US1642362A - Shank stiffener - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13 1.927.

R. DAVIS SHANK STIFFENER Filed May6.- 19,2

' INVENTOR} $0367? Dams.

Patented Sept. 13, 1927. I i

UNITED STATES 1,642,362 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT DAVIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASS IGNOR TO ELCO SHOE MANUFAC- TURERS, ING, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHANK STIEFENER.

Application filed May 6, 1926. 'Serial No. 107,160.

This invention relates to a shank stiffener or arch member which is made of leather and which is connected to the outer sole of a boot or shoe'so as to support the arch and a heel of a foot.

The invention is designed to provide a leather arch member with. a pad having substantially flat sides and located beneath the heel of the arch member, in order to W give rigidity above the pad to the arch member and to obviate any permanent deformation thereof which may be caused by imperfect or protuberant surfaces on the heel of the foot. y It is wellknown, that when a shoe is worn by a person with a calloused heel, that the leather of the sole underneath the calloused portion gradually becomes concaved or hollowed causing discomfort to the foot. It is also known that the constant pounding of the heel of a heavy person on the rear of the stiffener of-the shoe causes it to prematurely lose its shape; in other words it stretches transversely causing the upper'to widen and the rear portion of the shoe becomes loose when worn a short time thereby sliding up and down. I It is the object of the present invention to provide a leather stiffener. by means of which the heel .portion of the shoe. is strengthened, the thickness of the leather stiffener being gradually increased from the toeof the shoe to the heel thereof thereby stiffening the member where the stress is greatest.

- Another object ofthe invention is to provide'the leather member with a side-extension whereby the arch of the foot is supported and any movement of the member in the shoe is eliminated.

I Another object of the invention is to pro- -vide the leather member with means to permit greater ease of transverse flexure at the forward part in advance of the metatarsal I bones of the foot, thus permitting a rocking motion from the heel to the forward end of the member when the foot is in action.

The invention resides more particularly in the novel combinations hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which i t Fig. 1 represents afvertical section of a shoe embodying this invention.

Fi 2 is a bottom perspective view of the shank stiffener.

In the drawing is shown a resilient leather member consisting of a heel. portion and having a forward cut-out portion 6 forming bifurcated ends 7 with side notches 8 to permit-transverse fiexure at the forward portion of the member. of the member a spring steel shank 9 is affixed to stiffen the member. The leather member is also provided with a side extension 10 adapted to fit into the inner side of the arch portion of a shoe. The leather member tapers from its forward end to the rear and its greatest thickness is at the heel portion thereof which is subjected to the greatest stress.

On the underside'of the heel portion of the leather member, a rigid pad 12 made of fibre or leather board having a fiat upper and under side is fastened by means of nails 11. I The outline of pad 12 is substantially the same as the tread of the heel of a shoe. The pad can be waterproofed with parafiin or other oily or wax-like substance to eliminate squeaking after the leather dries.-

lVhen the foot is in motion it constantly On the underside flexes the forward part of the leather member thereby giving more equal distribution of the weight or applied force.

- The outline of the leather member is shaped to snugly fit into a shoe which consists of a sole l4 and an upper 15 sewed to the sole as is well-known. The leather member extends from the heel to the front end of the arch and its forward portion is skived so as to produce a smooth joint free of ridges. The leather. member is preferably arranged on the sole of a turned shoe or pump but it will be understood that it can be located in a welt shoe. The leather member is fastened to the sole by nailing or cementing it into position and it is covered by a thin leather lining 16 glued or otherwise secured to the I sole and upper.

In the above construction the rigidity ofthe pad keeps part of the leather arch member adjacent thereto in a flat condition and her is preferably fastened to the sole of the shoe by means of nails 17 passing into the heel. These nails prevent the leather mem' her from lifting when the cement is loosened by perspiration or otherwise. In order to stiffen the member under the arch and at the same time secure it to the sole a pair of rivets or staples 18 inserted in holes 19 are utilized, and they prevent lifting or loosening of the leather member adjacent its line of flexure.

1. A shank stifi'ener for a shoe comprisin a bendable leather member having an arm portion and a heel portion, the said heel portion having a relatively rigid pad connected to the underside thereof, the said pad being shorter and narrower than the said heel portion, the arch portion of the said member having a resilient stiffening member connected thereto, the adjacent ends of the said stiflening member and of the said pad being portion and a heel 'portion, the said heel por tion having a relatively rigid pad connected to the underside thereof, the arch portion of the said member having a resilient stiffening member connected thereto, the adjacent ends 'of said stiffening member and of the said padv being spaced from each other, the said pad having a substantially flat surface adj acent the said bendable member and having suflieient rigidity to maintain said sub stantially flat surface under normal use.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT DAVIS.

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