IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF WATERPROOF BOOTS, SHoes, and Gaiters
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF WATERPROOF BOOTS, SHoes, and Gaiters."-A communication
from abroad by Frederick M. Shepard, of the City and State of
·New York United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th November 1873.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF BOOTS, SHOES, AND GAITERS," to be as
follows:
-
The object of this Invention is to produce waterproof boots, shoes, and
gaiters with an outer sole which will resist the cutting action of sharp
edges. To this end there is inserted within the india-rubber sole of the
,־

page_text: ordinary boot, shoe, or covering for the foot a plate of metal or other
equivalent material which will resist the vulcanizing heat, and to which
after vulcanization an outer sole of leather or equivalent material
suitable for an outer sole is applied to resist the cutting action of sharp
stones.
The boot or shoe made of india-rubber or allied gum prepared for
vulcanization has a sole of less than the ultimate thickness required, and
a plate of thin sheet metal cut of the required form and provided with
projecting rivets is laid thereon. Over this plate a sheet of prepared
rubber or allied gum in the green or plastic state is applied and caused
to adhere to the surface of the inner sole all around the metal plate, the
rivets extending through holes in the said sheet of prepared gum. In
this condition the boot or shoe is subjected to the well known curing
process. To the sole thus prepared the leather sole is secured by riveting,
and if desired the heel may be prepared in like manner.
:
-
As a modification the outer sole may be secured by screws passing
through the leather and the outer coating of india-rubber and screwed
into the enclosed plate. Or two thicknesses of metal may be embedded,
that nearest the outside being pierced with small holes so that the outer
sole may be sécured by driving nails through the leather, the outer
coating of india-rubber, and through the holes, in one of the metal
plates, and clinched by striking against the surface of the inner plate.
:
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alfred Vincent' Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th May 1874.
ALFRED
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,,
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the 3
year of our, Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred, Vincent Newton, Her special

page_text: licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF BOOTS, SHOES,
AND GAITERS," being a communication to me from abroad by Frederick
M. Shepard, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, .do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained,
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
Boots, shoes, and arctic gaiters, as ordinarily made of vulcanized
india-rubber are thoroughly waterproof, but it is well known that that
material will not resist the cutting action of sharp edges, particularly
when wet, and for that reason the soles of such articles when used by
miners and others who are liable to walk on sharp stones or shells,
particularly when wet, are cut through in a short time, thereby
destroying their waterproof quality so essential in such articles. Leather
or other equivalent material suitable for resisting such cutting action
has not heretofore been used for the outer soles of india-rubber boots,
shoes, and arctic gaiters, because if attached thereto while the india-
rubber is in the green or plastic state it will not stand the heat necessary
for vulcanizing.
The object of this Invention is to produce waterproof boots, shoes, and
gaiters with an outer sole which will resist the cutting action of sharp
edges. To this end there is inserted within the india-rubber sole of the

page_text: equivalent material which will resist the vulcanizing heat, and to which
after vulcanization an outer sole of leather or equivalent material
suitable for an outer sole is applied to resist the cutting action of sharp
stones.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews in side elevation, and
Fig. 2 in inverted plan, a boot made on the improved principle. Fig. 3
is a plan view with the outer sole removed; Fig. 4 is a section through
the sole and metal plate, and Fig. 5 shews the metal plate detached.
The boot or shoe composed of india-rubber or allied gum prepared for
vulcanization is made in the ordinary manner, but with a sole a of less
than the ultimate thickness required, and to this sole is applied a plate b
of thin sheet metal cut of the required form, as represented by Fig. 5.
This plate is provided with projecting rivets c which may be brazed or
otherwise secured to it. Over this metal plate a sheet of prepared
rubber or allied gum d, while in the green or plastic state, is laid and
caused to adhere thereto and to the exposed surface of the inner sole all
around the edges of the metal plate, the rivets c extending through
holes in the said sheet of prepared gum. In this condition the boot or
shoe is subjected to the well known heating or curing process to
vulcanize the india-rubber. When the boot or shoe comes out of the
heater vulcanized it is thoroughly waterproof, and the metallic plate is
embedded within the india-rubber sole, its rivets extending out beyond
the surface of the vulcanized india-rubber sole. To the sole thus
prepared the leather sole e is secured by rivetting, as shewn at Figures 2.
and 4. If desired the heel may be prepared in like manner.
I have thus described and represented the mode of construction which
I deem the best, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting my
claim of Invention to such mode of construction, as the Invention is
susceptible of many modifications so long as there is embedded in the
india-rubber part of the sole, before vulcanization, a plate or sections of
a plate with projecting pins or rivets extending through or beyond the
outer coating of india-rubber, to which an outer sole can be secured, or
rivets with large heads may be substituted if the heads be made of such
sizethat in walking they will not be forced through the inner india-
rubber portion of the sole.

page_text: As a modification the outer sole may be secured by screws passing
through the leather and the outer coating of india-rubber and screwed
into the enclosed plate or sections of a plate. Or two thicknesses of
metal may be embedded, that nearest the outside being pierced with
small holes so that the outer sole may be secured by driving nails
through the leather, the outer coating of india-rubber, and through the
holes in one of the metal plates, and clinched by striking against the
surface of the inner plate. Although it is preferred to use metal for the
plate to be embedded in the india-rubber part of the sole I do not wish
to be limited thereto, as equivalent substances may be substituted
provided such substitute will stand the vulcanizing heat, and is
sufficiently strong to hold the rivets, screws, or equivalent fastening.
For the outer sole it is also preferred to use leather, but other and
equivalent material may be substituted provided it will resist the
cutting action of sharp edges better than vulcanized india-rubber or
allied gums.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in the Manufacture of Waterproof Boots, Shoes, and Gaiters," as com-
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim a waterproof
boot, shoe, and gaiter made to resist the cutting action of sharp edges in
the manner substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.