US2136980A

US2136980A - Heel support

Info

Publication number: US2136980A
Application number: US199028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pim Joane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-03-08
Filing date: 1938-03-30
Publication date: 1938-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1955-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1938. J. PIM

HEEL SUPPORT Filed March 50, 1938 TP/M,

Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 30,

1938, Serial No. 199,028

In Great Britain March 8, 1937 6 Claims.

The invention relates toautomobile drivers.

The object of the invention is to provide a resilient heel support which may be secured to an 5 automobile floor and obviate the inconvenience at present experienced by lady motorists especially when driving in high heeled shoes, that the back surface of the shoe heel becomes worn and the heel itself is bent under the arch of the foot.

The device may take various forms, as will be evident from the ensuing description of the various modified constructions of the improved heel support illustrated in the drawing.

Figure 1 shows in perspective one form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows in fied form, and

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show in side elevation some other possible forms of the heel support.

Similar parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the heel support illustrated in this figure consists of a resilient block of rubberized hair, rubber-sponge, rubber or like material of the step form shown, comprising an upper flat tread portion I, a lower flat tread portion 2 and an intermediate riser portion 3 which is inclined at an angle of about 45 to the vertical. The rear surface I8 of the block slopes downwardly away from the upper tread portion I. The block is about 1 inches high at its rear step portion and about inch high at its front step portion, the overall width of the block being about 10 inches, the step portions I and 2 being each about 3 inches in Width. The length of the block may be about 11 to 12 inches, depending upon the distance between the pedals of the motor car to which it is to be fitted.

The block is covered on its upper, side and rear surfaces with a felt fabric,.and at the front edge, an extension piece 4 of this fabric is provided to form a flap. This flap is provided near to its side edges with pairs of turn-

buckle eyelets

5a, 5b and 6a, 6b. A pair of turn-buckles or studs Ia, lb is provided on the front footboard 8 of the floor of the Vehicle, below the pedals 9, I and I I, so that they may be engaged either by the endmost pair of turn-buckle eyelets Ba, Nb, as shown in Figure 1, when the heel support is intended to accommodate the heel of a large size of shoe such as might be worn by a male driver, or the pair of turn-buckle eyelets a, 5b ,as shown in Figure 2, when the heel support is intended to accommodate the heel of a smaller size of shoe as for example a high-heeled lady's a heel support for perspective a slightly modishoe I2. In this figure, turn-buckles shown attached to a carpet footboard 8.

Referring to Figure 2, which shows a slightly modified form of the support, it will be seen that the surface of the upper step portion I of the block accommodates the counter or heel-embracing portion I3 of the shoe I2, and in this manner the shoe is protected against abrasion by grit and other particles which are usually deposited on the floor of the automobile. The heel block I4 of the shoe is accommodated on the lower step portion 2, and it will be seen that any tendency for this block to bend towards the arch I5 of the shoe when a pedal is depressed will be avoided owing to the resilient nature of the block.

In this form of the heel support, the rear surface of the resilient block is vertical.

Figure 3 shows in side elevation an alternative form of the heel support, wherein the riser portion 3 between the upper step portion I and the lower step portion 2 is substantially vertical. With this construction, any tendency for grit to accumulate on the surface 3 is avoided and the counter of the shoe, bearing on the horizontal edge portion of the block at the intersections of the horizontal surface I and the vertical surface 3, is thus protected from abrasion by grit. The lower edge of the heel block rests on the lower step portion 2 so that the rear surface of the heel block does not come into contact with the surface of the block and is thus protected against abrasion by grit and like particles.

Figure 4 shows in side elevation a form of the heel support which is particularly adapted for use in automobiles of American manufacture, and in this arrangement the upper surface I! of the block slopes downwardly towards the pedals from one end of the block to the other. In this construction, the rear surface I8 of the block also slopes in order to prevent the drivers foot from catching the upper edge I9.

In the constructional form of the heel support as shown in side elevation in Figure 5, the block is of uniform thickness, and the upper surface 20 is substantially level.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, which is a combination of the arrangements illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the upper surface I is flat and the rear surface I8 slopes downwardly.

The front surface is stepped, but the lower stepped portion 2| slopes downwardly towards the control pedals.

I claim:

I6 which covers the la, Ib are 1. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a block of resilient rubber material, a detachable cover therefor of washable material, a flap on said covering, means in said flap to sesure the block to the automobile floor.

2. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a resilient block, a flexible cover secured on the upper and outer surfaces thereof, a flap extending from the front thereof, pairs of eyelets in said flap to engage a pair of studs on the automobile floor and a non-slip surface on the underside of the resilient block.

3. A heel support for an automobile driver comprising a stepped rubberized-hair block, having a sloping riser portion between two tread portions, a felt cover secured on the upper, rear and side surfaces of the block, a length of the felting extending beyond the end of the lower tread portion at the front thereof and constituting a flap, and pairs of eyelets in said flap arranged serially in parallel relationship to en gage alternatively a pair of studs in the automobile floor.

4. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a block of resilient material, a cover of flexible material secured over the upper surface of said block, said cover extending forwardly at the front of said block to form a flap, and means for attaching said flap to the floor of an automobile.

5. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a stepped resilient block extending transversely of the control pedals, and having a sloping portion between the stepped portions, and

a flap for locating said block securely on an automobile floor.

6. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a stepped resilient block, a flap secured to the front thereof, and pairs of eyelets in said flap adapted to engage alternatively with a pair of studs on the automobile floor.

JOANE PIM.