Improved Spring Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Spring Boots and Shoes.
I GEORGE WORRALL Shoemaker and Dining Room Proprietor No. 3 Pottery
Lane Openshaw Manchester do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
I employ an india rubber base of the form or shape of a boot or shoe bottom
having on the outer edge of the under face a projecting rim of any thickness or
depth that may be required so as to cause a space to intervene between the india
rubber base and the inner sole of the boot or shoe the outer or top face of the india
rubber base having hollow projections to receive and retain spiral or other suitable
springs. Having lasted my boot or shoe in the ordinary way I prepare the inner sole
and cover with an adhesive gutta percha solution I then place a layer of gutta
percha in its soft or boiled condition over the whole inner sole and while in its
adhesive condition 1 press the rim surrounding my india rubber base and the base
of the springs into the gutta percha securing the whole into position and making
the whole airtight and waterproof I then by a tube in the seat of the heel inflate
with air the space intervening between the inner sole and the india rubber base and
the hollow projections containing the springs as previously described I finally secure
the whole together in the ordinary way of stitching through the outer edge of the
india rubber base.
In accordance with another arrangement of my invention I form the india rubber
base smaller so as to permit the same to be surrounded by a runner of leather to
form the welt and which runner constitutes a receiver to receive and keep the india
rubber base in position I then place a leather outer sole over the india rubber base
having previously perforated the leather sole and heel so as to allow the hollow
projections containing the spiral springs to project beyond the face of the outer
leather sole and heel to any height that may be required to obtain the required
spring for running or jumping purposes.
Instead of the hollow projections forming one piece with and all rising from one
india rubber base I sometimes construct the same as separate attachable pieces and
which in this case are surrounded by a flange of india rubber to enable the same
to be secured to the india rubber base by a suitable adhesive solution.
Dated this 28th day of August 1893.
GEORGE WORRALL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Spring Boots and Shoes.
I, GEORGE WORRALL, of 3, Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Shoe-maker and Dining-room Proprietor, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in spring boots or shoes and has for its
object to render the same easier to the tread and to give greater assistance in
walking, running or jumping or for other athletic purposes than heretofore has been
the case.

page_text: And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a sole and a portion of the upper and Fig. 2 a
plan of the sole formed in accordance with my invention.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 & 6 are detached sectional views and Fig. 7 a plan of Fig. 6 showing
some modifications of my invention.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1 & 2, I employ an india
rubber or leather base a of the form or shape of a boot or shoe bottom having on
the outer edge of the under face a projecting rim 6 of any thickness or depth that
may be required so as to cause a space c to intervene between the india rubber
base a and the inner sole d of the boot or shoe, the outer or top face of the india
rubber or leather base a having hollow projections e. The latter may receive air
or retain spiral springs f, see Fig. 3, or other suitable springs such as rubber balls,
see Fig. 4. Having lasted my boot or shoe in the ordinary way I prepare the
inner sole d and cover with an adhesive gutta percha solution. I then place a layer
of gutta percha g in its soft or boiled condition over the whole inner sole d and
while in its adhesive condition I press the rim b surrounding my india rubber base a
and the base of the springs into the said layer of gutta percha securing the whole
into position and making the whole air tight and waterproof. I then by a tube h
in a seat of the heel inflate with air the space c intervening between the inner
sole d and the india rubber or leather base a and the hollow projections e containing
the springs as previously described, the said tube being furnished with a suitable
valve to prevent the return of air. I finally secure the whole together in the
ordinary way of stitching through the outer edge of the iudia rubber base a.
For some purposes I may fill up wholly or partly the intervening space c with
cork or other suitable light elastic material.
Instead of the hollow projections forming one piece with and all rising from
one india rubber or leather base a I sometimes construct the same as separate
attachable pieces, see Fig. 5, and which in this case are surrounded by a flange e' of
india rubber or leather to enable the same to be secured to the india rubber or
leather base a by a suitable adhesive solution.
For some purposes I may dispense with the air or spring projections e and increase
the base a in thickness, see Figs. 6 & 7, and thereby form a solid projection e with
serrations e² to give grip for walking purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is-
"In spring boots or shoes."
1st. Forming the outer sole with a rim b so as to provide between the sole base a
and the inner sole d an intervening space c adapted to be inflated with air or to
receive a light elastic substance, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. The use of the hollow projections e formed on and fixed to the base of the
outer sole, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th day of Mov 1901
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.