AN IMPROVEMENT IN INDIA-RUBBER SHOES AND BOOTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Phineas Lawrence, of the Firm of Lawrence Brothers, of
Viaduct Works, Farringdon Road, in the County of Middlesex, Merchants,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN INDIA-RUBBER SHOES AND BOOTS."
A communication from abroad by the National Rubber Company, of Bristol,
Rhode Island, in the United States of America.
ealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 23rd July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Phineas Lawrence at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1878.
6
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of the Firm of Lawrence Brothers, of Viaduct Works, Far-
ringdon Road, in the County of Middlesex, Merchants. AN IMPROVEMENT IN
INDIA-RUBBER SHOES AND BOOTS." A communication from abroad by the
National Rubber Company, of Bristol, Rhode Island, in the United States of
America.
The object of this Invention is to increase the durability of india-rubber boots
and shoes, and it relates to a novel and peculiar construction of the rear portions
thereof adjacent to the heel.
Now this Invention consists in an india-rubber boot or shoe, provided with a
heel sole, which extends rearward and upward, and is united to the exterior surface
of the counter at the rear. The heel sole is usually a part of the main sole which
extends to the toe, the treading surfaces being scored or serrated in a manner well
known.
The sole, instead of being rounded at the heel as heretofore, is extended longer
than the shoe or boot and terminated in a point. When applied to the shoe or
boot in process of construction this pointed portion is bent upward and made to
adhere to the exterior surface of the counter, and by vulcanization securely attached
as usual.
:

page_text: The vertical portion of the sole operates as a shield to the main rear portion of
the counter as a tie for securely binding the heel, sole, and counter together, and as
a stiffening re-enforce for the counter. The heel sole being thus extended has a
bearing surface, which extends so far to the rear of the inner rear surface of the heel
that no ordinary wearing away of the rear of said sole will affect the general bearing
of the heel of an inner shoe, and however much the sole may be worn at the rear
of the heel the vertical portion will maintain the counter in a perfect condition.
The vertical portion may or may not be serrated like the tread of the heel or
main sole, but when serrated it affords a good surface with which the toe of another
shoe or the fingers may engage for removing the shoe from the foot.
It is not essential that the shield and heel sole be originally formed in one piece
because they can be made in two pieces and united at or near the line of the sole,
and these after vulcanization will practically be as solidly united as if the sole and
shield had been originally formed in one piece, and in both cases the heel sole would
be practically extended in the finished shoe.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Phineas Lawrence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th December
1878.
PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of the Firm of Lawrence Brothers, of Viaduct Works, Far-
ringdon Road, in the County of Middlesex,' Merchants. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
INDIA-RUBBER SHOES AND BOOTS." A communication from abroad by the
National Rubber Company, of Bristol, Rhode Island, in the United States of
America.
I
The object of this Invention is to increase the durability of india-rubber boots and
shoes, and it relates to a novel and peculiar construction of the rear portions thereof
adjacent to the heel.
3:1
14
1. 1
The rear portion of the tread of the heel is particularly liable to be speedily worn
away, and as soon as the wear at that point has so far progressed as to prevent a
good general bearing of the heel on the ground the upper portion of the heel or
"counter" begins to break at or near the junction with the sole. Moreover the use
of the toe of one foot to remove a shoe or boot from the other foot, as is common,
tends to abrade the rear surface of such shoe or boot, and to effect a rupture between
its "counter" and the sole, especially after the sole has become worn, as abovë
described.
1.
With a view to lessening this liability of rupture, and the breaking down. of
the heel, various interior re-enforcing pieces and exterior contrivances have hereto-
fore been employed, but none of which have contributed materially to more firmly
unite the rear edge of the heel sole to the upper of the rear portion of the shoe, or
increase the rearward tread of the heel sole, both of which effects are of great
practical value.
Now this Invention consists in providing an india-rubber boot of shoe with a
heel sole, which extends rearward and upward, and which is united to the exterior

page_text: surface of the "counter" at the rear.
The heel sole is usually a part of the main
sole which extends to the toe, the treading surfaces being scored or serrated in any
of the well-known manners.
I now proceed, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, to more particularly
describe the Invention.
Figure 1 is a side view of an india-rubber shoe embodying the Invention.
Figure 2 is a rear view thereof.
Figure 3 represents the sole thereof as it appears before being applied to the
upper part of the shoe.
The sole A, instead of being rounded at the heel, as heretofore, is extended longer
than the shoe or boot, as at A', and terminated in a point. When applied to the
shoe or boot in process of construction this pointed portion is bent upward and
made to adhere to the exterior surface of the "counter," and by vulcanization
securely attached, as usual.
The vertical portion of the sole operates as a shield to the main rear portion of
the "counter" as a tie for securely binding the heel sole and "counter" together,
and as a stiffening re-enforce for the "counter." The heel sole being thus extended
has a bearing surface, which extends so far to the rear of the inner rear surface of
the heel that no ordinary wearing away of the rear of the sole will affect the
general bearing of the heel of an inner shoe, and however much the sole may be
worn at the rear of the heel the vertical portion will maintain the " counter
perfect condition.
in a
The vertical portion A¹ may or may not be serrated like the tread of the heel or
main sole, but when serrated it affords a good surface with which the toe of another
shoe or the fingers may engage for removing the shoe from the foot.
In order to secure a graceful outline at the rear of the shoe the upper end of the
shield is gradually reduced in bulk, and its point merges with an artificial seam
line if this latter be employed.
It is not essential however that the upper end of the shield be pointed because
it may as well be rounded or have any other desired outline, nor is it essential that
the shield and heel sole be originally formed in one piece because they can be made
in two pieces and united at or near the line of the sole, and these after vulcaniza-
tion will practically be as solidly united as if the sole and shield had been originally
formed in one piece, and in both cases the heel sole would be practically extended
in the finished shoe.
Having thus described the said Invention and in what manner the same may be
performed, I declare that I claim, providing an india-rubber boot or shoe with a
heel sole extending vertically at its rear and attached to the "counter," substan-
tially as described and shewn for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Phineas Lawrence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of October, in the year One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.