The Manufacture of a New or Improved Fabric, and its Application for the Making and Repairing of Boots and Shoes and for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The Manufacture of a New or Improved Fabric, and its Application
for the Making and Repairing of Boots and Shoes and for other
Purposes.
I, ROBERT DICK, of Greenhead, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object and comprises the manufacture of a new or
improved fabric or composite web material, susceptible of being made in various
thicknesses and corresponding degrees of limpness or stiffness, wholly or partially
water-proof, and thus inade suitable for various purposes, and in or for the making of
various articles for which leather and other sheet or waterproof fabrics or materials
have been used, and as a prepared material, for shoemakers and other tradesmen to
use in their several businesses and for the respective new purposes, instead of the old
materials they have heretofore used for these purposes.
The nature and novelty of the Invention or improvements consist all as follows:--
First, as regards this new fabric or web material, this consists in the use of a woven,
or it might be a felt textile web fabric of any desired texture or thickness, as a
foundation, coated on one or both sides with a thin layer of pure dissolved gutta-percha
or Balata solution, or a mixture of these, while the fabric is in a hot state, so that the
solution penetrates into or saturates the fibrous material for a considerable distance in
from the surface; and in some cases, for the better effecting of this permeation, the
coated web while hot would be rolled between two rollers to press the solution into the
fabric. The foundation textile web would be passed over rollers, preferably over a hot
air chamber to heat it, while the solution would be brushed over the upper outer
surface, after which the fabric would be traversed in front of a hot fire or through a
hot air chamber to make the solution sink into the fibres and evaporate the naphtha or
other spirit solvent in the solution, after which it may be passed through a pair of
rollers to press in the solution and equalise the surface, when it would be conducted
through a long chamber preferably with a circulation of air to evaporate all the spirit
and cool the web so prepared, when it would then be rolled on to beams or spindles
as rolls, from which the winding beams or spindles could be removed, and leave the
rolls ready for further treatment or for sale and use as the new or improved web fabric
for the several purposes it is manufactured for. When both sides are to be so coated
with the solution, as is preferable, the material might be again passed through the said
heating, coating, and evaporating treatment and beamed into rolls, having a coating
of solution on both sides. And for very thick strong webs of this new material, the
webs so prepared, of a single thickness while heated, would have a thin layer of good
or selected and prepared gutta-percha, or gutta percha and Balata, in a plastic heated
state, spread over the whole of one solutionized surface by and while passing both
through between a pair of rollers. To make a strong and thick kind of this new
fabric, two or more single layers or webs prepared as described, would be joined
together, while in a heated state, by passing them through between a pair of rollers,
putting the solutionized side of the one layer or thickness next the heated layer of
gutta percha previously put on the other, so as to leave a thin layer of gutta percha
between the plies of canvas or other textile fabric used for the body material.
One of the most general useful purposes for which this new fabric so made would
be suitable, is the soling or soling and heeling of boots and shoes. And for this
purpose the foundation web fabric would be made of strong cotton or linen canvas,
and of one, two, or more layers coated with the solution and intermediate layer of
gutta percha as described, to suit for the various thicknesses of the new composite
fabric required to suit the different thicknesses or strength and weight the soles of the

page_text: boots and shoes were to be made. This new sheet material so prepared in suitable
thicknesses and widths the canvas is usually woven to, would be supplied and sold to
shoemakers and others to have the soles cut out of it, either by ordinary shaping die
cutters or knives in the same manner that these are usually cut out of hide leather.
But all suitable for being cemented or otherwise secured to the prepared and solu-
tionized outer surface of the ordinary in-sole and uppers secured over this, by heat
and pressure, either by hand or by being pressed into a simple mould such as that
described and shown in the Specification of my former Patent No. 13814 November 12
1885. Or otherwise, the soles cut out of this new material might be used for the
repairing and soling of old or worn boots and shoes, or for the putting on of an outer
waterproof sole on new boots and shoes all so far made of leather; in either case this
might be effected by cleaning and coating the leather sole of the boot or shoe while
hot with a solution of gutta-percha, and then attaching the sole cut out of this new
sheet material previously prepared as described, and cementing it by pressure while
hot to the said leather sole. When a thin sole was to be attached, this might be done
by hand on the previously shaped sole, either with or without a layer of gutta percha
or when thick soles were to be attached, this would be done in a simple screw mould
as previously described. Or the first outer soles of this new material might be attached
in any of the ways that leather soles are now attached, as by sewing round the edges,
or be nailed on by ordinary metal nails or screw wire nails, or by wooden pegs, as any
of these methods would hold the new material and shape it to the boot or shoe, by the
use of the hammer in the same manner as leather soles are at present shaped and held,
without the use of a pressing or shaping mould. And further in this way new leather
boots and shoes, having their soles secured in any of the ordinary ways by sewing,
pegging, nailing, or screwing, might be manufactured of a light character, and soled
outside, as described, with a thin or thick sole of this new sheet material, which would
make such leather soles waterproof while adding greatly to their wearing durability.
