USRE20472E

USRE20472E - Tap-dancing shoe

Info

Publication number: USRE20472E
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-08-17

Description

Aug. 17, 1937. 5 LAND] Re. 20,472

TAP DANCING SHOE Original Filed Nov. 14, 1955 Fig. 5.

mama Q76 Landi' INVENTOR ATTORNEY Reissued Aug. 17, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No. 697,984, November 14, 1933.

Application for reissue April 8, 1937, Serial No. 135,704

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in dancing shoes of the type for use particularly in tap -or clog dancing.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive durable means for incorporation in the sole of a dancing shoe and operative at will by contact with the floor to produce a snapping or similar sound for emphasizing the rhythm of the dance music and attracting the attention of the audience to selected steps in the dance.

Another object is to provide means for the purpose above set forth which is operated by pressure and by very slight efiort on the part of the dancer.

To the accomplishment of the above and other objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will now be described in detail and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a portion of a 2,5 dancing shoe equipped according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, with a cover plate, forming part of the invention, removed; and

3 Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the cover plate.

Reference being had to the drawing, I designates the front portion of a dancing shoe including the upper 2, sole 3 and insole 4.

35 Incorporated in a suitable cut-out portion 5, extending rearwardly from the toe end of the sole 3, is a support or housing member 6 including an upper wall I, end walls 8, side walls, one of which is shown at 9, and a lateral flange ID by 40 means of which the housing is secured to the sole 3, as by nails III. A tappet member II is mounted in the housing 6 by a pivot pin I2 for vertical rocking movement by contact with the floor. Preferably one end of the tappet member is pro- 45 vided with a button I3 of smooth rounded form for contacting with the floor to produce the desired rocking motion of a tappet. Tappet mem ber II has an upper wall I4, a portion of which is normally substantially parallel with the sole 3 50 and spaced slightly therefrom, the remaining portion of said wall l4 inclining away from said wall I for a purpose presently clear. Intermediate the tappet member I I and wall I is a sound producing member I5 preferably formed of thin 55 sheet metal and having a centrally located convex portion I6 bearing against the slanting portion of the wall I4 so that said convex portion is compressed between the wall I and member II by rocking of the latter upwardly. The member I5 and its portion I5 are designed to produce a snapping or cracking sound when compressed by the aforesaid rocking movement of the tappet II and also when released by rocking movement of the tappet in the opposite direction.

Preferably the snapper member I5 has one end secured, as by nails IT, to one end of the tappet member II and the latter is hollow, as shown in Fig. 1, to act as a sound augmenting or amplifying chamber for the member I5. A cover plate I8 is secured over the housing I, as by nails I9, and provided with a central aperture 20 thru which the button I 3 projects and a series of apertures 2| to prevent the cover plate I8 from deadening the sound produced.

It is thought that the operation of the dancing tap of my invention will be clear from the foregoing description thereof. The resilient snapper member I5 is active for normally urging the tappet member II to an operable position with the button I3 thereof ready to contact the floor. Engagement of the tappet button I3 by contact with the floor is effective for compressing the snapper member l5 and for producing a snapping sound. Release of the tappet button I3 from contact with the floor is effective for releasing the snapper member I5 to produce a second snapping sound and a return of the tappet member to its operable position. It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, right is herein reserved to such changes in form. and modification in structure as fall within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe including, a housing incorporated in the sole thereof and having an upper wall, a tappet member pivoted in said housing for rocking movement by contact with the floor, and a pressure operated sound producing member adapted to be compressed between said wall and tappet member by rocking movement of the latter.

2. A dancing tap comprising a support for attachment to a shoe, a tappet member movably mounted relatively to said support and having an operating part contactable with the floor for moving the tappet member, and a snapper member connected to be operated by movement of said tappet member to produce a snapping sound.

3. A dancing tap comprising a support for attachment to a shoe, a, tappet member movably mounted relatively to said support and having an operating part contactable with the floor for moving the tappet member, and a resilient pressure operated snapper member connected to be operated by movement of said tappet member to produce a snapping sound, the resiliency of the snapper member being active for normally urging the tappet member toan operable position.

4. A dancing tap comprising a housing support for attachment to a shoe, a tappet member movably mounted in said housing support and having an operating part projecting through said housing support and contactable with the floor for moving the tappet member, and a resilient snapper member in said support located between said tappet member and a part of said support, the said snapper member being active for normally urging the tappet member to an operable position, engagement of the operating part of the tappet member by contact with the floor being effective for compressing the snapper member and producing a snapping sound and release of said contact being effective for releasing the snapping member to produce a snapping sound and a return of the tappet member to its operable position.

5. A dancing tap comprising a housing support for attachment to a shoe, a tappet member movably mounted in said housing support and having an operating part projecting through said housing support and contactable with the floor for moving the tappet member, and a. resilient snapper member secured at one of its ends to said tappet member and having its other end free for engaging a part of said support, the said snapper member being active for normally urging the tappet member to an operable position, engagement of the operating part of the tappet member by contact with the floor being effective for compressing the snapper member and producing a snapping sound and release of said contact being effective for releasing the snapping member to produce a snapping sound and a return of the tappet member to its operable position.

6. A dancing tap comprising a housing support for attachment to a shoe, a tappet member oscillatably mounted in said housing support and having an operating part projecting through said housing support and contactable with the floor for oscillating the tappet member, and a snapper member in said support located between said tappet member and a part of said support, the said snapper member being active for normally urging the tappet member to an operable position, engagement of the operating part of the tappet member by contact with the floor being effective for compressing the snapper member and producing a snapping sound and release of said contact being effective for releasing the snapping member to produce a snapping sound and a return of the tappet member to its operable position.

EMANUELE LANDI.