US1793340A - Shoe-bottom filler piece - Google Patents

Description

A THQMA.

SHOE BOTTOM FILLER PIECE Filed Aug. e, 1928 Patented Feb. 1-7, 1931 UNITED STATES PA-f-TaNT-oF-Fica ANDREW THOMA, F CAMBRIIJGE, MASSAC CHEMICAL COMPANY,

oF BosToN, cmrsnr'rs HUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 NORTH AMERICAN MASSACHUSETTS, A- GORPORATION OF MASSA- l SHOE-BOTTOM FILLEB PIEQE j Application led Augusto, 1928. Serial'No. 297,630.

This invention relates particularly to t-he provision of shoe-bottom filler in permanent sheet-like form and coherent, durable units or pieces of standaidized shapes or areas and volumes as articles of manufacture.,l standardized in accordance with the sizes and shapes of the shoes or other preferences of the trade and of different shoe manufacturers, and capable of vbeing shipped, stored vand handled and yet ready for instant `use (including treatment if necessary), whenever and however required for the shoe filling operation. The vpresent application is the foundation application of a series, all relating to this invention considered broadly, and disclosesand claims the invention generally, which consists, generically or broadly stated, of the predetermined or standardized pieces or u nits explained, each containing a predetermined quantity-ofliller material required to fill the shoe-bottom cavity, and av predetermined `contour less in size and shape than. the

cavity, but greater in thickness than the depth of v said cavity, 'said lpieces being spreadable in use lin whatever direction required to fill the cavity properly, but coinpacted, supported and retained sufficiently as a whole to be stable and shape-maintaining under commercial conditions of handling and shipping prior to use. To the latter end the pieces have durable, non-sticky, unified exteriors for self-preservation during transportation and storage, but both as to interior and exterior their structure and com osition is subject to wide variation. In th e presentapplication I have not undertaken to setv the many inafter a particular s and particularly. in applicaon one or both sides, besides certain other less prominent features.

The primary cheapen the filling with the'expensive for preparing and Elastic, bulk filler in fi process byv doing away machines now required applying the. common,

y providing, as articles of manufacture, the ller units ready-made or self-contained and durable in quantity dition, so that the former skill, time, and expense are largely eliminated, as all the 01p erator has to do e shoe cavity, first if required. For McKay shoe manufacture my' invention opens the way vto the practicable use of the same spreadable ller which is to place the piece-in t has always heretofore been restricted to welti shoe manufacture.

The broad invention consists of the standl ardized units or as a layer which and compacted as a whole to be shape-sustaining and self-maintaining, able, self-shaping and adhesive when laid in the shoe-bottom 'and subjected to levelling pressure or to the usual pressure of the spat# ula in the hands of the operator, and externally durable, non-adhesive and handleable for shipping, storage and usual commercial handling. able and'non-shrinkable,or in other words is pieces explained, each made object is to simplify andshape', character and con` issufficiently dense, unified f In use also it is non-stretchi Welt sh'oe manufacture, l r

heating or conditioning it but yet spread- Stable and tough while yet sufciently liable and yielding to be comfortable to the oot of the wearer. While I disclose and claim hereecies, the main body of the piece, for genera purposes, and as covered by the broader claims herein, may coni s1st of orcontain iller material, preferablyA of the lplastic kindsor compositions set forth in my various Iplastic filler. Patent No.-

832,002, dated september-e5, 1906; 855,868, -Y

dated June 4,1907 and sub referred to. The numerous patents and con-l sequent patents, v and the copendmg 'filler applications alreadyl j current applications above mentioned dis'- close a wide variety offshoe filler materials-,jf-

mostly plastic ,and moldable, soi'ne normally f Sticky, SOme requiringgheatbr othertreab' ment to become sticky or adhesive, sogieJieng/n granular,

' melting pieces so that they inherently stable, coherent, and cohesive, others not so, some being granular,'others not and so on to meet all situations of the shoe filling art. The chief of said fillers is the spreadable one composed mainly of residuum of petroleum or other meltable or plastic binder, intermixed with ound cork or other comminuted material. ll these fillers were previously made and shipped in bulk to the shoe factory and there reduced by or otherwise to a shapeless but spreadable mass to be laid inthe shoe-bottom with a spatula as a mason lays mortar with a trowel. My present invention contemplates the useof an of the foregoing fillers, but in a radically di erent manner and embodiment. Instead of a shapeless mass and indenite Volume, the filler is sheeted or molded and compressed into coherent, granular units of standardized vshape and volume adapted, as articlesl of manufacture, to fill the general run of shoes, so as not to need cutting and trim--` ming for each individual shoe, each unit having the predetermined volume suitable for filling a single shoe-bottom cavity. The shiftability or spreadability of this unit is held in check or inoperative in the standardized do not stick to each other or change shape or character, but are readily transported and remain neutral to each other and to surroundings until used, whereupon the inherent speadability becomes or is made active and is then relied upon mainly for the yfinal automatic fitting of the piece or unit to the cavity, preferably accomplished by pressure, preferably the levelling pressure. My invention is intended for Welt shoes and McKay shoes, but particularly the latter. It has heretofore been considered impracticable to make McKay shoes with a spread or plastic-laid filler, but my present inventionmakes this practicable. T e unit or piece is made of predetermined dimensions different from those of the cavity being thicker than the cavity depth and less in area than the cavity area, and therefore capable of being spread after being placed in the shoe-bottom to the shape and to the reduced thickness and increased area required for substantially filling said cavity to the extent commonly required by McKay shoe manufacturers, and to at least theyextent as practiced and understood b said shoe makers as filling the bottoms o McKay shoes. These units are first made in a large sheet fabric or layer which is flexible, Waterproof, moldable, dense, durable, coherent and self-sustaining for shipping and handling. In other words it contains such shoe filler characteristics as are possessed by the particular variety of shoe filler used, and in addition thereto it is in a sheet or fabricated layer having the durable, handleable qualities necessary for commercial requirements while preserving said filler characteristics dormant but ready for instant use when required for the shoe filling operation. Then at the filler manufactory it is subdivided into the aforesaid units or distinct, individual, standard pieces, entirely ready for subsequent use individually and in quantity at the shoe factory. Preferably one side, or it may be both sides of the plastic unit or above fabricated layer piece has a supporting, protecting, or shape-retaining layer, as set forth in further detail and duly claimed in my application 133,506 filed September 3, 1926. If such a cover layer is on one side only, the' other side is preferably dusted, impregnated, or dulled'with various powders, dry fibrous materials, ground cork or the like, pressed into or incorporated on and embedded into the surface of the plastic layer sufficiently to protect it in being handled, transported and until its time of use for filling the shoes, and constituting a resurfacing of the unit or piece as more fully set forth and claimed specifically in my application Ser. No. 183,302, filed April 13, 1927 In any case, the sticky layer, or the spreadable layer of filler material, is so protected, constructed, or related that it, or the piece or filler article of which it is a part, is capable of being handled integrally and placed as an integral, self-maintaining piece in the shoe cavity. It is then spread as stated. It is capable of sticking in place as a piece with its own inherent stickiness or may contain special external adhesive, and in either case the stickiness may be temporarily held inactive. 'Ihe method of use in certain respects noted above is contained in my copending applications Ser. No. 210,558, filed August 4, 1927 and Ser. No. 242,085, filed December 23, 1927.

