US1967334A - Dancing tap and toe support - Google Patents

Description

y 1934- A. L. SOTHEN 1,967,334

DANCING TAP AND TOE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l v d'llllllllllIll//IllI-" July 24, 1934. sQTHEN 1,967,334

DANCING TAP AND TOE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 115, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53' \AAw; azfggfqrzzar 43 40 O $556M @fifimbm Patented July 24, 1934. p

I Albert, L. S othen, emcaggo, n1.

- Application September 13, 1933, Serial No. 689,306

f 3 j Clai nsV (01. 36-83) iThis invention relates to "dancing: taps and toe supports, andniore particularlyto tap plates providedfor-thetoe'parts of dancing shoes."

a "One of the mainobjectsof thisinventionis to 1V5. provide dancing taps which are adapted for' wing step dancing, tap dancing and toe standing and are alsoefficient in stiffening the *sole and supporting the dancerfsfoot.

.Another 'object is-"tdprovide-a dancing tap 0. which is equipped with ears or similar rear portions that extendfa considerable distance rearmany from thebody part, "alinost to the instep portion of the-"shoe" or"" the* bending portion *cf the solejs'o as toflnd especial adaptation for-wing v stepdanc'ing; and also 'to[provide the desired rigidity and reinforcement to'the sole ofthe shoe and support for the footfthat when the dancer engages in toe stands 'the fo'otis sufficiently su Ported) xi r furtherobjec is *to provide an efficient dancing tapand toe support which as "considerable utility-'andis light, durable and inexpensive.

Theseanavanous otherobje'ctsf and advan-' tages will become apparent from the following 2 description; takeiiin connection with the aC0m-' panying drawings, in which the invention is shownin several'preferred forms, itbeing understood that various other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying utthe objects and purposes of this invention;

I In-the drawings? Fig. lisa perspective view of a shoeshowing one of the for'ms'of my invention applied thereto. Figkz isia 'topplan view of said form of sane;

-Fig5 3 is a vertical cross 'section thereof, taken 'o'hline 3-3o'fFig."2. p

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of dancing tam-Fig; 51s a vertical section, taken on line --4 5-5 of Fig. 4; while Fig. 6 is a front elevational view thereof. 1

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another modified form of this invention; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section thereof, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modified form; and Fig. 10 is a verticalsection thereof, taken on line 10-10 ofFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of still another modified form ofthe invention; and Fig. 12 is a vertical section thereofltaken on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

In the drawings I have shown my invention embodied in several of the various forms developed by me and extensively tested to determine and prove their utility and efiiciency. f

:5 The particular form of dancing tap shown in of the preceding form, and its rear edge 34 is Figs. 1 to 3'i11clusive;cornprises a body part which is constructed to conform to the shape of the forward part of thesole 21'of the shoe 22, and" is arranged: to be secured therebeneath; as for example'by'providin'g apertures 23 insaid body 6 part to extend suitable fastening elements therethrough into the sole. f l

Thebody part in -this form is made compara' tivel'ylong so as to have its rearfend 24 extend substantially to the flexing or bending portion 21' of the' 'sole, andto be positioned adjacentfthe instep portion 22 of the shoe thereabove,-' in order that the connected forwa1'd 'part of the shoe sole will be fully stiffened and yet the shoe may be readily bent orflexed atthe instep portion as may berequired. Said rear end 24 is preferably indented or curved inwardly at its intermediate part, thereby providing apair 'of rearwardly extending side ears or wings 25 and 25' outward of saidindentation. In this form the body part 20 is provided with a peripheral upstanding flange 26 which extends along the front toe portionthe'reof, and further extends entirely along both sides to the rear" endof said body part, forming complete side flanges 26" "Ihis flange is integral with thebody part and arises therefroin for the thicknes'so'f the shoe sole or the height of its outer edge. Said flange, throughout its entire length, bears snugly against the edge of the sole and covers it, substantiallyas' indicated in the drawings. I

The body part 20 therein hasits central portion' cut away to leave an opening'2'7, thereby re ducingthe weight of the tap and furthermore modifying the sound effect thereof. This opening Z'Tiacts substantially :in the nature of a sound opening onasound box, and adds a resounding tening elements for securing it underneath the sole. It is somewhat shorter than the body part In this form the body part 30 is provided with an integral upstanding flange 36 which extends only along the front of the toe portion 37 thereof. It arises substantially for the height of the shoe sole, having its upper edge about even with the top of the sole and snugly clasping or bearing against the front edge. This form is thus rendered comparatively light and very eflicient for use in tap dancing as well as in wing step dancmg.

