US1831269A - Antisqueak material for shoes - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1o, 1931. A. THOMA 1,831,269

ANTISQUEAK MATERIAL FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 8. 1927` gig/2.4. 15g/? v L l "L "LI/ I ,1 -rfv 25a M Z;

@h-w i Patented Nov. 10, 1931 ANDREW THOMA, F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO .NORTH MEBICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MAS

CHUSETTS SACHUSETTS, A COREOIRATF` 0F MASSA- ANTISQ-UEAK MATERIAL FOR SHOES Application filed August 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,300.

This invention pertains to the manufabture of footwear and more' particularly to means for eliminating squeak-producing friction between the parts of a shoe and toa method or process of producing such anti-squeak means.

According to most processes of manufacture, the various elements constituting the bottom of a 'shoe are united only along the marginal portion of the bottom, thus providl0 ing the desired flexibility for the comfort of the wearer, but ythe slight relative movement and rubbing of the shoe parts mainly within the boundary of said margin or within the marginal line of stitches or other fastenings which is thus permitted, frequently results in producing a disagreeable squeak. This is especially noticeable in shoes of the McKay type, (where a large portion of the bottom of the inner sole is'covered by the folded-over o edge of the upper) and in shoes of any type in which a dry (non-adhesive) filler is interposed between the outer soleand contiguous parts. When the outer sole is fastened in place it bears against these folded-over edge 5 portions of the upper, and the filler material, and as the wearer iiexes the shoe in walking the parts rub and a squeaking noise results. In accordance with the present invention I interpose an anti-friction or anti-squeak element between those parts of the shoe which have hitherto tended to rub and squeak, preferably providing this anti-squeak element in a form such that it is easy and cheap to make,

readily packed for storage or shipment (ifnecessary), which can be applied to the shoe without the aid of special machinery or equipment, and which does not affect the other and usual steps in the shoe-making process or substantially change the appearance or weight of the completed shoe. l

A preferred form of anti-squeak element consists of a sheet lof paper, paper-like substance, textile fabric or any other suitable sheet material, having suicient toughness and flexibility and of proper thickness for the purpose, such sheet being coated and preferably impregnated with asticky and desirably waterproof or water-repellent substance and in the latter case preferably loaded or lled with a powdered mineral anti-squeak element.

While I obtain good results by the interposition of such a sticky sheet or layer between shoe parts, I prefer to dust or otherwise coat this sticky sheet with an anti-friction powder or other slippery substance which sticks to and is held in place by the sticky coating of the base fabric. This powder imparts to the base fabric a smooth, slick surface which does not adhere to adjacent parts of the shoe and which is so slippery that squeak-producing friction is impossible. `f The -waterproofed sheet with its sticky surface (of wax tailings for instance) is thus rendered non-sticky by the talc or other mineral powder, producing a film or'layer of paste or putty-like consistency as a mechanical lubricant. Heretofore talc has occasionally been used dry between the two soles and has quickly been lost so far as the anti-friction or anti-squeak effect was concerned. I provide the film stated, orlayer or coating which is therefore immovable and hence not to be lost in use. The more this layer of powder is rubbed the better it will stay in place and the more securely it will be bound to the paper, because a rubbing pressure on the layer of powder tends to force it somewhat into the surface of the Vpermanently sticky binder with which the paper or carrying layer is impregnated or coated, thus strengthening the bond between the layer of powder and the layer of paper. The sticky absorbent is itself an excellent anti-squea element.

In order that the anti-squeak material may not lose its effectiveness I regard it as important that the sticky coating or impregnant employed be of such a nature that it will retain its stickiness and tenacity indefinitely. In certain prior patents relating to shoe filler compounds, for example my Patent Nos. 808,- 224, December 6, 1905; 832,002, Se tember 25, 1906; and 855,868, June 4, 1907, I ave described various forms of permanently sticky binder materials, all of which possess characteristics making them more or less acceptable for the present purpose. However, by reason of its relative cheapness, availability and 'highly'adhesive properties, Iprefer to employ a coating or nnpregnating material comprising the sticky residuumof petroleum known as wax-tailings, or combinations thereof with oils, resins, pitches or gums as more fully4 described for example' in my Patent No.' 855,868.

