Improvements in Ventilated Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ventilated Boots and Shoes.
1, JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY, of corner St. Alexander and Juror Streets, in
the City of Montreal, in the County of Hochelaga, in the Province of Quebec,
Canada, Manufacturer, 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 relates to improvements in ventilated boots and shoes and the
object of the invention is-first-to form a collapsible centre sole and heel, to break
the jar in walking, neutralize the effect of contact with hard lumps on the ground,
distribute the wear evenly over a larger area of the shoe sole and heel and provide
an automatic increase in the interior size of shoe when the foot is borne upon and
expands from the weight of the body in walking and-secondly-to provide a
means in connection with the centre collapsible sole whereby practical ventilation
of the foot is automatically effected in the action of walking by drawing the outer
air into the boot beneath the insole when the foot is lifted and the collapsible sole
expands and causing the air thus drawn in to be forced up around the foot through
the perforations in the insole, the air being finally expelled between the boot top
and the ankle when the centre sole is collapsed in walking and it consists
essentially in the construction of the collapsible sole and the peculiar form of valve
designed to co-act therewith as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal sectional perspective view through a boot provided with
my improvements.
Fig. 2, is a perspective detail of the collapsible centre sole.
Fig. 24, is a perspective detail of an alternative form of collapsible sole.
Fig. 3, is a cross section through the toe portion of the boot on the line a-b
Fig. 1, and parallel to the tongues of the centre sole.
Fig. 4, is a cross section through the heel portion of the boot on the line a―y
Fig. 1, parallel to the tongues of the heel portion of the collapsible centre sole.
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the heel removed showing the construction and
location of the valve casing.
Fig. 6, is a detail of the valve casing with the front plate removed.
Fig. 7, is a detail of the valve proper.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the upper of the boot, B is the outer sole having the heel portion b. C is
the welt. Dis the collapsible centre sole. E is the insole and F is the heel.
The collapsible centre sole D is made of rubber or other suitable elastic material.
The front portion of the sole upon which the ball and toes of the foot rest is made
with a central section upon which are formed the upper dove-tail shaped tongues D'
forming corresponding grooves D' between them and the lower dove-tail shaped
tongues D forming correspondingly shaped grooves D4 between them.
tongues of the upper portion of the collapsible sole are opposite the grooves in the
lower portion and vice versa, so that the one sinks into the other when borne upon
thus constituting an elastic spring. The tongues D' and D³ in both portions extend
across the foot obliquely as indicated particularly in Fig. 2, the slant being
The

page_text: "
backwardly from the inner edge of the sole to the outer edge. The lower tongues D³
are provided with tapered lateral extensions d', which extend underneath the welt
and are fastened with it to the contacting edges of the upper (see Fig. 3). The
central portion D of the collapsible centre sole D has lateral extensions d³, which
also extend underneath the welt the same as the extensions of the tongues D³ and
are secured thereto in the same manner.
It will thus be seeu that the collapsibility of the centre sole D is extended
practically to the very edge of the sole of the shoe.
D are preferably dove-tail shaped tongues on the upper and lower portions of
the web D7 at the heel portion of the collapsible centre sole, which are separated
so as to form correspondingly shaped grooves D³. The tongues formed on the
upper portion of the web are opposite the grooves formed in the lower portion
and vice versa.
The central or arched portion of the collapsible inner sole D is formed with a
longitudinal channel G, which extends completely to the tongues and grooves
formed in the sole and heel portion respectively. The extension G₁ of the
channel G extends underneath the upper tongues D, and through the lower
tongues at the heel portion, so as to form openings d³, Figure 1. G' is an extension
channel preferably narrower than the front end of such channel passing through
the toe portion of the collapsible sole.
The insole E is provided with a series of perforations arranged longitudinally
substantially in the centre thereof and opposite the channel G of the collapsible
centre sole D. The heel end of the insole E is slit longitudinally into two parts E¹
and E as far forward in the sole as the front of the heel, thus forming the upper
part into an independently movable flap hinged at the front end. The lower part E
has a central aperture E³ cut out of it substantially the same form as the roundabout
contour of the heel (see dotted lines Fig. 1) leaving however an edge e¹ which is
secured to the heel stiffener h in any approved manner.
