Improvements in Boots and Shoes for Athletic Purposes
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes for Athletic Purposes:
1, WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Springfield Road, Leicester, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements.in boots and shoes for athletic purposes,
but more particularly applicable for playing football.
In playing football the ball is frequently kicked by the lower part of the instep,
but, on account of the curved form of that part of the foot, the kick is frequently
ineffective or misdirected.
According to my present invention, in order to ensure a true kick, I form a
flattish portion, table or saddle, preferably of a generally oval form in plan, on the
upper between the toes and the instep. This flattish portion, table or saddle, may
be formed of leather, india-rubber or other suitable material, which may be moulded
or otherwise formed with the outer edge thick at its centre and gradually bevelled
off to the centre line of the upper and to the top and bottom thereof, so as to form.
a flat or comparatively flat upper surface to such raised portion, table or saddle..
The said raised portion, table or saddle may be formed of a solid piece of
material or of a comparatively thin upper surface with packing of any suitable,
material between it and the boot or shoe upper, but in any case the material must
have such a character or disposition as to avoid as much as possible any interference
with the flexibility of the upper.
The said raised portion, table or saddle, is permanently attached to the boot or
shoe, and it is preferably divided down the centre and stitched or cemented to the
upper, or the said raised portion, tablo or saddle may be formed of a single piece of
material stitched or cemented to one side of the upper and detachably connected to
the other side of the upper by straps or otherwise.
The said raised portion, table or saddle, may also be formed by blocking the boot
or elioe upper to the required shape, and by the insertion of suitable packing
between it and the lining. I would however remark that I do not confine myself
to any particular method of forming the said table or saddle, nor to any particular
method of connecting the same to the boot or shoe.
Dated this 11th day of October 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes for Athletic Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Springfield Road, 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 following statement :-
The invention relates to improvements in boots and shoes for athletic purposes
but more particularly applicable for playing football.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
Bide view, Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 a cross section, of a boot fitted with my
improvements.
In playing football the ball is frequently kicked by the lower part of the instep

page_text: but, on account of the curved form of that part of the foot, the kick is frequently
ineffective or misdirected.
According to my present invention, in order to secure a true kick, I form a
flattish portion, table or saddle, a, preferably of a generally oval form. in plan, on
the upper between the toes and the instep. This flattish portion, table or saddle, a,
may be formed of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material, (I preferably
use indin-rubber,) which is moulded, or otherwise formed according to the nature
of the material used, with the outer edge thick at the centre, a', and gradually
bevolled off to the centre line, a², of the upper and to the top, as, and bottom, a', of
such part a, so as to form a flat or comparatively flat upper surface to such raised
flattish portion, table or saddle, a. The said flattish portion, table or saddle, a, may
be formed of a solid piece of material or of a comparatively thin upper surface with
packing of any suitable material between it and the boot or shoe upper, but in any
case the material must have such a character or disposition as to avoid as much as
possible any interference with the flexibility of the upper. The said raised flattish
portion, table or saddle, a, is permanently attached to the boot or shoe, and it is
preferably divided down the centre and stitched to the upper as shown in the
drawings, in which latter the eyelets are also shown passed through the inner thin
edges of the two parts of the part a. Or the said part a may be formed of a single
piece of material stitched or cemented to one side of the upper and detachably
connected to the other side of the upper by straps or otherwise. The said flattish
portion, table or saddle, a, may also be formed by blocking the boot or shoe upper
to the required shape and by the insertion of suitable packing between it and
the lining.
I would here remark that I do not confine myself to any particular method of
forming the said flattish portion, table or saddle, a, nor to any particular method
of connecting the same to the boot or shoe.
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
olaim is :
A boot or shoe for athletic purposes having a flattish portion, table or saddle.
fixed to the upper thereof between the toes and the instep, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this foth day of June 1895.
Dated GUNS TOGHBY Of June 1990.
W. H. STEVENS,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.