Improvements in Devices for Securing Overshoes to the Shoe or Boot.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Securing Overshoes to the Shoe or
Boot.
I, JAMES LOUIS HEFFERNAN a citizen of the United States, a resident of
Newcomb, in the County of Campbell, State of Tennessee, one of the United
States of America, a Doctor of Medicine, 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 :-
My invention consists in certain devices for effectually securing overshoes to the
shoe proper, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a top plane view of the same showing the fastener turned back.
Figures 3 to 9 inclusively show perspective views of varied forms of the
fastener.
A indicates an overshoe, having moulded in, or riveted to, each side of the
counter a small metal plate B. Each of these plates have a centre stop-pin, or
rivet C, and to the rear of these stops are arranged pivot-pins D, on which the
end-sleeves of the securing loop E are pivotally mounted.
This securing loop E is preferably made of a piece of wire of sufficient size, the
parallel ends e of which extend up vertically when the overshoe is secured on the
foot, and then bent in, while the central part of the loop is curved back into a
semi-circle E, adapted to fit around the back of the shoe. This loop is provided
with the projecting handle, e¹. The ends e of the loop E are flattened, and are
formed with the series of apertures e¹¹, fitting movably in flattened sleeves E", each
of which is formed near its upper end with a transverse aperture e¹ll arranged to
register with any one of the apertures e" of the loop-ends; and it will be seen that
the loop E can be adjusted, raised or lowered, to suit counters of different heights.
The sides of the securing loop E are connected by rubber bands F, F with the
sides of the overshoe, the rear end of these bands being attached to small hooks G,
removably hooked in the sleeves E¹, or the wire of the loop E may be curved to
form small sides loops e, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The forward ends of
these bands are preferably fastened on small hooks, H, secured to the sides of the
overshoes near the upper edges of the same, so that when the securing loop E is
turned back the pull of the rubber bands will draw the sides of the overshoe
outward, as shown in Fig. 2, enabling the wearer to readily insert his foot in
the overshoe.
The loop E may be coated with rubber. The lower ends of the sleeves E"
of the loop E are formed with the longitudinal slots E, through which the
pivot-pins D pass, and their free extremities are rounded and formed with the
central notch E"".
To put on the overshoe, turn the securing loop E back and downward when its
ends will come in contact with the stops C, and their end-notches E", registered
with the stop-pins C, when the rubber bands force the ends forward, engaging
stop C in the notches E¹. The securing loop will thus be held in its lowered
position and the wearer can readily insert his foot in the shoe. The handle .e¹
can be released when the rubber bands will draw it up with its curved centre
fitting over the counter of the shoe proper. The edge of the back of my
overshoe counter is curved outward at All to facilitate the easy entrance of
the foot.
In Fig. 3 I have shown the sleeves of the securing loop E pivoted to the centre
of the metal plates B, and the ends of the sleeves formed, on each side of their

page_text: pivotal point, with openings I, I. Each plate B is formed with the stop pins J J,
which may be formed by the heads of rivets, or projections may be struck or
pressed up from the plates. When the securing loop E is drawn back and
down the projections will engage with, the said openings, and hold the loop in its
lowered position until the wearer has inserted his foot in the overshoe.
In Fig. 4 I have shown the metal plates B provided each with one projection K,
and the free ends of the end sleeves E" have recesses L, pressed in them from their
inner sides with which said projections engage to hold the loop in its lowered
position until released.
Fig. 5 I have shown the ends of the sleeves E" pivoted on axles M, within small
metal casings N, secured to the sides of the overshoe; and the forward sides of
these casings are cut to form springs O, which will press against the extended
extremities of the sleeves E" and will hold the loop E in its lowered or raised
position, so that the rubber bands F can be dispensed with if desired.
In Fig. 6 I have shown duplicate plates B', which are placed directly opposite
the outer plates B, on the inside of the overshoe. Extending through these plates
are pivotally secured the movable axles B6, the outer ends of which project out
sufficiently far to receive the ends of the end-sleeves E" of the securing loop. The
axles B are encircled each by a spiral spring, S, which is arranged between the
outer and inner plates B and B¹, the inner end of each spring being secured to
the inner plate B', while its outer end is secured to the axle b. These springs
normally hold the loop E pressed forward, and when it is turned back it
and held, until released, by a spring tongue or catch C, which is secured to the rear
caught
part of the plate B, as shown.
In Fig. 7 I have shown the counter of the overshoe cut down somewhat, and on
these counters are secured metal plates P, having the top-bearings P', in which are
secured short axles P. The lower ends of the sleeves E" of the securing loop are
secured in cap-plates Q, which are in turn mounted pivotally on the axles P1, and
spiral springs R encircle the axles, being arranged as shown to normally hold the
loop E up and over the counter of the shoe proper.
and down it is caught and held in its lowered position by a spring tongue or catch S,
When the loop is drawn back
secured to the side of the plate P.
In Fig. 8 I have shown a fastener consisting of a stem T, the lower end of which
is pivoted in a metal bearing U, secured down on the back of the overshoe counter;
the upper end of this stem having the curved arms T', which fit around and over
the counter of the shoe proper; and rubber bands F connect the ends of these arms
with the sides of the overshoe. When this fastener is pressed down by its handle e¹
it is caught and held by a spring tongue or catch U₁, arranged as shown on the
bearing U, until released.
In Fig. 9 I have shown the counter of the overshoe cut down, and to the back
upper edge thereof is pivotally secured, by a hinge-plate v, a curved U-shaped
metal retainer plate V, the free ends of which are connected to the sides of the over-
shoe by the rubber bands F. This retaining-plate V is pressed back by its handle e¹
and the foot slipped into the overshoe, when the plate is released and the rubber
bands draw it forward against the counter of 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. The combination with an overshoe, of the plates secured to the overshoe
counter, the securing loop E formed with the flattened apertured ends and curved
backward at its centre, the end-sleeves E having the apertures e¹¹ and pivoted at
their ends to the plates B, and the elastic bands secured to the loop E and the sides
of the overshoe; substantially as described.
2. The combination of an overshoe, the plates secured to the overshoe-counter,
the securing loop E formed with the apertured ends, curved backward at its 5
centre, and having the handle e', the apertured end-sleeves pivoted at their ends to

page_text: the said plates the elastic bands secured to the loop E and the sides of the overshoe,
and a catch arranged to hold the loop E in its lowered or depressed position; as
set forth.
3. The combination of an overshoe, the plates secured to the overshoe-counter
and having the stop-projections, the securing loop E formed with the flattened
apertured ends, the apertured end-sleeves pivoted to the said plates and having
its ends adapted to engage with the said stop-projections on the plate, and
the elastic bands secured to the loop E and the sides of the overshoe; as set
forth.
4. The combination of an overshoe, the plates B secured to the counter of the
overshoe and having the stop-pins C and the pivot-pins D, the securing-loop E
formed with the flattened apertured ends, the apertured end-sleeves formed at their
lower ends with the slots E and the end notches E, and the rubber bands F
secured to the loop E and the sides of the overshoe; as set forth.
Dated 21st day or
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.