US1237152A - Process of preparing soles. - Google Patents

Description

R. E. BARTELS.

PROCESS OF PREPARING SOLES.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. I917.

1,2311 52 Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

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InveW/ZO 7". R.Z.Bw7-tebs sra'rn'r on rnocnss or rnErAnmG soLEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed April 11, 1917. Serial Ho. 161,128.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, REINHARD E. Banners, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Preparing Soles, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and has for its object to provide certain improvements in the manipulation and treatment of the sole prior to its attachment to the partially formed shoe, in consequence of which a better fitting shoe may be secured.

In the manufacture of a shoe, after the sole has been cut from the leather, it is subjected to several operations; that is, it is channeled, and then, when in temper,,it is molded so as to approximate the shape of the bottom of the last and to approximate the shape which it is intended to have in the shoe itself. After the molding operation, the channel flap line of stitches which attach the sole to the shoe may be passed through the channel.

. It is customary with many kinds of footwear to provide the sole with a sole stiffener, that is, a strip of relatively unyielding material which extends forwardly from the heel to a point approximately under the ball of the foot. This stiffener is usually assembled with the sole immediately prior to the attachment of the sole to the welt or to the upper. It frequently happens that the stiffener, in the manipulation. of the parts, becomes misplaced and it more frequently happens that the shape of the stifi'ener does not accurately conform to the shape of the molded sole. For the various operations incident to opening the channel flap and the like, it is necessary that the sole should be wet or moistened, and consequently, although a sole may be perfectly shaped by the molding operation, the subsequent dampening of the sole and the manipulations to which the sole is subjected, all have the effect of distorting the sole and causing it to assume a flattened condition.

The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties which have heretofore been experienced in molding and preserving the shape of the sole and in insuring the proper location of the shank stiffener.

In accordance with my invention, I employ as a shank stifi'ener any material which is raised in order that the is capable of being molded, such for example as ductile metal, 6. 6. sheet iron, compressed fiber, or the like. After the sole has been shaped and its under face channeled in the ordinary way, and while the sole is flat, I secure thereto the shank stiffener in the location that is desirable. The sole, with its attached shank stiffener, is then subjected to a molding operation as a result of which both the sole and the shank stiffener are simultaneously molded into proper shape. For this purpose, I find it convenient to employ metallic molds capable of exerting sufficient pressure to give to the shank stiffener the desired curvature both longitudinally and transversely. After a sole and a shankstiflener have thus been molded, they both preserve their molded shape notwithstanding the manipulations to which the sole subsequently may be subjected.

Referring to the drawings,-

Figure 1 illustrates a shaped sole.

Fig. 2 represents the same after it has been subjected to a grooving operation; that Is, after it has been subjected to an operation by which a shallow groove adequate to receive the shank stiffener has been formed in the shank of the sole.

Fig. 3 illustrates the sole with the shank secured in place.

4 shows the shank stifiener detached.

Fig. 5 shows in section two m'olds, the sole and the shank stiffener during the operation of molding.

Fig. 6 illustrates in longitudinal section the molded sole.

Fig. 7 represents a cross section through the shank on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

I have selected for illustration a solo a which at its rear end terminates short of the extremity of the heel; that is to 'say,

its rear end 6 is straight, so that what I may term a heel extension may be secured thereto. The sole is channeled on its under face as ordinarily, although I have not illustrated the channel. skived as at c for the attachment of the sole extension d which may likewise be skived at e. By means of a suitable grooving machine, I form in the shank and partway into the ball of the sole a shallow groove f in which the shank stifi'ener may be located and secured by fastenings h. After the shank stiffener has been secured in lace, the sole is then molded as ordinar' y by The rear end may then be' metal molds indicated at i and j. The ressure of the mold is suficient, not ony to mold the sole to the desired form, hat also to impart to the stifi'ener g the desired shape. After the molding operation is completed, it will he observed that the shank stifienerg is not only curved longitudinally as shown in Fig. 6, but is also curved transversely as shown in Fig. 7, so that the sole and stiffener will accurately coniorm to the bottom of the last on which the shoe is .tobe formed. Inasmuch as the sole is grooved to receive the stiffener, 1 thereby eliminate any projection or hum .on the under side of the shank :01" the so e in the finished shoe.

After thesole has been molded into proper shape, the heel extension d may be secured to a sole by staples or other suitable fasteners. 61? course it will be understood that the invention is not limited to a process of molding an incomplete sole, as a sole of sufficient length to extend between the entremities of a shoe may he molded in accordance with the present invention. Pref- .erably the shank piece isof such lengththat its front end extends to the break is in the sole, as shown :both in Figs. 5 and 6.

'Ilhe advantagesof my method of forming shoe soles will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and it is hardlynecessary to advent thereto. I may, however, call attention to the fact that, by simultaneously molding both the shank stificner and might call attention, is that I secure for each shoe an exact conformation of the sole and the shank piece, and I also insure the location of the shank in its true position and prevent any shifting or dislocation thereof.

After the sole has been once molded, it may be subsequently dampened to permit the turning of the channel without causing any distortion of the molded sole, since the shank piece holds it firmly in the shape to which it has been molded.

Having 'thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of making and using thesame, without attempting :to set forth allof the forms in which it may be madeor all of the modes of its use, What I claim is:

1. The herein described process which consists of assemhlinga sole and a moldable shank stiffener and .then simultaneously molding lthe sole and shank stiifener to the desired shape prierto their being assembled the shoe.

2. The herein described process which consists in first longitudinally grooving a shoe sole, then inserting and securing a shank stifi'ener of moldable material in the groove, and finally by pressure molding the .sole and shankstiiienerto the desired curva- :ture.

'3. The herein described process which conmsts first in shaping and channeling a sole, then attaching to the upper face of the sole a moldahie shank stiffener, then simultaneously ahy premure molding the sole and shank stifi'eneri-toithe desired shape, and then turning :back the channel flap.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signatnne.

REINHA'RD BARTELS.

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