GB344070A - Improvements in or relating to the stiffening of boot or shoe upper parts - Google Patents

Abstract

344,070. Boot &c. stiffeners. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., RICKS, E. W., and LUND, W. J., Union Works, Belgrave Road, Leicester. Dec. 5, 1929, No. 37278. [Class 17 (ii).] Thermoplastic shoe stiffeners which are supple and will not change shape under abnormal heat conditions in wear comprise a fibrous base in one or more layers bonded together by a rubbery bond and one or both of which are stiffened with a water soluble or non-thermoplastic stiffening agent and with a thermoplastic stiffening material. In one form, fibrous sheet material from which stiffeners may be cut is formed by binding a thin closely woven cotton fabric, such as calico, with a sheet of wool or wool cotton felt of usual kind employed but thinner and of poorer grade, in the manner described at lines 6-18, page 11, of Specification 277,719, [Class 17 (ii), Boots and shoes, Construction of]. Rubbery adhesive as described in Specification 318,289, [Class 17 (ii), Boots and shoes, Construction of], may be used if desired. One or both layers, preferably both, is then stiffened with non-thermoplastic material, such as size or a compound of glue and rubber latex, and afterwards dried. The calico or like layer may, if desired, be so charged as to lose capacity for absorbing thermoplastic material. The bonded fabric is then stiffened with thermoplastic material, such as a molten mixture of colophony and carnauba wax. In another form, a single layer of wool or wool cotton puff felt of usual character is stiffened by an aqueous stiffening solution of the character above described, or by a compound of fish glue and rubber latex, and the stiffened but still highly absorbent felt is then impregnated with thermoplastic stiffening material as before. Specification 236,600, [Class 17 (ii), Boots and shoes, Construction of], also is referred to.