US1952473A - Rubber footwear and method of making same - Google Patents

Description

March 4-. J. E. TABER 1,952,473

RUBBER FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed June 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0Z4 W m g J. E. TABER March 27, 1934.

RUBBER FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed June 8. 1931 [/Wmzw Jami 7356/ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 FlC'E RUBBER, FOOTWEAB AND METHOD OF MAKENG Stilt IE John E. Taber, South Bend, Ind, assignor to Mishawaka Rubber and Woolen Manufacturing Company, Mishawaka, 11111., a corporation of Indiana Application June 8, 1931, Serial No. 542,709

5 Ciaims.

My invention relates to rubber footwear of the character's/herein the upper is provided with fold like portions forming a pocketed opening for expansion and contraction, and has reference more particularly to the construction of said fold like portions and the manner in which the upper is provided therewith.

In the manufacture of rubber footwear of the character above referred to, it is a common practice to build the main portion of the upper and the fold like portions conjointly,that is, the fold forming portions are a constituent part of the rest of the upper. In my present construction however, the main portion of the upper is first assembled as a plain form fitting leg covering unit after which the fold like portions, which in the completed boot afford extra fullness for expansibility, are located where required and secured on the exterior of the leg covering unit which is slitted or divided at the location of the fold like portions so that the latter are free to open up.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved expansible structure for footwear and method of making same; to provide an expansible structure which is readily applicable to various types of rubber footwear and at any desired place on the upper; to obviate the necessity of constructing the expansion folds as a constituent part of the main portion of the upper; to permit the main portion of the upper to be assembled as a plain form fitting leg cover ing and the expansion folds to be separately prepared and applied thereon at the location where expansibility is desired; to insure a neat close fitting expansion structure; and in general to simplify and. facilitate the construction of footwear with a form fitting expansible upper.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an overshoe constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the assembled main portion of the upper ready for the expansion folds or pocket members to be applied thereon;

Fig. 3 is an outside View of the assembled expansion fold member for the right side of the overshoe;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the inner side of the expansion fold member of Fig. 3;

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

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a form fitting boot having an expansible portion at the ankle and instep constructed in acordance with my invention;

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the lower portion of the boot as prepared for application of the expansion fold members thereto;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views of the outer and inner W sides respectively of the assembled expansion fold Q member for the right side of the boot of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line iii-10 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of a boot similar to that of Fig. 6 but having expansion fold mem- 5' bers of a different form;

Figs. 12 and 13 are views of the outer and innersides respectively of the assembled expansion fold member for the right side ofthe structure of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14: is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 11.

Referring'tc the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, which show an overshoe of a well known type having an expansion opening at the front extending to the top of the overshoe and closed by a folded pocket member with lacing flies at opposite sides of the opening, the reference numeral 15 indicates the lining and 16 the rubber facing of what is termed herein the 6 main portion of the upper, which is assembled'in close fitting manner on the last 1'7 which corresponds substantially in form and size to the foot and leg upon which the overshoe is to be worn.

This close fitting main portion of the upper may be made up in any convenient manner, preferably with the lining composed of a toe and vamp covering section 18 and a leg and heel covering section 19, which said sections are joined together at the front of the angle and down the sides substantially at the location of the marking 20 in a manner well known in the art, the section 19 being drawn rearwardly around the last and having the edges joined together at the back 5 and both sections being lasted over the insole which .is not shown. These lining sections 18 and 19 may be prepared with a facing layer of rubber thereon before assembling on the last, or the rubber facing 16 may be applied on the lining after the latter is assembled, either in sec-v tions corresponding substantially to the lining sections 18 and 19 or otherwise, so that the upper is entirely covered with the rubber facing, the usual'rag heel indicated by dotted lines at 21 in Fig. 2, being incorporated. in the upper and the latter provided with the rubber faced back stay 22 and such other reinforcing as it is customary or desirable to employ in overshoes of thistype. The sole 23 and heel 24 are also preferably prono vided at this time although it is evident that these as well as any other parts that are not located where the expansion fold members are to be attached may be assembled after the latter have been secured in place.

