US3035289A - Shoe-shaping device - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1962 H. R. WAKEMAN 3,035,289

` sHoE-sHAPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jfl@ E /J May 22, 1962 H. R. wAKl-:MAN 3,035,289

sHoE-sHAPING DEVICE Filed sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oice 3,035,289 Patented May 22, 1962 3,035,289 SHOE-SHAPING DEVICE Harold R. Wakeman, 300 Dalkeith Ave.,

' Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Sept. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 763,868 8 Claims. (Cl. 12--120.5)

The present invention relates in general to shoe-shaping devices and, in particular, to a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forces to a shoe.

Prior proposals to reshape a shoe by external forces involve applying two pressures respectively at the toe and heel portions to straighten the shoe sole against a flat sole-engaging surface. My invention effects better reshaping by applying forces at two points on the heel portion of the shoe spaced respectively near the neck and near the heel and at one point on the toe portion. It is an object of my invention to provide a trinity of external reshaping forces to a shoe, preferably in a triangular pattern.

The invention contemplates the application of forces at two points on the heel portion of the shoe, one a forward force applied to the heel itself in the general direcl tion of the toe of the shoe, the other a rearward force applied in the opposite direction to the heel-back of the shoe. The latter force is particularly important to the invention as it narrows the neck of the shoe by elliptically elongating the shoe opening as a result of the urging together of the side edges of the shoe, the narrow neck ybeing a characteristic of a new shoe.

Counteracting and establishing such forces is a third force applied to the toe portion of the shoe in a substantially downward direction through a toe hold-down bracket.v Application of this third force completes a triangle of forces thereby suspending the shoe upper in tension resulting from the simultaneous action of the externally applied reshaping forces.

Another object `of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device allowing for 100% aeration or ventilation. This is possible by leaving the inside of the shoe virtually free from bulky and cumbersome stretching elements.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping device that permits the shoe to realign itself, following its own pre-established contour pattern, to its original orthopedic character and shape, without deformation frorn internal forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device wherein the shoe is placed in a shoe-shaping position by a relatively simple, one-hand, easily-performed motion.

Another object of the invention is tuo provide a shoeshaping device that can be precision adjusted for both size of shoe and tension desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping device having a resilient support means engageable with the ball portion of the shoe sole and exterting an upward force thereon in a direction away from the sole. This force stabilizes the shoe during inseri tion into the device by preventing it from swinging or rolling during such insertion. Additionally, this force tends to straighten the shoe and creates a binding action at the toe hold-down bracket that serves to hold the shoe firmly in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device that has a positive working action and the problems and drudgery associated with shoe handling, storage and care.

A further object is to provide a shoe-shaping device that can be mounted on any wall or surface or that can bridge suitably spaced mounting supports. In this connection it is an object to provide a shoe-shaping device that can be mounted in any position, whether it be upright, horizontal or on a slope, and that can be installed in virtually any existing improvised or built-in storage area, e.g., on a wall or floor of a closet, a wood or metal cabinet or locker, an article of luggage, etc.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forces to a shoe;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the shoe-shaping device of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-,sectional view of the lower portion of a toe hold-down bracket attached to a mounting member, taken along line 3 3 or `FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rigid heel-back bracket and a heel engagement means attached to a mounting member taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG, 5 is an enlarged front elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rigid heel-back bracket and heel engagement means;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement means between the heel-back bracket and the heel engagement means taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a further embodiment of the rigid heel-back bracket and heel engagement means; a

HG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a resilient support means;

FIG. l0 shows the trinity of exterior forces applied to a shoe by the invention while FIG. 1l is a vectorial of these forces.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 1t) designates a shoe-shaping device attached at longitudinally spaced positions to any wall or surface, here shown as a flat-surfaced wall 12, by any suitable fastening means such as by bolts or by screws 13 and 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4) as shown. A shoe 14 having a heel-back 16, a heel 18, a sole 20, a ball portion 22, a neck 24 and a toe 26 is shown in a shoe-shaping position within the device 10.

