US199574A - Improvements counter-stiffeners for boots and shoes - Google Patents

Description

W. H. RICHARDSON. Counter-stiffener forBoots and Shoes.

Patented Jan. 22, I878.

FIG-.6

WITNESSES.

N.PETEHS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. .D, 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDSON, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT INCOUNTER- STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199, 574, dated January 22, 1878; application filed October 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. RICHARD- soN, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented acertain new and useful Improved Counter or Heel Stifiener, of which thefollowing is a to fit both the heel portion and the portion of the upper which is just back of the ankle of the wearer, but will separate at their unattached upper portions, in order to allow either free backward or lateral movement of the ankle, all substantially as hereinafter described, whereby the ankle of the wearer and the boot are the better supported against turning over, while at the same time there is no restraint of the desired movement of the foot in walking, it being specially effective in these respects for children while learning to walk, or where the wearers ankles are weak.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, Figure l is a View of a blank from which is made one side of my improved counter-stiffener. stifl'ener; Fig.- 3, a front view of the counterstiffener; and Fig. 4, a section on line was,

Fig. 3.

111 the drawings, Arepresents my improved counter. This counter-stiffener is made of two similar parts, a a, of leather or other suitable material, which are sewed or otherwise secured together, as at b.

The parts a a are cut fiom a flat piece of leather, and at their edges 0 c, which are sewed together, they have a curvilinear form from end to end corresponding to the central vertical line of curve of the foot at the back of the heel from the sole up to a point back of the ankle, and at their opposite edges d cl also a curvilinear form, which is such as to give the greatest width to each part a at its lower end e, and the smallest width at the upper ends f of the said parts, which at said ends are not Fig. 2 is a side view of the counter attached together, so that while giving lateral support these ends will separate 'to allow the ankle to have a natural and easy movement.

The lower or larger end 0 of the counter A is the end which is at the lower edge of the heel portion of the boot-upper when the counter-stiffener is secured therein. v

The counter-stiffener formed of the parts a a, shaped and stitched together as described, is placed in the boot, as described, and there secured by their lower edges, only the curved edges 01 being left free to change position with the movements of the ankle.

A counter-stiffener such as above described obviously gives such an increased support to the ankle of the wearer as to prevent, in a great measure, the liability of the turning of the ankle and the boot in walking; and it is more especially efiective in its support of childrens ankles, and of weak ankles generally.

Stiffenings have heretofore been placed in the heels of boots and shoes; but they have been intended only to protect the counters from being broken down, and were continuous throughout their'top edges, while my stiffener, at its rear portion, is left open for a short distance, as it allows freer play of the foot in its movements -while walking, &c., without detracting materially from the efficiency of the counter as a support to the ankle. The fastening of it into the boot is by stitching or otherwise securing it in place at its lower edge, as ordinarily.

counter-stiffener takes the place of the ordinary stiifener employed in shoes, &c.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The heel-stiffener herein (lBSGI'lllGCL CODSlSU- ing of the parts a a, having curved front and rear edges 0 d, said rear edges being attached together for the greater portion of their length, but having their upward-projecting portions f f unattached and separated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WM. H. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, GEO. H. EARL.

I would here remark my improved

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