Improvements in Heel Springs for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
1
Improvements in Heel Springs for Boots and Shoes.
I, GEORGE ELBRIDGE SWAN, of Beaver Dam, in the County of Dodge and State
of Wisconsin, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates generally to an improved construction of spring impact
device for shoe and boot heels having for its purpose to lessen the jar when
the heel is placed upon the ground in walking and giving the wheel an upward
impulse as the weight is being transmitted to the ball of the foot.
In the practical application of spring heel devices as heretofore produced
and wherein the body or supporting portion of the device is in the nature of a
single flat disk adapted to be held on the heel by screws or spurs I have found
the results not all that are desired, for the reason that said supporting portion
does not provide such a permanent and rigid support for the slug or tread
block as is necessary to effect the best results.
Furthermore, as the tread block has been made of an elongated wedge shape
I have found that should the heel be set at a lateral inclined angle (which is
frequently the case) a twist or lateral strain is effected on the said tread block
which has the tendency not alone to impart a pull strain on the bottom or disk
member and thereby weaken its securing means, but also wears the tread block
irregular at such shape as to render a uniform springy action thereof in all
angles of the tread or impact of the heel impossible.
Again, the peculiar form of the tread block and the coil spring as heretofore
constructed does not admit of the most economical and stable construction.
My present invention seeks to provide a device which is of more economical
and stable construction than devices of a similar nature as heretofore produced
and which can be the more quickly fitted and securely held on the heel and
which will effectively operate to take up the shock irrespective of the angle
(longitudinally or transversely) at which the heel is set.
My invention therefore comprehends: first, a novel construction of spring heel
device in which the tread block and the spring members are capable of being
so fitted into the heel without the aid of screws, spurs or analogous means and
capable of being rigidly held in place irrespective of the manner in which the
heel is set or of wear on the same. And secondly, this invention comprehends
a combined holding and buffer means for the spring and tread block, embodying
a main spring, which acts as the buffer to take up the shock, and a supplemental
spring which, while also acting as a buffer, more particularly serves to return
the tread block to its proper position on the holder, said tread block also having
a novel construction and co-relation with the holder, whereby it is capable
of self-adjustment laterally and about its own axis and whereby it will effect

page_text: the same uniform pressure on the buffer spring no matter at which side or angle
it may be depressed by the heel and by which its movement can in no way
effect the securing means for holding the entire device on the heel.
In its subordinate features the invention comprises the novel details of con-
struction and peculiar combination of parts as will hereinafter be described and
specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 illustrates my invention as applied to the heel of a shoe.
Fig. 2 is a section of the heel with my devices applied, and showing the parts
thereof in their normal position.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the tread block as impacting on a forwardly
inclined surface.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof on the line of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an inverted view of the spring devices detached; and,
Fig. 6 illustrates the several parts constituting my improved device in detail.
My present form of heel spring devices comprises a cylindrical casing 1, which
in practice is made of different sizes and of less height than the size of the
heel to which they are to be applied. The casing has the same diameter
throughout, its lower end terminating in an integral bottom plate 2 and its
upper end being open as shown in Fig. 6.
The bottom plate 2 has a central opening 2 which in practice is of a somewhat
larger diameter than the impact or slug end 3 of the tread block 3, which
end in the present structure is circular in horizontal section and has its lower
edges rounded to more readily slip over obstructions in dragging the heel and
also to avoid sharp edges.
The tread block 3 has a disk portion 3b of a less diameter than the diameter
of the casing 1, in which it plays, but it is made wider than the opening 2,
said block also having a central boss 3° on its upper face, the purpose of which
will presently appear.
6 indicates a main or buffer spring which consists of a stout coil wound so its
normal expansible tension will be practically at its limit when the parts are
at their normal position as shown in Fig. 2, whereby to avoid the tendency
of forcing the casing out from the heel socket.
The spring 6 is coiled to snugly fit within the casing and to rest on the
outer edge of the disk portion 3b, the upper end of such spring being held
to bear against a top plate 5, which is fitted in the open upper end of the casing
after the spring 6 and spring 4, presently described, are fitted within such casing,
said top plate being held from moving out of the casing top by upsetting or
swedging the upper end of the casing as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.
In fitting my device to the heel a socket is cut in such heel by a suitable
boring tool of substantially the diameter and height as the casing 1, which
casing is then pressed into the socket until its bottom 2 is flush with the lower
edge of the heel, it being manifest that when once driven in the heel the
elasticity of the surrounding walls of the heel socket will cause the said socket
to firmly grip the casing and hold it from coming out.
So far as described it will be readily apparent that should the pressure on the
tread block be substantially vertical the compression on the spring 6 would be a
substantially uniform one, but should the pressure on the said tread block be at
an angle as indicated in Fig. 3, the compression of the spring 6 would be irregular
and a free or proper play of the tread block particularly when returning to its
normal position, might under some circumstances, be retarded.
To obtain the full buffer action of the spring 6, under all conditions and to
positively provide for the tread block properly returning to its normal position,
I provide a supplemental spring 4 of much smaller diameter and less tension than
the spring 6, the lower end of such spring 4 engaging the disk 3 and seating about
the hoss thereon, while the upper end thereof bears against the top plate and seats
about a central pendent boss 5, forming a part of such plate.

