US1912417A - Rubber boot - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1933- G. VAN DINTER Er AL 1,912,417

RUBBER BOOT s sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. '7, 19.30

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June 5, 1933 G. L. VAN DxNTER ET A1. 19912417 RUBBER BOOT Filed Feb, '7, 1950 3 Sheets-5heet 2 a z/Q mv n/ f a ma, Em. www am G. L. VAN DINTER ET AL 1,912,417

June 6, 1933.

RUBBER BOOT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. '7, 1950 Clit Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE L. VAN DINTER AND CONRAD PATENT OFFICE FERRETTIE, OF MISHAVAKA, INDIANA,

ASSICTNGRS TO MISHAVAKA RUBBER AND W'OOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF INSHAWAKA, INDANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA RUBBER BOOT Application led February 7, 1930. Serial No. 426,478.

Our invention relates to high top footwear or boots of form fittng type, similar to that of Van Dinter Patents 1,771,003 and 1,771,004, and Van Dinter and F errettie Patents 1,726,782 and 1,771,277, wherein an expansible area is provided along the ankle and instep portion for temporary enlargement thereof in applying and removing the boot, and our present invention has reference more particularly to improvements 1n boots of this character.

The principal objects of our invention are z-to provide a neat, compact and flexible pocket structure permitting ample eXpansion at the ankle and instep so that the boot may be readily applied and removed; lto aiford adequate strength to withstand the strains of usage; to insure thorough sealing against leakage throughout the life of the boot; to minimize material; to arrange the pocket in the boot so that a smooth interior is obtained without irregularities which would cause discomfort or interfere in applying or removing the boot; to provide a construction with which eyelets may be satisfactorily employed for lacing; to avoid capillary leakage at the eyelets and elsewhere into the interior of the boot, and in general to provide a structure and method which increases the serviceability and comfort and improves the appearance of boots of the form fitting type and facilitates the manufacture thereof.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot con- 'structed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of substantially the lower half of the boot with the outer covering broken away in several places to disclose details of the construction;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the boot structure partially assembled on a. last ready for the pocket member to be applied thereto;

Fig. l is a similar view showing the pocket member assembled in place;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the layer or blank of rubber composition which serves as the front wall of the pocket member;

F ig. 7 is a similar view of the assembled front wall with portions at one side thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the lower end of the pocket member showing the manner of installing the lower end reinforcing;

9 is a front View of the completed pocket member with portions broken away to show details of the construction;

Fig. 10 is a back view of the completed pocket member;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view on the. line 11-11 of Fig. 9; i

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the reinforced lower end of the pocket taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a view loolring at the inner side of one of the side sections comprising the outer covering of the boot and with the upper portion thereof broken away, and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the outer toe and vamp covering of the boot.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown our invention in Fig. 1 in connection with a boot of linee length although it may, of

course, be used with boots of other lengths. The wall of the boot upper is divided at the front along the line to form a pair of separable instep flaps 21 and 22 of Blucher type with flared lower ends 23 and 24 and these flaps have their' upper ends joined together at a distance below the top of the boot substantially at the point 25, so that the wall of the boot thereabove is undivided and continuous across the front of the boot. The vamp of the boot has an extension, indicated as a whole at 26 which extends upwardly under the separable laps 21 and 22 and is connected at its upper end to the wall of the boot above the upper end of the opening 20. This extension, which is somewhat elliptical in form, has portions indicated as a whole at 27 and 28 extending inwardly thereover at each side and joined along their inner edges to the under sides of the respective flaps 21 and 22 so as to form in eHect an elongated somewhat elliptical pocket member or pouch which closes the opening between the flaps 21 and 22 but permits separation thereof and sufficient enlargement of the boot at the ankle and instep so that the foot may be readily inserted in and removed from the boot. In the closed position tiis pocket or pouch and the instep flaps fold together in a flat compact form corresponding to the shape of the ankle and instep and the expansible structure may be held in this closed compact form by a lacing 29 which is engaged through eyelets 30 arranged at intervals along the flaps 2l and 22.