One mode of manufacturing the soles of boots or shoes from the foundation for and
with this material, would be to make the in-sole of good strong leather previously
cleaned and solutionized on its outer surface and then draw and secure the uppers over
it by a solution also of india-rubber on their inner edges. Then sew or secure over
this by pegs, nails, or screw wire in the ordinary manner, an outer sole right through
the uppers and in-sole either of the new composite web material, or of leather, which
outer sole may be previously made regular in thickness and shaped to fit the lasts in
dies and marked where the sewing or nails was to be applied, all so as to ensure their
being more tightly and regularly sewed and secured than they could otherwise be in
the ordinary mode of putting on soles. And in the case of leather being used for this
outer sole, it would have its outer, or both its outer and inner surface previously
coated with a solution of gutta percha. And in either case a further thickness or
outer, sole of the new composite prepared cloth and gutta-percha material would be
secured while hot over the outer leather sole to give the said improved perfectly
waterproof and durable wearing surface to the sole of the boot or shoe; and thus
further protect and prevent the loops of the sewing which secured the first outer sole
to the uppers and inner soles from being cut, or the nails securing the first outer soles
from being worn away and loosening them from the inner sole and uppers, thus making
a more durable soled boot or shoe than has heretofore been possible in the ordinary
modes of securing soles. And perfect ventilation may also be obtained with this mode
of soling through between the first outer sole and the inner sole, and which inner sole
may be made of perforated leather, or of gutta percha, or of india-rubber, with a
porous woollen sock or surface inside, so that the motion of the foot would allow air
to circulate between the inner sole and the first outer sole. And a thin sheet of india-
rubber might be inserted between the inner and first outer sole to give this pumping
action, either with or without a spiral coil of round or oval brass wire leading up the
centre of the instep from the heel to the beginning of the sole part under the india-
rubber sheet, a hole through the edge of the heel leading air into the spiral tube of
wire. But the means for ventilation above described are not claimed per se as part of
this invention but form part of subject matter described in my Provisional Specification

page_text: No. 4949 of 1888. The heels of the boots or shoes below this new sole formed as
described, might be either formed in the usual manner out of leather or of gutta-
percha in the moulds, or they might have two, three, or more thicknesses of this
new material cemented on their lower surface to give the wearing effect of the soles,
either with or without steel heels or sparables; or the whole heel might be made up
of layers of this new material cemented together in a hot state in an equivalent manner
to that in which the heels are made up of the thicknesses of leather, only not
requiring the nails which leather requires. This new composite web material is also
suitable for being cut up into the shape of the bearing surfaces of the soles of clogs
and cemented or otherwise secured thereto, to give a better wearing surface, either
with or without nails or metal edgings round them as at present employed. This new
composite material so manufactured in webs or sheets of one, two, or more layers, may
be used for the working surfaces of disc and clack valves, and insertion sheets, discs,
or rings for making pressure-tight joints of valves, valve chest lids and flanges of
pipes for the use and circulation of cold water and other liquids; by cutting the web
material up to the proper shapes and sizes, and screwing them between the metal
jointing flanges or surfaces substantially in the same manner as is done at present
with leather, and with rubber and other insertion jointing web materials. This new
sheet material might also be cut up and used, by forcing it into turned and other
moulds to dish it up and shape it into vessels while in a heated or plastic state, which
when cold would retain its shape, and be suitable for the use of cold water and other
liquid dishes, such as pails and buckets. And the moulds might be formed with
various devices in them for giving ornamentation to the surface, the layer of
gutta percha on the one side of which would take the beautiful forms in relief or
entaglio shapes from the moulds. Or the material might be thus embossed and com-
pressed or cut and jointed to form covers of books instead of leather or parchment, or
for waterproof linings for the inside of boxes or bales, for the protection of goods, in
the manner that sheet tin and other materials have been heretofore used, or for
forming a waterproof lining in the inside of pasteboard jars or packages, or for the
forming of these packages or cases themselves, and for forming endless waterproof
bands for carrying bricks or other material, or for the lining of wooden water cisterns
or baths or for bath floorcloths or bath dishes. And for the forming of such water-
proof linings, thinner web material than strong canvas would generally be used as the
foundation base in preparing the new sheet material, as common unbleached cotton
cloths or calicos, or felts or soft paper or pasteboard, which would absorb and be
treated all as described with the gutta percha solution and gutta-percha mixtures.
