IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan Brown Patent Agent of 38 Southampton
Buildings, London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Communicated to him from abroad by Hiram Rose Adams of Boston
Massachusetts United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1882.
"s
WILLIAM MORGAN BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London
IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES [Communicated to him from abroad
by Hiram Rose Adams of Boston Massachusetts United States of America]
This Invention has for its object the production of a most serviceable and strong
boot and shoe, in a novel, simple expeditious, and cheap manner without the
necessity of skilled labor or expensive machinery.
This invention consists in a boot or shoe as a new article of manufacture it
baving an outer sole, inner sole, and upper united by staples having holding
projections thereon such as will be described and inserted through the soles and
upper with the cross-bar of the staple next the inner sole.
Also, in that improvement in the art or method of manufacturing boots and
shoes which consists in first perforating the outer sole, inner sole and upper for the
reception of the sole fastening, inserting the sole fastenings through the holes in the
inner sole from its upper or tread face then placing the perforated portions of the
upper and the outer sole over the projecting ends of the sole fastenings and forcing
or pressing the soles and upper closely together.
Also, in the herein described method of connecting the inner and outer sole and
upper of a boot or shoe which consists in punching holes in the said soles and
upper for the reception of the metallic fastenings and subsequently inserting the
metallic fastenings into the inner sole holding the inner sole with its inserted
fastenings upon a thin form, placing the perforated portions of the upper over the
D 01

page_text: fastenings, applying the outer sole to the said fastenings, and then hammering or
pressing the outer sole upon the fastenings and forcing the soles together.
Also, in an improved staple like fastening provided with a series of spiral
projections broadest at their upper ends as will be described.
In the practice of this invention the upper for the boot or shoe will preferably
be crimped, and marked or creased along its foot part near its edges to indicate
where it should be pierced or punctured to receive the staples or sole fastenings
thus insuring uniformity in shape and size of all boots made in any one form.
Having crimped and marked the upper as described, the latter has punched in it a
series of holes, which for the best work will be made along the marked line made
in crimping. The outer sole, inner sole, and heel will be properly shaped in dies.
The outer sole and inner sole for each boot or shoe are superimposed one on the
other, and if desired the heel may also be placed in its proper position in the same
pile and the soles and heels will then by suitable punches or awls be provided
with holes, for the reception of the legs of the staples or sole fastenings such staples
being jagged or barbed so as to enter easily but not to be drawn back without
great force and damage to the leather. The holes are made in the soles, or soles
and heel at one operation by means of a gang of awls suitably actuated. The sole
fastenings, preferably staples are then inserted through the holes, in the inner sole,
from what is to be its upper or tread face.
The staples inserted in a like manner through the heel end of the inner sole, are
longer than those inserted through the shank and fore part of the inner sole to thus
enable the heel to be united to the shoe by staples.
The inner sole having been set with staples will be placed upon a rigid but thin
supporting plate top of a post.
This plate is thin and very much smaller in cross section than would be a last.
to fill the upper, as when lasting a boot or shoe in the usual manner, so that when
the upper, provided with holes, is placed outside of or about the support and inner
sole, the perforated parts, of the upper may be readily placed over the legs of the
staples.
The heel stiffener, if used, will also be provided with a series of holes for the
staples.
The upper having been applied to the staples while the inner sole is sustained
by the supporting plate, the outer sole, will be applied to the legs of the staples
and then the heel provided with holes will be placed on the longer staples after
which the outer sole and heel will be crowded well down upon the legs of the
staples.
The boot or shoe thus partially united will be placed on a stiff iron last having
its shank, properly supported and by blows upon the outer sole and heels, or by
strong pressure against the outer sole and heel by a suitable roll, form or die,
the outer sole and heel will be forced completely down on the staples, uniting
the inner sole, upper and outer sole by means of fastenings extending from the
tread face of the inner sole outward through the upper and through or into the
outer sole.
While on the last or subsequently the sole will be moulded: Each leg of
the staple is so grooved or cut as to present a spiral projection broadest at its
upper end.
The projections on the staple legs have a wedge like action when entering the
material and force the particles or fibre thereof aside so that the material clings
to the staple legs and prevents the withdrawal of the latter from the material, the
largest portions of the spiral projection acting as a shoulder to prevent the
movement of the outer sole from the ends of the legs of the staples.
Staples of the kind described hold the material of the boot or shoe together
more positively and securely than, were the staples made with plain legs, or simply
corrugated.
Wear and blows against the sole and heel in walking act to crowd the sole and
heel further upon the staples, and the staples shaped as described, keep all the

