Improvements in the Soles of Slippers, House-shoes, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Soles of Slippers, House-shoes, and the like.
We, JOSEPH HOYLE, RICHARD ASHWORTH HOYLE, and JOSEPH HIRAM
PARKER, of Piercy Works, Waterfoot, near Manchester, Slipper Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
The improvements relate to the soles of slippers, house-shoes and the like, and
are applicable to those slippers or house shoes whose soles are composed of felt, or
other similar material; and the improvements have for object the production of
a sole which gives increased comfort to the wearer and at the same time imparts a
superior finish or appearance to the shoe or slipper of which it may form a part.
Slipper or house-shoe soles composed of felt or similar material are at present
for the most part cut or otherwise formed into the outline of a foot from a flat
piece of such material, and attached to the upper of the shoe without further
shaping.
To accomplish our object and to effect our improvements, we form the flat sole
in the usual way for the purpose of being stitched or otherwise connected to the
upper portion of the shoe or slipper, but, in addition, we subject the same to
pressure under heat, by means of a suitable blocking press or similar apparatus,
thereby further forming the felt or similar material, which under the action of the
heat becomes conveniently pliable, to a shape which possesses undulations in a
vertical as well as a horizontal plane, and which more accurately follows the curves
of the wearers foot, thus giving increased comfort and imparting a superior finish or
appearance to the shoe or slipper.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the method of block pressing,-which
may be accomplished by hand or power,-and in the composition of the sole to be
operated upon, without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1892.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Soles of Slippers, House-shoes, and the like.
We, JOSEPH HOYLE, RICHARD ASHWORTH HOYLE, and JOSEPH HIRAM
PARKER, of Piercy Works, Waterfoot, near Manchester, Slipper Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The improvements relate to the soles of slippers, house-shoes, and the like, and
are applicable to those slippers or house-shoes whose soles are composed of felt, or
other similar material; and the improvements have for object the production of a
sole which gives increased comfort to the wearer, and at the same time imparts
a superior finish or appearance to the shoe or slipper of which it may form a part.
Slipper or house-shoe soles composed of felt or similar material, are at present
for the most part cut or otherwise formed into the outline of a foot, from a flat
piece of such material, and attached to the upper of the shoe without further
shaping.
To accomplish our object, and to effect our improvements, we form the flat sole
in the usual way, for the purpose of being stitched or otherwise connected to the
upper portion of the shoe or slipper, but in addition we subject the same to pressure,
.

page_text: by preference in conjunction with heat, by means of a suitable blocking press, fitted
with dies of the requisite shape for the purpose, or other similar apparatus; thereby
further forming or shaping the felt or similar material, which under the action of
the heat applied to the press, becomes conveniently pliable and moulded to a shape
which possesses undulations in a vertical as well as a horizontal plane, and which
more accurately follows the curves of the wearer's foot, thus giving increased comfort
and imparting a superior finish or appearance to the shoe or slipper.
Fig. 1, of the accompanying sheet of drawings represents a plan view of a slipper
or other sole, made in accordance with our improvements; while Fig. 2, shows an
edge view thereof.
The slipper sole is shown detached from the upper portion of the slipper, attach-
ment to which is accomplished after the pressure under heat, or the moulding
process has been effected.
The soles thus formed are connected to the appers by stitching, by preference, in
the usual manner, but other means of attachment may be employed.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the method of block pressing, which
may be accomplished by hand or power-and in the composition of the sole to be
operated upon, without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Soles for slippers, house-shoes, or the like, composed of felt or similar materials,
formed or shaped by means of pressure, or heat and pressure combined, so as to
present undulations in a vertical plane; thus enabling the sole to more approximately
coincide with the underside formation of the wearer's foot.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1893.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.