IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES OR 'PROTECTORS' TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beverley, of the Town and County of Aberdeen,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES OR
'PROTECTORS' TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND
SHOES.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beverley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1881.
$
WILLIAM BEVERLEY, of the Town and County of Aberdeen, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES OR PROTECTORS' TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SOLES
AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
The said Invention relates to improvements in or additions to boots and shoes,
and has for its object to provide the soles and heels of boots and shoes with
protectors which can be readily and conveniently attached, and which are formed
so as to be capable of being adjusted or fitted to boots of different sizes or shapes,
and do not when fixed in position cover the whole surface of the sole. The
protector for the sole is formed of india rubber, gutta-percha, or a substance of
similar qualities, and consists of a toe portion and of two wing or side portions.
The central parts of these toe and side portions project beyond or are thicker than
the edges thereof, leaving the said edges as a flange all round for the reception of
nails, this flange preferably forming the connection between the toe and side
portions. The protector for the heel consists of central and flange portions similar
to those for the sole, but taking the general figure of the heel, and being in two
side parts connected preferably by the flange therearound. In attaching the
protectors to the boot or shoe the sole protector is placed with its toe portion at
the toe end of the sole, and the side portions are then adjusted to lie along the
sides of the sole, when nails are driven through the flange and into the sole,
whereby the protector is secured in position. The heel piece is then placed upon
the heel and adjusted to the size of the heel when nails are driven into the flange

page_text: and the protector is thus secured in position. The heads of the nails securing the
Bole protector lie, beneath the level of the projecting central portions thereof, but
the heads of the nails securing the heel protector preferably project beyond the
central portion thereof.
Instead of the protector being attached to the sole by nails it may be attached
to the sole in the process of making the boots or shoes by being sewn thereto.
In this case, instead of the flanges hereinbefore referred to, the protectors will have
a groove or recessed part at or near the edge all round to receive the sewing
thread, a strip of leather or like tough material being placed in the groove to form
a strong hold for the sewing thread.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
"
by the said William Beverley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th October 1881.
WILLIAM BEVERLEY, of the Town and County of Aberdeen, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES OR PROTECTORS' TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SOLES
AND HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in or additions to boots and shoes,
and has for its object to provide the wearing surface of the soles and heels of boots
and shoos with protectors or preservers which can be readily and conveniently
attached to the soles and heels, and which are formed so as to be capable of being
adjusted or fitted accurately to the sizes or shapes of the boots or shoes. A pair of
protectors or preservers constructed according to my Invention for application to
the soles of a pair of boots or shoes is illustrated in plan of underside in Figure 1
of the accompanying Drawing. The said protectors or preservers are formed of
india-rubber, gutta-percha, or a substance of similar qualities, and each protector
or preserver consists of a toe portion a, and of two wing or side portions b. The
central parts of these toe and side portions project beyond or are thicker than the
edges thereof, leaving the said edge as a flange c all round for the reception of
nails or other. fasteners. Figure 2 is a transverse section of the preservers or
protectors, wherein the dotted lines indicate the soles to which they are attached.
The toe portion a and side portions 6 at their junction together may be either of
the thickness of the main body of the said portions, as shewn, or a portion of the
thickness of the flange c may form the junction, as shewn in dotted lines on one of
the preservers in Figure 1; Figure 3 represents in plan of underside a protector or
preserver for the heels of boots or shoes consisting of a central portion of india-
rubber, gutta-percha, or material of similar qualities with a flange d³ therearound
similar to that for the soles, but taking the general figure of the heel and being in
two side parts d, d, which are connected either by a continuation of the flange, as
shewn, or by a continuation of the thicker central part as indicated by dotted
lines.
In attaching the preservers or protectors to the boot or shoe those for the sole
are placed with the toe portion a at the toe end of the under part of the sole, and
the side portions b are then adjusted to lie along the sides of the sole when nails,
pins, screws, or other like fastenings are driven through the flange and into the
sole, whereby the preservers are secured in position. In Figure 2 the securing
nails are marked e, and the soles are indicated by the dot and pick lines. The
heads of the nails or other fasteners preferably do not project so far as the central
portions of the preservers. The heel pieces are then placed upon the heels and
adjusted to the size of heel when nails, pins, screws, or other like fastenings are driven
through the flange and into the heel, the heads of the said nails being preferably
level with or projecting beyond the central portions of the preserver, as shewn in
Figure 4, which represents a transverse section of the preserver and a heel to which
it is attached, the securing nails being marked f.
Instead of the preservers being attached to the sole by nails or similar fastenings
they may be attached to the sole by being sewn thereto. Where this mode of
attachment is employed the preservers may be either sewn through the flange c,
or they may be formed as shewn in plan of underside in Figure 5, and in transverse
section in Figure 6. The flange is dispensed with, and a groove g is formed around
the preserver to receive the sewing thread. To give a firm hold for the thread a
layer or insertion of metal gauze or other suitable material may be employed, the
said gauze or material being preferably embedded in the preserver either throughout

page_text: the whole of the preserver or only at the part through which the sewing thread
passes. Or the groove g may be made wider, and a layer of metal gauze or a strip
or other suitable tough material be placed in the groove before sewing, the stitches
being made through the said layer or strip, and preserver and sole.
The heel preservers may be made to cover the whole heel, as illustrated in plan
of underside and transverse section respectively in Figures 7 and 8, the preserver
in this case consisting of the central portion h of india-rubber, gutta-percha, or
material of similar qualities, with a flange h² at the outer edge. A strip of leather,
or inetal, or other material i is placed on this flange h², so as preferably to be at or
about the level of the central portion of the preserver, and nails ; or similar
fastenings are driven through the strip i and flange into the heel, to secure the
preserver to the heel.
In place of attaching the preservers to the soles and heels by nails or like.
fastenings, or by sewing, a cement of india-rubber solution or other suitable cement
may be employed, the said preservers being in this case provided with a rough or
corrugated surface at the side of attachment to give a firm hold for the cement.
Or cement may be used in addition to the nails or other fastenings, or in addition
to the sewing.
The toes of the sole preservers may have metal tips or bindings through holes,
in which nails will be driven through the preserver and into the sole. The
preservers for the sole may be employed with or without the preservers for the
heels.
my
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is, or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The hereinbefore described improvements in or additions to boots and
shoes, consisting in furnishing the soles thereof with protectors or preservers, con-
sisting of toe and side portions constructed or formed and attached to the soles
essentially, as herein before described, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
whether there be employed or not in addition protectors or preservers for the heels
constructed or formed essentially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The protector or preserver for the soles of boots and shoes, constructed
or formed as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The protector or preserver for the soles of boots and shoes, constructed or
formed as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The protector or preserver for the heels of boots and shoes, constructed
or formed as shewn in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beverley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord, Oue
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM BEVERLEY. (L.S.)