Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Socks for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Socks
for Boots and Shoes.
I, ERNEST HAMILTON HAWTHORN of 70, Hackney Road, London, N.E.,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with the construction of
socks for boots and shoes, and has for its object to remedy certain defects in those
now in general use.
Socks as hitherto constructed have been made from thick or thin basil or other
material in combination with felt, such socks being very liable to come apart when
used by persons with damp or hot feet, now according to my invention I so
construct the socks that it shall be impossible for them to fall apart or to lose their
shape, and I provide means for permitting air to circulate around the foot, and
further, the sock can be reversed and when worn with one side uppermost will be
suitable for wear in summer or hot weather while the other side will be found very
suitable for keeping the feet warm and dry during the winter.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I cut a piece of felt, lambswool,
or other suitable material of the shape and size of the sock required, and I also
form a piece of cork into a similar shape but slightly smaller all round, to this
cork is attached a springy strengthening or stiffening rib of steel, brass, iron,
celluloid, or other suitable substance, by means of cement or in any other con-
venient manner, the cork being then placed with the strengthening rib downward
upon the felt lambswool or the like, and over the back of the cork is placed a piece
of cotton or other suitable fabric, which is stitched around the edge to the said
lambswool or felt.
The sock for summer wear is placed within the boot or shoe with the cotton
fabric uppermost so that any perspiration will easily pass through same and through
the cork, thus keeping the foot dry, while the space around the edge of the sock
formed by reason of the cork being slightly smaller all round than the felt, or
lambswool, allows of the air circulating around same thereby keeping the foot cool,
while for winter wear the sock is reversed, that is with the felt or lambswool.
uppermost, so that the foot is kept warm and dry and further the stiffening or
strengthening rib placed between the cork or lambswool or felt, serves to prevent
the sock twisting or warping and causes the same to always maintain its proper
shape.
Dated thin 07th of 1004

page_text: Improvements in and connected with the Construction of Socks
for Boots and Shoes.
I, ERNEST HAMILTON HAWTHORN of 70, Hackney Road, London, N.E.,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with the construction of
socks for boots and shoes, and has for its object to remedy certain defects in those
now in general use.
Socks as hitherto constructed have been made from thick or thin basil or other
material in combination with felt, such socks being very likely to come apart when
used by persons with damp or hot feet, now according to my invention I construct
the socks so that it shall be impossible for them to fall apart or lose their shape
and I provide means for permitting the air to circulate around the foot, and further,
the sock can be reversed and when worn with one side uppermost will be suitable
for wear in summer or hot weather, while the other side will be found very suitable
for keeping the feet dry and warm during the winter.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I cut a piece of lambswool, felt or
other suitable material to the shape and size of the sock required and I also
similarly shape a piece of cork but slightly smaller all round, to this cork is
attached a springy strengthening or stiffening rib of steel, brass, iron, celluloid, or
other suitable material, by means of cement or in any other convenient manner, the
cork being then placed with the strengthening rib against the felt or lambswool,
and over the back of the cork is placed a piece of cotton or other suitable fabric,
which is stitched around the edge to the top covering material.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a
plan of my improved sock with the upper stuff partly removed showing the rib or
spring and Fig. 2 is a cross section through same.
My improved sock consists essentially of a piece of lambswool, felt or the like
of suitable size and shape resting upon a piece of cork c of a corresponding shape
but slightly smaller, while between the two a strip or ribs of suitable springy
material is placed for the purpose of strengthening or stiffening the sock, the said
strip or rib being furnished with any suitable number of holes or perforations h for
ventilating purposes, while the other side of the cork is covered with a piece of
cotton or other fabric c' which is attached to the top covering material / by means
of stitches or in any other suitable manner.
I do not restrict myself to any particular material for the construction of my
improved sock, and it is obvious that the spring or ribs could be applied to those
of plaited or woven materials such as straw or other substances, either during the
course of manufacture or by being attached to them afterwards in any convenient
manner, and it can also be applied to boots and shoes by inserting one of the
specially constructed socks between the layers of material forming the sole.
The sock for summer wear is placed within the boot or shoe with the cotton
fabric cuppermost so that any perspiration will pass through same and the holes
or perforations / in the strip or ribs and through the cork c, thus keeping the foot
dry, while the space a around the edge of the sock formed by reason of the cork
being slightly smaller all round than the lambswool, felt, or the likel, allows the
air to circulate around same and thereby keeping the foot cool, while for winter
wear the sock is reversed, that is the felt or lambswool uppermost, so that the foot
is kept warm and dry, and further the strip or rib placed between the cork c and

page_text: top covering material / serves to prevent the sock twisting or warping and causes
it to always maintain its proper shape.
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 improved construction of socks for boots and shoes substantially as herein
described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2. In combination with a sock such as above claimed the application of the strip
or ribs provided with holes or perforations h substantially as herein described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
Dandout 1
AT
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.