Thin sheet material of this description would also be suitable for being embossed up
into raised ornaments, for the ornamentation of rooms, picture frames, or other
purposes, in the manner leather is now used and embossed; and might be used also
for being cemented round the frames of saddles, for giving them sirength and
preventing water getting into the wood and iron work of such frames; and might
also be used in strips in a hot plastic state for the building up of the frames of hats or
caps or for ladies bonnets, on removable core moulds, and be afterwards covered with
the outer ornamental fabrics, instead of using fabrics saturated with glue, size, or
shellac, for these purposes as heretofore. This new sheet material would also be very
suitable, when made with a thin flexible fabric in this way, or when made with serge
or other woollen cloth or felt as the foundation fabric for being used in hospitals and
other places as a dressing cloth, or as splints, for being wrapped up, while slightly
heated, round the wounded limbs as covering dressings or supports for enclosing the
wound from the air, or retaining it in proper position; the material being susceptible,
while gently heated and pressed by hand or in moulds, of taking any shape to suit the
limb or part of the body desired, and retain its shape so as to support the part of the
body to which it was fitted.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Manufacture of a New or Improved Fabric, and its Application
for the Making and Repairing of Boots and Shoes and for other
Purposes.
I, Robert Dick, of Greenhead, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object and comprises the manufacture of a new or
improved fabric or composite web material, susceptible of being made in various
thicknesses and corresponding degrees of limpness or stiffness, wholly or partially
waterproof, and thus made suitable for various purposes, and in or for the making of
various articles for which leather and other sheet or waterproof fabrics or materials
have been used, and as a prepared material, for Shoemakers and other tradesmen to
use in their several businesses and for the respective new purposes hereinafter
described, instead of the old materials they have heretofore used for these purposes.
The nature and novelty of the invention or improvements consist all as follows:-
The new fabric or web material consists of a woven, or it might be a felt textile web
fabric, such as strong cotton canvas, linen or other woven or felt fabrics of any desired
ordinary width, thickness or texture, as a foundation, coated on one or both sides
with a thin layer or layers of pure dissolved gutta-percha, or Balata, in solution, or a
mixture of these while the fabric is in a hot state, so that the solution penetrates into
or saturates the fibrous material for a considerable distance in from the surface, or
right through the material, and in some cases, for the better effecting of this
permeation, the coated web while hot would be rolled between two rollers to press
the solution into the fabric. The foundation textile web would be passed over rollers,
preferably over a close or hot air chamber to heat it, while the solution is being
brushed over the outer surface, after which the fabric would be traversed in front of a
hot fire, or through a hot air chamber, to make the solution sink into the fibres, and
evaporate the naphtha, or other spirit solvent in the solution, after which it may be
passed through a pair of rollers to press in the solution and equalise the surface,
when it would be conducted through a long chamber, preferably having a circulation
of air by a fan or other blower to evaporate and carry off all the spirit, and cool the
web so prepared, and it would then be rolled loosely on to beams or spindles as rolls,
from which the winding beams or spindles could be removed, and leave the rolls ready
for further treatment, or for sale and use as the new or improved web fabric of canvas
or other foundation cloth and gutta percha for the several purposes it is manufac-
tured and suitable for. When both sides are to be so coated with the solution, as would
generally be preferable, the material might be again passed through the said heating,
coating, and evaporating treatment and beamed into rolls, having a coating of
solution on both sides, or it might be two or more coatings by repassing the fabric in
like manner through the said treatment and machine or apparatus. Then for very
thick strong webs of this new material, the webs so prepared, of a single thickness
while heated, would have a thin layer of good or selected and prepared gutta percha,
or gutta-percha and Balata, in a plastic heated state, spread over the whole of one of
the solutionized surfaces, by and while passing both materials through between a
pair of rollers.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended three explanatory Sheets of Drawings in which the same reference
letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where
shown. Figure 1 on Sheet 1 shows a sectional elevation of one arrangement
of apparatus for preparing and finishing the new web waterproof material, appli-
cable for the manufacture of the soles of boots and shoes, and for other purposes,

page_text: and mainly showing the two ends of the apparatus, with a great part of the centre
as broken away at Z*. And Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the lower part of the
apparatus corresponding to Figure 1.
Referring to these Figures:-The cotton canvas, or other woven or web material A,
which hereinafter generally term "canvas" is manufactured of any suitable width.
