IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Edwards, of Jamaica, Queen's County, and State of
New York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877, and dated the 30th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1877.
CHARLES EDWARDS, of Jamaica, Queen's County, and State of New York, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
various parts of boots and shoes, and to an improved mode of attaching and
securing the outer sole thereof, whereby the said outer sole and the heel are made
detachable, while at the same time the instep sole is strengthened and retained in
proper position, and the main sole under the ball of the foot is rendered more elastic,
so that either the main sole or the heel may be removed at pleasure and readily and
easily replaced without any sewing and without loss of time, and the shoe or
boot is rendered very durable and capable of retaining its proper form under
wear.
My said improvements consist,--
Firstly. In making the outer sole detachable, and providing or forming thereon a
rim or plate on its upper side around or partly around its edges, which fits upon a
metallic plate or other suitable support attached to the inner sole, by means of
which construction and arrangement the outer sole is attached to the shoe or boot.
Secondly. In a metallic plate, which I secure over the outer surface of the inner
sole, extending from the heel to the toe of the boot or shoe, which said plate is
somewhat narrower than the sole, and fits at its edges under the rim above
mentioned, thereby forming a means of attachment and a support for the outer sole,
and at the same time imparting elasticity to the main sole and strength to the
instep sole.

page_text: Thirdly. In a mortised or countersunk plate, which I secure at the rear end of the
outer and main sole, in which plate is a slot to receive an excentric headed pin
secured to the inner sole for the purpose of securing the rear end of the main sole
in position.
And, Fourthly. In the combination and arrangement of the said detachable sole
having a rim or plate extending partly or wholly around its edges, with the said
metallic plate, which forms an intermediate sole, and the said mortised or counter-
sunk plate and excentric headed pin.
I also make the heel detachable, and secure the same by means of a screw nail
passed through the centre of the same, which said screw nail, entering the metallic
plate, keeps the heel piece securely in position, and admits of its being turned
partially around when one side thereof has become worn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
January 1878.
CHARLES EDWARDS, of Jamaica, Queen's County, and State of New York, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates to improved constructions and arrangements of the parts of
boots and shoes, and an improved mode of attaching and securing the outer sole,
whereby the said outer sole and the heel are made detachable, while at the same
time the instep sole is strengthened and retained in proper position, and the main
sole under the ball of the foot is rendered more elastic, and so that either the main
sole or the heel may be removed at pleasure, and readily and easily replaced without
any sewing and without loss of time, and the shoe or boot is rendered very durable
and capable of retaining its proper form under wear.
My said improvements consist,-
Firstly. In making the outer sole detachable, and providing or forming thereon a
rim or plate on its upper side around or partly around its edges, which fits upon a
metallic plate or other suitable support attached to the inner sole, by means of
which construction and arrangement the outer sole is attached to the shoe or boot.
Secondly. In a metallic plate, which I secure over the outer surface of the inner
sole, extending from the heel to the toe of the boot or shoe, which said plate is
somewhat narrower than the sole, and fits at its edges under the rim above
mentioned, thereby forming a means of attachment and support for the outer sole,
and at the same time imparting elasticity to the main sole and strength to the
instep sole.
Thirdly. In a mortised or countersunk plate, which I secure at the rear end of
the outer or main sole, in which plate is a slot to receive an eccentric headed pin
secured to the inner sole for the purpose of securing the rear end of the main sole
in position.
And, Fourthly. In the combination and arrangement of the said detachable sole,
having a rim or plate extending partly or wholly around its edges, with the said
metallic plate, which forms an intermediate sole, and the said mortised or counter-
sunk plate and excentric-headed pin.

