AN IMPROVED BOOT, MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A MILITARY BOOT
Year: 1885

page_text: atary DUCL
I, ROBERT GEORGE KING, of 2, Laura Terrace, Forton, Gosport, in the County
of Hampshire, Master Shoemaker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "AN IMPROVED BOOT, MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A MILITARY
BOOT," to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is the production of a boot which shall be capable of
satisfying the varied requirements of a soldier's life.
The severe wear to which military boots are subjected when worn by troops
engaged in active military operations, deinand a degree of durability and capacity
of adaptation which are not required of in the foot gear of a man engaged in the
quieter duties of a civilian career. Such a one enjoys the advantage of being able
to modify the style of boot or shoe he wears according to circumstances, change,
of weather, occupation and the like. But the soldier in the field is debarred from
such facilities, oftener having cause to congratulate himself upon having even one
pair of trustworthy boots.
In carrying out my invention it has been my aim to introduce an improvement
into the art of making military boots to the extent of making a boot which shall
combine both durability and convenience to the wearer under circumstances of
severe wear and the absence of the ordinary facilities for repair.
I make my improved boot to reach half way to the knees, preferably laced, and
with the tongue securely sewn to the sides to make a watertight closing. A strap
at the top is added as a second fastening and to support the ankle. The leg of the
boot is not merely joined to the boot but it embraces the top near the heel and
the heel being continued down to the sole.
The sewing may be either machine or hand work care being taken to make
every seam watertight. The sole and heel may be placed as may be deemed
advisable, and as the connection of the tongue to the upper and leg is watertight,
my improved boot will consequently be sand tight and therefore peculiarly adapted
for desert marches.
In cutting the leg, I provide for it to open wide at the top say for about six
inches thus facilitating the act of taking the boots off in the event of the wearer's

page_text: feet being swollen; at the same time by having the leg to open wide, as above set
forth, unlacing and unstrapping it will afford more relief to the feet than could be
obtained with a tight fitting leg.
Although my improved boot is more particularly applicable for military use
I would have it understood that it can be used with advantage by travellers,
tourists, and sportsmen.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
a Military Boot.
I, ROBERT GEORGE KING, of 2, Laura Terrace, Forton, Gosport, in the County
of Hainpshire, Master Shoemaker, 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:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of boots, and aims, at producing them
according to a method which shall be capable of satisfying the onerous require-
ments in respect of the covering of the foot incidental to such a life as that of the
soldier on active (especially foreign) service.
My invention is not confined in its application to the production of military
boots, inasmuch as it may be advantageously applied to the manufacture of
sportsmen's and tourists' boots.
I make my improved boot to reach half-way to the knees, preferably laced, and
with the tongue securely sewn to the sides to make a water-tight closing. A strap
at the top is added as a second fastening and to support the ankle. The leg of the
boot is not merely joined to the boot but it embraces the top near the heel and
the heel being continued down to the sole.
The sewing may be either machine or hand-work, care being taken to make
every seam water-tight. The sole and heel may be connected as may be deemed
advisable, and as the connection of the tongue to the upper and leg is watertight,
my improved boot will consequently be sand tight and therefore peculiarly adapted
for desert marches.
In cutting the leg, I provide for it to open wide at the top, say for about
6 inches, thus facilitating the act of taking the boots off, in the event of the
wearer's feet being swollen; at the same time, by having the leg to open wide, as
above set forth, unlacing and unstrapping it will afford more relief to the feet than
could be obtained with a tight-fitting leg.

page_text: In order that my invention, and the means of carrying the same into practical
effect, may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to describe it in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as
part of this specification and read therewith, and in which like parts are throughout
marked with the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot made according to my invention, shewn as
unlaced and open.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same boot closed and laced up, and having an
ankle strap added.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the tongue.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the front.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the quarter.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of a half leg.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of a boot made according to my invention, and ready to
receive the sole.
A is the leg piece, B the quarter, C the tongue, D the front, E the top strap, and
Fan ankle strap, or band.
Any kind of lacing may be used with my boot, as far as the material of the
lace itself and the means provided for its obtaining a hold upon the boot, are
concerned, provided that the leg of the boot can be readily unlaced as far as the
ankle strap.
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
In a boot to be worn under the conditions, herein before set forth, the combina-
tion of the leg piece cut in one piece with tongue, top strap, and ankle band,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Doted this 18th day of Tann 1886
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.