New or Improved "Protectors" and Roughing Appliances for the Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved "Protectors" and Roughing Appliances for the
Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes.
I, PATRICK DANIEL O'BRIEN, of 4, 'Wellesley Place, Haverstock Hill,
London, N.W., Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to new or improved "protectors" and roughing appliances
consisting of a plate and attachment means for application to the soles or heels of
boots and shoes to prevent undue wearing at special points of contact or to serve
as an appliance to boots and shoes.
In carrying the invention into practice a metal plate is employed and rounded
on one edge to an outline corresponding to the curve of the outer edge of the sole
or heel to which the said protector may be applied and in the body metal of such
plates are stamped out or cut holes or portions of the plates and together with
some that is in combination on and with the protector plates, spikes of the metal
will be raised up in order to act together with the holes or piercings as securing
means for the protector plates.
The plates are to be made of any metal, either pure or alloy.
Centre piercings of the plates are to be constructed in rectangular form and the
spikes are to be raised up from same by simple or double diagonal stampings;
but, so that no portion of the plates are wasted or cut away.
The ends of the
plates are so formed as to furnish in themselves special nails or points of attach--
ment; These spines or points of attachment are also provided with barbes or
serrations"
set" and formed for easy entrance into the leather but in contrary
form to prevent their extraction.
The spikes or spines are made or raised as aforesaid in double series, that is
some longer than others, for the object and result as follows:-The longer spines
act as leaders for first entering into the material of the sole or heel and after so
serving for the location of the plate the other spines or points will be guided
thereby for their proper entrance into the material and for further acting as the
medium for attachment purposes.
The outer edges of the plates so formed, are in some cases rolled or stamped
with a thickened outer edge so as to provide greater wearing material at the
point of wear and abrasion. The lower surfaces are also, if required, roughened
or corrugated to prevent slipping.
There is also added when required between the plate so formed and the "lift"
or "sole" of the heel or tread, of the boot or shoe, a washer with a portion of
same protruding through the holes or apertures of the piercings rendered by the
cut-out spines or raised points or attachment pieces as aforesaid. So there is
provided a pad or washer of an antislipping and non-concussion character, said
pad or washer being of asbestos, leather, india rubber papier mache, cork or other
substance acting as and for the afore mentioned purposes. For running, tennis,
cricket or frost "roughing" the plates are made with points or spines raised and

page_text: projecting from both surfaces to effect the purpose of attachment and also the
roughing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The new or improved "protector" or appliance for the soles or heels of boots
or shoes consisting of the plate the raised points or spines and the interstices in
the plates as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2:d. In combination with the raised points or spines of a protector plate as set
forth, the thickened outer edge of said plates as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a plate or protector appliance as set forth the spines or raised attachment
points of different lengths whereof the longer of said spines or points serve as
leaders for the attachment purposes as set forth.
4th. In combination with a protector-plate and attachment means as set forth
the pad or anticoncussion, and antislipping filling means for the interstices of the
plates as and for the purposes set forth.
P. D. O'BRIEN,
Per Walter A. Barlow,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Expert,
306, High Holborn, W.C.