US2326820A - Shoe fitting device - Google Patents

Description

17, 1943- E. J. BLISS 2,326,820

SHOE FITTING DEVICE- Filed Feb. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 35 36 Elmer Jared Bliss I ATTORNEY Aug. E17, 1943. E. J. BLISS 2,326820 SHOE FITTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Elmer Jared Bliss WW ?'W I ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 17, 1943 aszaszd 7 silos FITTING Device I Elmer Jared Bliss, ch m k; we; l l ation 'Februar'y 20, 1942, Serial No. 431,719

was

of a. character embodying spring foot-calipers by which the lengthand width of a foot of a person to be fitted with shoes as Well as the in.-

side' length of the shoe itself may be determined.

The present invention is an impro'vementpf the apparatus disclosed in my .United States Letters Patent No. 1,921,997, granted Aug. 8, 1933 mean); f

This invention relates to shot fitting devices gauge to compensate for variations'in-toe Widths of-feet tobe'fittedJ 'Stillanother' object is to provide a holder ar offlr'novement' of either or both of 'the'indicator for Shoe fitting devices, by which the length of i a foot to be fitted with shoes and the longitudinal dimension of the foot-area provided by a particular shoe might be gauged either simultaneously or selectively for comparison thereof, measurements of both shoe and foot tlius ained being registered upon asc'ale in terms shoe sizes. The device herein disclosed em-,

bodies the principal features of saidpatented apparatus in combination with-certain improvements hereinafter set forth. i A principal object of the improved apparatus tained with the foot supported and arranged with respect to its normal load in the same manner as when encased in a properly fittedshoe.

More specifically it is the object to providea pair of arms pivoted together intermediate'their hereof is the provision of calipers having a pair ends, forming one pair of calipers by the use of 1 which the length and width of th'e foot to be fitted may be determined, and" anotherpairiof calipers adaptable for measuringftheiinterior length of the shoe.

Another object is to provide support for a heel of a fact when the latter is arranged for 1 measurement of foot width, pivoted at the vertex of 3 e angle formed between pivoted arms comprising calipers, to facilitate more accurate alignment of the foot which respect to the area between the calipering arms. 7

Another object is the provision of a pair of scales coordinated with both Width and length size-designations of shoes required for proper fitting of feet gauged by the device, in conjunction with pointers, movable in response to adjustment of the caliperin'g arms of the device for the accommodation of a foot of a customer,

to indicate the size of shoe required to sfitrp'roperly the foot so gauged. V i i. Another object is to provide an expanfsible device adapted for insertion intoa shoe fcr indipointers, the latter being equippedwitha means for marking the scale of the 'ca'rd adjacent the size-"designation thereon whichindicatesthesize, V

of "shoe required to fit thefo'o't being measure to establish a permanentrec'ord'thereof.

The aboveandother'objects such forexample as simplicity and ease of operation; i'narlc'ed sensitivity to slight variations in size'of foot and shoe, and durabilitywill be apparent to those V V to 'whom this specification is fldire'cted fromf'a reading of-the followine' description, reference 7 being had V whichf Fin; 1 is a'planview of a device emb ayiagmy invention illustrating its use-for simultaneously j determining and co''rnparing the length a f oot and of the foot-area'providedby a shoe Figs. 2 and S'are sectional views taken respondin'gIy-numbered lines"o'f"Fig."- 1';

Fig. 4 is a'broken plan view Qf the indicator and card holder associated 'ther" tering the width size of a'foot'measured;

5 is a plan vi'evnsiinil'ar to Fig. 1;"indic'at{ ing'th'e use of the apparatus whenme'asuring the with for r'legiisf f i fefa v i 6 isa'sectional view taken on lines 6 5;

of Sign ffi illustrating particularly the means for im e a e f mar i a W th si e from the toplthereof as indicated inFigJ, de

eating the length of the fo t-area'iurnished by a shoe, incorporating a laterally adjustable the pict'ing'its adjustment andposition in ashoe have inga narrow toe, the outline of which is shown indottedlines; I

Fig S' is; a plan View, similar to Fig.7, illus trating the to gauge with the parts thcreofiin is curved downwardly as at M intocne Iofthe angles formedbetween the members 'lfland ll,