When the main body of filler material is enclosed by outside protectors or covers, I preferably provide a considerable looseness or slight instability of the inner granular layer of cork or other comminuted body material. The mixture of comminuted body material and binder constituting the plastic filler mixture is sheeted between hot rolls' or otherwise reduced to the desired thin layered condition justas it is laid or delivered between the webs of paper, paper-like material, or other fabric, and then whenA cooled the composite layer or more or less soft and pliable sheet may be compressed to a firmer, stronger consistency. The binder and cementing agent of the granular mass binds said mass together and also-binds the mass and the paper together as one Whole laminated structure. This pad-like sheet is then died into the small pieces required, which may be of almost any shape desired. As the spreadability of the piece is relied upon for the complete, perfect filling of the shoe-bottom cavity, it is not necessary that the shape of the piece should conform to the shape of the cavity.

Instead of a laminated piece in the sense of having one or more separate layers of paper'or other sheeted protector,'the standardized piece may be, and preferably is, made as a single, substantially homogeneous layer. I have found asphalts especially advantageous for this purpose. I have found that such a homogeneous piece consisting solely of blown asphalt i. e. consisting of residuum of petroleum of the asphaltic basey treated until it is substantially saturated with oxygen or at least until its character is changed into permanent flexibility or pliability so as to eliminate its natural brittleness by heilig toughened by oxygenating treatment to the extent known by the name of blown asphalt; has remarkable and unexpected advantages in carrying out my invention. Such a piece isnon-sticky externally as an article of manufacture, softens and readily becomes spreadable and under the sudden high heat treatment .hereinafter explaiued,becomes permanently pliable when thus laid in the shoe bottom, never becomes liable to bunch, is very strongly adherentto leather, so that the blown asphalt layer can never shift in the 'shoe bottom, is not responsive so as to soften under any heat to which the shoe would be exposed in use, is tough and durable beyond the ordinary life of the shoe, needs no backer or strengthening element as a filler component within or on the piece, is cheap, without waste in manufacture and use and is always clean. The Wax tailings binder of my previous patents is of a paraffin base, low melting, sticky and 'unchangeable, and has as one of its most valuable characteristics an oily nature which makes the material very tractable by not sticking to the heated laying tool, and therefore is readilyand easilyv applied to the shoe-bottom. On account, however, of its low melting nature, it has always had a tendency to bunch and therefore a number of my patents haveto do withvarious restraining agents whose purpose has beenv to make the low melting element li'rm or altered by the pasty restrainer after laying,y

` so as not thereafter to be so liable to shift or be heat responsive. Asphalts, on the other hand, particularly those derived from petroleum residuum of a bituminous base, -set more permanently, but have a strong tendency to smouch or stain, and, lacking the oily paraffin-like nature, cling or stick to the iller knife, so'that in the filler, as heretofore made and used, it was impracticable and in fact impossible to use this clinging, smouching asphalt. Butby having the illerdelivered to the operator in a fully finished, predetermined piece, vrequiring simply to be placed in the shoe-bottom hot an then simply pressed down and spread outwardly, as will be better understood from later disclosures, there is no longer any danger of smouc-hmg and staining, inasmuch as the operator does.

not dip a iowing mass and hence cannot drop renheit melting point, or thereabouts, and two particles therefrom, and the clinging tendency, under the method hereinafter set forth, becomes an advantage instead of a disadvantage. Asphalt materials can be purchased of a far greater variety than wax tailings and having a higher melting nature, greater tenacity, and flexibility, possessing a denser, more viscous body, or in other words, they give to the filler piece greater body and binding capacity in conjunction with fibrous or granulated body materials. Because of their high melting point, a filler mixture of body materialand these dense-body asphalts of 180-200 Fahrenheit melting point could not be used in mass in a kettle or usual filler apparatus as now done with present plastic fillers because it wouldexpose the operator to an unbearable heat and-heat conditions absolutely impossible for him to endure day after day in his regular work 'in' the shoe factory. The 35 objectionable heat and the greater muscula force which'would be necessary in preparing, applyingand manipulating the same in the usual hand operations, renders such use of this desirable material in the old mass-embodiment and old method impossible.

For best results I use an oxygenatedasphalt or blown asphalt, as it is known in the market, (which is an asphalt derived from residuum of petroleum) of'about 180-200 Fahrenheit melting point, and add thereto under proper luxing or mixing heat (which, because of the mechanical force of the power mixed, need not be nearly as high as said melting point) finely decimated woody matter vsuch as cork, sawdust, charcoal or any vegeta.

blown asphalt is an especially rubber-like and leather-like pitchy material.` By subjecting this to pressure and especially rolling pressure, I secure such degree of compactness as is desired. Wood dust, powdered minerals, and powdered fibrous matter,o ne or all, added, give a still'stiifer product when the. whole is sheeted into the finished article. The ingredients are mixed to the consistency of a flexible mass, consisting approximately of binder onev part'in bulk, which is principally'blwn asphalt of 180'200 Fah parts in. bulk of the fine body material, and then sheetedbetween rolls and layers or webs of wet canvas to the desired thickness. This hot and otherwise semi-sticky mass 'is readily l sheeted, controlled'and manipulatedjbetween 1 the wet surfaces of the two canvasilayers, which cause it quite readily to congeal'as itis 1 exposed to the cold moisture and ,the atmosl phere. When withdrawn from-th'wet can-"frati 1o ti vas, the sheeted layer is in a compact form which can then be subjected to further rolling pressure. The outside surfaces are now no longer sticky but can be handled with impunity. Furthermore the second treatment has given the outside a thin but tough and relatively hard skin of almost clear binder. It is then cut or died into the particular shape chosen for the standard filler pieces in quan- At the shoe factory the operator has a small hot plate, gas or electric, which he keeps at a high heat. He takes two, three, or more spreading knives or spatulas, accordingr to his speed, places one filler piece on each knife, and lays the knives with their blades flat on the high-heat hot-plate. The filler piece is very quickly brought to a readily spreadable condition. The operator then takes a shoe in his left hand, bottom up, lifts the first knife with his right hand, turns it over so as to bring the knife on top with the piece suspended therefrom over the bottom cavity of the shoe, and instantly places the piece and spreads it in the'shoe cavity. He then puts another piece on said knife and places it on the hot plate as before, takes up the second shoe, the second knife and its now melted piece, and repeats the reversal process and spreading operation. He then places a fresh piece on this now empty second knife and puts it on the hot plate, takes the third knife and melted piece .and fills the third shoe. And so on, rapidly and with extreme ease, neatness and accuracy. If the operator is extremely rapid he may keep five knives, for instance, in use; if he is slow, two knives, for example. This all depends on the time required for melting a piece. By reason of myl process or method, the high heat is not destructive of the piece. The dry piece does not come in direct contact with-the high heat as the cold or cooled knife is between the high heat plate and the piece, and althoughthe knife, being quite thin, very quickly attains substantially the same high heat as the plate, the short interval of less heat has permitted the dry piece to become moist or melted against the knife and hence self-protecting against burning or charring. Also the outer skin, as stated, is practically clear binder and hence at once responsive to the high heat. But my method insures against charring even though some granules of the granulated cork-yA or other readily burned body material should happen to be'in or on the surface of the piece. The asphalt, even if of thesame low melting quality as the slippery, oily parain-base wax tailings previously mentioned,- and particularly if of the blown asphalt character, and still more particulary if of the high melting point grade of asphalt mentioned, has not only` an absence of said slippery character when melted, but has enough tackiness or adhesiveness to cling to the knife sufficiently 'to A further refinement of this filler piece fwhich I have last explained, resides in employing in the binder divergent elements which are reluctant to mix or coalesce with each other. For example, the residuums or suitable by-products of a parafiin base can l be easily selcctedwith a different degree of l penetration from the residuums of an asphalt base. Although both are derived from petroleum, yet those varieties from the paraffin base are usually oily, as already stated, and especially if such as petrolatum is used, whereas the available materials from the asphalt base lack this greasy quality and are not slippery but are dense, tough and tacky when melted, as already explained, and therefore only slightly penetrative and reluctant to coalesce with the parafiinbase elements mentioned. Likewise I select body materials which are widely divergent in ab- Sorptive properties. For instance ground cork, palm fibres and various other similar materials are not absorptive, or only slightly so, whereas sawdust, leather dust, wood pulp andwarious other filler materials are highly absorptive. Accordingly these filler materials of divergent absorptive properties are mixed in accordance with the selection and proportions of binder materials so as to cooperate with the selection made of penetrative and non-penetrative elements aforesaid. Thebinder is compounded as aforesaid for spreading purposes and to make it easier for the operator. The petrolatum, using this as the best illustration so far mentioned, being finely distributed among the finely distributed sticky element, (asphalt) ,controls and lowers the melting point and likewise gives a smooth, i