page_text: I also make the heel detachable, and secure the same by means of screw nails
passed through the same, which said screw nails, entering the metallic plate, keep
the heel piece securely in position, and yet admit of its being detached and turned
partially around when one side thereof has become worn.
In order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to the
several Figures in the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawing represents a vertical longitudinal section of a shoe
with my improvements.
Figure 2, a plan view of the bottom of the shoe, the outer sole being removed.
Figure 3, a plan view of the inner surface of the main or outer sole;
and Figures
4, 5, and 6 are detail views, herein-after referred to and explained, showing
modifications of my said improvements.
In the said Drawing A represents the upper leather or body of the shoe or boot,
and the inner sole, both of which may be of the usual form, and constructed and
joined together in the ordinary manner; B is my improved detachable outer sole,
which may be of leather, or rubber, or other suitable material. On the upper side
or face of this sole I secure a rim or plate d of metal or other suitable material, which
extends along the outer edges of the same; and that portion of the said rim d
which passes along the toe or front portion of the sole, as well as the portion thereof
which extends along the sides of the sole, is slightly raised, so that it will pass over
the edge of the metallic intermediate sole I (herein-after described), by which means
the sole B is attached to the shoe. I is the metallic plate which forms the inter-
mediate sole, which said plate I secure to the inner sole by tacks or other suitable
means, with its side and toe edges extending over the joining of the upper leather
with the inner sole, so that it will receive the rim d, as above mentioned. This
plate I may either extend from the toe to and under the heel pièce, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, or as a modification it may extend only part of the way, as shown
in Figure 4.
In the former case that portion of the said plate which passes over the instep may
be made thicker than the rest, or it may be corrugated, as shown at m, for the
purpose of imparting additional strength; and in the latter case a separate plate I'
may be employed, the said plate consisting of two or more thicknesses or leaves of
sheet metal p of gradually decreasing lengths, so that the plate may be strongest at
its centre. By means of these plates additional elasticity and strength are
imparted to that portion of the sole which is immediately under the ball of the
foot, and additional strength and firmness to the instep sole, thus preserving the
proper form of the shoe under wear, and preventing displacement or breaking of
the instep sole, which often occurs in shoes of the ordinary construction.
The rear end of the outer sole B, or that portion of the same nearest the instep, I
secure in position either by the devices shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, or as a
modification thereof by those shown in Figures 4, 5, and 0. In the former, e
represents a mortised and perforated plate attached to the rear end of the sole B;
and fan eccentric-headed pin, the shank of which passes through the plate I, and
has a flange forined on its inner end, so that it will turn around in the mortised or
countersunk portion of the plate e. The elongated slot in the said plate e having
been passed over the head of this pin f, the latter is turned around, so that the solid
portion of the plate comes under the head of the pin. In the latter, f1 is a plate of
sheet metal, which I tack to or otherwise secure upon the rear end of the sole B,
with its outer end 2 extending beyond the rear end of the same, and the said end
f2, underneath the shank or covering of the instep h, is fixed in position by screw
nails, which pass through the perforations i, i, or by other suitable means, as
shown in Figure 6. Or as a modification of the mode just described the said
plate f¹ may be secured upon the outer side of the sole B, and its end f² may be
secured upon the outside of the shank or covering of the instep (see Fig. 5). In
either case the front edge of the shank h, and the rear edge of the sole B,

page_text: coincide and are flush with each other, so that they form a tight and even joint.
J is the heel, which may be attached either, as shown in Figure 1, by a central
screw nail t, or as shown in Figure 4, the latter being the preferred mode. In the
latter a portion o is made up in the ordinary manner of successive layers or lifts,
and a portion o¹ of which forms the outer lift, and is attached to a metal plate s
having one or more perforations to receive the shank or shanks of screw nails t, by
which the said outer lift is secured to the portion o, the said screw nails passing
through the said plate s, which forms a support for the same, and the said screws
being driven home hold the outer lift firmly in place, and at the same time admit of
its being removed and replaced by another; and if the said lifts are made in
circular form the heel may be partly turned around when one side thereof has be-
come worn down.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original in the said improve-
ments, and therefore claim as my Invention is,―
Firstly. A detachable outer sole B provided with a rim or plate d to fit upon a
plate I attached to the inner sole of the shoe, substantially as herein-before set
forth and described.
Secondly. The metallic plate I in combination with the outer sole B, as herein-
before described, for the purpose of holding the said outer and detachable sole B in
the manner set forth.
Thirdly. The detachable sole B provided with a countersunk plate e to receive
an excentric headed pin f, or with equivalent devices, substantially as herein-before
shewn and described, for securing the rear end of the said outer sole B.
Fourthly. The detachable sole B provided with a raised rim or plate d extending
along its edges, and the plate I secured to the inner sole b in combination with
devices, substantially such as herein-before described, for the purpose of fastening
the rear end of the said sole.
Fifthly. The heel J when made detachable in the manner and substantially by
the means herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Edwards, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witnesses,
JOHN S. THORNTON,
THO. H. FRIEND.
CHARLES EDWARDS. (L.S.)