US140241A - Improvement in modes of finishing shoe-soles - Google Patents

Description

B. S. BRYANT.

Modes of Finishing Shoe-Soles.

N0. 140,241. Patentediune24,i873.

UNITED STATES PATENT BRADLEY S. BRYANT, OF HANSON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF FINISHING SHOE-SOLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,241, dated June 24, 1873 application filed May 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRADLEY S. BRYANT, of Hanson, countyof Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in the Mode of Finishing Boot and Shoe Soles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the mode of finish ing boots, shoes, slippers, 8m; and it consists in a surfacing of flocked paper, applied by means of a suitable cement to the sole or treading-surface of the shoe, so as to give it the appearance of buffed leather, and also to hide any inequalities or imperfections which might render the article less attractive or saleable.

It is customary in the general shoe manufacture to channel the sole to hide the sewing or peggin g, and finish it by scraping and rasping, to give it the smooth even surface desirable. This necessarily results in weakening the sole, causing a loss of substance, which impairs the durability of the shoe. To avoid these results, but still to give the shoe a finished appearance, two modes have been heretofore adopted, viz: First, the sole or treadingsurface of the shoe has been covered with a coating of paper or textile fabric secured thereto by an adhesive cement; secondly, the sole of the shoe has been flocked by means of a suitable cement applied directly to the sole of the shoe and the surface then covered with a flock of wool, silk, cotton, or other material. Either of these two modes accomplishes the object, but both are more or less obj ectionable, the first, for the reason that the shoe does not possess the accustomed finished appearance; the second, for the reason that considerable time is required for the flocked surface to dry and become ready for the market.

With the foregoing brief review of what has already been done, I will now proceed to describe my improvements thereon, referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a boot, the sole being in longitudinal vertical section and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sole or treading-surface.

A represents the sole, of which Bis the ball, 0 the shank, and D the heel, the surface of each part being covered first with a layer or cement, and one that will not saturate or soak.

into the paper, is preferable. The cement is applied in a continuous film or layer, either to the surface of the sole or to the paper, or to both, if desired. The paper is then pressed upon the sole, and made to adhere evenly and smoothly. The exposed surface of the paper is in turn covered with a continuous film or layer of cement of sufficient thickness to hold the flock, which-is then applied in the usual manner. The flock used may be of wool, silk, cotton, hair, or other suitable material. The second mode, which, for some reasons, may be considered as preferable, is, to prepare the paper, by giving it a flocked surface, in the following manner: A sheet of paper is coated on one side with water-proof adhesive cement, of such a nature as will not soak into the paper and injure its texture, and upon this film or layer of cement the flock of wool, hair, or other material is applied. The sheet so prepared may be cut into suitable sizes and forms by means of dies or otherwise, and these forms applied to the shoe-sole by a layer or film of cement, as before mentioned; or the unflocked surface of the paper may be coated with an adhesive cement while in the sheet-form, or after it has been cut into shapes and sizes by (lies, and these forms afterward applied to the shoe-sole, when required. In this latter form the coating or finish can be used by the dealer, and applied to the soles of shoes and boots that have become soiled by handling and exposure in the shop or store, thus obviating a considerable loss from damaged stock.

The flock applied to the surface of the paper must always be in such quantities and of such thickness as to entirely conceal the paper from view, and leave an even continuous flocked surface.

Many advantages are gained by this mode FFICE.

of finishing, namely: In appearance and cheap- -ness, durability and security against deterioration by exposure, and in rendering the article neat and saleable.

I do not claim a coating of paper or textile fabric applied to the treading-surface of a boot or shoe sole; neither do I claim a boot or shoe sole having acoating or covering of flock applied directly to the surface of the sole; but

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A shoe-sole having its treading-surface covered With a layer or sheet of paper, the exposed surface of which is flocked, or covered

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