Improvements in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
I, THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, of 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City and
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of boots or shoes, and consists of an
improved method of attaching the soles to the uppers or insoles, the object being to
enable boots and shoes to be resoled by the owner or wearer without the intervention
of a boot or shoe manufacturer or repairer.
I am aware that it is not broadly new to attach the soles to boots and shoes in
such a manner that they can readily be removed and replaced by others, but the
devices at present adopted to effect this object are complicated, unsatisfactory, and
form a conspicuous addition to the ordinary boot or shoe. Now by my invention
I remedy these defects in such a manner that the sole is easily and readily attached
to, or removed from, the upper or insole, and when attached presents the same
outward appearance as an ordinary boot or shoe so that the particular construction
is not apparent to the most close and careful observer.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the following manner :-I attach to
the upper or insole in any suitable and convenient manner, a thin metallic plate
about one quarter or three eights of an inch smaller all round than the sole of the
boot or shoe that is adapted to be attached to it. This plate extends right back to
a point slightly beyond where the forward part of the heel will come when it is
attached, and in suitable positions around the edge of this plate are cut serrations
for a purpose that will presently be apparent. then take one or more pieces of
leather adapted to form both the sole and the waist of the boot or shoe and I attach
to it in any suitable and convenient manner a thin metallic plate of skeleton form.
The inner edge of this plate-on both sides-is serrated in such a manner that the
serrations will coincide with those in the plate attached to the upper or insole and
allow the two plates to become firmly interlocked by a slight longitudinal movement
of the one with respect to the other, the said movement bringing the end of the
waist into a recess under the heel to which it is fixed by an automatic spring catch
or by one or more screws preferably inserted from the interior of the boot or shoe,
or by any other suitable and convenient device.
It will be seen that by the construction herein before described, it becomes possible
for the first time to make the waist and sole in one piece, and thus avoid the necessity,
first, of using a metallic waist plate, and secondly, of fixing the removable sole at
the waist the part of a boot or shoe that should be kept as flexible as possible-
instead of at the heel.
It will be obvious that the number of serrations, or the shape or configuration
of them, may be varied to suit the different patterns and shapes of boots and
shoes.
The construction hereinbefore described is applicable for the attachinent of
the heels as well as of the soles of boots and shoes, and where both are made
removable, one locking device may be used to lock the sole and the heel both to
one another and to the upper or insole.
Dated this 10th day of March 1891
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E., ETC.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boots and Shoes.
I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS of 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City and
County of London, 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 :-
My invention relates to the construction of boots or shoes, and consists of an
improved method of attaching the soles to the uppers or insoles, the object being to
enable boots and shoes to be resoled by the owner or wearer without the intervention
of a boot or shoe manufacturer or repairer.
I am aware that it is not broadly new to attach the soles to boots and shoes in
such a manner that they can readily be removed and replaced by others, but the
devices at present adopted to effect this object are complicated, unsatisfactory, and
form a conspicuous addition to the ordinary boot or shoe. Now by my invention I
remedy these defects in such a manner that the sole is easily and readily attached
to, or removed from, the upper or insole and when attached presents the same
outward appearance as an ordinary boot or shoe so that the particular construction
is not apparent to the most close and careful observer.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the following manner :-I attach to
the upper or insole in any suitable and convenient manner a thin metallic plate
about one quarter or three eights of an inch smaller all round than the sole of the
boot or shoe that is adapted to be attached to it. This plate extends right back
to a point slightly beyond where the forward part of the heel will come when it is
attached, and in suitable positions around the edge of this plate are cut serrations
for a purpose that will presently be apparent. I then take one or more pieces of
leather adapted to form both the sole and the waist of the boot or shoe and I attach
to it in any suitable and convenient manner a thin metallic plate of skeleton form.
