Improvements in Boot Protectors and Nails and in the Means of Securing them upon Boots.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 15th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 15th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Boot Protectors and Nails and in the Means of
Securing them upon Boots.
WILLIAM EDWARD PARTRIDGE of Floro Cottage Chester Road, New Oscot,
Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in Boot Protectors and nails, and in
the means of securing them upon boots, by which lightness, security safety, and
efficiency are combined with cheapness.
First I make toe, side, heel and intermediate protectors with one or more rows
of serrated, corrugated or scolloped edges, and these may be connected, by one or
more connecting bars to strengthen the rows, and a continuous or almost continuous
plate may be formed at the back for strength or with narrow slits showing at the back
sufficient to hold the heads of rivets, but in any case each row is connected by the
outside band which comes nearest the outside edge of the sole of the boot, and the
serrated edges, may be formed slightly hollow as to enter into the sole of the boot to
add to the security of the fixing. These serrations I do not place at the outside edges,
because they would be of no service there, but upon the inner edge or edges they enter
the leather and hold firmly. I also make these plates either plain or with corrugated
edges and having countersink holes all over the surface thereof and so formed as to be
capable of receiving ordinary rivets the heads of which would sink nearly to the bottom
of the narrowest part of the said holes or special rivets or nails with slightly larger
heads may be used or rivets made from square or other wire and a slight twist given
thereto to prevent them when once in from drawing out again, such rivets of course
turn slightly to the twist as they are driven into the boot.
Second I provide for fixing these and other protectors by casting upon them, or
placing in the moulds, shanks, projections or nails having one two three or more
hollows or flutes therein which greatly adds to the hold of the nail upon the leather or
other material of the sole of the boot and this also do with the smaller or inter-
mediate protectors as well as the single ones sometimes called hob-nails, which may

page_text: be manufactured by nail machinery so as to have the flute, flutes, groove or grooves
pressed therein by the dies or the material rolled or drawn to the shape and the same
principle applies to the smaller nails or tacks used in boots or shoes. These shanks which
I cast upon all the plates whether having countersunk holes or other before mentioned
perforations are bevelled at the point on one side only so that they bend out of the
straight line as they aro driven so as to form a dovetail or lock to themselves which is
a great advantage as such plates give great trouble by falling off before they are half
worn out but by my present invention this difficulty will be effectively met first by
the peculiar section of the fast shank and secured by its bevelled point indeed the
bayonet is a very good shape for the shanks though I may vary the hollows in
number and section as beforo set forth and the security is completed or accident
almost entirely prevented by the countersunk holes or slits because immediately any
looseness is observed at any part of such plates a rivet either ordinary or special is
placed therein at that particular part full facility for which is provided but this could
not be done in a solid plate as they are now sold nor in an open skeleton plate the
great advantage of the combination of the fast shank with the slits or countersunk
holes will thus be easily appreciated indeed by this means plates may be made
practically inseparable from even the old sole of an old boot and they can thus be
worn quite out without fear of catching or tripping the wearer besides which a
constantly roughened tread upon the plato is maintained without a large opening to
catch or weaken the plate indeed such plates may be made much like a honey-comb
either by the round hexagon or other holes but the round ones are much the easiest
to work in the patterns and with ibe rivets and they are most practical and 1 therefore
prefer them in combination with the shanks. Of course these plates with countersunk
slits or holes all over the surface might be very secureley fastened without the fast
shanks and might be sometimes so made. The slits would of course be much wider
and more extended on the tread than at the back where numerous bars may connect
them together the intermediate holes forming the opportunity for nailing. The
grooves or recesses on the face of the protectors may form projecting diamonds or
rounds, or hexagons projecting upwards instead of being recesses and the sınall
projections for the rivets &c. would in that case be at the bottom of the grooves or
recesses all over the plates and thus they would be liko a group of projections with
the groups casts on the back and the holes spread all over the grooves in combination
therewith. In all these cases the heads of the rivets, nails or screws would be sunk so
deeply into the plato from its very formation as not to be worn at all until the plate
was nearly worn out and thus the bolding power would be unimpaired untill the last.
Ordinary round square or other shank will of course work very well in combination
with the slits or holes without the special shank being used and I claim this
combination also.
Dated thin 14th J. T
1007