easy, immediate spreading to the filler, and then at once the obsorptive element in the body material withdraws from the binder the f softer element, i. e. lower melted element, from the binder by absorption, leaving the higher melting or stiffer setting element substantially alone as the final binderto stiil'en and render firm the set layer with all its natural or unmodified stiffness. Instead of petrolatum, various oils, greases or fats or combinations thereof may be used. The object is to introduce with the asphalt any of these which aid spreading, lower or control the melting point and are averse to mixing with the asphalt element in the sense of coalescing with it, and which therefore remain as such, free to enter or be absorbed into the absorptive portion of the body material as leave the denser, sticky soon as the ller layer is melted or brought to a highly loosened condition so as to permit the now highly uidified, greasy element to element and disappear more or less into e absor tive sawdust or the like. The extent of its isappearanc'e 'diferences in penetration, or in' other words,

with different capacities or tendencies for being absorbed. The bodymaterials likewise may be selected with a wide variety of derees of absorptive capacities. Hence it will e readily understood that the filler piece can be balanced according to the' preference .of the trade.

I have thus explainedthe above ht length to make plain the new princi le whi introduced into the manu acture of these iiller pieces. To still further enhance the speed and effectiveness of the lling processA 'with the filler pieces now bein explained` I introduce into the fllermeans or promoting a mechanical or chemical loosening or one which is both mechanical and chemical. For example, the simplest means is to fill the 'absorptive body particles with 4water before mixing them into the filler, (as claimed in my copending a lication Ser. No. 211,157,

In such case the'water petrolatum, for example, 0r the entrance of any other element of the binder, and-at the same time the high heat in the laying process which melts the ller layer for spreading suddenly turns the water into expansive and almost explosive steam which mechanically loosens the'iiller mass as the water expands rand the steam seeks to leave its confinement. Preferably the water ischarged with gas producing chemicals such as sulphate of soda, carbonate of ammonia and the like, which under the action of the heat, generate gas or .produce expansion in addition to the steam -Sudden and effective layer because of its the layer,

of the water, thereby The great heat alone however without these chemicals tends to produce gas in ,the filler er, which loosens by expanding, and puffs up so it spreads more easily, and thereafter becomes a better cushion in the finished shoe-bottom. This ex ansion o'r loosening causes a -separation of t efller particles and elements which greatly facilitates the work depends upon the speed of the operator, the"` degree to which the piece is melted, and the relative proportions of the various elements.

I have.

producing a still more .A oosening of the filler.

sudden effect on the bindbe erlyunder the spreadin *movement of his knife or hand tool. A 'urther application of additional loosening media may be in the form of dry powders sprinkled into the filler as it is being sheeted, such as powdered alum, carbonate of ammonia, sulphate of soda, sulphur, anything which has water ofv crystallization, sodium chloride, etc. 'or-these may be introduced with the water or stored in the absorptive'body material in the form of liquids by themselves.4 In any case they melt and puff up or loosen because of the gas i; e. gaseous or expansive condition or steam produced by the heat so that they become eX- pandin media for loosening purposes under the actlon of the high heat when the piece is softened and rendered easily flowable or spreadable. The purpose is to bring about the spreading condition as suddenly as ossible so as to avoid prolonged heating (it eing desirableto avoid as much heatin as possible due to the fact that it is very hig heat) and at the same time to use loosening methods and materials, which materials will cease to function as soon'as the :filler is laidpthereby leaving the filler in its intended tough, dense, stii' and tenacious condition. Moreover,the removal of the water-stop or other barrier vfrom the body material, as stated, and the sudden expansion and porouscondition opens the way for `absorption of thesofter portion of the binder, the petro'latumfor example, and accordingly ha'rdenin and sti enin of the laid piece in the shoe ottoni. Broaly stated, any ebullient material, by which .I mean anything that will cause the layer to bubble or to expand and become more spreadable, is inromotes the subsequent eluded within the meanin of the word loosen- U ing. A ny of the materia s mentioned may be used wet or dry in the filler and with or without water or liquid in the body material. For example the carbonate of ammo-nia breaks I'down under heat to make gas all through the filler. Sulphur combines with the asphalt.

and liberates gas. I intend to cover broadly the liberation of as by heat or chemical reaction as one of tIie ways of loosening lthe filler. As already stated, the binder, although preferably of the very high melting point mentioned, may beof alower melting point, and preferably the asphalt is always used althou h preferably wax tailings (paraffin base ma be used and-may be modified y'softer is used with 1t, but an asphalt l' v 'v me ting gums, the wide range of which-will apparent from '-my. previous patents.

Blown asphalt is elastic and when-1t melts itbecomes slowly Huid, or itsl viscosity. changes gradually vunder heat. This makes it i cling'better to the-knife even though melted,

which isan advantage relied upon for certain purposes, as already explained. I `have thev body material-'carry absorbed water,

already explained the.. advantage of having which, when converted into steam, leaves the filler mass porous. O11 the other hand, the filler material may be made porous originally and provided with starch or any mucilaginous material so that in the shoe factory the piece may be rendered slippery an'd'spreadable by simply being dipped in hot water (this method being covered in my application Ser. No. 242,085 filed December 23, 1927). rl`he desirable porosity may be secured in many ways, the simplest being by putting very little of the tenacious binder (asphalt) in with the comminuted body material so that, because of its strong tenacity, it will, ,when distended under the sheeting process, hold onto the body particles and yet become attenuated enough to leave pores or minute cavities all through the piece. The piece may be made as firm or rigid as desired for handling and shipping and its spreadability active or always present, or dormant, inoperative or inchoate to be developed in use at the moment of laying. vMoreover, the preferred highheat piece, as distinguished from the coldlaid piece or the low-heat piece, is brought quickly to readiness for spreading, must be then spread at once, and sets immediately. Asphalt is tough and in connection with the comminuted binder material can be spread or forced to yield under strong pressure but yet will cling to the body particles because of its tenacious grip, tensile strength .and fine subdivision.

