Year: 1896

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 28th Apr., 1896
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
I CHARLES JOHN BAILEY, Manufacturer, of Newton, in the County of
Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts one of the United States of America do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention has for its object the production of a novel overshoe which I have
designated as a "foothold" or "fore-part" india-rubber.
Prior to my invention it has been customary to provide india-rubber sandals
with a strap to surround the heel or counter of the shoe to keep the sandal on
the foot.
The inner end of my foothold terminates in the shank of the shoe to be protected,
the foothold being retained upon the shoe by the fastening of a top strap extended
from the inner end or terminal point of the foothold over the top of the shoe in
front of its ankle portion, the strain of said strap when fastened fitting the foothold
firmly to the shoe and keeping it in place thereon, the fit of the terminal end of the
foothold to the shoe being dust and water tight. In this way I am enabled to
dispense with the back strap, it extending backwardly about the back end of the
heel of the shoe and resting on the said heel above the counter, the strain of the
back strap holding the foothold on the shoe.
In the use of the back strap I have found that it soon broke down the back of
the heel of the shoe and wore the same objectionably, and that it would catch and
hold water at its upper side, which would soak into the thin part of the back of the
upper.
Figure 1 shows in perspective a foothold embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 shows the same with the top strap opened.
Fig. 3 shows the top strap of Figs. 1 and 2 in longitudinal section and
enlarged, and
Fig. 4 shows a modified form of top strap.
The fore part A of the foothold is composed of a short sole a to fit under the
ball of the foot from the toe a' of the shoe back into the shank or instep, and rising
from this sole are narrow sides a' and a toe part a', the ends of said sides presenting
a forwardly and upwardly projecting edge a', the said edge a being continued at
one side of the foothold with a free-ended top strap b, which is adapted to cross
the top of the shoe to be protected, diagonally in front of the ankle, said strap
having at one end a suitable fastening device, as ', which, coöperating with a
stud b, fastens the strap.
The top strap is unfastened when the foothold is to be put on and removed, and

page_text: when fastened it draws the terminal end of the rubber at or near the inner end of
the inner sole and the ends of the sides firmly about and fits the terminal end of
said foothold snugly and closely about the shank and instep of the shoe to be
protected, leaving the back of said shoe entirely unobstructed. This top strap
will preferably be so made as to present a limited amount of elasticity, so that
when passed and stretched about the top of the shoe it will thereafter contraet to
maintain a firm hold and draw the wale or rib ax closely to the sole and upper in
the instep, so as to exclude the mud, water, dirt, and dust and at the same time
prevent the foothold from slipping forward on the foot. This top strap for the
best results will be made detachable at one end, as at the end 6, where it may be
provided with a suitable fastening device, preferably of the ball-and-socket
variety, the cooperating member being marked 3 and attached to the part a¹.
To add further to the holding efficiency of the top strap, I provide it at its under
side with a series of projections c, which may be either round, as in Figs. 2 and 3,
or elongated, as in Fig. 4.
The strain exerted by the top strap in keeping.the foothold on the foot is in the
direction of the length of the wale or rib ax, and said rib, inclined diagonally
forward, is consequently drawn very snugly against the foot, and the strap b
cannot slip down and thus lessen the closeness of the contact of the said rib with
the shoe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. As an article of manufacture, a foothold composed of a short sole to extend
under the toe of the sole of the shoe to be protected back into the shank thereof,
a toe part and sides having their ends inclined forwardly and upwardly, the ends
of said sides terminating the foothold, the edge of one of said ends being prolonged
by a strap which is adapted to be extended diagonally across the shoe in front
of the ankle of the wearer thereof, said strap being connected to the end of
the side of the foothold at the opposite side of the sole thereof, substantially as
described.
2. As an article of manufacture, a foothold composed of a short sole to extend
under the toe of the sole of the shoe to be protected back into the shank thereof
where the sole of the foothold is contracted, and a toe part and sides having ends
inclined forwardly and upwardly, the ends of said sides terminating the inner end
of the foothold, the edge of one of said ends being continued to present a free-
ended strap adapted to extend diagonally forward over the top of the shoe to be
protected, said strap being provided with a fastening device whereby when said
foothold has been put onto the shoe to be protected, and said strap has been drawn
snugly over the top of the shoe in front of the ankle thereof it may be connected
to a coöperating fastening member attached to the end of the side at the opposite
side of the sole, the said foothold being thus secured to the shoe by means
wholly in front of the ankle or instep covering portion thereof, substantially as
described.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.