Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
I, THOMAS PHILADELPHIA MILLETT, of 42, Colvestono Crescent, Dalston, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the soles and heels of boots and shoes and
in the method of manufacturing the same; and consists in pressing a flat piece of
leather into the shape of a heel in a die and filling it with a heel or filling in combina-
tion or not with the sole proper.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a die and plunger of a suitable size
and shape and lay the piece of leather previously wetted over the die. The plunger is
then driven into the die and the moist, and consequently softened, leather compelled
to assume the contour thereof, which contour it retains after it has been taken out of
the die.
While the heel is still in the die 1 insert the filling properly shaped to fill the
cavity, using, by preference, a cementing solution to fix it permanently therein.
The piece of leather in which the heel-shape is formed in the manner above
described may be as large as necessary for the production of a heel or heels only, or
it may according to my invention be large enough to furnish the sole or soles also,
which may then with the respective heels be cut out in the ordinary way thereby pro-
ducing a sole and heel shape in one piece.
A heel, or sole and heel, produced in the manner above described may be attached
to the boot or shoe in any convenient or desirable manner according to the particular
class of work being made.
The ordinary top piece is afterwards nailed to the heel to take the wear and tear of
walking.
Dated this 7th day of Tenu1988

page_text: I, THOMAS PHILADELPHIA MILLETT, late of No. 42, Colvestone Crescent, Dalston,
but now of No. 32ª, Scrution Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:-
P
My invention relates to improvements in soles and heels of boots and shoes, and in
the method of, and apparatus for, manufacturing the same. It consists in causing a
flat piece of sufficiently moistened leather to assume the contour of a heel, by forcing
it into a die of the same shape and size as the heel, by means of a plunger shaped to
correspond with the said die, thereby producing a heel or, to speak more correctly, a
heel-case or cover without seam or join of any kind; the absence of all seam being
the distinguishing feature of my invention.
Moreover, in addition to providing a means by which a heel can be made without
seam or join, I can, according to my invention, make a heel and sole out of one piece
of leather.
The cavity in the heel is fitted with a filling of wood, composition, or other suitable
material.
The heel may be made in the way described above out of a piece of leather
sufficiently large to yield both sole and beel, or the soles may be made, according to
the well known method, separate from the heels.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the manufacture of a heel-cover only.
Figure 2 is a plan corresponding therewith.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a heel-cover with the filling."
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a heel-cover and filling, and top-piece.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a heel and sole made from one piece of leather.
A is the die and B, the plunger. These are made of any suitable material, but
preferably of such a metal as gun metal.
The cavity in the die is of the exact contour of the finished heel-cover; but, for
convenience in manufacture, the cavity is preferably continued through the block
as shewn in Figure 1.
The leather must be well wetted before it is operated on. I prefer to have it quite
soft or almost pulpy.
I have not shown the die and plunger in combination with any particular type of
press, inasmuch as I do not confine myself to any special method of operating the
plunger.

page_text: After the proper shape has been imparted to the leather C within the die, by the
pressure of the plunger, the latter is lifted clear, and the filling D, properly shaped to
fill the cavity and coated as to its sides and bottom with a suitable cementing solution
to ensure a perfect and durable cohesion between the respective surfaces of filling, and
heel cover, E. is inserted and pressed down. The excess leather e is then trimmed off
as close to the filling as may be desired.
The top piece F, which may be of leather or metal, is next added to protect the
heel cover against wear.
When the sole and heel covers are both to be in one piece, they may be cut out in
the ordinary way, either before or after shaping the heel-covers.
A heel, or sole and heel, produced in the manner above described may be attached
to the boot or shoe, as the case may be, in any convenient or desirable manner,
according to the particular class of work being made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. A heel-cover without seam or joint.
2. A heel-cover and sole leather without scam or joint.
3. The combination of die and plunger as far as the same is adapted, in the manner
hereinbefore set forth, for the manufacture, by pressure, of a seamless heel-cover.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.