The sulphur permits the. further advantage of toughening by semi-vulcanizing the mass and at the same time aiding the porous feature. The asphalts, hydro-carbons or such suitable mineral substances as have a high melting point are then employed or their melting point may be raised tothe proper firmness by adding materials to bring the melting point to the degree necessary for the semi-vulcanizing mentioned. For-example, to the fluidly heated asphalt or compound, a proportionate amount of powdered sulphur or other finely powdered mineral substance or substances such as slate, talcum, soapstone, plaster of Paris, Paris white, chalk, or lime are added and the mixture heated to about 320-350 Fahrenheit, the duration varying for heating and semi-vulcanizing according to the fluidity and the amount and kind of vulcanizing agents, as is well known in connection with vulcanizing. The process with sulphur at 320 Fahrenheit is slow, but as the heating is continued, the liquid becomes pasty or the thickness of paste.

' When in this condition I add powdered cork,

wood, charcoal or other similar' vegetable, animal or mineral matter, to saturate or fill the hot partially vulcanized paste to a suitable condition in which it can be sheeted into layers between cooled rolls and formed into the standardized filler pieces mentioned. For lightness and cheapness, ground, coarser grains of all kinds of vegetable matter such as brans from cereals may be added or used as body material, ground bark, in fact anything which gives bulk without undue weight. Ground asbestos may be used. These vfiller pieces are flexible, stable, or rubber-like, uninfluenced by ordinary conditions of heat, and are light in weight, waterproof, unchangeably flexible, cohesive, non-bunching, porous in the sense of leather, non-heating or nonsweating to the foot in use, and durable without becoming unduly dense and hard. Asphalts and hydrocarbons are non-oxidizing and permanent as binding agents and remain so even when modified by resins, waxes, oils, and gums (of the kinds in my patents). The degree of permanent stickiness of the basic material is varied according to the preference of the trade, but preferably is deadened to a consistency so that when cold the mass resembles more or less a well compounded rubber mass, but not as tenaciousalthough firm,-

pliable, plastic, bendable, and yet porous as stated and'otherwise suitable for footwear in the respects noted, as well as for the purpose of cutting, packaging, shipping, storing and the various processes of handlin factories. In the process of sheeting, the surface is preferably provided with indentations, small corrugations, or depressions to constitute gripping sur-face and to hold or aid in holding cement or the like for uniting the parts in the shoe-bottom in case such a filler material is used as is not suliiciently' adhesive in and of'itself. Whenever a more resilient or elastic body is required, I add cottonseed oil, rapeseed, linseed or other vegetable oils whether of a drying or a non-drying nature,

their combination and'subsequent quasi-vul canization being accomplished in the vulcanizing treatment of the asphalt materials as already described. The presence of the oils renders the filler mass more resilient, and the amount of the powdered woody, or other body ingredients cooperates to increase or retard the resiliency of the sheeted filler mass. By adding bituminous ingredients which flux with and within the vulcanizable base-forming portion of the binder massfthe rubber qualities and consistency of the filler' are controlled so as to effect a so-called semi-vulcanin shoe ized condition or partially vulcanized condition. This partial vulcanization may also be accomplished by a milder treatment as to' heat and the lesser addition'of sulphur or other vulcanizing agents. I am distinguishing from real-or full vulcanization; the effect is rather a transformation of the heated mass to a more eic'acious, pastv nature and condition, resulting in a superior, highly flexible, insulating, water-repellent, light mass at a low cost. The presence of the gas fumes of the sulphur during the prolonged process of heating is the cause of the heated paste becoming porous and sluggishly fluid.

Although becoming more paste-like anda more efficient binding agent, cause ofthe sulphur, becomes suiiciently fluid at the stated heat to admit the dry, woody, filler body in a most complete manner, but, because of its partially vulcanized condition, without penetrating into or being absorbed by the body forming powders. When cooled the mass is therefore uniformly compact, tenacious and light, even though no longer fibres have been added. -Whenever longer fibres or coarser comminuted body material is added, the sheeted filler is of course correspondingly stronger and tougher. My invention in general which is being set forth in this part of this application is new in employing high heat. This high heat feature of the process is two-fold. First, in

conditioning the filler at the start it calls for materials which would not condition in the present filler machines in use today, but require higher heat thanthe boiling point of water. Second, the high heat is required' again for linal service to expand spreading and to release moisture or gas to bubble and raiseor loosen the components ofthe piece momentarily. l The high heat at the start makes the material rubbery or tougher and more heat resisting, and the final conditioning it gives speed, simplicity and cleanliness. The speed is not merely in connection wiith the laying or the work of the operator but is in connection with the further progress of the shoe. The piece being of a nature requiring to receive its heat quickly and strongly, parts with it almost as suddenly. The high -heat also by my method is so concentrated, being confined to the small piece, as distinguished from a large bulk or mass of filler in a large machine as heretofore, that the operator is not annoyed with the heat, as he is not obliged to endure a large area of heat radiation, and, because` of the high heat arrangement as already explained,

'it will be evident that no waste occurs as there is no plastic mass left at the end of the day to dry out and be spoiled, and all the necessity for tempering the filler and other `present day skilled requirements. are eliminated. The high heat involves temperatures and material-conditioning that range beyond the boiling point of water, as distinguished from the temperatures in the moderateheat treatment heretofore common in shoe filler practice, which range below the ,boiling point ofwater. The viscosityof the high heat materials mentioned, especially the blown lasphalt, makes it practically to concentrate a {ilm of this material on the outer surfaces of the filler layer when-it is being sheeted be tween the wet sheets which act to condense it into ahardened, durable skin or film on the surface as it cools and contracts. --Likewfise this kind Yof binder. and-5 again.

the binder, be fl and loosen the elements of the filler piece for easy vfact of any other kind, may

I: mention'.

particularly the blown asplialt,\develops a uidity under the high heat treatment which produces a superior stickiness or quick, powerful adherence to the innersole.as Well as to the iller piece-elements which is of great advantage in 'the application of the filler piece. The strong tenacity of'this high melting binder, also as alreadyexplained, makes it possible to have an excess of body material. as lcompared with previous hot fillers', and thereby produces a mealy or porous layer between the concentrated or condensed outer skins of the binder just explained. The mechanical advantages of this have already been explained. In the eyes of the trade the great advantage of this is in the production of a much lighter weight filler. This total constructionzprovides for great ease in application and a final compacting together or both body and binder materials into a filler layer in a shoe which is non-shiftable, non-bunching, permanently iexible, tough and water- -resistant Another object'and advantage of the asphalt type of filler is that it can-be usedl in connection with the German Ago process of making shoes as used in theMichalk apparatus,'and it can be used in the Bresnahan compo system, Vwhich have recently gone into usein the manufacture of shoes in this country. Both these systems depend largely upon cementing the portions of the innersole, upper and outer sole which come at the bottom of the shoe, and use an acetone cement. My asphalt type of filler, as herein .set forth, is not soluble in acetone, whereas the ordinary commercial shoe fillers of the present day cannot be used with these recent systems because their binderdissolves under the influence of the acetone and therefore they run, smear and stain. The variations as to workable quality and consistency previously mentioned ltend'to-render the fillery pieces softer, more pliable, and to some extent conformable, when subjected toa downu 1rd pressure during'the levelling process subsequent to the laying andsettmg of the filler in the shoe-bottom.

