US3359640A

US3359640A - Shoe fit indicating device

Info

Publication number: US3359640A
Application number: US555377A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Kirkland
Original assignee: KIRK S SHOE STORE
Current assignee: KIRK S SHOE STORE; KIRK'S SHOE STORE
Priority date: 1966-06-06
Filing date: 1966-06-06
Publication date: 1967-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1967 w. A. KIRKLAND v 3,359,640

SHOE FIT INDICATING DEVICE Filed June Fig.

. I' MIA/'n'. l.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,359,640 SHOE FIT INDICATING DEVICE William A. Kirkland, Kirks Shoe Store, Algona, Iowa 50511 Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,377 8 Claims. (Cl. 33-3) This invention generally appertains to improvements in shoe fitting devices and is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Ser. No. 421,760, led Dec. 29, 1964 (now abandoned).

The present invention more particularly relates to improvements in shoe t indicating devices, which are to be Ulsed by the wearer of a shoe or most usually by the parents of a child, to determine whether a given pair of shoes is still of the proper length and to obtain a visible indication of such factor Iand also, in the event that it is determined that the shoes are no longer of proper length, to obtain a visible indication of the approximate size of a replacement pair of shoes.

It is well known that childrens feet grow extremely fast, partic-ularly during the early stages of -a childs growth, and that most often a child will outgrow a pair of shoes before the shoes give any visible indication that they are too small so that they present a danger of impairing the childs proper foot development, if the child continues to wear the shoes.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple device, which can be inserted in a shoe and which can be set to indicate the exact length of the shoe. The device can then be used with the foot of the child disposed thereon so as to determine not only whether or not such shoe is of the proper length, so that it should be continued to be worn, but Ialso, to give an approximate indication of the correct length of the replacement pair of shoes that should be obtained.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a shoe fit indicating device, which can beused by anyone, without any degree of skill or knowledge of footwear and in a very expeditious and simple m-anner, for determining, quite readily and easily, whether a pair of shoes is lof the proper length and should be continued to be worn or if it is to be replaced, to give an approximate indication of the length of the replacement shoes. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a very sturdy, compact and simple device, which is adapted to be inserted into a shoe so as to lie on the innensole and extend from the tip of the toe to the heel portion of the shoe and which i-s adapted to be manipulated manually, in a simple manner, to obtain a visual indication of the length of the shoe and then, with a wearers foot positoned thereon, to give an exact visual indication of whether the shoe is of proper length, so that there will be no danger of injury to the toes or foot of the wearer, if the shoe is continued to be worn, or, on the other hand, to give a clear and exact visual indication of whether the shoe is too small for further wearing.

Another important object of the present invention is to enable a person to quickly and easily determine the compatibility of the foot and the shoe, after the shoe has been in use, so as to determine whether or not the shoe should be discarded and replaced -by another shoe of a larger s1ze.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide ya shoe fit indicating device, which may be made in one-piece from inexpensive but sturdy material, that is of a bendable nature but which is stil enough to assume and maintain an angular position, in which it may be placed, Iand yet which can be returned into a flat, planar normal position and which can be so inexpensively manufactured that the device can be supplied to customers of a shoe store, without cost to the customer.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a shoe fitting aid or indicating device, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective thereof, showing the same inserted in position in a shoe to determine the exact size of the shoe;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view thereof, after being removed from the shoe and with the wearers foot, which is shown in phantom lines, placed thereon so as to determine Whether or not such shoe is still of the proper size for proper and comfortable wear by the wearer; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, detailed cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it is the primary aim and purpose of the present invention to provide 'a very inexpensive, simple and compact device, which can be used particularly by parents to determine whether or not the shoes of their child still fit. In this respect, the outer appearance of a childs shoes does not give an indication as to whether or not the shoes are of a proper size and, if continued to be worn, would impair the childs foot development.

The shoe fit indicating or checking device 10 preferably is of one-piece construction and may be stamped or otherwise formed from suitable sturdy but bendable or flexible material, which is stiff enough to assume a certain angular position and maintain such position, until it is returned to its normal position. The device 10 includes an elongated flat strip 12 of material, such as heavy cardboard, plastic or the like. The strip 12 has a rounded front end portion 14, which is of an outer terminal conguration to snugly abut the interior of the toe portion 16 of a shoe 18, when the strip is positioned Within the shoe 18, as shown in FIGURE 2 and as will be described. The strip is formed with opposing straight,

side edges

20 and 22, which taper inwardly toward the rear end portion 24, that is formed with a squared olf outer end 26. The Hat strip has opposing flat upper and

lower faces

28 and 30.