page_text: Securing them upon Boots.
I WILLIAM EDWARD PARTRIDGE of Flora Cottage Chester Road near Oscott
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Agent 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in Boot Protectors and nails and in
the means of securing them upon boots by which lightness security safety and
efficiency are combined with cheapness.
First I make, toe, side, heel, and intermediate protectors with one or more rows of
serrated corrugated or scalloped edges and theso may be connected by one or more con-
necting bars to strengthen the rows and a continuous or almost continuous plate may be
formed at the back for strength or with narrow slits showing at the back sufficient to
hold the heads of rivets but in any case each row is connected by the outside band
which comes nearest the outside edge of the sole of the boot, and the serrated edges
may be formed slightly hollow to enter into the sole of the boot to add to the security
of the fixing. These serrations I do not place at the outside edges because they
would be of no service there but upon the inner edge or edges they enter the leather
and hold firmly. I also make these plates either plain or with corrugated edges and
having countersunk holes all over the surface thereof and so formed as to be capable
of receiving ordinary rivets the heads of which would sink nearly to the bottom of the
narrowest part of the said holes or special rivets or nails with slightly larger heads
may be used or rivets made from square or other wiro and a slight twist given thereto
to prevent them when once in, from drawing out again such rivets of course turn
slightly to the twist as they are driven into the boot.
Second-1 provide for fixing these and other protectors by casting upon them or
placing in the moulds, shanks projections or nails having one two three or more
hollows or plates therein which greatly adds to the holds of the nail upon the leather
or other material of the sole of the boot and this I also do with the smaller or
intermediate protectors as well as the single one sometimes called hobnails which may
be manufactured by nail machinery so as to have the plates flutes groove or grooves
pressed therein by the dies or the material rolled or drawn to the shape and the same
principle applies to the smaller nails or tacks used in boots and shoes. These shanks
which I cast upon all the plates whether having countersunk holes or other before
mentioned perforations are bevelled at the point on one side only so that they bend
out of the straight line as they are driven so as to form a dovetail or lock to themselves
which is a great advantage as such plates give great trouble by falling off before they
are half worn out but my present invention this difficulty will be effectively met first
by the peculiar section of the fast shank and secured by the bevelled point indeed the
bayonet is a very good shape for the shanks though I may vary the hollows in number
and section as before set forth and the security is completed or accident almost

page_text: entirely prevented by the countersunk holes or slits because immediately any looseness
is observed at any part of such plates a rivet either ordinary or special is placed
therein at that particular part full facility for which is provided but this could not be
done in a solid plate as they are now sold nor in an open skeleton plate the great
advantage of the combination of the fast shank with the slits or countersunk holes
will thus be easily appreciated indeed by this means plates may be made practically
inseparable from even the old sole of an old boot and they can thus be worn quite out
without fear of catching or tripping the wearer besides which a constantly roughened
tread upon the plate is maintained without a large opening to catch or weaken the
plate indeed such plates may be made much like a honey comb either by the round
hexagon or other holes but the round ones are much the easiest to work in the
patterns and with the rivets and they are most practical and I therefore prefer them
in combination with the shanks. Of course these plates with countersunk slits or
holes all over the surface might be very securely fastened without the fast shanks and
might be sometimes so made. The slits would of course be much wider and more
extended on the tread than on the back where numerous bars may connect them
together the intermediate holes forming the opportunity for nailing. The grooves or
recesses on the face of the protectors may form projecting diamonds or rounds or
hexagons projecting upwards instead of being recesses and the small projections for
the rivets would in that case be at the bottom of the grooves or recesses all over the
plates and thus they would be like a group of projections with the groups cast on the
back and the holes spread all over the grooves in combination therewith. In all these
cases the heads of the rivets nails or screws would be sunk so deeply into the plate
from its very formation as not to be worn at all until the plate was nearly worn out
and thus the holding power would be unimpaired till the last. Ordinary round squaro
or other shank will of course work very well in combination with the slits or holes
without the special shank being used and I claim this combination also.
To more clearly make my invention understood I have added hereunto two double
sheets of drawings upon which are illustrated several forms of my new protectors with
examples of their application.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lower portion of a boot or shoe upon which
several protectors are placed.
Figure 2 is an inverted view of the sole of the boot showing the protectors placed
thereon but no claim is set up for any special mode of arranging them as the position
for the protetor is entirely determined by the habits of the wearer the protetors
being fixed at those parts most likely to be quickly worn by each particular wearer.
Figure 3 is a large sized view of the front or outer face of one of the plates A say
the toe or heel plate.
Figure 4 is an inverted view of the same plate A as shown by Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side view looking at the inner edge of such plate A.
Figure 6. is a curved section through the outer circle of holes of plate Figure 3
showing two prongs a and a¹ in section and a' in elevation upon the plate A.
Figure 7 is a cross section of the plate A showing the metal in thick black as it
may be made or with the under teeth in light hues on the under side so as to enter
the sole at various parts to secure it against moving and also to hold the edge against
the liability of kicking up when it is severely worn at any particular part thereof.
Figure 8 shows three examples of the special sections of prongs which are designed
to hold tighter in the leather than plain round or plain square ones. B is simply a
triangular prong with straight sides and a bevelled point. C is a triangular or
bayonet section prong with hollowed faces so as to give still thinner edges to be bitten
by the lather when driven therein and D is a square section but with hollowed sides
so as to give four fine edges to be held by the leather. In each case the points may
be bevelled on one side something like the edge of chizel such as b c d which would
have a slight tendency as driven to turn outwards or inwards as the case may be
according to the position of the bevel thus forming a somewhat hooked or dovetailed
bottom which would tend to resist any tendency of the plate to drop off if it become
loose in dry weather or from any other cause.