In coating or impregnating the sheet mathe fabric, and I sometimes subject the web to pressure within the bath or after leaving the bath in order to'force the coating or impreg-` nating material into the pores of the web.

The sheet material thus treated has a thin surface coating or lin of a permanently sticky character, waterproof -and strongly adhesive to leather, and this sheet material may be interposed in this condition between' those elements of the shoe which commonly rub and s ueak. When thus used the thin, permanently sticky, waxy and elastic film or coating of the sheet tends to adhere to the shoe arts with which it contacts and lforms a yielding cushion for the latter. -As the shoe parts move relativel this thin, elastic, waxy ihn yields, althoug apparently still maintaining its grip u on the shoev parts, and behaves like a lubricant fluid bodv, becoming warm (and incidentally more sticky) through internal friction but exhibiting no tendency to mechanical vibration of a kind which will produce a squeak. I Y

While the coated or impregnated fabric may thus be used without furthertreatment, its sticky surface makes it somewhat hard to handle andparticularly to ship or store, and I thus prefer to provide a protective coating for the sticky sheet material. While a coating' intended to be stripped off or otherwise removed, prior to application of the antisqueak element to the shoe may be rovided, I preferl to employ a, coating as a ve suggested which may'form a permanent part of i the anti-squeak element and which is preferably of such a nature as to enhance the antisqueak properties of the sticky coating material. To this end I dust or otherwise spread an anti-friction powder upon one or both of the sticky surfaces of the sheet material, such powder preferably being of an unctuous nature, for exam le gaphite, a powdered mineral, such as ta c or soapstone, or a slippery non-absorbent flaky material, such for example as owdered mica.

When thus treate the powder dulls the normal stickiness ofthe outer surface of the coated material but the sticky coating holds the powder layer firmly in place and while the shoe`elements normally slip in contact 'in pers ective v with the slick, smooth surface of the powder layer, the normal elasticity and yieldinglcharacter of the sticky coating is substantia y unimpaired and acts as an elastic lubricating cushion with respect to the dust la er in the same way as when it is, applied 'rectly to the shoe parts.

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate by way of example certain steps comprised in a desirable process of making my anti-squea material, together with various modes of coating and applying this material to a shoe, put without intending thus to limit my invenion.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a dia ammatic elevation, artly in section, showing apparatus suitab e for use in preparing my anti-squeak material in sheet form;

Fig. 2 is a fragment-ary vertical section, to

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very large scale, illustrative of the character of the sheet material resulting from the complete process indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating one mode of cutting anti-squeak elements from the sheet material;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the elements A cut as indicated in Fig. 3; v

Fi 5 and 6 are plan views illustrating modi ed shapes of anti-squeak elements;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views illustrating another mode of preparing anti-squeak elements from sheet material;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary'plan view, partly illustratin the anti-squeak element o shoe;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the application of the anti-squeak element of Fig. 5 to a McKay shoe;

Fig. 12 .is a transverse section, substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10, but to larger the application of Fig. 4 to a McKay scale, showing the' outer sole of the shoe in place; and

Figs. 13 and'14`are fragmentary vertical sections to large scale showing modified forms of antiueak sheet material. p

Referring' to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates a spindle or roller upon which is mounted a roll 2 of sheet material, such for example as a web of paper, textile fabric or f the like. This sheet material 3 passes from', the roll to a receptacle 4, preferably provided with guide rolls 5 and 6 adjacent to its opposite edges, and with rollers 7 and 8 in its lower part for guiding the sheet 3 downwardly into the receptacle. If desiredy one or both airs of rolls '5 and 6, or 7 and 8, may j be positively driven and preferably the rolls f,

A7 and 8 are arranged to exert a substantial pressure upon'the sheet 3 as it passes between them. The receptacle or tank 4 is preferablyprovided with heating means, as for example the steam coils 9, and, is'adapted to contain ay body of coating or impregnating material of the kind above referred to, and which is permanently sticky and very elastic, for example, wax tailings.,

