IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE FEET."
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Morlet at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1880.
"
CHARLES MORLET, of Geneva, in Switzerland. IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS,
SHOES, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE FEET."
The object of my Invention is to ensure a minimum and regular amount of wear.
of the heels of boots and shoes, so as to avoid all the evils produced by a heel worn
down either to the right or to the left, such as improper walking, rapid wear of the
soles, tiring of the feet, &c.
The heel answering as it were the purpose of a rudder for walking, it is evident
that if it incline either to the left or to the right the walking becomes imperfect,
and the sole becomes loosened or unsewn.
My Invention further relates to an improved and solid mounting for the soles of
heavy boots or shoes, such as those for the army, tourists, &c.
For boots and shoes for ordinary wear the mounting of the heel can alone be
employed, whilst for heavy boots or shoes the complete or entire mounting, such as
hereinafter described, can be applied.
For carrying my Invention into effect, I fit under the heel of the boot or shoe, in
its rounded part, a bevilled plate which serves as a pivot to a metal ring, collar, or
ferrule. This ring, collar, or ferrule is a split or open one, and is bevilled inwardly
so as to correspond with the bevil on the plate; it can move freely around the plate
without however turning too easily, the diameters being so contrived that the said
collar, ring, or ferrule acts as a spring, and thus clasps the plate with a force which
can be readily increased or diminished.
For walking on frost or ice the ring may be toothed, or it may be provided with
points, pegs, or spikes.
For heavy boots and shoes where the wear of the sole takes place chiefly at the
centre and on the edges of the clump sole, I form a groove, channel, or recess around
the clump sole, and into this groove, channel, or recess I fit or insert a metallic

page_text: band which is bevilled, and which corresponds with a bevil formed in the groove,
channel, or recess in the clump, and I retain this band in place by drawing its two
ends together and fastening them by means of a split-pin, screw, bolt, or the like.
I also form a circular groove or recess in that part of the sole which is subject
to the most wear, and around the circular portion or core formed by the groove or
recess I fit a split or open ring, the interior diameter of which is a little smaller
than the diameter of the said circular portion or core; this spring will hold itself
tightly around the said core, and as during the walking the ring will be continually
pressed into the groove or recess it is not fixed to the sole otherwise. The ring and
the core may, if desired, be bevilled. For walking on frost or ice the band and the
ring may be provided with teeth, pegs, or points, as in the case with the heel
previously described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Morlet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
February 1881.
CHARLES MORLET, of Geneva, in Switzerland.
SHOES, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE FEET."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS,
The Invention has for its object to obtain a more even and regular wearing of
the heels of boots, shoes, and other like coverings for the feet, and is specially
applicable for use by those requiring a boot for heavy wear, such as the military,
tourist, and others. To this end a strong rim of steel is placed around the rim of
the heel, having its inner side slightly tapered, and being held in position by means
of a flat metal plate secured to the heel by means of screws. The said steel ring is
cut through at one part, and when the flat metal plate is fixed in position inside the
ring, causes the said ring to expand a little, which ring can be removed when
worn in one part and replaced by a part not worn. The said ring may be plain or
serrated as desired. Around the rim of the sole of the boot a strip of steel or other
metal is passed, and connected by means of a pin, or may be led into the boot. In
the centre of the said sole a ring of metal may be let in to further strengthen the
wearing of the same. And in order that the said Invention may be better under-
stood, I have caused to be appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with
letters of reference to which I will now refer. Fig. 1 of the said Drawings
represents a boot to which my Invention is applied. The steel ring a is conically
formed on the inside of its rim, and is held in position by the metal plate b which
is secured to the boot heel by the screws c. When a part of the said ring a may
have become worn away the metal plate is unscrewed and the ring turned thereon
in order to bring an unworn part of the ring in its place. In order to allow of the
ready turning of the ring it is cut through as indicated by d. When the ring is no
longer fit for wear it can be replaced with a fresh one. The strip of metal e is
placed around the edge of the sole and the ends thereof secured by the pin f, or
the said ends may be turned round and let into the leather as indicated by the
dotted lines g; the ring of metal h is let into the leather to strengthen the wearing
of the boot at this part. Fig. 2 represents a section of Fig. 1 on the line A, B, and
shows the projection of the steel ring a above the plate b. Fig. 3 represents the
steel rim as when formed with grooves on the rim as at i, or raised projections as
at j. Fig. 4 represents a cross section of the heel of a boot.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and means for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention,-
First. The employment of a steel ring secured to the heel of a boot, shoe, or
other coverings for the feet by means of a metal plate, substantially as hereinbefore
described and indicated.
Secondly. The attachment of a rim of metal to the soles of boots, shoes, or other
coverings for the feet, substantially in the manner as hereinbefore described, and as
illustrated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Morlet, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
CHARLES MORLET. (L.S.)