In some cases it is desired to provide adjustment of the upper end of the boot to insure a satisfactory lit and this may be accomplished by forming the boot wall at the upper end and preferably at the outer side with a slit or opening 3l and a strap 32 and buckle 213 for regulating the adjustment thereof. A folded and eXpansible gusset 34 is also preferably provided at the inner side of the boot wall to close the opening 31.

In a rubber boot of this character it is important to provide a compact and flexible expansible ankle and instep structure with smooth interior and exterior surfaces so as to insure comfort, freedom of movement, neat and attractive appearance and avoid excessive strains and it is particularly important to thoroughly seal and reinforce the pocket structure against leakage throughout the life of the boot, all of which is accomplisdied by constructing the boot in the following manner:

The boot lining, preferably composed of a pair of similar half sections or quarters and 36 which have a gum coating on their outer surfaces and are joined together along their forward edges in ed gewise abutting relation by the tape 37, is stretched around the last 38, secured together at the back and lasted over and secured to the edge of the insole in the usual manner. A strip 39 of rubber composition is then applied around the lower edge of the boot except at the heel, after which a vamp covering of fabric 40 with a gum coating on the under side and a layer 41 of rubber composition on the outer side and extending beyond the edges of the fabric, is fitted over the toe and adhesively secured to the gum coated lining with the edges of the vamp covering lasted over the enge of the insole. A heel reinforcing 42 of fab-- ric which is gum coated on both sides is also secured to the boot lining and extends around the heel and part way up the back of the boo:L as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and this assembled structure (shown in F ig. 3) is then ready for the pocket member to be applied thereto.

The pocket member is preferably made up of front and back walls of rubber composition which are assembled and secured together along their marginal edges as follows 'The front Wall which consists of a layer of rubber composition of substantially the form shown in F ig. 6 is slitted longitudinally to form the two side portions 43 and 44 which are connected at their upper ends and have their lower ends flared as at 45 and 4G respectively to conform to the flaring forma tion ofthe lower ends of the instep flaps 2l and 22. rlhe side portions 43 and 44 are also preferably slightly connected at several other points such as indicated at 47 for convenient-1, in holding the edge thereof in adjoining relation during the assembling of the pocket. This front wall layer is laid out flat after which a strip of rubber composition is adhesively secured to each portion 43 and 44 along the inner edge thereof as shown in Fig. 7, the strip on the side portion 43 being indicated at 48 and the strip on the side portion 44 being indicated at 49. Then a piece of fabric which is gum coated on the under side is adhesively secured to each side portion 43 and 44 at the outer side of the respective strip 48 or 49 with the outer edge of each piece registering with the outer edge of the respective portion 43 or 44 and the inner edge thereof slightly overlapping the corresponding rubberstrip 48 or 49, said fabric pieces being indicated respectively at 50 and 5l.

After the front wall has been prepared as above indicated, it is turned over and has the back wall 52 secured thereto. This back wall which is also of rubber composition and corresponds in shape to the front wall eX- cept that it is not divided and has an extension 53 at the lower end, is of slightly smaller size than the front wall of the pocket. A narrow marginal edge portion of the back wall, such as indicated outside the dotted line 54 in F ig. l0 is coated with rubber adhesive, after which the back wall 52 is laid on the rear face of the front wall 43-44 with the edge of the latter projecting out beyond the edges of the back wall 52 as shown in Fig. l0 and the cemented edge of said back wall is rolled down by means of a stitch wheel into close adherence with the front wall, the markof said stitch wheel bein ifidicated at After the back wall has been applied as above, the connections 47 between the side portions 43 and 44- of the front wall are broken and a patch or reinforcing 56 of rubber composition is secured to the interior of the back wall as indicated in Fig. 8, said patch being of a form to afford side portions 57 and 5S which are folded inwardly along the juncture line of the front and back walls of the pocket and secured respectively to the under sides of the flaps 43 and 44 at the lower end so as to reinforce the joints between the front and back walls of the pocket member at the lower end thereof. After the patch 56 has been applied and adhesively secured in place, the interior of t-he pocket member is thoroughly talcumed to prevent adhesion of the front and back Walls during the subse- 2 in the outturned position so that they serve I of the pocket at each side to partially cut 5p the partially severed lines 65 may be proquent construction of the boot and after talcuming the flaps 43 and 44 are arranged in abutting edge to edge relation and connected by a thin tape 59 which is perforated along the line of separation of the flaps 43 and 44 so that they may be readily divided along this line after the completion of the boot. This tape 59 extends from a point adjacent the lower end of the flaps 43 and 44 nearly but not quite to the connected upper ends of said flaps as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9. A wide strip of rubber composition 60 is then adhesively applied over the tape 59 and extends entirely to the upper extremity of the pocket where the end is trimmed to conform to the shape of the latter and the upper end of the pocket is rolled along the edges and transversely with a stitch wheel as indicated by the markings at 61 and 62 in Fig. 9, to insure a solid and permanent connection of the rubber parts and a thorough sealing at the upper end of the pocket.

