US1711302A - Cushion heel - Google Patents

Description

lApril 30, 1929. J. BELPDIO 1,711,302

CUSHION HEEL Filed sept. .18, 1925 Fg. E.

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BY fn; Wm ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 30,

umTi'LDv STATES JOBBY BELPEDIO, F .BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

CUSHION HEEL.

Application led September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,047.

The present invention relates to improvements in cushion heels, and has for an object to provide a cushion heelformed of rubber or the like, -of relatively great resiliency,

which at the same time is of suiicient hardness and wear resisting quality as to provide l a substantial heel support adapted to maintain its original shape over a relatively long period of use, and in which deterioration due to wearing out of the rubber is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a cushion heel having a high resiliency cushioning element or means, combined ,with a ground gripping tread in the nature of a vacuum cup, adapted to cooperate with the cushioningelement in such manner that as the same is compressed the tread is gripped with the ground to effectually resist slippage. A still further air cushion means adapted to provide more resilient cushioning, and which is so arranged that internal collapse or edge separation of the cushion heel from the leather heel is prevented. J

It is proposed in the present embodiment of the invention to provide a rubber heel v provided with an interiorly disposed cushioning area at the inner or non-tread side'of relatively great resiliency, and a tread surface of wear resisting consistency including means adapted when pressure is applied to the heel to compress the cushioning area, and further to provide such means in the form of a vacuum cup for the purpose of forming a ground gripping element to prevent slippage.

With the ab'ove and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described With reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

, In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper side of a cushion heel, according to the present embodiment of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is a pers ective view of the lower or tread side thereo Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereofshowing it attached to a shoe, and in compressed relation;

object is toprovide a cushion heel including F ig. 5 is a plan view of the upper side of a cushion heel, according -to a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; andv Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, showing it attached to a shoe, and in compressed relation.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several ligures of the drawings. y

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, the embodiment of the invention shown therein comprises a resilient heel body 10 formed of rubber of such consistency as to be Wear resisting and of sufficient resilience as to provide a cushioning tread or ground gripping surface. A series of nail receiving holes 11 is provided in inwardly spaced relation to the periphery, the holes being provided with countersink portions 12 and annular bosses 13 surrounding the portions 12.

vUpon the upper side of the heel body, and in inwardly spaced relation to its periphery, there is provided a circular walled recess 14, and within this recess, and. 'n inwardly` 8 spaced concentric relation to its wall, there is provided a circular cushioning element 15 of relatively softer rubber than the heel body, as sponge or crepe rubber, and which is homogeneously joined to the heel body by vulcanizing or the like. The upper 'surface of the cushioning element is flush with the upper surface of the heel body, and the annular space 16 about the same forms an air pocket, which in the useof the heel functions as an a1r cushion.

The tread surface of the heel body is provided in co-axial relation with the cushioning element with a dome-shaped circular boss 17, of substantially smaller diameter than the cushioning element, and projecting with respect to the tread surface,`and in annularly spaced relation thereto there is formed a rounded circular rib 18, projecting from the tread surface to a slightly less degree than the boss 17, the inner diameter of the rib being less than that of the cushioning elenient, while the outer diameter is greater than that of the circular wall of the recess 14, so that said rib is substantially Aopposed beneath 105 the circularv air cushion space 16.

The heel is attached to the leather heel portion 19 of the shoe by means of nails 20, and in such attached relation the soft interior cushioning area insures a constantly tight engagement at the edge between the rubber and the leather heels.

In Fig. 4 the heel is shown in its compressed ground engaging relation, the weight of the wearer being imposed thereon. In this relation the cushioning element is compressed through engagement of the boss 17 with the ground, and during such compression the annular rib 18 engages the ground in a manner as to produce a vacuum gripping contact therewith. As the heel is lifted from the ground it assumes the normal shape shown in Fig. 3. While the vacuum cup vgripping effeet provided by the rib 18 is suilicient to prevent slipping, the projecting boss 17 tends to break theI vacuum as the heel is lifted, so that any tendency of the heel to stick and thereby impair walking is prevented. It will'be seen that a high resiliency cushioning effect is produced, and at the same time the body of the heel is such that a substantial support is afforded which is wear resisting to a high degree, the cushioning inner tread surface provided by the boss 17 and rib 18 furthermore relieving the edge portion of the heel 'from considerable wear.

In Figs. 5 to 7 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the cushioning element consists of acircular portion 21 formed integrally with the heel body in concentric spaced relation within the recess 14, and provided with a circular concave recess 22 inwardly spaced from its outer edge to rovide an air cushion pocket, which in conjunction with the air space 16 provides an air cushioning area supported against collapse by engagement of the portion 21 with the under surface of the leather heel portion 19. The construction renders the central area of greater resiliency than the peripheral portion, the central air cushion portion functionin in substantially the same manner as/ the so rubber cushion element 15 of the first described embodiment. v Irhave illustrated and described preferre and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having t-hus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A 1. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body of rubber having a tread surface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, said upper surface being provided with a recess in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, and a cushioning element also of rubber and of greater resiliency than said heel bod disposed in said recess, and

-substantially integrally connected to the heel body, said heel having a space in relation to said cushioning element into which said element expands in its compressed relation.

2. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a tread surface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, said upper surface being provided with a recess in inwardly spaced relation to said periph'eral surface, and a cushioning element of greater resiliency than said heel body having its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of said heel body disposed in said recess in inwardly spaced relation to the wall of said recess to form an air pocket surrounding said cushioning element, said cushioning element adapted to expand into said air pocket in its compressed relation.

3. A, cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a tread surface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning means of greater resiliency than saidheel body within said heel in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, and projectling means on said tread surface in opposed relation tao said cushioning means adapted upon pressure being applied against said ,tread surface to compress said cushioning means. v

4. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a tread surface, 'an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning means of greater resiliency than said heel body within said heel in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, a continuous projecting rib on said tread surface in in- Wardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface and surrounding an inner recessed area to form a vacuum cup, said rib being opposed to said cushioning means and adapted upon pressure being applied against said tread surface to simultaneously compress said cushioning means and form a vacuum grip with the ground surface.

5. Al cushion heel, comprising a resilient heel body having a tread surface, an upper surface, and a peripheral surface, cushioning means of greater resiliency than said heel. body within s aid heel in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, a continu,-

ous projecting rib on said tread surface in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface and surrounding an inner recessed area to form a vacuum cup, a central boss within said recessed area. projecting with respect to the projected plane of said rib, said boss being opposed to said cushioning means and adapted. upon pressure being applied to. said tread surface to compress said cushioning means, and said rib adapted to simultaneously form a! vacuum grip with the ground.

6.. A cushion heel, comprising a resilient rubber heel body having a tread surface, an inner surface, and a peripheral surface, said inner surface being provided with a recess in inwardly spaced relation to said peripheral surface, a circular cushioning element of relsaid tread surface in opposed relation to said atively softer rubber than said heel body secushioning element adapted upon pressure l0 cured in said recess in inwardly spaced relabeing applied against said tread surface to tion to the peripheral wall thereof to form an compress said cushioning means. i

5 airl pocket about said cushioning element, the Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of upper surface of said cushioning element be- Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, thislth ing substantially iush with the upper surface day of September, 1925. of said heel body, and projecting means 011 JOBBY BELPEDIO.

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