Improvements in Means for Lacing Boots, Shoes, Corsets, and other Articles of Dress.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Lacing Boots, Shoes, Corsets, and other
Articles of Dress.
We, WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD of No. 19 Bowling Green Street, Leicester, in
the county of Leicester, Patent Agent, and THOMAS SHIMELD of Nos. 85 and 87
Wellington Street Leicester, in the county of Leicester Boot and Shoe Manufacturer,
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 Improvements in means for lacing boots, shoes, corsets and
other articles of dress or under garments and refers to the uppers, more particularly
of laced boots or shoes, and also to the lacing of stays or corsets, and which will
be at once understood by the word "duple or double facing rows or 'lacing strips
being applicable to all boots no matter of what shape or design or configuration,
short or high in the leg whichever they may be and applicable to all foot coverings.
It may be as well to observe that the old way of lacing a blocked boot was that the
rows came on the inside of the foot perpendicularly up the centre. The ordinary
way of lacing is carried out up the front of a boot or shoe, or perpendicularly
upon the frontal bone of the foot and in both cases are untidy in appearance as
refers to the front of the feet, it is especially so in mens boots, and also after they
have been worn some time ridges appear on the instep of the foot owing to the marks
which the laces make in the tongue at or near the throat of the boot. Our
invention is to obviate this and other drawbacks by providing as the front part of
a boot or shoe a front piece, or two piece seamed up and appear like a bellows
tongue, but we block it to the shape of the instep, and so form the front quarter
of foot coverings, or back piece for stays or corsets-and carried out in the
manner hereinafter described and we do away with the unsightly appearance caused
by the tongues of ordinary laced boots which get out of place, and shews the
stocking in ridges on the instep and also by the ordinary way of lacing up of
corsets straight up the back. By our invention this is entirely overcome and a
neat and tidy appearance is given, at the same time being a protection to the

page_text: lower part of the back of the wearer. In this duple lacing only one, or the
inside lace requires loosening to put on the boot or shoe, and the same when
the boot or shoe is to be removed from the foot. and the person more especially
ladies who by the present arrangement and fashion cannot lace their own boots.
By our method the person has only to sit down and lift the foot up and place it
on the opposite knee and lace towards them from the inside of the foot each lacing
strip or facing row following the line or curvature of the front of the boot thus
the lacing is easily accomplished the outside lace having only to be regulated after
the inside is finished thus keeping the boot or shoe straight on the foot, and
allowing no creasing of the back part of the boot. It is also carried out in com-
bination with single lacing by the duple strips or rows being taken up to the throat of
the boot, then both laces are drawn tight by the lacing up of the upper portion which
is illustrated by figure 2 of the drawings, that our Invention may be well and practically
understood reference is made to the drawings accompanying this Specification.
We
Figure 1. is a side view of a boot A. shewing one side of the duple lace B. and fore
quarter attached to the golosh e or vamp, and back quarters, or sides, the dotted
lines denote the shape of the wings of the front quarter fitting inside the boot.
are aware that a boot has been made lacing up one side following the line of the
front of the foot, but not using duple lacing strips or rows.
Figure 2 is another side view of a boot A. the duple lacing B. only extending to
the throat of the boot the remainder of the leg being single laced up the front e¹
thus the blocked front quarter above the throat of the boot is secured under the
leg quarters, the goloshi e may be cut in one or more pieces, or in the form of a
brogue vamp, or the leg quarters may be made in one or more pieces as desired.
Figure 3. is a modification of the preceeding figure the boot A being made that the
imitation toe cap and sides or leg quarters may either be seamed up the back, or may
have a golosh, or vamp as required.
Figure 4. is a side view of a mans, or boys boot A. showing one side of the duple
lacing B. with the fore quarter & open at top and which may have lacing studs or
hooks above the throat of the boot if desired.
Figure 5 is a side view of a blucher boot A this duple lacing B. is especially adapted
for this kind of boot, or Army boots, and consists of the eyelet, or lacing stud strip
being made at each side of the upper portion of the fore quarter 1 or the fore quarter
cut in one piece and strips having previously been eyeleted and sewed round, stitched
thereto in a line with the instep or throat of the boot.
'
Figure 6. represents a shoe A. with the duple lacing B. made in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 7. is a back view of a pair of corsets, or stays A. or the same will apply to
other articles of wearing apparel fastening up the back-the duple lacing B. being
carried up to the small of the back diagonally, but between the shoulders a single lace,
or as shown in the drawings figure 7 is provided, or the system of combined single
and duple lacing as shown in figures 2 and 3, applied to garments that fasten up the
back, and stays or corsets, the duple lacing piece in these cases forming the back
quarter, the edges d shown in dotted line come under the side quarters. It will
be seen by reference to figure 5. that we may loop the lace if the front strip is required
to come tight to the back strip by looping from the bottom and securing the top one
after threading.
Figure S. is a front view of the front quarter or lacing piece the facing rows B
being made upon each outer edge into which are inserted eyelets or holes
punched out and stitched round or any suitable stud or fastening to secure
hold the lace, or facing rows together can be employed.
or
Figure 9. is another front view of the lacing piece b' in this case the facing rows B
are stitched on the bellows tongue in strips, the eyelets or other fastenings having
been inserted therein each strip is sewn in a juxta position to the facings of the back
quarters. We take a piece of material and back it, with pieces projecting on each side
and block it, to the shape of the front of the foot, then the facing rows are finished,
the golosh and leg quarters are fitted together, and all are sewn together, before the

page_text: upper goes to the laster it is laced half way up with string that the front quarter b¹
does not get out of shape this is kept in until the laces have to be put in.
For stays or corsets, or any garment our "duple "lacing can be employed in the
same manner as shewn and described.
We are aware that double button bits have been used, also a double button piece
and golosh in one, but "duple" lacing, or facing rows allowing the front of the foot
freedom of action without being bound, and the front quarter of the boot blockod and
fitting in the manner described has not hitherto been employed either in body or foot
coverings. We may combine the "duple" lacing or the making of "duple" facing
rows with an insertion of elastic gores fitting in the sides and marked out in dotted
line d in figure 3. if more expansion is actually necessary. Boots for football, Cricket,
and shoes for lawn Tennis, and running shoes we make according to this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed. We declare that what we claim is :-
Improvements in means for lacing boots, shoes, clogs, stays, corsets, or other articles
of dress, under garments and the like by using "duple" facing rows, or lacings-
substantially in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore described and set
forth.