An Improvement in Elastic or Cushion Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by FRANK W. WHITCHER, of No. 4, High Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of North America, Merchant.]
An Improvement in Elastic or Cushion Heels for Boots and Shoes.
I, HERBERT SEFTON-JONES, Chartered Patent Agent, 322, High Holborn, in the
County of London, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in improved elastic or cushion lifts or heels for application
to boots and shoes for the purpose of affording relief to the wearer from the jars
and concussion that are incident to the fall of the foot upon the ground in walking.
These lifts or heels ordinarily are formed of moderately soft vulcanized indiarubber
or caoutchouc, moulded into shape, and, in securing them in place upon the boots
or shoes, use is made of nails. These are driven partly through the material of
the rubber lift or heel into the leather of the boot or shoe, and the headed ends
thereof remain embedded in the rubber lift or heel. The nature of the rubber is
such that provision must be made for preventing the headed ends of the nails from
tearing through the rubber lift or heel under the usage that occurs while the said
heel is being worn.
Otherwise this accident will occur, and the nails will thence-
forth be of little or no efficiency in keeping the lift or heel in place.
In accordance with the invention the rubber or cushion lifts or heels have
embedded therein novel and improved means of preventing the securing nails from
pulling or tearing through the lift or heel. The aims of the invention are in general
to provide a form of holding means which shall be superior to the means heretofore
employed for the purpose, and to provide against lessening the elasticity and flexi-
bility of the elastic or cushion lift or heel.
In exterior view the lift or heel presents a series of holes extending into the sub-
stance thereof from the wearing surface of the same and intended for the reception
of the securing nails. In practice the said holes preferably extend substantially
through the thickness of the heel, a very slight thickness of material being left at the
inner ends of the said holes so that the operation of placing and driving the nails is
facilitated, and bulging of the heel in consequence of the displacement of material
of the heel by the nails when driven is obviated. However, the extent to which the
said holes penetrate the body of the heel is not material, so far as the present inven-
tion is concerned, and the ordinary requirements of use will be met if the holes
extend into the body of the heel as far as the holding means which is about to be
described. The holding means in question consists of either a series of small
washers embedded in the material of the heel, one of such washers being employed for
each of the holes aforesaid, or of a strip of thin metal similarly embedded in the
material of the heel. In the latter case the strip is comparatively narrow,
being made usually in horse-shoe shape to conform with the contour of the heel, and
usually in practice it is made of sheet metal, such, for instance, as steel, it being cut
or formed therefrom in any well-known manner, as by stamping or punching it out.
The thinness of the washers or strip, and the narrowness of the strip and the small

page_text: size of the washers prevent either thereof fromptaking the place of any perceptible
amount of the rubber or other material of which the heel is composed, and thus the
full cushioning effect of the latter, is retained unaltered.. The weight of either form
of holding means is not noticeable. The strip may be made highly pliable and
yielding, and will then add no perceptible degree of inflexibility or stiffness to the
heel. The washers also secure this result. This is in some respects a very impor-
tant desideratum, and directly affects the saleability of the heel, since dealers and
users of the heel frequently test its qualities before purchasing by bending or
doubling it over upon itself, and otherwise handling or manipulating it to test its
flexibility, yielding qualities, and springiness. When made of tempered spring
metal, the strip will add to the liveliness with which the heel will flatten out after
being flexed, while the softness of the heel. will not.be lessened at all by its presence.
A stiff and inflexible rubber heel is deemed unsuitable and undesirable by many
persons. Being embedded in the heel adjacent the outer edge thereof, the strip has
no effect whatever upon the central portion of the heel. A heel containing either
form of holding means inay be doubled over upon itself or twisted, and this with
equal, facility in the two cases. It is possible, by varying the thickness and stiffness
of the strip, to secure any desired degree of flexibility, and thus the heel may be
rendered as stiff as may be deemed proper in order to meet special requirements.
One advantage of the strip is the fact that, on account of its location in the heel
adjacent to the edge of the latter, the strip will act with a tendency to prevent the
said edge from springing away at any place from the surface to which the heel is
applied, and thus opening a crack between the said surface and the heel. Not only
is a slight width of strip sufficient to enable it to perform its function of holding
the nail-heads from pulling through the heel, but if desired, excess of material may
be disposed of by punching out portions of the strip intermediate the places where
the nails pass through. This will make a stronger heel.
The holes in the body of the heel are formed in the process of moulding by the aid
of pins projecting into the interior of the hollow mould in which the heel is formed.
In making the heel, one or more layers of unvulcanized and soft rubber will be intro-
duced and pressed down into the mould, this making only a part of the thickness of
the completed heel. The washers or strip next will be introduced into the mould,
being placed into proper register with the pins, as by fitting the same upon the ends
of the said pins. The placing of the strip in proper position admits of being more
quickly and readily performed than the operation of placing a series of detached
washers one by one upon the respective pins and thus effects some saving. Moreover
in the case of the strip there is less likelihood of the omission of one or more washers,
while there also is some tendency to displacement of the washers. The filling of the
mould with unvulcanized and soft rubber then is completed, after which pressure and
heat are applied.
An Improvement in Elastic or Cushion Heels for Boots and Shoes.
I, HERBERT SEFTON-JONES, Chartered Patent Agent, of 322, High Holborn, in the
County of London, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The invention consists in improved elastic or cushion lifts or heels for application
to boots and shoes for the purpose of affording relief to the wearer from the jars and