The inner edge of this plate on both sides-is serrated in such a manner that the
serrations will coincide with those in the plate attached to the upper or insole and
allow the two plates to become firmly interlocked by a slight longitudinal movement
of the one with respect to the other, the said movement bringing the end of the
waist into a recess under the heel to which it is fixed by an automatic spring catch,
or by one or more screws preferably inserted from the interior of the boot or shoe,
or by any other suitable and convenient device.
It will be seen that by the construction hercinbefore described it becomes possible
for the first time to make the waist and sole in one piece, and thus avoid the necessity
first of using a metallic waist plate, and secondly of fixing the removable sole at
the waist the part of a boot or shoe that should be kept as flexible as possible
instead of at the heel.
It will be obvious that the number of serrations or the shape or configuration
of them may be varied to suit the different patterns and shapes of boots and
shoes.
The construction herein before described is in part applicable for the attachment
of the heels as well as of the soles of boots and shoes and where both are made
removable one locking device may be used to lock the sole and the heel both to one
another and to the upper or insole.
In order that my invention may be fully understood will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings throughout the several
figures of which similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Figure 1, Sheet No. 1, is a view in plan of the underside of a boot made in
accordance with my invention with the outer sole removed showing the metal plate
or insole A which is attached to the upper A' and to the leather insole A2 of the
boot or shoe by means of rivets, stitching, or otherwise in such manner as to make
a watertight joint between the said metal plate and the said upper and insole.

page_text: This metal insole or plate A has serrations a formed on its outer edges as shown
and it is adapted to extend back underneath the fore part of the heel of
the boot.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is a view in plan of the metal welt, or plate B which is
preferably made of "skeleton form" and it has serrations b formed on its inner
edges adapted to coincide with those formed on the metal plate or insole A, the
latter being shown in dotted lines interlocked with the metal welt or skeleton
plate B, as occurs when the outer leather sole is attached to the boot, the said
outer sole being omitted in this view for clearness.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 2, is a view in cross section showing a method of securing
the metal welt or "skeleton plate" B, to the outer leather sole C, the said metal
welt B, being griped between the outer sole Cand a false welt of leather, or other
material by stitching or rivetting them firmly together as shown at c.
Figure 4 Sheet 1, is a view in cross-section of the boot showing the metal plate
or insole A attached to the upper A' and leather insole A² by rivetting them all
together or otherwise. Also the outersole as before described attached thereto by
interlocking the serrations of the metal welt or "skeleton plate" B with the
corresponding serrations of the metal plate or insole A in the manner before
described.
Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a view in plan of one modified form of metal plate or
insole A. having the before named serrations formed on a part only of the same,
riz. at or near the waist of the boot, this being necessary to enable the waist
part of the sole to interlock with the corresponding part of the boot by reducing
to a small degree the necessary longitudinal movement of the one with respect to
the other. The plain fore part of the metal plate or insole A slides under and
interlocks with the plain fore part of the metal welt or "skeleton plate" Bas
shown by dotted lines in Figure 6, Sheet 2, which is a complete underneath plan
of a boot showing the outer-sole C secured in position by means of the serrated
metal plates hereinbefore described and locked by two screws D, which pass
through the leather insole A2, the metal plate or insole A and the metal welt B
through suitable holes therein, and into the heel, thereby binding and locking the
whole firmly together.
Figure 7, Sheet 3, is a view in side elevation partly in section of a shoc, showing
a method of fixing a detachable heel tip or top-piece, and Figures 8 and 9
Sheet No. 3, are views in plaus respectively of the said detachable heel tip and the
heel proper. E designates the heel proper which may be built up in the usual
way and F designates a metal rim or plate having serrations formed on its inner
edge as shown. This plate is sunk into the heel E so that the leather or other
material of which the heel is formed stands slightly above the surface of the said
metal rim or plate which may be nailed or otherwise securely fastened to the said
heel. G designates the detachable heel-tip or top-piece and G a metal plate
securely fastened thereto by any suitable means. The outer edge of this plate G
is also provided with serrations y coinciding with those formed in the before named
metal rim or plate F, and they are so formed with respect to one another and the
heel and the heel-tip or top-piece, that the serrations of the one will slide under
and interlock with the serrated projections of the other, as shown by dotted lines
in Figure 9, Sheet No. 3, and by a full line section in Figure 7 Sheet No. 3. The
heel-tip or top-piece G may be provided with a metal nut or socket g¹ screwed to
receive the screw D which binds the detachable sole and heel-tip together, when
both sole and heel-tip are made detachable as shown in the accompanying drawings,
a suitable hole being formed in the heel E to receive the said screw.