page_text: Figure 9 is an example in face plan and cross section of a plate E with several
rows of serrations and having the inner points e¹ el which may be hooked or project
downwards to take hold of the leather and such plates may or may not have the
holes eat the bottom of the frames or recesses e³, et.
Figure 10 shows a plate F having the cross grooves in the face thereof and with
the holes which are ready to receive a rivet or nail or screw at any time should the
plate become loose by accident or wear or in dry weather or in case the plate breaks
at any part. In such cases and without such provision plates fall off and are
constantly found in the streets not much the worse for wear.
Figure 11 shows a plate H and another mode by which the grooves ³ may be
placed with the bottom of each pierced with the holes ready for use at any time
either at the commencement of the life of the plate when first put on or at a subsequent
period in any case they are ready for use.
Figure 12 is an inverted plan of plate H as shown in the previous group of
Figures.
Figuro 13 is a round plate protector K with only one prong in the centre and
having recesses of any desired pattern k' and also the holes k which are ready at any
time for the reception of a rivet or screw or nail to increase the security or to give
extra wear for these holes forın suitable sockets for such nails as hob nails which may
be driven in and are held tight in even an old boot thus increasing the life without
the particular object of holding the plate on.
Figuro 14 shows the sole of a boot fitted with round protectors only but they may
be mixed in any way with others.
It will be quite evident from the drawings that any of the protectors shown may if
they become loose at any particular side or corner be at once fastened by the addition
of a rivet or nail or screw and the recesses whether round such as a³ or slotted such
as for h are so formed as to receive the head of the rivet or screw so as to avoid any
projection in the caso of the addition of say one nail or scrow at a particular part.
For instance suppose the prong a becomes loose through any cause the addition of
the screw or rivet a Figure 3 Figure 6 and Figure 2 would at once secure the plate
at that particular corner. Then it is possible for the centre of a plate to be so worn
away that the centre prong may be practically disconnected in which case a rivet or
screw in holes a' and a would refix it and add further wear thereto. There is also
another advantage which comes out of this combination of prongs and hollows viz.
that when the plates become thin by wear a number of hob nails may be driven
through the plate and the thin edges of the holes at the bottom of the recesses or
grooves is such that the shank of a nail especially if triangular or square as shown at
Figure S or having edges thereon will cut its way through the thin edge of the plate
and firmly embed itself therein. Such nails may be specially formed for the purpose
with a bend under the head to enter the tapered recesses or holes such a nail is shown
by Figure 15 as driven into the sole N through the protector A the bevel m¹ fits into
the bevelled sides or the grooves f¹ h¹ or a³. "The contrast to the hob nail is seen at
Figures 16 where the fine screw p or fine rivet r are used so that their heads in either
case stand far below the level of the plate even after much wear. Theso protectors
may be made from any suitable metal such for instance as malleable cast iron.
The corrugated plate S as shown by Figures 17 may be made in cast metal or
stamped from sheet metal and the corrugations may run in any direction or in any
pattern whether crossway diagonally or longitudinally and the outside form may be
simply square oblong round or other shape. Any number of small holes s¹ may be
placed between the corrugations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First-The improvements in boot protectors and nails and in the means of
securing them upon boots substantially as horain art forth and

page_text: Second-In boot protectors the special prongs having grooves or hollows therein
such as the bayonet and other sections shown at Figures 8 substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Third In boot protectors the grooves hollows or recesses with the small holes for
receiving nails screws etc. at the bottom thereof in combination with the special prongs
herein shown substantially as set forth.
:-
Fourth In hoot protectors the grooves or hollows with the small holes for
receiving nails screws &c. in combination with the ordinary round or other ordinary
prongs substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth-In boot protectors the special serrated edges substantially as herein set
forth and illustrated by Figure 9 upon the drawings.
Sixth The special nails having bayonet or other shanks as shown by Figures 8
and 15 substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh-The boot protectors having corrugations thercon substantially as herein
set forth and shown at Figure 17.
Eighth The special round protectors or nails K shown by Figures 13 and 14
substantially as herein set forth.
Doted thin 14h
1007
JOHN KENDRICK,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.