PROVISIONAL Safety Football Boots.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL
Safety Football Boots.
EDWIN CHATHAM Rhos-y-medre Ruabon Builder do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Football boots as now made are dangerous having hard and sharp edges to the
soles, and accidents are frequent. My intention is to make them less dangerous if
not altogether harmless. My idea is to inake a kind of toe tip of india rubber or
some other material or composition of a similar nature, they may be made either
as a toe cap, covering the entire toe end, with a lip on the underside or bottom, or
without a cap, in which case the lip may form part of the middle sole. My idea
is, that something should be done to the toe end of the boot, that in the event of
an accidental kick the material should be of such a nature & shape so as to give
way, and thus obviate the risk of crippleing anyone, and I consider india rubber or
some other composition similar in nature, will be soft and flexible enough without
being too soft, they may be made in various patterns & shapes for usefulness,
cheapness and ornamentation.
Dated this 25th day of February 1892
EDWIN CHATHAM.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Safety Football Boots.
EDWIN CHATHAM Rhoa-y-medre, Ruabon Builder 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:-
By means of india-rubber which I purpose should be fixed at the toe of football
boots I consider a marked improvement will be achieved in rendering the effects
of a kick on any part of the human body less dangerous.
That such accidents do occur is patent to everyone acquainted with footballing.
My idea in putting india-rubber to the toe of football boots is, because india-rubber
is softer in its nature than leather, and will therefore give way readily, when
brought in contact with some other object, and when by accident it happens that
the object is a part of a man's body instead of the ball then comes the danger
of crippleing and also a proof of the necessity of a safety football boot.
The india-rubber toe can be made in many different shapes and patterns, either
that part of the sole may be covered wholely or partially, or in that shape which
will cover the toe end of the boots over and underneath (a kind of toe cap). They
can also be made so as to be placed readily on any football boots, and may be
secured in position by means of rivets which would be better perhaps for having
A lip
flat heads for underneath the boots, or with cement, or they may be sewn.
around the edge and underneath may be required and may be of any section. Pure
india-rubber or any composition of the same may be used as will be found most
suitable. The caps may be made in plain or ornamental designs, and may be
attached to any boots used for football playing.
The following references will explain my drawings.
A is a drawing showing an ordinary football boot with the india-rubber toe cap.
B is the cap.
C is a section longitudinally through boot and india-rubber toe cap.
D is the lip round the edge underneath.
E is a view of the rubber under the boot.

page_text: F is a section showing the india-rubber, toe without a cap.
G is the same, but in a more simpler way.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
An india-rubber toe for football boots made with or without a cap, to reduce the
risks of crippleing, and thus to perform the office of a safety football boot.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1892.
EDWIN CHATHAM,
Rhos-y-medre, Ruabon.