The front or toe end portion 14 of the strip is formed with a transversely disposed area 32 on its upper face 28, which is suitably scribed, lined or colored to serve as a grow room indicator, while the outer terminal portion 34 of the end portion 14 is inscribed with the word short or may be suitably colored or, in any manner, formed or designed so as to visually indicate a danger or too short area.

The end portion 24 is formed with a transverse hole 36, which is provided so that the strip may be placed on a hook or other fastener, which is fixed to a wall for the purpose of disposing the strip in a readily accessible, storage place. The end portion 24 may be rigidispace 40 may be `imprinted or otherwise provided with advertising indicia and it is also intended that the same ywill be formed with lines on which a persons name, age and other information may be inscribed, together with `the date `and place of purchase of the shoes.

The score lines 38, which are provided so that the strip may be easily bent into right angular relationship, as shown in FIGURE 2, in the determination of the exact length of the shoe 18, are preferably spaced apart a distance of approximately 1/6", which would correspond to` one-half size differences in length of a pair of shoes, particularly a childs pair of shoes. Of course, these iiguresare merely exemplary and it may be found that a different fractional inch spacing of the score lines 38 will more correctly correspond to different size lengths so as to determinethe exact size of a pair of shoes.

s In use, as shown in FIGUR-ES 2 and 3, the elongated fiat strip is inserted lengthwise into the shoe 18 until the terminal rounded end of the toe portion 14 of the strip abuts the inner end of the toe portion 16 of the shoerThe finger grip portion 24 is held by the fingers of the person checking the length of the shoe 18 and the strip is bent about one of the score lines, which constitute a hinge means between the sole portion 44 and the heel portion 42,'with the'upstanding heel portion 42 abutting :the inside of the back or heel portion 46 of the upper portion or last of the shoe 18. Thus, the mainiportion44 of the strip lies fiat on the innersole and extends.` from ythe front of the toe portion 16 in firm, abutting contact therewith to the inside of the Vheel portion 46 in firm abutting, lengagement therewith to define a sole portion, with the perpendicular or upstanding por-tion `42,'-that defines a heel portion, contacting the inside of the rear portion of the shoe and extending above the counter of the heel portion.

In the example, which is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the strip is'bent on the' score line 38a which would be marked, for example S6, thereby indicating that the length of the shoe I8 is a size 6.

As aforementioned, the strip is formed of such bendable material that it may be easily bent about one of the score lines 38 so that the sole portion 44 is of the same length' as the length of the inside of the shoe 18 from the inner side of the toe portion 16 to the inner side of the heel portion 46. However, the material, which,

as aforementioned, may be heavy cardboard, plastic or the like sturdy but inexpensive material, is of such a nature lthat the upstanding heel portion 42 will remain n upright, in relation to the fiat sole portion 44 after the device is removed from the shoe 18.

Then the foot, indicated by the phantom lines F in FIGURE 3, is placed liat on the upper surface 28 of the fiat sole portion 44, with the heel of the foot abutting against perpendicular `or upstanding heel portion 42 which is held tightly thereagainst so as to provide a firm support `for the heel of the foot F. The toe portions T of the footwill then overlie the rounded toe end portion 14 of the indicator strip'V and it can be easily seen whether or not the shoe 18 is of the proper length for further wearer to be discarded and replaced by a larger size shoe. The toe portions Tof the foot F may overlie, for example, the portion 32, which means that the shoe can be continued to be used, since it is within the proper lengthdimension for further use;

However, if the toe portions T of the foot F were to overlie the outer terminal portion 34 of the toe portion 14 of the strip, which portion 34 would be a short or danger indicator, then it can be readilyV realized that the shoe 18 is too short for the foot F and that continued wearing of the shoes would injure the foot and, quite possibly, lead to serious deformation of the toe portions T of the foot F.

The upstanding heel portion 42 can then be restored into its coplanar relation with the major or sole portion 44 of the strip, so that the strip once again assumes its entirely fiat state, in which it was in, as shown in FIGURE 1. The foot F can then be placed so that the heel overlies one of the score lines back of the score line 38, such as the score line S-61/2 or S-7 and the heel portion 42 can be bent upwardly and the foot F replaced on the major fiat sole portion 44 and this will enable the person to obtain a rough but rather approximate indication of what size the replacement shoe should be for proper and comfortable wear by the wearer.

