US1742760A - Last plate - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1930. E. FULLERTON I 1,742,760

T PLATE Original Filed Aug. 16. 1927 ug' yW-K/ mwz flitauzzq lizv i Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATENT OFFICE nnnns'r M. FULLERTON, or scro'uen'ron, MASSACHUSETTS LAST PLATE Original application filed August 16, 1927, Serial No. 213,297. Divided and this application filed February Serial No. 254,769.

of my prior and copending application Ser.

No. 213,297, filed August 16, 1927.

My present invention, broadlyconsidered,

is equally applicable, either to insert heel plates, flush heel plates, flanged heel plates, or

any other type.

Hcretofore, when applying heel plates to lasts, it has been customary to file or grind the edges of the plates in order to remove the rough edges, or burrs thereon, and also to produce a better fit of the plate on the heel seat of the last. This resulted in a grinding or filing away of the galvanizing, Parkerizing, or other finishes on the plates, causing rusting of the plates due to the various shoe making operations which require moistening of the shoe materials, and thus also resulting in injury to the shoe.

A further difficulty with existing last plates.

is the sharp corners or edges, Which, if not 5 corrected before use, will result in tearing the lining of the shoes. A still further disadvantage of the present heel plates is due to the fact that in pounding or beating the edge of the plate to shape on the last, the last plate nails are frequently forced out, loosening the plate, and making a correct fit difficult. This is due to the thickness of the metal at the edge of the plate being of the same thickness as at the center.

i A11 important object of the present invention, therefore, is to eliminate and obviate the difiiculties above pointed out, by providing a heel plate, of any type, slze, shape or style,

which will be readily adapted to the shape of the heel seat of-the last to which the plate is to be applied, which will present a neat edge,

will retain the galvanizing or other finish throughout its entire area; and will be simple to manufacture. 7

I accomplish these highly desirable results by providing the heel plates with a predetermined beveled or tapered edge, tapering from the extreme outer edge of the plate to a predetermined distance from the edge, this predetermined distance being such that the finish nails, and thus of. the edge of the metal plate will not interfere with the thickness required for heeling, levelling or othershoe manufacturing opera tions. This beveling operation may be performed in many Ways, as by rolls, or by dies,

or in any other desirable manner. Preferably it is but the top surface of the plate which is beveled or tapered, thus leaving the lower or last-engaging surface of the plate in a smooth and even condition;

.lVhen my invention is. applied to insert last plates, they are first beveled, then formed to approximate shape, then nailed on the last, and then beaten to conform the edges of the plate with the contour of the last. My present invention enables this operation to be performed and the edge of the plate to be shaped to the last, Without loosening any of the heel presenting a distinct advance in this art. 7

When applying the present invention to flanged or flush heel plates, the bevel is carried back a sufficient distance from the edge so that the operator, when utilizing bench shears or biters to remove the superfluous metal, is enabledgto shear through the thin or,

tapered edge much more easily than is possible With prior last plates, wherein the operator was forced to shear through the metal plates, which were as thick at the edge as at the center. Subsequentto the trimming or shearing operation, there is still a sufficient bevel left so that the operator may pound the edges of the heel plate onto the last with no disturbance of the nails securing the plate to the last.

A further difliculty with existing last plates resides in the fact that they are first shaped toth contour of thefheel of the last, and then drilled or punched. This results in a burr or feather around the edges'of the holes or apertures drilled'the'rethrough. These burrs mar and frequently injure the insole contacting therewith during the process of manufacture.

In my present invention, I first drill, punch or bore the holes through the last plates, While they are flat, and then subject the plates to a rolling and shaping operation, which smooths the surface of the plate,- effectually removing burrs and sharp cutting edges, and thus preventing injury to the shoe.

If desired, I may also bevel the breast por- 7 tion of the plate, and preferably will bevel same to a certain degree. A further advantage of the present invention is that when performing the beveling operation, all sharp edges, burred edges, corners or the like, which would be likely to injure or mar the shoe, or its materials, are eliminated, resulting in a neat and finished last plate, ready for attachment to a last without removing any of the galvanizing or other finish from the metal.

I believe that my present invention is novel, and useful, and have therefore claimed the same broadly herein.

