AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No 11 Wellington Street,
Strand London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for an invention of
AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE
HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES. A communication from abroad by Leon Dourdet,
of Limoges, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1882
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF OF MATERIALS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES-A communication
from abroad by Leon Dourdet, of Limoges, France,
This Invention relates to a novel kind of leather top-piece with incrustation or
inlay of metal.
Many attempts have been made to strengthen a Boot or Shoe so as to prevent its
turning or treading over on one side.
Endeavours have been made to preserve the heel by the Application of a more
durable material but hitherto none have proved really satisfactory
The metallic part which was fixed to the heel had the serious defect of being
placed at its circumference causing the wearer to slide and sometimes to fall
The resistance to wear was also very slight, the metallic surface employed being
much too restricted
The system the subject of this Invention perfectly obviates these objections and
it consists in the incrustation or inlaying of a metallic plate or ring say of 1, or
½ of an inch (4 or 5 millimetres) in in the thickness on the surface of the top-
piece.
The thickness of the metallic plate being relatively somewhat great it will last
longer than that of other systems.

page_text: Further, as the leather is preserved around the periphery or circumference of the
beel it resists and overcomes the tendency to slide given by the metal bearing the
whole weight of the body.
Finally, the application of this metallic part is invisible on the exterior of the
Boot or Shoe when worn
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this Provisional
Specification:
Figure 1 shows the metal part in the Shape of a circular toothed plate which
may be made of malleable or of sheet iron of steel or of any other suitable metal.
Figure 2, represents the leather top-piece cut out and ready to receive the metal
plate.
Figure 3 represents the top-piece complete
The manufacture of this top-piece is very simple
The metal plate A (cast or cut out upon one model for one size of heels) has
around the whole of its outer part indentations or notches forming alternate solid
parts and spaces the use of which is hereinafter explained
The leather top-piece is composed of two parts, the first B is cut out by a punch
of the exact shape of the metallic plate, or by any suitable means.
The second part C is solid, it serves as support or bearing for the incrustation or
inlay, which being riveted thereto the whole forms a solid piece.
The spaces formed by the indentations or notches of the metallic plate serve for
the introduction of the pegs intended to fasten the top-piece to the boot or shoe
which is effected in the ordinary way.
The plate and its indentations may be of any desired shape, and gutta percha or.
other suitable material may be used instead of leather.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd September 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MATERIALS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES A communication
from abroad by Leon Dourdet of Limoges, France,
"
This invention relates to a novel kind of leather top-piece with incrustation or
inlay of metal.
•
Many attemps have been made to strengthen a Boot or Shoe so as to prevent its
turning or treading over on one side
Endeavours have been made to preserve the heel by the Application of a more
durable material, but hitherto none have proved really satisfactory.
The metallic part which was fixed to the heel had the serious defect of being
placed at its circumference, causing the wearer to slide, and sometimes to fall.
The resistance to wear was also very slight, the metallic surface employed being
much too restricted.
The system the subject of this invention perfectly obviates these objections, and
it consists in the incrustation or inlaying of a metallic plate or ring, say of 1/
or of an inch (4 or 5 millimetres) in thickness, on the surface of the top-piece.
The thickness of the metallic plate being relatively somewhat great it will last
longer than that of other systems.
Further, as the leather is preserved around the periphery or circumference of the
heel it resists and overcomes the tendency to slide given by the metal bearing the
whole weight of the body.
Finally. The application of this metallic part is invisible on the exterior of the
Boot or Shoe when worn.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing:-
Figure 1. shows the metal part in the shape of a circular toothed plate, which
may be made of malleable or sheet iron, of steel, or of any other suitable metal.
Figure 2. represents the leather top-piece cut out and ready to receive the metal
plate, and
Figures 3. and 4 represent the top-piece complete.
The manufacture of this top-piece is very simple.
The metal plate A (cast or cut out upon one model for one size of heels) has
around the whole of its outer part indentations or notches, forming alternate solid
parts and spaces, the use of which is hereinafter explained.
The leather top-piece is composed of two parts, the first, B, is cut out by a punch
of the exact shape of the metallic plate, or by any suitable means.
The second part, C, is solid, it serves as support or bearing for the incrustation or
inlay, which being riveted thereto the whole forms a solid piece.
The spaces formed by the indentations or notches of the metallic plate serve
for the introduction of the pegs intended to fasten the top-piece to the boot or
shoe.
It will be understood that the top-piece thus fitted offers considerable resistance
to wear.
The leather, which extends round the circumference or periphery, prevents
slipping and will not itself deteriorate, being held by the pegs passing through it.
This top-piece is applied precisely as if the interior were of leather.
I desire it also to be understood that the plate may be of any desired shape and

page_text: the teeth or indentations be round pointed, square, or otherwise, also that gutta
percha and india rubber or any other suitable material may be used instead of
leather.
The metal plate may, as above stated, be cast, instead of cut or stamped out, and
irregularities or projections left in the casting serve to hold this incrusted part, or
inlay, in the heel, instead of the riveting shown on the Drawing.
Having now described and ascertained the Nature of the Invention Communicated
to me as aforesaid, what
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
In the manufacture of the heels of Boots and Shoes, the incrustation or inlaying
of a metal part in the leather, or other material, previously cut or stamped out to
receive it, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
In Witness whereof I the said William Edward Gedge have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirty first day of August in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and Eighty two.