IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPLIANCES FOR LACING THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR THE LACING OF OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPLIANCES FOR LACING THE
SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR THE LACING OF
OTHER ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Messieurs S. Wallerstein
and Sohn, of Vienna, Austria.
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 6th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION-left-by the-said-William-Robert-Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN
APPLIANCES FOR LACING THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLI-
CABLE FOR THE LACING OF OTHER ARTICLES." [A communication from abroad by
Messieurs S. Wallerstein & Sohn, of Vienna, Austria.]
This Invention relates to improvements in boots and shoes, and in appliances for
lacing the same, which improvements are partly applicable for the lacing of other
articles.
The said improvements may be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Drawing, in which,
Figure 1 shows a boot constructed according to this Invention, in the condition
of being opened. Figure 2 shows the same in the condition of being closed.
Figure 3 shows a modified form in open condition.
Figure 4 shows a modified form in closed condition.
Figure 5 shows a boot with one end
of the lace passing through the upper
guide pieces a², and the other end 62 passing through the lower guide pieces a³.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, show suitable constructions of lace guide pieces.
a, a', a², a³, are the lace guide pieces.

page_text: c (Figure 3) is a button on which the lace can be wound after closing the boot.
d (Figure 3) are beads for facilitating the grasping of the lace in opening the
boot.
ff, are pieces of thin leather sewn to the sides of the boot and to the middle
piece g, and thus closing the boot at the sides.
h (Figure 4) is a piece of leather so arranged as to cover the lace guide pieces.
The lace guide pieces a are preferably made of coiled wire, and two, three, or four
or more may be made of one single length of wire, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8,
and can be afterwards bent to the shape required.
It is evident that without departing from the substance of this Invention, the
lace b may be made elastic and short, and fixed at its ends, and that lace and lace
guide pieces like those shown for joining the sides of a boot may be used on other
articles; for instance, instead of buttons and button holes on gloves, or instead of
buckles on braces, waistcoats, or trowsers, or on ladies' stays, or on surgical
bandages.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
January 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN
APPLIANCES FOR LACING THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE PARTLY APPLI-
CABLE FOR THE LACING OF OTHER ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by
Messieurs S. Wallerstein and Sohn, of Vienna, Austria.
This Invention relates to improvements in boots and shoes, and in appliances for
lacing the same, which improvements are partly applicable for the lacing of other
articles.
The said improvements may be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying Drawing, which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 shows a boot constructed according to this Invention, as it appears when
opened, and Figure 2 shews the same closed.
Figure 3 shews a modified form of the same as it appears when open.
Figure 4 shews a modified form thereof as it appears when closed.
Figure 5 shews a boot with one end b¹ of the lace passing through an upper row
a² of guide picces, and the other end 62 passing through a lower row a³.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 show lace guide pieces suitably constructed for the purpose of
this Invention.
Figures 9 and 10 shew another arrangement of guide pieces.
a, a, a², a³, are lace guide pieces.
b, b', b, are laces.
c, Figure 3, is a button on which the lace can be wound after closing the boot.
d, d, are buttons or beads fastened to the ends of the laces.
e, e, Figure 3, are beads for facilitating the grasping of the lace in opening the boot.
ff, are pieces of thin leather sewn to the sides of the boot and to the middle
piece g, and thus closing the boot at the sides.
h is a piece of leather so arranged as to cover the laco guide pieces.
The lace guide pieces a are preferably made of coiled wire, and two, three, or four
or more may be made of one single length of wire, as shown in Figures 6 and 7,
and can be afterwards bent to the shape required, as shown in Figure 8.
It is evident that without departing from the substance of this Invention, the
lace may be made elastic and short, and fixed at its ends, and that the lace and
lace guide pieces shown for joining the sides of_a_boot_may be used-on-other--
articles; for instance, they may serve instead of buttons and button holes on gloves,
or instead of buckles on braces, waistcoats, or trowsers, or ladies' stays, or on
surgical bandages.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate such an arrangement with an elastic lace b³ held by
beads d in the guide pieces at and a³; Figure 9 shews the same closed, and
Figure 10 shews it open or extended.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the lacing appliances or devices applied or adapted to boots and shoes,
and also applicable to other articles as shewn in the accompanying Drawing, and as
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One tha
dood and anvanter nine