New or Improved Protectors for the Toes and Heels of Boots.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1895-Accepted 13th Apr.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Protectors for the Toes and Heels of Boots.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FARMER, of Ton-y-pandy, near Pontypridd, Glamorgan-
shire, Boot Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
My invention relates to new or improved protectors or metal shields to be
attached to the toes and heels of boots of the class worn by miners, quarrymen,
and others engaged in similar work, where the uppers are liable to be cut and
damaged by contact with jagged pieces of metal, flints, and the like.
My invention consists in providing and attaching a metal protector, somewhat
similar to the copper toe-tip used for many years on children's boots, but of a
sufficient size to protect the whole front of the toes and to extend some distance
round the sides, the one on the heel being similar in shape (but somewhat smaller)
to an ordinary boot stiffening; and boots fitted with protectors in this way will be
much less liable to damage from sharp pieces of metal and stone, and consequently
will be more durable.
The metal tips on children's boots referred to, are made with broad flanges to fit
on the insoles, with holes in the flauge for nailing the tip to the insole, the width of
the flange necessitating the rivets used in attaching the soles being placed some
distance from the edge of the sole; to obviate this, according to my invention, the
protector is made of a strip of metal of the length and shape required, one edge of
which is flanged up at right angles to form the outer or visible part of the metal
plate, the base which fits on the insole is then cut away in segments, leaving narrow
strips which serve as holders, the ends of these are again bent to form hooks, the
plate is then blocked to the required shape, and is ready for putting over the toe
or heel of a boot after it is lasted before the soles are attached, the hooks are
driven into the insole and the protector secured thereto; the openings made
between the strips permit the rivets used in attaching the soles or building the
heels to be inserted in the usual way. Or, instead of the hooks forming integral
parts of the protector as described, wire staples may be used for attaching the base
of the plate to the insole.
The metal plates may be coated with enamel or other composition to prevent
rust, or to render them as invisible as possible.
Dated this 15th day of June 1894.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Protectors for the Toes and Heels of Boots.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FARMER, of Ton-y-pandy, near Pontypridd, Glamorgan-
shire, Boot Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to new or improved protectors or metal shields to be
attached to the toes and heels of boots, especially to that class of boots worn by
miners, quarrymen, and others similarly employed, whose work renders the most
[Price Rd 1

page_text: exposed parts of the uppers of their boots, viz., the toes and heels, liable to be cut
and otherwise damaged by contact with jagged pieces of metal, flints, and
the like.
My invention consists in providing metal caps to cover those parts of the uppers
of boots at the toes and heels which are immediately above, and attached to, the
soles, the caps for the toes being somewhat similar to the metal toe tips used for
many years past on children's boots, but preferably extending further round the
sides, to protect the front part of the boots; and the caps for the heels will be
similarly shaped, but somewhat higher, and will, in fact, be a métal stiffener put on
the outside of the heel, and may be about half the height of the ordinary leather
stiffener.
The construction of my improved protectors and the means for attaching them to
boots, will be fully illustrated and explained by reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a strip of any suitable metal, cut of the required length and
width for a toe protector, spaces being cut out, leaving a suitable number of strips
or tongues as shown;
Fig. 2 represents the piece of metal flanged up and blocked into shape, ready for
putting on the insole of a boot when lasted, the tongues being either flattened as
shown to rest on the insole, or pointed and bent, so that the protector is held by
the points being driven into the insole, or by small nails or tacks placed through
the holes, or by staples to keep the tongues firmly in position on the insole:
Fig. 3 shows a strip similarly cut for a heel protector, but longer and
wider; and
Fig. 4 is a view of the same flanged up round the edge ready to be fitted over
the heel of the insole;
Fig. 5 shows a boot to which the toe and heel protectors are attached.
The protectors being made of thin metal, may be blocked or moulded to the
required shape, or may be made of cast metal, the object being to have them of
the shape and size required for the boots on which they are to be used: the metal
toe-tips hitherto used, have been made with a wide flange to be laid over the upper
and insole, this necessitates the rivets used in making the boots being inserted at
some distance from the edge, to avoid coming into contact with the flange; but
with the tongues as shown on my protectors, the nails or rivets can be driven in at
any distance from the edge, as the narrow tongues can easily be avoided; and as
before mentioned, the tongues are secured to the insole by the ends being pointed
and inserted, or by staples placed over them, or (preferably) by holes made in the
ends as shown, through which ordinary lasting tacks or tingles are placed and the
tongues fastened to the insole.
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 manufacture of protectors for the toes and heels of boots, in which strips
or tongues are left on the plates to form fastenings to hold them firmly on the
insole, so that in the manufacture of boots, the nails may be inserted at any distance
from the edge of the sole without coming in contact with the metal, substantially
as described and shown.
2. The manufacture of metal heel protectors of the nature and shape of stiffeners
to be used outside the counters or uppers of boots for miners, quarrymen, and the
like, to preserve them from damage by contact with metal, flints, and other jagged
substances, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and described.
Dated this 17th day of Januar 1905
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.