A New or Improved Stiffener for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
A New or Improved Stiffener for Boots and Shoes.
I, AIRIN KIRSHENSTEIN of 13, Assembly Passage, E. Boot and Shoe Manufac-
turer, 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 a stiffening device for use with boots and shoes, and
has for its object to provide a stiffener which can be cut from a single piece of
material, thus reducing the expense and difficulty of manufacture.
According to my invention the stiffener is formed from card or other board of
the usual description, the central portion of which is curved or rounded and the
ends consist of narrow strips or extensions. The blank is then bent round so as
to form the shape of the heel, and the lower edge bent under to form the bottom of
the stiffener. The extremities or end strips are placed one over the other, and
are then secured together by small nails or other suitable device. A stiffener of
the proper shape is thus formed from a single piece of material, and one knife only
is required for the complete arrangement, instead of a number of separate strips
and separate cutting tools which are necessary in other forms of stiffener
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a blank from which
the stiffener is formed, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complete arrangement
ready for insertion in the boot and shoe.
The blank is cut as shown in Fig. 1 with the wide central portion A, the upper
edge of which is curved or rounded and the lower edge slightly scooped
out. The end strips B are considerably narrower than the body of the stiffener,
and are preferably of between two or three inches in length tapering towards
the ends.
As shown in Fig. 2 the blank is bent round and the lower edge is also bent
under to form the bottom a of the stiffener, the ledges so formed being continuous
with the end strips. The latter are placed one over the other as shown, and are
connected together to complete the arrangement.
This form of stiffener also reduces the weight, thus rendering the shoes lighter
than they would otherwise have been.
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. An improved stiffener for boots and shoes formed from a single piece of
material tapering towards each end, the ends being secured together to form the
stiffener, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. An improved stiffener for boots and shoes, formed from a single piece of
material terminating in narrow strips, the blank being bent round to form the
fastener, its lower edge bent under and the strips placed one on top of the other
and secured together, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

page_text: 3. The improved stiffener for boots and shoes formed from a single piece of
material, substantially in the manner described and shown in the accompanying
drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 12th day of Mo 1807
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.