and prepared in rolls for the purpose of this invention, which are each mounted as
used, on a central loose turning roller A¹ carried on bush bearing blocks on a suit-
able fixed framing B at the starting end of the machine, from which it is led down
round guide rollers B¹ over the table and through the close dry or heated air
chamber Cover other rollers B₁, B", at the lower part of the machine near the
floor, within a well ventilated fireproof building Z. The dissolved solution of
naphtha and balata, or balata and gutta percha, or selected gutta percha mixtures a is
spread over the upper surface of the canvas as it is passing over the table C by
hand and brushes. From the table chamber C, C¹, the canvas A is led forward
through a narrow channel at Cover and under the rollers B1, B2, up in front of
a red hot fire F, at one end of the building Z, all as indicated by the arrows, over an
upper set of guide rollers B³ carrying the cloth through close chambers D with
narrow slits at their ends D', and over other rollers B³, across open spaces D
between these chambers D, so as to allow the naphtha or other solvent employed
to be evaporated and carried off by ventilation at these spaces D". After the
fabric A, a, has travelled the whole length of the building Z, it is led down over
other rollers near the ground level B, B, through another narrow chamber C
in front of a second fire Fat this end of the building, to reheat the coated surface_a
and passed up and along over rollers B³ within a lower second set of chambers D²
similar to the upper ones D with spaces D between them, until the fabric A, a, so
coated, reaches the first end of the building again, where it is brought down and
through between two gripping and drawing rollers E, carried on journal bearing
frames at E bolted to standards E, the lower roller being driven by fast and loose
pulleys at E, and a belt from motive shafts carried in the upper parts of the building.
The loose web A a so coated and delivered from the rollers E, is wound up loosely
on centre beams or rollers A" carried on bush bearing frames A111, secured to the
floor of the building, and turned by a hand crank on each spindle of the rollers A",
or it might be by a friction band from pulleys on the pulley shafts E', which would
slip when the slack web material A a, was wound up. These rolls A₁ of material
so prepared might be removed from their journal bearings for use, or be lifted and
replaced in the bearings at A¹ to be repassed through the machine, and recoated
either on the same side or on the opposite sido of the fabric one or more times, and
then finally removed for use in rolls, or otherwise to be passed through a rolling or
pressing machine and made into several layers of the canvas material and intermediate
layers of the solution, and either with or without an intermediate layer of prepared selected
gutta-percha, or balata and gutta-percha, as will hereinafter be described in reference to
Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 2. The close chambers D and D' at the upper part of the
building, are all made of plain sheet or corrugated iron, and carried on transverse
beams B, which also support the bearing blocks of the spindles of the carrying
rollers B³, and the parts Z, Z", of the building in front of the fires F, F¹, are
separated off by partitions of sheet iron at D³ over the close channels at (where
the fabric is conducted near the floor levels, all so as to prevent the naphtha. being
evaporated by the fires off the coated surfaces a of the fabric, should it take fire,
spreading into the main spaces of the building ZZ, where it is traversed. Sheet
iron separating partitions are also fitted at D, over the coating table C, and at D³
between this coating chamber and the main winding up mechanism E to E³, to prevent
fire from spreading beyond these partitions into the main building and traversing
web material A a in it. This part of the building Z is also thoroughly ventilated
above through. two round vertical sheet metal flues f, on each side of the traversing
web material A a, with inverted entering conical inlet spouts at f¹ƒ on their lower
'sides and back surfaces, so as to carry off the evaporated naphtha, up through these
ventilating chambers through the roof of the building. And to prevent the

page_text: naphtha vapour from being drawn in towards the fire, or the fire blowing out
towards the surface of the material being heated by the fire, close sheet metal and
wire screens and sliding doors at 1, 2, and 3 are fitted close up near the front of the
fire grates F, F, carried on wire cords passed over overhead pulleys and spindles
at 4, counter-balanced by weights at one side of the walls Z, these screens being of
different fine material to allow the heat to radiate through from the fire, but prevent
the flames or currents of air from passing, the screen nearest the fire being made in
the form of a door or damper to shut off the fire completely when that is desired, as
when putting on fuel. The lower guide rollers B2, B2, over which the material passes,
nearest the fire, have their opposite end journal bearing blocks mounted in guide
frames at B on traversing screw spindles actuated by bevel wheels from one
transverse spindle 611 carried in bearing brackets supported on
the opposite
frames B, and actuated at the front side of the machine by a hand wheel b², so as to
shift the lower part of the coated surface a of the fabric nearest the fires F, F¹, to or
from these according to the strength or heat of the fires for the time being.
The most of the guide rollers as B1, B3 are preferably made with wire or pin
surfaces to guide the cloth without sticking to the coating material a, and actuated by
upper gearing in the building, to traverse the fabric A a at the same speed as the
drawing delivery rollers EE by bands or wheels not shown in the Drawings. The
fire places F, F, are preferably made with tilting grate bars below, and retaining hand
levers at Fli, so as to be able to discharge the fire at night or when desired, down
into a cement or other water trough F, in the ashpit, preferably made with a
cleaning out door F*, outside the building for removing the ashes from time to time as
desired; and the upper part of the fire place is also provided with a door F³ for
putting in the fuel and cleaning out the upper part of the fire place and chimney
when that is desired, and the damper 1 put down to prevent dirt from getting into
the fabric A a being coated. The sheet iron partitions D³, D³, may be carried quite
across between the walls of the building Z, as dotted in at D, with iron doors in
these, to separate off the evaporating and ventilating chambers Z, Z", directly
exposed to the fire, and so prevent the fire spreading into the coating chamber Z²
and body Z3 of the building. To make a strong and thick kind of this new. fabric,
two or more single layers or webs prepared either with solution on both sides, or with
the addition of a thin layer of gutta percha on one side, as hereinbefore described,
would be joined together, while in a heated state, by passing them through between one
or more pairs of rollers, putting the solutionized side of the one layer or thickness of
the fabric next the heated layer of gutta percha, previously put on the other piece or
thickness of fabric, so as to leave when that was required a thin layer of gutta-
percha between each single or double ply of the canvas or other woven or textile web
fabric used for the body material. Or the plies of solutionized fabric so prepared may be put
together in or over a heating stove or chamber while passing through between rollers and
attached by their solutionized surfaces without the layer of gutta percha between them.
