Improvements in Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Boots and Shoes.
HERBERT AKROYD STUART Akroydon, Kings Road Reading, Berks, Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Boots & Shoes such as are used when
playing Tennis or other games. The object of this invention is to construct a boot or
shoe which will not slip or skid. In carrying my invention into practice I construct
the sole or tread of the boot or shoe similar to a brush, that is, the sole of the boot
or shoe is made of Bristles; Fibre or such equivalent material.
In some instances I make the tread or sole of the boot or shoe detachable. The
object of my invention is to construct a boot or shoe having a fibrous contact wth the
grass or ground.
1005
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes.
I, HERDERT AKROYD STUART, of Cross Street, Reading, in the County of Berks, late
of Akroydon, King's Road, Reading Engineer, 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 boots and shoes of the kind used by persons playing tennis
and other games to prevent slipping, the object of the present invention being to
construct a boot or shoe having a non-slipping surface of novel construction.
In a boot or.shoe constructed according to my invention the necessary bite or grip
is afforded by the use of tufts of bristles of fibrous or other material arranged in the
same manner as the bristles of a brush upon the sole or tread of the boot or shoe.
These bristles are located in recesses in the sole in such a manner that under the
wearer's weight they will be brought into contact with the ground.
In practice I find it advantageous to arrange the bristles in recesses in an india
rubber sole, the bristles being of such length that normally their ends are slightly
below or behind the surface of the sole, but when the india rubber is compressed by
the weight of a person wearing the boot, the bristles, will make contact with the
ground. If desired however, the bristles may be arranged to project slightly above
or beyond the surface of the sole. The recesses for receiving the bristles may be of
any desired shape and number.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is an under side view of a boot in which the fibrous materials arc arranged
in a series of recesses formed in the sole and heel of the boot.

page_text: Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 except that the bristles are in one large recess
in the sole and another recess in the heel.
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ligure 2:
Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 3 illustrating a slight modification.
a is the sole of the boot or shoe, b is the heel, c, c are the recesses in the sole and
heel, and d, dare the bristles arranged in the said recesses. It will be obvious that
the recesses with the bristles therein may be arranged in any desired manner, for
instance, as in figure 1, where a series of small circular recesses filled with bristles are
represented or, as in figure 2, wherein two large recesses are represented. If desired,
the recesses may have an ornamental shape and the bristles be correspondingly
arranged.
Any suitable means may be employed for fixing the bristles in position, in figure 3,
the bristles are represented as being fixed to a leather middle sole e which is attached
to the welt of the boot in the ordinary manner whilst the outer sole a, which is a
clump sole, of such a thickness that the bristles do not project beyond the surface of
the same, is applied for instance, by means of cement.
In the arrangement shewn in figure 4, the sole is moulded with a recess c
extending partly through it, and the bristles are secured in the thin part of the sole
at the back of the recess which sole is backed with canvas or the like at f to permit of
properly securing the bristles. Or instead of canvas, wire gauze may be used as a
foundation to which the bristles are fixed. According to another arrangement the
bristles are inserted into the india rubber whilst the latter is in a plastic condition
before vulcanization.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. A boot or shoe having tufts of bristles or other fibrous material applied in
recesses in the sole, substantially as described.
2. In a boot or shoe having bristles arranged in recesses in the sole making the
said sole of a material which will compress and making the said bristles of slightly
less length than the depth of the recesses so that, under ordinary circumstances, the
bristles will not project beyond the sole but that when the sole is compressed under
the weight of a person wearing the boot or shoe, the said bristles will make contact
with the ground, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture and use of boots or shoes having bristles arranged in the soles,
substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, described.
Dated the 17th day of Diay 1897.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.