After this form fitting main portion of the upper has been completed in the manner outlined above, an expansion fold or pocket member is adhesively secured thereon at each side, the member for the right side being shown in Figs. 3 and l and the one for the left side being similarly constructed except that the parts are reversed to afford the required left hand arrangement. These expansion fold members may be made up in various ways, a satisfactory form being shown herein having an outer wall made up of a layer 25 of fabric faced with a layer 26 of rubber, and an inner wall made up of a layer 27 of fabric and the facing layer 28 of rubber, said walls being adhesively joined together for a considerable width along their forward edges substantially back to the line 29, to provide lacing dies for eyelets 30, and the rubber layers being preferably extended slightly beyond the fabric along the forward edges to come together therebeyond as indicated at 31 in Fig. 5 and cover the edges of the fabric. A lining 32 is adhesively secured to the opposed faces of the fabrics 25 and 2'? with a fold along their juncture line 29 serving to reinforce U the connection between the outer and inner Walls,

and the latter wall, together with the portion of the lining 32 thereon, is folded forwardly along the line 33, the upper end of said inner Wall at the rear of the line 29 being preferably cut away =as shown at 34, substantially at right angles to the fold 33.

The rubber facings 26 and 28 are preferably extended beyond their respective fabrics 25 and 2'7 at the open side of the expansion fold member as shown at 35 in Figs. 4 and 5, and the fabrics 25 and 27 are likewise extended beyond the corresponding edges of the lining 32 and the inwardly facing edge portions of the lining 32, fabrics 25 and 2'7 and facings 26 and 28 are coated with .a rubber cement along the sides and at the bottom of the side opening of the expansion fold member as indicated by the shaded area 36 in Fig. 4, in preparation for adhesive application to the assembled main portion of the overshoe upper.

After the right and left hand expansion fold members have been prepared as above, they are adhesively secured to the respective sides of the assembled form fitting overshoe upper, the right hand fold member having the cemented area 36 thereof applied to the shaded area 3'? of the assembled upper of Fig. 2 and the left hand fold member being applied in a similar manner on the opposite side of the overshoe upper, the edges of the expansion members being rolled down into firm adhering contact with the rubber facing of the upper and the extended edges 35 of the rub ber layers 26 and 28 of the expansion member affording a rubber to rubber connection with the ;rubber facing of the upper so as to thoroughly seal ;the front in any convenient manner, as for example by a lacing engaged through the eyelets 30, to hold the expansion fold members in shape during vulcanization, and then the assembled overshoe is vulcanized in the usual manner. After vulcanization, the temporary connection of the flies across the front of the overshoe is released and then the side walls of the overshoe upper are slitted down the sides within the space defined by the shaded area 37 of Fig. 2 where the expansion pocket members have been joined to the form fitting upper, a piece preferably being cut out substantially along the dotted line 38 of Fig. 2 so that the expansion fold members open up to permit enlargement of the upper, and the overshoe may then be readily removed from the last. The top edge of the portion of the upper in front of the openings 38 is also preferably trimmed at each side along the line 39 so as to conform to the upper edge 34 of the inner wall of the respective expansion member.

Buckles, snaps or other forms of fastenings may of course be employed instead of the lacing for connecting the expansion fold members at the front of the overshoe and these expansion members may be modified in form and construction as will be evident from other applications of my invention hereinafter disclosed. Moreover the form fitting upper may be partially out along the line 38, before the expansion members are applied thereon, so as to facilitate the dividing of the side walls after vulcanization, or the overshoe upper may be made up with the portion of the rubber facing 16 at the cut out places 38 omitted, leaving the lining alone to be cut away after vulcanization. 7

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 14 of the drawings which show the employment of my invention in a form fitting rubber boot to provide an expansible ankle and instep portion, Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive illustrate one form of expansion structure having flaps of Blucher type. In this Blucher type boot of Figs. 6 to 10, a rubber faced form fitting upper is made up in any convenient manner, for example as shown in Fig. 7 wherein the reference numeral 40 indicates the last and 41 and 42 the two sides or quarters of the lining which are joined together down the front by the tape 43, secured together at the back by a similar tape or by overlapping and adhesively uniting the edges, and lasted over the insole which is not shown. A toe covering d4 of rubber is applied over the lining and lasted over the insole and the rest of the upper is formed of the two quarters 45 and 46 which are joined together at the front and back, overlap the upper and rear edge of the rubber toe covering 44, as indicated at a7, and are lasted over the insole. Other parts, such as reinforcings etc. may be incorporated in this upper but these are not shown as they are not essential to an understanding of my invention. After this form fitting upper has been prepared in this manner it is partially cut at each side of the ankle and instep along the lines 48 by running a stitch wheel therealong or otherwise so that the intermediate portion may be subsequently separated along the sides from the rest of the upper, these lines however being spaced apart at their upper and lower ends so that said intermediate portion remains integral with and permanently attached at its upper and lower ends to the boot upper.

