US1431847A

US1431847A - Shoe-upper closure

Info

Publication number: US1431847A
Application number: US542060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stano John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-03-08
Filing date: 1922-03-08
Publication date: 1922-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1939-10-10

Description

1. sumo. SHOE UPPER CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1922.

31,431,47. Patented M10, 1922.

unlacing the shoe will be materially Patented Got. 10, 1922.

ra e

JOHN STANG, OF LIVINGSTON, ILLINOIS.

SHOE-UPPER CLOSURE.

Application filed March 8, 1922. Serial No. 542,060.

T 0 all whom it may concern." 7

Be it known that I, JoHN STANo, a citizen of Czecho-Slovakia, residing at Livingston, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Upper Closures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shoe upper closures particularly for the fastening of the closure flaps of footwear. l

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved means for lacing together the flaps of the upper closure of a shoe whereby the operation of lacing and simplified over prior arrangements' of this kind. Another object is to provide an'etfective and simplified form of lacing hook which.

may be practically employed with the m'anner of lacing embodied in the present invention.

Other objects will appeargas the nature of the invention is better understood and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and in which like reference characters indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe provided with an upper closure constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lacing hook, and

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view lookin toward the right of Figure 2. y

i eferring more in detail to the several views, the present invention contemplates the provision of lacing means for the usual closure flaps 5 and 6 of the upper 7 of a shoe, and the invention contemplates the securing of a plurality of lacing hooks 8' to the flap 5 along the marginal edge of the latter from end to end and in uniformly spaced relation so that the entrances to said hooks are substantially directed outwardly. The invention also contemplates the provision of a series of eyelets 9 along the margin of the flap 6 so that said eyelets are arranged in pairs at points between adjacent ones of the lacing hooks 8 with central eyelets 10 at the ends of the flap 6 so that one end of the single lace 11 may be knotted as at 12 for preventing passage of one end of the lace through the lowermost eyelet, the lace 11 being threaded. through the pairs of eyelets so as to leave looped portions as at 13 between said. pairs of eyelets for engagement with the lacing hooks 8,. a suitable means being provided as is well known in the art for securing the upper end of the lace at the upper eyelet 10. This securing means is not shown as the same iswell known in the art and forms no part of the present invention.

It will be seen that by means of the above construction. the upper end of the lacing may be readily loosened for allowing said lace to slide through the eyes 9 for enlarging the loop portions 13 so that they may be readily disengaged from the lacing hooks S to thereby entirely disconnect the two flaps 5 and 6 with the lacing entirely carried by the flap 6 and with the loop. portions 13 disposed to be againreadily engaged with said hooksgafter which the lacing may be pulled at its upper end for tightening the closure. 7

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lacing hooks 8 preferably embody a narrow strip or". sheet metal having a base portion 14 with an attaching rivet 15 rigid therewith whereby the hook may be fastened to the flap 5, and with an upwardly extending outwardly curved end portion 16 which terminates in an inwardly directed extension 17 having a laterally bent free end port-ion arranged to form a stop as at 18 and in a manner that will presently become apparent. A pair of ears 19 are stamped integral with the other end of the base portion 14 and a second strip of sheet metal of a springy nature as at 20 is provided with a pair of ears 21 which are pivoted to the ears 19, the strip 20 being of general G-shape in side elevation and having a lower end portion 22 bearing upon the base portion 14 for normally tilting the strip 20 to the dotted line position of Figure 2 for normally leaving an entrance opening as broadly indicated at 23 for the introduction of the lace, such entrance opening or space being between the end of the curved portion 16 and the upper end. of the curved strip 20. The upper end of the curved strip 20 is provided with an inward extension 24k of hook-shape with a laterally bent end as at 25 slidably engaging the portion 17 and cooperating with the stop 18 for limiting separation of the mem bers of the hook at the lacing entrance space.

As the hook-shaped extension 24: is inclined and directed toward the center of the hook,

the operation of drawing the lace tight will 5 exert a pull in the direction of the arrow -a, of Figure 2 so as; to cause closing of the entrance opening 23 as shown by full lines in Figure 2 against the action of the springy end portion 22. This provides for a neatappearance when the lacing is drawn tight during wearing of the shoe, and the closing of the entrance space prevents engagement of the hook in body apparel and projecting articles of various kinds as is objectionable with the rigid type of hook now generally employed wherein the hook is open at all times.

As the manner of use has been dealt with in the foregoing description, it is believed that the same will be evident to those skilled in the art and the advantages of the invention appreciated.

' Minor changes may be made in the form combination and arrangement of parts of lflthe' invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the same.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with the pair of upper closure flaps of a shoe, a series of lacing hooks secured in spaced relation from end to end of and along the margin of one of said flaps, eyelets secured from end to end of and along the margin of the other flap, said eyelets being arranged in pairs at points 35 between adjacent ones of said hooks with single eyelets at the upper and lower end portions of said other flap, and a single lace anchored in the lower eyelet and formed in loops between the pairs of eyelets engaging the hooks, said hooks being formed to permit ready disengagement of the loops therefrom with the lace disposed in said eyelets. 2. In an upper closure fastener for shoes, a lacing hook composed of a pair of metallic strips, one ofusaid strips being relatively spaced and including a base portion with one end extending upwardly and outwardly curved and with an inturned straight end member upon the free end of the outwardly curved portion having alaterally directed end forming a stop, the other member being of substantially C-shape in elevation and hingedly connected'vto the other end of the base portion with its upper end normally in spaced relation to the upper end of the outwardly. curved portion and with its lower portion yieldingly bearing upon the base portion, said C-shaped member being provided with an inclined inwardly directed hook extension having an inturnecl end slidably engaging the inturned end portion of the outwardly curved portion and cooperating with the first named stop to limit separation of the members, said hook-shaped portion being arranged to be engaged by the lace so that the same will be pulled upon tightening of the lace for bringing the members of the hook. at their upper ends into contact.

JOHN STAND.