page_text: concussion that are incident to the fall of the foot upon the ground in walking. These
lifts or heels ordinarily are formed of moderately soft vulcanized indiarubber or
caoutchouc, moulded into shape, and, in securing them in place upon the boots or
shoes, use is made of nails, screws or the like. These are driven partly through the
material of the rubber lift or heel into the leather of the boot or shoe, and the headed
ends thereof remain embedded in the rubber lift or heel. The nature of the rubber
is such that provision must be made for preventing the headed ends of the nails or
other securing devices from tearing through the rubber lift or heel under usage that
occurs while the said heel is being worn. Otherwise this accident will occur, and the
nails, or other securing devices, will thenceforth be of little or no efficiency in
keeping the lift or heel in place.
In accordance with the invention, the rubber or cushion lifts or heels have
embedded therein novel and improved means of preventing the securing nails or the
like from pulling or tearing through the lift or heel. The aims of the invention are
in general to provide a form of holding means which shall be superior to the means
heretofore employed for the purpose, and to provide against lessening the elasticity
and flexibility of the elastic or cushion lift or heel.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shows in bottom plan view a heel or lift embodying the invention.
Fig. 2 shows the same in top view and indicates in dotted lines one form of the
holding means aforesaid.
Fig. 3 is a view in section on the dotted line 3, 3, of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the holding means of Figs. 2 and 3, showing the same
detached..
Fig. 5 is à sectional view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the use of a series of
washers.
Fig. 6 is a view showing one of the washers detached.
:
1 designates the lift or heel, and 2 the wearing surface thereof which makes
contact with the surface walked upon when the lift or heel is in use.
In exterior view the lift or heel 1 presents a series of holes 3, 3, etc., extending
into the substance thereof from the wearing surface 2 of the same and intended for
the reception of the securing nails, or the like. In practice, the said holes preferably
extend substantially through the thickness of the heel or lift, as shown in the
drawings, a very slight thickness of material being left at the inner ends of the said
holes, so that the operation of placing and driving the nails is facilitated and bulging
of the heel or lift in consequence of the displacement of material of the same by the
nails when driven is obviated. However, the extent to which the said holes penetrate
the body of the heel or lift is not material, so far as the present invention is concerned,
and the ordinary requirements of use will be met if the holes extend into the said
body as far as the holding meaus which is about to be described. The holding means
in question consists of either a series of small washers 8, 8, Figs. 5 and 6, embedded
in the material of the heel or lift, one of such washers being employed for each of the
holes aforesaid, or of a strip 5 of thin metal, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, similarly embedded
in the material of the heel or lift, and having holes at 7, 7, for the securing nails
or the like. In the latter case the strip is comparatively narrow, being made
usually in horse-shoe shape to conform with the contour of the heel or lift, and
usually in practice it is made of sheet metal, such, for instance as steel, it
being cut or formed therefrom in any well-known manner, as by stamping or punching
it out. The thinness of the washers or strip, and the narrowness of the strip, and
also the small size of the washers, prevents either thereof from taking the place of
any perceptible amount of the rubber or other material of which the heel or lift is
composed, and thus the full cushioning effect of the latter is retained unaltered. The
weight of either form of holding means is not noticeable. The strip may be inade
highly pliable and yielding, and will then add no perceptible degree of inflexibility
or stiffness to the heel or lift. The washers also secure this result. This is in some
respects a very important desideratum, and directly affects the saleability of the heel
or lift, since dealers and users frequently test its qualities before purchasing by

page_text: bending or doubling it over upon itself, and otherwise handling or manipulating it
to test its flexibility, yielding qualities, and springiness. When made of tempered
spring metal, the strip will add to the liveliness with which the heel or lift will
flatten out after being flexed, while the softness of the heel will not be lessened at
all by its presence.
A stiff and inflexible rubber heel is deemed unsuitable and
undesirable by many persons. Being embedded in the heel or lift adjacent to the
outer edge thereof, the strip bas no effect whatever upon the central portion of the
heel or lift. A heel or lift containing either form of holding means may be doubled
over upon itself or twisted, and this with equal facility in the two cases. It is possible,
by varying the thickness and stiffness of the strip, to secure any desired degree of
flexibility, and thus the heel or lift may be rendered as stiff as may be deemed proper
in order to meet special requirements. One advantage of the strip is the fact that, on
account of its location in the heel or lift adjacent to the edge of the latter, the strip
will act with a tendency to prevent the said edge from springing away at any place
from the surface to which the heel or lift is applied, and thus opening a crack between
the said surface and the heel or lift. Not only in a slight width of strip sufficient to
enable it to perform its function of holding the nail-heads from pulling through, but
if desired excess of material may be disposed of by punching out portions of the
strip, as at 6, 6, Fig. 4, intermediate the places where the nails pass through. This.
will make a stronger heel or lift since it will permit of a union of the material of the
heel or lift through the openings 6, 6.
The holes 3, 3, are formed in the process of moulding by the aid of pins projecting
into the interior of the hollow mould in which the heel or lift is formed. In making
the heel or lift, one or more layers of unvulcanized and soft rubber will be introduced
and pressed down into the mould, this making only a part of the thickness of the
completed heel or lift. The washers or strip next will be introduced into the mould,
being placed into proper register with the pins, as by fitting the same upon the ends
of the said pins. The placing of the strip in proper position admits of being more
quickly and readily performed than the operation of placing a series of detached
washers one by one upon the respective pins and thus effects some saving. Moreover,
in the case of the strip there is less likelihood of the omission of one or more
washers, while there also is some tendency to displacement of the washers. The
filling of the inould with unvulcanized and soft rubber then is completed, after which
pressure and heat are applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The improvement in elastic or cushion lifts or heels for boots and shoes substantially
as herein described.