0n its way from the rolls 7 and 8-to the delivery rolls 6, the web passes between scraper devices 11 which remove the surplus coating and impregnating fluid, and the web or sheet 3 may then pass to a guide roll 12. On its `way to this guide roll the web passes beneath a receptacle 13 containing a slippery inert powder, such-for example as graphite, talc, soapstone, powdered mica' or the llke, and this material may be spread upon one sticky surface of the web by brush 14 or any other suitable` means. From the guide roll 12 the web passes under a guide roll 15 and beneath a receptacle 16 containing a slippery powder of the same kind as used in said receptacle 13, which is dusted upon the other sticky surface of the web by means of a brush 17. Thus both surfaces of the web are coated with the powder.

From this point the web may pass between rolls 18 which, if desired, exert some pressure in'order to embed the .powder in the sticky coating, and then the web may bc passed about guide rolls 19 to form festoons 20, if desired, to furnish a sullicient time interval for the impregnant to cool and harden. The completed sheet material S, comprising the original web with its surface coatings, may now be rolled upon a spindle 21 to form a roll22, or may be cut into sheets of suitable sizeor handling, packing, etc.

ln Fig. 2 the completed sheet S (in enlarged section) is shown as comprising the original web or sheet 3. having the sticky coatings 24 on its o posite sides to which the layers 25 of pow er adhere. During the passage of the web through the bath of fluid coating material 10, the fluid tends to enter the pores of the web, particularly if the Web be subjected to pressure, thus impregnating the vweb and rendering it waterproof.

The 'sheet material thus prepared may now be cut up in any desired manner, and when to be used in a shoe the sheet S, as indicated in Fig.: 3, may be cut into sections 26 by means of suitable dies, such sections having a contour substantially like that of the forepart of a shoe bottom and being adapted to cover the central portion of the inner sole of a shoefas Well as tions of the bottom.

In Fig. 5 I have indicated a modification in which the `anti-squeak element 27 has a contour similar tog-that rof the shoe bottom but is cut out at its central portion sov that it covers only thema'rginal portions of the shoe bottom. In Fig. 6 I have shown a curved piece 28 of the sheet material which is adapted to coverthe marginal portion of the shoe bottom at one side and which must be associated with similar sections in order preferably the marginal porto extend around the entire margin of a shoe.

This shape of anti-friction element may be desirable for the sake of economy in cutting. In Fig. 7 I have shown a straight strip 29 of the sheet material and in Fig. 8 I have shown a similar strip 30 notched at 31 along one edge to facilitate its bending to lenable it to follow the contour of the shoe bottom. This strip 30, bent so as to conform to the edge of a shoe bottom, is shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 10 and 12 I have indicated diagrammatically and in section respectively a shoe of the McKay type comprising the upper U and the inner sole 33,-the edge portions 34 of the upper being turned inwardly and folded down upon the under surface of the inner sole to which these edge portions of the upper are secured by means of fasteners F. The central cavity of the shoe bottom, defined by the edges of the upper, is provided with liller 35 which may e of any usual material and upon this filler rests the anti-squeak element 26' of the kind shown in Fig. 4. Preferably I apply adhesive to the central portion of the antisqueak element 26 before applying it to the shoe bottom, the adhesive areabeing indicated at 27. After applying the anti-squeak element in this manner, the outer sole 36 is placed in position and secured by means of stitches 37 or other usual form of fastener. The thin sheet-like anti-squeak element 26, consisting of the inner web of paper-like material and the outer coatings of slippery powder permanently held in position by `the sticky layers 24, forms a very effective preventive of friction,` such as would cause squeaking, since the outer sole bears against oneslipper and unctuous layer 25 while the inturned e ge portions 34 of the upper bear against the other slippery layer 25. Thus even though the shoe parts have some relative movement, they are free to slide without Setting up mechanical vibrations such as would produce a noise, and even though it were possible for the shoe parts to adhere to the sllppery layers, the latter are supported upon the cushioning and lubricating layers of sticky material which is elastic and` stretches readily and which, being of semifluid character, will not squeak when subjected to rubbing ressure. f