After the pocket has been prepared as above indicated, it is applied in position over and adhesively secured to the gum coated lining on the last with the lower end of the pocket, including the lower extremities of the side portions Y43 and 44 positioned over the vamp covering 41 of rubber composition, and after the pocket is placed in position the inturned portions 57 and 58 of the patch are turned outwardly over the lower extremities of the pocket side portions 43 and 44 as shown at 63 and 64 in Fig. 4 and adhesively secured to provide extra rubber at the lower extremities of the portions 43 and 44 and reinforce same against the strains to which the flaps are subjected when the ankle and instep porremoving the foot.

After the pocket structure of Figs. 9 and 1() has been secured to the lining structure of Fig. 3, a stitch wheel is run close the edge through the lining along the lines 65, said lines terminating near to the lower end of the flaps 43 and 44 and also a short distance below the upper end of the pocket. Of course,

vided before the pocket is applied, and they are so shown in Fig. 3, but it is preferred to first place the pocket in position and then run the cutter along the edges of the pocket us- 1 ing the latter as a guide to determine the position of the partially cut lines.

After the pocket is secured in place and the lining partially cut along the lines 65, a piece of fabric 66 or 67 somewhat similar in shape te the pieces 5() and 51 but slightly wider and having a gum coated outer' face, is laid over each pocket flap and cemented along the inner edge to the inner edge of the respective fabric piece 50 or 51 and is preferably extended slightly beyond the edge thereof and cemented to the adjoining surface of the respective rubber strips 48 or 49 as shown particularly in Fig. 5. The outer edge of each of these fabric pieces 66 and 67 extends beyond the outer edge of the pocket and bcyond the cut line and is cemented to the respective lining section 35 or 36 at the outer side of the lines 65.

Side spikes indicated by dotted lines at 68 in Fig. 2, a Ld having gummed inner and` outer faces are then adhesively secured to the assembled structure at each side of the boot just backof the pocket structure and a rag heel, indicated by the dotted line at 69 in Fig. 2, with gummed inner and outer faces is applied around the licei after which the` structure is ready for the outside covering of the boot. This preferably consists of right and left quarters 7 O and 71 respectively which are cut away at 72 to extend downl forward and rear edges beyond the forward Y and rear edges of the fabric 74 as shown in Fig. 13 There is also an inner layer 76 of rubber composition which likewise extends beyond the forward edge of the fabric 74 so as to form a rubber to rubber connection between the layers 7 5 and 76 and seal the forward edge of the fabric. Said layer 76 of rubber, however, does not extend entirely Yto the lower or rear edges of the fabric and it may also terminate well below the upper end of the quarter, it being important, however, that it extend well up above the opening between the side fiaps 21 and 22 of the boot, the extension 77 shown herein being provided for this purpose. These quarters are applied y at the opposite sides respectively of the boot with the edge 72 located substantially as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 and the portions of both quarters, substantially between the points A and B of Fig. 13 fitted together along the edges of the respective iiaps 21 and 22 and said quarters which have the forward edges extended above the point A for the purpose, are lapped above this point and rolled down into close engagement in the usual manner so as to afford a solid unbroken connection of the boot wall above the point 25. These quarters are then rolled down on the last and secured together at the back and lasted over the sole in the usual manner. A heel piece comprising a. layer 78 of fabric gum coated on the inner side and with a layer of rubber 79 on the outer side of and extended beyond the edges of the fabric is then adhesively secured around the heel and lower portion of the back Wall of the boot with the side extensions 8O thereof projecting forwardly substantially to the point 81 of Fig. 2, and secured to the opposite sides respectively of the boot structure. A toe covering comprising the fabric layer 82 gum coated on the inner side and with a layer 83 of rubber composition on the outer side and extending beyond the edges of the fabric is then applied in place, with the pointed portion S4 thereof fitted up between the curved edges 23 and 24 of the side flaps 21 and 22 and adhesively secured to the upper surface of the. patch 5G. This toe covering has side extensions 85 which extend along the side of the footportion of the boot and overlap the forward ends of the side portions 80 of the heel piece as shown in Fig. 2.

