IMPROVEMENTS IN HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN DEVICES FOR SECURING THE SAME IN PLACE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Richardson, of the City of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, one of the United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN DEVICES FOR
SECURING THE SAME IN PLACE."
Sealed the 19th March 1880, and dated the 25th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Richardson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1879.
FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, one
of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES,
AND IN DEVICES FOR SECURING THE SAME IN PLACE."
This Invention has reference to improvements in the construction of heels for
boots and shoes, and in the manner of securing the same to the boots or shoes.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a reversible heel tap con-
sisting of a metal frame provided with a flange resting against the heel shell, and a
pin projecting above and below the rim. The central portion of this frame is filled
with wood inserted in such a manner that the end of the grain forms the wearing
surface. This tap is secured by a central screw, and when one side is worn the tap
can be turned over, and a new wearing surface is presented; or when required the
taps may be readily exchanged from one boot or shoe to the other, so as to prevent
the running down of the heel on one side.
I also provide a wooden tap which is forced into the heel shell; this shell is
divided into two parts by a plate or rim, the upper portion enclosing the sole, and
the lower portion the wooden tap. The nails are driven through the tap and sole,
are clinched on the inside, and the heel shell and tap are thus secured by the nails.
The whole complete heel can be quickly secured to a boot or shoe, and as the metal
shell is usually finished with an enamel surface, a fine highly finished heel is pro-
duced at a very small cost.
In waterproof india rubber boots and shoes it is desirable that the nails should
not penetrate the whole depth of the sole, as they are liable by wear to enlarge the
holes and allow water to enter; to prevent this I place a metal plate near the inner
surface of the sole and below the insole or lining, so that the nails will be clinched
by contact with this plate.

page_text: In india rubber as well as all other boots and shoes, when the heel shell is to be
provided with reversible taps the shell may be firmly secured by placing a plate on
the inside of the sole, and securing the shell to this plate. Such a plate may be
provided with prongs or nails, which may extend through the sole and through
holes in the heel shell, where they are upset or clinched, and the shell is firmly
secured. The plate and heel shell may be secured to the sole by small screws; this
arrangement forms a superior fastening, as the sole is clamped between the heel shell
and the inner plate, and the whole is more rigidly held than when the shell is secured
by nails.
In india rubber as well as leather boots and shoes it is desirable to insert a plate
of metal into the narrow portion of the shank so as to secure more stiffness. I pro-
vide a plate, the shank portion of which is corrugated, so as to secure stiffness with
the least metal; the heel portion is provided with a nut; this plate is placed on or
between the sole, and the screw which secures the reversible tap enters the nut on
the plate and secures the whole heel firmly to the sole.
These heels can be made cheaper than the usual heels built up of separate
layers; they are also lighter and wear longer than ordinary heels, and present a
better appearance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
March 1880.
FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, one
of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES,
AND IN DEVICES FOR SECURING THE SAME IN PLACE"
This Invention has reference to improvements in the construction of heels for
boots and shoes, and in the manner of securing the same to the boots or shoes.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boot provided with my improved heel.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a boot heel constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the same, and Figure 4 is a bottom view of the
same.
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the heel secured to the sole of a boot or
shoe by driving the nails through the central filling of the heel and into the sole,
where they are clinched by coming in contact with a metal plate inserted between
the sole and lining.
Figure 6 is also a section showing the metallic plate and the nails by which the
shell is secured clinched by contact with the plate, the shell being provided with a
reversible tap.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a metal plate provided with pins or nails, and
Figure 8 is a sectional view shewing the metal plate placed on the inside of the
sole, the pins extending through the sole and through holes in the shell, where they
are clinched, and the shell is firmly secured; the shell is shown provided with a
reversible tap.
Figure 9 shows the shell provided with a reversible tap secured by screws to a
plate similar to the plate shown in Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a metal plate, part of which is corrugated, so
as to form a stiffener for the shank; and
Figure 11 shows the application of the metal plate, shown in Figure 10, to the
inside of the sole by screwing the screw by which the reversible tap is held into the
nut on the shank plate, so that the heel shell and the reversible tap are all secured
by the one screw.
In the Drawings "A" is the boot; "B," the sole; "C," the heel shell. Referring
now to Figures 1, 6, 8, 9, and 11, "d" is a reversible heel tap consisting of a metal
frame provided with a flange resting against the heel shell, and a pin projecting
above and below the rim. The central portion of this frame is filled with wood
inserted so that the end of the grain forms the wearing surface. This tap is secured
by a central screw, and when one side is worn the tap can be turned over and a
new wearing surface is presented; or when required the taps may be readily
exchanged from one boot or shoe to the other, so as to prevent the running down
of the heel on one side. Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, "e" is a wooden tap
forced into the heel shell C; this shell is divided into two parts by a plate or
rim, the upper portion enclosing the sole, and the lower portion the wooden tap.
The nails are driven through the tap and sole, are clinched on the inside, and the
heel shell and tap are thus secured by the nails. The whole complete heel can be
quickly secured to a boot or shoe, and as the metal shell is usually finished with an
enamel surface, a fine highly finished heel is produced at a very small cost.
In waterproof india rubber boots and shoes it is desirable that the nails should
not penetrate the whole depth of the sole, as they are liable by wear to enlarge the
holes and allow water to enter; to prevent this I place a metal plate near the inner
surface of the sole and below the insole or lining, so that the nails will be clinched
by contact with this plate, as is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

page_text: In rubber as well as all other boots or shoes, when the heel shell is to be provided
with reversible taps, the shell may be firmly secured by placing a plate on the inside
of the sole, and securing the shell to this plate.
Figure 7 shows such a plate provided with the prongs or nails f. f, and Figure 8
shows the prongs f,f, extending through the sole and through holes in the heel shell,
where they are upset or clinched, and the shell is firmly secured; and Figure 9
shows the plate and heel shell secured to the sole by small screws; this arrange-
ment forms a superior fastening, as the sole is clamped between the heel shell and
the inner plate, and the whole is more rigidly held than when the shell is secured
by nails.
In rubber as well as leather boots and shoes it is desirable to insert a plate of
metal into the narrow portion of the shank, so as to secure more stiffness. Figure
10 shows a plate, the shank portion of which is corrugated so as to secure stiffness
with the least metal; the heel portion is provided with a nut; this plate is placed
on or between the sole, and the screw which secures the reversible tap enters the
nut on the plate, as shown in Figure 11, and secures the whole heel firmly to
the sole.
These heels can be made cheaper than the usual heels built up of separate
layers; they are lighter and wear. longer than the old style of heels, and present
a better appearance.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent,—
!
:
First. The combination with the heel shell C of a wooden tap "e," the whole
secured by nails passing through the wood into the sole, as described.
Second. The combination with the heel shell of a metal plate arranged to arrest
and clinch the nails, as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination with a heel shell of a metal plate provided with the
prongs ff, arranged to secure the shell, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a heel shell of a plate, the two secured together by
screws so as to clamp the sole between the plate and the shell, as described.
Fifth. The combination with a plate arranged to form a shank stiffener and pro-
vided with a nut of a heel shell and a renewable tap, the whole secured together by
a central screw, as described.
Sixth. The combination with a metal heel shell, secured to a boot or shoe in the
manner substantially as described, of a reversible or renewable tap secured by a
central screw, as described.
Seventh. A heel shell divided by a rim or plate into two parts, the upper part
enclosing the sole and the lower part the tap, arranged to be secured by nails
passing through the tap and through holes in the plate or rim, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Richardson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this the 31st day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.