US3312000A - Detachable top lift for shoes - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 19 67 J, FR MAN 3,312,000

DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l lla EN TOR.

JOSEPH EEDMAN April 4, 1967 J. FREEDMAN 3,312,000

DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH FREEDMAN /2; TORNE Y. 1,-1

United States Patent 3,312,000 DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR SHOES Joseph Freedman, Chelsea, Mass, assignor to Boston Toplift & Cut Sole Company, Inc., South Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 419,759 2 Claims. (Cl. 3634) This invention relates to a detachable top lift for shoes and more particularly, to a lift of improved strength.

In the manufacture of ladies high heel shoes, the attachment of the top lift to the heel has undergone a radical change. This has been occasioned by the introduction in recent years of an extremely narrow and elongated heel. Where formerly the general practice was to simply attach the heel by a number of nails, the extremely small cross section of the so-called spike heel resulted in the adoption of a single elongated nail which served both to stiffen the heel itself and attach the lift.

The concept of having a shaft in the heel to which the lift is attached is not new. Gentile, US. 1,762,170 and US. 1,844,248, and Fitzsimmons, US. 1,947,849, disclose a metal shank disposed in the heel and having a claw end for attachment to the detachable lift. Monfils, US. 1,949,940, Gentile, US. 2,070,229, and Critchley, US. 2,111,314, show various modifications of this concept. Thus, US. 2,111,314 discloses a socket in the heel in which a post is embedded with its bottom claws engaging the lift, and permits the withdrawal of the top lift and attached post when desired for substitution of a new top lift. Hoffmann, US. 2,656,621, is similar.

Marino, US. 2,798,313, discloses a top lift whose post was bent to acquire better holding in the socket and whose lift is secured by claws. Whitted, US. 2,923,071, shows a molded plastic lift having an integral post extension, with fillets and grooves. Trela, U.S. 2,937,461, discloses a plastic lift molded on to the head of a nail-like member made of metal, the post portion having protuberances for positioning in an unlined axial bore. Whitted, US. 3,040,- 452, also discloses a plastic lift molded on the head of a nail-like structure made of metal.

The detachable top lifts described in the prior art have generally been more expensive than desired and have often lacked the strength required, particularly where the lift itself is of very small cross sectional area.

One object of this invention is to .provide a relatively inexpensive detachable top lift of improved strength.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification and claims which follow, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a detachable lift made in accordance with this invention and showing a plastic lift molded on to the head portion of a nail-like structure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the head portion showing the interfitting of the 'metal and plastic.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view wit-h the plastic top lift being shown in phantom.

FIG. 4 is an elevation, enlarged, of the head section, with a portion of the plastic removed to show the window of the metal frame of the head.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the head section.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the metal portion of another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a section through line 77 of FIG. 6.

The inveniton comprises generally a metal member having a shaft section for engaging the heel of a shoe and a head section of special design on which a lift made of resilient material can be molded. The head section is characterized in that it comprises a substantially flat end portion mounted on the end of said shaft section. Perforations can be provided, if desired, in the part of the flat end not joined to the shaft. Extending from said end portion is a rearward projection provided with an aperture. When the lift is molded on to the head section, the resilient material of the lift extends through the aperture so as to substantially fill the space formed by the projection, shaft and end portion.

Although a single rearward projection provided with an aperture can be used, it is preferred that multiple uniformly spaced projections or a single uniformly disposed projection be used to assure stability. Thus, a single peripheral rearwardly depending apertur'ed flange can be used having one or more apertures. Also, a plurality of peripheral rearwardly depending apertured flanges in uniformly spaced position may be used. In one embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a single rearwardly depending flange extends along the entire periphery of the end por tion and has a pair of oppositely spaced notches and a pair of oppositely spaced apertures with the resultant effect of an opposing pair of depending flanges with apertures. In another embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the depending peripheral flanges have a second inward bend so that the ends are adjacent to the shaft.