After the boot has been assembled as above and the sole and heel built thereon in the usual manner, the structure is vulcanized, after which the tapes 59 and G0 and other adjoining portions of the fiaps 2l and 22 that may have become adhesively united during assembling and vulcanizing, are slit along the line 20 to the point 25, below the upper end of the pocket member so that the iiaps 2l and 22 may be separated and access had to the interior of the pocket, and thereafter by manipulating the pocket member and Wall of the boot the section of the lining on the back wall of the pocket is separated along the partialiy cut lines 65 from the portions of the lining therebeyond. The ankle and instep portion of the boot may then be expanded and the latter removed from the last, after which the eyelets 30 are applied to the flaps 2l and 22.

These eyelets penetrate or extend through the flaps 2l and 22 at a distance back from the edges of the flaps, and cause openings in the latter through which water or moisture may enter the interior of the flaps, and it is important therefore that the flaps be properly sealed to prevent communication of moisture to the interior of the boot, which may readily occur by capillary action through any fabric layers which extend from said eyelet openings to the interior of the boot.

In the present structure such communication of moisture is effectively prevented as the forward edges of the fabric pieces and 66 on the one side and 5l and 67 on the other side terminate a substantial distance from the inner edge of the respective fiap 21 or 22 and aresealed or embedded between the layers 76 and 48 or 49 of rubber composition so that these fabric pieces are thoroughly sealed against any possibility of moisture the rubber layer 67 and beyond or at such remote places by the gum coating on the inner. face thereof and by the gum coating on the lining and other pieces thereunder. For example, at the back seam, as shown in Fig. 5, the rear edge of one of the side fabrics v74 is adhesively secured by the gum coating on its inner face to the gum coated outer face of the heel reinforcing 42 which latter has a gum coated inner face adhesively secured to the gum coated outer face of the lining 35, 36, said edge of the fabric 74 where it extends above the heel reinforcing 42 having its gunimecl inner face adhesively secured directly to the gummed outer face of the lining, and these gum coatings which consolidate in vulcanization afford at these remote places ample sealing of the rear edge of the said fabric layer 74 against any pos- Ysible communication of moisture from the eyelet openings through the fabric 74 and into the interior of the boot at the back. The rear edge of the other side fabric 74 is lapped over and sealed by a rubber layer 75. Moreover. the edge portions of the flaps in which the eyelets are engaged are adequately reinforced not only by the portion of the fabric strip or tape 59 which is embedded therein but also by the intermediate fabric layer 74 of the boot wall, the latter of which is separated throughout from the interior of the boot by the layer 7 6 of rubber composition.

Thus a structure is provided which is effectively sealed against any leakage due to fasteners engaged in or through the flaps or impairment of the edges of the flaps by repeated manipulation and use, and it is to be noted that in this construction the pocket member has only a single layer of fabric on the back Wall and a single layer on the front Wall thereby aording a flat, compact and flexible structure. Moreover the edges of the layers of rubber composition forming the front and back walls of the pocket are offset to insure a substantial joint which because of this arrangement is adequately reinforced by the layer of fabric on the back wall overlapping the joint and this offset arrangement of the pocket Wall edges also gives the pocket a tapered or somewhat feathered edge which fits Within and seats neatly against the inner face of the boot wall and avoids any abrupt and undesirable step off or shoulder along the edge of the pocket.

