Improvements in Boots and Shoes
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Boots and Shoes,
We, ARTHUR EDWARD NIELD YEADON and SAMUEL NIELD YEADON, both
Engineers, of 4, Albion Place, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows,-
Our invention consists in the use or application of an elastic pneumatic ball
or cylinder inserted in the heels of boots and shoes, and which being fixed to
project a little above the surface of the said heels, acts as an elastic cushion,
being noiseless and reducing concussion in walking, and preventing shipping to
the wearer on ice or hard pavements
We shall employ the term "boots" as also including shoes, slippers, and other
analogous coverings for the feet, and we also include in this invention the use
of this pneumatic ball to the soles of boots and shoes, if required
Ordinary boot heels are usually made of leather; sometimes of gutta percha
or other material They are also usually made solid, and by way of increasing
their durability are often further protected by nails or metal plates driven into
or secured to the leather Such protected heels however are very noisy to walk
in, slippery on ice or haid pavements, and have no elasticity wherewith to relieve
the concussion thrown on them by the weight of the wearer in walking.
Our invention is designed to remedy these defects, and to supply a boot heel
which shall be durable, silent, safe to walk in and at the same time elastic, so
as to reduce concussion to the muscles of the legs and thus secure greater ease
and comfort in walking
We can make our heels of leather, gutta percha, or any other analogous or
manufactured material. Instead however of our heels being solid, (like ordinary
ones) we cut or mould, and preferably in the middle of them, a recess or hole
suitable for securely containing a pneumatic ball or cylinder, which shall act as
an elastic cushion This ball can be made of a spherical, cylindrical, or other
suitable shape; of india rubber or other analogous elastic material, filled with
air inside and made airtight so as to retain its elasticity in the action of walking
The ball is fitted into the heel itself so that part of it ordinarily projects or
stands above the surface of the heel, being only compressed level or nearly level
with the said surface when the weight of the wearer is upon that heel, and e-
gaining its projecting form and position when the said weight is taken off.
These pneumatic balls can be fitted into the heels after the latter have been
fastened on the boots, by a suitable hole being drilled or recessed into the same
to contain them, thus being easily renewed when required, or, the heels may
be made loose and detachable, recessed to suit the shape of the ball, and after-
wards secured to the welt or body of the boot by any method found most suit-
able. The section of the projecting surface of the pneumatic ball is made thicker
and stronger than any other part so as to be more durable and to preserve it
from being punctured.
The action of these heels fitted with our pneumatic balls is then as follows:—

page_text: The elastic material of which the balls are made prevents any noise in walking,
or slipping on ice on hard pavements, as is usually the case when nails and metal
"protectors" are used, the balls being hollow are naturally more elastic than
any solid substance can be, and therefore more satisfactorily serve to reduce
the concussion to the muscles of the legs when the weight of the wearer 18
brought upon them, and they also help by that elasticity to lift up the foot when
the weight is taken off
Our invention therefore is designed to produce boot heels which shall be silent
in walking, fiee from slipping, reducing concussion to the muscles of the legs,
and thus increase endurance and comfort in walking, and we propose to cany
it out substantially as herein described
Dated this Tenth day of June 1898
ARTHUR EDWARD NIELD YEADON.
SAMUEL NIELD YEADON
We, ARTHUR EDWARD NIELD YEADON, and SAMUEL NIELD YEADON, both
Engineers, of 4, Albion Place, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performel,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
-
Our invention consists in the use or application of an elastic pneumatic bull
or cylinder inserted in the heel of a boot or shoe which ball being so fixed as to
project a little above the surface of the said heel, acts as an elastic cushion, being
noiseless and reducing concussion in walking and preventing shipping to the
wearer on ice or hard pavements.
"
We shall employ the term boots" as also including shoes, slippers, and other
analogous coverings for the feet
Boot heels are usually made of leather, some times of gutta percha or other
materials. They are also usually made solid, and by way of increasing their
durability are often further protected by nails or metal plates driven in ог
secured to the leather Such protected heels however are noisy to walk in, slip-
pery on ice or hard pavements, and have no elasticity wherewith to relieve the
concussion thrown on them by the weight of the wearer in walking
Oui invention is designed to remedy these defects, and to supply a boot heel
which shall be durable, silent, safe to walk in, and at the same time elastic, so
as to reduce concussion to the muscles of the legs and thus secure greater ease
and comfort in walking.
With our invention the heels can be made of any suitable material, but in-
stead of being solid (like ordinary ones) we cut or mould, and preferably in the
middle of them, a recess or hole suitable for securely containing a pneumatic
ball or cylinder, which shall act as an elastic cushion
A reference to the accompanying drawing will help to explain the design and
method of applying our invention Fig 1, A shows the boot in elevation;
Fig 2 the heel and sole of the same in plan, Fig 3, a pneumatic ball in sec-
ton, and Fig 4, plan of the same
The pneumatic ball D can be made of a spherical, cylindrical (as shown) or
other suitable shape, it 18 preferably made of india iubber, but can also be made
of any other analogous elastic material; it is hollow as shown at E, filled with
air under pressure and made airtight so as to retain its elasticity in the action
of walking The pneumatic ball is fitted into a recess in the heel itself as shown

page_text: in Fig. 1, so that the convex surface of it ordinarily projects or stands above the
surface of the heel B, the lower part of which is shown in section at C; the ball
being only compressed level or nearly level with the said surface when the weight
of the wearer is upon that heel, and regaining its projecting form and position
when the said weight is taken off
These pneumatic balls can be fitted into the heels after the latter have been
fastened on the boots, by a suitable hole being drilled or recessed into the same
to contain them, thus being easily renewed when required, or the heels may be
made loose and detachable, recessed to suit the shape of the ball and afterwards
secured to the welt or body of the boot by any suitable method. The section
of the projecting surface of the pneumatic ball is made as shown at F, thicker
and stronger than any other part so as to secure durability and reduce possi-
bility of being punctured.
"
1
The action of boot heels fitted with our pneumatic balla 18 then as follows:-
the elastic materials of which they are made prevents noise in walking, or slip-
ping on ice or hard pavements, as is usually the case when nails or metal "pro-
tectors are used; the said balls being hollow and airtight are naturally more
elastic than any solid substance can be, and therefore reduce more efficiently
the concussion to the muscles of the legs in walking and also help by that same
elasticity to lift up the foot when the weight is taken off
Our invention therefore is designed to produce boot heels which shall be silent
in walking, free from slipping, reducing concussion to the muscles of the legs,
and thus increase endurance and comfort in walking, and we propose to carry
it out substantially as herein described
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same 18 to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. An airtight hollow elastic pneumatic ball or cylinder, inserted in the heel
of a boot or shoe, but projecting a little above the outside surface of the said
heel, and thus acting as an elastic cushion under the heel, reduces noise and
concussion in walking, and prevents slipping on ice or any hard pavements.
Dated this Seventh day of March 1899.
ARTHUR EDWARD NIELD YEADON.
SAMUEL NIELD YEADON.