Year: 1888

page_text: 02
Date of Application, 29th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left. 27th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 20th Apr., 1889
SAMUEL FRANCIS COUSINS 85, Wandsworth Road, London, S.W. Engineer ALFRED
GERRETT, 4 Queens Buildings, Montague Street Southwark, S.E. London, Bootmaker
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention which has for its object the more effecient ventilation of boots and
shoes, whilst retaining their waterproof qualities, consists in introducing a tube in the
heel and carrying same through into the sole. This tube has its inlet aperture in the
inner side of the heel, and is carried down at an angle, brought round; forming a
bend, and returned, into the boot or shoe, between the inner and outer soles, the
inner sole, being perforated to allow the exit of the air. In the angular portion of
this tube is placed a valve, which the action of walking opens and closes, but which
in its normal state is closed, but which may be opened and closed, mechanically if
desired.
Or we may form a collapsible chamber in the heel, connected to the inner side of
the heel by an inlet tube provided with a valve for the admission of the air, and to
an outlet tube, which is led between the soles as described so that the action of
walking will alternately compress, and allow this collapsible chamber to expand,
forcing a current of air into the boot or shoe each time; the foot is placed on the
ground, the expansion of this chamber being assisted if desired by a spring or other
mechanical means.

page_text: SAMUEL FRANCIS COUSINS 85 Wandsworth Road Vauxhall London Engineer and
ALFRED GERRETT 4 Queens Buildings Montague Street Boro' Road London Boot-
maker 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 :-
Our invention has for its object the more efficient ventilation of boots & shoes
For this purpose we arrange a collapsable chamber or bag in the heel of boots & shoes
so that the action of walking will automatically compress and allow the same to
expand.
We provide a bag made of Leather-India rubber or any suitable material-the bag
being the width of inner sole inside of boot-perforated with one or more holes on the
top with an aperture left open in the front to allow the admission and expulsion of
air. To assist the expansion of this bag we employ two springs inside of hag-curved
and rivetted together at one end-the other end being free to compress whilst in the
action of walking. A part of the under spring-front side-is bent which is for the
purpose of fixing the springs and collapseable bag in boots & shoes-we cut an
aperture in the inner sole and secure the springs and bag by forcing the part of spring
bent through the aperture and then between the inner & outer soles.
We shall punch one or more holes in the toe of boots and shoes to allow the
admission and expulsion of air by an invisable exit.
The annexed drawing shows how we prefer to construct it.
A the dotted line are the springs. B the lines showing the bag-C where the part
bent is forced through and fixed between inner & outer soles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
A collapseable chamber fixed in the heel of boots and shoes will by the action of
walking compress and expand thereby causing the admission and expulsion of air in
and out of boots and shoes.