Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 26th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
I, JOHN BOSTON TILLEY, of Suffolk Street, Sunderland, in the county of Durham,
Architect and Engineering Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:
--
The object of my invention is the construction of heels for boots and shoes, in such
manner that the same may be readily removed when worn out; to effect such object
1 form on the sole a shallow heel, and I affix to the face of such heel by means of
screws, brads, pegs, or other suitable devices, a metal plate which is formed with a
long dovetailed groove or recess extending the whole length of the plate, in the
direction of the length of the sole. Such recess is tapered in plan being broadest
towards the toe end.
The remainder or detachable part of the heel is faced in a similar way with a metal
plate having a dovetailed projection formed upon it, corresponding to the aforesaid
groove or recess. By this means the heel can be slid into place and will be firmly
held by the aforesaid dovetailed projection and groove. A screw or other suitable
device may be employed to prevent the heel sliding back out of position.
If desired the plate with the recess may be affixed directly to the sole and the
entire heel may be secured as described, more than one groove or recess may be
employed, and I do not confine myself to the dovetailed section, as any other form
may be used which will securely hold the heel in place.
The detachable part of the heel may be formed of leather in the usual way, but
wood, paper-pulp, gutta percha, Indian rubber, or other suitable material may be
employed for this purpose to suit the requirements of the wearer or climate, and for
some purposes I may face, or partially face, the detachable heel with a metal plate, to
add to its durability. Indian rubber, or other suitable packing, may be employed in

page_text: combination with the grooved plates to afford a certain amount of elasticity in the
heel, and a passage or passages may be formed in the sole communicating with the
recess or groove in the upper plate, for the purpose of ventilation.
My invention may also be applied to the toes of boots and shoes, in a similar
manner to that described in connection with the heels.
It will be seen that a worn out heel may be replaced at any time with the greatest
ease, and if the heels are worn down on one side only, they may be interchanged,
and the invention will be specially useful in the colonies or other places where boots
cannot be readily repaired, and also for military service, as a stock of spare heels,
could be provided with the boots or shoes and enable the wearer to renew the said
heels as required.
T: ocal 1
1
1000
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN BOSTON TILLEY, of Suffolk Street, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Architect and Engineering Surveyor, 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:-
The main object of my invention is the improved construction of heels for boots
and shoes, in such a manner that the same may be readily removed when worn out
and fresh heels substituted therefor.
In the accompanying four sheets of drawings, which illustrate various modes of
carrying my said invention into practice, Fig. 1. is a plan of the underside of a boot
heel, when the detachable portion of the heel is removed; Fig. 2 is a plan of the
upper side of the said detachable portion; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the complete
heel; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the same through the lines X X on Figs. 1
and 2;
and Fig. 5. is a cross-section of the same through the line Y Y on Figs. 1
and 2; Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are similar views to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, of a modified
arrangement, and Fig. 10 is an end elevation of Fig. 8; Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
are similar views to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, shewing a further modification; Fig. 16 is
a side elevation of my improved heel with a rubber attachment; Fig. 17 is a similar
view with an iron or steel attachment, and Figs. 18 and 19 are, respectively, cross
and side sectional elevations of my improved heel combined with a ventilating
arrangement.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the whole of the
drawings.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, sheet 1, is a shallow heel formed upon the sole of the
boot or shoe in the ordinary way, B is a metal plate affixed to A by means of screws,
brads, pegs, or other suitable devices. This plate B is formed as clearly shewn in
cross-section Fig. 5, with a dovetailed groove or recess extending throughout the plate
in the direction of the length of the sole, such recess is tapered in plan, being
narrowest towards the toe end, a piece of leather or other suitable material C is fixed
upon the shallow heel A to make the surface level with the edges of the plate B, and
the attaching screws pass through the piece C. D is the detachable part of the heel,
and it bas a metal plate E fixed upon the upper side with a tapering dovetailed pro-
jection formed upon it, corresponding to the aforesaid groove or recess in the plate B.
By this means the piece I can be slid into place and will be firmly hold by the
aforesaid tapering dovetailed groove and projection in the plates B and E. After the
piece D is in place, it is prevented from sliding out by the screw F, which passes
through a clearing hole in the end B' of the plate B, and is screwed into a tapped
hole in the end E of the plate E. The arrangement shewn in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
sheet 2, is the same as that above described, with the exception that the dovetailed
recess and projection on the plates B and E taper the opposite way, and the head of