the sides ofwhich angle comprise foot-calipering integrally formed withth'eheel support 13 at the opposite edge thereof from the downwardly slop-- in portion It, to delineate the position of the 1 heel of a foot when the deviceisto be used for measuring the width of the roo'ti. Apair of plates 18," integral with'the respective arms l5 and V to the accompanying drawings in" on coran viewfof the'toe gauge, taken 7 ari'ns outwardly in relatively diverging arcs, terminating (respectively) in arcuate upstanding heel and toe guards; l9, which are utilized in measuring the length of a foot, as is hereinafter defi Bfli At the opposite side of the pivot pin 52 from the width and length foot-calipers I and It the member I I is curved outwardlyi to pfovide a sfib' "outerend of pointer 29 is formed with a transverse opening in which a vertically slidable punch 39 is disposed. A spring 40 encircles punch 39 bee arms l5 and IS in accordance with the use of the calipering arm terminating in a rounded tip 2!. The member It! extends from the meat pifi I! on a line substantially biseotingthe angle formed between the foot-calipering arms l5 and I6 land is then curved sharply away from the arm to profide a shoe calipering arm 22 cam elementary to the arm 28,- FI-he-outer end of arm 22 is flattened to form a bearing" suriaee for pivotalsupport 0! an adjustable toe'gauge generally indicated by the numeral 23 and comprising a pairfif fingers 24; pivoted on a ping mounted on the flat surface of the arm. Agignurligd nut 25 threadedon theupper end of pin 25 is adapted by rotation to clam-p fingers 2| an adjusted position relative to each other andto arm 22'. The ppposed surfaeesjl offi ngers 24 are preflably flat and parallel to one another so as to fit snugly tegether and previde'when soengaged a rounded end 28 {or the arm. Fingers 2 l 'may be spread apart to coniorrn generally tothe-toe length and width ofa foot to be fitted inorder to e nablegauging of the foot-area of a shoe as qualified by the gontour oi; aparticular foot to be accommodated, as is later described.- A

Integral with the member H and extending laterally from thepointoaf pivotingof the enembers. Ill and H is a. pointer 25 whjchpverhangs and is moved across a scale plate 30 integral with and extending laterallyjrorn the ealipering arm l5 of member l9. A pair of scales}! and 32 are delineated on the scale plate 3q -i-n arcs-having theircentersipn the pivot pin I2: Astop '53 is '3 mounted on the edge of scale plate so for the abutment or pointer 29 to limit the movement of they cinder in cne direction at the edge of scales 3 l and 32" aswe1l as th movement 6f the arms of the respective calipers l 5l and 25-4 2 toward oneanother; The pqinter 29 i norinal ly device, as hereinafter more fully described, the leatioii'of the pointer 29 over the scales 37 and 32 carriedbycard 36 may be marked thereon by depression of the punch 39, the scale plate being slotted-a'sat 42 beneath the arc of movement V45" pivoted to pointer 29 adjacent the outer end j torn'erjs foot will shift pointer'25ass0ciated with iiid' sgsisst stop 33 by a. helical string at ifit'r- Between and secured to tii'she'c'eiipniie I 2tand 2 2. inesse-is 32 is nadiiatapta indisat .ifi iii'chs' the inside ieii'gth sf as gauged by the spread of-- the a'fihs 2l'fid- 2! ii'rip s na a ins shoe with the geug'eis and iieltis zl contestin th te aiid-fiel of the shoe, respectively. The calibrations afsesi 3i rsisriane a aha idiitifid in terms of siz hereby the painter. V resisteneg therew th will indicate tseinstws's gratuities 61* a shoe is qiiii'd it fit a rest interposed between! tee snd'neei ue ra's l9 of'tii as Head Itegwen as 5f a s ae'nsvi een lhsid ength equate the distance between the endear thrashed-chiming anus it and it w nes white vessels seated in accordance the adjustment of ,j ne arms; I; and it smith tsereeistr yor the pointer 29 with a particular sca e calibration. 7 p

A thjrssiaee as is j tea or otherwise secures to the seam plate s snow the sett es-3i and 3'; ta'eeeive endearing. 1 carry ng ii'sig or. seaiesai afid 38 which are identical with seals-s 3| and trimmed an the plate 3b; The

the sass of the latterand to the pointer vadjacent the pivoted end thereof so that the Width-size indi oated thereby is ce-ordinated With'the widthsize of ashoe adapted to fit a foot gauged by the Widthplates i8; A card frame 36 similar to frame 35 is secured to scale plate 3!] adjacent seale' i i-to receive and retain a card ll (Fig; 1)

having a scale 48 ofshoe width-sizes printed thereon,- which with card 47 positioned in frame 4 6 yrillbe superimpesed'cn the scale M; The

.len-gthof afoot with the foot area provided by a Slide the customers unshod foot is placed between the heel and toe guards IE carried by the, ends of the calipering arms [5 and l6. The spread of these arms: necessary to accommodate the cus;

one of the members; i. e., member I i, across the scale 3 deliheatedon'plate 39, integral with the other member It, so as to register with the calibration of said scale which indicate the lengthsize of shoe required to fit the foot thus engaged. While the custon'irs foot is still positioned bee tween the foot-calipering arms, a shoe marked withthe'reduird size as indicated by the pointer on the scale maybe tested for size to satisfy the customer by the use of the shoe calipering arrns 251 and 22, as" is' about to be described.

