Improvements in Soles for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1897-Accepted, 28th June, 1897
Improvements in Soles for Boots and Shoes.
GEORGE HENRY BARKER Physician 124 Redland Road Redland Bristol do.
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A boot or shoe between the inner sole & the outer sole of which is an inflateable..
bag, capable of being distended with air, & reaching as one continuous cavity from
the front of the toe to the back of the heel, & across the width of the foot.
Provided with a valve through which the air for inflation is pumped. The tension
is thus capable of being regulated at will, & the consequent hardness or softness of
the supporting air cushion graduated according to the wish of the individuali
wearer.
Dated this 21st day of August 1896.
I, GEORGE HENRY BARKER, of 124, Redland Road, Redland, Bristol, Physician,.
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 which relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes, consists in
incorporating therewith an air cushion; such incorporation being effected according
to a special method as hereinafter set forth. The purpose of this is to afford
increased case and comfort to the wearer and to obviate the jar occasioned by the.
contact of the foot with the ground and its irregularities during walking; such jar
being one of the main causes of the resulting weariness.
Under this invention the air cushion, which is an elastic air-tight bag of india-.
rabber, or the like, fitted with a suitable valve for inflation, is placed next to and
above the outsole of the boot or shoe in a cavity or chamber which is obtained by
using a welt of sufficient thickness, or two or more welts, laid on one another..
The welt of the boot or shoe instead of, as is usual in hand-sewn boots and shoes,.
stopping short at or near the point of junction with the heel front, is continued
round the heel part of the insule and is sewn or otherwise attached thereto, the
subsidiary welts, if any, being sewn or otherwise fastened to the first welt. The
object of this extension of the welt is to enable the outsole to be fastened on to
the boot without danger of puncturing the air cushion as well as to obtain a
sufficient cavity.
A stiffening sole is interposed between the air cushion and the insole to prevent.
excessive and unequal bulging or buckling of the insole under the air pressure
exerted by the inflated cushion. By this stiffener, the pressure exerted by the air.
cushion is more uniforınly distributed.

page_text: The stiffener is fixed to the insole by gluo, cement, or other suitable adhesive,
and the air cushion is in like manner fixed to the stiffener.
The outsole is sewn or otherwise attached directly to the welt.
The upper layers of the heel are sewn or otherwise attached to the outsole and
to the welt.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, in longitudinal section, the sole and heel of a boot or shoe
with an air cushion applied thereto in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the underside with the outsole and heel removed.
The air cushion a is an air-tight bag of india-rubber or the like. It is furnished
with a valve & through which it is inflated. The valve shown in the drawing is of
a kind ordinarily used in cycle tyres, but appropriately diminished in size. Other
kinds of valves may be used. Inflation is effected by the means of an air pump or
equivalent appliance.
The welt c of the boot or shoe, instead of, as is usual in hand-sewn boots and
shoes, stopping short at or near the point of junction of the heel front with the
outsole, is extended round the heel part of the insole. To the whole circumference
of this welt is sewn directly the outsole j, and to the outsole and the welt are sewn
the several layers e, f, g, and h, of the heel. The bottom layer i is alone secured
by nails. By them the layer i is secured to the layer or layers above it.
j
The welt is made of sufficient depth to provide a shallow cavity or chamber
between the outsole ; and the insole k for the air cushion a to bo deposited in.
A stiffening sole is interposed between the air cushion and the insole. This
stiffoner prevents excessive and unequal bulging or buckling of the insole under
the pressure exerted by the air cushion a, when inflated. The stiffener !, which
causes the pressure to be more uniformly distributed, is fixed to the insole by glue,
cement, or other suitable adhesive. The air cushion a is, in like manner, fixed to
the stiffener l.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it under-
stood that I do not broadly claim a pneumatic cushion in a buot or shoe, but what
I claim is :-
A boot or shoe having an air cushion such as a placed next above the outsole;
and such air cushion being fitted with a valve for inflation such as b projecting
through the outsole slightly in advance of the heel; the said air cushion being
bordered by a welt such as c which instead of stopping short at or near the heel
front, is continued round the heel part of the insole; the outsolej being sewn or
otherwise attached directly all round to the welt, and the upper layers of the
heel being sewn or otherwise attached to the outsolo and to the welt, substantially
as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 21st day of May 1897.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.