Improvements in Devices for Use with Boots and Shoes to Prevent Slipping thereof.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Use with Boots and Shoes to Prevent
Slipping thereof.
I, ZARRAH JETHRO FRANCIS, of 12 St. Mark's Street, Leeds, in the County
of York, Mechanic, 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 :-
This invention relates to devices adapted to be applied to the heels of boots or
shoes for the purpose of preventing the wearer from slipping whilst walking on ice.
Such a device comprises a covering or part covering (hereinafter called a covering
The
piece) of non-slipping material, and means for securing it in position for use.
covering piece may be made wholly of india rubber, india rubber cloth, or the like.
(hereinafter called india rubber), or of a combination of such material and metal.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent in plan and front view
respectively a device according to this invention, which is made wholly of india
rubber and consists of a covering piece a, adapted wholly or partially to cover the
face that is the lower side of the heel of a boot or shoe and a band b adapted to be
placed round the periphery of the heel after being stretched and to be secured
thereon by its own elasticity. The covering piece a may be plain or be grooved or
otherwise roughened on one or both of its surfaces.
Figs. 3 and 4 show in plan and side elevation respectively, an arrangement in
which the covering piece a is adapted to be secured to a heel by a wire c bent
approximately to the shape of the front and side parts of the heel and formed at
its ends into eyes d to which is secured an elastic band e intended to be stretched.
around the back portion of the heel and secured thereto by its own elasticity.
Each end of the covering piece a is secured to the wire c by means of a rectangular-
frame which is bent over the wire and grips the covering piece. The ends of
the covering piece may, however, be secured to the wire e in any other suitable
manner.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent in plau and front view respectively, a modification in
which, for securing the covering piece a to a heel there is provided a metallic band g
which is adapted partially to encircle the heel and the euds of which are secured
together by a cross-bar / furnished about its central portion with a thumb screw i
which is adapted to bear against the front part of the heel in order to fix the
device thereon. The covering piece a is secured to the band g by means of loops k
provided at its ends and is slipped on the band before the cross-bar h is placed in
position.
In a modification shown in plan in Fig. 7 and in front view in Fig. 8, the
covering piece a is secured at its ends to a clamping wire of suitable section,
which is adapted to partly encircle a heel and whose ends are formed into hooks m
connected together by a coiled netal spring n adapted to tighten the wire l against
the heel.
In another arrangement, shown in front view in Fig. 9 and in side view in.
Fig. 10, a hook o, is secured to one end of the covering piece a by means of rivets p
and to the other end of the covering piece there is secured by similar means a strip
of metal g, which is provided with a catch r behind which a bladesprings is placed.
This device is secured to a heel by first attaching the hook o to a staplet (shown
also in plan in Fig. 13) driven into one side of the heel, and then pushing the

page_text: 4
cntch through a similar staple driven into the opposite side of the heel, where-
upon the spring s, coming into contact with the surface of the heel, pushes the
catchy towards the cross piece of the staple, thereby securing it in place.
A modification of the arrangement last described is represented in Figs. 11
and 12 which aru similar views to Fige. 9 and 10. In this case the covering piece a
is provided at each end with a metallic clip having the form of a rectangular
frame provided with teeth e on two inside opposite edges so that when it is bent to
clip the covering piece the said teeth will project therein. The covering piece a
may, if desired, be doubled up at ench end as shown at in order the better to
secure it in the clips. The outside bar of each of the rectangular frames u has
attached to it a hook e adapted to engage in a staple (Fig. 13) secured in the
corresponding side of the heel of a boot or shoe.
Figs. 14 and 15 are a plan and a front view respectively of an arrangement in
which the covering piece a is, for the purpose of securing it to a heel, attached to
a metallic band y, the end of which is provided with a toothed rack a adapted to
pass through, and engage with a loop provided on the other end of the band, a
suitable spring el being provided to keep the two in engagement. The covering
piece a is secured at its ends to the bandy by means of inetallic plates d' which
hold it between them and the outer surface of the band, to which they are secured
by rivet e or in any other suitable manner.
A modification of this arrangement is represented in Figs. 16 and 17, which are
similar views to Figs. 14 and 15. In this case, instead of being formed on the
end of the band y, the rack al is carried by a bladespring e, which is attached by
one end to the end of the band y and performs the function of the spring e' showi
in Figs. 14 and 15.
In another arrangement, shown in partial side view in Fig. 18 and partial end
view in Fig. 19, there is secured at each end of the covering piece a a metallic
plate, which is folded over, so as to grip the end of the piece a, serrations or
indentations being punched or otherwise formed in the metal to project into the
covering piece and so aid in holding it in position. In or about the middle of each
plate is formed a rectangular slit through which before the plate is fastened
on the piece a, there is passed a hook having a tee-shapel head for securing it
in the clip formed by the plate. Devices of this construction are secured to a
heel by simply passing the hooks into staples such as (Fig. 13) fixed at the
sides of the heel.
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 :-
Devices suitable for use with boots and shoos for preventing slipping, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
respectively to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in Figs. 3 and 4; in Figs. 5 and 6;
in Figs. 7 and 8; in Figs. 9 and 10; in Fig. 11 and 12; in Figs. 14 and 15; in
Figs. 16 and 17; and in Figs. 18 and 19 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 26th day of February 1896.
ROBERT EDWIN PEACOCK CRAVEN,
Registered Patent Agent,
22 Victoria Chambers, South Parade, Leeds,
Agent for the Applicant.