Improvements in Overshoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Overshoes.
I, LUTE ENSIGN CAMPBELL, of 120, South Summit Street, Arkansas City, in the
State of Arkansas, United States of America, 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 improvements in rubber shoes, its object being to
provide a simple, cheap and efficient means for preventing overshoes from riding
up and down on the heel or coming off when worn on muddy or soggy roads.
With this object in view, the invention consists in the several details of con-
struction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing my improved over-
shoe applied to an ordinary shoe;
Figure 2 is an inverted horizontal section through the heel portion of the
overshoe;
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the heel portion of the
ordinary shoe and the overshoe;
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section through the same.
Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.
1 indicates the overshoe, 2 an ordinary leather shoe, and 3 the top edge of the
counter of the latter. On its inner face the heel portion of the overshoe is pro-
vided with a thickened or reinforced portion indicated by 4, which is preferably
integral with the body of the overshoe and moulded thereon when the shoe is
made. It may, however, be a separate piece secured to the body by cement or
otherwise.
The reinforced portion is merged at its upper edge in the body of the overshoe
and gradually increases in thickness downwardly to form a well defined shoulder 5
which extends from end to end thereof, and is adapted to engage the upper edge
of the counter of the shoe. At each end the reinforced portion swells outwardly to
form the convex portions 6 which are so disposed as to engage the inner shoe
just opposite the hollows in the foot between the heel and the ankle at each side
of the foot.
The convex portions or enlargements 6, which form lower shoulders and which
are adapted to engage the shoe above the counter thereof, taper both vertically
and horizontally in order to avoid the formation of shoulders or walls at their
ends or tops, whereby the rubber overshoe is caused to fit the leather shoe closely
at its upper edges to prevent water or slush entering between the shoe and the
overshoe. The enlargements or convex portions 6 are oppositely tapered horizon-
tally, being gradually decreased in thickness from their centres to their outer
ends and also to the terminals of the part 7. The shoulder 5, below the convex
portion 6, is deeper than it is below the part 7 which connects the two convex
portions 6, and its depth will vary throughout its length from about one-thirty
second of an inch to about three-thirty seconds, more or less as may be desired.
From the convex portions 6 the reinforced portion will gradually decrease in

page_text: thickness until it again merges at its ends in the body of the shoe, as indicated
at 8.
The space between the inner face of the sole of the overshoe and the shoulder 5
is greater at its rear portion than it is at the convexed end portion 6, for two
reasons; first, because the upper edge of the counter of a shoe is usually higher
at the rear of the heel than it is at the sides; and, second, because the overshoe
can be worn on any inner shoe irrespective of the height of the counter, as some
part of the shoulder will engage some part of the edge of the counter in all
cases, for the variation in the height of the counter on different shoes is very
small.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have produced an
exceedingly simple and efficient means for preventing an overshoe from riding
up and down on the heel of the inner shoe, and that by arranging the shoulder
in the reinforced portion intermediate its edges and tapering the reinforced por-
tion upwardly and downwardly from the shoulder that the reinforced part will
correspond almost identically with the shape of the inner shoe and will, therefore,
cause no inconvenience whatever to the wearer. The upper edges of the over-
shoe are adapted to fit closely against the leather shoe and are not held away
from the same by the shoulders, and water and slush are prevented from entering
between the leather shoe and the overshoe. The continuous strip 7 across the
back of the overshoc assists in holding the latter upon the leather shoe by
increasing the thickness of the overshoe at this point sufficiently to increase the
contact, yet without any perceptible change in the appearance of the outside of
the overshoe, and should the convex portions or enlargements become accidentally
pulled out from the shoe, the continuous strip 7 will be drawn closer to the back
of the shoe and obtain a firm hold on the same and prevent the overshoe from
slipping off. The convexed portions at the end of the reinforcement will aid
materially in holding the overshoe in position and will of themselves be sufficient
for this purpose should the overshoe be worn on an inner shoe without any
counter. The portion of the reinforcement below the shoulder will stiffen the
overshoe and prevent any liability of its breaking on the line of the shoulder.
It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details
of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing
any of the advantages of this invention.
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:-
An overshoe having a reinforcement extending continuously around the heel
portion on the inner face thereof and forming a shoulder to engage the upper
edge of the counter of a shoe, said reinforcement consisting of the connecting
portion 7 and, the convex enlargements 6 located at the terminals of the portion 7
and adapted to engage the shoe opposite the hollows in the foot of the wearer,
between the heel and the ankle, said convex enlargements 6 being tapered from
their centres to their outer ends and to the terminals of the portion 7 and
gradually decreasing in thickness above the shoulder at their bottoms or lower
edges to the upper edges of the overshoe, whereby the upper edges of the over-
shoe will fit closely to the inner shoe and exclude water and slush, substantially
as described.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.