Improvements in or relating to Boots'and' Shoes
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1894.
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1895 Accepted, 29th June, 1895
Improvements in or relating to Boots'and' Shoes'
I, FRANK KENNELL of Ethel Villa, Loughborough Road, Belgrave, in the
County Borough of Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to boots and shoes and embodies improvements
which are especially applicable to boots and shoes to be used for football
purposes.
The improvements have for their object to enable a football player to kick or
control the ball with greater precision-and certainty than is obtainable by ordinary
footgear.
For this purpose the toe-cap, vamp, or instep portion of a boot or shoe or any
suitable portions of any or all of such parts is provided with a series of slots or
other suitably shaped openings therein which roughen the surface of the upper of
a buot or shoe su that the ball is not likely to slip off at an angle to the direction of
the 'kick:
The back or heel portion of the upper or a counter or overlaid portion thereon
may also be provided with slots or other suitably shaped openings for the same
purpose.
Dated this 27th day of September 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in or relating to boots and S
I, FRANK KENNELL of Ethel Villa, Loughborough Road, Belgrave, in the
County Borough of Leicester, Boot and Shoe 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:—
This invention has reference to boots and shoes and embodies improvements
thereto which render them specially applicable for football purposes:
It very olten occurs that a football player fails to obtain a goal because when in
the act of kicking the ball the latter, instead of being impelled forward in the
direction intended by the player, goes off the player's boot in a sidewise direction
in consequence of the smoothness, and in wet weather the greasiness, of the toe of
the boot which fails to offer the requisite frictional contact at the moment of
touching it to insure the ball travelling in the desired direction.
The present invention has for its object such improvements in the construction
of boots and shoes as hereinafter described as will afford the player more control
over the ball during the game-and-enable him to kick the-ball with greater
precision and certainty thinn is possible with ordinary foot gear!
For this purpose boots and shoes according to the present invention are provided
on the toe, vaimp, or instep portion with a series of slots or other suitably shaped

page_text: -
openings which roughen the surface-of such part of the upper of a boot or shoe Bo
that the ball is less likely to slip off at an angle to the intended direction of
the kick.
The player is also enabled the better to deal with the bail while playing it under
other conditions as during "dribbling."
The back or heel portion of the upper or a counter or overlaid portion thereon
may also be similarly treated for like purposes.
The invention will be fully understood from the following further description
referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a boot adapted for football
purposes and constructed in accordance with this invention.
The toe portion of the boot has a cap A secured thereon preferably by one or
more rows of stitches A such cap being provided with a series of slots or
openings B as shown which afford the necessary roughness of the surface to ensure
sufficient frictional contact with the ball to prevent it slipping off in a direction
not intended by the player when delivering a kick.
The vamp C and the instep portion D may also have a similar provision thereon
if desired.
The heel portion of the upper is provided with a slotted counter or overlaid
attachment E which is secured thereon by stitches E' and which enable the player
to deal effectively with the ball for back kicking or back passing.
To more securely attach the toe cap A and the heel attachment E to the upper,
a row of stitches F may pass down preferably each of the bars F located between
and forming the walls of adjacent slots B, or both A and E may be attached to the
upper by cement or similar adhesive material.
The invention is not limited to the use of slotted openings as other convenient
shaped openings or openwork may be employed at the parts of the upper for the
purpose described.
Having now particularly 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:-
1.4
1. A boot or shoe the toe portion of the upper of which is provided with a series
of slots or other suitably shaped openings substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. A boot or shoe the heel portion of the upper of which is provided with a series
of slots or other suitably shaped openings substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A boot or shoe the vamp or instep portion of the upper of which is provided
with a series of slots or other suitably shaped openings substantially as and for the
purpose.described.
4. A boot or shoe in which the toe, heel, vamp, or instep portion or any one or
more of such parts of the upper is or are provided with an openworked overlayer
secured to the upper substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
5. The improved football boot constructed substantially in the manner described
and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Witness-
E. N. LEWIB,
Berridge Street Chambers, Leicester.
FRANK KENNELL.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.