Improvements in Elastic Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 11th Oct.,
1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Boots and Shoes.
I, PETER LUDES of Roisdorf in the Empire of Germany, Shoemaker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained is and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to boots and shoes, and is characterised
1) By the peculiar connection of an elastic double sole with the upper of the boot
or shoe.
2) By the peculiar spring arrangement in said elastic double sole allowing of a free
play and movement of the insole within the boot or shoe.
With the elastic boots and shoes heretofore used the aim was to provide the boot
proper which consists of the sole and upper connected in the known manner, with an
elastic underlayer (spring or cork). Thereby however the step-bearing plane of the
boot received a movableness to all sides which is absolutely prejudicial to a secure
step and produces on the wearer the impression of walking on insecure yielding
ground.
This drawback is completely obviated in the present arrangement, the boot upper
and the lower atep sole being firmly connected to an immovable whole by formation
of stitches. In the foot space thus afforded, which secure and determined in its
shape, the foot bearing on the insole can freely spread and press down the latter
without any possibility of a horizontal movement of the foot against the boot to the
front, to one side or the other or to the rear. The impression or sense of sliding is
therefore completely obviated and a boot is thereby produced which promises to
become highly important for walkers and which moreover owing to its compact.
construction possesses a far greater durability than the boots without elastic soles
hitherto known and naturally more so than the known construction of such elastic
boots.
Essential features of the improved construction are the firm connection of the step
sole with the upper and thereby formation of a non-elastic surrounding body, in
combination with the insole placed freely on springs which latter are secured only in
their position relative to the ground sole.
up
Consequently the purpose is attained, that the foot, when the boot is lifted and
thereby assumes a rounder shape of less circumference, is firmly enclosed by the upper
and by the inner sole elastically pressed onto the foot by the springs. When how-
ever the foot is put down and thereby spreads out, as is known, and extends increasing
in circumference, a larger portion of the upper becomes free for embracing the spread
foot corresponding to said increased circumference, by the pressing down of the
elastically lodged insole and the foot is again firmly surrounded by the upper not-
withstanding the depressed insole.
By the improved arrangement an end is attained which was heretofore not attained
with any boot or shoe, whether elastic or non elastic, viz., that for the spreading foot
a larger circumference of the upper is offered.
Another essential feature of the present invention is the peculiar connection between
upper and sole as hereafter described.
Reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like letters designate
corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a side view and partial section.
Fig. 2 a bottom view, and
Fig. 3 a cross section of a boot having the improved arrangements applied
thereto.
The peculiar connection between upper and sole mentioned above is shewn in
Fig. 3. g is the step sole, on which is secured a small metal plate m to receive the

page_text: pressure of the spiral springs s. On this step or bottom sole is laid a cork plate k
provided with holes for receiving the spiral springs and embraced by a leather edge !
placed on the rim of the step sole and connected to the latter by stitches 1. Said
leather edge has about the thickness of the cork sole and is connected by stitches
made in the direction with an auxiliary sole placed on the cork sole, whereby at
the same time the upper o is fixed. By the two rows of stitches 12 therefore the
upper is secured to the ground sole g with the insertion of an elastic cork sole k, which
however is completely secured, regarding its lateral movement, i.e. horizontal displace-
ment, by the leather edge l. The insole 6 is placed loose on the spiral springs s lodged
in the openings of the auxiliary sole h and cork sole k.
In respect of making the improved boot it may be observed, that naturally first
the leather edge is connected with the auxiliary sole by stitches with the
insertion of the upper, and of the auxiliary leather n and that subsequently the latter
is folded round under the edge 1, whereupon the ground sole is connected with said
edge by stitches 1, each stitch penetrating, as shown, twice the auxiliary leather n
thereby establishing a highly watertight connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
'
1) An elastic boot or shoe, in which the upper is firmly connected with ground
or step sole 9 and with an auxiliary soleh separated from the step sole by a cork
solek, and in, which simultaneously an insole 6 covering said auxiliary sole is
employed, the insole bearing on spiral springs s maintained in their position by
the cork sole and auxiliary sole, for the purpose of producing a continuous firm
contact of the foot with the upper and attaining an elastic step, substantially as set
forth.
2) In the boot or shoe forming the subject of claim 1) the application of a frame
or edge in combination with the auxiliary leather n which two parts are sewn
together by corresponding formation of stitches with the top leather or upper as
well as with the ground or step sole, for the purpose of affording a secure position
of the cork sole and a secure connection of the parts of the boot or shoe, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of September 1800
PETER LUDES.
By Huelser & Co.,
Temple Chambers, London, his Agents.