The shaft preferably has a slight undercut below the endline of the projection to aid in retention of the molded lift. The surface of the shaft is variable in accordance with the particular heel for which it is intended. Thus, some shafts may have a roughened, corrugated or serrated surface while others may be smooth. The resilient material for forming a lift includes generally any plastic or rubbery material which can be formed or molded so as to penetrate and surround the head section of a metal member. Such material should have the appropriate flexibility and wear resistance for use as a lift as well as the capability of forming a sufliciently effective bond with the metal surfaces it engages. Thus, nylon and polyurethane are commonly used materials in making lifts. However, because of the unique head structure of the metal nail member, variations in the physical properties of the plastic lift material will normally not affect the lock and bond between the resilient. lift material and the nail member.

It is a feature of this invention that the shaft does not require any special serrations or corrugations as required by the prior art devices. However, the resilient lift portion appears to be bonded in an improved manner as compared with the previously described detachable plastic top lifts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, the embodiment illustrated therein comprises a metal nail-like member 10 having an elongated shaft 11 for insertion lengthwise into a shoe heel and a head portion 12 around which is molded a plastic lift 18. The shaft 11 has an undercut 11a and tapers slightly in section 1112 until it joins the flat end portion 13 of the head. Depending from the head portion 13 in the direction of the shaft is a flange composed of sections 14 and 15 separated by notches 16 and 17 and containing apertures 14a and 15a, respectively. The unitary mass of plastic material 18 is shown surrounding the head portion and part of the shaft portion, extending through the apertures 14a and 15a into the annular section formed by the flange and the tapering portion 11b of the shaft. i

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 cornprises a metal nail-like member 20 having a shaft section 21 connected to a head section 22. The shaft is provided with an undercut 21a to facilitate molding and also has a top portion 21b terminating in the top flat portion 23 of the head. On the periphery of the end portion 23 are depending flanges 24, 25 and 26 having longitudinal portions 24a, 25a and 26a, each provided with apertures 24b, 25b and 26b and bent in transverse portions 240, 25c and 26c terminating adjacent the shaft 21b. When this embodiment is surrounded by resilient lift material, the material extends through the apertures and substantially fills the space formed by the flanges, shaft and head portion. (The fourth flange, oppoiste 25, is not visible, but is of similar construction.)

While several preferred embodiments of this invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction set forth. Thus, although the head end portion as described and illustrated above is shown as substantially flat, such flatness, although preferable, because of its greater stability and freedom from rocking, is not required. A head end portion which is curved or irregular or of other non-flat construction, would still be within the scope of this invention.

1 claim:

1. A metal member adapted for making a detachable top lift for the heelof a shoe comprising: a shaft section, an enlarged tapering collar portion, said collar portion terminating in a substantially flat head portion secured to the end of the shaft section; said head having a plurality of peripheral spaced flange elements whose ends are bent inward adjacent the tapering portion; said flange elements having aperture therein.

2. A detachable top lift for the heel of a shoe comprising a metal member made in accordance with claim 1 and a resilient lift member molded around the end of said metal member having its resilient material surrounding the head and collar and extending through the apertures to substantially fill the space formed by the flange elements, head and shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,452 6/1962 Whitted 36-34 3,041,744 7/1962 Brauner 36-34 3,055,125 9/1962 Ronci 3634 3,074,186 1/1963 Gudermuth 36--34 3,119,192 1/1964 Ronci 36-34 3,178,835 4/1965 Burke et al. 36-34 20 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A METAL MEMBER ADAPTED FOR MAKING A DETACHABLE TOP LIFT FOR THE HEEL OF A SHOE COMPRISING: A SHAFT SECTION, AN ENLARGED TAPERING COLLAR PORTION, SAID COLLAR PORTION TERMINATING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HEAD PORTION SECURED TO THE END OF THE SHAFT SECTION; SAID HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL SPACED FLANGE ELEMENTS WHOSE ENDS ARE BENT INWARD ADJACENT THE TAPERING PORTION; SAID FLANGE ELEMENTS HAVING APERTURE THEREIN.

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