The shoe-shaping device 10 includes a longitudinal mounting member 28 exemplified as being of a substantially U-shaped cross section having a bottom wall 30 and side walls 32 (FIG. 5),'the upper edges 34 of the side walls 32 being turned inward and parallel with the bottom wall 30 forming a longitudinal channel 316.

At one end of the longitudinally channeled mounting member 28 is a rigid heel-back bracket 38 and a heel engagement means 40. The rigid heel-back bracket 3'8 comprises a base end 42, la post portion 44, and a depending or return portion 46 spaced from said base end 42 and curved commensurately with the heel-back 16 and of a size to fit into and press rearwardly with a force A (FIG. 10) against the heel-back 16 of the shoe 14 when a force `C is applied to the toe of the shoe to move same into a shoe-shaping position. This rearward force A is particularly important in that it narrows the neck 24 of the shoe 14 by elliptical elongation as a result of the urging together of the side edges of the shoe neck 24,

such a narrow shoe neck 24 being a characteristic of a new shoe or one continually shaped by using the invention. For increased rigidity in the bracket 38 substantially U-shaped reinforcing ridges or creases 41 are formed in the sheet metal of the bracket near the return portion 46 and at the base end 42.

The base end l42 of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 is bent at substantially a right angle to form the heel engagement means 40 which includes a plate 48 transverse to the post portion 44 and having an up-turned heel engaging member S having a forwardly facing surface adapted to engage the rear curved surface of the heel 18 of the shoe. As shown, the heel engaging member is formed by two upturned tabs positioned on each side of a longitudinal axis through the channeled mounting member 28. At one end of the transverse plate 48 is a downturned ange 52 extending within the channel 36 and secured by a flush or countersunk rivet 54 to the bottom 30 thereof. Extending from the other end of the transverse plate 48 is another down-turned flange 56 within the channel 36 and secured by a rivet S8 (FIG. 2) to the bottom 30 thereof. The heel engagement means 40 exerts a forward force B (FIG. on the heel 1-'8 of the shoe 14 in a direction toward the shoe toe 26 when the latter is forced toward said mounting member 28 into a shoe-shaping position.

At the other end of the longitudinally channeled mounting member 28 is located a toe hold-down bracket 60 including a lower portion 62, a resilient base or post portion 64, and a latch portion 66 having a latch member 68. The latch member 68 is bent to hook over and secure the toe of the shoe sole 20. The latch portion 66 has arms 70 that are bent around the resilient post portion 64 to form guide elements slidable along the post portion 64. The latch portion 66 and the post portion 64 are adjustably attached by a vertically adjustable means including a slot 72 in the post portion 64 and a rotatable clamping nut 74 passing through the slot 72 and threaded into the latch portion 66. This vertical adjustment permits the device to be adjusted to accommodae shoes of diiferent sizes or shapes and allows for the adjustment of the tension applied to the shoe 14 when in shoe-shaping position.

The lower portion 62 of the toe hold-down bracket 60 is in the form of a base plate parallel to the mounting member 28 and at one end has an up-turned ange member 76. The lower end of the resilient post portion 64 is sandwiched between this flange member 76 and a square washer-like element 78 by rivets 80.

At the other end of the lower portion 62 is an upwardly curved resilient support means 82 positioned to engage the ball portion 22 of the shoe 14. The engagement of the support means 82 with the shoe ball 22 tends to straighten the shoe and stabilize it during insertion. Primarily, however, it prevents rocking of the shoe and it creates a binding action at the toe hold-down bracket 60 by firmly securing the toe 26 in a locked position with respect to the latch member 68. Also at the same end of the lower portion 62 is a down-turned ilange member 84 riding within the longitudinal channel 36 as a guide element and aring sidewardly to such extent that its edges lie below and slide beneath the upper edges 34 of the channel. The guiding flange member 84 permits the lower portion y62 to be longitudinally adjustably attached to the channeled mounting member 28. A knurled thumb nut y86 having a screw portion passing through a hole 87 in the lower portion 62 and downward into a slidable securing element or nut 88 within the channel 36 allows for the adjustability necessary to conform to shoes of various lengths.

