US2485505A - Shoe tree for open heeled shoes - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1949. R. B. NELSON SHOE TREE FOR OPEN HEELED SHOES 2 Shee'tsPSheet 1 -Filed June 6, 1946 fia efifl A i 2 5 222 Oct. 18, 1949. R. B. NELSON 2,485,505

SHOE TREE FOR OPEN HEELED. saons Filed June 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

M W W;

Patented Oct. 18. 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention pertains to shoe trees, in particular, trees for the so-called open-heeled or counterless type of shoes. Shoes of the aforementioned type are generally characterized by a strap or top counted portion which encircles the ankle of the wearer. Such shoes are usually completely open in that portion immediately above the heel and below the aforementioned strap. The shoe tree comprising the invention is adapted for use with any shoe which is open in that portion of the upper adjacent the juncture of the sole and the forwardmost edge of the heel.

In the past, shoe trees have generally been so constructed as to rely upon the inner surface of the shoe counter as an abutment against which some part of the tree may find support. It will be obvious that shoe trees designed to abut the shoe counter cannot properly function when used in shoes which are devoid of a counter.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a shoe tree which will properly stretchingly support a shoe of the described class, relying on means insertable within the shoe and engaging the shoe forwardly of the heel for its support against displacement.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a shoe tree which is relatively self-adjusting as to length and which will fit shoes having various sole widths and types of heels.

Still another object of the invention is that of providing an article of the class described which is of relatively low-cost manufacture and which, consequently, can be put upon the market at a relatively low selling price.

' Other and further objects of the invention willbe apparent from the detailed description which follows and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of one form of the invention as it appears when used in a shoe of the type hereinbefore described;

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention associated with a shoe;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of still another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of the base of the modified form shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the base portion of still another modification.

Broadly viewed, the invention comprises a base which is insertable into a shoe which has an open upper portion at both its sides adjacent the junc- 2 ture of the fore-part of heel and the instep, the base having associated with it a toe supporting portion which is resiliently spring-borne and which extends forwardly of the base, the base having means associated with it for positioning forwardly of the heel at the juncture of the heel and the instep of the shoe to resist backward displacement, all the aforesaid parts, in combination, making for easy attachment to a shoe and giving support to the toe portion against harmful indentation and to the sole against upward curl. v

Referring now to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral l indicates generally a womans shoe having a toe portion 2 and a heel 3. The shoe has a sole 4 which arches upwardly and backwardly to form an instep portion 5 mounted rearwardly of which is the upstanding heel 3.

The shoe has its upper cut away in an area extending approximately from the juncture of the fore part of the heel and the sole upward and backward a distance. The shoe is rearwardly retained on the foot of the wearer by an ankle encircling strap 6.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, the numeral l0 indicates generally a base adapted for insertion in a shoe of the type described, in a position above the heel. Numeral l I indicates a plate at one side of which a flexible chain 12 is fastened as at [3 and opposite the point of interconnection of plate II and chain l2 the former is provided with an inwardly directed notch M of such width as to hold individual links of chain l2 when such links are latched thereinto substantially in the manner shown. About medially I of its' width plate II has an upwardly positioned rigid U-shaped pin I5 attached thereto which is encompassed in hinge-like relation by the end 16 of an elongated flexible spring or tongue member H. Member l1 extends forwardly from pin l5, lengthwise of the shoe in which it is to be placed, and is of a length such as to overextend the shoe when removed therefrom and to assume a tensioned arched position when inserted in a shoe. Attached to member I! at its outermost end is a plastic or wooden toe support l8. It will be seen that when chain I2 is passed under the shoe instep and latched in the manner shown, plate II is relatively rigidly held and forms a secure abutment for the rearward tension exerted thereon by spring I1, forcing toe support 18 into proper tensioned toe elevating position. The tension exerted by spring or tongue member I! is suflicient to inhibit any tendency of the sole to curl.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, numeral 20 indicates generally a T-shaped spring or tongue supporting base, the stem 2| of which has an upwardly positioned U-shaped pin l5 attached thereto to which'the end I6 of spring I1 is hingedly attached. A pair of opposed parallel arms 24, 25 extend downwardly and forwardly from the side extremities 22, 23 of base a distance sufficient to downwardly and forwardly overextend the juncture of the shoe instep and heel. Arms 24, 25 are each provided with opposed and aligned openings 26 therein (only one set appearing the drawings) through opposed ones of which the rigid pin 21 is insertable. Pin 2? abuts the forwardmost edge of the shoe heel to restrain base 20 against rearward displacement under the tension of spring l1.

Referring to the showing of Figs. 4: and: 5,,the base in this instance, generally indicated 36, comprises a generally U-shaped frame 3|, the base of which is bowed as at 32 to permit the tree and a shoe placed thereon to be hung up. A spring or tongue mounting 33 extends transversely of frame 31 to hingedly carry the end l6 of spring IT, and if desired, a rigid support such as 34', may be provided to give additional rigidity to frame 3 l. Such rigid transversely extending members as elements 33, 34 may be easily spot welded into appropriate position. One end of frame 31 is bent backwardly, as shown, to form a loop 35 and the opposite end of frame 3| is bent to form a hook 36... A rigid pin 31, one end of which is provided with an elongated loop 38, extends transversely between loop 35 and hook 36, in its. attached position. Like pin 21, pin 3'! in attached position extends forwardly across the heel and below. the instep to prevent rearward displacement of frame 3| and associated parts.

