Improvements in or relating to the Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by,
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 5th day of July 1897.
Improvements in or relating to the Soles of Boots and Shoes.
We, FRANK LEIGH, of 45 Darnley Road, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, and GEORGE PADMORE, Junior, of Rutland Street, Leicester, in the
County of Leicester, Hosiery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
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This invention relates to an appliance in the nature of a pneumatic pad for the
soles of boots and shoes although the pressure of air or gas in the pad need not
exceed that of the atmosphere. Preferably however we generally employ a
pressure exceeding that of the atmosphere.
In carrying out the invention we take a tube preferably of thin rubber and
close up one end by tying or other suitable means and draw it into another similar
but slightly larger tube which is adapted to resist the pressure by being covered
with a suitable resisting material say for example cotton or other fibrous material
woven upon it. The second or protecting tube may have its end tied or closed in
a suitable manner. The tubes may be of any suitable length and if a higher
pressure than that of the atmosphere is desired they are inflated and their open
ends tied or closed and the tube then coiled round and round or backwards and
forwards or otherwise arranged so as to form the necessary pad; the tube may be
tied or divided into short lengths so as to make numerous independent air-cells at
any desired points, say for example the bends where the tube is turned back upon..
itself. By this arrangement no valvo is required and no inflating after the
original inflation, as the tubes or cells are sufficiently strong to stand the pressure
and work to which they are subjected. Should any one cell puncture it need not
affect the other cella so that very slight harm if any would be effected.
The inner tube may have its ends closed and inflated before being drawn into
the outer covering and to ensure that its ends and other divisions are properly
closed it may be drawn out to considerably beyond its normal length and the
ligatures applied in that condition so that when it returns to its normal length a
tight joint at each of these parts is ensured.
If preferred the inner tube may be dispensed with and the pad formed of a
single tube protected as above described; or two tubes may be employed without
any covering at all or even a single tube without covering if made sufficiently
strong.
Other ways besides those above described may be employed for closing the tubes
whether inflated or not.

page_text: ligature applied in that condition so that when it returns to its normal length a
tight joint at each of these parts is ensured:
It will be seen that even when there is no direct inflation the air in the cellular
pad will be of higher pressure than the atmosphere by reason of the ends being
olosed before the ligatures are applied and the volume of the tube being thereby
reduced:
If preferred the inner tube may be dispensed with and the pad formed of a
single tube protected as above described; or two tubes may be employed without
any covering at all.
Other ways besides those above described may be employed for closing the tubes
whether inflated or not.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
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1. A tubular or cellular pneumatic pad for a boot or shoe comprising inner and
outer flexible tubes A and B each closed at one end and bound with tight
Ligatures D with or without a protective coating or layer C substantially as
described.
2. A cellular pneumatic pad for the sole of a boot or shoe formed by binding a
tubular pad with tight ligatures D₁ substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with a boot or shoe of a tubular cellular pneumatic pad
substantially as described.
pated this 3rd day of January 1895.
F. LEIGH.
GEORGE PADMORE, JUNIOR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.