Improvements in and relating to Socks for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Socks for Boots and Shoes.
I, JAMES THOMAS COOPER of 1 Landermere Villas, Granville Road,
Leytonstone, in the County of Essex, Warehouseman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object to provide a remedy, or relief for pain arising
from corns upon the under surface of the human foot, and a simple means whereby
such corns may be cured or destroyed.
It is generally considered that the growth of corns upon the feet arises from
pressure or friction or both, from the use of boots or shoes that are too large, too
small, or otherwise improperly fit the feet and my invention is based upon the
principle that by removing the cause the effects will speedily disappear, and as the
growth of corns upon the under surface of the foot usually occur at the base or ball
of the large or small toes my invention is designed to provide a sock in which are
holes or apertures exactly corresponding in position with that of the said corns so
that in actual use, the head or centre of the corn is deposited in, or surrounded by
the edge of, the said hole or aperture, and by this means the pressure or friction
that gave birth to the corn is removed, and the corn will gradually disappear.
A second feature of my invention is to provide a simple and cheap appliance that
may be supplied to the chemist or other person selling my said improved socks, by
means of which he may quickly and easily make the necessary hole or holes or
apertures in the sock he is selling, most suitable according to the position of the
corn or corns upon the foot of the person purchasing the sock; or the person
purchasing the sock may also purchase one of the said appliances that he or she
may make the necessary hole or holes themselves.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended
a sheet of drawings, of which,
Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side elevation respectively, of my improved sock,
substantially as I prefer to construct the same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view, while Fig. 5 is a partly sectional view, of the tool
or appliance for making the hole or holes in the said sock.
For the purposes of my invention I construct the said sock of any size to suit
the foot of the wearer, preferably of three layers of material A, B, C, the inner of
which (B) may be of cork, felt, rubber, rubber composition or other soft and
resilient material, while the upper layer (A) may be of flannel, thin leather or
paper, while the lower (C) may be of leather, flannel or the like, but preferably of
celluloid, that by the warmth of the foot this may conform to the shape of the
same, and retain the said shape when removed from the foot, the three said
materials A, B, C, being cemented, stitched, or otherwise connected together in
the usual way. In Fig. 1 I show by a circle at a the position of a corn under the
tread of the large toe of the right foot, while by dotted circles at b and c 1 show
the probable positions of corns upon the ball of the large, or tread of the small toe
respectively, and in the said sock in one of these, or some other position, where the
corn or corns upon the foot may be, would be made (either by the person having
the corn or corns or by the chemist or other person selling the sock) a hole or holes
coinciding therewith, so that the head of the corn or corns may protrude partly
therethrough. In Fig. 41 show a hand tool designed for quickly making the

page_text: desired hole or holes in the sock, which consists of a handle D, surmounting a
circular tapered cylinder E, brought to a sharp or cutting edge at F (shewn more
plainly by Fig. 5) which, when placed with its cutting edge F upon the desired
spot in the sock, would quickly penetrate the three layers of material A, B, C if
pressure be imparted to the handle D and an alternating semi-rotary motion be
given thereto.
In order that the said sock may not in course of wear shift from the desired
position upon the foot, I stitch or otherwise connect to the toe, and if desired to
the heel, of same, a toe and heel cap G and H, respectively, of linen, fine canvas,
or other light fabric, which acts as a preventative to the longitudinal displacement
of the sock, while ribbons or tapes such as J, fixed by any suitable means, in any
desired position upon each side of the sock, will, when tied around the foot, prevent
the displacement of the sock laterally.
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
1st. In an improved sock for the cure of corns upon the under surface of the
foot, the combination with such a sock A, of a toe cap G, and heel cap H, ribbons,
tapes or other ties J, with holes such as a band c made in any part of the said
sock, by a hand punch such as D, E, F, substantially as herein described and
shewn.
or
2nd. In socks for boots and shoes consisting of three surfaces A, B, and C, the
employment of celluloid in the production of the surface C substantially as
described and shewn.
3rd. The combination of a sock having toe and heel caps such as G and H,
ribbons or tapes such as J, and holes such as a and b c, with a cutting tool or
punch such as D, E, F, for producing the said holes, substantially as set forth and
shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1896.
or
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.