An Improvement applicable to Slippers.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement applicable to Slippers.
I, GEORGE SOWERBUTTS, of Chaigeley, near Clitheroe, in the County of Lancaster,
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to all kinds of slippers made of cloth, felt, or other
material and the object of the invention is to prevent them from slipping off at
the heel in the act of walking as most slippers have the habit of doing at present.
The invention consists in a curved spring (preferably of steel) made in such a form
that it will clip in round the foot above the heel and below the ankle.
The spring is sewn or otherwise fixed round the upper edge of the inside of the
slipper beneath the binding so as to be quite concealed and being so formed as to clip
closely round the heel of the wearer, it will draw in the upper edge of the back part
of the slipper about the heel, which will effectually prevent the slipper from slipping
up and down at the heel or even coming off in the act of walking as above mentioned.
Thated the 30th day of October 1897.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
An Improvement applicable to suppеrs.
I, GEORGE SOWERBUTTS, of Chaigeley, near Clitheroe, in the County of Lancaster,
Schoolmaster, 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:-
This invention is applicable to all kinds of slippers made of cloth or other material,
and the object of the invention is to prevent them from slipping off at the heel in
the act of walking as most slippers and many kinds of low shoes have the habit of
doing at present.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a com-
plete description of same, reference being had to the annexed drawings:-
This invention consists of a curved spring or clip (preferably of steel) made in
such a form that it will clip in round the foot above the heel and below the ankle.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the clip of which different sizes will be needed for the
Fig. 3 shows the clip
different sizes of slippers. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 in the position it should be sewn (preferably on the outside) to the upper edge
of the back part of the slipper.

page_text: According to this invention I employ a narrow strip of steel, or other material,
of suitable elasticity, bent as shown in Figs 1 and 2 having the curves 1 on each
side to conform to the shape of the foot above the heel, and the curves 2 to con-
form to the shape of the foot below the ankle. The ends 4 of the clip as shown
in Fig. 2 are rounded to take off the sharp corners.
By the help of the holes 3 on each side of the clip Fig. 2 it is sewn or otherwise
fixed to the upper edge of the back part of the slipper as shown in Fig. 3, and as
the curves 1 of the clip close in above the heel of the wearer, the upper edge of the
slipper is drawn in, effectually preventing the slipper from slipping up and down at
the heel, or even from coming off in the act of walking as above mentioned.
If the back part of the slipper be lined, the clip may be fixed between the lining
and the outside material; if not lined, it may be concealed, beneath a binding; and,
to prevent the hard surface of the clip from being in too close contact with the heel
of the wearer, it is preferable to sew the clip on the outside.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. As a means of preventing slippers from slipping up and down at the heel, or
even from coming off in the act of walking the employment of a spring clip adapted
to be sewn or otherwise fixed to a slipper substantially such as and in the manner
described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2. As a means of preventing slippers from slipping up and down at the heel, or
even from coming off in the act of walking, the combination of a spring clip such
as described with a slipper substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 3 of
the annexed drawings.
Dated this 15th day of December 1897.
GEORGE SOWERBUTTS,
(Applicant).