The form of tap shown in Figs. 9 and 10 comprises a body part 40 conforming to theforward part of the sole of the shoe, and being positioned substantially under the toe part thereof. Apertures 43 are provided therein for receiving suitable elements to secure the tap underneath the sole. The rear edge 44 of the body part is in dented to form a pair of rearwardly extending side ears or wings 45 and 45. v

This form has an integral upstanding flange 46 at the front of its toe part, which extends for substantially the thickness of the shoe sole.- It is relatively thick at the front or. central portion and has a substantially flat front face 4'7 thereon,

the shape of the forward part of the shoe sole, and

is provided with openings 53 for receiving suitable securing elements to fasten it under the sole. H

The body part in this'form is made comparatively long so that its rear end 54 extends substantially to the instep portion of the shoe or the flexing portionof the sole, to properly stiffen the sole and yet permit the desired flexing at the instep portion, in a manner similar to that described regarding body part 20 shown in Fig. 2. Its rear edge is indented at the intermediate part to form a pair of rearwardlyextending side ears or wings 55 and 55.

An upstanding flange 56 is provided at thefront or toe portion on this body part 50, and arisessubstantially for the height of the sole and'to bear snugly against the same, substantially as in the preceding forms, the top of the flange being also substantially level with the top of the sole.

The body part 50 herein also has its central portion cut away to leave an opening 5'7, thereby reducing the weight of the tap, and furthermoreproducing a modified sound effect, substantially as in the form illustrated in Fig. 2. The form of this invention illustrated in Figs.

7 and 8 is adapted for tapdancingfland is also particularly adapted as a toe protector for use on childrensor kiddies shoes, which are relatively broad at the toe part. They are provided in pairs, one being for the right and the other for the left shoe; and they are especially effective in preventing the breaking and tearing of the toe part of the sole and also of the upper of the shoe. Each tap comprises a body part 60 adapted to fit under the toe portion of the sole of the shoe, and having openings 61 therein for receiving fastening elements 62 to extend into the shoe sole 63 for securing the device underneath the sole. Its rear edge 64 is indented centrally, thereby providing rearwardly extending ears or wings 65 and 65; and an integral flange 66 extends upwardly from the front or toe part thereof to substantially the height of the sole of the shoe and to bear firmly against the same.

These members are adapted for shoes of children, both as dancing taps and as toe protectors; and are also adapted for the shoes of ball players and golfers, to protect the forward part of "the upper and the sole, finding especial utility for pitchers whenpitching ball and for golfers when making a drive, as they prevent theground from coming in contact with the toe part of the upper and thus protect it as well as the sole of the shoe. 7

I claim: v

1. A dancing .tap comprisinga body part conforming to the shape of and adapted to be secured under the forward part of the sole of a shoe, and a vertically upstanding integral flange curved in conformity with and engaging the front end of the shoe sole, the front part of said flange having a substantially vertical flat face provided thereon, for performing toe stands.

2. A dancing tapof light metal comprising a body part conformin'gto theshape of and adapted to'be. secured under the toe part of the sole of a shoe, and an integral relativelythick flange at the front of said body part extending upwardly substantially the thickness of the sole and bearing against its front edge, the front part of said flange having a substantially flat vertical face provided thereon, for performing toe stands.

3. A dancing tap comprising a body part adapted to conform to the shape of and be secured under. the front part of the sole of a dancing shoe, and having an integral peripheral flange extending around the front and the sides thereof, ;the main part of which extends upwardly for, substantially the thickness of the sole and clasps its front edge, and a pair of relatively long side wings extending rearwardly on said body part, providing an indentation therebetween extending a substantial distance toward the toe end, said wings extending substantially to the ball part'of the toes, thereby adapting this tap especially for wing step dancing in addition to tap dancing.

. ALBERT L. SOTHEN.

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