Improvements in or relating to Athletic Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug.. 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Athletic Boots and Shoes.
I, JOSEPH WRIGHT WARD, of Belgrave House, Belgrave, in the County
Borough of Leicester, Boot Manufacturer's Manager, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to boots and shoes and is designed particularly with
the view of producing a boot or shoe specially applicable for use while playing the
game of lawn tennis or other form of pastime or athletics.
In "tennis" boots and shoes of ordinary construction it has been usual to 'omit
the heel and make such goods with what may be termed a flat tread or bottom: the
omission of the heel having been deemed desirable principally on account of its
sharp angles cutting into or tearing up the turf upon which the game is being
played.
According to the present invention boots and shoes for lawn-tennis and kindret
purposes are constructed with a heel of peculiar formation by which the dis-
advantages beforementioned are obviated.
The said heel, at the breast portion, is formed with an easy incline or gradient
to the waist of the bottom of the boot or shoe and a preferably continuous covering
of india-rubber or other waterproof material is connected to the bottom thereof.
The continuous india-rubber bottom may extend over the sole, waist, heel-breast.
and the heel and consist of a single piece of material or one or more lengths of
the latter.
Tennis boots and shoes manufactured as beforementioned are much more easy
and comfortable in wear than those that are without heels, while the additional cost
thereto is insignificant.
Moreover, boots and shoes made according to this invention can be used for
ordinary wear.
Dated this 28th day of November 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Athletic Boots and Shoes.
I, JOSEPH WRIGHT WARD, of Belgrave House, Belgrave in the County
Borough of Leicester, Root Manufacturer's Manager, 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 has reference to boots and shoes and is designed particularly with
the view of producing a boot or shoe specially applicable for use while playing the
game of lawn tennis or other form of pastime or athletics.
"
In "tennis boots and shoes of ordinary construction it has been usual to omit
the heel and make such goods with what may be termed a flat tread or bottom :
the omission of the heel having been deemed desirable principally on account of
07

page_text: its sharp angles cutting into or tearing up the turf upon which the game is being
played.
According to the present invention boots and shoes for lawn tennis and kindred
purposes are constructed with a heel of peculiar formation by which the dis-
advantages beforementioned are obviated.
The said heel, at the breast portion, is formed with an easy incline or gradient
to the waist of the bottom of the boot or shoe and a preferably continuous covering
of india-rubber or other waterproof material is connected to the bottom thereof.
The continuous india-rubber bottom may extend over the sole, waist, heel-breast,
and the heel and consist of a single piece of material or one or more lengths of
the latter.
Tennis boots and shoes manufactured as beforementioned are much more easy
and comfortable in wear than those that are without heels while the additional
cost thereto is insignificant.
Moreover, boots and shoes made according to this invention can be used for
ordinary wear which is an advantage that will be appreciated by tennis" players,
many of whom have to carry their playing shoes to and from the field and change
their walking shoes for them immediately before and after the game.
In order that the invention may be fully understood the following further
description is given in reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is
a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of the underside of a shoe constructed in
accordance with this invention.
A represents the upper which may be of leather or any other material used in
connection with boots and shoes for athletic, sporting or sea-side purposes, and B is
the india-rubber sole which is so generally employed with this class of goods.
C represents the heel which as clearly indicated in Figure 1 is sloped, at the
breast portion C₁, gradually towards the waist or sole of the shoe, thus obviating
the sharp edge of the breast of the heel incidental to ordinary walking shoes and
which is so destructive to the turf or lawn upon which most outdoor pastimes are
played.
The heel shown in the drawing is of wood but may be built up of leather in the
usual way and bevelled at the breast.
That portion of the india-rubber sole B which is to cover the heel and the sloping
breast thereof has first attached thereto, preferably by stitches B', a layer of
leather D or equivalent material which may be termed a heel lift.
The india-rubber sole or covering B is then laid over the middle sole E and
united thereto by a sole sewing machine in the well known manner, the stitches B¹
being continued close up to the breast or slope of the heel.
"
The heel portion of the sole is then "blinded on to the heel, that is to say, heel
pins are driven through the holes through which the stitches B' pass and forced
through the rubber and into the heel lift so to be out of sight in actual wear.
I do not confine myself to connecting the heel in this particular manner as it is
obvious that other means may be adopted, such for instance by attaching the heel
lift to the heel by a very strong adhesive material.
The heel may be attached to the shoe by a heel building machine as is well
understood.
The amount of bevel or slope imparted to the heel may vary somewhat with the
size of the boot or depth of the heel and in some cases where very low heels are
used, the india-rubber covering itself will when placed thereover, bevel the breast of
the heel sufficiently for the purposes herein before named.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A boot or shoe the heel of which is sloped or inclined towards the sole or
waist thereof substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 2. In a boot or shoe the combination with a heel sloped or inclined towards the
waist or sole thereof of a continuous india-rubber or waterproof sole and heal
covering formed in one or more lengths substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a boot or shoe the combination with a heel having a sloped or inclined breast
of a continuous waterproof sole and heel covering, a layer of leather or similar
material connected thereto to facilitate its attachment to the said heel and sloping
breast substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a boot or shoe having a continuous sole and heel waterproof covering the
method of attaching such covering substantially as described.
5. The improvements in boots and shoes substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 31st day of July 1895.
J. WRIGHT WARD,
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.