US2913837A

US2913837A - Shoe heel construction

Info

Publication number: US2913837A
Application number: US727886A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence J Geuder
Original assignee: HOLLAND RACINE SHOES Inc
Current assignee: HOLLAND RACINE SHOES Inc; HOLLAND-RACINE SHOES Inc
Priority date: 1958-04-11
Filing date: 1958-04-11
Publication date: 1959-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1976-11-24

Description

Nov.24,1959 -L. J'. GEUDER 2,913,837

SHOE HEEL CONSTRUCTION E Filed April l1, 1958 /7 1 VENTOR.

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This invention relates to improvements in heels, and more particularly to cushioned heels having a rigid plate therein.

In shoes wherein a cushion is employed and where UnitedStates Patent' Office v '2,913,837 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 F.Fig 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of 1g. 1; i Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the underside of the improved heel construction, showing the elements in there is a cover for the cushion which is wrapped around the edge of the insole and fastened to the underside thereof, problems have beenencountered in obtaining a neatly wrapped edge, particularly in the area about theheel, as the ordinary insole is not rm enough to provide a good folding edge. Moreover, in conventional shoe constructions, it has been found that the nails which anchor the heel sometimes work themselves through the insole and protrude into the interior of the shoe, where they may cause considerable discomfort, and even injury,`to the: wearer. This may also be true of pegs in a pegged construction.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved heel construction wherein a specially shaped plate is utilized to provide a firm folding edge for the heel portion of the insole cover, the plate being so shaped and located that heel nails as well as pegs may be clinched against its underside.

A more particular object of the `invention is .to pro-. vide in a construction as above described a Ushaped metal heel plate, the outer edges of which conform with the edges of the insole to provide a firm support around which the edges of the insole-cushion covering `may be folded, the metal having sufficient width and being 4so located as to forma stop for nails and pegs.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a heel construction a heel plate which is durable and long lasting, which is light in weight, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

A still further object is to provide a heel construction wherein a covered cushion may be easily and economically included in the heel assembly to enhance the comfort of the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved heel construction which will afford all of the advantages above described without detracting fromr the appearance and style of a shoe.

A further object is to provide an improved method of constructing and assembling heels to bring about the above-mentioned advantageous results with simple and economical procedures.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved heel and method of cone, structing the same, and all of its parts, combinations and manufacturing steps, as set forth in the claim, -and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one cornplete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, wherein the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a wrapped insole showing the improved heel construction with a part of the insole broken away;

separated condition; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the heel portion of a shoe showing the improved heel construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the 4irnproved heel construction comprising the present invention includes an insole 11, of usual shape and material, the rear of which overlies the heel inthe customary manner. Mounted on the top surface of said insole is a U-,shaped plate 12, the outer edges of which are shaped to conform with the heel portion of said innersole 11 andgwhich may be cemented in position. Said plate 12 is formed of metal or other hard, firm material, and is U-shaped in order to conserve material and to minimize the vover-all weight of the structure without detracting from its strength and utility. It is preferably relatively thin-sheet metal which is-somewhat exible. In addition, it has beenfound that the unique shape of said plate gives it additional exibility which is not present in -a solid plate, and which is desirable in a shoe. The metal is preferably of less thickness than the thickness of the insole so there is no appreciable increase in total thickness at'the heel.

` Positioned on top of the plate 12 is a cushion 13, which -is formed of natural or synthetic rubber or other resilient material. Said cushion covers and is cemented to the innersole and has its rear portion shaped to conform -to the heel portion of said innersole and plate. :A

lining or cover 14 is stretched over the top of the cushion and has its edge portions 14' overhanging the edgesof the cushion 13, plate 12, and insole 11. As seen in Fig. l, the edge portions 14' of said cover are wrapped about the edge of the rigid plate 12 and edges of the insole and fastened to the underside of the insole with cement or other suitable fastening means, thereby drawing the cushion, heel plate and innersole into a neat and compact unit.

