IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bateman Goodyear, of the City of Paris, in the
Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND
SHOES."
Sealed the 19th April 1876, and dated the 1st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bateman Goodyear at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1876.
HENRY BATEMAN GOODYEAR, of the City of Paris, in the Republic of France.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
Letters Patent were granted to John Henry Johnson the 11 July 1867, No. 2035,
for an Invention consisting in the application of a tempered steel blade spring in
combination with a metal plate or strip (by preference of untempered steel) in the
interior of the sole of a boot or shoc, so as to support or hold up the "shank" or
waist. This system has been found in practice open to the objection that the out-
sole is cut or worn by the extremity of the metal plate or strip under the action of
the pressure of the foot.
Now my Invention has for its object remedying this defect incidental to the
former system, whilst retaining the whole of the advantages of the said system.
In order to effect this object I employ, according to one arrangement, a tempered
steel blade spring without an additional plate or strip, which spring I attach at
one end to the insole, and I turn or strike up in a die its opposite end, whereby all
liability to the cutting of the outsole is obviated.
An additional metal plate or strip may be employed in combination with the
spring, the end or ends of such plate or strip being also turned or struck up.

page_text: Letters Patent were granted to John Henry Johnson the Eleventh July One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, No. 2035, for an Invention consisting in the
application of a tempered steel blade spring in combination with a metal tongue or
strip (by preference of untempered steel) in the interior of the sole of a boot or shoe,
so as to support or hold up the "shank or "waist." This system has been found in
practice open to the objection that the outsole is cut or worn by the extremity of
the metal tongue or strip under the action of the pressure of the foot.
Now my Invention has for its object remedying this defect incidental to the
former system, whilst retaining the whole of the advantages of the said system.
In order to effect this object I employ, according to one modification, a tempered
steel blade spring without an additional tongue or strip, one end of which spring I
strike up in a dic, and I attach the spring so prepared by the opposite end to the
insole.
According to another modification I employ in combination with a spring a metal
tongue or strip, which I prepare by striking up one or both of its ends in a die, after
which I attach it with its spring to the insole in the manner described in the Speci-
fication of the said former Letters Patent.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a boot with my
improvements adapted thereto, according to the first modification; and Figure 2 is a
detail elevation and plan of the spring detached.
Figure 3 represents a similar view to Figure one, illustrating the second modifi-
cation; and Figure 4 is a detail elevation and plan of the improved combined spring
and metal tongue or strip detached.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the tempered steel blade spring, the end a of which
is struck up in a die so as to obviate any sharp cutting edge on its under side; this
spring is inserted between the insole band the outsole c, (Figure 1,) with the smooth
side of its end a towards the outsole, and is secured to the insole at its end d by
means of nails or pegs introduced through holes there provided for the purpose, the
end a being left free in order to admit of the requisite play. Both ends of the
spring A may be struck up if found desirable.
In the modification, Figures 3 and 4, a metal tongue or strip B (by preference
composed of untempered steel) is employed in combination with a tempered steel
blade spring A, to which it is attached by a rivet e, the whole being secured in
place between the insole band the outsole c by means of nails or pegs introduced
through holes made for the purpose in the ends a, d, of the tongue or strip into the
insole, as described in the said former Specification. My improvement under this
head of my Invention consists in striking up in a die the end a¹ of the tongue or
strip B, and inserting it with the smooth side of the struck up end directed towards
the outsole; or, if preferred, the end d¹ may also be struck up in a die in a similar
manner to the end α¹.
It will be evident that according to my Invention, by reason of the usual sharp
edges being avoided, all liability to the cutting or wearing of the outsole from the
cause before mentioned is obviated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the application and use to and in the "shauks" or "waists"
of the soles of boots and shoes of a steel blade spring having one or both of its ends
struck up in a die, or of a steel blade spring combined with a metal tongue of

page_text: untempered steel or other suitable metal having one or both of its ends struck up in
a die, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bateman Goodyear, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. B. GOODYEAR. (L.S.)