Right and left hand expansion pocket members of any suitable construction and 0f fold like form are then secured to this assembled form fitting upper around the respective lines of separation 48, each of said expansion members in the illustrated structure having an outer wall comprising a reinforcing fabric 49, an outer facing layer 50 of rubber and a fabric lining 51, and an inner wall comprising the fabric lining .the'out'er wall lining 51.

52 with a' facing layer 53 of rubber. These two Walls are joined together along their forward edges and'at the bottom beyond theline 54 (see Figs. 8 and- 9) a rubber strip 55 being'provided on the outwardly facing sideof the rubber layer 53 along the forward and loweredges of the'latter and havingthe forward edge of the inner wall lining 52 extended thereover and adhesively secured thereto and having the forward edge of the outer wall lining 51 also adhesivfely secured thereto immediately beyond the forward edge of the lining 52 as shown in Fig. 10; The reinforcing fabric 49 is adhesively secured .to'theputer face of the lining 51 throughout the area of the latter, and beyond the. forward edge of this lining 51 is adhesively secured to the rubber strip 55, which said strip, as well as the rubber layers 50 and 53 extend slightly beyond the forward and lower edges of the reinforcingfabric 49 and are consolidated to seal said edges of the fabric.

The outer wall 49; 50, 51 of the expansion member extendsbeyond the rear and top edge of the inner wall'52, 53 and has a projecting portion 56 at the lower end overlying the lowermost corner of the innerwall 52, 53, all as shown in Fig. 9, and the outer rubber layer 50 of theoute'r wall projects along the rear and at the upper and lower ends of the reinforcing fabric 49 as indicated' at 57, and the rear edge andupper and lower ends of this reinforcing fabricate preferably extend beyond the corresponding edges'of The lining 52 of the inner wall may, if desired, be'co-extensive along the rear and at the. upper and lower ends with the rubber layer 53 of the inner wall of the expansion member, although it is preferred to extend the rubber layer 53 slightly at these places. After the right and left expansion members have been prepared in the manner above described, rubber cement is applied thereto along the rear edge portions and at the upper and lower ends of the inner and outer walls, as indicated by the shaded area 58 in Fig. 9, and this cemented area of the right hand expansion member is applied to the shaded area 59 on the right hand side of the assembled upper of Fig. '7 entirely around the dividing line 48 and the cemented area of the left hand member is applied in like manner around the dividing line 48 on the left hand side of the assembled upper. These cemented edges are rolled down in firm adherence and it will be noted that there is exposed rubber entirely around the opening into the ex-' pansion member which, when the said member is applied in place, affords a rubber to rubber connection entirely around the dividing line 48 so that the juncture of the expansion member with the boot wall is thoroughly sealed against leakage.

These expansion fold members are preferably arranged on the boot upper so that they meet in edge to edge relationat the front of the boot as shown in Fig. 6, and they may be fastened together in any convenient manner, as for example, with the well known ladder type buckles 60 which have the mounting tabs 61 thereof adhesively secured to the outer walls of the expansion fold members. These buckles may be employed to hold the expansion members in the closed edge to edge relation during vulcanization or if desired a connecting tape may be applied under the meeting edges of these expansion fold members and divided after vulcanization to perunit separation thereof.

