Improvements in the Production of New Compounds for the Manufacture of the Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes, the same being Applicable to other useful Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., -1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of New Compounds for the
Manufacture of the Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes, the
same being Applicable to other useful Purposes.
1 ALFRED ADDISON BLANDY, M.D. etc. of 58 Brook Street Grosvenor Square in
the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the production of new compounds suitable for being
made into sheets or pressed into moulds and applied to the manufacture of the soles
and heels of boots and shoes or to other purposes for which the same may be found
applicable.
This improved compound consists in combining Bitumen Asphalte Bitumenous Tars
Mineral Pitch and their equivalents with various descriptions of gums resins etcetera
of vegetable origin in suitable proportions in order to pro luce a compound substance
suitable for being made or rolled into sheets or pressed into moulds similar to leather
which can then be used for the soles and heels of boots and shoes and also be applied
to other useful purposes for which the same may be found applicable in place of
leather or other materials.
These improved compounds are non-conducters of heat and electricity and are
impervious to water or moisture.
The following are the proportions of the several ingredients which I find advan-
tageous for the production of a compound resembling leather suitable for making the
soles of boots and shoes but it must be clearly understood that I do not limit myself
thereto as the proportions of the ingredients of such compounds may be considerably
varied to suit the particular purpose to which the same may be applied or equivalents
to these ingredients substituted.
For the production of artificial leather I combine 1 part Asphalte-1 part Mineral
Pitch-1 part Colophony or Black Resin-1 part Gypsum or Plaster of Paris-2 parts
Gutta Percha-one 8th of one part Sulphide of Antimony properly melted by sub-
jecting the Asphalte Pitch and Resin to a sufficient melting heat then adding the
Plaster of Paris and Antimony when perfectly liquid the whole of these ingredients
being well ground together before melting and when thus mixed and melting hot
adding the Gutta Percha gradually until all are completely mixed and while in this
state the compound is pressed or rolled into sheets or cast or pressed into dies or
moulds of suitable shapes for the soles and heels of boots and slioes of various sizes
and for other articles and purposes as may be required.
By omitting part of the Gutta Percha and adding a small quantity of Sulphur
will produce a harder compound more suitable for the heels of boots and shoes.
Both the flexibility and the hardness of the compound is obtained by varying the
quantities of the several ingredients employed or their equivalents care and judgment
being exercised with regard to the quality and condition of the same as found in
commerce.
Dated this 28th day of February 185A
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of New Compounds for the
Manufacture of the Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes, the
same being Applicable to other Useful Purposes.
I ALFRED ADDISON BLANDY, M.D. of 58 Brook Street Grosvenor Square London
in the County of Middlesex 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 has for its object the production of new compounds suitable for being
made into sheets or pressed into moulds and applied to the manufacture of the soles
and heels of boots and shoes and to other purposes for which the same may be found
applicable.
This improved compound consists in combining Bitumen, Asphalt, Bituminous Tars,
Mineral Pitch and their equivalents with various descriptions of gums, resin,
oils, etcetera of vegetable origin in suitable proportions in order to produce a compound
substance, suitable for being made or rolled into sheets or pressed into moulds similar
to leather which can then be used for the soles and heels of boots and shoes and be
applied to other useful purposes for which the same may be found applicable in place
of leather or other materials. These improved compounds are non-conductors of heat
and electricity and are impervious to water or moisture. The following are the pro-
portions of the several ingredients which I find advantageous for the production of a
compound resembling leather suitable for making the soles of boots and shoes but it
must be clearly understood that I do not limit myself thereto as the proportions of
the ingredients of such compounds may be considerably varied to suit the particular
purpose to which the same may be applied or equivalents of these ingredients may be
substituted.
As an example in carrying out my invention for the production of artificial leather
I. combine ten parts Val de Travers Asphalte, one part Colophony or Black Resin, one
part Gypsum or Plaster of Paris, two parts Mineral Pitch, two parts Gutta Percha,
one eight of one part of Sulphide of Antimony, well mixed and melted by subjecting
the Asphalte, Resin and Pitch to a sufficient or melting heat then adding the Plaster
of Paris and Antimony when in a liquid or semi-liquid state (the whole of these
ingredients being well ground together before melting) and when thus mixed and
melting hot adding the Gutta Percha gradually until all are completely homogeneous
and while in this state the compound is poured pressed or rolled into sheets or cast or
pressed into dies or moulds of suitable shapes for the soles and heels of boots and
shoes of various sizes and for other articles and purposes as may be required or to
which the same may be applicable.
