Improvements in Boots and Shoes and in Means for Securing Them on the Foot.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM MARSHALL, and HECTOR MARSHALL,
both of No. 227, Bay Street, Port Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Boots and Shoes and in Means for Securing Them on
the Foot.
We, SOLOMON FLATAU, HARRY FLATAU, and SAMUEL FLATAU, trading as
A. & W. Flatau & Co., all of Nos. 21 to 28, Ropemaker Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Wholesale Boot Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in boots and shoes, and the
tightening thereof, and the object of our invention is to provide a boot or shoe
with a better means of contracting the upper around the foot above or below the
ankle. Hitherto it has been the practice to have the upper separated in the front,
and drawn together by a lace passing through eyelet holes or hooks on each side
of the parted edges. If the upper around, below or above the ankle is a bad fit
the boot or shoe consequently shifts up and down on the wearer's feet each time
a step is taken. Not only is this inconvenient for users, but it also very rapidly
wears a hole in the sole of the sock, and thereby causes the expense of its replace-
ment or renewal. But with our invention this cannot occur, since we so con-
struct the upper that in addition to the separate or divided front, a contracting-
string, ribbon or lace passes right round the upper above or below the ankle, and
when contracted not only is the boot or shoe more securely attached to the front,
but dust is more thoroughly excluded; to say nothing of the increased comfort,
or the saving in socks.
Our invention consists of a boot or shoe upper, the foot hole in which has round
its top edge a pocketted channel and groove, or other passage way. This may be
effected in a variety of ways, preferably by turning the leather over then stitch-
ing its bottom edge to the body of the upper. Or the material forming the top
edge of the foot hole may be turned inwardly and stitched upon its bottom edge
to the upper body.
In some shoes or boots we prefer to make an uninterrupted channel-way hole
right around the outside, or the inside of the upper. Whilst in others the channel
we form inside or outside of the body may be interrupted, and have one or more
gaps or bays therein.
But in any case the lace by which the upper is contracted upon the foot passes
through the channel way hole, and may be strained either on the back or the front
of the foot, or a gap or bay may be made on the side of the upper, and the tighten-
ing knot made thereat. Or the string, ribbon, or lace may be tightened at any of
the eyelet holes or hooks down the front portion of the upper, since the same
string, ribbon, or lace can also pass through the eyelet holes or hooks as passes
through the channel way hale.

page_text: At the rear of the channel way are one or more holes through which a needle
may enter for threading the lace. This needle may be of any shape, but it is
preferably a piece of wire with an eyelet hole therein.
The manner in which we prefer to use the lace is as follows:-One end of it
having been passed through the channel way hole, or around the same, the two
ends are then free to insert through the eyelet holes or around the hooks down the
front of the upper.
One of the ends is then taken down inside the boot, and
beneath or alongside the tongue, and threaded through the holes until it reaches
the top of the upper. The other end is taken from the channel way to the eye-
let hole in the meeting edges opposite it. By this arrangement one pull on the
lace not only closes the meeting edges together, but also contracts the upper
around the foot.
The lace need not necessarily pass through the overturned pocketted edge of
the upper but any other suitable guide or guides such for example as hooks or
rings may be provided around the top of the upper either inside or outside it, as
a means by which to guide and retain the lace in position so that it will close
the upper around the leg or foot either above or below the ankle.
Dated the 14th day of October 1898.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes and in Means for Securing them on
the Foot.
We, SOLOMON FLATAU, HARRY FLATAU, and SAMUEL FLATAU, trading as
Flatau & Co., of Nos. 21 to 28, Ropemaker Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, which has been communicated to us from abroad by William Marshall
and Hector Marshall, both of 227, Bay Street, l'ort Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of our invention is to provide a boot or shoe with a better means
of contracting the "upper" around the foot above or below the ankle. Hitherto
it has been the practice to have the upper divided or separated in a straight line
up the front and drawn together by a lace passing through eyelet holes or around
hooks on each side of the meeting edges only, and finally tieing the ends together.
This method of securing the boot or shoe to the foot is not always satisfactory.
If the upper around, below or above the ankle is a bad fit the boat or shoe con-
sequently shifts or rides up and down each time the wearer's foot is bent. Not
only is this inconvenient for the wearer but it also very rapidly wears a hole in the
sole or heel of the sock and thereby not only causes discomfort but also entails the
expense of repair or renewal. But with our invention, which is of especial value
to cyclists, this cannot occur, since we so construct the upper that in addition to
the usual means of fastening, we introduce at or near its top edge a contracting
string, ribbon, or lace which passes through a passage-way made to receive it.
This lace may be a prolongation of the ordinary one or a separate one, as desired.
The lace not only passes in and out of the holes and around the hooks on the front
edges as usual but also through the said tube, channel, groove, or other similar
passage at or near the top edge of the upper.

