IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERINGS FOR THE FEET OF BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William. Pidding, of Putney, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERINGS FOR THE FEET OF BIPEDS
AND QUADRUPEDS."
Sealed the 18th September 1855, and dated the 17th July 1855.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Pidding at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declara-
tion, on the 17th July 1855, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, WILLIAM
PIDDING, of Putney, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COVERINGS FOR THE FEET OF BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that
I verily believe myself to be the first and true Inventor thereof:

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Pidding, do hereby declare that
the following complete Specification, under my hand and scal, fully describes
and ascertains the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, that is to say:-
I make or manufacture the soles and heels of boots, shoes, and other
coverings for the human foot, or for the soles of shoes for horses or other
quadrupeds, of caoutchouc, or a compound thereof, with gutta percha. I so
make these soles and heels that there shall be left therein cells or reservoirs
(of any size), for the purpose of containing air, gas, or liquids, the caoutchouc
being hermetically closed thereupon, so that no escape or exudation can take
place. It is sometimes desirable to enlarge the area or superfice of the
treading or external surface of the soles or heels or horse-shoes. To effect
this, by leaving the cells or reservoirs above mentioned incomplete, or open on
one side of the caoutchouc, I then stretch (by any process) such incomplete
fabric in every direction of its length and breadth equally, and after filling
such cells with gas in any convenient way, or pouring liquids into them, or
allowing air to remain in them, I cause to adhere to the incomplete fabric
aforesaid a sheet of caoutchouc, and both, when so attached or caused to
adhere to each other, being allowed simultaneously to collapse or contract,
will cause the sheet or piece of caoutchouc forming the external surface (or
tread) of the complete sole, heel, or horse-shoe to be corrugated, and in this
form it will be found that a greater lasting quality will be secured than if the
sole, heel, or horse-shoe were flat. I also cover or form the external parts
(being the treading surface) with a fabric composed of hardened steel studs
and sheet caoutchouc, the studs being secured in perforations made in the
caoutchouc. I also make coverings of caoutchouc for the upper portion of
the foot or hoof of the horse (or other animal) to extend as high as the-top of
the hoof, attaching or adhering their lower edges to the soles or shoes, before
described; these coverings may be fastened on the hoof in any convenient
manner. Further, I make or manufacture the shoes, soles, or heels made of
caoutchouc and filled with air, gas, or liquid, (or partly so, in combination.
with helical, spiral, or other springs of tempered metal, placing them in juxta-
position throughout, (or in any part or parts) of the soles, heels, or shoes
aforesaid. I also (where I consider it desirable to dispense with cells or.
reservoirs, as before described,) use in the making of soles, heels, or horse-
shoes angular or other shaped studs, made of wood, glass, metal, papier
maché, gutta percha, or any material suitable for my purpose. These I place

page_text: either in close contact or nearly so in the interior of the india-rubber cases
forming the air soles, heels, and horse-shoes, so as by them to regulate the
pressure against the interior surfaces of the caoutchouc cases, and consequently
the elasticity of the soles, heels, and horse-shocs.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Pidding, have hereunto affixed
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
WILLIAM BARBER,
No. 7, Earl Street,
London Road, Southwark.
WILLIAM PIDDING. (L.S.)
I