page_text: The spring 4, it will be observed, while also serving the function of a buffer
spring, more particularly acts as a fulcrum on which the tread block can gyrate
and thereby properly distributing the strain on the main buffer spring "G_no
matter which side of it may be depressed in its engagement with the ground or
floor, said movement of the tread block being made possible by reason of its
disk portion being of a less diameter than the casing in which it plays, and its
head or slug member of a less diameter than the opening 2, in the bottom 2
of the casing.
Another and important advantage attained by making the head or slug of the
member 3 smaller than the opening 2, is that by being held free of contact with
the bottom 2, under substantially all conditions of movement, there will be no
lateral or twist strain on the casing which might, by reason of such continuous
strain, be loosened in its socket and its fastening thereby be made insecure.
By arranging the several parts as described the device can be constructed at
a minimum cost and requires no skill whatever in applying it to the heel of
a boot or shoe.
By holding the tread block and buffer spring as described, all lateral or
twist strain on the whole casing is avoided and the said block held for a universal
movement both as to its rotary and lateral action.
I am aware that broadly it is not new to provide a tread block having a buffer
spring attached and held in a socket in the heel. In this construction the block
is fixedly attached to the spiral spring, does not have a universal movement, is
not self adjustable and does not move independent of bearing against the side
walls of the heel socket in which it plays.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A device for the purposes stated, comprising a hollow casing adapted to fit in a
socket in the heel, said casing having an opening in the bottom, a tread block detach-
ably held for a rotary and lateral movement in the casing and its slug or tread
member projected through the opening in the casing bottom, and a buffer spring
held within the casing to rest on the tread block, as specified.
2. A device for the purposes described, comprising a hollow casing adapted
to fit a socket in the heel, said casing having its bottom formed with a centre
opening, a pressure spring held in the casing and a tread block having a slug
portion projected through the opening in the casing bottom, said block being
held between the spring and the casing bottom, but disconnected therefrom,
whereby it is capable of moving laterally and rotatably, substantially as shown
and for the purposes described.
3. A device for the purposes described, comprising a casing adapted to be fitted
in the socket of the heel and having a bottom central aperture, a tread block
comprising a disk portion of less diameter than the casing and having a slug
or tread member of less diameter than the casing bottom aperture, a main coil
buffer spring seated in the casing to bear against the outer edge of the tread block
and a second coil spring held to bear centrally on the said tread block, all being
arranged substantially as shown and described.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a spring tread attachment for heels, com-
prising a casing formed of a cup shaped body having its bottom centrally
apertured a tread block consisting of a disk portion of a less diameter than the
cup shaped body having an integral pendent circular tread or slug member
adapted to extend through the opening in the casing bottom and being
of less diameter than such opening, and a central boss on the upper face, a main
buffer or coil spring held in the casing to hear on the outer edge of the tread
block disc, a second coil spring held within the first spring, its lower end seating
on the tread block round its boss and a top plate on the upper end of the cup
body formed with a pendent boss to project in the upper end of the inner spring,

page_text: all being arranged substantially as shown and described, whereby the inner
spring will serve as a yielding fulcrum or centre bearing for the tread block as
it is moved laterally or rotated.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.