The toe hold-down bracket 60 exerts the substantially downward force C on the shoe toe 26, as suggested. As the force C is the third and final force applied to the shoe 14, the shoe 14 is now in a state of equilibrium, held in tension by the simultaneous action of a trinity of forces, A, B and C. In a vector triangle as seen in FIG. ll the force C initiates the reaction forces A and B which cause the shoe 14 to be reshaped by being held in tension as a result of a trinity of exterior forces applied at points of the apices of a triangle.

An alternative form of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the bracket 38 includes a base end 90. Here the post portion 92 is made as a separate element comprising a strip of flat metal bent box-like with its upright legs forming support members 93 extending longitudinally of the device for rigidity, these members being bowed together by a rivet 94. The ends of the strip overlap at the top and are riveted at 95 to the base of a bent member having a return portion 96, there being an overlying member 97 rigidifying the structure and being held against the base by the rivets 95 and by a further rivet 99. The overlying member 97 has a tab 100 lying along the return portion 96 and further rigidifying the structure.

The base end 90 of the bracket 38 is detachably connected to a heel engagement means 102, being insertable beneath a stamped-out tongue member 104 of the latter and having an olf-set ilange member 105 overlying the llange member 56 of the heel engagement means 102.

The two flange members have aligned openings receiving the mounting screw 13 (FIG. 2). The remainder of the heel engagement means 102 is similar to the aforementioned heel engagement means 40 and similar parts are designated by identical numerals.

In FIG. 8 the rigid heel-back bracket 106 includes a base end 103, a channel-shaped post portion 110, and a return portion 112. U-shaped depressions or creases 113 are pressed into the metal for increased rigidity. At the base end 108 of the rigid heel-back bracket 106 is a heel engagement means 114 including a transverse plate 115 having U-shaped depressions or creases 116 and having the heel-engaging members 50 defined previously. At opposite ends of the transverse plate are the off-set flanges 52 and 56 previously described. The base end 108 of the bracket 106 is detachably connected to the heel engagement means 114 by a removable pin 116 passing through pin-receiving ears 117 of the plate 115 and through corresponding openings in the sides of the channel-shaped post portion 110. This permits shipping the heel portion of the device disassembled. Insertion of the pin 116 holds the bottom edges of the channel-shaped post portion 110 firmly against the plate 115 and rigidies the structure.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative resilient support means 118 made of heavy wire. Here the lower portion 120 of the toe hold-down bracket 60 has at one end an up-turned flange member 76', functioning as the ange member 76 previously described, and a hole 87 for receiving the previously described adjusting nut 85. At the other end of the lower portion 120 is a resilient wire support means 122 extending upward to engage the shoe-ball portion 22 when the shoe 14 is in said shoe-shaping position. The wire support means 122 is attached to the lower portion 120 by stamped-out wire-receiving tongues 124 and eX- tends downward over the end of the lower portion 120 bending into a T-shape 126 riding within the longitudinal channel 36 as a guide element and anchoring the wire support means 122 against turning in the tongues 124.

In order to utilize the advantages and objects of this invention hereinbefore set forth, the preferred procedure for insuring proper shoe reshaping is as follows: The shoe 14 is inserted beneath the return portion 46, 96 or 112 of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 with the return portion engaging the heel-back 16. As the above step is completed the shoe heel 18 settles against the heel engagement means 40 with the heel engaging the upturned members 50. The shoe 14 is now supported in an inclined position by these two contact points at the heel and heelback positions. In order to place the shoe in tension and consequently in a reshaping position the shoe toe 26 is pressed downward until the latch member 68 engages the top of the toe of the sole with the result that the shoe 14 is now held in a shoe-shaping position allowing for natural realignment to its original orthopedic character.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various minor changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forces to a shoe having a heel supporting surface therewithin for supporting the heel of the wearer, the combination of: a mounting member; a rigid heel-back bracket having a base end attached to said mounting member, a post portion, and a return portion rigidly attached to but spaced from said post portion and of a size to t into and press rearwardly against the heel-back of the shoe, said return portion extending toward said heel supporting surface of said shoe but terminating short thereof; a heel engagement means adjacent the base end of said post portion engaging the heel of the shoe and exerting thereon a force toward the toe of the shoe when the latter is forced toward said mounting member into a shoe-shaping position; a resilient support means attached to said mounting member and positioned .to engage the shoe sole near the toe thereof; and a toe hold-down bracket attached t0 said mounting member engaging the toe of the shoe sole when the shoe is in said shoe-shaping position.