The scope of my filler material and vstandardized units or pieces will thus be seen to be very large in its selectionv and useof ingredients so that the Vfiller pieces 1ay,fif dc- Asired, possess qualities which` render them self-adhesive by spreading or yself-"adhesive when subjected to a. vhot searing contact j ust 'i before they are laid and set againstthe shoebottom. Even though made extremely stable,

' the pieces have the advantage of conforming to the varying depths always foundin shoefbottom cavities so 'as to conform to the ldownward pressure mentioned in connection with the shoe-bottoming process. -The lfiller piece of any of the kinds thus far or on one side, or both sides, asphalt `or other mentioned or in have throughout any of the kinds mentioned which are capable knicked or compressed or otherwise shaped. of being quickened into active stickiness at The pieces are readily softened. They con the time of application to the shoe-bottom, tain within their structure means for selfand then, by being subjected to a sudden heat adhesion. Also preferably they contain or to whatever refreshing or quickening inmeans of the kind mentioned above such as f luence their particular nature calls for, mucilaginous elements, plaster of Paris or caused to stick to the shoe-bottom and if the like, for self-firming or toughening while f spreadable they may be caused thereby to they set and also they can readily be so made spread under the levelling pressure. Ashoethat this continues andf'improves while in bottom filler piece made as above stated their placed positions after they have set. throughout or solely of blown asphalt has The sheeted material may readily be made the advantage of permanent flexibility and of a predetermined firmness or stiffness pliability or non-brittleness and durability which is not changed, except temporarily for when laid in the shoe-bottom, and as a piece laying and manipulation, by any action in before laying is non-sticky and handleablc the compound under the influence of the heat without external protector. Certain species or hot water treatment at the time of use, but

are in my application Ser. No. 228,236 filed is merely softened to a yielding or formative Oct. 24, 1927. As already explained, the filler extent, but almost at once, after having been piece is made so as to be externally non-sticky laid and molded 01- mnipulated under the for handling and transportation. The lehand of the operator, returns to said condifreshing influence therefore will act7 as a part tion of predetermined firmness or stiffness. solvent or softener for this surface and pref- The practical embodiments of -my invenerably is of such a nature, as already mention are almost numberless, but as the pieces tioned, as will disappear soon by evaporation as such, in their commercial appearance, look or 'otherwlse after the shoe has been made. about alike, I Show, in the following draw- 90 The inert materials hasten the sulphur treatings, Simply illustrative representations Sufment in the oase 0f free lOWIlg kndS 0f ficient to add graphically to the remaining pitches, for instance, by hastening the pastepresentation and explanation otherwise conlike consistency in the vulcanizing. To the tained hei-ein, In Said drawings, y

hot paste I may include with the powdered Figs, 1 4 are fragmentary vertical sec- 95 @Ork dustWOOd dust 01' the lkeatapol flour, tional views of a typical piece, illustrating aS Set OIth OI instance in my @Opendmg aP' different details of constructionthereof; pl'lCallOIl S61'. NO. 295,342, July Q5, 1928, 5 is n edge View 0f my uer piece; and when sheeted between rolls as stated, and Fig, 6 Shows in boi-,tom plan e forepart of' cooled, will possess, in the piece form, a poe McKay shoe-bottom which has been filled rous interior. Thus the pieces are self-adheby the filler piece and method 0f filling as sive and may be mmel'Sed in hOt Water and herein disclosed, the sole having been cut the porosity Will-,allow the tapioca flour or Off from the Shoe-bottom t0 reveal clearlyu starch, dextrine etc. to soften the pieces and the appearance of the laid filler with relagive aslimy, conformable adhcsiveness. The tion to the other parts after the levelling '105 porosity not only aids as stated, but it absorbs operation en the shoe-bottom;

some of the water and holds the same more Fig, 7 is e vertical cross Seetionalview or less during the Succeeding COIIlSiIUCtOIl 0f through the bottom of a filled Goodyear welt the SllOe, aiding in the better COIIOIIIlatlOIl Shoe before the 501e is laid;

of the parts on the lasts, under the levelling 'Fig- 8 is a Sectional view similar to 110 pressure, hammering, etc. and permitting 7 of a filled McKay weltbottom before refoldng at the edge without needing undue ceiving the sole; and

force. The sulphate of soda, alum and muci- Fig. 9 is a, Side view partly broken away laginous elements, when used, unite with the of an electric hot plate, spatula and filler plaster of Paris, hydraulic cements, etc. when piece, to illustrate one method of using the used, to improve the firm character of the set filler piece herein set forth.

mass in the shoe-bottom. Referring to the foregoing drawings, the This form 'of my broad invention isadvanfiller piece 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tageous in that it can be sheeted to any reacentra plasticintermediat'e layer 2 of spreadsonable thinness or thickness without any able, plastic, compressible shoe filler material 120 supporting layers, can be died out into and top and bottom covers or supporting laypieces having the compactness of leather, ers or carriers 3, 4 which may be of any the new binding agent supports the layer in kind Yof fabric previously mentioned, as its determined shape so that it can be handled paper, textile webs or the like, which species etc. and yet can be applied in a softened conis duly claimed in'my cogending application dition by the operator wi hout the aid of any Ser. No. 133,506, filed eptember 3, 1926, machine. The pieces, if necessary, can be of which the present appllcation is 1n part skived or molded or otherwise mechanically a continuation. Fig. 2 shows the piece made treated. If skived the edges can -be folded with one supporting layer 4 of the kind just like other substances and the pieces can be mentioned and atop Vprotectlng surface 5 of 130 powdered soapstone, talc, or like inert powl; dered material, as mentioned in the aforesaid fcopendmg application, or any of the crust forming ingredients mentioned in my application Ser. No. 183,302 led April 13, 1927. Fig.` 3 is a similar view illustrating .apiece 1 made without a separate cover piece or layer such'as presented in Figs. -1 and 2, but of the kindvheretofore explained in whichjthe entire iece is composed of relatively homogeneous ller material having a mere skin or thin,`

tough external surface 6,7. This surface may be secured in/agnariety of ways, and

' preferably consists of the binder. itself conp' centrated or condensed into a hardened,l

durable skin or film for protecting the piece as an article ofvcommerce. Whenmthis surface or skin is composed/of a portion of a binder made wholly or in part of asphalt residuum of petroleum, it -is'broughtto the for making thesheet and the pieces, sub-f sequently died therefrom. The pressure coupled with the chilling effect of the wet canvas and the further cooling effect of the surrounding atmosphere, result in giving a filler layer the desired protective skin or tough surface which, as soon'as' cold, becomes non-v sticky and readily handleable. This surface may be indented as indicated at8 Fig. 4 to Ahold cement when desired, 'or to give a sure gripping' surface against the leather or can- -vasof theshoe-bottom. Said surface 8 mayi be made by the-canvasitself as. vthe piece takes on the roughenedappearanc'e 'made by vor it may be made more pronounced by being vsubje'ctedfto molding surfaces especially jchosen for that purpose.; In addition, the surface may besprinkled externally with crust formingmaterials as indicated at 9-Fi'g.

