US2192026A

US2192026A - Shoe heel and shank

Info

Publication number: US2192026A
Application number: US276101A
Authority: US
Inventors: Caplan Sidney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-05-27
Filing date: 1939-05-27
Publication date: 1940-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1957-02-27

Description

Z-Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27. 1939 Feb. 27, 1940. s. CAPLAN 2,192,026

SHOE HEEL AND S HANK Filed May 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sidney t'apZan Patented Feb.27,1940

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE HEEL AND SHANK Sidney Caplan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application May 27, 1939, Serial No. 276,101

Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful heel for shoes and is particularly directed to moulding the heel and shank portions of the shoe in one piece from plastic material or metal.

The manufacture of shoe heels from material other than leather, particularly in ladies shoes, is well known and in common practice, wood having been found to be an excellent substitute in that it is very easily shaped, readily secured to the shoe and is of sufficient tensile strength to support the wearer without danger of collapsing. Heels made of wood may be readily coloured to conform with the shade of the shoe and replaceable leather lifts are easily secured thereto.

In the construction of ladies. shoes, the sole and shank portion are ordinarily constructed'in 4 one piece, the shank portion usually curving uniformly across the arch and the heel being secured to the rearward end thereof. Ordinarily, a steel shank, shaped to conform with the shape of the last, is built into and across the arch portion, being concealed by the leather shank. The steel shank serves to reinforce the arch portion of the shoe and support the arch of the wearer.

Iv have found that it is possible to mould the heel and shank portion of the shoe in one piece from plastic material or. metal, the plastic material being of such nature as will receive nails so and tacks used to secure the sole and shank to the shoe and the replaceable leather lift may be securely aflixed to the base of the heel. Where the shoe heel and shank is constructed of metal,

the lift may be secured thereto by any well known means such as by screws.

An added feature of my invention resides in the use of novel means for strengthening the heel of a shoe and securing the lift and insole thereto,

wherein the heel is moulded with barbed reinforcing pins embedded therein, the ends of which preferably project approximately ,4; inch above the upper and below the lower faces of the heel.

These projecting pins may be in the form of plain, split or tubular rivets and are used in securing the insole and lift of a shoe t the heel.

In order to secure the lift and insole to the heel,

it is merely necessary to tap the heel in place and burr the rivets thus providing a strong union between the heel and lift and between the heel and insole.

An alternative form of the above embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6 in which the reinforcing pins are embedded only a short distance into the upper and lower portions of the heel but project upwardly and downwardly a suficient (c1. span distance to permit the heel to be securely aflixed to the insole and the. lift to be securely affixed to the heel. If desired; a wooden insert may be embedded'into the base of the heel to which the lift may be afllxed thus replacing the projecting pins in that portion of the heel. J

The moulded shank'maype'supported, if desired, by' the usual tempered steel shank which may be attached to the moulded shank by con- 1 ventional methods, such as bi/"rivets. These riv ets may be in thefifo'rm of eyelet or hollow tubular rivets which will give ,the added advantage of a ventilated arch The'manner in which I attain the-objects of my invention will'be clearly understood from the .followingd'escription and accl'i'inp'anying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention in which the steel shank has been eliminated;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary 1 side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention wherein the steel shank portion is illustrated in cross section;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a shoe heel and shank moulded in one piece of plastic material; -Figure 4 is a cross sectional side elevation of -a shoe heel and shank showing the reinforcing pins before the'lii't and insole are attached to the heel;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional side elevation of go a shoe heel and shank showing the insole and lift attached to the heel; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an alternative embodiment of my invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, illustrated in Figures 1 through 6, the numeral I indicates a lady's shoe provided with a heel 2,

shank 3 and sole 4. The leather lift 5 is secured o to the base of the heel 2. The heel 2 and shank 3 are moulded in one piece from plastic material or metal.

The heel 2 is preferably moulded in such a manner to effect the greatest possible saving in material and weight, having regard, of course, that any danger of collapse must be avoided.

The heel 2 is designed to give the impression of slenderness. The upper portion is curved uniformly at I towards the shank portion 3 to shorten the unsupported span across the arch of the shoe while not affecting the graceful lines of the heel.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 through 6, the heel and shank may be made of cheaper types of plastic material and reinforced by means of the metal pins 9. The pins 9 are embedded in the heel and are of sumcient length to project upwardly above and downwardly below the top and base of the heel. The pins 9 are preferably tubular to permit the securing of the insole and lift by riveting as indicated at I2 and are preferably formed with barbs l3 which hold the pins firmly in fixed position after the heel is cast.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 6 the reinforcing pins 9 extend only a short distance from the top of the heel into the body thereof and project upwardly about inch. A wooden insert M is cast into the base of the heel to which the lift 5 is secured by tacks.

The free end 8 of the shank is tapered uniformly in order to permit an unnoticeable union between the end of the shank and the sole 6.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the heel and

shank portions

2 and 3 are preferably moulded from a type of plastic adapted to receive and hold firmly the usual tacks by means of which the lift is afiixed to the heel and the heel afiixed to the insole. In the use of this material a saving in weight and the amount of material may be effected by casting the heel with vertically disposed open portions l0 and H. v

I have found that shoes embodying my invention have advantages over shoes constructed with heels and shanks used heretofore. For example, the plastic material has all the desirable properties of wood in that it may be shaped to meet any requirement, it is inexpensive and it will receive and hold nails and tacks. In addition to these properties, the heel and shank can be moulded in one piece to efiect a considerable saving both in the cost of forming those portions of the shoe and in the elimination of a large percentage of the leather formerly used in the shank. The shank can be covered, if desired, with a thin film of leather or imitation leather or can be coloured to any desired shade.

It will be apparent, of course, that the scope of my invention is not limited to any particular type or design of shoes but, with minor modifications as to shape, may be incorporated into other designs without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire'to. protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoe heel and shank moulded in one piece of plastic material, reinforcing pins embedded in said plastic material and means for securing said heel to a shoe insole and means for securing a lift to said shoe heel.

2. A shoe heel and shank moulded in one piece of plastic material, barbed reinforcing "pins embedded in said plastic material and means for securing said heel to a shoe insole and means for securing a lift to said shoe heel.

3. A shoe heel and shank moulded in one piece of plastic material, reinforcing pins embedded in said plastic material, said reinforcing pins projecting above the upper face of the shoe heel, means for securing said heel to a shoe insole and means for securing a lift to said shoe heel.

4. A shoe heel and shank moulded in one pieceof, plastic material, reinforcing pins embedded in said plastic material, said reinforcing pins projecting above the upper face and below the lower face of the shoe heel, means for securing said heel to a shoe insole and means for securing a securing a lift thereto and means for securing said heel to a shoe insole.

SIDNEY