US697590A - Shoe. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. l5, i902.

J. c. WRIGHT.

S H 0 E.

mppumion md may 15, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. IVRIGHT, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.

SPEGIFICATIO forming part of Letterslatent No. 697,590, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed May 15, 1901. Serial No. 60,258. (Nomodel.)

To all when@ it may concern: i

Be it known that I, JOHN C. WRIGHT, of Brockton,in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a laced shoe having an elastic front and an elastic lacing, so that the shoe may be drawnon or off without unfastening the lacing. It is much easier to make a low-cut or Oxford shoe which can be drawn on and oif without unlacing than it is to make a high-cut shoe which can be so used, because a high shoe must be spread more at the top in order to admit the foot than is necessary in a low shoe.

My invention is designed to attain the desired result by such a construction as will permit the use of a greater length of lacing, thereby affording a wider expansion, and yet leaving no slack in the lacing when the sho'e is on the foot and without exposing the extra length.

My invention consists of the novel construction and combination of elements, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the close of the specification. p

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a shoe embodying my invention, a portion of the frontof the shoe being broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the front of the shoe. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, enlarged, showing the form of eyelet which I intend to use for the two top eyelets and the knotted lacing held in the eyelet.

Referring now to the drawings, I represents the upper of a laced shoe, which is open down the middle in the usual manner of laced shoes and is provided with lacing-holes 2. Instead of the usual inelastic tongue I employ a tongue 3, of elastic webbing or other elastic fabric, which is secured to the inside of the upper -at both sides and at the bottom, as by a line of stitches 4. The tongue is of sufficient width to extend a considerable distance beyond the lacing-holes 2, so as to aord sufficient expansion to draw the shoe onto the foot. As it is necessary to expand the shoe at the upper portion of the opening more than at the lower portion, I' prefer to make the tongue wider toward the top.

In order to avoid lacing and unlacing each time the shoe is put on and off, I make the .laps without increasing the amount exposed,

I attach to the shoe between the upper 1 and the tongue 3 along the line 4 of the secured edges of the tongueaseries of loops 6 or other suitable guides, through which the lacing 5 is passed alternately with the passes through the holes 2. I have shown these guides as being employed only in connection with the upper part of the shoe, because the lower portion requires no more expansion than will be readily afforded by the short laps, but, if desired, the line of guides may be continued clear to the lower end of the tongue. I prefer to locate the guides in the manner shown, opposite the middle point between the lacingholes; but I do not limit myself to such arrangement, nor to the particular manner of lacing shown in the drawings, nor to the particular form of guides shown, althoughIprefer the loops.

In order to avoid the bow-knot which occurs when the lacing is tied in front in the usual manner, I prefer to form a hard knot or knob in the lacing just after it has passed inwardly through the top hole on each side, and this knot will prevent the lacing from drawing through when stretched. In order that the knot may not press'against the instep, I prefer to form the two upper eyelets 2, as shown in Fig. 3, with the hole larger on the inner side thanon the outer side, so that the knot 7 will lie in the chamber formed by the enlargement, but the smaller opening on the outside will prevent the knot from being drawn through.

What I claim is-' ICO ries of guides attached to the inside of the shoe farther from the division-opening than side of the opening and at agreater distance from the division-opening than are thelaeingholes, and an elastic lacing which passes through the said lacing-holes and said guides, the holes on one side being laced With the guides onA the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. VRIGHT. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. COPELAND, ARTHUR O. RANDALL.

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