AN IMPROVED ROTARY HEEL TIP FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Ball, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED ROTARY HEEL TIP FOR BOOTS, SHOES,
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Ball at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1880.
HENRY BALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.. "AN IMPROVED
ROTARY HEEL TIP FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
My Invention has reference to an improved rotary heel tip for boots, shoes, and
other articles requiring such tips, and is so designed as to need neither screw nor
nail for fastening it in position, and it may therefore be turned at any time.
My improved heel tips are circular both externally and internally. The internal
edge of my tips are provided with projecting flanges at their bottom sides, on
which a circular piece of leather drops. This leather is firmly fastened by brads
or other means to the heel of the boots, which leaves the heel tip free to turn
round, while the flange keeps it from coming off. Instead of the flange I may
substitute a gradually tapering inside edge forming a dovetail. This internal
edge may be roughed when necessary to keep it from turning too freely. The
external edge may be roughed so as to facilitate its being turned round by the
hand or by a suitable spanner, which I generally provide for the purpose, which
bites in the notches. Theso tips may be made from any metal, such as copper,
brass, cast iron, steel, or other suitable metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Ball in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th December
1880.
"AN IMPROVED
HENRY BALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
ROTARY HEEL TIP FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
My Invention has reference to an improved rotary heel tip for boots, shoes, and
other articles requiring such tips, and is so designed as to need neither screw nor
nail for fastening it in position, and it may therefore be turned at any time.
My improved heel tips are circular both externally and internally. The internal
edge of my tips is provided with projecting flanges at its bottom sides, on which a 1
circular piece of leather drops. This leather is firmly fastened by brads or other
means to the heel of the boots, which leaves the heel tip free to turn round, whiło
the flange keeps it from coming off.
Instead of the flange I may substitute a gradually tapering inside edge forming
a dovetail. This internal edge may be roughed when necessary to keep it from
turning too freely. The external edge may be roughed so as to facilitate its being
turned round by the hand or by a suitable spanner, which I generally provide for
the purpose, which bites in the notches. These tips may be made from any metal,
such as copper, brass, cast iron, steel, or other suitable metal
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrate some of my heel tips.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are views of the same heel tip. A is the centre piece
made of leather, wood, gutta percha, india rubber or other suitable material or
composition ready to fill up the centre part, and to be nailed, screwed, or otherwise
fastened to the heel of the boot.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are four views of a heel tip with a plain inclined edge for
the centre leather, and is probably the one which will be found most useful in
practice.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 illustrate another modification of shape which answers
very well indeed, because the thin edgo b is pressed upon by the centre leather
or other material, and holds the tip down so very tightly that it can be worn
almost entirely through before it will come off or break.
Figures 12 and 13 show another modification with plain outside edges, as thero
would not be much friction in this shapo, and the tip could generally be turned
without a special tool for the purpose.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the tip fastened on to the shoe; B is the tip, and
C the leather heel. Half is shown filled up by nails, and the other half by screws,
any kind of nails or ordinary rivets may be used, or brass pins or any other
convenient mode of securing the leather may be adopted.
but
Figure 16 illustrates the tongs for turning the tips around, and they will suit
any sized tips, and may be applied to turn the plain tips also.
In practice it will be found best to make the centre leather bear at point c
rather tighter than at point d, because the hold will be firmer when the tip is worn
down considerably.
When required I enamel or japan or otherwise black the outside of these tips, so
that upon best gentlemen's boots and ladies' boots, where tips would otherwise be
an objection, the appearance of metal is quite covered.
These tips, which 1 call "Ball's Patent rotary heel tips," enable any person to
keep their heels absolutely level, and they greatly assist those who through
weakness and other causes have a tendency to tread unevenly.
Having now described some of the forms in which my heel tips may be made
and applied, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the forms

page_text: herein shown, as they may be greatly varied without departing from the principle
of my Invention, but what I do claim is, the rotary heel tips as illustrated and set
forth herein with any mero modifications of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ball, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
JOSEPH HENRY PEARSON,
Clerk to George Barker,
Consulting Enginoor & Patent Agent,
77, Colmore Row,
Birmingham.
HENRY BALL (L&)