By omitting one part of the Gutta Percha, one half part of Colophony and adding.
one half part of Canada Balsam or Venetian Turpentine and increasing the quantity
of Mineral Pitch by two parts I obtain a dense hard partially elastic mass which is
best suited for the wearing parts of heels especially when protected or assisted by a
steel ring of proper form and size enclosing this or similar compounds within its cir-
cumference and combined with any other substances capable of resisting wear and tear
such as pins segments taps of steel or other metals the top surface of ring being bound
from the front part to back or from one side to the other by a band or strip or by
both through which is passed the screws or means of attaching the wearing pieces to
the body of the heels being also aided by suitable washers for the heads of these small
screws to hold firmly and thus enabling a change of wearing pieces from one side to
the other. For greater flexibility I use Trinidad Asphalte and by combining four
parts Asphalte, one part Canada Balsam-or Venetian Turpentine, one eighth part
Burgundy Pitch, one and a half part Oxydized Oil (such as Castor oil Cotton Seed or
advantageously Linseed Oil) one and a half parts of Gutta Percha or by leaving out
the Burgundy Pitch and subjecting the mass to a vulcanizing process by suitable heat
pressure and time (which process is well known) sufficient flexibility is attained to

page_text: admit of its being sewn or nailed to the uppers and the insoles of boots and shoes the
hardness being regulated by the time in vulcanizing and by the relative quantities
used of the combined substances.
For rough coarse soles where no elasticity is required 12 parts Val de Travers
Asphalte, 1 part Canada Balsam, one quarter part Burgundy Pitch, 1 part Gutta
Percha well melted and mixed together will produce a satisfactory result for the
soles as well as for the wearing parts whilst for the more flexible quality Trinidad
Asphalte, Canada Balsam, Oxydized Oil and Gutta Percha vulcanized will make the
sole and the heel cup of such a character as will sustain and resist wear equal to
if not better than leather.
The quantities of the above named ingredients slightly modified will produce an
insulating material for wires conduits and for batteries as serviceable as ebonite in the
one case and Gutta Percha in the other.
The various ingredients of the mixtures are insulators and the mixtures are to be
chosen as most suitable according to the mechanical treatment they may be subjected
to in their application and use as for the coverings of copper strips or heavy cables the
hard substance is used (when these are laid underground) such as I have given for
the soles and heels of boots and shoes. For the covering of wire and cables now
usually covered with Gutta Percha and India rubber assisted by woven fabrics in
various ways I use the following mixture:-three quarters part (4) prepared" oil (that
is "oxydised" oil such as "dryer oil" or oxydised linseed oil) Canada Balsam one part,
Gutta Percha one and one half (1) part, Asphalt three parts, melted and mixed as
hereinbefore described.
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66
To resist harder usage I use the following ingredients: prepared" oil two parts,
Shellac one part, Trinidad Asphalt one and a half parts, Gutta Percha one part.
A still tougher compound is made by "prepared" oil one part, Glycerine one half of
one part, Beeswax one quarter of one part, Myhrbane one quarter of one part, Gum
shellac one part, Trinidad Asphalt two parts, Gutta Percha one part. It must be
borne in mind to subject these different ingredients only to such heats or temperatures
as they are each capable of standing until a harmonious blending and homogeneity
is obtained thus producing a new compound combining the qualities of each that is
principally toughness, adhesiveness, elasticity (and above all no porosity) solidity and
indifference to oxidation. To these qualities others can be added by a little modifica-
tion and subjecting them to the process of vulcanizing by adding a portion of india
rubber from ten per cent. to twenty-five per cent. of the whole weight of previous sub-
stances and the usual portions of lime and sulphur used in vulcanizing rubber
compounds as is well understood. These portions varying as a hard or soft product
is desired as for example a compound made of "prepared" oil two parts, Trinidad
Asphalt four parts, shellac one part, made into a desired shape and then mingled
with one half part crude rubber, one and one quarter parts sulphur, and five
eight's of one part of lime, passed through heated rollers pressed into the shapes
desired and is ready for vulcanizing hard by a pressure of from 50 to 60 lbs. for
six to ten hours; The mixtures, the pressure, time, and heat, are varied and are
treated just as rubber to produce the hard and soft character required and all the
materials herein before mentioned are capable of being vulcanized in an endless variety
of forms and states according to experience and treatment as will be well understood.
From the previous description it will be understood that my invention has for its
object the combination of the within named resinous ingredients or their equivalents
to form compounds suitable for practical use from their adaptability strength insulation
impermeability capacity to wear and economy in cost so as to be suitable as substitutes
in many cases for leather ebonite Gutta Percha and india rubber in their various
applications and for other materials and uses at greatly reduced costs and facility of
manufacture.
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
--
The production of naw or improved compounda hv combining the within named

page_text: ingredients in the proportions (or thereabouts) substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
2. The application of these new or improved compounds to the manufacture of the
soles and heels of boots and shoes and to other purposes substantially as described.
3. The production of new or improved compounds by combining the within named
ingredients in various relative proportions and the application thereof to various use-
ful purposes substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of Navamban 1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.