Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber-soled Boots and Shoes and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 4th Jan.,
1899
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FRANKLIN BUTTERFIELD, of Stoneham,
Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Shoe Manu-
facturer.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber-soled Boots and Shoes
and Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is an improvement in rubber soled leather boots and shoes,
and in apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots and
shoes by those essentials of the vulcanizing art, heat and pressure.
The novel feature of my improved shoe is that a frictione duck or canvas
bottom is first secured to the bottom of the leather inner or outer sole by
cementing, sewing, stapling or equivalent means, and then a compounded rubber
tread or outer sole and heel is permanently united to such duck or canvas
bottom by vulcanization of the layers of rubber and cement next to said bottom.
The rubber sole which I thus apply to the shoe bottom is also new in that
it is at the first semi-vulcanized, the heat being applied to its under side only, so
as to leave the upper side less vulcanized than the bottom or tread-surface. It is
thus rendered more susceptible to the action of the cement which unites, in vul-
canizing, with such partially cured upper layer of the rubber sole and gives the
most perfect adhesion to the shoe bottom.
The feature most characteristic of my apparatus is first, a vulcanizing mold
comprising a steam or hot air chamber having inlet and outlet pipes, and a
flexible top or diaphragm preferably with a sole shaped recess or bed in or upon
its upper surface, to receive and give a yielding movement to the rubber sole and
permit heat to be applied to the bottom only. In addition to this I provide
a shaft connected with
à peculiar shell-like shoe-holder carried vertically on
pressure mechanism to raise and lower and to hold firmly in its lowered position
with the shoe pressed powerfully down upon the rubber sole held up by the
yielding diaphragm distended and fitted to the curved bottom of the shoe by
the steam pressure.
The shoe-holder may be adjusted horizontally in all direc-
tions. The lasts are preferably hollow or formed with a continuous passage for
cold water, through inlet and outlet pipes, to give speedy cooling after the rubber
is vulcanized.
The apparatus constructed according to this invention consists of a steam
chamber provided with inlet and outlet pipes to keep up the current at the
required heat and pressure, so that the rubber of the sole may be properly cured
A flexible diaphragm is provided forming a
and secured to the shoe bottom.
yielding top to the chamber. The margin of the diaphragm is held steam tight
upon the edge walls of the chamber by clamping strips screwed firmly thereto.

page_text: The diaphragm is formed of thin sheet metal or of alternate layers of rubber
and canvas so as to have the required strength and the desired Hexibility.
A sole-shaped mold or recess is formed in or upon the diaphragm or in
a yielding plate attached centrally thereto. Said mold or recess is adapted to
receive the rubber sole which is to be affixed to the shoe-bottom; and it will
be of such form and with or without a heel-cavity as circumstances require.
The mold or recess may be omitted where soles without heels are to be applied,
since the steam pressure causes the diaphragm and the sole thereon to conform
to the curvature of the shoe botton.
I provide a plunger or vertically-movable shaft having proper bearings and
provided with suitable mechanism to move it up and down above the centre of
the mold, and to hold it firmly when adjusted. This mechanism may consist
of a rack and gear or of a screw shaft and hand wheel or a cam-lever may be
employed. A shoe-holder is attached to the foot of the plunger and adapted to
receive, from beneath, and into its concavity, the shoe mounted upon the hollow
last. The shoe is suitably held within said holder. The holder and shoe may
be adjusted laterally with relation to the shaft by means of adjusting screws
passing through an enlarged collar on the holder and bearing at tip against the
shaft. The foot of the plunger may have a socket to receive an extension of the
last, so as to give the direct downward pressure.
The sole to be affixed to the shoe bottom is preferably semi-vulcanized in
advance, by which treatment its dimensions are fixed and its upper surface is in
condition to more readily combine with the cement on the canvas shoe-bottom
which I vulcanize between such bottom and sole. The canvas or duck sheet
secured to the shoe-bottom takes the cement readily into its meshes; and the
heat of vulcanizing, applied beneath the sole in the steam-chamber and accom-
panied by heavy pressure, completes the curing of the sole and vulcanizes with
it the thin layer of cement, the sulphur of the sole causing them to coalesce.
The steam pressure, beneath the yielding diaphragm, tends to press upwardly
the mold and rubber sole therein, while the plunger and connected mechanism
force the shoe downwardly upon such sole. The result is the most intimate
contact of every part of their surfaces under conditions of heat and pressure most
favourable to their permanent union.
For speedy cooling of the shoe sole when vulcanized, as well as to avoid over
heating the upper leather during the process, I make the last hollow and pass a
current of cold water through it by means of hose pipes.
Dated this 4th day of Ta
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber-soled Boots and Shoes
and Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 an improvement in rubber soled leather boots and
shoes, and in apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots
and shoes by heat and pressure.
.
canvas
The novel feature of my improved shoe is that a cotton duck or
bottom is first secured to the bottom of the leather inner or outer sole by

page_text: cementing, sewing, stapling or equivalent means, and then a compounded rubber
tread or outer sole and heel is permanently united to such duck or canvas
bottom by vulcanization of the layers of rubber and cement next to said bottom.
The rubber sole which I thus apply to the shoe bottom is also new in that
it is at the first semi-vulcanized, the heat being applied to its under side only, so
as to leave the upper side less vulcanized than the bottom' or tread 'surface." It is
thus rendered more susceptible to the action of the cement which unites, in vul-
canizing, with such partially cured upper layer of the rubber sole and gives the
most perfect adhesion to the shoe bottom.
The feature most characteristic of my apparatus is first a vulcanizing mold
comprising a steam or hot air chamber having inlet and outlet pipes, and a
flexible top or diaphragm preferably with a sole shaped recess or bed in or upon
its upper surface, to receive and give a yielding movement to the rubber sole and
permit heat to be applied to the bottom only. In addition to this I provide
a peculiar shell-like shoe-holder carried vertically on a shaft connected with
pressure mechanism to raise and lower and to hold firmly in its lowered position
with the shoe pressed powerfully down upon the rubber sole held up by the
yielding diaphragm distended and fitted to the curved bottom of the shoe by
the steam pressure.
The shoe-holder may be adjusted horizontally in all direc-
tions. The lasts are preferably hollow or formed with a continuous passage for
cold water, through inlet and outlet pipes, to give speedy cooling after the rubber
is vulcanised.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side view partly in vertical section of my improved vulcanizing
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the vulcanizing chamber, showing the flexible diaphragm
with a mold or recess for the sole and heel.
Figure 3 is a sectional view through the shoe and its last, showing the water
passages.
Figure 4 is a side view of the last, and
Figure 5 a transverse section of the shoe.
A is the steam chamber provided with inlet and outlet pipes B to keep up the
current at the required heat and pressure, so that the rubber of the sole may be
properly cured and secured to the shoe bottom. D is a flexible diaphragm
forming a yielding top to the chamber. The margin of the diaphragm is held
steam tight upon the edge walls of the chamber by clamping strips C screwed
firmly thereto.
The diaphragm is formed of thin sheet metal or of alternate
layers of rubber and canvas so as to have the required strength and the desired
flexibility.
E represents a sole-shaped mold or recess formed in or upon the diaphragm or
in a yielding plate attached centrally thereto. Said mold or recess is adapted
to receive the rubber sole which is to be affixed to the shoe-bottom; and it will
be of such form and with or without a heel-cavity as circumstances require.
The mold or recess may be omitted where soles without heels are to be applied,
since the steam pressure causes the diaphragm and the sole thereon to conform
to the curvature of the shoe-bottom.
F is a plunger or vertically-movable shaft having proper bearings and pro-
vided with suitable mechanism to move it up and down above the centre of the
mold, and to hold it firmly when adjusted. Instead of the rack and gear shown
a screw shaft and hand wheel or a cam-lever may be employed. G is a shoe
holder attached to the foot of the shaft F and adapted to receive, from beneath,
and into its concavity, the shoe H mounted upon the hollow last L. The shoe
is suitably held within said holder. The holder and shoe may be adjusted
laterally with relation to the shaft by means of adjusting screws J passing
through an enlarged collar K on the holder and bearing at tip against the shaft.
The foot of the plunger may have a socket to receive an extension of the last L,
Bo as to give the direct downward pressure.

page_text: The sole M to be affixed to the shoe bottom is preferably semi-vulcanized in
advance, by which treatment its dimensions are fixed and its upper surface is in
condition to more readily combine with the cement on the canvas shoe-bottom m
which I vulcanize between such bottom and sole. The canvas or duck sheet m
secured to the shoe-bottom takes the cement readily into its meshes; and the
heat of vulcanizing, applied beneath the sole in the steam-chamber A and accom-
panied by heavy pressure, completes the curing of the sole M and vulcanizes
with it the thin layer of cement, the sulphur of the sole causing them to coalesce.
The steam pressure, beneath the yielding diaphragm, tends to press upwardly
the mold E and rubber sole therein, while the plunger and connected mechanism
force the shoe downwardly upon such sole. The result is the most intimate con-
tact of every part of their surfaces under conditions of heat and pressure most
favourable to their permanent union.
For speedy cooling of the shoe sole when vulcanized, as well as to avoid over
heating the upper leather during the process, I make the last L hollow and pass
a current of cold water through it by means of hose pipes P.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots and
shoes, a steam chamber provided with a flexible top which top is adapted to
receive and hold the rubber sole, in combination with suitable means for pressing
a shoe thereon, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots and
shoes, a steam chamber having a flexible top with a 30le or heel-shaped mold or
bed therein, in combination with a last, a vertically movable shaft or bar to
engage the last to press the shoe against the sole held m said mold, and with
means for applying and maintaining such pressure, substantially as set forth.
3. In an apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots and
shoes, a steam chamber having a flexible top with a sole shaped mold therein, in
combination with a vertically movable shaft and pressure mechanism therefor
and with shoe-holding devices carried on said shaft, substantially as set forth.
4. In an apparatus for uniting rubber soles to the bottoms of leather boots
and shoes a steam chamber having in its top section a sole-shaped mold or
recess, a vertically movable shaft above such recess, and mechanism for raising
and lowering such shaft and for maintaining pressure thereon, in combination
with a hollow metallic last connected to the foot of said shaft, and with water
inlet and outlet passages for admitting cold water to traverse the last, substan-
tially as set forth.
5. A semi-vulcanized rubber sole having its upper surface less cured than its
interior or its lower surface and adapted to combine with the cement-coated
shoe bottom, substantially as set forth.
6. A leather boot or shoe having a layer of cotton duck secured to its sole
bottom, and provided with a rubber outer sole permanently vulcanized thereon,
substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.