US2247555A - Removable wearing surface for rubber heels - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1941- F. A. w. KELLEY 2,247,555

REMOVABLE WEARING SURFACE FOR RUBBER HEELS Filed Jan. 25, 1940 Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATES ATE? FFME REMOVABLE WEARING SURFACE FOR RUBBER HEELS 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to rubber heels, and more particularly to removable wearing surfaces comprising a portion of said heels.

Heretofore, it has been the practice with the users of rubber heels to have an entire new set of heels replaced on his or her shoes from time to time to take care of the wear which normally occurs in footwear of this type.

It is generally recognized that such wear, in the great majority of instances, is located on the outer rear edge of the heel. In almost every instance the inner central portion and the forward, or throat portion of the heel, is practically perfect.

Having the above defects, in rubber heels in mind, I have designed a new rubber heel having a renewable rear wearing `section which may be replaced, at the will of the user.

I am fully aware that the above shortcomings of the conventional rubber heels has already been recognized, as set forth in the prior art, wherein it has been attempted to correct the fault by means of the use of vulcanized rubber having a harder or more solid characteristic than the rest of the heel.

In my present invention, I wish to especially point out the fact that, in my improved heel, the entire wearing surface may be of the same resiliency throughout, thereby eliminating any and all hard or non-uniform areas, which tend to detract from the desired cushioning effect which the rubber heel user is entitled to receive.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention, is an improved rubber heel;

Another object is an improved rubber heel constructed from two parts one of which is renewable;

Still another object is an improved rubber heel having a renewable wearing portion which is.

easily replaced by the user without the aid of a Shoemaker or special tools or equipment, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my invention will appear as the description of the same progresses.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the assembled heel;

Fig. 2 is also a plan view of the bottom of the heel but showing the removable portion partially withdrawn from the xed portion;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled heel, as disclosed in Fig- 1;

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Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the heel taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the removable heel member;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the heel with the removable heel member withdrawn from the fixed heel portion,

Referring more in detail to the drawing III indicates the fixed portion of a rubber heel and I I indicates the removable portion.

In my improved heel the fixed portion I0 is composed of rubber having a substantially rigid plate I2 imbedded therein. The rear portion of the fixed rubber heel I0 is provided with a stepcut area extending from the bottom surface of the heel up to the surface of the plate I2. In the drawing, I have indicated by a dot-and-dash line I3 the vertical side of the step-cut surface which is placed at an angle with respect to the major axis of the heel III.

The material comprising the plate I2 may be metal, bre, or other sheet material found suitable for the purpose.

In Fig. 4, the entire lower surface of the plate I2 is exposed. The surface to the right side of the line I3 is entirely covered with rubber except in the central portion between the slideways I4. This area is cored out to leave a thin slot I5 within which ts the tongue member I6 on the removable member II. The slideways I4 are punched out and folded up from the cut-out openings I'I shown in Fig 4, through which rubber is flowed in the vulcanizing of the heel. It will be noted that the plate I 2 is preferably made slightly smaller in outline than the outline of the heel such that the edges of the plate I2 are hidden. At various points, as I 8, round openings are provided in the plate I2 through which rubber is vulcanized, as in the case of the openings I'I.

On that portion of the plate I2 to the left of the line I3, I have provided a plurality of semicircular depressed members I9. These semi-circular members are bent down and are imbedded in the rubber of the extension portion, to the left of the line I3, of the fixed heel portion III. The same semi-circular members are provided in the area between the slideways I4, see Fig. 4.

The fixed heel portion I0 is secured to a shoe by the conventional nails 20 in the usual manner.

At the rear central portion of the plate I2, I

.have provided a raised strap portion 2| which is formed up from the plate I2 under which slides the tongue member 22 formed on the 1Clate 23 which is imbedded in the removable heel portion I I of which the tongue I6 is a continuation. This plate 23 is provided with depressed semi-circular members I9 which are imbedded in the rubber of the removable member II. Similar to the plate I2 in the heel portion I0, the plate 23 is of a less radius than the outline of the rubber portion so that it is hidden when the member II is in place with the member I 0.

In the tongue portion I6, I have provided an opening 24. When the removable member II is assembled with the fixed heel portion IB, the opening 24 is in alignment with the screw 25 which provides a lock maintaining the two heel members in their assembled position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Preferably, the angle of the line I3 is such that the long end of the member II is on the. outside of the shoe when in use, the illustrations in the drawing showing a right-hand heel. Thelefthand heel is identical excepting that the angle of the line I3 is reversed.

In operation, the removable member II is assembled with the fixed member I by sliding the tongue I6 of the removable member II into the slot I of the iixed member I0 and at the same time engaging the tongue member 23 under the strap 2I at the rear of the plate I2. When in place, the screw 25 is inserted through the xed heel portion I0 and the opening' 24 in the tongue IB, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be understood that I may use any type of material in the platesrIZ and 23 found-suitable and that I may use any other form of clinoher members in place of the semi-circular members I9. The openings I8 may also be of any size or shape, or if a material is used Which will properly bond with the vulcanized rubber, I may eliminate such clincher members and openings.

It is also to be understood that I may vary the shape and proportions within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a fixed front portion having a rigid member imbedded therein with a slideway formed therefrom, a removable back portion having a rigid tongue member engaging in said slideway, means for locking said portions together.

2. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a fixed front portion and attached base, said members having an imbedded plate member therein, a slideway formed from said plate, a removable' back portionhaving an imbeddedplate therein and extending tonguerportion, said tongue portion engaging in said slideway, and means for locking rsaidbaclr portion to said front and base portion, Y

3. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a iiXed front and base member, a plate imbedded in said front and base' members, a slideway formed from said plate member and a slot located in said front portion, a removable back portion having a plate imbedded therein and having an extending tongue portion engaging in said frontportion slot and slide way, an orifice extending through said front and base portion and through said tongue portion, a screw located through said orioe for the purpose of locking said members together.

FREDERICK A. W. KELLEY.

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