2. In a shoe-shaping device for applying reshaping forces to a shoe while the interior thereof is substantially open and unobstructed, the combination of: a base structure; a heel-back bracket; a toe hold-down bracket; means for mounting said brackets on said base structure in spaced relation to receive a shoe therebetween, said heel-back bracket including a post portion extending away from said base structure at a fixed angle with respect thereto and a return portion at the end of said post portion rigidly connected to such post portion and spaced therefrom, said return portion extending toward said base structure a distance only suicient to extend into the shoe and engage the heel-back of the shoe exclusively in the upper half thereof to press rearwardly thereagainst; a heel-engaging means including' at least one heel-engaging member engaging a rear external surface of the heel of the shoe and exerting thereon a forward force toward the toe of the shoe when the latter is forced toward said base structure into a shoe-shaping position, said toe hold-down bracket engaging a toe portion of the shoe sole to hold same in said shoe-shaping position, said toe hold-down bracket providing a lower portion substantially parallel to said base structure having at one end an upturned flange and at its other end a resilient member positioned to engage the bottom of the shoe sole to exert an upward force thereon, said toe hold-down bracket having a latch means attached to said upturned flange.

3. A shoe-shaping device for applying to a shoe a trinity of reshaping forces from the exterior thereof, said device including:

(a) a mounting member;

(b) a heel engagement means attached to said mounting member near the rear end thereof and extending away therefrom in a given direction,

(c) said heel engagement means providing at least one forwardly facing surface positioned to engage the rear external heel surface of the shoe to be straightened;

(d) a rigid heel-back bracket having (e) a rigid post portion attached to said mounting member against forward movement of its top and extending fromsaid mounting member in said direction,

l r y, 6

(f) said post portion having a rigid return portion rigidly connected to said post portion at the top thereof and returning from said top only a short distance toward said mounting member in spaced relation to said post portion,

(g) said return portion having a rearwardly facing pressure surface engaging the inner surface of the heel back of the shoe exclusively in the upper half of such heel back,

(h) said heel engagement means and its forwardly facing surface being attached to said mounting member at a position forward of said return portion a sufficient distance to dispose the shoe to be shaped with its sole inclined away from said mounting member and with the toe end of its sole spaced a substantial distance from said mounting member;

(i) and a toe hold-down bracket attached to said mounting member near its forward end and extending from said mounting member in said direction,

(j) said toe hold-down bracket having a latch member spaced from said mounting member a distance less than said substantial distance,

(k) said latch member having a rearwardly extending portion adapted to engage and hold said toe end of said sole when the toe of the shoe is pressed toward said mounting member to apply said reshaping forces to the shoe deforming it into a shoe-shaping position.

4. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which the distance between said rearwardly extending portion of said latch member and said mounting member is a large fraction of the distance between the top of said post portion and said mounting member to hold the sole of the shoe inclined from said mounting member when in said shoe-shaping position.

5. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which (a) said toe hold-down bracket includes a post member, (b) and including means for adjustably connecting said latch member to said post member to vary the dis? tance between said rearwardly extending portion of said latch member and said mounting member, and

(c) means for clamping said latch member to said post member in adjusted position.

6. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which 7. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which (a) said toe hold-down bracket includes a post member carrying said latch member,

(b) said toe hold-down bracket including a base member extending along said mounting member, and

(c) means for adjustably securing said base member to said mounting member at various positions spaced longitudinally of said mounting member to change the spacing between said toe hold-down bracket and said heel engagement means.

8. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 7 including a resilient member attached to said base member between said post member and said heel engagement means protruding toward the sole of the shoe and engageable with such sole rearwardly of the toe end there- 7 of to apply pressure thereto when said shoe is in said shoe-shaping position.

References Cited in the Ele of this patent 8 Gano Feb. 1, 1944 Shurtz July 4, 1950 Dahl Jan. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 23, 1929

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