US1688065A - Last - Google Patents

Description

P. c. WOLFER LAST Filed July 8, 1927 Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. WOLFER, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

. LAST.

Application filed July 8, 1927. Serial No. 204,231.

My present invention relates to lasts, and more particularly to an improved last for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes designed to support and correct the foot of the wearer.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a last to manufacture the type of shoe illustrated and described in my copending application Ser.

' No. 204,727, filed July 11, 1927, which shoe will maintain normal feet in their normal condition and Which will, at the same time,

give the necessary support and correction to feet which are in need of such support and 1 correction.

In carrying out my present invention, and constructing my novel last, I-utilize and com-v bine several advantageous features therein, all of which features co-ordinate and cooperate to produce a scientifically designed and proper last. Attempts have been made. for many years, to produce a last of this type, but none of these lasts, so far as I am aware. hasbeen satisfactory in use, as all of these lasts over-emphasized some particular feature and carried such feature to the extreme, rather than resulting, as my novel last does, in a well-balanced, scientifically correct shoe last.

My present novel last may be made as a block last, or as a hinge last, with equal facility, either type of last being capable of incorporating all of the advantageous features herein set forth. To produce this desirable last, I proy'ide, on the bottom thereof,

create pockets in the shoe constructed there on. These apexes are arranged'to coincide with the posit-ionof the inner and outer balls of the feet of the wearer, and between the 40 being arranged on a diagonal line on the last bottom. 'This'depression results, in the shoe constructed thereon, in a support for the metatarsal arch, by forming a raised surface on the inside of the shoe, and is of great importance.

The principle of providing these apexes, resulting in pockets in the shoe. also eases the vamp line at the throat of the slioe,-allowing an easy'and natural break between the toe and ball. A

My novel last is also so constructed that all widths and sizes will have a standard height heel, and therefore all variation in a pair of apexes,i-designed and arranged to apex es I provide a depression, the apexes.

In order to provide for the longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, I cut the entire inside arch quite deep, particularly just in back of the ball. This deep cut arch is accented in the construction of the shoe, and re sults in the natural support of the entire longitudinal arch of the foot. I also provide my novel last with increased fullness at the portion corresponding to the cuboid bone of the feet, which will allow the foot to rest in a broad depression in the shoe, and will force the arch into the proper curved position. This construction of the last insures, in the completed shoe, against gaping of the sides and slippage of the heel.

The width of the tread of the last, and .re-

sulting shoe, is designed to comfortably contain the toes and ball of the foot, while in no way detracting from the appearance of the footwear. The roll on the toe of the last is a distinctive feature, and'permits accommodation of the toes in a comfortable manner. This roll of the last terminates at the great toe, where it recedes, resulting in a forepart of attractive appearance and pronleunced style and character, in the completed s 0e.

The back ofthe last, or heel curve, is so pitched that in the resulting shoe there will be no chafing at the heel cord, and the entire heel will'be seated uniformly without undue pressure in or on any one place. A further and important feature of the present invention is the particular construction of the heel seat of the last, which is formed mushroom shaped, or convex to a great degree. This results, in the shoe manufactured on such a last, in a deeply cupped heel seat, which will provide room for my novel heel rest described in said copending application Ser. No.=204,727, thus allowing the fleshy part of thei theel to not only fill out the entire surface of the heel seat, but also to rest comfortably and in normal position on the heel rest, thus assuring a positive and comfortable fitting heel. This is also aided by the scientific construction of my novel last, which is'so constructed and arranged as to maintain the correct balance between the arch and-the heel.

I believe that my last constructed as above briefly described, is novel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly herein.

Further features of the invention, details of construction, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel last;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the last;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings. my novel last is provided on its bottom faces with two apexes '1 and 2, between which is formed a depr .ssion 3. As will be seen, the apexes 1 and are arranged on a diagonal lineacross the last bottom, to coincide with the relative position of the inner and outer balls of the foot. The last utilized may be a hinge last, or a block last, or any type or style of last desired, since the novel features herein described may be applied with equal facility to any existing type of last. In the shoe constructed on my novel last, pockets will be created by the apexes 1 and 2, into which the inner and outer balls of the foot will drop,

thus adding greatly to the comfort and free fitting qualities of the shoe made on said last. The depression 3 permits the formation of a desirable support for the metatarsal arch, by

forming a raised surface on the inside of the shoe. The construction just described eases the vamp line at the throat of the shoe, allowing an easy and natural break between the toe and ball. The entireinsid'e or longitudinal arch 4 is out quite deeply,jand particular-. 1y is this so inst in back of the ball or apex 1 at 5. The longitudinal arch extends to the rear of the last, substantially to the rear of the heel of the last as'shown at 6, thus resultmg, in the shoe manufactured on this last, in anatural support for the entire longitudinal arch.

