An Improved Attachment for the Protection of the Front Extremities of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Attachment for the Protection of the Front
Extremities of Boots and Shoes.
I, ARTHUR PARSONS of Arcáde Buildings, High Street, Armadale, in the
Colony of Victoria, Boot 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 object of my invention is to provide a cheap adjustable and easily applied
attachment for the toes of boots, shoes and other classes of footwear. The devices
that have hitherto been used have only imperfectly answered the purpose for
which they were intended. For only the front edge of the sole and the toe of the
upper were sheathed and then it was covered with a protector which was
non-adjustable. But with my invention the attachment is adjustable and I protect
not only the toe of the upper but also two other portions of the boot which are
subject to great wear and tear.
My invention consists of a plate which may be of any material and which is so
formed that it can be readily attached to or removed from the front extremity of
any hoot or shoe. This plate which is preferably made of one piece of metal has
a bottom which is almost flat and which in plan is of the shape of the sole at the
toe. This protects the underneath front portion of the sole. Extending upwardly
around the front edge of the plate is the portion of its surface which acts as a
sheath for the front edge of the sole and also the toe of the upper which is above
it. My attachment therefore covers three portions of the front extremity of "a
boot or shoe and protects the sole front, the sole edge, and the toe of the upper.
But the vertical or upwardly bent portion of the attachment instead of being flat
has an inwardly bent indentation around it which fits into the space extending
between the sole and the upper. This inwardly bent indentation assists the locking
of the attachment to the boot or shoe.
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will now refer to
the accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read herewith.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of any attachment ready for placing on the
front extremity of the article of footwear.
Figure 2 depicts a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 4 a plan of Figure 2 shewing the removal of a segment from the sole
plate whereby the width of the said plate may be varied or adjusted to suit
different widths of boots or shoes.
Figure 5 represents a perspective view of a shoe with the attachment connected
hereto.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they
ccur in the several views.
On reference to the drawings it will be seen that A is the plate as a whole
which for convenience of description is divided off into the upper protecting
ortion marked B, the front sole protecting portion marked C and the bottom
ole protecting portion marked D, whilst between B and C is the inwardly bent
ocking indentation E.

page_text: C may be provided with two or more holes H through which screws or nails
are placed or it may be quite plain without holes. D is similarly provided with
holes F. The screw or nail holes marked F as also those marked H may be
varied in number and position.
On reference to Figure 4 it will be seen that a gap G caused by the removal
of a segment has been made in the plate D. The object of this is to enable an
attachment which has been stamped from one die to be adjustable to a larger or
a smaller width of boot or shoe front. The area of this gap may be increased
or diminished dependent upon conditions and I do not bind myself to one gap or
to one channel as there may be one or more cuts in the plate D but what I wish
to cover is the removal of a portion or portions of the said plate D whereby the
width of it can be increased or diminished and it may thereby be rendered
adjustable. The material or metal of which the attachment is made may either
be uniform in thickness or else thinner where it covers the toe to protect the front
of the sole. Or vice versa. But in all cases it is sufficiently stout to resist the
rough usage which the front extremities of all boots and shoes are usually
subjected to.
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―
1st. An attachment which may be made adjustable for the protection of the
front extremities of boots and shoes consisting of a plate as A having integrally
formed thereon a front bottom sole protector as D with holes therein as F a front
sole edge protector as C with or without holes as H a protector for the toe of the
upper as B and having between B and C an inwardly bent locking indentation
as E as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in the
drawings.
2nd. An attachment for the protection of the front extremities of boots and
shoes consisting of a plate as A having integrally formed thereon a front bottom
sole protector as D with holes therein as F and one or more gaps as G to make
said plate adjustable a front sole edge protector as C with or without holes as H
a protector for the toe of the upper as B and having between B and C an
inwardly bent locking indentation as E as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 12th day of October 1896.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.