A PROTECTIVE SANDAL FOR BATHERS, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ADAPTED AS AN AUXILIARY FOR SWIMMERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert John Davis, of 29, George Street, Hanover
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Surgeon Dentist, for the Inven-
tion of "A PROTECTIVE SANDAL FOR BATHERS, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ADAPTED
AS AN AUXILIARY FOR SWIMMERS."
Scaled the 23rd April 1858, and dated the 11th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert John Davis, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th November 1857.
I, ALBERT JOHN DAVIS, of 29, George Street, Hanover Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A PROTECTIVE SANDAL FOR BATHERS, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ADAPTED
AS AN AUXILIARY FOR SWIMMERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is intended, firstly, to protect the feet of bathers from injury
from the pebbles of a shore or beach, &c., and consists of a sandal formed of
a sole and heel piece, (preferably of gutta percha,) to which are attached
straps or pieces of vulcanized caoutchouc or other elastic waterproof or suitable
material, by which the sole and heel piece is fastened to the limb of the"
wearer, and the foot protected from injury, while nevertheless exposed to the
salutory and cleansing action of the water. This sandal may be conveniently
adapted as an auxiliary for swimmers, by attaching ribs or transverse rigid
pieces to the under surface of the sole, and connceling flaps to the sides or

page_text: edges of the sole in such manner, that in drawing in the foot in the action of
swimming, the flaps will be free to fold or draw inward, while on throwing the
foot back, the flaps will bear against the ribs and thereby assist the propulsive
action of the swimmer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Albert John Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALBERT
JOHN DAVIS, of 29, George Street, Hanover Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon Dentist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Albert John Davis, Her special licence that I, the said Albert
John Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Albert John Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein 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 "A
PROTECTIVE SANDAL FOR BATHERS, WHICH MAY ALSO BE ADAPTED AS AN AUXILIARY
FOR SWIMMERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Albert
John Davis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my or their or one of their hands and seals, 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 Albert John Davis, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Persons bathing at the sea side, especially where there are shingles, beaches,
&c., are exposed to much uneasiness and injury to the foot from the sharp

page_text: edges and uneven surfaces of the pebbles, fragments of oyster shells, and other
matters strewn on the shore, and the use of old shoes, &c. does not obviate
the inconvenience satisfactorily, from the rapid destruction of such articles,
and from their preventing the water from reaching the foot.
Now my Invention is intended, in the first place, to protect the feet of
bathers from being injured by the pebbles on the sea shore or beach, and it
consists of a sandal formed of a sole and heel piece, preferably composed of
gutta percha, to which are attached straps or thongs of vulcanized caoutchouc
or other similar elastic waterproof material for securing the sole and heel
piece to the limb of the wearer, whose foot is thus protected from laceration
and discomfort, while nevertheless freely exposed to the refreshing, healthful,
and cleansing action of the water.
This sandal may also be so modified as to form an auxiliary for swimmers,
by fixing rigid ribs or transverse pieces to the under surface of the sole and
connecting flaps to the sides or edges of the sole in such manner, that on
drawing in the foot in the action of swimming, the flaps will fold outward or
open away from the ribs, while, on throwing the limb out, the flaps will return,
and bear against the ribs, and thereby assist the propulsive action of the
swimmer.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the mode of carrying the Invention
into effect. Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bathing sandal; Figure 2,
a view of the same in wear or attached to the bather's leg. a, a, is the sole
and heel piece; b, b, attachments or straps. In performing this Invention I
prefer to make the sole of a shape similar to that of the sole of a shoe, as
shewn in the Drawing, but rather larger than the sole of the foot on which it
is to be worn in order to protect the muscles. I do not however restrict
myself to this form as the sole piece may be made square or of any other
shape, and of such relative proportions as may be found desirable. And
although I prefer to form it of gutta percha, it may also be made of vulcanized
india-rubber, wood, or felt, and it may be lined or have its upper surface
covered with felt, cloth, or similar soft material. By preference the straps
should be arranged as shewn, so that one may slip over the foot just between
the instep and the joint of the great toe, and the other or others so disposed
that the limb may be readily introduced and removed. The foot is by this
article completely protected from injury, while its arrangement is such that
the water may have free access and circulation, and its use is calculated to
afford a sense of ease and a firm tread, while the materials of which it is com-
posed are not liable to deterioration from the action of sea water. Figure 3.
is a view of the sandal as adapted as an auxiliary for swimmers, representing

page_text: it with the flaps closed inward in the outward throw of the limb; and Figure
4 a view shewing it with the flaps opened out in the inward action of the
limb. a, sole and heel piece; b, b, thongs or attachments; c, c, ribs, which
I prefer to make of wood or whalebone; d, d, side pieces or flaps jointed
to the sole piece similarly to the sides of a book cover, and which are composed
of the same material as the sole itself. To secure a firm tread, the under
surface of the sole piece with its ribs should be covered with a second or
supplementary sole.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I declare that I do not claim any of the parts of my
sandal separately considered, but that I claim,-
First, the mode of construction and general arrangement or combination of
parts of bathing sandal, as herein-before described.
Sécond, the combination with, or application to my sandal of flaps and ribs
operating and arranged in the manner herein-before described, in order to
adapt the same as an auxiliary for swimmers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert John Davis have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-eight
Witness,
M. HENRY,
84, Fleet Street.
ALBERT JOHN DAVIS. (L.S.)