E is a layer preferably of sole leather, which is placed in the aperture E³ and is
designed to loosely fit the same and rest upon the flattened top of the tongues Dº.
The layer E is thicker than the lower part E2 and the upper part or flap E' rests
upon the top of the layer E. The toe portion of the insole E is provided with a
projecting rib e, which fits in between the front curved end d' of the collapsible
sole and the inner edge of the upper secured to the welt and extends around the
upper vertical edges thereof as far as the heel stiffener.
J is the valve casing provided with a dove-tail shaped inner end fitting a
corresponding recess K in the front of the heel. J' is the front plate of the valve
casing, which is fitted into a corresponding recess K' so as to be flush with the
front surface of the heel. The valve casing J is secured in position from beneath
by the lower layer F of the sole and the dove-tail form of the casing secures it
from moving forwardly out of position. J is a roller valve provided with a central
diametrically formed opening j. The roller valve J' is journalled in the end
openings of the casing and when opened the aperture ; is opposite to the outer
and inner slots and 3 (Figure 1) respectively formed in the valve casing.
In order to provide for the opening and closing of the valve I provide a pin j
which is inserted into the periphery of the roller valve and extends through a slot j
formed in one end of the casing J. K2 is a chamber cut out or formed in the heel
behind the valve as indicated. J³ is a hinged flap valve, which normally covers
the inner slot j³. L is an opening made through the sole B between the chamber K²
and channel extension G¹.
Upon the placing of the foot upon the ground it will be seen that the air beneath
the insole of the shoe will be forced through the holes e and around the layer E*
and between the parts E' and E2 around the foot and into and through the upper
portion of the boot. Upon raising the foot the suction of the air now caused by
the collapsible centre sole expanding will draw the air through the valve J opening
the flap in so doing, so as to fill the vacuum caused by the depression of the
collapsible sole. Upon the foot passing to the ground again the collapsible sole

page_text: will act as before serving to keep the flap against the valve and cause the air to
pass around the foot as hereinbefore described.
By my device the air when once drawn into the boot cannot be forced out through
the same aperture again but must circulate up around the foot and be forced out
between the ankle and top of the upper, thus keeping the stocking and lining of
the shoe dry by evaporating the perspiration or other moisture as it develops, and
serving to preserve the foot in a healthy, hardy and comfortable condition.
As the collapsible sole is arranged with the tongues extending across obliquely
it will be seen that, upon pressure upon the insole in walking, the greatest possible
surface of tongues is depressed, so that a maximum vacuum is created and con-
sequently a maximum amount of air is drawn into the shoe when the foot is raised.
As the collapsible centre sole extends practically to the edge of the sole it will
be seen that such sole will be caused to wear evenly. The heel which is now
commonly worn at the back will be preserved to a great extent, as the first
concussion will be received upon the layer E', which is collapsibly supported as-
hereinbefore described.
The collapsible sole also extending practically to the edge of the upper the
interior of the shoe becomes larger when the foot is on the ground, thus over-
coming to a great extent the discomfort caused by undue pressure upon the foot
at certain parts and at the same time preventing the unsightly stretching of the
upper.
The tongues
In Fig. 24, I show the central channel extending into an air space.
also are in this figure differently shaped and extend crosswise of the sole. In the
grooves between the tongues I provide perforations as indicated. The insole of the
shoe would be perforated both in the sole and heel portions. I, however, much
prefer the form as described above.
Although I show the tongues as extending crosswise of the collapsible sole it
will be understood that they might be arranged to extend longitudinally but I
prefer the construction shown.
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. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole provided with cross tongues or ridges and
a longitudinal channel in the same as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole provided with cross tongues or ridges, a
longitudinal channel extending through the same and perforations extending from
the grooves on one side through the collapsible sole into the grooves on the
opposite side as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole comprising a central web having upper
and lower collapsible tongues extending across the web and forming cross grooves,
the tongues on one side being opposite the grooves on the other as and for the
purpose specified.
4. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole comprising a central web having upper
and lower collapsible tongues extending across the web and forming cross grooves,
the tongues on one side being opposite the grooves on the other and a channel
extending longitudinally through substantially the centre of the sole as and for the
purpose specified.
5. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole comprising a central web having upper
and lower collapsible dove-tail shaped cross tongues extending across the web and
forming correspondingly shaped grooves, the tongues on one side being opposite
the grooves on the other as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a shoe, a collapsible centre sole comprising a central web having upper
and lower collapsible tongues extending obliquely across the web and forming
correspondingly shaped grooves, the tongues on one side being opposite the
grooves on the other as and for the purpose specified.
7. In combination, the upper, the welt, the outer sole, and the collapsible centre sole

page_text: provided with cross tongues or ridges having lateral extensions extending
underneath the welt and means for securing such extensions in position as and for
the purpose specified.
8. In combination the upper, the welt, the outer sole and the collapsible centre
sole provided with cross tongues or ridges having lateral extensions extending
underneath the welt, means for securing such extensions in position and an insole
having a downwardly projecting rib extending around the vertical upper portion
of the toe and sides of the collapsible centre sole as and for the purpose specified.
9. In combination the upper, the welt, the outer sole, the collapsible centre sole
provided with cross tongues or ridges and a central channel, the insole provided
with a line of perforations above the central channel, and an aperture in the heel
of the boot connecting the said channel with the outer air as and for the purpose
specified.
10. In combination the upper, the welt, the outer sole, the collapsible centre
sole provided with cross tongues or ridges, and a central channel having an
enlarged central portion extending over the arch of the sole and a narrowed rear
portion extending beneath the top tongues of the heel portion of the collapsible
sole, so as to form openings between the tongues, and a compressible flap forming
part of the heel portion of the insole and designed to be brought to press against
the heel portion of the collapsible centre sole as and for the purpose specified.
11. In combination the upper and outer sole, the collapsible centre sole provided
with cross tongues or ridges at the heel portion thereof, a central channel
extending into the lower part of such heel portion and communicating with the
upper part by openings between the tongues, an insole covering the collapsible
centre sole and provided with a heel flap designed to be brought to press against
the heel portion of the collapsible centre sole, and an aperture in the heel of
the boot connecting the centre channel with the outer air as and for the purpose
specified.
12. In combination the upper and outer sole, the collapsible centre sole provided
with cross tongues or ridges at the heel portion thereof, a central channel
extending into the lower part of such heel portion and communicating with the
upper part by openings between the tongues, an insole covering the collapsible
centre sole and having the heel portion horizontally slit to form two flaps, an
opening formed in the lower flap, a layer fitting such opening and resting upon
the tongues of the collapsible centre sole, and an aperture in the heel of the
boot connecting the centre channel with the outer air as and for the purpose
specified.
13. In combination, the upper and the outer sole, the collapsible centre sole
provided with cross tongues or ridges, and a channel extending into the toe and
heel portion, the insole provided with suitable openings communicating with the
channel, the heel, the chamber therein, an opening in the outer sole communicating
with such chamber, and a valve connecting such chamber to the outer air and so
constructed as to allow the air to pass inwardly but not outwardly as and for
the purpose specified.
14. In combination, the upper and the outer sole, the collapsible centre sole and
openings in the same communicating with the interior of the boot and a valve
connecting such openings with the outer air and so constructed as to allow the air
to pass inwardly but not outwardly as and for the purpose specified.
15. In combination, the upper and the outer sole, the collapsible centre sole and
channel opening in the same, the heel, the chamber in the heel, the opening
connecting such chamber to the channel opening in the collapsible centre sole, the
valve in the front end of the heel, and a suitable flap located in the chamber in the
heel and covering the inner opening of the valve as and for the purpose specified.
16. In combination, the upper and the outer sole, the collapsible centre sole and
channel opening in the same, the heel, the chamber in the heel having a dove-tail
front end, the valve casing correspondingly dove-tail shaped to fit such chamber

page_text: provided with the front plate and registering inner and outer slots, the roller valve
provided with a central aperture, and a pin extending through a slot in the front
plate for controlling said valve as and for the purpose specified.
Dated the 21st do of May 1897
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.