page_text: settle of the stock, and the tendency of the staple is to work outwardly with
relation to the inner sole rather than to be worked through the inner sole toward
the foot, as with a common nail or screw driven into the inner sole from the
outer sole.
A staple having its legs shaped as described does not need to have its ends
clinched or rivetted.
By the employment of staples as described, a thinner and cheaper inner sole
may be employed than can be practically used when nails and screws are inserted
through the outer sole and upper, and clinched or driven into the inner sole.
The cross-bar of each staple will be imbedded in the tread face of the inner
sole and will present a surface less objectionable to the stocking and foot than the
surface left by the points of fastenings driven into it from the direction of the
outer sole.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th February 1883.
WILLIAM MORGAN BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings, London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES A Communication to me from abroad
by Hiram Rose Adams of Boston Massachusetts, United States of America
This Invention has for its object the production of a most serviceable and strong
boot and shoe in a novel, simple, expeditious, and cheap manner without the
necessity of skilled labour or expensive.machinery.
This Invention consists in a boot or shoe as a new article of manufacture, it
having an outer sole, inner sole, and upper united by staples having holding pro-
jections thereon such as will be described, and inserted through the soles and upper,
with the cross-bar of the staple next the inner sole.
Also, in that improvement in the art or method of manufacturing boots and
shoes, which consists in first perforating the outer sole, inner sole, and upper for
the reception of the sole fastenings, inserting the sole fastenings through the holes
in the inner sole from its upper or tread face, then placing the perforated
portions of the upper and the outer sole over the projecting ends of the sole
fastenings, and forcing or pressing the soles and upper closely together.
Also, in the herein described method of connecting the inner and outer sole
and upper of a boot or shoe, which consists in punching holes in the said soles and
upper for the reception of the metallic fastenings, and subsequently inserting the
metallic fastenings into the inner sole, holding the inner sole with its inserted
fastenings upon a thin form, placing the perforated portions of the upper over the
fastenings, applying the outer sole to the said fastenings, and then hammering.
or pressing the outer sole upon the fastenings and forcing the soles together.

page_text: Also, in an improved staple like fastening provided with a series of spiral
projections broadest at their upper ends as will be shown and described.
Figure 1, represents part of a boot made in accordance with this invention, a
portion of the same being broken out to show the fastenings.
Figure 2, the upper provided with a series of holes near its edges.
Figure 3, the inner sole with staples or fastenings set in it, the sole being placed
on a suitable support.
Figure 4, one of the staples or fastenings enlarged, and having its legs provided
with projections in accordance with this invention.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, the outer sole, the inner sole and heel provided with holes
for the reception of the staples or fastenings; and
Figure 8, a longitudinal section of a boot, its soles and heel properly provided
with staples being shown as pressed or moulded closely together on a
iron last the pressure being sufficient to shape or mould the soles.
or
In the pactice of this invention the upper a for the boot or shoe, will preferably
be crimped, and marked or creased along its foot part near its edges to indicate
where it should be pierced or punctured to receive the staples or sole fastenings thus
insuring uniformity in shape and size of all boots made on any one form.
Having crimped and marked the upper as described, the latter has punched in it
a series of holes, which for the best work will be made along the marked line made
in crimping.
The outer sole b, inner sole c, and heel d, will be properly shaped in dies. The
outer sole and inner sole for each boot or shoe are superimposed one on the other,
and if desired the heel may also be placed in its proper position in the same pile and
the soles and heel will then by suitable punches or awls be provided with holes 2,
for the reception of the legs of the staples e, or sole fastenings to be hereinafter
described one of such staples being shown in detail Figure 4, on a large scale to
clearly illustrate the peculiar form of the projections of the legs.
The holes are made in the soles, or soles and heel, at one operation, by means of a
gang of awls suitably actuated.
The sole fastenings, preferably staples e, such as shown are then inserted
through the holes 2, in the inner sole c, from what is to be its upper or tread
face.
The staples e', inserted in a like manner through the heel end of the inner sole,
see Figure 3, are longer than those inserted through the shank and fore part of the.
inner sole to thus enable the heel to be united to the shoe by staples.
The inner sole having been set with staples will be placed upon a rigid but thin
supporting plate f, see Figure 3, at the top of the post f³.
This plate f, is thin and very much smaller in cross section than would be a last
to fill the upper, as when lasting a boot or shoe in the usual manner, so that when
the upper a, provided with holes a², is placed outside of or about the support f, and
inner sole, the perforated parts a², of the upper may be readily placed over the legs
of the staples.
The heel stiffener, if used, will also be provided with a series of holes for the
staples.
The upper having been applied to the staples e, e¹, while the inner sole is
sustained by the supporting plate f, the outer sole b will be applied to the legs of
the staples e, e¹, and then the heel d, provided with holes will be placed on the
longer staples e¹, after which the outer sole and heel will be crowed well down upon
the legs of the staples.
The boot or shoe thus partially united will be placed on a stiff iron last h
having its shank h³, properly supported and by blows upon the outer sole and
heels or by strong pressure against the outer sole and heel by a suitable roll,
form, or die, the outer sole, and heel will be forced completely down on the staples,
uniting the inner sole, upper, and outer sole by means of fastenings extending from
the tread face of the inner sole outward through the upper and through or into the
outer sole

