Improvements in or relating to Shoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
Improvements in or relating to Shoes.
We, WILLIAM ASHBY, WILLIAM PERCY ASHBY, and FREDERIC SYDNEY
ASHBY trading as Wm. Ashby and Sons of Elm Street, Belgrave, Leicester
Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to shoes and is particularly applicable to the type
of shoes known technically as the "Langtry."
This type of shoe is recognized by its distinguishing characteristic of a front tab
(generally of an ornamental shape) which rests on the instep of the wearer and
thus imparts an improved appearance to the shoe.
In actual wear it is found that this front or instep tab soon fails to serve the
desired object as instead of resting on the instep it bends forward and inclines
towards the vamp or toe portion of the shoe.
This is due mainly to contact with the bottom edge of lady's dress, which when
the wearer is in the act of walking constantly moves forward against the said tab
and in time so weakens the latter as to cause it to remain bending over on to the
toe or vamp portion of the shoe.
This invention is designed with a view of maintaining the front tab herein before
referred to, in its proper position on the instep of the wearer and for this purpose
there may be combined with the said tab in any suitable manner, a preferably flat
spring or strip of flexible material such for instance as metal, whalebone or other
flexible or rigid material.
Dated this 15th day of November 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Shoes.
We, WILLIAM ASHBY, WILLIAM PERCY ASHBY and FREDERIC SYDNEY
ASHBY, trading as Wm. Ashby and Sons of Elm Street, Belgrave, Leicester,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, 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 reference to shoes and is particularly applicable to the type
of shoes known technically as the "Langtry."
This type of shoe is recognized by its distinguishing characteristic of a front tab
(generally of an ornamental shape) which rests on the instep of the wearer and
thus imparts an improved appearance to the shoe.
In actual wear it is found that this front or instep tab soon fails to serve the
desired object, as instead of resting on the instep, it bends forward and inclines
towards the vamp or toe portion of the shoe.
This is due mainly to contact with the bottom edge of a lady's dress, which when
the wearer is in the act of walking constantly moves forward against the said tab
and in time so weakens the latter as to cause it to remain bending over on to the
toe or vamp portion of the shoe.

page_text: This invention is designed with a view of maintaining the front tab hereinbefore
referred to in its proper position on the instep of the wearer and for this purpose
there may be combined with the said tab in any suitable manner, a preferably flat
spring or strip of flexible material, such for instance as metal, whalebone or other
flexible or rigid material.
The invention will be fully understood from the following further description in
reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe of the "Langtry" type bearing our
improvement.
Figure 2 is an underside of the tab detached &
Figure 3 is a section thereof.
Referring to the drawing A represents the tab or instep portion of a shoe which
tab in ordinary shoes soon becomes weakened in wear and doubles over towards the
toe of the shoe.
To maintain the said tab in its correct position, we may combine therewith a
preferably flat spring or strip B of either flexible or rigid material, shown in dotted
fines in Figures 1 and 2, which may be termed a tab-stiffener.
This tab-stiffener may be enclosed between the upper leather and lining or have
a separate strip of material C of the same colour as the lining sewn over it to keep
it in place, or loops may be formed or other suitable means employed to retain the
tab-stiffener in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In shoes the application of means for stiffening the instep portion or tab substan-
tially in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of August 1894.
Witness:
E. NORTH LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers, Leicester.
F. S. ASHBY.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.