Improvements in and relating to Protectors for Corns, Bunions, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Protectors for Corns, Bunions, and
the like.
I ALBERT NIXON of 12 Laudrock Road Crouch End London N. Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and relating to protectors for corns,
bunions and the like and especial objects of my invention are to obviate some of
the disadvantages or defects appertaining to corn or bunion protectors made as
hitherto.
It is well known that corn or bunion protectors made of felt or other similar
material become more or less hard after having been worn for a comparatively short
time, on account of the said felt or other material not being possessed of sufficient
elasticity to cause it to spring back when the pressure, say of the boot, is released.
A further defect appertaining to such protectors is that they soon wear out and become
.useless.
My invention consists essentially of a cushioned and elastic protector for corns,
bunions and the like and in carrying my invention into practice I make my improved
protectors preferably of soft rubber the said protector which is preferably ring-shaped
being hollow and containing liquid or atmospheric air or both at a suitable pressure.
The external as well as the sectional shape of my improved protectors for corns,
bunions, and the like may be any which may in practice be found most suitable, and
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to employ india-rubber as the
material of which my improved protectors may be made, and also, the interior of such
protectors may, if desired, be filled with other gas or fluid than atmospheric air, or
said protectors may be filled with any suitable liquid or partly with liquid and partly
with a suitable gas.
My improved protectors may also be provided with any suitable adhesive, or said
protectors may be mounted on a piece or pieces of sticking plaster or said protectors
may be mounted on, or otherwise provided with an elastic or other band capable of
being tied or slipped on to the toe or other part of the foot where the corn, bunion or
the like is situated. As an alternative one or both sides of my improved protector
made be made hollow or concave so as to be capable of being attached by "suction"
if desired assisted by an adhesive.
If desired also the centre or other part of my improved protector may be provided
with any suitable medicament or emollient substance.
Dated this 18th day of June 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Protectors for Corns, Bunions, and
the like.
ALBERT NIXON of 12 Landrock Road, Crouch End, London, Druggists Sundries
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 relates to improvements in and relating to protectors for corns,
bunions and the like and the especial objects are to obviate some of the disad-
vantages appertaining to corn or bunion protectors made as hitherto.
It is well known that corn or bunion protectors made of felt or other similar
material harden to some extent after having been worn for a comparatively short
time and further such protectors soon wear out and become useless.
My invention consists essentially in a hollow elastic protector, made of india
rubber, gutta percha or other suitable material and containing within it atmospheric
air, or gas or a suitable liquid or a combination of two or more of these and in
carrying out my invention I employ a mould consisting of two parts and preferably
made of metal. Said two parts are made to correspond the one within the other
so that by inserting a piece of sheet india-rubber or other suitable material between
said two parts which parts may have previously been warmed-and pressing said
two parts together, the piece of sheet rubber will be moulded into the required
shape to form the top of the protector. If desired a number of such moulds may
be simultaneously employed by placing a sheet of rubber over the whole series of
under parts of the moulds and pressing the upper and under 'parts together
simultaneously.
Said moulded or shaped rubber is next vulcanised in the usual manner and
returned to the under and hollow part of the mould or moulds, and any desired
material-solid or liquid-which it is desired to have within the protectors, is then
placed in the moulded parts and a flat sheet of rubber or mackintosh is stuck
across the moulded part, the arrangement and shape of the moulded parts being
such that said flat sheet will adhere to the circumference and also to the central
part of the said moulded parts and a ring shaped hollow part is left between said
adhering parts.
"
My improved protectors are then finished by being cut out of the sheet and a
central part is cut out of each such protector so as to leave a central opening in the
usual manner, and said protectors are provided, with any suitable means for
enabling them to be readily affixed to the foot or toe.
For the purpose of strengthening the joint between the moulded part and the flat
part I may introduce-before these parts are made to adhere as described-suitable
-material such for example as gelatine-with or without glycerine-which is capable
of being melted at a fairly low temperature but which is not melted by the
temperature of the human body. When the parts have been made to adhere as
described, I then melt the gelatine by dipping the protectors in hot water or other-
wise and revolving said protectors so that by reason of the centrifugal force set up
the gelatine will be thrown along the line of junction between the moulded and
flat. parts of the protector and when the protector and gelatine become cool said
gelatine will " set and form an air tight joint at such line of junction.
I wish it to be understood that although I have described one method of
manufacturing my improved protectors, I do not confine myself to such method
nor do I confine myself to any particular shape or material of which my improved
protector may be made as if desired my improved protectors may be made of
sponge rubber."

page_text: Having now particularly described 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 corn or bunion protector consisting of a spongy rubber ring
substantially as described.
2. An improved corn or bunion protector consisting of an airtight and preferably
ring shaped cushion filled with atmospheric air or other gas or with a liquid or
solid or a combination of two or more of these and adapted to be attached in a
suitable manner to the foot or toe substantially as set forth and described.
3. The manufacture corn or bunion protectors substantially as described.
ALBERT NIXON,
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151 Strand (next to Somerset House), London.
ALBERT NIXON,
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151 Strand (next to Somerset House), London.