IMPROVE- MENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AS ALSO BOOT AND SHOE SOCKS OR INNER SOLES, WHEREBY THE SAME ARE RENDERED WATERPROOF
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Grace and Thomas Francis Jones, both of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AS ALSO BOOT AND SHOE SOCKS OR INNER SOLES,
WHEREBY THE SAME ARE RENDERED WATERPROOF"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Grace and Thomas
Francis Jones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 21st January 1854.
We, GEORGE GRACE and THOMAS FRANCIS JONES, both of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AS ALSO BOOT AND SHOE SOCKS OR INNER
SOLES, WHEREBY THE SAME ARE RENDERED WATERPROOF," to be as follows (that is
to say):
Our Invention may be described under two heads; and consists, first, in
applying sheet india-rubber, vulcanized or otherwise, between the welt and
inner or outer sole of boots and shoes, and secured by the ordinary process
requisite in uniting such soles and upper leathers, the india-rubber being of
sufficient length and breadth to go around the boot or shoe, and to extend up
high enough between the uppers and lining to prevent the wet and moisture
arising from ordinary use passing through to the foot. And secondly, in
applying to the socks or inner soles for boots and shoes a preparation or coat-
ing, whereby the same are rendered waterproof, and may be described thus:-

page_text: The sock or inner sole being made of cork, felt, leather, or any other suitable
material, on the under side of which we apply a thin coating or covering of india-
rubber, or a preparation of india-rubber and gutta percha, or gutta percha with-
out india-rubber, or any other suitable material capable of repelling moisture;
such socks or inner soles so prepared may be applied to boots and shoes at
present in use. And we may further observe that the water-proofing process
needs only be applied to one side of such sock or inner sole, that side being
the one in contact with the inside of the boot or shoe sole. The advantages
to be derived from this our Invention are, first, great utility with comfort;
secondly, durability with economy; and lastly, it will be found a great pro-
moter of health, as free ventilation is secured to the foot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Grace and Thomas Francis Jones in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 21st July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
GRACE and THOMAS FRANCIS JONES, both of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Grace and Thomas Francis Jones, Her special license,
that we, the said George Grace and Thomas Francis Jones, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Grace
and Thomas Francis Jones, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AS ALSO BOOT AND SHOE SOCKS OR INNER SOLES,
WHEREBY THE SAME ARE RENDERED WATERPROOF," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said George Grace and Thomas Francis Jones, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Grace and Thomas Francis
Jones, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say): :―
Our Invention consists, firstly, in making boots and shoes in such a manner
as to render them waterproof without confining the perspiration, and this we
effect by adopting the following plan:-We apply sheet india-rubber, vul-
canized or otherwise, between the welt and inner or outer sole of boots and
shoes, and secured by the ordinary process required in uniting such soles and
upper leathers together, the india-rubber being of sufficient length and breadth
to extend up high enough between the upper leather and lining to prevent the
wet and moisture arising from ordinary use to pass through to the foot; or the
india-rubber may be cut into a strip or ring, and stretched and sewed around
the boot or shoe in the form required. And we recommend when a strip of
india-rubber is used, that the joining or securing of the ends may be effected
by their being placed between the stiffening at the back or heel; nor is it
indispensable that india-rubber should be used, as other waterproofing material
may be substituted, which material may be a compound, such as a suitable
woven fabric or webbing rendered waterproof by india-rubber or other water-
proofing solution, and drawn or squeezed into the form required. Or thin
gutta percha may be substituted, as this material from its plastic nature is
susceptible of being moulded and readily formed into the shape required.
And secondly, our Invention consists in rendering boots and shoes waterproof,
when required, by the application of a thin waterproof inner sole or sock,
(which may be applied to boots and shoes now in use,) such sole being
moulded and formed in such a manner that they may slightly rise around the
edge, which by fitting the boot or shoe well on the inside, would thereby pre-
vent any moisture coming through to the foot from any leakage between the
welt and leather forming the sole or welt and upper leather of such boot or
shoe. And we propose that those inner soles or socks may be applied or
removed at pleasure by the wearer, or they may be made and fastened to such
boot or shoe at the time such boot or shoe is being made. And the manner
in which we propose to make these inner soles or socks may be varied; as for
instance, they may be made by uniting two thin veneers of cork together by
means of a solution made of gutta percha or india-rubber; or a thin piece of
cork may be united to a corresponding piece of thin gutta percha, the cork
being the part to come next the foot; and again, the gutta percha may be
substituted by sheet india-rubber, and the cork may also be substituted by the
application of chamois or other leather, or felt or woollen cloth may be used,

page_text: thus insuring warmth as well as repelling moisture. And it will be perceived
that the whole of those plans will be susceptible of being moulded into the
concave form by being slightly raised around the edge as before described.
Having thus given a description of our Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, we wish it understood that we do not con-
fine ourselves to the exact details as herein described. But what we do claim
as our Invention is,―
First, the rendering of boots and shoes waterproof, around where the sole
and upper leather are united, by the application, between the upper leather
and lining and soles, of any suitable waterproofing material, such material
being secured by being sewed or otherwise united at the time that the welt
and upper leather, or upper leather and sole, are put together.
And, secondly, we claim the use and application to boots and shoes of a
waterproof inner sole or sock, such sole or sock being moveable or fixed, and
slightly raised around the edge, without any regard to the manner in which
such inner sole or sock may be made.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
GEORGE GRACE.
(L.S.)
THOMAS F. JONES. (L.s.)