Improvements in or relating to the Lacing of Boots and Shoes
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
Improvements in or relating to the Lacing of Boots and Shoes
I, GEORGE LOUIS CUMINE, of Calle Putchet 19, San Gervasio, Cataluña,
Spain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same 18 to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement.―
The object of the present invention is to facilitate the tightening and loosening
of the laces of boots and shoes.
For this purpose, according to my invention, I propose to employ a pair of
smooth bars of steel or other suitable material combining strength with elasticity
substitution for some or all of the usual cyclets or hooks, the laces being passed
around these bars in lieu of though or around the said eyelets or hooks. The said
bats are to be secured one along each of the edges to be closed in such manner as
to permit the laces to pass round and slide ficely along then, each bat occupying
approximately the position of the low, or the portion of the row of eyelets or hooks
for which it is substituted
Each bar is provided with a base disposed parallel thereto and at a little distance
therefrom so as to leave 100m for the lacing to pass fieely between, the said bases
are suitably seemed along the edges to be closed, preferably between two layers of
the leather, and serve the double purpose of fixing the bars in position and of
stifleming the said edges whereby gaping of the same when the lacing is pulled
tight is obviated The sand bases, which may either be made integral with the
bais or formed separately and attached to the ends thereof, must be of such width
or so formed as to resist the tendency of the lacing to pull the bats over sideways
and downwards which would obstruct the free sliding of the laces on the bars.
I will now proceed to more particularly describe my invention and the manner
of performing the same having reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Similar letters refer to like parts in all the figures, and in which
-
Figs 1 and 2 illustrate the application of my invention to a boot.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 is a plan of a convenient form of bar
and base.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 shew some suitable sections for the bar.
Figs 8 and 9 shen in side elevation and plan respectively a bar and base formed
of twisted wnę.
Fig 10 is a side elevation of a bar having eyelets at each end
Figs 11 and 12 represent in side elevation and plan respectively a bar formed
with a hook at one end and an eyelet at the other
Fig 13 is a plan of a bar and base formed from twisted wire.
a indicates the bara and b are the bases by which the former are fixed in position
along the edges to be closed and by which the said edges are stiffened for the
purpose above mentioned. The bars a may be of any suitable section provided
they be smooth and rounded upon the side which takes the pull of the lacing
The bases may also take various forms but must be of sufficient width to resist
the tendency of the lacing when pulled tight to pull the bais over sideways and
downwards In Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 13 the base bis represented in the form
of a flat plate having holes on slots e formed therein whereby it may be attached
by stitching to the edges to be closed. In Figs 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, which
represent the bar and base as formed of twisted wire, the necessary width of the
base is attained by bending the portions of the wire constituting the same into
C

page_text: serpentine form In Fig. 13 the flat base illustrated is produced by hammering or
pressing fat portions of the wire.
It is necessary that the lace should be held on retained at about mid-length, and
it may be so held on retained either by a pan of eyelets d or by hooks e (but
preferably eyelets) formed or provided at the lower ends of the bars a (sec
Figs 10, 11 and 12), or by ordinary eyelets d1 (or hooks) provided in or on the
edges of the opening in the boot or shoe beneath the lower ends of the bais a (see
Figs. 1 and 2). From the said eyelets do d the lacing is passed around the
bais a as illustrated in the last mentioned figures and may either pass through or
ound eyelets d or hooks e provided or formed at the upper ends of the bars or may
pass from the bais to the ordinary hooks el (o1 cyclets) as shown in Figures 1
and 2. When the bars a are not provided with eyelets oi hooks 1 prefer to bend
or curve the said bais outwards slightly at the top and bottom as shewn at a 1 in
Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 13, so as to prevent the lacing from slipping over the ends of the
bais. I also prefer that the connecting piece a 3 between the lower ends of the
bars and their bases should be slightly inclined as represented in Figures 3 and 8
In order to prevent the lacing when tightened from catching beneath the said lower
ends of the bais If desnable a slight curve may be given to the bars a in order
that they may the better fit the instep When the lacing is diawn tight the bais a
should lie about parallel to one another as shewn in Fig. 1, but they should never
at any time touch one another
The lacing being unfastened, it is only necessary to pull the edges of the
opening in the boot or shoe apart, when the lacing will slide freely down the bas a
(see Fig. 2) and the boot or shoe can be readily removed from the foot, by pulling
the lacing upwards, it will slide up the bais a into position again and a further pull
will close the edges.
Although in Figs 1 and 2 I have represented the baisa as extending only about
half way up the opening of the boot, it is obvious that if preferred the said bars,
being properly curved, may extend the entire length of the opening. I prefer
however the arrangement illustrated as being in my opmon likely to answer better
in practice. It will also be obvious that the bars and then bases may be made in
a multiplicity of forms without in any way departing from my invention, and
I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not coutine o limit myself to the
particular forms and constructions illustrated in the drawings
Having now particularly described and ascertatued the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 18:
1. The herein described improvements in the lacing of boots and shoes, consisting
in the employment of smooth bats secured along the edges to be closed, the lacing
being passed around the said bars and being fice to slide along the same, substan-
tially as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. For the purpose set forth, the application and use to and in connection with
a bout or shoc, of a pair of bais a having bases b, said bars and then bases being
constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to and us
illustrated in the annexed drawings.
D
... Cristion 100%
1
Dated this 22nd day of October 1905.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, WC, Agents.