Improved Protector for Boots and other Articles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
Improved Protector for Boots and other Articles.
I, WILLIAM JAMES Fox of Ryefield Villas Marple in the County of Chester
Buyer 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:-
My said invention relates to an improved form of boot protector which can easily
be applied to the soles and heels of ordinary boots shoes slippers and the like for
the purpose of preventing the wearing away of the leather or other substance of
which the soles and heels may be made and also affording a safe foothold on ice and
other slippery surfaces at the same time acting as a preventor of wet feet without
impeding ventilation. My improved boot protector is made of india rubber gutta-
percha or other yeilding substance and is niade in various forms, either circular in
the form of a button or shaped to fit the various parts of the soles & heels to which
they are to be attached. Where necessary I make my protectors of india rubber
gutta percha or other yielding substance, in the form of a button or other shape,
suitable to the different parts of soles & heels, thicker in centre than at the edges,
so moulded that either with or without holes through the thinner edge or rim ;-
nails either detached or forming part of an iron, brass or other suitable metal rim
or plate made to fit round the thick part of india rubber or other yielding substance,
and on the thinner rim, or edge of the protector-may be driven through the
india rubber or other yielding substance; into the soles or heels of boots shoes
slippers and the like, thus securely attaching the protectors to the soles & heels-
or the metal or other suitable rim with nails attached may be moulded in with the
india rubber leaving only the spikes showing ready for driving into the soles &
heels of boots &c. & I groove the thick part to make a firm foothold this iron or
other rim can also be made pierced with holes, for nails to be driven through, before
they penetrate the indiarubber, or other yielding substance, & the soles & heels of
boots shoes slippers & the like.
My invention will be more readily understood by a reference to the annexed
sheets of drawings (Figure 1) is the plan (Figure 2) the elevation & (Figure 3)
the section of one form of my boot protectors, A is the india rubber or like yielding
substance moulded in the form shewn, having a portion of its raised part serrated or
grooved a'. B is a metal or other suitable plate or ring made to slip over the part A.
The parts marked C are spikes forming part of the ring B. The inner circum-
ference of the ring B is prepared either with a small shoulder or several small
spikes. The blows of a hammer on the plate or ring B will drive the spikes C.
into the sole or heel on which the protectors are being place, & the plate or ring
will be tight against the india rubber or the like protector at the same time the
small shoulder or spikes on the inner circumference of the ring will sink into the
rim of the india rubber, or the like & prevent it moving from the position in which
it is placed. Figures 4 & 5 are sections in detail of the metal or other suitable
plate or ring & the india rubber or like protector respectively.
The plate B may be so made that spikes C can be driven through the india
rubber or the like A or the metal ring or other suitable plate may be moulded
into the india rubber, or the like leaving only the nails or spikes showing ready for
driving into the soles & heels to which they are to be attached. Figures 6.7.8 are
the plan elevation & section respectively of my improved protector as fixed with
nails only.

page_text: In some cases I secure the protectors with a screw nail instead of the spike or
nails as before mentioned. And I make the protectors of other shapes to fit
different parts of boots &c. such as seen in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13.
It will be readily understood that my invention could be adapted very effectually
to the bottom of crutches & walking sticks, umbrellas & such like. Figures 14, 15,
& 16 show two methods of so adapting the protector to crutches.
Figure 14 is a side elevation & Figure 15 a part sectional elevation. A is the
rubber F is the ferrule. As will be seen more clearly in the section, this ferrule
has a shoulder f¹ formed at its bottom end & upon this shoulder rests the thin
edge of the protector and it can be secured to the end of the crutch by means
of screws or nails which are screwed or driveu through countersunk holes in the
shoulder & through the rubber rim into the crutch these sorews g' could be
dispensed with in some cases as the crutch end coming down upon the rubber
would squeeze against the rim or shoulder of the ferrule & in other cases I do
away with the ferrule F altogether & simply nail the rubber upon the end of
the crutch as seen in Figure 16. Figure 17 is a sectional elevation showing the
adaption of the protector to a walking stick or umbrella; H is a tapered ferrule
with a shoulder ¹ upon which the edge of the rubber rests, in this case the stick J
alone holds the rubber firm.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1st. An improved boot & shoe protector applicable to other such articles & to
crutches & walking sticks consisting of indiarubber, gutta percha vulcanite, or other
such yielding substances. Having a partly or wholly serrated surface, secured to
the articles it is used upon by means of nails or screws such as seen in Figures 6. 7. 8,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth & shewn upon the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. An improved boot & shoe protector applicable to other such like articles
& crutches & walking sticks consisting of india rubber gutta percha vulcanite or
other such yielding substances having partly or wholly serrated surfaces & secured
to the articles it is used for by means of a mount B made of metal or other suitable
material having spikes cast one with it or holes drilled for the reception of nails,
screws or other equivalent to act as an equivalent to the spikes substantially as &
for the purpose herein set forth & shown upon accompanying drawing.
Dated this 17th December 1895.
WILLIAM JAMES FOX.