At the portion of-the last corresponding to the cuboid bone of the foot, as shown at 7, the last is formed wide or full, forming a depression in the shoe constructed thereon into which thefoot of the wearer will rest and which will permit the high inside curve of the shoe to force the arch of the foot into a curved position. Also by forming the wide cuboid portion of the last, vand by narrowing the waste of the last, as shown at 8, gaping of the sides andslipping at the heel is substantially if not entirely eliminated. The width of the tread,across the forepart of the last, is designedto result in a shoe which will comfortably contain the toes and ball of the foot, while in no way detracting from the neat and attractive appearance of high grade footwear. I

The roll o'n the toe of the last, as shown at 9',

permits accommodation of the toes in a comfortable manner, and terminates at the front of the last, at the point corresponding to the great toe of the foot, where it recedes. This also results, in the shoe made thereon, in an attractive and neat forepart of distinctive style and character. 7

It will be instantly apparent that the bottom' of this last is so designed as to result in a shoe which will be shaped. to conform to the anatomy of the foot, the heel and ball-tread being so balanced that. throwing of the foot into an abnormal position is eliminated. Any style ofshoe, from oxfords to pumps, may be constructed on this type of last, and all of the advantageous features herein pointed out will be obtained in such footwear. The back or heel curve 10 is so pitched that it causes no chafing at or on the heel cord, or cord of Achilles and the entire back of the heel will be seated uniformly without undue pressure upon any one part or place.

,The toe portion of the tread, as shown at 11, is formed substantially flat, or with but a slight convexity, thus permitting smooth and even seating and fitting of the forward part of the foot in the shoe constructed on my novel last.

fiesh part of the heel to fill out the entire surface of the heel seat and to rest comfortably and in normal position on the cushion or heel rest. Thus a positive and comfortably fitting heel is assured in the shoe. This is further aided and assisted by the present last, which is scientifically so constructed as to keep the correct balancebetween the arch and the heel. which will also result in a great relief to the heel and spine of the wearer.

To the rounded heel seat 12 I may also, and preferably do, apply a clinching plate 13, of metal, secured to the heel seat by tacks or nails 14. The metal clinching plate 13 also corresponds to'the extreme rounding of the heel seat, so that when the shoe is constructed thereon, it can be easily fitted over and around this rounded heel seat, resulting, as aforesaid, in the deeply bupped heel seat desired in the'shoe.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in this artthat I have devised a last containing many advantageous and orthopedic fea tures, and yet a last which can be easilyand economically manufactured, and which will result in a shoe that will add greatly to the While I have necessarily described my inwide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention. k

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear end of the heel, and a pair of apexes on the bottom of said last to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said last to ac- ;ommodatethe inner and outer balls of the oot.

2-. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear end of the heel, a pair-of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottom of said last to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said last to accommodate the inner and outer balls of the foot, the bottom of said last having a recess between said apexes to permit a metatarsal arch supporter tobe formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said last being pitched to a predetermineddegree. 3. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending 'from the ball of the toexportion to the rear end of the heel a .pair of apexes arranged on adiagona l lineon the bottom of said'last to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said last to accomodate the inner and outer balls of the foot, the bottom of said last having a recess between said apexes to ermit a metatarsal arch supporter to be ormed in said shoe, the heel curve of said last being pitched to a predetermined degree, the outer cuboid extension of the last being so constructed as to provide a wide recess for theouter longitudinal arch of the foot in said shoe, and a heel seat. ofpronounced concavity to form in said shoe a deeply cupped heel seat. 4. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending from the ball of the toe portion to the rear end of the heel, a pair of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottom of said last to cause pockets to be formed in the, shoe made on said last to accommodate the inner and outer balls of the foot, the bottom of said last having a recess between said apexes to permit a metatarsal archvsupporter to be formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said last being pitched to a predetermined degree, theouter cuboid extension of the last being so constructed as to provide a wide recess for the outer longitudinal arch of the foot in said shoe, a heel seat of pronounced concavity to form in said shoe a deeply cupped heel seat, and a roll of greater than normal fullness on the toe of said last terminating and receding on the portion of the last corresponding to the great toe of the foot. 4

k 5. A last of the kind described provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending from the ball ofthe toe portion to the rear end of the heel and being of greatest depth at a point just back of the inner ball of the last, a pair'of apexes arranged on a diagonal line on the bottom of said last to cause pockets to be formed in the shoe made on said last to accommodate the inner and outer f balls of the foot, the bottom of said last having a recess between said apexes to permit a met-- atarsal arch supporter to be formed in said shoe, the heel curve of said last being pitched to a predetermined degree, the outer cuboid PAUL c. WOLFER.

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