US818520A - Ice-creeper. - Google Patents

Description

No 818,520. PATENTED APRL24, 1906. C. O. COOK.

ICE CREEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905 (5 135, awn Mk CHARLES O. COOK, OF BERNARDSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ICE-CREEPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed June 26,1905. Serial No. 267,092.

To (4Z7 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES 0. Cook, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bernardston, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Creepers, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to attachments for boots and shoes, and particularly to an icecreeper. An object of this invention is to provide a device which is readily attached to the shoe or boot without detracting from the elasticity or yielding action of the sole thereof. Devices of this character when applied to a shoe usually prevent free movement of the foot of the wearer and prevent the bend at the instep, causing the user to walk stifflegged. The device which is the subjectmatter of this invention is so pliable as to permit the bend at the instep and permits the user to walk in the ordinary way.

Further, an object of this invention is to provide an ice-creeper of the character described in which the tangs or prongs are bent from the material forming the body of the device, and thereby permitting its construe tion from a single piece of Wire of the required flexibility.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for securing the toe end of the device to the toe of the shoe and in the provision of novel means for attaching anklestraps to the heel end of thedevice for the purpose of fastening the ice-creeper in place.

Finally, an object of this invention is to provide a device of the character noted which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, proving at the same time sim ple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail refer ence will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing the ice-creeper in its completed state. Fig. 2 is aview in elevation, showing the application of the device to an ordinary shoe.

In the drawings A indicates a shoe, and by the use of the term shoe I mean any footcovering which may be worn, such as a boot, moccasin, or slipper.

The ice-creeper comprises in its construction a single piece of wire which is bent centrally to form the loop B, which is designed to brace the toe of a shoe, and this loop has an approximately horizontal base portion 6 and a curved upper portion b, as fully shown. The base portion 6 is formed of two diverging portions of the wire meeting centrally of the length of the base and extending therefrom at right angles. Two portions of the wire are coiled for a suitable distance, as shown at C, and one of the strands of said wire is bent downwardly on itself to form a spur or tang c. The two portions of the wire are then crossed and caused to diverge for a suitable distance and then bent downwardly to form the spurs or tangs D E. The two portions of the wire are then caused to converge to a point in line with the portions C, which may be termed the center of the device. The two portions of the wire are then twisted to form a shank F, which extends from the ball of the foot to a point near the heel. The portions of the wire forming the shank are then caused to diverge to approximately the Width of a heel of a shoe, and said portions are then bent downward to form the tangs or spurs G H, which are provided for the purpose of supporting the heel 011 each side, so as to prevent sidewise movement of the foot.

From the tangs or spurs G H the sections of the wire converge and are then twisted to form the heel-supporting section I, which heel-supporting section is designed to extend under the central portion of the heel and is then bent up at an angle to form an approximately vertically disposed portion J, which fits against the rear of the shoe. The portions of the wire are then caused to diverge on a plane approximately parallel with the plane of the portion 1, though diverging slightly, and the said sections of the wire are then bent into the loops K L, and the terminals of the wire are extended toward the plane of the section I and. then bent inwardly to approximately the same plane as the said section I to fit under the heel of the shoe.

The ends of the wire are looped around the main portion of the Wire to the rear of the tangs or prongs G H and are then secured in any suitable manner by soldering or otherwise.

The loops K L are designed for the purpose of receiving the straps M N, one of which has the buckle O for the purpose of permitting the said strap to be fastened around the instep of the user.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the entire device is constructed of a single piece of wire, that the shank between the tangs D E and G H lies directly under the center of the foot, and by reason of its being formed of Wire the said shank will yield to the movement of the foot for the purpose and advantages heretofore set forth.

Havingfully described my invention,what I claim as new, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is E An ice-creeper comprising a single strand of Wire looped approximately centrally to embrace the toe of a shoe, the said wire being twisted from the loop, a suitable distance, a tang or spur bent from one of the sections of the Wire, the said section diverging from the said tang, two tangs in transverse alinement, bent from the wire, the said sections of the wire being then converged, a shank formed by twisting the Wire, heel-tangs in transverse alinement formed by bending the wire on itself, a heel-supporting section extending rearwardly, a heel-embracing section formed by diverging portions of the wire, strap-securing loops bent from the sections of the wire, and heel-supporting sections formed by the converging ends of the wire and means for securing the terminals of the section to the body of the device, near the rear tangs.

In testimony whereof I afhX my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of June, 1905.

CHARLES O. COOK.

Witnesses:

E. B. FRANKLIN, C. CORNELIA ALFoRD.

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