US1997811A - Method of sizing wood heel bases - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1935. J. v. CRITCHLEY METHOD OF SIZING WOOD HEEL BASES Filed June 6, 1933 marlin? M% wa W Tux W x: W

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 METHOD OF SIZING HEEL BASES James Verner Critchley, Worcester,-Mass,, as-

signor to Fitz-On Sales Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 6, 1933, Serial No. 674,536

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to the method of producing heels embodying a base permanently attached to a boot or shoe, and a detachable top lift of leather or the like which is adapted to be 5 removed and replaced after wear upon the permanent heel base.

According to the usual practice, it is customary to attach a wooden heel member or base to a boot or shoe, secure a top lift to the tread end of the heel member, and thereafter manually finish the edge of the top lift into registry with the adjoining surface of the heel base. This method is slow and arduous, and frequently damages the heel base, especially if covered with a fabric or the like, but nevertheless is the method universally employed in the manufacture of womens shoes having high heels of the French or Spanish type.

According to the present method, I propose to provide an accurately sized and finished top lift according to the method described in my application filed of even date herewith, and to size or finish the meeting edge of the wood heel base into predetermined conformity therewith. It is sufficient for my purpose if this accurate sizing of the heel base is confined to a relatively small area adjacent the attaching face, the remainder of the wood heel base being finished by sanding or the like as a manual operation, with its inevitable irregularities and non-uniformities.

I have found that the desired results can be satisfactorily attained by providing a pattern or template having the predetermined dimensions and contour which it is desired to impart to the attaching region of the heel base. Having accurately located this pattern or template in the same relationship to the wood heel base that the top lift subsequently assumes, I can then impart automatically to the lower region of the heel base a predetermined and uniform contour and dimensions. In actual practice I have found that where the top lift is located by a socket inserted within the heel base, this same socket can be employed for properly locating the cutting template or pattern. The actual reduction of the lower end of the heel base may be accomplished by any suitable form of cutter or abrasive wheel which is governed in its movements by the template.

Heels of this type generally have an outward flare at the attaching face, and I utilize this outward flare to avoid the formation of a line or shoulder by reducing the heel base through the provision of a rota-ting cutter or wheel having an angle of taper somewhat less than the normal angle of flare of the heel base. By pre-sizing in this fashion, the meeting edge of the heel base is brought into accurate conformity with the top lift, and the remainder of the heel may be finished to merge this portion without break in the smooth, even contour of the finished heel.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, Fig. 1 represents a generally diagrammatic view of the heel template mounted in position with the sizing tool engaging with the wood heel base; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the template which exactly resembles the finished top lift in shape; and Fig. 3 is a perspective illustrating the finished top lift applied to a covered wood heel base after the sizing operation has been performed.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention the wood heel base to be sized is indicated at H], and is provided with an embedded socket i2 of generally triangular shape. The finished top lift M- is provided with an attaching post l6 designed for insertion and reception within the socket. This top lift, as previously described, is molded and finished to an exact and predetermined size and contour.

For the purpose of sizing the attaching region of the wood heel base into a predetermined relation with the finished top lift, 1' provide a metallic cam or template lt which has the exact contour of the top lift, but is preferably somewhat smaller than the finished top lift to reduce the attaching region of the base to dimensions measurably smaller by a predetermined amount than the dimensions of the top lift. By thus sizing the base, the heel covering subsequently applied to the base will increase the dimensions of the base at the attaching region to the exact size of the top lift, and produce an accurate fit.

The cam I8 is mounted upon a spindle 20 with the identical relation to the spindle which the top lift bears to its attaching post, and in operation, as shown in Fig. 1, the spindle is inserted at its end in the receiving socket in the base. The opposite end of the base is centered by a tail spindle 22 about which it revolves. The heel base is engaged at the attaching end by a cutter or abrasive wheel 24, mounted upon a shaft 26 and having a cam follower 28 in peripheral contact with the template l8. By maintaining the template and follower in constant relationship, the heel base may be revolved and sized by the cutter 24 to the exact dimensions and contour of r the template. It will be noted that this cutter is provided with-a tapered cutting face 30, the angle of which is slightly less than the outward flare of the heel base, and in consequence is capable of reducing the attaching region of the base Es PATE T oFFrcj-E to the proper dimensions and contour without producing a ridge or shoulder in the periphery of the base. Subsequently this sized area may be smoothly merged into the remaining peripheral portion of the base by the usual finishing or scouring operations. Subsequently to finishing the heel base may be covered in the usual manner, and is thereafter ready for application of the finished top lift, which normally requires no further or additional finishing or sizing operation.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of producing heels having an attached top lift which consists in forming a top lift to a definite finished contour and dimensions, forming a wood heel base to approximate size and shape, reducing the attaching end of the wood heel base into exact and predetermined relationship with the top lift, and finally surface-finishing the remainder of the wood heel base to merge the attaching end therewith.

2,. The method of producing heels having a detachable top lift portion, which consists in producing a wood heel base having an embedded socket, producing "a finished top lift of exact contour and dimensions having a post designed to telescope within the socket, reducing the attaching end of the wood heel base to exact conformity with the top lift through the employment of a template conforming in shape and size to the finished top lift and having a post located in conformity with the location of the post in the top lift and designed for insertion in the socket, and

reducing the area adjacent the template to exact 15 shape and dimensions determined thereby.

JAMES VERNER CRITCHLEY.

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