US2312410A - Device as aid in shoe fitting - Google Patents

Description

March 2,1943. l. E. HEWITT, JR 2,312,410

DEVICE AS AN AID IN SHOE FITTING Filed March 17, 1941 :IV .10 7 k If mmmmmum Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention pertains to a device for use in more readily and correctly providing for the proper size of foot wear for a given length of foot. More particularly, the invention involves a device by which to denote the correct length and fit of a shoe, especially womens shoes having high heels.

An object is to furnish a foot support inclined at an angle downwardly and forwardly and whose highest or heel portion may be made to correspond in height to the heel-height desired to be worn by the patron whereby the foot by bodyweight thereon will show its particular characteristics so that the proper size and form of shoe having that height of heel may be correctly chosen.

Another object is to furnish such a support with means for adjusting the heel portion thereof for any predetermined height of heel to be worn, and to include with the same a scale or scales of measurement by which the proper shoe size is automatically determined.

That the invention may be understood the appended drawing is provided showing a manner of accomplishing the objects named, it being understood, however, that changes may be made in the structure such as may fall within the claims to follow.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device, part being shown in section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation, enlarged of a scaleboard best shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5is an enlarged plan of a scale also shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective a shiftable stop-member shown in Figure 2.

The human foot being flexible due to its bone formation is capable both of shrinkage and elongation. The weight of the body upon the foot naturally distributes the pressure fairly evenly throughout when the center of the weight is substantially directly above the foots middle length so that the heel and the ball receive substantially the same pressure, the toes in a smaller degree also being part of such weight. This condition obtains, of course, when the foot is resting upon a flat horizontal surface. However, when the heel of the foot is raised the body weight is shifted thereto in order to maintain balance, the foot tends to shift forwardly, or to elongate, due to the named flexibility.

foot to elongate thus requiring a shoe of a length to agree with the measurement of the foot so elongated in order that entire comfort may be aiforded, besides preventing wear occasioned by a shoe that is too short.

The device herein to be described is so provided, therefore, that shoes of the high heel type may have the proper fit and provide permanent comfort.

In the figures of the drawing a supporting base member I is provided, somewhat longer than the foot to be fitted, and extending above which is a portion 2 to which, at one end, is hinged a foot-supporting part 3. Means is provided for locating the free end of the said part 3 at any desired elevation with respect to the upper sur-' face of the portion 2. While any good manner of accomplishing this may be employed, there is here shown, as an' example, a slotted arm 4 at each side of said part 3, each having within its slot 5 a series of projections 6 each to form a stop -or retainer for a pin or stud 1 extending from said part 3. Each arm 4 is suitably'pivoted at one extremity relative to the said base Ii so that each is free to swing in its own plane as the pins or studs 7 rise or fall in adjusting the part 3.

Arising from the rear or heel extremity of the latter is an arcuate guard 8, for example, that may, when desired, receive the back of the foot to be measured and fitted.

At the toe-end of the device the top surface of the portion 2 is preferably furnished with markings 9 for foot size to indicate the length of a foot at the great toe or the overall distance from the back of the heel position of such foot at the guard 8 to the toe end.

Mounted to move along opposite the scale markings 9 is a stop-member or gauge shown most clearly in Figure 6. This may comprise a block Ill having a curved face to receive into it the end of the great toe, and having an extension I I to act as a, pointer in respect to the scale markings.

This gauge may be freely shiftable over the surface of the portion 2 or it may include a feather or fin I2 depending below it adapted to engage in a slot I2 in said portion 2 paralleling the indicated scale measurements, such slot lying in line with the great toe position for guiding the gauge positively.

In proper shoe fitting it is important to know the great toes length or the distance it extends from the ball of the foot. To this end erected Womens shoes of the high heel type cause the on the base 1, for example, is a scale-board I3 having on its vertical inner face a series of markings denoting sizes, the numeral 4 of the markings lying nearest the rear end of said board while 13 lies forward thereof as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. By means of this scale the fitter of a shoe may determine the length of the great toe and that length with respect to the total length of the foot including said toe, and thus be guided in the choice of shoe to fit any given foot.

