IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF SLIPPERS, SANDALS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM LICHFIELD of 15 New Broad Street in the City of London, Surgeon
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SLIPPERS, SANDALS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of slippers, sandals
and other coverings for the feet, whereby great lightness and warmth will be
obtained, and a foot covering, especially applicable for use by persons suffering
from diseases of the feet, will be produced.
In carrying out this invention I employ paper, paper pulp, or papier maché, for
the upper, which I mould to the desired form and size, and I provide a sole made of
paper or paste board, leather board, or other suitable paper material, which I unite
to the upper by means of cement, glue or other adhesive material.
The upper
preferably creased, embossed, or perforated at the instep and sides
or other parts thereof, so as to prevent the breaking or tearing of the same while
in use.
The sole may be made with or without a heel, and if so desired, the slipper
or other foot covering may be provided with an internal lining of any suitable
material.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a slipper made according to this invention.
a is the upper, made of paper, paper pulp, or papier maché. If made from paper,
the upper will be cut or stamped out from a sheet to the desired form, and crimped
or moulded or otherwise shaped. The lower edge a¹ of the upper is turned
inwards, similar to ordinary leather uppers, and such edge is glued, cemented, or
otherwise secured by a suitable adhesive material to the sole b. This sole is
preferably made of paste board, but may be made of sheets of paper united
together in any convenient manner, or of leather board. The upper a may be
made in one single piece, or it may be made in two or more parts glued or cemented
together according to the style desired.

page_text: b¹ is the heel, which is made of paper, paste-board, or leather board, and glued or
cemented to the under side of the sole b.-If the upper is made of paper pulp or
paper maché, the pulp is moulded in proper moulds to the desired form, and in this
case the upper and sole may be made as one single piece, or may be made in parts
united together by means of glue, cement, or other suitable adhesive material.
The interior of the slipper may be provided with a lining c made of cloth or other
suitable material. To prevent the upper a from breaking or tearing while in use,
I form in such parts of it as are exposed to a bending, breaking, or tearing strain,
such as for instance the instep portion and sides of the slipper, creases or embossed
ridges or projections a² ², or the upper may be made with a series of per-
forations a³ a³, shown in Fig. 2, to accomplish the same result, or if so desired, a
part of the upper may be creased or embossed, and another part of it may be
perforated.
The improved slipper can be manufactured at a very low cost, and it is parti-
cularly well adapted for travellers and tourists requiring a light and portable foot
covering, although it is equally useful for ordinary house wear.
For invalids requiring a light and ventilated foot covering while confined indoors,
the invention is particularly useful, and I may saturate, charge, or impregnate the
paper or papier maché with medicinal liquids or ingredients, either before or after
it is made up, so as to use such prepared slippers as an antidote or remedy for
diseases pertaining to the feet.
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. As a new article of manufacture, a slipper, sandal or foot covering made from
paper, paper puip, or papier maché as and for the purpose herein set forth and
described.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a slipper, sandal, or foot covering made from
paper, paper pulp or papier maché, and having its upper creased, embossed, or
perforated, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a slipper, sandal, or foot covering made from
paper, paper pulp, or papier maché, and provided with an internal lining made of
cloth or other suitable material as herein set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a slipper, sandal or foot covering having its
upper made in one or more parts of paper, paper pulp, or papier maché with its
lower edge united by means of glue, cement or other adhesive material to a paper,
paste-board, or leather board sole bas set forth.
Dated this 13th day of January 1885.