IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN THE METHOD OF MANU- PROAL
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Stevens, of Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE INSOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN THE METHOD OF MANU-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Stevens at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1881.
:
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Boot and
Shoe Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND
IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO MIDDLE SOLES."
The introduction of cork into a boot or shoe as an insole, either by itself or with
a covering of thin leather, such as skiver, or of canvas or other woven fabric, as
hitherto practised, is attended with the disadvantages that the cork by exposure
to the heat and moisture of the foot soon perishes, and becomes destroyed, and an
insole so made is not waterproof.
The object of my Invention is to enable me to use cork as part of an insole, or
as an addition to an ordinary insole, in such a way as to obviate these disadvantages,
which I do as follows:-
Instead of forming an insole of the same material throughout, as is usually done,
I take an ordinary insole of leather or other suitable material, and attach thereto.
a layer of cork by means of a solution of india rubber or other waterproof material
in such a manner that when placed in the shoe or boot the leather is next the
foot.
. A similar combination of cork and leather, or cork and other suitable material
can be used for middle soles, but in that case the cork must be bound round the
edges with leather or other suitable material; in order to protect the said edges
from-wear..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Stevens' in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1881.
"f
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Boot and
Shoe Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND
IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO MIDDLE SOLES."
The introduction of cork into boot or shoe as an insole, either by itself or with a
covering of thin leather, such as skiver, or of canvas or other woven fabric, as
hitherto practised, is attended with the disadvantages that the cork by exposure
to the heat and moisture of the foot soon perishes, and becomes destroyed, and an
insole so made is not waterproof.
The object of my Invention is to enable me to use cork as part of an insole, or as
an addition to an ordinary insole, in such a way as to obviate these disadvantages,
which I do as follows:-
:-
Instead of forming an insole of the same material throughout, as is usually done,
I take an ordinary insole of leather or other suitable material, and attach thereto a
layer of cork by means of a solution of india rubber or other waterproof material in
the following manner :-
I take a sheet of cork cut to the required shape, and coat it over on one side
with the water proof material in solution, care being taken to fill any holes or
cavities in the cork, so as to make the latter thoroughly water proof; when dry I
apply a second coat of the same solution (this solution being thinner); the leather
part of the insole being prepared in the same way, I attach them together with
pressure, so that when finished the leather and cork are firmly consolidated
together. The insole so made is placed in the boot or shoe in such a manner that
the leather side comes next to the foot.
A similar combination of cork and leather, or of cork and other suitable material,
can be used for middle soles, but in that case the cork must be bound round the
edges with leather or other suitable material, in order to protect the edges from
wear
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS.. (L.S.)