Improvements in Boots and Shoes, and other Coverings for the Feet.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes, and other Coverings for the Feet.
I, TWAN LAU, of No. 10 Gothestrasse, Hannover in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
Efforts to obtain a practical light and well ventilated foot covering have led to
the introduction of the use of linen and similar fibrous textile materials. It has
however soon become apparent that these materials do not answer the purpose
because, under the influence of damp and the movement of the foot, they lose their
porosity and have a tendency to retain moisture. The present invention consists
of the employment of a web or net work fabric or cloth of horse hair which as is
well known is durable, and does not retain perspiration or other moisture, and
is easily cleaned by washing or otherwise, without any change taking place
detrimental to the excellent qualities which this web or net work fabric or cloth
possesses for the object in view, for these reasons the employment of horse-hair
ensures the free entry of air and a constant circulation of air about the feet
which is of great importance to pedestrians and bicycle riders.
The parts
necessary for fastening the shoe on the foot as well as the soles and heels
are made of leather or other suitable material and are made of these materials
where it is necessary to guard against water or damp under foot. Where these
precautions are unnecessary the employment of leather is reduced to a
minimum. Up to the present, horsehair, webbing or net work fabric has been
constantly deprived of its natural fat by being scalded, dyed, washed in
lye and steeped, partly for the sake of cleansing and partly to obtain facility
for working up. This well known webbing or net work, dyed and deprived
of fat is eminently well adapted for sieve making and other purposes but it has not
the requisite strength for foot coverings, and for shoe making it is out of the
question as the horsehair is weakened by the process of scalding and freeing
from fat.
For purpose of foot covering, horse hair must be employed which has not been
deprived of its natural fat as it is only webbing of such horsehair which possesses
the requisite strength and tenacity.
The annexed drawing explains the employment of this web or net-work fabric in
a special case viz., a lace up shoe the part A, shown by hatched liues in the
drawing is of horsehair whilst the parts a, b and c left plain are of leather.
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 :-
:-
A boot, shoe or other foot covering, partly made of leather or other suitable and
like material and partly of horse-hair fabric or cloth, the hair from which the said
fabric or cloth is made being in its natural or raw state, substantially as and for
the purpose described and set forth."
1005
Dated this 2nd day of March 1997.
TWAN LAU,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.