Improved Shoe for Gymnasts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1893
Improved Shoe for Gymnasts.
I, HEINRICH KOHN, of No. 10 Adlergasse, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
One of the great defects of the shoes having indiarubber soles, and tops of
canvas, cloth or felt, as at present used by gymnasts is that much time and labour
is expended in the lacing and unlacing of same. Another defect is that, no matter
how much care is exercised in the lacing, the shoe never fits snugly on the foot,
while in a very short time it works loose and necessitates repeated tightening of
the laces. In the case of school children, in particular, the latter defect is most
annoying and demands the constant attention of the instructors during the various
gymnastic exercises.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a shoe which is readily put
on and taken off and which always fits snugly on the foot, no matter what kind of
exercises are being performed.
This I effect by inserting in the canvas, cloth or felt top of the shoe one or more
pieces of elastic material, which thus dispenses with laces altogether.
It is preferable to insert the elastic in both sides of the shoe, although it will be
evident that one or more of such strips may be arranged in the instep or upper, or
at any other suitable part of the top of the shoe.
It will also be evident that the top may be made of any kind of material and
that; in order to give a better appearance to the shoe, false or imitation laces may
be made in same.
Dated this 16th day of January 1896
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for-the Applicant.
I, HEINRICH KOHN of No. 10 Adlergasse, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
One of the great defects of the shoes having indiarubber soles, indiarubber
coating or front and tops of canvas, cloth or felt, as at present used by gymnasts
is, that much time and labour is expended in the lacing and unlacing of same.
Another defect is that, no matter how much care is exercised in the lacing, the shoe
never fits snugly on the foot, while in a very short time, it works loose and
necessitates repeated tightening of the laces. In the case of school children, in
particular, the latter defect. is most annoying and demands the constant attention
of the instructors during the various gymnastic exercises.

page_text: The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a shoe which is readily
put on and taken off and which always fits snugly on the foot, no matter what kind
of exercises are being performed.
In the accompanying drawing the improved shoe for gymnasts is shown in side
elevation.
In order to remedy the aforementioned annoyances and inconveniences, I insert,
as shown in the drawing, in the canvas cloth or felt top (c) of the shoe, one or more
pieces of elastic material (a) which stretches on the shoe being put on and taken
off and the felt top (c) of the shoe when put on, presses tightly to the foot, so that
the shoe fits snugly, thus dispensing with laces altogether.
It is preferable to insert the elastic (a) in both sides of the shoe, although it
will be evident that one or more of such strips may be arranged in the instep or
upper (b) or any other suitable part of the felt top (c) of the shoe.
d represents the indiarubber sole, and e an indiarubber golosh, coating or front.
The aesthetical advantage, which the lacing undoubtedly affords, since it gives a
better appearance to the shoe, is also attainable with my gymnastic shoe, provided
with elastic material, by false or imitation laces being made in the instep (b).
It will also be evident that the top (c) of this shoe for gymnasts may be made
not merely of canvas cloth or felt, but of any kind of woven or felted material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
A shoe for gymnasts, provided with an indiarubber sole (d) indiarubber coating
or front (e), and top (c) of canvas, cloth, felt or any woven or felted material,
in which top (c) one or more elastics (a) are inserted, substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 15th dow of Databen 1906
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.