It can be appreciated that the shoe checking or indicating device 10v is of a very simple nature which can be used by anyone, without any degree of skill and that it can be used and reused, since it can be bent into the checking, angular position of FIGURES 2 and 3 from the fiat normal position of FIGURE 1 and then returned to the position of FIGURE 1 and be stored away for further usage.

It is envisioned that the device can be made in two separate parts, one part constituting a sole portion 44 and the other part constituting a heel portion 42 with longitudinally movable, transverse hinge means connecting the parts together and serving the function of the transverse score lines 38.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe dit indicating device for determining the compatibility of the length of a shoe to the length of the foot of a wearer of the shoe after the shoe has been in use be replaced by a shoe of a longer length; said device comprising an elongated member including a sole portion adapted to be inserted into a shoe and positioned to overlie the innersole and extend from the toe portion to the heel portion of a shoe in abutting engagement with said portions of the shoe, said device including a heel portion adapted to be moved fromA a coplanar position relative to the sole portion at the heel abutting end thereof into an angular upstanding position relative thereto, and plural transversely disposed hinge means spaced longitudinally of said member connecting the sole portion and theheel portion for movement of said heel portion into said upstanding position at any one of said hinge means, and said sole portion having means provided on its upper face, on which a wearers foot is adapted to be placed after the sole portion has been removed from a shoe, said means giving a visual indication of whether the shoe is too short for the Wearers foot.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said device includes an elongated fiat strip, said sole portion having an outer terminal toe end portion, said heel portion constituting a finger grip portion, and said strip being bendable about said hinge means.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said sole portion, heel portion and hinge means are integral.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said Ydevice is irll plural hinge means being constituted by a series of transverse fold lines in longitudinally spaced relation.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said plural hinge means is constituted by a bendable portion composed of a series of transverse longitudinally spaced lines formed on the upper face of the strip about which the strip is adapted to be bent.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said plural hinge means includes a bendable portion connecting the sole portion and the heel portion and having a series of longitudinally spaced transverse score lines formed on its upper face about which the strip is adapted to be bent in correspondence to the length of the shoe.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said score lines 8. The invention of claim 1, wherein said last means includes the provision of visually differentiating markings on the upper face of the outer toe portion of the sole portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,450 9/1964 Del Pesco 333.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 655,188 1951 England.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

are spaced longitudinally apart a distance having a corl5 LLOYD V ANDERSON Assistant Examiner relation to sizes of shoes.

Claims

1. A SHOE FIT INDICATING DEVICE DETERMINING THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE LENGTH OF A SHOE TO THE LENGTH OF THE FOOT OF A WEARER OF THE SHOE AFTER THE SHOE HAS BEEN IN USE WHEREBY IT CAN BE VISUALLY DETERMINED WHETHER THE SHOE IS OF A LENGTH IN RELATION TO THE LENGTH OF THE WEARER''S FOOT SO THAT IT CAN SAFELY BE CONTINUED TO BE WORN OR SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A SHOE OF A LONGER LENGTH; SAID DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER INCLUDING A SOLE PORTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO A SHOE AND POSITIONED TO OVERLIE THE INNERSOLE AND EXTEND FROM THE TOE PORTION TO THE HEEL PORTION OF A SHOE IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PORTIONS OF THE SHOE, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING A HEEL PORTION ADAPTED TO BE MOVED FROM A COPLANAR POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SOLE PORTION AT THE HEEL ABUTTING END THEREOF INTO AN ANGULAR UPSTANDING POSITION RELATIVE THERETO, AND PLURAL TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED HINGE MEANS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MEMBR CONNECTING THE SOLE PORTION AND THE HEEL PORTION FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID HEEL PORTION INTO SAID UPSTANDING POSITION AT ANY ONE OF SAID HINGE MEANS, AND SAID SOLE PORTION HAVING MEANS PROVIDED ON ITS UPPER FACE, ON WHICH A WEARER''S FOOT IS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED AFTER THE SOLE PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM A SHOE, SAID MEANS GIVING A VISUAL INDICATION OF WHETHER A SHOE IS TOO SHORT FOR THE WEARER''S FOOT.