page_text: the screw F is therefore seen on the back of the heel, instead of being concealed on
the front as in sheet 1; but the advantage of the arrangement in sheet 2, is that any
accidental blow on the piece D, in walking or running, for instance,, only serves to
tighten the said piece D in place, whereas with the arrangement shewn in sheet 1,
such blow will throw a strain upon the screw F, so that the arrangement on sheet 2,
is intended more particularly for boots which are required for rough usage, where
appearance is of secondary importance. In both arrangements however, the edges of
the plates Band E are concealed, so that there is nothing to distinguish the heels in
appearance from an ordinary solid heel, with the exception in sheet 2 of the head of
the little screw F. Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, sheet 3, shew a modification
designed for extra strength. In this case the plates B and E are the full size of the
heel and fit solidly one within the other, as shewn clearly in cross-section Fig. 15.
The projection on plate E and the recess in plate B are shewn as parallel, but may be
tapered if desired. The edges of the plates are preferably bevelled or chamfered, as
shewn in Fig. 15. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of my improved heel, shewing an
indian-rubber attachment H on the detachable piece D, to ensure safety in walking in
slippery places, or for various other uses where an indian-rubber facing may be con-
venient. Fig. 17 is a similar view, shewing a metal heel plate J, affixed to the piece D.
In this view the edges of the metal plates B and E are left the full or nearly the full
thickness, and are shewn milled to impart an ornamental appearance to the heel.
Figs. 18 and 19 shew a method of utilising my invention for ventilating the inside of the
boot or shoe. In this case the plates B and E are similar to those shewn in sheets 1
and 2, and tubes K are placed in the part A of the heel, making communication between
the inside of the boot and the cavity L under the plates, this cavity is open to the
atmosphere in the front of the heel, so that the slight movement of the foot in
the boot, while walking, will cause air to be expelled from and drawn into the boot at
each step through the heel.
In carrying my invention into practice, I do not necessarily confine myself to the
precise details of construction shown in the drawings, thus for instance, the plate B
may be affixed directly to the sole of the boot or shoe, and the entire heel be detach-
able, the connecting plates B and E may have two or more grooves and projections
instead of the one as shewn, and in place of the dovetailed form of the said grooves
and recesses, or that shewn on sheet 3, I may employ any other suitable form, which
will permit the heel. to be slid longitudinally into place and firmly held there. The
detachable part D may be formed of leather in the usual way, but wood, paper-
pulp, guttapercha, Indianrubber, or other suitable material may be employed to suit
the requirements of the wearer or climate. Indianrubber or other suitable packing
may be employed in combination with the plates to afford a certain amount of elasticity
within the heel. My invention may be applied to the toes of boots and shoes, in a
similar manner to that shewn and described in connection with the heels.
Heels constructed according to my invention may be interchanged from right to
left, to equalise the wear when, as is usually the case, they are worn down on one
side only. A stock consisting of ordinary walking heels, rubber-faced heels, metal
faced heels, heels with spurs affixed, or other desired kinds of heels, may be provided
to fit on one pair of boots or shoes, so that a single pair of boots or shoes may by the
application of my invention be made to serve a variety of purposes. The heel is
usually the part to wear first in a boot or shoe, but by means of my invention it is
obvious that this part can always be kept in good condition, as a fresh pair of heels
can be applied at any time, in a few moments by the wearer.
I am aware that means have heretofore been proposed for rendering heels or parts
of heels renewable, and I therefore lay no claim to a detachable heel per se, but
having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I claim is :-
-
1. The construction of a detachable heel for a boot or shoe, wherein a plate is
affixed to the boot or shoe and another plate to the detachable heel, one of the said

page_text: plates being formed with one or more recesses and the other with one or more
corresponding projections to slide into and be held by the said recess or recesses, a
screw or other suitable device being provided to lock the said plates when slid
together, substantially as herein set forth.
2. A detachable heel D for a boot or shoe, affixed by means of plates B and E and
a screw F, substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
of the accompanying drawings.
3. A detachable heel D for a boot or shoe, affixed by means of plates B and E and
a screw F, substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
of the accompanying drawings.
4. A detachable heel D for a boot or shoe, affixed by means of plates B and E and
a screw F, substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14
and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a rubber facing H with a detachable heel D,
.constructed substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Fig. 16 of the accom-
panying drawings.
6. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a metal facing J with a detachable heel D,
constructed substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Fig. 17 of the accom-
panying drawings.
7. In a boot or shoe the arrangement of ventilating passages K in combination with
a detachable heel D, constructed substantially as herein set forth, with reference to
Figs. 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S. W.,
Agent for the Applicant.