Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM HARMER, of 78, Lansdowne Road, Walthamstow, in the County
of Essex, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the insole of boots and shoes and
has for its object to cause the sole of the finished boot to be lighter and more
pliable than heretofore and easy to repair.
"
For this purpose I form my improved insole with the centre part of the sole,
that is from the waist of the insole to the toe removed leaving enough of
the edge as may be necessary to form a border for the purpose of attaching to
the same the " upper" of the boot or shoes, and the sole.
By this means I provide a perfectly flexible sole to a finished boot. I may
if found desirable insert a piece of cork or other material into the spaces formed
in the insole, and the said edges or border may be joined or tied together by a
strip of leather from side to side left for this purpose when cutting out the
improved insole.
Dated this 14th day of Decombon 1808
J. B. FLEURET,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM HARMER, of 78, Lansdowne Road, Walthamstow, in the County
of Essex, 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 relates to improvements in the insoles of boots and shoes and
has for its object to increase the lightness and pliability of the latter and to
facilitate their repair.

page_text: The demand for light and pliable boots and shoes has been met with what is
known as "sewrounds" and "welted" goods, but the great objection to these
is the difficulty in repairing the same. Boots and shoes have also been exten-
sively manufactured on the "Blake" machine sewn principle but owing to
their stiffness under the present system they are now generally discarded in
favour of the "sewrounds and welted."
Now the object of my invention is to manufacture boots and shoes on the
"Blake" principle that shall be light, pliable, and at the same time easy to
repair.
For this purpose instead of the ordinary solid insole I construct the latter with
an open or cut-away portion leaving a shell or inside welt around which the
shoe is made in the same manner as with the whole or solid insole.
The portion removed from, or left open in the insole is that from the waist
to the toe, a sufficient margin or edge being left around the open part for sewing
or attaching the said sole to the upper, and to the outer sole.
In some cases I may form the insole with an open portion in the rear or
heel end as well as in the forepart, but this is not generally necessary as the
flexibility is required chiefly in the forepart.
In constructing and fitting my improved insoles I prefer to form the inner
surface of the outer sole with a projecting portion the same size and shape as
the opening in the insole so as to fit and partly fill up the said opening, the
remaining space of the opening being filled with a separate piece of felt, cork,
or other pliable material. The edges or border may in some cases be joined
or tied together by a strip or crosspiece left when cutting out the opening in
the insole.
And in order to clearly understand my invention I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a
plan of one of the improved insoles attached to the outer sole, and Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the insole taken on
the line of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the outer sole taken on
the same section line as that of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a
shoe fitted with my improved insole. a is the insole and at the opening formed
in or cut out of same between the waist and the toe as shown.
The size of the opening a¹ is such that sufficient space is left to form a margin
or border around it for sewing or attaching the outer sole and the upper
thereto. is the outer sole which is preferably formed with the slightly raised
portion of the same size and shape as the opening a¹ so as to fit therein and
project partly therethrough the remaining space being filled up with a piece of
felt c, cork or other pliable material. d is the leather or cock sock or lining
covering the insole and flexible filling piece c.
The upper a of the boot or shoe is sewn or otherwise attached to the margin
or border around the edge of the insole in such manner that the sole or upper
may be readily repaired.
By means of my invention a maximum of flexibility is provided in the fore-
part of the boot or shoe whilst at the same time a firm and rigid support is
given to the waist or arch of the foot, thereby rendering it particularly easy
and adaptable for walking or running purposes.
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:
(1) The improved insole for boots and shoes having an open portion formed
in the centre of the forepart, between the waist and the toe, of a size and shape
sufficient to leave margin or. border, for attaching the outer sole and upper
thereto, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
(2) In an improved boot and shoe insole such as a forming, the same with
an open or cut-away portion a¹ with a margin or border a² to which is attached

page_text: the outer sole b formed with a raised portion 61 engaging with the opening a¹,
and the upper e, the opening being filled up with a strip or piece of felt or
cork c or other suitable material, substantially as described and shown in the
drawings.
Dated this 14th da
Lumat 1900
J. B. FLEURET,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.