Improvements in Heel Plates and Protectors for the Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
Improvements in Heel Plates and Protectors for the Soles of Boots
and Shoes.
ILD #:
SE SEE".
1347
I, RICHARD BRADSHAW of Swinton, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1J14
1...
Heel plates or tips-and protector plates of iron, are made to be applied to the
heels and soles of boots and shoes as the metal is more durable and wears away less
quickly than does leather one objection to the use of such plate is that when worn
smooth they slip very readily on a smooth surface such as wet flags or the like. The
object of this invention is to construct such plates so as to render them less liable
to slip.
It is designed chiefly for the heel tips and consists essentially in making the
skeleton or outside rim of iron, steel, or other hard metal and the inner or centre part
of lead or similar soft metal which will readily take a grip on a stone surface and
prevent the slipping above referred to.
In carrying out the invention I cast or forge a tip or frame of the size and shape
required. The inner or centre part is left open and into this space lead or other soft
metal is run which fills up and makes the complete plate. Small projections trans-
verse bars or indentations are formed on the hard metal and around or into these the
lead or soft metal runs and is thereby retained in position.
..
* The plates may the attached to the soles by means of rivets, pins, or screws in the
usual way.
Dated thin 7th day of October 1887
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents:*

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heel Plates and Protectors for the Soles of Boots
and Shoes.
I, RICHARD BRADSHAW, of Swinton, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Protector plates of iron are made to be applied to the heels, toes and soles of boots
and shoes as the metal is more durable and wears away less quickly. than does leather.
The use of such plates is objectionable in that when worn smooth they slip very
readily on a smooth surface such as wet flags or the like, and in wear make a harsh
noise under the tread of the foot..
The object of this invention is to construct such plates so as to render them less
liable to slip and to cause less noise when in use.
It is primarily designed for the heel tips but is also applicable for plates to be
applied to the other parts of the soles of boots and shoes, and consists essentially in
making the protector. plate with a base and outside rim of hard metal such as iron or
steel and the inner or wearing surface of lead or similar soft metal or metallic com-
position which will readily take a grip on a stone surface and prevent the slipping,
above referred to.
In the accompanying drawings protector plates of several different shapes are shown,
all constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. is a plan and section of heel tip made to go round the outside edge of the
heel.
Fig. 2. plan and section of heel tip made to cover the whole heel.
Fig. 3. plan and section of protector plate for the outside edge of the sole.
Fig. 4. planrand section of a modification of same.
Fig. 5. plan and section of protector plate for the toe of the sole.
Fig. 6. plan and section of a modification of toe plate.
A plate or frame. A of the desired shape and size is cast or forged out of iron or
other hard metal. This is formed with a thin outer edge a of a depth equal to the
thickness of plate required. The inner or centre part is left open and the lead B or
other soft metal is run in which fills up and makes the complete plate.
These plates may be formed in a variety of ways to secure and retain the lead in
position.
The lead may be run into a channel as shown in Fig. 1, or run over the whole
surface of the plate as in Figs. 2, 3, 5, secured thereto by projections C or it may be
secured by means of grooves or slots D as in Fig: 4. Instead of a solid base plate
the protector plates may be formed with only a skeleton of hard metal sufficient to
hold the lead in position with cross bars on the underside as shown in Fig. 6, or other
means may be adopted in their manufacture.

page_text: The plates may be secured to the soles of the boots in a variety of ways either, by
nails driven through as in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 6, or by spikes or pins cast to the hard metal
as in Figs. 3, and 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A heel plate or protector plate for the soles of boots and shoes having a base of
hard metal and a wearing surface of soft metal or metallic composition substantially
as, and for the purpose described.