US250108A

US250108A - Attachment for boots and shoes

Info

Publication number: US250108A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1881-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1898-11-29

Description

(No Model.)

1 W. W. STEWART.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. 7 No. 250,108. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

UNETE STATES PATENT Orrrea.

WILLIAM W. STEWART, OF BROOKLYN, NET/V YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,108, dated November 29, 1881.

Application filed March 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WASHINGTON STEWART, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the of which the following is a specification.

Persons in health when walking always relieve the shock which would otherwise attend the transferring of ones weight from one foot to the other by an elastic or yielding stepthat is, the weight is first sustained by a part of the foot which is capable of yielding, so that the load comes upon the solid bony support of the foot andleg gradually and without shock. Age and illness usually cause persons to lose the muscular tension which secures the required elasticity, and therefore walking becomes relatively more laborious and fatiguing than with persons of sound health or young in years.

The principal object of my invention is to secure to the aged and infirm an artificial elasti'city of step which will relieve them from the shock and consequent fatigue incident to walking with an inelastic step. The specific result is attained by placing beneath the shoe an elastic cushion of some suitable structure and placed in a position proper to engage with the surface being walked over before any other part of the shoe. The place of attachment which I prefer is immediately in front of the heel, as shown. Thus when the foot is placed upon the ground its contact therewith is yielding, and as the weight is transferred to that foot there is no shock. In practice I prefer to make this cushion or pad of india-rubber, and, as it is not desirable thatit should be constantly on the foot, I provide it with straps or other proper fastenings whereby it may be readilyattached or detached.

Having now set forth the nature of my invention, I will more particularly describe it,

having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention in operative position. Fig. 2 is a view of the same detached. Fig. 3 represents the clastic bulb attached to a common gaiter. Fig. 4

represents the same permanently attached to the sole of an overshoe.

A is my pad, shown in the drawings as a hollow bulb or tube of india-rubber, with a strap, B, passing through it. The strap B passes over the instep, and may be provided with a back strap, G, to prevent it from slipping forward. It is apparent, however, that ways for securing the pad are various, and that it may be made of other material than india-rubber.

I am aware that elastic soles have been placed on shoes, and that the ordinary rubber overshoes are elastic; but in both of these cases the thickness of the elastic substance is too little to afford a desirable or useful quantity of elasticity, and a special pad is for that reason necessary.

When in position the pad is immediately in front of the heel of the shoe, and projects below it sufficiently far to cause said pad to bear nearly the whole weight of the person, so that the heel will come into use only when nearly the whole Weight has been thrown upon the foot.

These pads, when made of india-rubber, or when provided with india-rubber surfaces, will also be of great utility to preventslipping upon ice, because, as is well known, india-rubber clings to the surface of ice when the same is dry and afiords a sure footing. For that reason many persons wear india-rubber overshoes when the sidewalks are icy; but the use of such shoes is objectionable, and is only to be tolerated as a choice between evils. Many persons also wear spurs, known as ice-creepers, to prevent slipping on ice; but spurs are not only unpleasant to the foot and render walking tiresome, but they are not admissible indoors, on account of the injury they inflict upon carpets and floors.

My pads may be worn at all times and at all places without cause for dissatisfaction on any account. They do not inflict discomfort upon the wearer nor injury upon floors or carpets.

If desired, this elastic pad may be permanently attached to the shoe or overshoe.

' Having described myinvention, whatI claim as new is 1. A hollow elastic cushion or pad adapted to be attached to the foot below the shank and immediately in front of the heel of the shoe,

to impart to the footstep an artificial elasticity, of the shoe immediately in front of the heel,

as and. for the purpose set forth. and secured there by suitable means, for the 10 2. A hollow elastic cushion or pad provided purpose set forth.

with straps or other proper means for ready 5 and convenient attachment to the shoe, as set WILLIAM STEWART forth. p Witnesses: 3. An elastic bulb or tube, A, ofrubber, adapt- JOSEPH M. LAYAT, ed to be fitted and placed beneath the shank HAROLD D. WATSON.