As the toe contour of the feet of different persans differs considerably, more or less room is ,ifduired' in the toe of the shoes to afford proper fit. Prehhiin'ar'ily to gauging the shoe selected, by the calipers 2!] and 22, the knurled nut 25 is loosened and finger 24, are spread. or confined in accordance with the area required in the extreme forepart of the shoes, as determined by the sales- 'cle'rli, inthe toe of a properly fitted shoe for accommodation of the toes of the. customer. Nut 26 is then'tightened and the toe gauge 23 on the end of arm 22 is inserted into the tone of the shoe foidisposition at the, foremost end thereof. If

customer standing.

the shoe is of a size adapted for a customers foot the heel tip Zlof arm 2i! will fit snugly into the heel of a shoe, thus demonstrating to the cus tomer not only the accuracy of the sales-clerks selection of the shoes needed to'fit the customer, but also will indicate on scale 32the length in inches of the foot-area ofthe shoe, and on the scale 3| the length-size ofthe shoe. It will be apparent that the operation fof measuring the shoe with the calipering arms 29 and 22 need not be performed while the foot of the customer is interposed between the arms I5 and IE; that after obtaining a reading on the scale 3i, incidental to the gauging of the foot by the arms 15 and 16, the foot may be Withdrawn; and the preadjustment of the spread of the calipering arms 20 and 22 as a prerequisite to measuring the shoe may be determined by resetting the pointer to the calibration indicated on the tained while measuring the foot. i

With the length of theshoe required for'a proper fit thus determined, the device is placed on the floor or other suitable foundation and the unshod foot of the customer is placed between the width plates i8 and theheel of the foot on the support 15 therefor and abutting against the heel guard ii. The Weight of .the customers body should be equally distributed so that the foot will normally assume the size and shape it normally takes in a properly fitted shoe with the The spring 34, normally tending to draw the calipering arms [5 and it together, causes the plates 58 to assume close contact with opposite sides of the widest portion or the foot. coincidentally with the spread of the foot-calipering arms for the interposition of the foot between the plates I8 the pointer 43 will have been moved across the scale 44 by lever 45 in response to movement of the pointer 29 relative to arm !5. The width of the shoere quired to fit the customers foot will thus be in dicated by the pointer 53 on the scale 44. Cards 36 and ll carrying the scales as above described, may be inserted in frames 35 and 46, respectively, and pierced by the punches 39 and 50 at the calibrations over which the pointer 29 and 43 are positioned;

While the device may be operable without the cards the use of the latter enables the clerk or customer to obtain a permanent record of the size of a properly fitted shoe.

It will be understood that while in the foregoingillustrated description I have described but one embodiment of my invention and have catalogued certain features, advantages and uses inherent therein, I do not limit myself to the particular embodiment shownand described, it being obvious to those ofskill in the art to which my invention appertains that numerous changes may be madein size, design, proportion scale 3i obportions of said arms spaced from said heel support being formed to receive therebetween the said heel support being shaped to receive there between the ball of the foot for gauging the Width of the foot, and an indicator to indicate the width size of ashoe adapted to fit a foot gauged by said arms.

3. In a device support pivoted at its center to' said arms at the point of intersection pfth l t wherebyrthei middle of said heel support is adapted to coincide with a line bisecting' the angle formed by saidarms throughout the range of movement of the latter. g

4. In a device of the character described, a

heel support to gauge'the width of the foot.

5. In a device of the character described, a I I pair of arms pivoted to one another, a heel 'sup 1 port pivoted at its center -to said'arms at the Q point of intersection of the latter whereby'the I middle of said heel support. is adapted to coin l cide with a line bisecting the angle formed by V said arms being formed to contact opposite sides the latter, opposed portions of said. arms being formed to contact the sides'of a"foot positione'd I .therebetween with the heel of' the foot, on said heel support to gauge the width of the foot, and

an indicator actuated by adjustment of said arms to indicate the width of afoot contacted by said opposed portions of said arms;

6. In a device of the character described, a I pair of arms pivoted to one another, aheel support carried by said arms, opposed portions of said arms being found to contact opposite sides of a foot partially supported by said heel sup-f] port to gauge the Width of the foot, a cardframe, carried by one-of saida-rms, and an indicator carried by the other of said arms to move across a card disposed in said frameso was to indicate thereon the width of arms.

of a foot partially supported bysaid heel support to gauge'the widthof the foot, a card frame carried by one of said arms, an indicator carried by the other of said arms to move across a card disposed in said frame so as to indicate thereonthe width of the footengaged by said arms, and means carried by said indicator to markon the card the width size of a shoeadapted to fit the foot contacted by said armsfl Y ELMER JARED BLISS.

of the character described, a pair of arms pivoted to one another, and a heel i the foot engaged by said 5 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,526, 20. August 1?, 19' 5.

'ELMER JARED BLISS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, sec-- 0nd column, lines 59, to and LLl, claim 5, strike out the words "arms being formed to cont act opposite sides the latter, opposed portions of said arms being formed to contact" and insert instead "arms throughout the range of movement of the latter, opposed portions of said arms being formed to contact" line 50 claim 6, for "found" read -formed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 114th day of December, A. D. 1%.5

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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