One arrangement of apparatus for making this new web material described in
reference to Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1, into two, three or more thicknesses or plies
of the single prepared material A a, as just described, is shown in diagram sectional
side elevation and plan in Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 2; and consists in mounting two,
three, or more rolls A" of the single web fabric A a (described as prepared and finished
in the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1) by their roll spindles in journal
bearings G in an angled frame or other equivalent, three rolls A" being shown at G₁,
G, G, at one end of a close air heating chamber H, each prepared web A a, being
passed over guide pulleys g', g², g³, carried in bearing brackets g at a considerable
distance apart, at the entering end of this heating chamber H, and at the delivery end
over corresponding guide rollers g', g², g³, in bearing brackets g". Heated air is
led into this chamber H through the pipe H¹, from an air heating coil or chamber of
a heating furnace, controlled by a tap H, and led along transverse horizontal pipes H²,
below each layer of the web material A a, with perforated or rose jets to direct the
heated air up against the material and disperse it through, the heating chamber H,
and a current is drawn off through the pipe and tap H³, to keep up the heat within

page_text: the chamber H, as indicated by the darts. The air from this pipe H³ would he led
back to the heating coil or chamber in the furnace, through a small fan to keep up the
current towards the inlet pipes H, H', H; and an escape.pipe with tap not shown
in the Drawings would be fitted at the lower and upper parts of this chamber H, to
draw off any moist vapour or liquid which might collect in it, and a hinged or portable
lid H, would be fitted on this chamber H, for getting access to the material in it.
The guide rollers g', g², g³, would either be formed with small spikes to keep the hot
gutta percha material from sticking to them, or they might be covered with some soft
fabric moistened with steam or water which would effect the same purpose. The
three webs of material A, a, are led forward in a heated state from the chamber H
and over the delivering guide rollers all as indicated by the arrows, and through
between one, two, three, or more pairs of compressing grooved or it might be plain
rolls I carried in bush bearing frames at 12, the bushes of the upper rollers I being
movable in their frames and regulated to their pressure and height off the lower rollers
by pinching screws, or pinching screws and springs in an ordinary manner, to give
the desired pressure to the rollers, to compress the webs of material A, a, passing
through between them together, to make one compact web material with the inter-
mediate layers of the canvas and gutta percha. After passing through these rollers,
the finished thick material would be carried along on endless webs on rolls, until cold
when it would be coiled in rolls at the ends of the long traversing web, all ready for
use, of any desired thickness, according to the number of layers of canvas and gutta
percha put together, for shoe soles and other purposes as a substitute for leather.
When a layer of selected gutta percha or gutta percha and Balata is used between the
layers of canvas as herein before stated, this is effected by passing the single web of
prepared canvas and gutta percha solution through the machine shown in Figures 3
and on Sheet 2 just described; and in spreading by hand or feeding a layer of the
said gutta percha or Balata in a hot plastic state over the heated canvas and gutta
percha solution A, a, just as it enters the first set of rollers I, I, the upper roller 1 of
which would be so regulated as to press this plastic material in an uniform layer or
thickness down on to the said web as it is passed through the rollers. The putting of
these webs so prepared together as described in reference to Figures 3 and 4, with
the prepared side next the unprepared side of its adjacent web, would give the
alternate prepared layer of gutta percha and Balata between the layers of canvas.
And although these different thicknesses of the new web material have only been shown
as pressed together through rollers I, I, they might be cut into sheets, or shapes of the
objects desired, and pressed together while in a heated plastic or limp state between
flat plates or between shaping moulds in strong hydraulic screw or lever presses to
suit the various thicknesses and purposes desired.