page_text: While on the last h, or subsequently, the sole will be moulded. Each leg of the
staple e is so grooved or cut as to present a spiral projection broadest at its upper
end as clearly shown in Figure 4.
The projections on the staple legs have a wedge like action when entering the
material and force the particles or fibres thereof aside, so that the material clings
to the staple legs and prevents the withdrawal of the latter from the material, the
largest portion of the spiral projection acting as a shoulder to prevent the
movement of the outer sole from the ends of the legs of the staples.
Staples of the kind described hold the material of the boot or shoe together
more positively and securely than were the staples made with plain legs, or simply
corrugated.
Wear and blows against the sole and heel in walking act to crow the sole and
heel further upon the staples, and the staples shaped as shown in Figure 4, keep
all the "settle" of the stock, and the tendency of the staple is to work outwardly
with relation to the inner sole rather than to be worked through the inner sole
toward the foot, as with a common nail or screw driven into the inner sole from
the outer sole.
A staple having its legs shaped as shown does not need to have its ends clinched
or rivetted.
By the employment of staples as described a thinner and cheaper inner sole
may be employed than can be practically used when nails and screws are
inserted through the outer sole and upper, and clinched or driven into the
inner sole.
The cross bar e³, of each staple will be embedded in the tread face of the inner
sole, and will present a surface less objectionable to the stocking and foot than the
surface left by the points of fastenings driven into it from the direction of the
outer solo.
In Figures 1, 3, and 8, it has been considered unnecessary to represent the
exact construction of the staple as the latter is shown clearly in Figure 4, and in
Figure 8, the staples are shown in dotted lines.
The novel process herein described might be practiced with good results by
fastenings or staples of other shape or construction than that specifically shown
at Figure 4, but a boot or shoe broadly is not herein claimed except when united
and held together by a staple substantially such as shown and described in
Figure 4.
In accordance with the process herein described boots and shoes may be
assembled and united together very rapidly by means of unskilled labor, the soles
and upper being so securely held together as not to separate in wear, or be pulled
off or detached with any usual strain.
The thin suffort f, enables the upper to be lifted and moved freely in any
desired direction when placing its perforated portions upon the legs of the staples
set up in the inner sole. The upper is shown as notched to reduce the pleats and
crimps at the toe. Should it be desired to employ a tap sole, the inner sole about
the ball and toe of the boot or shoe in front of the shank will be provided with
staples of a length sufficient to extend through all the soles to be used.
Instead of using round wire for the staples square or other many sided wire
might be employed providing it however with shoulders made larger or most
abrupt nearest the cross bar of the staple, so as to enter the leather as wedges,
and present abrupt corners or shoulders to prevent escape of the stock from the
staples.
The round holes in the upper might be slotted from their edges outward to
facilitate the placing of the perforated parts of the upper over the staples. Two
of the said holes are shown as provided with such slots as at n.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that
what I claim is: -
1st As an improved article of manufacture, a boot or shoe having an outer sole,

page_text: inner sole, and upper united by staples having holding projections 3, thereon such
as described, and inserted through the soles and upper with the cross bar of the
staple next the inner sole, substantially as described.
2nd That improvement in the art or method of manufacturing boots and shoes,
which consists in perforating the outer sole, inner sole, and upper, for the reception
of the sole fastenings inserting the sole fastenings through the holes in the inner
sole from its upper or tread face; placing the perforated portions of the upper and
the outer sole over the projecting ends of the sole fastenings and forcing or pressing
the soles and upper closely together substantially as described.
3rd The herein described method of connecting the inner and outer sole and
upper of a boot or shoe which consists in punching holes in the said soles and upper
for the reception of the metallic fastenings, and subsequently inserting the metallic
fastenings into the inner sole, placing the latter with its inserted fastenings upon
a thin form f, placing the perforated portions of the upper over the fastenings,
applying the outer sole to the said fastenings and then hammering or pressing the
outer sole upon the fastenings and forcing the soles together, substantially as
shown and described.
4th As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described staple provided
with spiral projections such as shown and described broadest at their upper ends,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Morgan Brown have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirtienth day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.