or heavy stock may thus be used in making the stay, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, the stock being cut or shaved down to proper dimensions and shape
after the groove or channel has been made, or thin stock may be used, as shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, no cutting or shaping being required, in this instance, after the edges
have been turned over as described.
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
1. A leather stay grooved or slit sufficiently from its upper toward its under side
to receive, protect, and partially conceal the stitches used to unite the stay to the
material, substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of boots, shoes and similar foot coverings, a stay made and
applied in manner as and for the purpose herein before set forth.
Dated the 30th day of December 1892
WM. BROOKES & SON;
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.