US897920A - Cushion for boots and shoes. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

F. P. MGINTYRE.

CUSHION FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11,

Figi.

erspective view of a similarly modified composed, this cutting away of the cells at UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FRANK P. MCINTYRE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

`CUSHION' FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application led August 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, vFRANK P. MCINTYRE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadel hia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain in rovements in Cushions for Boots o r Shoes, o which the following is a specification. v

The object of m invention is to provide a sponge rubber cus ion for the sole or heel of a boot or shoe, which cushion will be of a more acceptable character than those heretofore made. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which l' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sponge rubber cushion made in accordance with my invention and intended for the insole of a boot or shoe; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a heel cushion; Fig'. 3 is a perspective view of another form of sole cushion embodying certain features of my invention; Fig. 4 is a orm of the heel cushion; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the sole cushion shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the heel cushion shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 9 vis a view of av strip from which heel cushions of the character shown in Fig. 4 may be cut;v Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a slip insole in the making of which my improved heel and sole cushions have been employed, and Fig. 11 is a sctionalview, illustrating a special form of heel cushion embodying my mvention.

Priorv to my invention sponge rubber has been made only in relatively large or thick masses, and, in order to adapt this material for use as a Acushion for a boot or shoe insole or heel pad, it was necessary to cut the thick mass into strips of the relatively thin character needed for such uses. Not only is the cutting of the sponge rubber lnass a difficult matter because of -its elastic nature and its irregular cellular formation, but the strips thus prepared are' also unsatisfactory because the surface cells are all open and therefore do not retain the air, and, as the cushion effect of s )onge rubber depends largely upon the volume of air confined in the innumerable cells of which the material is the faces of the stripV materially detracts from the elasticity of the pad or cushion.

Spcification of-Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

190e. seria Nofaaouez.

In carrying out my invention, therefore, I f

usual method of pre aring sponge rubber cushions for boots an shoes.

The sole'cushion shown in Fig. 1 is beveled on its upper face at the heel end of the cushion as indicated at 3, and the heel cushion is likewise beveled on its under face at the .front as indicated at 4M in order that the cushions may overlap each other when applied to the boot or shoe, and I also by preference form in the top of the heel cushion a recess or depression 5 for the reception of that portion of the heel upon which the greatest amount of thrust is exerted in walking, thereby serving to equalize the pressure upon all portions of the heel and thus render the heel pad better able to perform its intended function than one presenting a flat face.

The, rubber facing of close texture extends not only throughout the beveled portions of the heel and sole cushion, but also throughout the depression or recess in the top of the heel cushion. It is advisable in many cases to bevel also the outer edge portion of the sole cushion and the lower corner of the heel cushion as indicated at 6, especially if the sole portion of the cushion is to be sewed into the structure of the shoe in the manufacture of the same, this decrease in bulk of the edge portion of the cushion not only facilitating the sewing operation and permitting the use of the cushion without affecting the neat appearance of the boot or shoe in connection with which it is used, but also providing for lateral displacement of the rubber when the cushion is subjected to the pressure of the foot or heel, the beveling or chamfering of the edge of the cushion preventing the laterally displaced rubber from coming into contactwith the upper. of the shoe. By this means the lateral elasticity of the cushion is preserved, the same can expand and contract l freely and the comfort of the wearer of the shoe is insured. The beveling of the corners of the heel cushion causes the same to accord with the rounded contour of the interior of the heel .I portion; of the shoe'at the point where the heel joms the upper.l

' My invention may be carried outA in a cheaper although not quite so effective a manner as that above described, by molding or otherwise forming the sponge rubber in strips of the desired width and thickness, and provided upon their upper and lower faces with integral layers 2, composed of rubber of close texture, and afterwards cutting from such strip by means of suitable'dies the desired sole or heel cushion. A stri prepared in this way for the manufacture o heel cushions is shown in Fig. 9, and sole andheel cushions made in this way are illustrated respectivelyin Figs. 3 and 4.

As both the u per and lower faces of sponge rubber cus ions made in accordance with llmy invention present smooth surfaces of close texture, strips of leather, cloth or other material can be readily secured thereto by paste or cement, as may be necessary in the construction of an insole, heel pad, or

other article in which the sponge rubberl pervious to air, the upper layer following the rcontour of said' de ression or recess.

3. A spon e ru ber cushion for boots or shoes consisting of a mass of sponge rubber completely inclosed within a thin surface la er or coating of rubber impervious to air w ich is integrally combined with said sponge rubber mass.

4. A sponge rubber cushion for boots or shoes consistlng of a, mass of sponge rubber with beveled edge and indented top, said cushion having a thin surface layer or coating of rubber 1m ervious to air which completely incloses t e sponge rubber mass and 1s integrally combined therewith.

5. A slip insole for boots or shoes consisting of a cover of leather, and a sponge rubber sole and heel cushion, each having thin surface layers of rubber impervious to'air to one of which the cover is secured.

6. A slip insole for boots or shoes consisting of a cover of leather, and a sponge rubber sole and heel cushion, each having thin surface layers of rubber impervious to air Ato one of which the cover is secured, the heel cushion having a surface depression and the surface layerfollowing the contour of said de-4 l FRANK P. MCINTYRE.

yWitnesses: v HAMILTON D. TURNER, KATE A. BEADLE.

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