One of the most general useful purposes for which this new and special water-
proof canvas and gutta percba A a, so made would be suitable, is the soling, or soling
and heeling of boots and shoes, as described in reference to Figures 5 to 12. For this
purpose, of making the soles and heels of boots and shoes, the foundation web fabric
would be made of strong cotton, or linen canvas, (preferably the former), and of one,
two, or more layers of the canvas coated with the solution on both sides, or with the
intermediate layer of gutta percha also on one side all as hereinbefore described, to
suit for the various thicknesses of the new Composite fabric required, to answer for
the different thicknesses, or strength and weight the soles are to be cut and shaped
out of the material, suitable for the boots and shoes to be made. This new sheet
material A a manufactured as described would be prepared in different suitable thick-
nesses of the widths the canvas is usually woven, as herein before described, and would
be supplied and sold to Shoemakers and others to have the soles cut out of it, either
by ordinary shaping die cutters, or knives in the same manner that these are usually
cut out of hide leather and as indicated in Figure 7. But all suitable and ready for
being cemented by their own surface coatings of gutta-percha, or otherwise secured
as by nails or sewing, to the prepared and solutionized outer surface of the ordinary
insole and uppers secured over these, by the application of heat, and pressure either
given by hammer and hand, or by being pressed into a simple mould as shown in

page_text: Figure 11. Figure 5 on sheet 2 shows an inverted face view, and Figure 6 a trans-
verse section of the shoe or upper J as lasted over the inner sole having the over-
lapping part J of the upper drawn tight over the last J*, and jointed by gutia-
percha solution, all ready for having the outer soles ; Figure 7, of this new
material A a attached thereto, or it might be leather soles, or gutta-percha soles as
will be hereinafter described. Figure shows a face and an edge view of a double
ply solej as cut out of this new waterproof web material in two thicknesses pressed
together, ready for being attached to the lasted sole Figures 5 and 6, as a first outer
sole, but this might be of various thicknesses or plies as shown dotted-in in the edge
view. Figures 8, 9, and 10 show details of parts for being fitted between the insole i
and this first outer sole j for giving ventilation as will be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 11 shows the lasted shoe as inserted into a simple mould M for either attaching
the first outer soles j, or subsequent outer soles j2 of the same material when a layer k
of gutta percha is used between them, as for thick soles, and either with gutta
percha heels k¹, or with heels k² made with layers of the new material as indicated
in Figures 11 and 12 respectively.
Referring to these Figures 5 to 12, one mode of making the soles of boots or
shoes from the foundation for and with this new waterproof web material A a, is to
make the insole i, either of one or two plies of this material, or of good strong
leather, preferably perforated at along the centre and heel, and previously cleaned
and solutionized round the edge joints at on its outer surface, and then draw and
secure the uppers J also cleaned, roughened, and solutionized on the under side J¹
over it, by a solution also of gutta percha on or between their inner overlapping edges
at J.
I then by one arrangement roughen and solutionize the outer joint surface
at J, of the upper J, and then heat and attach the first outer sole j to it, as cut out
of the new material Figure 7, and cement the same by pressure while both are heated,
and this might be done by hand pressure and a roller or hammer on the previously
shaped lasted sole, either with or without an intermediate thin layer of gutta-percha;
or when this outer sole j is of two or more thicknesses, this would preferably be
done in a mould as indicated in Figure 11. Or otherwise the first outer soles of
this new material might be attached (either with or without the said cementing with
gutta percha solution) in any of the ways that leather soles are now attached, as by
sewing round the edges through the upper and insole, or through a "welting," or be
nailed on by ordinary metal nails or screw wire nails as indicated at in Figures 11
and 12, or by wooden pegs, as any of these methods would securely hold the sole j
of the new material and shape it to the sole of the boot or shoe, by the use of a
hammer, in the same manner as leather soles are at present shaped and secured,
without the use of pressing or shaping moulds, but with the application of a slight
heat to the new sole material while so shaping and securing it to the uppers and inner
soles. And further in this way new leather boots and shoes, having their soles
secured in any of the ordinary ways by sewing, pegging, nailing, or screwing as
leather soles are at present, might be manufactured of a light character, and then be
soled outside with a thin or thick outer sole as of this new sheet material, which
would make such leather soles waterproof while adding greatly to their wearing
durability. In this way leather outer soles would be sewn or secured over the
uppers and insole by pegs, nails, or screw wire as at in the ordinary manner, right
through the joint part J of the uppers J, and insole either of the new composite
waterproof web material A, a, or of leather, in which latter case the outer leather
sole may be previously made regular in thickness and shaped to fit the lasts in dies,
and marked all round where the sewing stitches or nails or screws were to be applied,
all so as to ensure there being more tightly and regularly sewed and secured than
they could otherwise be in the ordinary mode of putting on soles. And when leather
is used for this first outer sole j it might have its outer, or both its outer and inner
surface previously roughened and coated with a solution of gutta-percha. And in
either case a further thickness or outer sole as 2 of the new composite prepared
cloth and gutta-percha material A, a, would be secured while hot over the outer leather
sole to give the said improved perfectly waterproof and durable wearing surface to the

page_text: sole of the boot or shoe; and thus further protect and prevent the loops of the sowing
which secured the first outer sole or soles to the uppers and in-sole from being cut,
or the equivalent nails as at ¹ securing the first outer soles as j, from being worn
away, and so loosening them from the in-sole i, and uppers J, thus making a more
durable soled boot or shoe than has heretofore been possible in the ordinary modes
of making and securing soles. Or this outer sole may be made in the form
of "Clump" soles as indicated at in Figure 12. And this waterproof web
material in one, two, or three thicknesses may be used for the repairing and soling of
old or worn boots and shoes in like manner by cleaning and roughening the insole, or
the first outer solo j and solutionizing it when these inner soles are made of leather, and
then heating and attaching the new outer soles 2 or j³ to this prepared surface by
pressure, either with a hammer and burnisher or roller, or by compressing them in the
simple mould as shown in Figure 11. Perfect ventilation is obtained with this mode of
soling in a space at 3 Figures 5 and 6, between the insole i and the first outer solo j or it.