Heretofore, in the assembly of shoes having a heel construction of the general type shown herein, v and par ticularly where a cushion is included,'it has been a diiiicult-and ltime-consuming task to fold and secure the' covering material#- Primarily, the difliculty lay in the fact that the edge of the insole is not stiff enough to form a good folding edge. To remedy this situation several innovations have been attempted, including the use of temporary iibreboard inserts to provide a rigid folding edge. Such temporary inserts, however, had to be withdrawn after the folding operation, and their removal left an excess of material which made the heel unit bulky and unsightly. With the use of the thin permanent heel plate featured in the present invention, however, it has been found that the cover can be drawn quite tautly and that the entire heel can be assembled with a much greater degree of compactness and neatness.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the metal plate 12 employed in the present improved heel construction has still another important function. In an assembled shoe, the heel 15 is generally secured to the sole by means of nails 16, and in a pegged construction the outsole is secured to the insole by ber pegs 17. It has been found, however, that these nails or pegs are sometimes driven through the insole, or subsequently work themselves through the insole, and protrude into the interior of the shoe causing discomfort, blisters or injury. In the present invention, however, the plate 12 is so positioned as to render the protrusion of such nails impossible. As is illustrated in Fig. 4, the heel nails 16 and pegs 17 are clinched against the underside of the plate and the possibility of their further upward movew merit isetectively prevented, thereby providinga nailless heel seat which is both comfortable and practical. In addition, it is clear from Fig. 4 that the pegs pass through the wrapping flange 14.

In previous construction methods, temporary ymetal plates were commonly employed, during assembly, to prevent the heel nails from being driven through the innersoleand into the interior of the shoe. Such platesjwere subsequently withdrawn from the nished heel and-necessitated considerable additional labor and time iny 'the assembly operation. With the use of the heel plate featured in the present invention, however, a permanent guard against protruding nails is provided and, moreover, the eiciency and economy of the manufacturing process is greatly increased. v

In assembling the heel comprising the present "invention, the plate 12 is cut to the size and outline of the heel portion of the insole 11 and secured thereon with cementV or the like. As indicated above, said plate is formed of metal or other hard substance, but its thinness and unique U-shaped design give it a degree of flexibility which promotes the unrestricted comfort of the wearer. Moreover, the elimination of the central portion of the plate reduces the weight of the structure. v

A cushion 13, of sponge rubber or 4the like, is cut to the size and outline of the insole 11 and is secured to said insole and plate with cement, the aforementioned cover 14 is positioned over the top of said cushion and is cut to provide wrap-around overhanging edges 14. The, cover 14 is then stretched tightly over said cushion, plate and insole, and lthe edges 14' of the cover are cemented to the underside of said insole to secure said elements together. As has been pointed out, the presence of the plate 12 provides a rm edge about which the edge portions 14 of the cover may be conveniently, neatly and easily wrapped.

`The outer sole 19 may then be joined to theinsole 11 by means of pegs 17 or conventional methods, and the heel by means of nails 16. The metal plate 12 is so positioned and of such extent thatthe pegs and nails willbe stopped by the plate, thereby eliminating the possibility ofA their protrusion into the interior of the shoe. As will be ,readily appreciated, the novel metal heel plate employed in the present invention thus serves vthe dual function of a folding edge and a clinching piece to protect the foot of the wearer. t t

In addition, as previously indicated, said plate eliminates the use of temporary fibreboard and metal inserts, as was formerly the practice. Besides reducing the time cludes all devices and structures as may come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim, and is not to be limited to the specific details and form describedV above; What I claim is: l In a shoe construction having an insole with' a heel portion, having an outsole with a heel portion, and having a heel: a thin firm plate positioned on top of the heel portion of said insole and having a central opening and having an outline conforming to the outline of said heel portion of the insole with the extreme edges of the plate matching said edges of the heel portion of the insole and with said edges and all portions of the plate in the same plane on top of the insole; a relatively thin cushion of substantially uniform thickness positioned on top of said insole and plate, the extreme edges of said cushion matching the Vextreme edges of the plate; a cover of thin, exible material secured over said cushion and adapted to be between the foot and said cushion and having a projecting wrapping flange folded downwardly around the edges of said cushion, plate, and insole and having an inwardly bent portion secured beneath the insole to the underside thereof; and nails securing said heel to the heel por-tion of the outsole and insole and having their upper ends clinched against the underside of said plate; the marginal edge of said plate being snugly engaged by 1 said'wrapping ange and providing a rm wrapping edge.