While we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, we are aware that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of our invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. A rubber boot ofthe class describedhaving the wall thereof formed with a pair of substantially abutting laterally separable instep flaps., the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the boot, and an elongated pocket member underlying and closing the opening between said flaps and comprising front and back walls of rubber' composition with the marginal edge of one pocket wall projecting beyond the marginal edge of the other pocket wall, and a fabric covering secured to the outside face of one of said pocket walls and extending over and secured to the extended marginal edge of the other pocket wall.

2. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising a fabric reinforced layer of rubber, said wall having adjoining portions thereof at the front forming laterally separable instep iaps the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the bootj and an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening between said flaps and comprising front and back walls each of which comprises a layer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterally separable portions each of which has an area of substantial width along its inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap7 there being a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of the boot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edge of the consolidated area.

3. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising a fabric reinforced layer of rubber., said wall having adjoining portions thereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the boot, and an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening between said flaps and comprising front and back walls each of which comprises a layer of rubber oined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterally separable portions each of which has an area of substantial width along its inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap, there being a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of the boot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edge of the consolidated areaa each separable front wall portion of the pocket member having a reinforcing fabric on its outer face and each instep flap of the boot wall having a reinforcing fabric on its inner face7 said fabrics extending inwardly to and terminating along the aforesaid rubber to rubber connection so that the latter seals the inner margin of said fabrics at a substantial distance from the inner edges of the instep flaps.

et. A rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising a fabric reinforced layer of rubber7 said wall having adjoining portions thereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the boot, an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening between said flaps and comprising front and bach walls each of which comprises a layer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterally separable portions each of which has an area of substantial Width along its inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap, there being a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer the boot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edge ofthe consolidated area, and the fabric reinforcing of the boot wall including a fabric layer on the outer side of the rubber layer of the boot wall and extending transversely across the aforesaid rubber to rubber connection.

5. A. rubber boot of the class described having a boot wall comprising a fabric reinforced layer of rubber, said wall having adjoining portions thereof at the front forming laterally separable instep flaps the upper ends of which are joined together at a distance below the top of the boot, an elongated pocket member under and closing the opening between said flaps and comprising front and back walls each of which comprises a layer of rubber joined along its outer marginal edge to the rubber layer of the other pocket wall, said front wall being divided into laterally separable portions each of which has an area of substantial width along its inner edge consolidated with a corresponding area along the inner edge of the respective overlying instep flap, their being a direct rubber to rubber connection of the rubber layer of the boot wall with the aforesaid rubber layer of the pocket front wall along the outer edge of the consolidated area7 each separable front wall portion of the pocket member having a reinforcing fabric on its outer face and each instep flap of the boot wall having a. reinforcing fabric on its inner face, said fabrics extending inwardly to and terminating along the aforesaid rubber to rubber connection so that the latter seals the inner margin of said fabrics at a substantial distance from the inner edges of the instep flaps, and eyelets located inwardly beyond the s-ealed inner margins of said fabrics and extending through the consolidated portions of the instep flaps and separable portions of the pocket front Wall.'

6. In a rubber boot the combination of a rubber faced upper having a slit extending part Way up the front, said slit having the upper end closed and spaced from the top of the boot, and an expansible pocket member under and closing said slit, said pocket member comprising front and back Walls of sheet rubber composition with corresponding opposed marginal portions thereof vulcanized together, said sheet rubber of the front Wall of the pocket member being slitted and having an undivided portion thereof beyond the upper end of its slit and portions along each side of said slit vulcanized to the boot upper respectively at the upper end and at the opposite sides of the slit in the boot upper.

GEORGE L. VAN DINTER. CONRAD FERRETTIE.

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