IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Roberts, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES AND
OTHER SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET."
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 13th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th April 1861.
I, CHARLES ROBERTS, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of tho said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND
SHOES AND OTHER SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of boots or shoes and other
similar coverings for the feet, whereby they are rendered more durable than
when constructed in the ordinary manner.
According to this Invention it is proposed to substitute for the ordinary
leather welt a welt composed of metal. This metal welt may be made of
copper, brass, or other suitable metal or alloy, and is so shaped as to fit neatly
round the edges of the sole or heel, the portion enclosed between the inner and
outer sole being perforated or notched, so that the leather may become
embedded therein, and so retain the welt in its place, or if desired the
fastenings for the sole may be inserted into the metal welt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ROBERTS, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Roberts, Her special license that I, the said Charles
Roberts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Roberts, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE
FEET," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Roberts,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Roberts, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of boots and shoes and
other similar coverings for the feet, whereby they are rendered more durable
than when constructed in the ordinary manner.
According to this Invention it is proposed to substitute for the ordinary
leather welt a welt composed of metal. This metal welt may be made of
copper, brass, or other suitable metal or alloy, and is so shaped as to fit neatly
round the edges of the sole or heel, the portion enclosed between the inner
and outer sole being perforated or notched, so that the leather may become
embedded between and so retain the welt in its place, or if desired the

page_text: fastenings for the sole may be inserted into the metal welt, perforations being
made therein for that purpose.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of a boot constructed
according to my Invention, with a metal welt along the sole and round the
heel; Figure 2 is a plan of the under side of the sole; Figure 3 is a trans-
verse section through the broadest portion of the sole; Figure 4 is a transverse
section taken through the heel; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the metal
welt for the heel detached; and Figure 6 is a similar view of the metal welt
for the sole.
A is the ordinary outer sole of the boot or shoe; B, the heel; and a, the
inner sole. The metal welts C and D (Figures 5 and 6), are so shaped as to
fit accurately the contour of the heel and sole respectively, and are strengthened
by being made of an angular section, somewhat similar to auger iron, the
flange c being perforated, as shewn, to receive the fastenings of the heel or
sole, and is introduced between the inner and outer soles, as shown in
Figures 3 and 4, whilst the flange d is made to fit against the outer edge of
the heel and sole, as shewn, its depth being regulated by the thickness of the
sole and height of the heel. The middle portion or waist of the sole is not
provided with a metal welt, such welt being intended only for the tread
portion of the sole.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the application and use to and in the
manufacture of boots and shoes of metal welts, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Roberts, have to this my Speci-
fication hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
CHARLES ROBERTS. (L.S.)