Naturally, due to the weight of the. standing person whose foot is to be measured the foot is inclined to slide forward due to the inclined support 3. To offset the tendency to thus shift the support may be provided with acovering of sponge rubber or its equivalent in order to provide a friction surface.

In use, the support 3 is adjusted to the height.

of the heel of the chosen type of shoe, whereupon the foot of the standing person is placed in position. with. the heel. abutting. the guard. 8. Pol lowing this. the gauge. Ht is brought to close adjustment; at the. great toer The, reading on the scalietis then; taken as indicated by the extension or pointer ll together with the reading ofthe scale on the board l3 for toe-length measured from the ball of the foot, whereupon: the attendant. is apprisedof the size of the shoe and its pecularity for that particular fitting.

With. thefoot bearing upon the device the ball thereof may be; at: the hinging point of: the portions 21 and; 3 with the heel. abutting: the guard 8 when: the testis made for the required. shoe. However, a. foot of any shorter measurement may be readily accommodated without having the ball, thus placed since it may be evenforward. of. the hinge or rearward thereof so far as consideration. of: foot length is concerned. Since a! friction surface is provided the footwill not slip forward in. its: tipped position: but the foot homes: under imposed: Weight will change in their relation. the overall length; That is to say, due to thestructure of. the bones and: their relation to each other the: foot becomes longer as the heel. supporting? portion isincreased in height and angulafityi Otherwise" stated, since thefoot includes an arched bone-structure which flexes; un'der body-weight, such structure admits of flatteningrof'the-arch of the footcausing an over-- ali' lengthening of the same which does. not oc-- our in so marked a degree when the foot rests wholly upon a horizontal surfacev where the weight bears directly-downwardthrough the heel.

The: measurement; for the lengthened foot is then, taken: at. the: markings. at 9- assisted by the gauge liltif. desired, andafor any size of foot; Toe

and the markings at 13 are convenient in that since ready-made shoes vary in characteristics, 1. e., shorter or longer from the ball position to toe extremity, and even in the same shoe-size, the sales-person may observe the ball position of the foot being fitted and thus determine more nearly the type of shoe best suited to the given foot to the end that the most comfort may be afforded as contrasted to the usual manner of chance fitting often attended with much discomfortto the wearer of? a shoe.

The gauge It need not be used, of course, and the scale markings 9 may lie in position on the portion 2 directly beneath the toe position, the

; reading from the scale being taken directly at the toes end.

Further, the scale 9 may not necessarily be used even though indicated, since a measuring tape would serve the purpose of determining foot length. The same would be true with respect to toe-length; and the scale-board l3. 7

Again, while the erected scale board I3 is convenient as. described and shown the markings for such a scale might be placed upon the tread surface of the supporting parts 3 and 2 in the same manner as in the scale 9 of the latter.

I claim: V

l-. In a device as an aidin shoe fitting, the combination of a substantially horizontally disposed toe supporting, portion, a heel supporting portion adjoiningat one end the said toeportion and upwardly tiltable at various angles with respect to the same from afixed point thereat, means to support said heel portion at any given height of inclination, a series of marks at the toe supporting portion for denoting distances. from the rear extremity of the heel portion to-the toe ends of a foot being fitted, and a series of marks for indicating the distance between the ball of said foot and the said toe ends of the foot.

2. In a device as an aid in shoe fitting, the combination of a substantiallyhorizontally.dis posed toe supporting portion, a heel supporting portion adjoining at one end the said toe portion and upwardly tiltable at Various angles with respect to the same from a fixed point thereat, means to support said heel portion atany given angle of inclination as the latter; swings about said fixed point,v a series ofmarks on the toe portion as indications of overall length ofa foot to be fitted with a shoe, and markings on: an," other part of the structure of the device, the line of markings parallelingv the two namedportions and lying both rearwardly and forwardly of the position of. adjoining. of said portions;

1min" HEW" 'ITT, in;

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