US1862734A - Shoe and shank stiffener therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 14, R. B BAR-[ELS 1,862,734

SHOE AND SHANK STIFF'ENER THEREFQH Filed Feb. l0, 1928 Patented June 14, 1932 REINHARD B. BARTLS, OIE' MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS SHOE AND SHANK STIFFEITER THEREFOR l Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial No. 253,316.

Shank stiiieners for shoes have heretofore commonly lengthwise Sometimes comprised metallic strips molded to the contour of the shoe shank. such a stiffener has been strength- 5 ened by forming a downwardly projecting corrugation or rib lengthwise thereof. Not

only does this reinforce the stiiiener, but it produces a central ribvwhich', in a McKay or welt shoe,

projects toward the outersole and acts to center the outersole laterally.

The present invention has for its chief object the production of a stiiiener which may,

if desired,

have a downwardly extending stiii'ening and sole centering rib, but which is so formed as to produce a desirable contour to the upper face of the innersole other than the longitudinal arch curvature and may, if desired, be so formed as to cause the innersole to present an arch supporting prominence or tol present any other-special configuration which may be desired.

"' For a more complete.- understanding oi this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawingin which Figure 1 is a top plan of one form of stiffener embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 ot Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plane of the same. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing a modilied construction.

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective showing a further modication.

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective showing a still 1 to 4 and 11, the stiftener comprises superposed members. The lower member 1 comprises a me tallic strip having a longitudinally v In Figures 7 and 8 the lower member 15 extending central downwardly projecting corrugation or rib 2, which terminates somewhat short o its ends. At each side of the rib 2 are marginal fiat portions 8 merging with flat end port-ions 4. rlfhe upper member comprises a metallic strip 5 which may be fixed to the strip 4 adjacent to opposite ends thereof by any suitable means, as for example spot welding. The upperl strip or lamination 5 is shown as provided with a 60 corrugation 6 which forms an upwardly projecting bead or rib merging at one end with a substantially flat portion 7 of the member and extending generally longitudinally of the stiiliener but at one side of the central axis, inclining away from this axis as it approaches the end 8. This rib (3 serves to impart an upward curvature to the inncrsole positioned thereabove, in a lateral direction so as to form a support for the inner side oit. the foot along the longitudinal arch. The ldownwardly projecting rib or bead Q is positioned in the usual manner to serve as a stiiening and centering element for the outersole and its use obviates the necessity of using a separate shank filler. The stiliener Aas thus constructed holds the outer sole outwardly convex and the inner sole inwardly convex between their side margins, The two' members or laininations are molded together longitudinally to the desired curvature ot the arch, as shown in Figure 4.

In Figures 5 and 6 a slightly modilied construction is shown in which the lower member-10ris provided with a central longitudinally extending downwardly projecting rib 11 while the Lipper member. 12 is provided with a centrally positioned longitudinally extending upwardly presented rib 13.

90 is unprovided with a stifiening and centering rib, but has fixed thereto eccentricallythereof the upper member 16 which as shown is fixed to the lower member at its end only as by spot.welding as at 17 and 18. The intermediate portions of the two members are spaced apart somewhat so that the upper member 16 produces a resilient projection mostly positioned on one side of the longitudinal axis of the lower member and in poslloo tion to raise the liner side of the innersole along the longitudinal arch.

In Figures 9 and l0 the lower member 2O is unprovided with a central rib while the upper member 2l has fixed at its forward end a pad Q2 which acts to support the innersole upwardly convex at about the ball line of the foot.

Many other forms of stiffener might also be made in which the upper member would be so constructed or so disposed relative to the lower member as to produce the desired special contour of the upper face of the innersole, while retaining the generally concaved arch shape of the shank longitudinally of the shoe. As is well known to shoe manufacturers there are wide diversities in practice between foot specialists in the location and shape of the special arch supporting protuberances or special configurations, where protuberances or humps are employed these being sometimes positioned centrally with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the shoe and sometimes at one or the other side of this axis. Heretofore it has been the practice to form the special shapes by the use of correspondingly shaped more vor less rigid plates, and then for a special shape7 as the well known cottage or ball shank for the outside of the shoe, this has'been accomplished by the use of a shank stiffener separate from the arch supporting plate and having the proper configuration for the pur pose.

In commercial shoe manufacture it is practically impossible to position these two stiffeners inI uniform relation to each other when they are thus assembled separately with the result that individual shoes so made and intended to be alike may greatly differ from each other. In accordance with the present invention these two contour controlling members are rigidly assembled and fixed together where they are made precisely in the desired relation and before being incorporated in the shoes. At this time this assembly can be readily accomplished and they are then in condition to be inserted in the shoe as a unit. The inner-sole foot supporting contour is thus accurately and uniformly related to the outer sole contour in all shoes which are intended to be identical. Inasmuch as the arch supporting plates differ greatly from each other in contour-the particular forms herein illustrated are intended to be merely illustrative of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A shank stiffener for assembly in a shoe as a unit comprising superposed members secured together in definite fixed relation, the upper of said members being formed to impart an arch supporting surface to the upper face of a sole member superposed thereon in addition to its longitudinal curvature2 the lower of said members having a central longitudinally extending downwardly projecting rib.

2. A shank stiffener for assembly in a shoe as a unit comprising a pair of superposed members secured together in fixed relation, the upper of said member having a longitudinal upwardly extending rib, and the lower of said members having a central longitudinal downwardly extending rib.

3. A shoe having inner and outer soles7 and a shank stiffener between said soles shaped to deflect said innersole to form a distinctive foot supporting contour for the upper face thereof additional to the longitudinal shank curvature, said shank stifi'ener also presenting a downwardly extending longitudinal rib in position to define the central axis of the outer sole and to hold it downwardly convex laterally of the shoe.

4. A shank stiffener for positioning between an inner and an outer sole of a shoe and comprising a pair of superposed members secured together in predetermined relation, the upper of said members having an upwardly projecting hump to produce a corresponding hump on the upper face of the inner sole, and the lower of said members being formed with a definite configuration and imparting a desired finish contour to the l outer sole, said stiffener thus aiding to definitely locate said hump on the innersole relative to the contour of the outer face of the outer sole whereby to facilitate constructing of shoes uniform with respect to Such location.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

REINHARD B. BARTELS.

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