Improvements in or relating to the Heels and Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
Improvements in or relating to the Heels and Soles of Boots
and Shoes.
I, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM BRAITHWAITE, of 81 Brayard Road, Peckham, in the
County of London, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My object is to provide the heels and soles of boots and shoes with a pneumatic
cushion or cushions so constructed and arranged that, while giving elasticity or
resilience to these parts, such will not interfere with the outward appearance of the
boot or shoe.
For this purpose the boot or shoe may be either provided with an air cushion or
cushions placed between the sole and insole and in a cavity formed in the lifts of the
heel, or it may be fitted with a sock or insole in the form of an air cushion or
cushions. In the former case the air cushion or cushions are preferably constructed
of a hermetically sealed bag of rubber or other suitable material and secured around
its edge to the sole or insole, or welt, as the case may be, of the boot or shoe ;
a second air cushion, or a continuation of the first being provided to fit into a cavity
formed by cutting away the inner portions of one or more of the lifts of the heel as
may be found most convenient.
In the case where a pneumatic sock or insole is employed, this is also preferably
constructed of a hermetically sealed bag of rubber or other suitable material of a
shape corresponding with the interior of the boot or shoe.
Where desired the air cushion placed between the sole and insole and in the heel of
the boot or shoe, or employed as an insole or a sock, may be provided with suitable
valves whereby the same may be inflated or deflated as required, the said valves being
so arranged as not to constitute unsightly projections.
Dated this 14th day of May 1900
"
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention Office, Mitre Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Heels and Soles of Boots
and Shoes.
1 CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM BRAITHWAITE of 84, Brayard Road, Peckham, in the
County of London, Boot Manufacturer 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:-
This invention consists of a pneumatic cushion or cushions for the soles and heels
of boots and shoes, so constructed and arranged that, while giving elasticity or

page_text: resilience to these parts, such will not interfere with the outward appearance of the
boot or shoe.
The cushions are formed of rubber or other material in the exact shape of the
sole and heel separately, inflated, hermetically sealed and covered or not with an
air-tight substance, or in one piece comprising sole, waist and heel. Where the
latter is employed the cushion is fitted at the extremity of the heel or elsewhere
with a valve similar to that used with pneumatic tyres to which a small air pump can
be applied for the purpose of inflation as and when required.
The pneumatic sole, waist and heel combined, inflated and hermetically sealed can
be used as an ordinary sock for the interior of the boot or shoe. In this case it
is covered or not with a light air-tight material and finally with felt or other
. suitable material on both sides.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will, now, proceed
to describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 represents a hand-sewn boot after the welt is sewn in. There, then,
remains a cavity in the fore part in which my pneumatic sole is placed, thus
filling same.
The sole is then stitched to the welt, by which means the cushion is firmly
kept in place.
The pneumatic heel is more deeply inflated and fits into a cavity formed by
cutting away the inner portions of one or more of the lifts of the heel. The
remaining lifts are then fastened on and, finally the top-piece.
Figure 2 shews the method of placing the pneumatic sole and heel in a boot or shoe
made on the machine-sewn principle. A runner of leather is placed round the edg
edge
of the sole, next the insole. This forms the space in which my pneumatic sole
is placed.
The pneumatic heel is inserted as in the manner before described.
Figure 3 shews the air cushion or vessel formed in one piece, having an
aperture at back or other convenient place, fitted with valve by which the cushion
can be inflated as and when required.
Figure 4 shews the air cushion as a whole, inflated and hermetically sealed, in
the form of an ordinary sock for the interior of boots and shoes.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Figure 1. A is the welt. B the pneumatic sole and heel.
Figure 2. A is the runner of leather. B the pneumatic sole and heel.
Figure 3. A is the welt or runner. B the combined pneumatic sole and heel.
C the aperture with valve.
Figure 4. B is the pneumatic sock for the interior of boots and shoes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pneumatic sole, preferably constructed of a hermetically sealed bag of rubber
or other material, covered or not with a light air-tight material and of a shape
corresponding with the sole of the boot or shoe.
2. A pneumatic heel, deeply inflated and hermetically sealed.
3. A pneumatic sole and heel combined, with valve at the extremity of the heel or
other convenient place for the purpose of inflation as and when required.
or
4. A pneumatic sock for the interior of boots and shoes, covered or not with
a light air-tight material and, finally, with felt or other suitable substance on
both sides.
Dated this 13th day of March 1897.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM BRAITHWAITE,
Applicant.