' 5. These may be of the kinds shown'` at'5 Fig. 2 or may be finely anulated/ cork or other fibrous, non-absor nt materials, or

both. In` order to illustrate'the comminuted material YI have exaggerated the granules out of their true proportion as indicated at 10 which may be takenV to represent granules of cork or wood dustror any pf the comminuted body materials already mentioned ablychosen so as to have some w ichjare porous or absorbentand others non-absorbent and lbetween these.. are pores 11. vp The' relav tively spongy, porous, mealy interior, al-

-ready explamed, results from the choice of materials and the method Vof manufacture as pointed out, whereby the pieceiis light and yet tough. lShoe filler-is Asold by the pound? .cheaper to the shoe manufacturer.

ing ofthe shoe filler, thus extended, to the all the 'irregular spaces between the sole and f the impression of the weave of the ':a-nvas,\

a welt shoe, and which, because of its better and the shoe trade is accustomed to reckon the cost bythe dozen pairs of shoes, called a case, so that thelighter the filler is the i Hence this' element of light weight is an important advantage and an important factor in the invention. A

As already stated, the'filler piece may be of any suitable shape. Being spreadable it' does not need to conform, as made, to the shoe-bottom cavity.v In fact no two cavities are exactly alike in shape, which is one reason that it is unnecessary and in fact not advisable that :the filler pieces should have the same shape as-the cavity. Another reason is that the full efficiency ofthe ller piece is only developed through the spreading movement ofthe particles on each other. In Fig. v

6 I have shown a filler piece in fully spread positionin a McKay shoe, having chosen for'. thispurposea piece rovided with a cover 3 of the shape in m application Ser. No. 192,076, May 7, 1927. If this'igure showed a welt shoe, the filler material would-be conyfined within the welt seam,but in the manufacture of a McKay shoe the spreading of .the'filler material'under the levelling pressure is lsuiiicient to :fill all the small open vspaces formedfby the folds or pleats 12. The

pressure of the levelling machine squeezes the plastic filler layer outward, as shown in Fig. 6 u nti/l stopped bythe row of stitches 13. It will/be understood that before the sole was removed fromthe shoe-bottom shown in Fig.

6 the stitches 13 held the sole (not shown),

so thatno filler'. coull'descape beyondthe stitches 13' notwithstanding the severe pressure of the levelling operation. This spreadboundaries of the stitch line 13 so as to fill the upper formed by the pleats 12, has to take place, if at all, after the sole has/beensecired on the bottom oft e'shoe, or, in other words, [through fthe pres ure of the leveller. This 1s a new McKay structure made possible for [the rst time `by mynew filler. piece and 'position as shown in section at 17. .-Fig. 8 shows la McKay -welt y( which may be preferably` summarized as a McKay structurehav- Ving a false welt 18 fastened fiat down upon .prefery the flat vinturned upper 14) which results in giving a vfairly well defined shoe-bottom cav- -ity 19 of approximately the same depth as in defined cavity boundaries and absence of the usual pleats 12, and open spaces therebetween (as shown in Fig. 6) ,is readily filled by hand i at 2o with one of'myfiller pieces indicate and spread as indicated at y Y. p

be understood that the plate 22 is preferably rectangular and of a size capable of accommodating the number of knives required for keeping the operator busy but without delaying appreciably the filler piece thereon after it is heated and ready for use. Let itbe supposed-that the piece 1 is of the highheat blown asphalt` type. The operator 'places it on the knife and then places the knife as shown in Fig. 9 with its supported piece down on the hot plate. Y In a moment the previously dense and more or less rigid, hard filler is loosened by the sudden high heat. As it begins to bubble or expand and risc because of the hot air, gas, steam or' other elements causing the ebullition, the operator quickly lifts the knife -from its position Fig. 9 and flops it over onto the shoe-bottom as indicated at 16 Fig. 7 or at 20 Fig. 8. The sudden heat has developed the strong stickiness of the asphalt binder so as to cause the piece to cling to the knife sufficiently not to fall off or be thrown askew or otherwise escape i from the substantial control of the` operator as he flops it over into the shoe-bottom. It will be understood that at this instant the knife blade is at a high heat andthe filler piece .is also very hot and very sticky so that the operator cannot touch either knife blade or filler piece. Hence it becomes very advantageous that the lfillerv piece shall not readily slide on the knife. The tackiness or sticky tenacity therefore of the articular binder mentioned constitutes an important element in rendering this type of filler piece practical and speedy. The`moment the piece touches the bottom of the shoe cavity, the oplerator instantly brings thereupon the required lateral spreading movement which spreads the highly plastic filler piece from lthe dotted shape and position Figs. 7 and 8 to the laid position there shown, properly filling the cavity and with its topsurface levelled as required. `Almost immexfliatelyv the filler sets, and the operator repeats the pocess with the next knife, filler piece 'and s oe.

This method and apparatus have been divided out and filed August 26, 1929, as separate applications Serial Nos. 388,320 and 388,321.

In case the shoe manufacturer wishes to have his McKay shoes filled to the extent shown in Fig. 6, a filler piece of the lower melting variety, as claimed. in my applicaenclosing, protecting kwebs or sheets 3, 4

spreading or squeezing out, up, down, or in, as required, and thereby conforming accurately to the differing peculiarities of each shoe-bottom automatically under the severe pressure of the levelling machine. In other words my invention results in producing, in an inexpensive and simple manner, the same proper shape and evenness in a McKay shoe that has heretofore characterized the welt shoe. The pad-like piece'allows itself to be compressed and aligned to its surroundings, without requiring any skill or attention from the operator,- as this automatic compressing andv aligning is accomplished bythe regular levelling step in the shoe manufacture, which is always required for molding the sole and bottom.`

I wish it understood that I do not undertake herein to set forth any particular preferences as to Athe shape in which the filler pieces are to be cut as it is merely necessary that they contain enough of the plastic filler material to ll the shoe-bottom according to the requirements of modern shoe manufacture. This leaves an infinite variety of choice as to the particular shape of the -piece,from that indicated at 3 Fig. 6 to the shape shown in my copending application Ser. No. 232,279 y iiledNovember 10, 1927 Each piece whether inchoate in the large sheet or piece, or cut or otherwise made, as a small piece or individual leaf, has a selfsustaining sheet-like form and self-maintaining coherency characteristic as an article of manufacture,`and with a capacity of expansion in area. This description and definition isintended to be generic to the spreadable leaf, or layer embodiment on the one hand,`

as more fully set forth 'and specifically claimed herein, and the non-spreadable but vyet extensible leaf, or layer embodiment on the other hand, as herein generically claimed, but claimed as a species in the application of A. H. Avery Ser. No. 212,747 filed August 13, 1927.

