IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OVERSHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES WORN ON THE FEET, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF OVERSHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES WORN ON THE FEET, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad
by Louis Alfred d'Hennin, Mathilde Catherine Georgette Ponceot,
and Caliste Bloisbluche all of Paris, in the French Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
July 1859.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OVERSHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES WORN ON THE
FEET AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication from Louis Alfred
d'Hennin, Mathilde Catherine Georgette Ponceot, and Caliste Bloisbluche,
all of Paris, in the French Empire, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacturing in moulds, of shoes, clogs,
goloshes, and other articles or coverings for the feet, of gutta percha or similar
substances or compounds which may be treated in like manner. The moulds
employed are formed in pieces, that is to say, each mould consists of separate
component pieces, which when put together form a complete mould, but
which are so formed as to provide between them a suitably shaped space for

page_text: the gutta percha or other material to run in to produce the required shoe or
article. The parts of the mould are held or compressed firmly together by
means of pressing apparatus, thereby wholly preventing the escape from the
mould of the gutta percha or other material used when run therein. The
gutta percha or material in a semi-fluid or suitable condition is pressed or
forced into the mould, runs into the space provided between the parts or pieces
thereof, and forms the desired article, while its escape is prevented as stated
by the application of pressure on the mould.
In the arrangements preferred, the mould is composed of three separate
pieces, viz., an inside and two outside, the inside fitting between the two
outside, while the pieces are so formed as to provide between the former and
the latter, when put together, a space of suitable configuration for the gutta
percha or material to run into to form the golosh or article. The parts of the
mould aro held together by the application of pressure on the top and sides by
pressing apparatus; thus, for example, the mould is placed under a press in a
fixed frame which presses against one of the outside pieces, either directly or
by a wedge, and a moveable plate is pressed up against the other outside piece,
while adjustable arms are brought down upon and press checks of the insido
mould piece against the tops of the outside pieces, and another piece presses
the fore part of the inside mould piece against the corresponding parts of the
outside ones, so that the parts of the mould are all held tightly together, and
the mould closed. The semi-fluid gutta percha or other material is admitted
through an opening with which the inside mould piece is provided, and into
which a piston is driven, forcing the gutta percha to rush into and fill the
space between the parts of the mould, but whence it cannot escape as they are
closed in and held firmly together. The moveable pressing pieces and the
piston are here worked by wheels and screws, and the piston raised by inserting
a hook into a ring on its upper part.
I do not, however, confine myself to the arrangements of apparatus herein
described as by way of exemplification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send 3:
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Michael Henry, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF OVERSHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES WORN ON THE FEET, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," communicated to me from abroad by Louis
Alfred d'Hennin, Mathilde Catherine Georgette Ponceot, and Caliste
Bloisbluche, all of Paris, in the French Empire, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Michael Henry, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thercon, that
is to say:
This Invention relates to the manufacturing in moulds, of shoes, clogs,
goloshes, and other articles or coverings for the feet, of gutta percha or similar
substances or compounds which may be treated in like manner. The moulds
employed are formed in pieces, that is to say, each mould consists of separate
component pieces, which constitute a complete mould when put together, and
are so formed as to provide between them a suitably shaped space for the gutta
percha or other material to run in to produce the shoe or article required.
The parts or pieces of the mould are held or compressed firmly together by
means of pressing apparatus, which wholly prevent the escape from the
mould of the gutta percha or other material when run therein. The gutta
percha or material in a semi-fluid or suitable condition is pressed or forced
into the mould, runs into the space provided between the parts or pieces

