IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BOOTS AND SHOES, ALSO IN MEANS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Taylor, of Bradford, in the County of
York, Bootmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BOOTS AND SHOES, ALSO IN MEANS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
WITH SUCH CONSTRUCTION."
Sealed the 18th December 1868, and dated the 22nd June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Taylor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd June 1868.
I, GEORGE TAYLOR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Bootmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BOOTS AND SHOES, ALSO IN MEANS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
WITH SUCH CONSTRUCTION," to be as follows:-
The primary object of my Invention is to give greater ease and
comfort to the wearers of boots and shoes. For this purpose, referring,
firstly, to the means alluded to in my title, I make a mould of brass or
other suitable metal of a shape similar to the sole of the human foot,
and its length may be from the toe to the inside of the heel. I also

page_text: make such mould with small indents (say of an inch in diameter at
distances of of an inch apart) in that portion which extends from the
toe to the commencement of the "waist." Flanges are formed round
the edges of the mould of varying depths according to circumstances.
Into such mould I pour liquid caoutchouc or india-rubber; this when
solidified and dried in the manner well known to the workers in such
material and removed from the mould presents on the one side a series
of nipples resulting from the indents before referred to. I now place
such sole as the "inner" sole upon the welt of the boot or shoe to be
constructed (such welt having previously been furnished with three
"hoofs," one at the toe and one on either side of the broad part of the
foot), taking care to have the nipples outwards; the outer sole is now
placed upon it and secured to the welt by stitching, but not through the
inner india-rubber sole, which is made somewhat narrower. By this
construction and arrangement a boot or shoe is formed the sole of which
yields to the foot (instead of, as is now the case, the foot being obliged
to yield more or less to the sole) in consequence of the yielding of the
"nipples." Loose packings between the outer and inner sole are avoided.
Pegging is also dispensed with, therby ensuring comfort to the
wearers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TAYLOR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Bootmaker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Taylor, Her special licence that
I, the said George Taylor, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Taylor, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the time therein

page_text: expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BOOTS AND SHOES, ALSO IN MEANS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
WITH SUCH CONSTRUCTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Taylor, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, 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 George Taylor, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say: -
The primary object of my Invention is to give greater ease and
comfort to the wearers of boots and shoes. For this purpose, referring,
firstly, to the means referred to in my title, I make a mould of brass
or other suitable metal of a shape similar to the sole of the human foot,
and its length may be from the toe to the inside of the heel. I also
make such mould with small indents (say ths of an inch in diameter
at distances of ths of an inch apart) in that portion which extends
from the toe to the commencement of the "waist." Flanges are formed
round the edges of the mould of varying depths according to circum-
stances. Into such mould I pour liquid caoutchouc or india-rubber;
this when solidified and dried in the manner well known to the workers
in such material and removed from the mould presents on the one side
a series of nipples resulting from the indents before referred to. I now
(after perforating the inner solo near the toe and placing a flap valve
under it made of india-rubber) place such india-rubber sole as the under
or intermediate sole of the boot or shoe to be constructed, the inner
soles being previously furnished with the three indentions for one
at the toe and one on either side of the broad part of the foot, taking
care to have the nipples outwards, that is to say, downwards. The
outer sole is now placed upon it and secured to the welt by stitching,
but not through the inner india-rubber sole, which is made somewhat
narrower. By this construction and arrangement a boot or shoc is

page_text: formed, the sole of which yields to the foot (instead of as is now the
case the foot being obliged to yield more or less to the sole) in con-
sequence of the yielding of the nipples. Loose packings between
the outer and inner sole arc avoided. Pegging is also dispensed with,
thereby ensuring comfort to the wearer. When the foot of the wearer
is put within the boot or shoe the air is urged through the perforation
in the inner sole and compels the flap valve (which opens of course
downwards) to open and admit a quantity of air around the nipples or
between the inner and outer sole. I thus obtain a doubly elastic sole
and secure ventilation to the foot.
In order however that my Invention may be the better understood
reference is made to the accompanying Sheet of D.awings, that is to
say-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan view of my proposed inner sole extending from
the toe to the commencement of the waist, with the nipples a and the
flap valve b, one of the nipples adjoining the perforation serving as a
fulcrum for the valve to hinge upon.
Figure 2 shows a section through the line A, B, and as such shews the
nipples upwards, though when in position in the boot or shoe they point
downwards. The flap b covering the perforation 6' is also shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Taylor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
GEORGE TAYLOR. (L.S.)