Referrin now to Fig. 6, the base, generally in dicated 46, is of T-shape. The stem 4| of the T is transversely cut and struck upwardly to form identical enclosing guides 42., 42 for a rod 43 which is slidably positioned for longitudinal movement in such guides. At its rearward portion rod 43 is looped as at 44 and the end [6 of resilient tongue or spring I! is apertured to hingedly receive the loop 44, a pin 45 giving flexible connection between the parts. At its end opposite, its hinged connection with spring I] rod 43 has, integrally attached to it a plate 46thaving. opposed holes therein into which the inner ends of. apair of relatively small-diameter opposed rods 41, 48 are positioned. The opposed and outwardly extending arms 49, 50 of T-shapedbase 4llare inwardly cut out and curled downwardly, ina' conventional manner into hinge-like form. A pair of opposed generally L- shaped heel grippers 55, 56 are cut out and curled as at 5!, 52 into mating hingelike relation to the cut out and curled ends of arms 49, 59. Identical pins 59, 59 permit grippers 55, 56 to hingedly swing with respect. to arms 49, 56 under the urging of rods 41, 48, which, as shown, have their extremities hooked into the upwardly extending levers 53, 54, the latter being integral with grippers 55, 56. Grippers 55, 56 have opposed inwardly directed tongues 51, 58 formed integral therewith, the latter beingadapted to engage the forepart of the shoe heel when in attached position.

With respect to the showing of Fig. 6, it will be apparent that when no tension is directed against the rearward extremity of rod 43, this rod can move forwardly to the position shown in dotted lines and grippers 55, 56 will be forced to the positions shown for them in dotted lines on the drawings. Base 40 is placed in a shoe when the above described parts are in the last named position. When base 40 is inserted in a shoe, insertion of toe support I8 into the shoe will create a rearwardly directed tension on spring I! which is transmitted to rod 43, pushing such rod back to substantially the position in which it is shown in full. lines on the drawings andexerting an outwardly directed: pushing, action on rods 41, 48. The outwardly directed push given rods 41, 48 will cause grippers 55, 56 to swing inwardly to an extent that tongues 51, 58 will forwardly engage the heel thereby preventing dislodgement of base: 0',

On the drawings and in the foregoing description, I have shown and described an invention whicheifectively achieves the objects set forth with respect to it. I have specifically set forth several modifications which come well within my inventive concept and I realize that other and further modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore I do not wish to be limited tothe exact forms shown and described except as I may be limited by the scope of. the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe tree comprising a generally fiat base approximating the width of a shoe, means for connecting the base to a shoe, a toe supporting member includin a resilient spring member, said spring member being abuttingly connected to said base and in operative position exerting force onposite the base-to-shoe connecting means.

2. A shoe tree for shoes open adjacent the juncture of the instep and heel comprising a. base for-placement within the shoe above the aforesaid juncture, a resilient tongue carrying a. toe piece, for insertion within the toe of the shoe and a downwardly, positioned connecting means assooiated with; said base for connecting the base to the shoe.

3. A shoetree comprising a flexible spring having at its, one end a toe supporting element and at itsother enda, base for insertion in a shoe short of its rearward; extremity, said Spring. in use, arching to exert tension between said toe supporting element and said base and connecting means between said base and a shoe.

4. Ashoe tree as specifiedin claim 3 in which the connecting means comprises a flexible element having one end fixedtosaid base and its other end. free. but connectibleto said base onposite its fixed connection thereto.

5. A shoe, tree as specified in claim 3 in which the.basehasdownwardly extending sides and the connectingmeans comprises a rigid member extending transversely of. said sides.

6. A shoe tree as specified in claim3. in which the base comprises an open. framework and the connectingmeans comprises a member extending transverselyof the forepart thereof.

7. In-an article of the described class a toe support, a flat tension spring attached thereto, a base forming a rearwardabutment for said spring, and means for interconnecting said base with a shoe, there being a hinged connection between said spring and said base for free movement of each with respect to the other.

8. A device for preservingthe contour of shoes when off the foot, compr-isinga resilient spring having at itsone end a toe supportingelement and at its other end a base element between which two elements said spring may-exert tension when positioned in a shoe, and means for removably retaining the base element in a position internally r 'of the shoe somewhat forwardly of the rearward extremity thereof, the tree relying wholly upon tension between said two elements for its shoe contour preserving ability.

9. In a tree for shoes open adjacent the instep and heel, a toe piece, a base adapted to overlay the upper surface of the sole adjacent the heel of the shoe, a flexible leaf spring connecting the toe piece and base and adapted to be arched for exerting forward tension against said toe piece and means on said base extending exteriorly of the shoe and engageable with the forward part of the heel for resisting the rearward tension on the base due to the arched spring.

10. In a tree for shoes of the class described, a base, a leaf spring hinged to said base, a toe piece carried by the free end of said spring and means for anchoring said base to a shoe against rearward movement comprising an element on said base adapted for engaging the front portion of the heel of the shoe when said tree is in use,

said leaf spring being adapted to be arched when in use and exerting rearward thrust upon said base.

ROBERT B. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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