IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTER-STAYS OR HEEL-STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris. Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
.
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTER-STAYS OR HEEL-STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS
AND SHOES." A communication from abroad by Samuel Lockwood Bailey,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTER-STAYS OR HEEL-
STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES. [A communication from abroad by Samuel
Lockwood Bailey, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.]
This Invention relates to various improvements in and modifications of the.
Invention described in the Specification of Letters Patent, No. 4211, of October 17,
A.D. 1879. I retain the principal feature of that Invention, namely, that of making.
a counter stay for each boot and shoe in two pieces, and my present Invention.
comprises :-
First. Flanging or turning over the upper edge of a metal stay or support so as
to form a beaded edge constituting a smooth dull edge or surface that will not
cut into or deface the counter or lining of a boot or shoe, nor irritate the heel of a
person wearing the same. In the metal counter stays or supports heretofore used
the sharp upper edges of the support would not only injure the counter or the
lining, or both, but would very often seriously annoy the person wearing the boot
or shoe.
Second. Corrugating the sides of the support so as to give greater strength and
permit the use of lighter metal, thereby effecting considerable saving in the cost of
material.
By making these corrugations so that part of them run in a transverse and part
in a vertical direction they are all at right angles to the edge of the stav
ΔΗ

page_text: support, thereby increasing the resisting force of the metal at the point of greatest
strain.
Third. The combination of a metal counter-stiffener with a counter made of two
or more strips or thicknesses of leather or other material suitable for this purpose.
The counter is made of two or more layers or thicknesses of leather of the requisite
shape and size, and the metal counter stiffener is inserted between them. I prefer
for this purpose counter-stiffeners made in two pieces, like those described in the
said former Specification, excepting the seat-flange, which is dispensed with, but
any other metal counter stiffener suitable for this purpose may be used.
The metal stiffener is according to this part of my Invention provided with a
series of transverse and vertical corrugations. These corrugations serve two
purposes, they strengthen the stiffener, thereby permitting the use of very light
metal, and present a rough surface, to which the strips of leather forming the
counter adhere, thereby precluding the metal stiffener from slipping out of place.
In practice the leather strips to form the counter are first made and the metal
stiffener is inserted between them above the seat-flange while the leather is still
in a moist state. Pressure is then applied and the parts become firmly cemented
together, the wet leather closely adhering to the corrugated stiffener. By these
means I produce a counter for boots or shoes, in the manufacture of which very
cheap grades of leather may be used; thereby effecting considerable saving in the
first cost of material. Besides this, by means of the metal stiffener the counter is
made strong and durable, and will not be liable to break down or turn over
in use.
My Invention comprises, fourthly, the combination in a metal stay or support
for boots and shoes of the corrugations and the turned down or beaded edge above
described.
Fifthly. The making of a stay or support for boots and shoes of two or more
thicknesses of metal, which are united by flanging or turning over the edges of
the successive thicknesses of metal, so that one overlaps the other, pressure being
applied to make a tight and smooth joint. The edges are turned down and pressed
one over the other against the outer surface of the stay until they are flush there-
with, thereby firmly uniting the several thicknesses of metal, and materially
strengthening the stay at the point where it is most likely to become worn or bent
by use. The chief object and advantage of this construction is that counter stays
or supports made of successive layers or thicknesses of metal constructed as
described can be made from light tin, and will be just as strong and answer the
purpose just as well as stays or supports made from heavy sheet metal. It is well
known that there is an enormous quantity of scrap tin which on account of the
small size of the pieces cannot be advantageously utilized for manufacturing
purposes, and consequently this scrap tin can be purchased at a very low price.
Heretofore such tin could not be used in the manufacture of counter-supports, as it
was too light and too flexible for this purpose, but by this construction of a stay
or support it can be used, and the scrap tin referred to can be utilized, thereby
effecting a very great saving in the first cost of material without diminishing the
efficiency of the articles.

page_text: The said counter is made of two or more layers or thicknesses of leather of the
requisite shape and size, and the metal counter-stiffener is inserted between them.
I prefer for this purpose counter-stiffeners made in two pieces like those described
in the said former Specification, excepting the seat-flange, which is dispensed with,
but any other metal counter-stiffener suitable for this purpose may be used.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 show this construction of a stay or support, the letters B, B',
designating the strips of leather forming the counter, which has a seat-flange 8
adapted to be inserted under the insole of a boot or shoe, and D the metal stiffener
provided with a series of transverse and vertical corrugations d, d'. These corru-
gations serve two purposes, they strengthen the stiffener, thereby permitting the
use of very light metal, and present a rough surface, to which the strips of
leather B, B', forming the counter adhere, thereby precluding the metal stiffener
from slipping out of place. In practice the leather strips B, B₁, to form the counter
are first made, and the metal stiffener D is inserted between them above the seat-
flanges while the leather is still in a moist state. Pressure is then applied, and
the parts become firmly cemented together, the wet leather closely adhering to the
corrugated stiffener. By these means I produce a counter for boots or shoes, in
the manufacture of which very cheap grades of leather may be used, thereby
effect considerable saving in the first cost of material. Besides this, by means
of the metal stiffener the counter is made strong and durable, and will not be
liable to break down or turn over in use.
Fourth. The combination in a metal stay or support for boots and shoes of the
corrugations and the turned down or beaded edge, as above described.
Fifth. The making of a stay or support for boots and shoes of two or more
thicknesses of metal, which are united by flanging or turning over the edges of the
successive thicknesses of metal so that one overlaps the other, pressure being
applied to make a tight and sinooth joint. Figures 1, 5, 6, and 10 show this
construction. m designates a stay or support composed of two thicknesses of
metal, and E the edges thereof, which are turned down and pressed one over the
other against the outer surface of the stay until they are flush therewith, thereby
firmly uniting the several thicknesses of metal, and materially strengthening the
stay at the point where it is, most likely to become worn or bent by use. The
chief object and advantage of this construction are that counter stays or supports
made of successive layers or thicknesses of metal constructed as above described
can be made from light tin, such as I C tin, and will be just as strong and answer
the purpose just as well as stays or supports made from heavy sheet metal, such
as No. 18 sheet metal. It is well known that there is an enormous quantity of
scrap 1C tin which on account of the small size of the pieces cannot be advan-
tageously utilized for manufacturing purposes, and consequently this scrap-tin can'
be purchased at a very low price. Herefore such tin could not be used in the
manufacture of counter-supports, as it was too light and too flexible for this purpose,
but by the construction of a stay or support as herein described it can be used, and
the scrap-tin referred to can be utilized, thereby effecting a very great saving in
the first cost of material without diminishing the efficiency of the articles produced
therefrom.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. Flanging or turning over the upper edge of a metal-stay or support for
boots and shoes so as to form a beaded edge, substantially as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Second. Corrugating the sides of a metal-stay or support, substantially as above
set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. A counter-stay or support for boots and shoes composed of two or more
thicknesses of leather or other suitable material, having a seat-flange adapted to
be inserted under the insole of a boot or shoe, in combination with a metal stiffener

page_text: adapted to be placed between the said counter-stay as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination in a metal stay or support for boots and shoes of the
corrugations in the sides and the bead at the edges thereof, substantially as above,
set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. A counter stay or support for boots and shoes composed of two or more
thicknesses of metal, having the edges of the successive thicknesses turned one
over the other and united by pressure, substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)