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

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the heel portion of a last, illustrating the heel plate in position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heel plate in position to be attached to a last heel;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plate attached to a last before shaping;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectionalview similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the platebeaten or shaped to the last; 1 r

' Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flanged heel plate before trimming and shaping;

Fig. 6 illustrates the plate of Fig. 5 after being shaped to the contour of the last heel seat;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a heel plate in flat condition after being bored;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the last plate of Fig. 7 illustrating the burrs or feathers remaining after drilling or boring; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the last plate of Fig. 8 after rolling and shaping, and illustrating the absence of any burrs or feathers. I

As shown in the drawings, in carrying out my present novel invention, I utilize a heel plate 1, provided with a plurality of apertures 2 through which the attaching nails are driven. I then subject this heel plate to a beveling or tapering operation, which may be carried out in any desirable way. Before this operation the plates are, of course, galvanized, Parkerized, or finished in any other suitable manner. Upon subjecting the plate to the beveling action, the beveled or tapered edge 6 is provided upon the plate, this beveling operation not removing or marring any of the galvanizing or other finish on the metal. Also by the beveling operation, the sharp corners are removed, and there are no burred or rough edges at the periphery of the plate to mar the shoe materials.

Subsequent to the beveling operation, the plate is rounded somewhat, as shown in Fig. 2, and is then applied to the last 8, being secured thereto by means of tacks or nails 9.

On an inspection of Figs.- 3 and 4, it Will be apparent that the edge of the plate, overlapping the wood of the last, and which edge must be pounded or hammered down to fit the last, is relatively thin, due to the predetermined bevel 6, so that little power or force is required to bend the edge of the plate to conform to the contour of the last, this operation being performed without loosening or pulling of the nails 9. The bevel 6 is preferably applied to the upper surface only of the plate, as shown. It will be appreciated that I may carry the bevel 6 completely around the plate if desired, including the breast portion 10, which, however, as a matter of practice, would not require as great a bevel as the outside edges of the heel plate.

It will also be seen, from the drawings, Figs. 3 and 4, that the bevel 6 does not extend toward the center of the plate a sufficient distance to interfere with the heel nailing, leveling, or other shoe manufacturing operations.

lVhen applying my present invention to heel plates of the flush or flange type, which are sheared or out after applying to the last, I carry out the same process as described above. The plate 11, having a flange 12, is

provided with a predetermined bevel 13.

After being applied to the last 14, by nails 15, the plate is then subjected to a cutting operation, by means of bench biters, or bench shears, or'the like, which operation cuts away a predetermined portion of the flange 12. Because of the bevel 13, this cutting operation is greatly simplified, reducing the time and labor heretofore required in cutting the thick edges of prior heel plates, as well as resulting in a much neater out, plate. Also the bevel 13 extends inwardly a sufficient distance from the outer edge of the plate so that part of the bevel will still be left, to simplify the subsequent beating operation, wherein the edge of the plate is formed or shaped to the contour of the last. In this type of heel plates, as well as in the insert or flush type, the bevel 13 will notextend inwardly a suflicient distance to interfere with the heel nailing, leveling or other shoe manufacturing operations. The beveled edge, also, will permit said edge to be hammered or beaten down, in these types of plates, without loosening or disturbing the nails 15. I

It will thus be seen that I have devised a novel heel plate, one which simplifies the manufacture of lasts, and which greatly reduces the time and labor required in such last manufacture.

In Figs. 7 8 and 9, I have illustrated the advantages of my novel process of drilling,

boring or punching the last plates before shaping. The plate 20 has a central aperture 21, drilled, bored or punched therethrough, and several nail receiving apertures 22. As illustrated in F ig. 8, this punching operation leaves burrs 23 on the underside of the plate, and also a smaller burr or sharp cutting edge 24. on the upper or insole-contacting surface of the plate.

Subsequent to this punching operation, I roll the plate adjacent to the hole 21, and by this rolling Operation, entirely remove the sharp cutting edge 24, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and if desired the burrs 23, leaving the last plate smooth on each side, but particularly on the upper surface. Thus these plates will not injure, mar, damage or destroy the shoe ma terials contacting therewith during the process or steps of manufacture. A bevel 25 is also formed on these plates, as above described. The plate may be shaped to desired concavity either before or after the rolling operation, said shaping operation also assisting in removing the burrs on the under side of the plate.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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

1. As an article of manufacture a concavoconvex last plate of the kind described, a peripheral flange extending partially around said plate, and adapted to be cut to fit varying sizes of lasts, said flange being downwardlyand outwardly beveled to a thin edge, a permanent rust preventive coating coverin the entire upper surface of said plate an flange, said beveled edge being adapted to provide a flush joint between a last and said plate, and said beveled edge being of sufficient thinness to permit it to be conformed to the contour of the last without loosening the last plate nails.

2. As an article of manufacture a concavoconvex last plate of the kind described having its margin downwardly and outwardly beveled to a thin edge and a permanent rust preventive coating covering the entire upper surface of the plate, said beveled edge being adapted to provide a flush joint between a last and said plate, and said beveled edge being of suflicient thinness to permit it to be conformed to the contour of the last Without loosening the lastplate nails.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST M. FULLERTON.

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