After the expansion fold members have been applied. onthe assembled form fitting upper, a tape*62' of rubber is preferably applied down the front ofthe boot the lower end, which terminates just below the upper ends of the expansion fold members, is rolled down securely thereover to finish and reinforce same. An outer rubber layer 63 may also be applied over the toe and'around the foot portion of the boot, this layer 53 being preferably provided with a pointed portion or fitting up between the flared lower ends of the flaps which are formed by he ex pansion'fold members, and the portions of this layer 63 immediately adjacent the portion 64 overly and are rolled down securely onto the end portions 56 (see Figs. 8 and 9) of the front walls of the expansion fold members and serve as a reinforcing for same. The sole 65 and heel 65 are then applied the usual manner after which the boot is vulcanized, and after the buckles 60 or other means that may be emplayed to connect the expansion fold members or side flaps are released and the wall of theboot manipulated at opposite sides of the dividing lines 43 to break the connection along said lines so that the boot may be removed from the last. a

In Fig. 11 I have showna form of boot similar to that of Fig. 6 except that the expansion folds or pocket flaps are not of the Biucher type and the expansion members are of a different construction. In this boot structure of Fig. 11 a form fitting upper is assembled in substantially the same manner as that of Fig. '7 and partially out along lines substantially corresponding to the lines 28 of said Figure. The expansion members, however, are made as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 of. a fiat laminated assembly of rubber layer 6'7, reinforcing fabric 68 and lining fabric 69, and folded along the line so that the portion that constitutes the outer wall of the expansion fold extends rearwardly and at the upper and lower ends beyond the front wall portion. The rubber layer 6'7 is slightly larger than the reinforcing layer 68 so as to project beyond the latter, and the lining layer 69 is preferably slightly smaller than the reinforcing layer 68. Along the rear edge of the inner wall the layers 67, 68 and 69 are extended between the points 71 and 72 vulcanization and folded back as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, in

somewhat the same manner as in the expansion fold members of the overshoe structure of Figs. 1 to 5, and the rear edge portions and upper and lower ends of the inner and outer walls of these expansion fold members are provided with a coating of cement as indicated by the shaded area at 73 in Fig. 13. This cemented area is then applied around the respective dividing line 48 of the assembled boot upper in the same manner as the expansion fold members of Figs. 6 to 10 and rolled down securely in place with the front edges substantially parallel and separated somewhat as shown in Fig. 11, after which the boot is completed and vulcanized in substantially the same manner as the boot of Figs. 6 to 10.

Any suitable fasteners may be employed with the expansion fold members of Figs. 12 and 13, a

changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an article of rubber footwear the combination of an upper comprising assembled lining and rubber facing forming a form fitting wall with an upwardly extending opening, and an at tached rubber faced externally projecting fold like expansion member closing said opening, the rubber facing of the form fitting wall having edge portions along the sides of the opening overlapped by and joined directly to marginal edge portions of the rubber facing of the expansion member.

2. In an article of rubber footwear the combination of an upper comprising an outer layer of rubber and a lining combined to constitute a form fitting wall with a narrow upwardly extending opening at each side of the instep and leg portion of said wall, separate fold like rubber faced patches applied externally on and having the rubber facing thereof joined to the layer of rubber of the wall along the sides of said openings said fold like patches constituting expansion members that fold forwardly over the instep and leg portions of the wall and are detachably connected over the front of the wall.

3. The method of making rubber footwear which comprises preparing a form fitting fabric lined upper of rubber composition, externally applying to the upper at a pre-determined expansion opening location a fabric lined rubber patch of fold like form and joining the marginal edges of the rubber of said patch to the rubber composition of the upper along said expansion open-- which comprises assembling a fabric lined form fitting upper of rubber composition on a last, applying a separate fabric lined rubber patch of fold like form on the upper at each side of the instep and leg portion of the upper, and joining the lateral marginal edges of each rubber patch to the rubber composition of the upper along the sides of a narrow upwardly extending area of the upper in which an expansion opening is subsequently to be formed, then laying the attached patches forwardly against the front of the instep and leg portions of the upper, then vulcanizing the structure and thereafter forming expansion openings in the upper within the areas covered by the patches.

5. The method of making rubber footwear which comprises assembling on a last a form fitting upper having a lining and an outer facing layer of rubber, applying a separate rubber covered patch of fold like form at each side of the instep and leg portion of the upper to cover a narrow upwardly extending area of the upper in which an expansion opening is subsequently to be formed and joining the lateral marginal edges of the rubber of each patch to the rubber facing of the upper along the sides of the respective aforesaid narrow area, then vulcanizing the structure and thereafter forming an upwardly extending expansion opening in the upper within each area covered by the patches.

JOHN E. TABER.

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