As `herein shown and described, the piece expands, and preferably spreads or extrudes, laterally outward, i. e. from the center toward and against the periphery of the cavity, although not necessarily, the claim herein being intended to be generic to a Astructure ness under the hands of the operator, or in other-words, it is varia-ble in area aswell as contour because of its responsiveness to vertical pressure. The wide range or varieties of structural embodimentsof my invention is already apparent from the foregoing descriptio -I have already mentioned that the piece is spreadable, and in the laminated embodiment at least one of the layers is preferably spreadable and another preferably fixed or unalterablein shape, and that other layers may be adhesive,active or latent, but as to these various species I refer to the ap plications where they are claimed as already mentioned. I use the word sheet to mean a broad expanse of material rolled or made thin, but irrespective of whether large l or small, and whether parallel sided ornot and without preference to whether it is formedY into single sizes or pieces for individual shoes, Whereas I use the term piece in a broad and different sense to mean simply a single f article adapted 'in size and quantity to the exact requirements of the shoe -in the position for which it is intended.

My invention is particularly advantageous in the manufacture of McKay shoes for the reasons already mentioned and also because thereby any of my patented types of plastic filler may be made, as an article of manufacture capable of shipping, handling and storage, into as thin sheets as required for McKay shoes, (not heretofore possible), while at sheet-like surface,

the same time introducing to the McKay shoe all the lwell recognized advantages of a plastic, moldable, self-shaping shoe: filler.-

I have already emphasized the factor 'of having standardized pieces. Each piece has a protective and supporting surface. This surface may be al separatelayer, as of paper or other sheet-like fabricated material, with a hardor soft filler interior as desired. On the other hand, instead of having a separate said surface may be in the form of a condensed, compress`ed, `v plastic skin, made by rolling or pressure or other# Wise, and theinterior left, soft Vor hard ac'- cording to composition. This skin may be a hardened layer of the fillermaterial itself, and this may be rendered dense by dusting, impregnating, or coating. This latter treatment may be with inert powder or with'lour or dry absorptives 'orwith' a combination'of any of -these materials. The piece may have two protective surfaces, one on each side, and these maybe both of the separate, paper.-

like or layer type, or both of the condensed,A i

plastlc variey, or both of the hardened, coated filler type, or one side may beofone of these types and the other may be of anotherof the aforesaid. For instance, if the interior is fairly soft, it becomes almost necessary to have at least one side of a tough,

sheet-like material such as tough paper or other tough fabric, and the oppositeprotective surface may -thenl be a hardened layer, of filler material,although a separate cover piece would even then'b'e preferable as the soft interior of the piece must depend for its integrity upon the protective outside surfaces, not being self-maintaining alone. Orthe piece-shaping, selfmaintaining and strength-giving element, layer, or carrier may be internal as already pointed out.

This patent is intended to be foundational or basic in character yand accordin ly it will be understood that awide range ofg cal and chemical embodiments is embraced within `the scope of its claims, and that most `of the previously patented .plastic fillers l come within the range of availability for the plastic portion of my new filler sheet and the pieces cut therefrom. The various spe" cies are claimed in detail in the various applications therefor already mentioned, the

generic claims being contained herein.' l What I claim is:

1. A shoe bottom filler consisting of apiece madefat least in part of lastic material -ca'- pable of being s read by sure and being ormed in a consolidated, co-f 'mechani- .1

owing under presi hesive unit compacted to self-si'istainingcon` sistency as a piece, said piece being of stand ardized shape and volume, as distinct from being hoppazard or fragmentary, having a a volume suitable for lling a single shoe-botv tom cavity but greater in thickness and less in area than said cavity, and capable of vbeing cavity.

rua

spread in'fthe shoe-bottom to the shape and to lthe-reduced thickness and the increased area required for ysubstantially lling said 11,0V

tom filler piece which has .a volume suitable for fillinggthe bottomy cavity of a shoe and is greater in thickness vand less in area thanvsaid cavity and which is spreadable and adhesive 'in use but in transportation is co.VA hesive and `coherent tothe extent yof being` shape-retaining, and is tact andnon-adhesive to the extent of being freely handleable and capable of maintain-` durable, surface iningits shape and integrity asa lpieceduring j \t ranspo rtation' and until the time of use.

3. A shoe-bottom filler in the form of a piece, as an article ofv manufacture, having a predetermined volume for filling shoe-bottom and which is madeat part of plastic material capable vof' being spread by flowing under pressureand is ad` a single w least in z j ioo hesivein use, said piece being compressegffioi ening it for handling as a piece,

stable, shape-retaining, and externally nonadhesivel under commercial conditions.

4. A shoe-bottom filler piece, which forms a predetermined unit, as an article of manufacture, and .is compressed, shape-retaining, non-adhesive, tough, non-stretchable, and stable, under commercial conditions, and is made at least in part of plastic material capable of being spread by flowing under pressure and is adhesive in use.

5. A shoe-bottom ller piece, as an article of manufacture, having a predetermined volume for filling a single shoe-bottom, said piece being compressed stable and shaperetaining, externally non-adhesive, and prov ided with external means for stiffening the piece for handling, and which is made at least in part of plastic material capable of being spread by flowing under pressure and is adhesive in use.

6. A shoe-bottom filler piece which is made at least in part of plastic material'capable of being spread by owing under pressure and is adhesive in use but in transportation is cohesive and coherent to the extent of being shape-retaining, and is durable, surface intact and non-adhesive to the extent of being freely handleable during transportation and until the time of use, and which piece is provided with means for stifening itfor handling as a piece.

7. An article of manufacture consisting of shoe filler embodied as a shape-maintaining piece, coherent and compressed, standardized in quantity of its filler content to the, amount required to fill the intended shoe-bottom cavity and likewise standardized to a less size and shape than said cavity, said article being self-sustaining as a piece for transportation and storage purposes by lavng a durable and handleable, non-sticky exterior, said piece having a spreadable interiorl held normal- `ly dormant during said transportation and storage. Y

8. A shoe-bottom ller piece which is spreadable and adhesive in use but in transportation is cohesive and coherent to the extent of being. shape-retaining, and isdurable, extent of being freely handleable during transportation and until the time of use, and which piece is provided with means for stiffcontaining means for increasing the stiffness of the laid filler.

9. An article of manufacture consisting of shoe filler embodied as a shape-maintaining piece, coherent and compressed, standardized .in quantity of its filler content to the amount required to fill the intended shoe-bottom cavity, and likewise standardized to a less size and shape than said cavity', said article being self-'sustaining as a piece and storage purposes by having a durable and handleable, non-sticky exterior, said surface intact and non-adhesive to the said piecev for transportation e and storage, sa1d piece being adapted to be spread in any direction required for filling the shoe-bottom cavity. l

10. An article of manufacture consisting of shoe filler embodied as a shape-maintaining piece, coherent and compressed, standardized in quantity of its filler content to the amount required to ll the intended shoebottom cavity, and likewise standardized to a less size and shape than said cavity, said article being self-sustaining asa piece for transportation and storage purposes by having a durable and handleable, non-sticky exterior, said piece being spreadable in use to fill the shoe-bottom cavity and then having a self-maintaining coherency characteristic.

11. A shape-retaining shoe filler piece, having-a self-,sustaining form and a coherency characteristic as an article of manufacture, comprising a layer of plastic, adhesive filler material capable of being spread by flowing under pressure.