might be in a recess through this first outer sole j¹ indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7, or
embossed in it with perforated holes. And for this purpose the insole i whether made of
this new waterproof web material A a, or of leather, or of cork is perforated at 3, or this
insole might be made of vulcanized india rubber perforated, with a porous woollen
cloth surface inside, or with a like inner slip sole or sock of perforated leather or other
material, so that the motion of the foot in walking would allow air to circulate
between the insole and the first outer sole in this space all as hereinafter described,
or it may be in the outer embossed. recesses. A thin sheet or sheets of vulcanized
india-rubber h, shown in side and edge elevation Figure 8, would be inserted in
the space in the tread part of the foot, between the inner sole i and first outer
sole and over-lapping at ¹ embossed grooves or corrugations " formed in a heel
ventilating part within this space ³ under the waist and heel part of the foot, in
which heel part 2 an embossed or cut out rocoss ³ would be formed down into
the solid heel k, k¹, 12, for the insertion of a hollow rubber ball, cup, or other
equivalent or 5 shown detached in section Figure 10 with holes for the drawing in
of air through perforations in the heel, and along the recesses to be forced up by
the flap or flaps h one of which may be perforated as dotted in in Figure 8, through
the holes in the insole, as indicated by arrows in Figures 9 to 12, by the action of
walking. And the air forced into the inside of the shoo might be further expelled
through one, two, or more holes in the toe parts of the uppers J, as indicated at Ja
Figure 11 either hid under the perforated toe caps, or these holes may be formed with
a slight cone of gutta percha to prevent the entrance of water, as indicated. at J"
Figure 12. The deep heel part of the boots or shoes, below this new sole j, J²;
formed as described, might be either formed in the usual manner out of plastic gutta-
percha, either with or without metal heels " or of layers of leather first placed
in the moulds M as indicated respectively in Figuros 11 and 12, or they might
have two, three, or more thicknesses of this new composite sheet material A, a,
cemented on their lower surface after being removed from the mould to give the
same wearing effect to these as to the soles, or the whole heel night be made up
of layers of this new composite web material cemented together in a hot state,
in an equivalent manner to that in which heels have heretofore been made up of
the thickness of leather, only not requiring nails to secure them and as indicated
at in Figure 12. This new composite waterproof web material A a, is also
suitable for being cut up into the shape of the bearing wearing surfaces of the
soles of clogs, and cemented or otherwise secured thereto to give a better wearing
surface, either with or without nails or netal edgings "round them as at present
employed.
This new composite waterproof material so manufactured in webs or sheets of one,
two, or more layers or thicknesses as described, is also suitable and made for being
used for the working lids L of disc and clack valves, as shown in sectional elevation
and plan respectively in Figures 13 and 14 on Sheet 3, and insertion sheets, discs or
rings L' for making pressure tight joints of the flanges of pipes, as shown in side
and edge views in Figure 15, or for valve seats L² as shown in corresponding views
B

page_text: in. Figure 16, and valve chest lid joints 1.3 as shown in side and edge views in
Figure 17, all for the use and circulation of cold water and other liquids, by cutting
up the web material A, a, to the proper shapes and sizes as indicated at L to L³ in
these Figures 13 to 17, and securing them between the ordinary planed or flattened
metal jointing flanges or surfaces otherwise substantially in the same manner as is
done at present with leather, and with rubber and other insertion jointing web
materials, but only required to be secured by their own cementing gutta-percha
solution without sewing or other means of attachment. This new sheet material A a,
is also suitable for being cut up and used, by winding and forcing it into turned and
other shaping metal moulds to dish it up and shape it into the working rings 1, 1, of
plunger pump buckets while in a heated and limp state, which when cold would
retain its shape as dotted-in in Figure 14 and shown in section detached in
Figure 14 A. This new material A, a, is also suitable for being similarly made
up into cold water and other liquid dishes, such as pails and buckets, as shown in
sectional elevation at m, in Figure 18, or into cup rings n for hydraulic presses,
as shown in sectional elevation and plan in Figure 19. And the moulds might be
formed with various devices in them for giving ornamentation to the surface, the layer of
gutta-percha on the one side of which would take the beautiful forms in relief or
entaglio shapes from the moulds as for the embossing of flattish dishes, trays or
bowls suitable for fruit and biscuit use, or the use of cold liquids. Or the material
might be thus cut to suitable sizes and embossed in suitable shaped metal dies and
compressed or cut and jointed to form covers of books, instead of leather or parch-
ment or papier-maché, or be used for other surface coverings, such as wall papers, or
for waterproof linings for the inside of boxes or bales, for the protection of goods, in
the manner that sheet tin and other materials have been heretofore used, or for
forming a waterproof lining in the inside of paste board jars or packages, or for the
forming of these packages or cases themselves; and for forming endless waterproof
web bands for carrying bricks or other clay material, or for the lining of wooden cold
water cisterns or vessels, or for bath floor cloths, or bath dishes, such as portable
cold water washing or sponge-baths or basins, or water holding vessels for domestic
use; or portable baths or vessels for holding and using chemical solutions in which
the gutta percha coating on the inside will withstand the action of Hydrochloric and
other acids, while the canvas gives strength and solidity to the body of the vessels.