page_text: Our invention consists of a boot or shoe in which the top of the upper has
wholly or partly around or near its edge, a tube, pocketted .channel, or groove,
or similar passage-way. This passage may be continuous or interrupted or in
sections. It may be formed in a variety of ways but preferably by turning the
leather over upon itself downwardly and then stitching or otherwise securing its
bottom edge around to the body of the upper; or the material forming the top
edge of the foot hole may be turned inwardly and stitched or otherwise secured upon
its bottom edge to the body of the upper. The passage need not necessarily be
continued around the back, which can be left open either inside or outside of the
upper; but in any case the lace by which the upper is contracted upon the foot
passes through the channel-way hole, and may be strained either on the back or
the front of the foot, or a gap or bay may be made on the side of the upper, and
the tightening knot made thereat. Or the string ribbon, or lace may be tightened
at any of the eyelet holes or hooks down the front portion of the upper, since the
same string, ribbon, or lace can also pass through the eyelet holes or hooks as
passes through the channel-way hole.
At the rear of the channel-way are one or more holes through which a needle
may enter for threading the lace. This needle may be of any shape, but it is
preferably a piece of wire with an eyelet hole therein.
[.
The manner in which we prefer to use the lace is as follows;-One end of it
having been passed through the channel-way hole, or around the same, the two
ends are then free to be inserted through the eyelet holes or around the hooks
down the front of the upper. One of the ends is then taken down inside the shoe,
and beneath or alongside the tongue, and threaded through the holes until it
reaches the top of the upper. The other end is taken from the channel way to
the eyelet hole in the meeting edges opposite it. By this arrangement one pull on
the lace not only closes the meeting edges together, but also contracts the upper
around the foot.
The lace need not necessarily pass through the over-turned pocketted edge of
the upper, but any other suitable guide or guides such for example as hooks or
rings may be provided around the top of the upper either inside or outside it, as
a means by which to guide and retain the lace in position so that it will close the
upper around the leg or foot either above or below the ankle.
To the wearing parts where the lace chafes, a metal or other lining may be
attached.
In order that our invention may be better understood we will now refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this specification
and read therewith:-
Figure 1 represents a plan of a cycling shoe in dotted lines, shewing in full
lines the lace threaded through the passage way around the upper.
Figure 2 is a perspective view representing the lace passing outside the upper
at the heel. The departure of the lace from the passage on each side is also seen.
One end of the lace descending to the lower hole in the meeting edges and the
ather to the upper hole.
Figure 3 represents the wire or other needle by which the lace is drawn through
the passage way.
Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale of one side of the upper, shewing the
turned down portion the bottom part of which is stitched to the upper. The lace
is also seen in the passage thus formed.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they
occur in the several views.
On reference to the drawings it will be seen that A denotes the shoe, the upper, B,
of which is divided down the front. The meeting edges C are provided with lace
holes from the bottom to the top. Or near the top may be outside hooks around
which the up-going lace engages. Secured to the upper by stitching or other
means is the downwardly-turned portion D (Figures 2 and 4) by which the
passage-way E is formed. Through the passage-way passes the lace F which latter

page_text: at the rear of the upper (by preference) leaves the inside of the upper through
holes or the metal linings G, and protrudes outside the said upper.
In Figure 3 is seen the needle by which the lace is passed through the passage-
ways.
The lace by which the upper is contracted may be strained and knotted either
at the back or front of the upper or at any suitable part of the meeting edges.
Or a gap or bay may be made on the side of the upper and the tightening knot
made thereat.
The method of entering the lace may be as follows:-One end (say the right-
hand end) being entered into the small eye of the needle the said eye and the
lace are pushed through one of the eyelet rings and along the passage-way. It
emerges from this passage-way (say the right-hand passage way) at the front of
the upper and is then taken downwardly to the left-hand bottom hole. The lace
is then worked upwardly through the holes and leaves the top left-hand one (or
hook) ready for knotting. The other end of the lace by the needle is pushed
through the other passage-way. On emerging from the front of the upper it is
lead over to and through the upper right-hand hole and is also ready for knotting.
Or each end of the lace may be passed through its respective passage-way and then
lead to its respective holes. Or the whole operation may be reversed and the lace
ends first lead through the bottom holes. But in any case the final disposition of
the lace is as shewn.
By our invention one pull on the lace not only draws the meeting edges together
but also contracts the upper around the foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improvement in cycling and other shoes consisting of the upper having
a passage-way formed by turning downwardly and securing to the upper a por-
tion of the said upper, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the drawings.
2. The improvement in cycling and other shoes consisting of a passage-way
formed on each side of the shoe by turning downwardly and securing to the
upper a portion of the said upper, the back portion of the passage being inter-
rupted and the upper provided with eyelet rings, all as and for the purposes herein-
before described and as illustrated in the drawings.
3. The improvement in cycling and other shoes consisting of the combination
of an upper having an interrupted passage-way, eyelet rings, and a lace threaded
and operating as described and illustrated.
100
1
1 1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.