12. A shape-retaining shoe filler piece, having a self-sustaining form and a coherency characteristic as an article of manufacture, comprising a layer of plastic, adhesive filler material capable of being spread by owing under pressure, said iece having an exterior surface which is su ciently durable, impervious, non-sticky, and handleable to maintain the piece distinct Ias an individual piece during ordinary commercial transportation.v

13. The herein described shoe filler, consisting ofmaterial which is at least in part spreadable, formed into a molded and compressed, cohesive, disconnected, individual unit blended to self-supporting compactness, of standardized shape and volume, as distinct from being haphazard or fra entary, the unit having a volume suitable or filling a single shoe-bottom cavity but greater in thickness and less in area than said cavity, and adapted to be spread in the shoe-bottom to the shape and to the reduced thickness and the increased area required` for substantially filling said cavity.

14. A shoe-filler piece, taining, compact, impervious, so as to piece in a shoe-bottom, said piece being at least in part adhesive and spreadable, and comprising material in volume to ill the shoebottom cavity but less in area than the cavity area and greater in thickness than the cavity thickness and constructed and adapted to be spread in place in said integral-piece condition to said cavity thickness and area in the shoe-bottom.

15. A shoe-filler piece, which is molded and compressed to a self-sustaining, dense, impervious, and cohesive condition so as to be capable of being individually handled comwhich is self-Asusand cohesive be handled and placed as an integralv piece; in a shoe-bottom, said piece comprising, at least in part, adhesive, spreadable material, and havinga predetermined volume required to fill the shoe-bottom cavity but less in area than the cavityarea and greater in thickness than the cavity thickness and constructed'and adapted -to be spread in place in said integral-piece condition to said cavity `thickness and areain the shoe-bottom.

16. A shoe-filler piece, which is molded and compressed'to a self-sustaining, impervious, and cohesive condition 'so as to be han- 'dled andplacedasan integral piece in a shoe-bottom, said piece comprising, at least in part, adhesive, spreadablemateriah and having a predetermlned volume required to ill vthe shoe-bottom cavity but less in area than the cavity area andgreater in thickness than the cavity thickness and constructed and adapted to be spread in place in said integral-plece condition to said cavity thickf ness and area in the shoe-botto'm and having means on the outside fori keeping saidoutside substantially dryand non-iticky prior to use.

17. As an article of manufa yture, a shoebottom filler,- having a n'ormally self-sustaining, dense, molded, sheet-like form, and containing an expansible portion of plastic ma,J

terial capable of being spread by flowing under pressure, said-expansible portion being responsive to vertical pressure when in a shoe-bottom cavity, to spread into position between the cavity rim and the rest-of the filling piece..

18. A shoe-filler piece ofsheet-like form, having -enclosed within it anadhesive substance capable of being spread'by flowing under pressure, and spreadable in response to pressure when in a shoe-bottomA cavity to laterally extended position and into ad! lherent relation to the adjacent shoe-bottoml surfaces for holding the partsxtogether als a 19. A shoe-fillerpiece, of sheet-like form, comprising a layer of permanently plastic and adherent shoe-filler material capable of being spread by flowing under pressure, andv .having an outer skin on at least one side which h is substantially non-sticky. 20. A shoe-filler piece for filling shoes, in

the form of a thin-sheeted, compacted, 'self-l sustaining and coherent leaf adapted to be handled and placed as an integral self-sustaining piece in a shoe-bottom, said piece including filler elements and having at least one surface resurfaced described.

21. A shoe-filler vpiece for-filling shoes, having a self-'sustaining form and predetermined volume adapted to fill an individual shoe-bottom andcapable of occupying as an b integral piece the cavity between the outer sole and the innersole, and' comprising spreadable material suitable -to occupy said with said vfiller elements as shoe-bottom cavity,

cavity and -provided wh a dry surface protecting means consisting at least in part of dulling powders.

22. A shoe-filler piecefor filling shoes, having a self-sustaining form and predetermined volume adapted to fill an individual shoel bottom and capable of occupying as an'inte-` gral piece the cavity between the outer sole` and the innersole, and comprising materialy suitable to occupy said cavity and having at least one side normally sticky and provided with a temporary protective means maintaining said sticky surface substantially dry for handling before use.

23. .A shoe-filler piece for filling shoes, having a self-sustaining form and predetermined volume adapted to fill an individual shoebottom and capable of occupying as an integral piece thecavity between the outer sole and the innersole, and comprising material suitable to occupy said cavity and having at least one side normally sticky and provided with a temporary protective means maintainingsaid sticky surface substantially dry for handling before use, includinglcomm'inuted fibrous elements,

24.1 A filler piece of sheet-like form, comprising a layer of ller material which is plastic, spreadable and adherent to leather, and means renderingthe outer faces of said layer substantially dry, smooth and non stlcky but adapted to permit the plastic layers ent.

25. An article of manufacture, consisting 'to spread and expose its adherent constitu- `of shoe-filler embodied as a shape-maintaining piece-containin the predetermined quani tity required for ling a single shoe-bottom cavity, saidpiece being made at least in part of plastic material capable of being spread by flowing under pressure, and being adhesive in use andv provided yvith an external f protective surface which is relatively frail.-

26.1An-article of manufacture, consisting f of shoe-filler embodied as a shape-maintaining piece containing the predetermined quantity required for filling a single shoe-bottom cavity, said piece vbeing s preadable and adesive Ain use and providedwith an external protective coating adapted to break up .and become intermingled with and incorporated into the mass of the' filler and sodisappear as a coating in the laying-'of the piece. l

27. .An article of manufacture, consisting of spreadable shoe-filler embodied as a shapevno tity required for filling a single shoe-bottom cavity, said piece being entirely composed of ller material which is spreadable in use and having its external surfaces formed of said iillermaterial concentrated into a condensed, hardened, durable, lm-like skin for I handling and commercial durability, but

adapted to break up when the `iiller is spread.

29. A shoe-iiller piece which is shapemaintaining and self-supporting under commercial conditions and spreadable in use, said piece containing binder which under the inluence of h'eat becomes porous.

:30. An article of the kind described, Which is shape-maintaining and self-supporting under commercial conditions, and spreadable in use, and which contains a binder which becomes ebullient under such heat as is necessary for rendering it spreadable in the shoebottom.

31. A shoe-filler piece which is shapeinaintaining and self-supporting under commercial conditions, and spreadable in'use,

said piece comprisingv binder and body material united to form a mealy, porous interior and condensed, tough outer skins of the binder. v

32. A shoe-filler` piece which is shapemaintaining and self-supporting under commercial conditions, and spreadable in use, and which comprises a binder containing blown asphalt.

' 133. A shoe-filler piece which is shapemaintaining and self-supporting under commercial conditions, and spreadable in use, said piece comprising comminuted body material and having a high melting point (of the order of to 200 Fahr.) binder united in lan impervious, compressed, non-Stic and handleable piece having the volume sultable for filling a single shoe-bottom cavity but greater in thickness and less in area than said oavity.

34. A shoe-filler piece which is shapemaintaining .and self-supporting under commercial conditions, and spread'able in use,

said piece comprismg'comminuted body material and a binder containing high melting point asphalt mixed together and charged with means for producing gas at the temperatures used in spreading the filler, to efect a sudden loosening ofthe filler for laying purposes.

Signed by me at'Boston,

Mass., this second day of August, 1928.

ANDREW THOMA.

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