And this web material A, a, might also be used in strips or sheets of the lighter form
in a hot limp state for the building up of the frames of hats or caps or for Ladies
bonnets, in removable core moulds, and be afterwards covered with the outer orna-
mental fabrics, instead of using fabrics saturated with strong starch, glue, size, benzol,
or shellac, for these purposes as heretofore. Thin sheet material of this description
would also be suitable for being embossed up into raised ornaments, for the ornamen-
tation of rooms, picture frames, or other purposes, in the manner leather and paper
are now used and embossed. And might be used also for being cemented round the frames
or saddle trees of saddles, for giving them strength and preventing water getting into the
wood and iron work of such frames; or for being cut up into long lengths or strips and
made into waterproof straps or bands for horses' traces and harness, as indicated in side
and edge views in Figures 20 and 21, instead of leather as heretofore. And for the
forming of such waterproof linings for boxes and such purposos requiring light
material, thinner web material than strong canvas would generally be used as
the foundation base in preparing the new sheet material, as. common unbleached cotton
cloths or calicos, or felts or soft paper or paste-board, which would absorb and be
treated all as described with the gutta-percha mixtures and as set forth in reference to
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1. This new sheet material would also be very suitable,
when made with a thin flexible fabric in this way, or when made with serge, or
other woollen cloth or felt as the foundation fabric for being used in hospitals and
other places as dressing-cloth, for being shaped as splints while heated on moulds the
shape of the limbs for wrapping up or securing round wounded limbs as covering
dressings or supports for enclosing the wound from the air, or retaining the limbs in
proper position, the material being susceptible, while gently heated and pressed by

page_text: hand or in moulds, of taking any shape to suit the limb or part of the body desired,
and retain its shape so as to support the part of the body to which it was fitted.
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 1
claim is :-
First. A fabric consisting of a ply or plies of woven or felt textile web material
coated on one or both sides with a layer or layers of dissolved gutta percha, Balata,
or gutta percha mixtures, substantially as and for the purposos herein set forth.
Second. A fabric, consisting of a ply or plies of canvas, or other woven or felt
textile web material, coated on one or both sides with a layer or layers of dissolved
gutta percha, Balata, or gutta percha mixtures, and with a thin layer or layers of
gutta percha or gutta percha mixtures between the plies, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
Third. The berein described process or mode and means of manufacturing a com-
posite web fabric, consisting of a ply or plies of canvas or woven or felt textilo
material coated on one or both sides with a layer or layers of dissolved gutta percha,
Balata, or gutta-percha mixtures, and either with or without an intermediate layer or
layers of prepared gutta percha or gutta percha mixtures, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The use and soling, or soling and heeling of boots and shoes, with the
herein described new web fabric, composed of canvas or other textile material and
gutta percha or Balata, substantially as and in the manner and for the advantages herein
set forth, in reference to and shown in Figures 5 to 12 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The use and mode of applying the herein described new web fabric composed
of canvas or other textile material and gutta percha or Balata, for the various
purposes herein set forth in reference to and shown in Figures 13 to 21 on Sheet 3
of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The herein described construction or combination of the parts, of a machine
or apparatus, for producing a composite web material consisting of a single layer of a
fabric traversed and coated with dissolved gutta porcha, or Balata, on one or both sides,
and treated substantially as shown and set forth in reference to Figures 1 and 2 on
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The herein described construction, or combination of the parts, of a
machine or apparatus for making a composite web material of various thicknesses or
layers of a web fabric and gutta percha or Balata alternately, firmly compressed
together, substantially as shown and set forth in reference to Figures 3 and 4 on
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1880
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.