Figure 10 Sheet No. 3, is a broken view in plan of an outer sole, and Figure 11
Sheet No. 3, is a view in cross section thereof showing another modification in the
shape or configuration of the hereinbefore described metal plate or insole A and
the metal welt or skeleton plate B. Instead of making the serrations of the form
herein before described and shown by the Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying
drawings, key-hole slots are provided preferably in the metal welt or plate B

page_text: and suitably formed studs or headed projections a' are formed in or attached to the
metal insole A. These latter enter the slots in and interlock with the metal welt
or plate B as shown. and designate the false welt and a packing strip
respectively and another packing piece to which the plate B is rivetted or other-
wise securely fastened and which constitutes a part of the sole C. The outer
edges of the plate B may be made to fit under and to be griped by the false welt c
thereby securing greater firmness in the sole C. The packing pieces and 2 form
a groove around the sole in which the heads of the studs or projections a lie. In
lieu of these packing strips a groove or grooves may be cut, pressed, or otherwise
formed on the inner surface of the sole C and thereby provide the necessary
clearance for the said studs or projections. The form and position of the
slots and the studs or projections a' may be altered or modified to suit
the peculiarities in form or otherwise of the boot or shoe to which the same are to
be applied, without departing from the nature of my invention, and similarly the
metal welt or skeleton plate B may be formed after the manner of the metal plate
or insole A, and vice versa if so prefered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
olaim is :-
1st. The improvements in the construction of boots and shoes as hereinbefore
set forth.
2nd. Boots or shoes having detachable soles and waists, constructed substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. Boots or shoes having detachable heels, heel-pieces, tips or tops, constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
4th. Boots or shoes having both detachable soles and waists and detachable
heels, heel-pieces, tips or tops, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5th. In the construction of boots or shoes, the combination of a detachable sole
and waist and the metal welt or "skeleton plate" B, substantially as described
and illustrated by the drawings hereunto annexed.
6th. In the construction of boots and shoes, the combination with the upper A'
and insole A, of the metal insole A, rivetted or otherwise securely fastened thereto,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
7th. In the construction of boots or shoes, the combination of the upper A
having the serrated plate A fixed thereto, and of the sole C having the serrated
plate B fixed thereto, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
8th. In the construction of boots or shoes, the combination of the metal heel
plate or rim F securely fastened to the heel E, and of the metal plate (securely
fastened to the heel-tip or top-piece G, substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.
9th. In boots and shoes, the combination of the metal plate G¹ securely fastened
to the heel E, and the metal plate or rim F securely fastened to the heel-tip or top-
picce G, in such a manner that the serrations of the one plate will pass under and
interlock with the corresponding serrations of the other plate, substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
10th. In boots or shoes, the combination of the upper A', of the metal insole A,
and of the metal welt or skeleton plate" B, secured to the outer sole C, in such
manner that the serrations of the one plate pass under and interlock with the
corresponding serrations of the other plate, and are locked in position by the screw
or screws D, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
11th. In the construction of boots or shoes, the combination of the metal plate B,
having slots formed therein, and of the metal plate A having suitably formed studs
or headed projections a' formed thereon or securely attached thereto, substantially
as and for the purpose herein before set forth.

page_text: 12th. Boots or shoes in which the sole and waist are formed together and con-
stitute one piece which is wholly detachable from the heel into which it may embed
itself and be secured thereto, substantially as herein described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1891.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.