Shoe or Slipper for Athletes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Shoe or Slipper for Athletes.
1, WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, Gentleman, residing at No. 3024 South Jefferson
Avenue, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, U.S A., 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:-
My invention relates to an improved shoe or slipper for athletes; and it consists
in the novel features of construction, hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved shoe or slipper.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the indicated
line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the preferred form of the elastic pad used in
carrying out my invention.
Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a modified form of this pad.
Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the vamp or
body of my improved shoe or slipper, the same being constructed in the usual form
and of any flexible material. The front opening in the vamp may be drawn
together by the usual lace, or in any suitable manner.
2 indicates the sole, constructed of any suitable flexible material and secured to
the vamp or body of the slipper in any ordinary manner.
3 indicates the usual stiffening piece that is located just inside the heel-portion
of the vamp or body 1.
4 indicates an inner sole or lining that is located directly upon the sole 2, and
said lining extends upwardly at the rear of the vamp and covers the stiffening 3.
Located between the sole 2 and the lining 4 at the heel of the shoe or slipper is a
body 5 of compressible, elastic material, such as felt, sponge rubber, curled hair, etc.
This body 5 is wedge-shaped when viewed in side elevation, and the point of said
wedge-shaped body extends toward the front of the toe of the slipper in order to
accommodate the curvature of the sole of the wearer's foot.
In some instances, the body of elastic material 5 is fixed to a section of flexible
material 6 in any suitable manner, the rear end of said section 6 being turned
upwardly, as indicated by 7, and is located and held in any suitable manner
between the lining and the stiffening 3.
It may be understood that where athletes are practicing in a gymnasium, or the
like, they jump or alight upon the floor in such a manner as that their entire
weight comes upon their heels, the effects of which often result seriously. This
difficulty is entirely overcome by a slipper constructed in accordance with the
foregoing description, as the flexible elastic pads in the heels of the slippers reduce
to a minimum the sudden jar given to a persen's body as a result of alighting upon
the heels.
My improved shoe or slipper is particularly adapted for use in gymnasiums and
places having hard floors, though it may be advantageously used by all classes of
athletes.
A shoe or slipper of my improved construction possesses superior advantages in
noint of simplicity. durability and general efficiency.

page_text: 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 :
The improved shoe or slipper for athletes having the stiffening-piece 3 located
inside the heel-portion of the vamp 1, an inner sole or lining 4 located directly
upon the sole 2 and having the rearward extension which projects upward within
the heel-portion of the vamp and is connected thereto at a point near the upper
edge of the counter, a body 5 of compressible elastic material wedge-shaped and
located within the heel between said lining 4 and said sole 2, and a section 6 of
flexible material secured beneath said body 5 and having a rear vertical extension 7
formed integral with said section 6 and extending upward between said stiffening-
piece 3 and said inner lining and secured thereto at a point adjacent the upper edge
of the latter, substantially as herein specified.
Dated the
day of
1806
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER.