Improvement in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
I, HORACE DAVIS WOOLLEY, of Cannock Villa, St. John's Road, Watford, Clerk, do`
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this Invention is by a new method of construction to facilitate and
expedite the putting on and taking off of Boots and Shoes.
At the back of the boot (throughout this description when I use the word boot,
shoe is equally intended) and extending to its upper rim, I make a right-angled
incision, the angle of which is either to the right or left side of the back of the boot,
and at a convenient distance above the heel. Now by bending back and holding on
one side that part which is released by said incision-and which may be made to
overlap the foot can be put into the boot from behind as in putting on a slipper.
This incision, however, will not necessarily be of rectangular shape, nor necessarily
form an angle at all.
That part of the boot which is movable and may overlap as described, I will call
the flap. It is so constructed that when drawn around and into place the flap com-
pletely covers the incision referred to, being secured and kept in position by means
of buttons, buckles or other suitable appliances affixed to the same and to the upper
circle of the boot, either at one of the sides thereof or elsewhere. Besides extending
beyond the side of the incision, the flap may also overlap the base of the same, and
may be made to fit tighter there by some such device as that which serves, as already.
explained, to fasten down the end of it.
Neither the side nor the base of the incision need be cut in a straight line. There
may be a tongue, to be pulled outward when the foot is inserted, which tongue upon
being readjusted would be kept in position by the girth of the above flap.
Instead of being as already described, the incision need have no base, but be simply
vertical, and, preferably, down the centre of the back of the boot. This allows of the
uppers on either side thereof being pulled on one side for the insertion of the foot,
and either or both of said upper sides may be made to overlap, being fastened when
the boot is on in some such way as hereinbefore described. Or, in place of an incision,
part of the back of the boot may be cut out, and a flap extend either from the side
or base of such part, and same may be made to cover the space, and may be fastened
as before indicated.
The construction of the boot in these particulars may thus be varied in detail, but
the principle I claim is the insertion of the foot from the rear of the boot.
Upon the flap or flaps being duly fixed as explained, the circle of the boot is com-
plete, the whole appearing like an ordinary boot, and being equally comfortable and
strong.
These boots and shoes may be made of any material of which other boots and shoes
are or can be made, and the principle of this Invention may be applied to all sorts
of boots and shoes, including Wellingtous.
It is claimed that they can be put on or taken off with practically as much ease as

page_text: suppers, and in addition to the consequent great saving in time and trouble over
those of the old type, there is with my boot no necessity for stooping, and no liability
to soil the hands.
Dated
Q
1
Improvement in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
I, HORACE DAVIS WOOLLEY of Cannock Villa, St. John's Road, Watford, in the
County of Hertfordshire, Clerk, hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement :—
The object of this Invention is by a new method of construction to facilitate and
expedite the putting on and taking off of boots.
Throughout this description anything of the nature of a boot that may be called a
shoe, or by whatever name called, is equally intended when I use the word boot.
At the back of the boot and extending to its upper rim (A) I make a right-angled
incision, the angle (B) of which either to the right or left side of the back of the
boot, and at a convenient distance above the heel. Now by bending back and holding
on one side that part which is released by said incision and which may be made to
overlap the foot can be put into the boot from behind as in putting on a slipper.
This incision, however, will not necessarily be of rectangular shape, nor necessarily
form an angle at all.
That part of the boot which is movable and may overlap as described, I will call
the flap (C) It is so constructed that when drawn around and into place the flap
completely covers the incision referred to, being secured and kept into position either
on the outside or the inside of the upper circle of the boot by means of buttons,
buckles or other suitable appliances affixed to the same and to the upper circle of the
boot, either at one of the sides thereof (as shown in the Figure) or elsewhere. Besides
extending beyond the side of the incision, the flap may also overlap the base of the
same (D) and may be made to fit tighter there by some such device as that which
serves, as already explained, to fasten down the end of it.
Neither the side nor the base of the incision need be cut in a straight line. There
may be a tongue or loop to be pulled outward when the foot is inserted, which tongue
or loop upon being readjusted would be kept in position by the girth of the above
flap.
Instead of being as already described, the incision need have no base, but be
simply vertical, and then, preferably, down the centre of the back of the boot. This
allows of the uppers on either side thereof being pulled on one side for the insertion
of the foot, and either or both of said upper sides may be made to overlap, being
fastened when the boot is on in some such way as herein before described.
place of an incision, part of the back or other part of the boot may be cut out, and a
flap extend either from the side or base of such part, and same may be made to cover
the space, and may be fastened, in some such way as before indicated, to one or more
parts of the boot.
Or, in
Mock laces made of elastic or the like, or a gusset of elastic or the like, may be let
into the front or other part or parts of the boot to allow of stretching, and thus to
give greater play.
The construction of the boot in these or other particulars may thus be varied in
detail, but the principle explained above and summarised below remains the same.
Upon the flap or flaps being duly fixed as described, the circle of the boot is

page_text: complete, the whole appearing like an ordinary boot, and being equally comfortable and
strong. These boots can be put on and taken off with practically as much ease as
slippers, and consequently there is a great saving in time and trouble as compared
There is moreover no necessity for stooping, and no
with boots of the old type.
liability to soil the hands. They may be made of any material of which boots are or
can be made, and the principle may be applied to all sorts of boots including
Wellingtons.
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:-
The construction of boots upon such a principle as allows of the insertion of the
foot from and through the rear of the boot, with all the consequent advantages, and
which principle and advantages are herein set forth.