page_text: thereof, and produces the desired article, its escape being prevented as stated
by the application of pressure on the mould.
In the arrangements preferred, the mould is composed of three separate
pieces, that is to say, an inside and two outside, the inside fitting between the
two outside, and the pieces are so formed as to provide between the former
and the latter, when put together, a space of suitable configuration for the
gutta percha or other material to run into for producing the golosh or article
desired. The parts of the mould are held firmly and forcibly together in their
proper positions by the application of pressure on the top and sides thereof by
means of pressing apparatus. Thus, for example, the mould is placed under
a press in a fixed frame, which presses against one of the outside pieces, either
directly or by the intervention of a wedge, and a moveable plate is pressed up
against the other outside piece. Adjustable arms are brought against the
cheeks of the inside mould piece, and press them against the tops of the outside
pieces. Another pressing piece presses the fore part of the inside mould piece
against the corresponding parts of the outside ones, so that the pieces composing
the mould are all retained firmly and the mould closed. The semi-fluid gutta
percha or other material is admitted through an opening provided in the inside
mould piece or core, into which opening a piston or plunger is driven, forcing
the gutta percha to run into and fill the space provided for its reception between
the pieces of the mould, from which it cannot escape, as the mould is closed
on all sides, and its parts held firmly together. The moveable pressing pieces
and the piston are here worked by wheels and screws. These arrangements
are exemplified in the accompanying Drawings, which explain more particu-
larly the mode in which the Invention may be carried into effect, representing
in detail a mould and an arrangement of pressing apparatus proposed to be
employed in performing this Invention.
The mould consists of the inside piece or core A, and two outside pieces B
and C, B or C of course constituting respectively each one half of the external
mould. Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the outside pieces as B; Figure 2,
of the piece A detached; Figure 3 represents the piece A fitted into one of
the outsides, and shews the space provided between the pieces for the gutta
percha to run in; Figure 4 is a plan of the complete mould as put together;
Figure 5 is an elevation, Figure 6 side view, and Figure 7 plan, of the
machine which is employed for binding or holding the parts of the mould
together in their respective positions; X is the framework. The mould is
placed in the space formed by the stationary frame I, in which works a
moveable conical plate or block H, actuated by wheel and screw G, by turning
which the plate H is brought against one of the sides of the mould, while the

page_text: opposite side of the frame I confines the other side of the mould, thus closing
it laterally. On turning the hand wheel E, iron arms F, F, are brought
against metal cheeks or projections a, a, one on each side of the piece A, and
press the top of A against the upper parts of B and C, thereby closing the
mould at top. By turning the hand wheel and screw L (placed somewhat
behind), a threaded arm M is brought down upon a lip or projection b
in front of the piece A, and presses this lip firmly against the bevelled
edges c, c, of the outsides B and C, thereby closing the fore part of the
mould. The gutta percha, having been previously heated in a boiler and
brought into a suitable plastic or semi-fluid condition in the usual manner, is
poured into the mould through an opening D in the core piece A, such
quantity only being used as is just sufficient for the purpose; this would be
easily ascertained by practice. A piston or plunger P is then inserted into
the opening D, wherein it enters with a certain amount of friction, and is
driven in by a block O at one end of, and actuated by a screw Y connected to
and worked by the wheel R, by turning which, the block O is brought down
on the top of the plunger, and forces it into the opening, whereby the gutta
percha is driven into all parts of the space left for its reception between the
mould pieces, which, however, are held together on all sides in such manner
that the gutta percha cannot escape from the mould through the slit or division,
extending the length and depth of the mould at the junction of the pieces, or
indeed from any part thereof. The arms F may be adjustable in a horizontal
direction to adapt the same press for various sizes of moulds; of course, the
arrangements for adjusting them are independent of those for working them
up and down. The piston or plunger can be easily raised up out of the mould
by placing it under a hand press provided with a hook which catches in a
ring at the upper part of the piston, so that the latter may be readily
withdrawn; but I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-
described by way of exemplification. When the operation is completed, and
the article is moulded or shaped and ready to be withdrawn from the press
and mould, the mould may be removed from the press, and readily taken to
pieces, and the overshoe or other moulded article removed. Other arrange-
ments of presses may be employed, effecting the same purposes as aforesaid.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim, as constituting
the aforesaid improvements in the method of, and apparatus for, manufacturing
overshoes and other articles or coverings worn on the feet, of gutta percha, or
similar substances or compounds which may be treated in like manner,―
First, the mode of manufacturing overshoes and other articles or coverings

page_text: worn on the feet, of the aforesaid material or materials, by means of the com-
bined employment of moulds, formed in pieces, as before described and
represented, and of pressing apparatus contrived in such manner as to hold
or confine the pieces of the mould in their proper positions, and to force in
the gutta percha or other material.
Second, the employment or application of presses for holding or binding
together the pieces composing the mould during the pressing operation, as
herein-before described.
Third, the arrangement and combination of hand press with parts or devices
for pressing or closing the mould on its top and sides, as herein described,
especially the particular arrangement and combination of pressing apparatus
herein-before described and represented in the Drawings.
Fourth, the employment of moulds, formed as described, of three parts or
pieces, an inside or core fitting between two outsides, and especially the
moulds herein-before particularly described and represented in the Drawings.
Fifth, the combined employment of moulds constructed with cores or in
parts, as described, with pressing machinery whereby the gutta percha or
other material may be shaped or moulded into the desired form, and the
moulded article readily removed from the mould, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
84, Fleet Street, London.
M. HENRY (L.S.)