Improvements in or appertaining to Spurs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or appertaining to Spurs.
A communication from abroad by LOUIS GÜNZEL, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Empire of Germany, Architect.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool and Bank Street Manchester both in the
County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to obtain a surer fastening and easier removal of
spurs from boot heels.
Various faults have been found in the modes of fastening on the spurs in use up to
now, and in fact with the well known socket spurs, the spike placed in the box or
frame and which alone holds the spur, is liable to bend, so that the shunks of the spur
fitting to the heel and the spur itself stand crooked.
The fastening of spurs at only one point, especially as is done in the case of all
socket spurs, is not sufficient either to allow a vigorous stroke of the spur or to offer
sufficient resistance in case of the wearer's spurs getting caught against anything, for
instance staircase steps, etcetera.
Another usual mode of fixing spurs, as worn by the military, has the very great
disadvantage that by it the spurs cannot easily be taken off, as their spikes are
forcibly driven into the heel of the boot, and firmly fastened by nails or screws driven
in sideways. Except when the wearer is on horseback, the spurs thus fixed are
very much in the way. In foot drill especially, it often happens that the spurs are
stepped on by the man behind or even the whole boot heel torn off.
The above named inconveniences are avoided by the use of the herein described
invention, according to which the spurs are securely fastened in three places, but are
also easily removable.
In this arrangement for fixing the spurs there is worked into the boot heel, in
addition to the usual spur box or frame, a spur shank supporter. This spur shank
holder is of metal and is built in across the heel, in such manner that its ends lie flush
with the two sides of the heel, and has slots in its exposed surfaces which preferably
are approached by guides or grooves.
In these slots are inserted two studs fixed on the inner sides of the spur shanks,
which slide on the guides of these slots, pressing the shanks a little apart so that
these, having reached their final position, spring in and are thereby held tight. The
spurs are thus firmly held in three places, that is, by the usual socket and by two
studs, and are nevertheless at any time easily detached from the boot heel by being
drawn off backwards, so that all the usual inconveniences are prevented in an
efficient manner.
Dated this 27th day of June 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Spurs.
A communication from abroad by LOUIS GÜNZEL, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Empire of Germany, Architect.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.F., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
A

page_text: Engineer, 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 has for its object to obtain a surer fastening and easier removal of
spurs from boot heels.
Various faults have been found in the modes of fastening on the spurs in use up to
now, and in fact with the well known socket spurs, the spike, placed in the box or
frame and which alone holds the spur, is liable to bend, so that the shanks of the
spur fitting to the heel and the spur itself stand crooked.
The fastening of spurs at only one point, especially as is done in the case of all
socket spurs, is not sufficient either to allow a vigorous stroke of the spur or to
offer sufficient resistance in case of the wearer's spurs getting caught against
anything, for instance staircase steps, etcetera.
Another usual mode of fixing spurs, as worn by the military, has the very great
disadvantage that by it the spurs cannot easily be taken off, as their spikes are
forcibly driven into the heel of the boot, and firmly fastened by nails or screws
driven in sideways. Except when the wearer is on horseback, the spurs thus fixed
are very much in the way." In foot drill especially, it often happens that the spurs
are stepped on by the man behind or even the whole boot heel torn off.
The above nained inconveniences are avoided by the use of the herein described
invention, according to which the spurs are securely fastened in three places, but are
also easily removable.
On the annexed drawing :-
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the spurs fastened to the boot heels, whilst in Figure 4
the spur shank supporter and in Figure 5 the entire new spur are shown.
In this arrangement for fixing the spurs, there is worked into the boot heel A,
in addition to the usual spur box or frame a, a spur shank supporter b. This spur
shank holder bis built in across the heel, in such manner that its ends lie flush
with the two sides of the heel, and has slots c in its exposed surfaces which
preferably are approached by guides or grooves, such as represented in Figure 2.
In these slots c are inserted two studs e fixed on the inner sides of the spur
shanks d, which slide on the guides of these slots c, pressing the shanks d a little
apart so that these, having reached their final position at g, spring in and are
thereby held tight. The spurs are thus firmly held in three places, that is, by the
usual socket and by two studs, and are nevertheless at any time easily detached from
the boot heel by being drawn off backwards, so that all the usual inconveniences
are prevented in an efficient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An easily detachable spur fastening distinguished by the arrangement of a spur
shank holder inserted across the heel of the boot and provided with grooves e in its
exposed ends in such manner that studs or projections e, fixed on the inner sides of
the spur shanks and inserted in these grooves, hold said shanks in their final position
when sprung into place, so that the spur is securely held in three places, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In spars, the arrangement of studs or projections on the inner sides of the
spur shanks for the purpose of securing the same in their position when affixed,
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 27th day of March 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.