US1717659A - Tip for toe-dancing slippers - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1929. M, L, BUNNE'LL 1,717,659

TIP FOR TOE DANCING SLIPPERS Filed March 15, 1928 Mary LolliscBLlhTMU,

inventor:

Patented June 18, 1929.

MARY LOUISE BUNNELL, or HAGERSTOWN, INDIANA.

TIP FOR TOE-DANCING SLIPPERS.

Application filed March 15,1928, Serial No. 261,896. i

The object of this invention, broadly stated, is to provide certain new and useful improvements for toe-dancing slippers, or shoes, the same being simple in character,

positive in its results, artistic in appearance,

not subject to deterioration or wear, and which can be manufactured, installed, and sold at a comparatively low price.

In order to appreciate my invention it should first beunderstood that toe-dancing consists in pcrforming'a part, or all, of a dance with ones heels elevated and with ones toes only contacting with the floor, that is with ones feet in almost vertical position, with the weight of the body resting on the toes.

lVhile performing the toe-dance the artist also taps the floor with the toe portion of her shoes or slippers, making the proper rhythm with the musical accompaniment and to accomplish this with thebest results the tips should be made of metal or other hard matcrial. Therefore the specillcobject of my invention is to provide the means whereby the performer will be enabled to accomplish the dance with a maximum of artistry and with a minimum of strain or fatigue to her body.

The preferred means for carrying out'the principles of my'invention ina practical, artistic, and efficient manner, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure 1 is a side viewof "my invention in connection with a slipper of which it forms an integral part when installed. Figure 2 a central longitudinal section of the toe portion of a slip per and of my invention connected there to, the same being on an enlarged scale from Fig. 1. F igure 3 is a front end elevation of my invention alone. Figure 4- is a side elevation of the same. And Figure 5 a bottom plan View of the same.

Similar indices denote like parts tl'n oughout the several views.

In order that the construction and the advantages of my invention may be more fully miderstood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully and as comprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Letter A denotes the body of a slipper, the havingthe toe-portion B and the heel portion C. Letter D denotes the leather sole of the slipper, but it does not extend under either the heel or the toe portion of the slipper body. Letters E and F denote the ties,

which may be secured around ones foot or otherwise to hold the heel portion in contact with the heel of the wearer} For utilizing my invention the; front end'of the slipper should be made blunt or flat, as is indicated atGin Fig.2;

lvlyinvcntion properconsists of a bottom,

or sole portion'l, which is'slightly' rounded in cross section, as indicated in Fig. 3, and t extends back to the sole D. Numeral 2 denotes the front portion, which is at substantially right-angles to the portion 1, and 1t formsa substantially plain level vertical surface, which is, preferably roughened by cross hatching '3. The outer surface of the part 1 merges'intothe outer surface of the part 2 by a curved portion 4. The shape, in

outline, of the front or face of the portion 2 is circular, except at" its loweredge where it merges into the part 4, substantially as shown.

A rearwardly outwardly flaring flange 5 extends from the "curved peripheral portion of the part 2, which at its lower ends merges into the curved portion 4:, and it'is adapted to lit around thetoe portion Bof the slipper 0r shoe, substantially as shown in'Fig.1.

All of sai'dpartsl, 2,3,4 and 5, form an integral construction or unit, that is to say, they are formed of a-single piece of metal or other suitable material.

Formed through the part 1, near the edges thereof, are a plurality of apertures 6, shown in F 1g. 5. Likew se formed through the front portion 2 are a plurality of apertures ,7, shown in Fig. 3. And formed through the flange portion 5 are a plurality of apertures 8, shown in Figs. 3'and 4.

The tip, formed substantially as set forth, is such as to lit snugly over and into contact with. the toe portion of the slipper, as shown in Figsl and 2, whcreit is secured by means of screws, nails, or other securing means, such for instance as the clincher nails 9, driven through the apertures '6, as in Figs. 1 and 2; the nails 10 driven through the aper tures 7, shown in 2; and thenails ll driven through the apertures 8, as in Figs; 1 and 2. All ofsaid nails also pass through then clinched or bent down flat thereagainst, as indicated in Fig. '2. 'This, manifestly, will rigidly secure the tipin place as a fixed part designated by numeral 12, should be placed I the material of the shoe or slipper, and are inside the slipper and in contact withthe part G, against which the wearers toes may 1111- pinge.

In practice the slipper may be worn in the same manner as an ordinary slipper, but in dancing with the feet Substantially horizontal or normahit is evident thatthe part 1 tapping sound,

will, or may at option of the wearer, contact with the floor, thereby: making a clicking or hen the wearer of the slippers so desires she may raise her heels, bringing her one from inadvertent slipping while the foot is in' vertical position.

WVhile the tip herein described is preferably formed of metal, however I am not to be limited thereto, as they may be made of other hard material, suchras bakelite for instance, or its equivalent as desired or which maybefound most appropriate.

I desire thatit be understood that various other changes andmodifications may be made in the details of construction, from that herer in shown and described, without departing from the principles of my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful.

Having now fullyshowntand described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A metal tip for slippers, said tip comprising a flat bottom portion, a flat front portion spaced forward and upward from the bottom portion and at right angles thereto, a curved portion connecting the forward edge of the bottom port-ion with the lower edge of the front portion, said bottom portion being of substantially the same dimensions as the front portion, a flange extending rearward and outward at an angle from around the sides and the top of therfront portion to enclose the toe portion of a slipper, a roughened farce carried by the front portion, and means whereby the tip may be secured to the toe portion of a slipper.

2. A tip for slippers comprising a flat ver I ical front face portion contacting with the toe portion of a slipper, a curved flange ex tending outward and rearward at an angle from around said face portion to overlap the toe portion of a slipper, a flat bottom portion extending back from said flange at a point rearward of andbelow the center of said face portion and-being of dimensions substantially thesame as said face portion, means for preventing said face portion from slipping, and means for securing the tip to a slipper.

MARY LOUISE BUNNELL.

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