Improvements in Boots and Shoes,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
Improvements in Boots and Shoes,
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents.
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to he performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The object of this invention is to render the support of the foot within the boot
or shoe elastic, whilst at the same time rendering the same hygienic by means of
thorough ventilation, and also prolonging the duration of the sole.
The manner in which the objects above set forth are attained is represented, by
way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is an external side elevation of a boot or shoe in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the sole as seen from above.
Figure 3 represents the upper sole which is placed above the sole proper and
upon which the foot rests, and
Figure 4 is a section through the boot or shoe taken in a vertical longitudinal
plane.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will at once be apparent that the boot
or shoe, viewed from without, exactly resembles shoes of the ordinary kind,
except that at the rear portion there is provided a small hole C au inch or two above
the heel.
This hole is in communication with a tube D, vertically arranged within the
boot or shoe, as shown in Figure 4. The said tube or air conduit 1) serves for the
supply of air to the india rubber tube A which is arranged beneath the upper and
movable sole B.
The upper sole B upon which the foot ordinarily rests within the boot or shoe,
instead of being sewn upon the whole of its surface to the sole E, is allowed to
remain unsewn and movable for the last third of its length at the rear or heel por-
tion of the shoe, and where the last stitches are made there are formed in the upper
sole small apertures F as shewn in Figure 3 of the drawing.
Upon the lower face of the movable portion of the upper sole is formed a recess
corresponding in shape to the elastic tube A, for the purpose of receiving this tube
in such a manner that when it is pressed upon by the foot, it is completely enclosed
and concealed between the upper and lower soles.
The tube A, which is bent in accordance with the contour of the rear portion of
the sole, is open at its two extremities, towards which its diameter becomes smaller.
The said tubular part is provided with an india rubber membrane H which is
joined to the two branches of the tube and serves for fixing this latter by means of
a suitable solution beneath the upper sole. Instead of this method of fixing, how-
ever, the tube itself may be stuck to the sole. In addition to this, there are formed

page_text: at the bend of the tube A two holes, one at the interior of the bend and the other K
corresponding therewith upon the outside of the same.
The hole formed within the arc, enables the air coming from the tube A to pass
into the shoe (which is also facilitated by the orifices at the extremities of this
tube) whilst the aperture K, outside the circular arc, is in communication with the
vertical conduit D.
This internal, vertical air conduit D is therefore in communication, by means of
its lower extremity, with the aperture K of the india rubber tube A, whilst the
other extremity terminates, as above stated, at the aperture C situated an inch or
two above the heel and through which the air is admitted.
Having thus described the arrangement of the novel boot or shoe, it will be
readily understood that the support for the foot is elastic owing to the india rubber
tube which is lodged within the sole for the last third of the length of this latter
towards the heel; that is to say beneath that portion of the upper sole which
remains movable.
The arrangement described also enables the air surrounding the foot to be auto-
matically renewed when the wearer is walking.
In addition to this the duration of the sole is prolonged, as its friction against
the ground is diminished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is;-
An hygienic ventilated boot or shoe having an elastic tread, characterised by the
aperture C, by the small vertical conduit D formed in the rear portion of the boot
or shoe, by the tube A arranged below the rear movable portion of an upper sole B,
by the apertures F F in the said upper sole, the whole operating in the manner
above described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
C
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.