Improvements in Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots and Shoes.
I PETER JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Cambridge Hall of No. 129 Duane
Street, Greenfield in the State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of
America) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in boots and shoes, and
has special reference to the formation of the exterior surface of the sole thereof
for sporting as well as general purposes, and consists of the construction and
arrangement of the parts thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described and
claimed.
The object of this invention is to provide a boot or shoe having a sole with
grooves across the same to form angular engaging edges which take into the
surface of the ground or other yielding surface and thereby increase the frictional
contact and obviating and dispensing with the use of spikes or rubber coverings
which are for many purposes objectionable and dangerous and adapting the boot
or shoe provided with the form of sole set forth for sporting as well as general use,
and having marginal grooves following out the sole to locate the attaching means
beyond the contacting surface of the ribs.
In the drawing :
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved shoe looking towards the bottom
thereof.
Figures 2 and 3, are plan views looking toward the exterior surfaces of the soles.
and showing a different arrangement of the grooves, the latter being extended
farther back and indicating that a shoe or boot provided with the improved sole:
may be used without a heel.
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section of the sole as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section of the sole on the line - Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a modification.
Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in
the several figures.
Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the sole made in accordance with
my invention and provided with a series of grooves 2, extending across the sole and
forming ribs 3, with angular engaging-edges 4, said ribs being preferably formed
at right angles or approximately 60. The grooves 2 may be arranged in lines
extending straight across the sole or diagonally thereof, as shown by Fig. 2, or, as
shown by Fig. 3, said grooves may be made in curved lines but in each instance
the angular contacting edges of the ribs are preserved. These grooves are formed
on the exterior surface of the out-sole and have a twofold function, in that they
make the sole flexible and also provide the contacting edges on the ribs as set forth
to increase the friction of the sole on the surface on which it may bear, and thereby
provide a boot or shoe which is especially applicable for sporting purposes and
avoiding the employment of the heating rubber sole which is exceptionally
unhealthy and uncomfortable, and also obviating the use of spurs or spikes with the
accompanying danger in the use of the same. The said grooves may extend over
the length of the sole at varying distances, which will be governed and regulated
by the use or disuse of a heel. The groove construction set forth necessarily renders
the sole lighter and provides for the employment of a sole of increased thickness
and consequent increased wearing durability. A channel or groove 5 follows the
outline of the sole adjacent to the edge thereof and is cut into the ribs 3 of sufficient

page_text: depth to locate the securing-stitches 6 beyond the wearing surface of the sole to
thereby protect the same and prevent contact thereof with the surface upon which
the sole may rest, and where said groove 5 extends through the ribs 3, the depth
thereof is not quite as great as the depth of the grooves 2 in order to strengthen
the outer portion or end of each rib and provide for having an integral construction
thereof with the main body of each rib. This channel or groove also provides for
contacting edges to obviate lateral movement or sliding of the sole of the shoe by
the angle edges presented at the end of each of the ribs.
The grooves are preferably formed by cutting in view of the fact that an
angular edge is desired and is more readily formed in this manner than by rolling
pressing or otherwise. It will be understood that the use of the device is not
limited in any respect and that it may be employed for any purpose found desirable
and practicable.
It will be also observed that each rib presents two angular contracting surfaces at
the front and rear thereof to prevent either forward or backward slipping and if
the shoe be used on wet or muddy surfaces what material it may gather in the
grooves may be readily forced outward by the movement of the foot which will
expand and contract the grooves as will be readily understood. It will be obviously
apparent that the depth of the several grooves may be made proportionate to the
size of the shoe and thickness of the sole and adapt the improvement for use in
connection with either ladies' or men's shoes.
At the toe portion of the sole, in addition to the ribs set forth, a recess 7 is
adapted to be formed which provides an additional contacting surface, as fully
shown in Fig. 6 and this form of sole is especially applicable for shoes employed
by sprinters, where the toe movement is almost universally employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a sole for a boot or shoe having
grooves extending across the same to form ribs, with a front and rear contacting
angular edge and a channel or groove following the outline of the sole to locate the
attaching means beyond the contacting surface of the ribs, said ribs extending from
the toe to the breast of the heel and presenting unyielding contacting surfaces,
substantially as described.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, a sole for a boot or shoe having a
series of grooves across the same to form ribs with angular contacting edges at the
front and rear of the same and a groove or channel following out the outline of the
sole adjacent thereto and of less depth than the said grooves which form the ribs,
whereby the stitches are preserved from contact with wearing surfaces and the
opposite end-portions of the ribs are re-enforced, substantially as described.
3. As an improved article of manufacture, a sole for boots or shoes having a
series of grooves extending across the same to form ribs with angular contacting
edges and a recess at the toe-portion thereof having a front curved wall to form an
additional contacting edge, substantially as described.
Dated the 1st day of November 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.