' By reason of t e waterproof qualities of this anti-sttueak material its interposition between the ottom elements of the shoe tends to waterproof the latter and to prevent moisture from passing through the outer sole into the inner sole.

v In Fig 11 I have shown a shoe similar to that indicated in Figs. 10 and 12, but having the anti-squeak element 27 applied thereto, instead of the element' 26. This anti-squeak element 27 extends around the marginal portion of the shoe bottom and is inte sed between the outer sole and the inturn pornate it.

ed ready sugg I further contemplate that within the scope of my invention I may omit the base fabric or web 3 and provide an anti-squeak element' consisting, as indicated in Fig. 13, merely of one or more layersY 25 of non-adhesive powder or dust embedded in a layer'24l of sticky material. On the other hand, as alested, and as shown in Fig.' 14', I may omit the slippery powder altogether and form my anti-squeak material of a sheet or web'b coated on one or both sides (and impregnated, if desired) with a sticky ma-v terial, as shown at 24". 4

While I have described one desirable mode of making my anti-squeak material and have indicated several ways of coating this material and applying it to shoes, I wishit to be understood that this is merely by way of Yillustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but that I contemplate that the material may be made in accordance with other sequences of steps, that it may be cut andapplied to shoes in other ways than those herein speciiically suggested.

I claim:

1. Anti-squeak material or use in shoes, said material being permanently iexible and comprising a thin layer of slippery owder and a thin layer of a permanently stic elastic substance.

2. Anti-squeak material for use in shoes, said material comprisin a thinsheet of paper, a layer of powdere talc and sticky wax inding the talc to the paper.

, tailings 3. permanently flexible anti-squeak eleplastic base sheet,

ment for use in shoes having anouter con'- tour substantially lconforming to the puter contour of a shoe bottom an comprising a thin sheet of paper having a permanently sticky coating mcluding wax tailings.

4. Anti-squeak material for use in shoe bottoms, comprising `a thin, flexible, nonan outer layer of slippery powder and permanently adhesive means for binding the powder layer to the base sheet. r

5. Anti-squeak element for use in shoe botoms, said element com rising a thin permanently iiexible nonp astio` base sheet and a layer or coating 'of rmanently sticky subi to adapt it for insertion stance on one outer ace at least of the base sheet, said element beingeof such thickness as tween the outer sole vertical dimensions of the shoe.

iexible and sticky l of a shoe and all parts of the shoe bottom which normally would contact with the outer sole but without substantially increasing the 6. An anti-squeak element for use in shoes, said element consisting of a thin sheet of substantially uniform thickness throughout coniprising a, permanently sticky substance, said element being permanently iexible and having an outer contour such as to conform closely to the outer edge of the bottom of a shoe with which it maybe associated, and a layer of slipperv powder substantially covering each outer face of said element.

7. An anti-squeak element for use in shoes, said element consisting of a'thin sheet of a thickness adapting it for insertionbetween the outer sole of a shoe and all parts of the slice bottom which would normally contact with the outer sole, said sheet being permanently flexible and comprising a permanently sticly substance having a normal tendency to a here to the outer sole and to the opposed parts of the shoe bottom.

8. An anti-squeak element for use in shoes,

.having such thickness as to be included between the outer sole of a shoe and other arts of the shoe bottom without substantial y increasing the vertical dimensions of the shoe,

said element comprising a v layer of permanently sticky substance havin a normal tendency to adhere to the outer so e and tothe opposed parts of the shoe bottom.

9. An anti-squeak element for use in shoes,

having such thickness as to be included be- ,tween the outer sole of a shoe and other parts of the shoe bottom without substantially in'- creasing the verticaldimensions of the shoe, said element comprising a layer of permanently sticky substance and a layer of slippey powder. v 4

igned by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 5th day of Aug. 1927.

. ANDREW THOMA.

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