US1213030A - Barefoot house-shoe. - Google Patents

Description

F. .F. SKINNER.

BAREFOOT HOUSE SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEII. 1916.

PatentedJan. 16, 1917.

AITORNEV nnroo'r HoUsn-sHon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dl'an. 1o, W1 7...

' Application filed June 17, 1916. Serial no. 104,260.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SKINNEB, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Barefoot House-Shoe, of ,which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved shoe of the barefoot type, adapted to be worn indoors, for relieving the foot of the pressure and strain incident to wearing the usual walking shoe.

An object of the present invention is to provide a house shoe of such construction as to practically eliminate all friction surface, the binding or cram ing of the tarsal and metatarsal bones, an of the joints of the foot, and the overheating of the foot, with all the resulting evils'there'of, and to provide a shoe which permits the toes, and all other parts of the foot, the same freedom of action as when walking barefoot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe of this character, which has but relatively few parts and straps, which is strong and durable, which may be economically manufactured and sold, which has a heel strap producing pressure on the antero-post erior surfaces of the ankle only .and noton the arch of the foot, as is common in various types of shoes, and which may be collapsed, so that a pair of these shoes may be folded together into compact form for convenience in storing, and v in carrying them for traveling purposes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, as well .as the above, willbe hereinafter more particularly brought out in the following-specific description of thepresent preferred embodiment of the invention, the

r a same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein I p Figure 1 1s a perspective new of a house shoe, embodying the features of'this-invem tion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional. view, taken through the sole and one end' of one of the crossed front straps of the shoe, showing one means forsecuring the strap to the shoe. Fig. 3' is a transverse section through thesame. section, taken through the crossed portions of the front straps, showing the'application v of a fastener for holding the same together.

Referring to this drawing, 10 des1gnates the sole of the shoe adapted to receive the foot, and which is preferably given the gen- Fig. 4 is a transverse eral form of the bottom of the foot. foot is adapted to-rest upon this foot sole 10 in relaxed position, as the sole 10 has no' These loops 11 and 12 are preferably formed of lengths of strap leather,

which are overturned and have their opposite ends secured, in superposed relation,

upon the upper face of the sole 10, adjacent to the edge of the same. These loops 11 may, of course, be secured. in any other manner than as here shown.-

An ankle strap 13 is threaded loosely through these loops 11 and 12, and is adapted to encircle ,the ankle and to be drawn tight thereagainst to exert a pressure against the anterio-posterior surfaces of the ankle, to hold the loops 11- and 12 against the sides, and rear portion, of the ankle, and thus hold the heel part of the shoe in place. A buckle, or other suitable device, 14 connects the free ends of the ankle strap 13 together and admits of the adjustment of the strap to fit the ankle. It is, of course, understood that the buckle 14 may be of any type, and may be substituted by any form offasten er.

- The front part of the sole 10 is held against the sole of the foot by a pair of crossed straps 15. Each strap -15 is preferably secured at its opposite ends upon the upper face, and adjacent the opposite lateral edges, of the sole 10 by stitching, or the like, as shownparticularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The stitching is let into the under upwardly thereabove, to accommodate the front part of the foot therebeneath. The straps 15 are so secured ,to the sole 10 that their intermediate-portions engage one upon the other, and cross each other. As shown side of the sole 10, and lies in a slot .16 formed by slitting the under side of the sole in Figs. 1 and 4, it is preferred to secure thesecrossed portions of the straps 15 by means of a rivet 17, or other fastening device, which preferably has a pair of spaced apart prongs 18, which are clenched against the lower face of the lowermost strap 15 to hold the straps from relative turning movement about the rivet.

As the strap 13 engages directly around the ankle, it does not press down upon the archof the foot and the tarsal bones are left free. The arrangement of the straps 15 provides ample means for securing the front of the sole 10 to the foot, and does not cramp nor bind either the toes, or metatarsal bones. The ends of the crossed straps 15 are spaced apart, to provi ie openings therebetween and at the opposite sides of the sole 10, through'which may project the toe joints, so that no pressure is exerted upon the same.

The house shoe of this invention may be Worn with the foot covered, or with the foot bare, as there are no parts to engage between the toes. I

When it is desired to secure a pair of these shoes together for packing away when traveling, or the like, the ankle strap 13 may i be Withdrawn from the loops 11 and 12, and

.the loops and crossed straps 15 may be collapsed or flattened down against the sole 10. -It is readily understood that a pair of the shoes may thus be placed one upon the other, and that they occupy relatively small space. The ankle straps 13 may be utilized for encircling the intermediate portions of the soles 10 to hold the shoes fiat against each other.

What is claimed is v A bare-foot shoe comprising a sole extending from heel to toe, straps secured to the sides of the sole, for connecting the toe portion of the sole to the foot, flexible loops secured in spaced apart relation at the sides and back of the heel portion and extending upwardly, said loops being open from top to bottom and capable of being folded fiat upon the sole without interference one with the other, and a detachable ankle strap threaded through said loops and adapted to encircle the ankle to retain the loops in extended position and the heel portion upon thefoot, whereby upon removal of the ankle strap the loops and the toe straps may be collapsed upon the sole, and a pair of such shoes placed one upon the other with the sides of the soles remote from the straps and loops outermost, and the ankle straps utilized for securing a pair of theshoes in superimposed relation, the ankle straps be ing passed about the two shoes at the intermediate portion thereof.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

FRANK FINNIS SKINNER.

Witnesses: l

' R. W. HARRIS,

S. F. VAUEX.

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