IMPROVE- MENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Richardson, of the City of Providence, State
of Rhode Island, United States of America, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Richardson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1878.
FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS."
The object of this Invention is to produce a metallic boot or shoe heel that will
be strong, durable, and light, while composed of the fewest possible parts, that may
be firmly secured to the boot or shoe, and will increase the strength.and stiffness of
the counters, that will be provided with an easily renewable, interchangeable, or
reversible tap, presenting a durable wearing surface not liable to slip, to become"
loose, or be injured by exposure.
The said Invention consists in the peculiar construction of the metallic boot heel,
by which the shell is secured to the boot or shoe by a central plate, and the tap to
the shell, also in the filling of the tap, all as inore fully herein set forth.
The metallic heel shell has the outer form of a boot or shoe heel; it is provided
with a plate made preferably in one piece with the shell. A number of holes in
the said plate serve to secure the plate, and with it the heel shell to the boot or
shoe by means of nails (which should be clinched), screws, or other suitable means.
A flange is arranged to surround the sole of the boot or shoe, or when required is
raised sufficiently above the aforesaid plate to support the counter. A central screw
tapped boss extends downward from the said plate; a screw enters and fits the tap
in the said boss, and by it the heel tap is secured to the heel shell. The detachable
heel tap is made of a metal rim divided into two parts by a central or nearly
central plate. The said central plate extends outside the rims and forms a double

page_text: shoulder, by which the tap rests firmly against the lower edge of the shell, and
when secured to the shell by the said screw forms a solid structure.
A central boss forms a countersunk bearing for the head of the said screw, and
also protects the-screw-from-injury. The aforesaid rims are slightly bevelled to
allow them-to enter the shell and form a firm bearing on the same. The two rims
are usually made of equal width, so-that the top may be used with either side
upward, or the wearing surface of the tap may be readily reversed; the two sides
may however be made of different widths so that the height of the heel may
be changed. Thus when these heels are used on shoes or boots for soldiers the
higher portion may be used on parade, giving the man a better appearance and
more graceful motion, whilst on the march the tap may be reversed, and the lower
heel will cause less fatigue on a long march.
In some instances the heel is provided with a reversible tap, one side of which is
much higher than the other, the higher side extending below the heel shell.
The metal frame of the heel tap is filled with wood, not as heretofore with a
simple layer of wood, but with compressed wood, presenting the grain of the wood
as the wearing surface. By this arrangement several advantages are secured; first,
the fibres of the wood can be compressed more perfectly when the pressure is
applied laterally than when the pressure is applied endwise to the fibre; the softer
cellular tissues will yield more readily to the pressure, and the grain is more closely
packed. It presents a better wearing surface, as more of the hard fibres are con-
centrated in a given space, and wears longer as the friction and wear on the end of
the fibre has a tendency to beard or wedge each individual fibre, and the sand or
dirt is forced into the interstices of the cellular tissues still remaining, so that such
matter forced into the wood hardens the surface and increases the durability. This
filling is not liable to split, peel, or sliver, and the wooden filling will wear until all
the metal portion is worn away, which is not the case with the wood filling hereto-
fore used.
The heel tap may be readily interchanged when one side wears, and thus can be
maintained at a proper level. This is important for young persons, as the wearing
of the shoe heel on one side injures and weakens the ankle of the foot, and also
destroys the boot or shoe, and as these taps are also reversible a good new tap can
at once be substituted for a worn tap by simply reversing the same.
This metallic heel may be readily attached to a boot or shoe and securely held;
it will strengthen the shoe, and when the aforesaid flange extends to the counter it
firmly supports the same, and forms a firm and even support for the heel of the
foot. As the plate is made of the proper curve to receive the heel portion of the
sole it is substantial and strong, and can be made attractive or ornamental if desired.
By supporting the counter it prevents the breaking down of the same after the
boot or shoe has been wetted, and the tap ensures a good and firm hold, preventing
slipping on ice, snow, or smooth walks.

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
April 1879.
FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United
States of America. " IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE HEELS."
The object of this Invention is to produce a metallic boot or shoe heel that will
be strong, durable, and light, while composed of the fewest possible parts, that may
be firmly secured to the boot or shoe, and will increase the strength and stiffness of
the counters, that will be provided with an easily renewable, interchangeable, or
reversible tap, presenting a durable wearing surface not liable to slip, become
loose, or be injured by exposure.
The said Invention consists in the peculiar construction of the metallic boot heel,
by which the shell is secured to the boot or shoe by a central plate, and the tap to
the shell, and also in the filling of the tap, all as more fully herein-after set forth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoc provided with my improved metallic
heel.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the metallic heel applied so as to support the.
counter of the boot or shoe.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the metallic heel secured to a boot or shoe.
Figure 4 represents in side view the shell of the metallic heel and the reversible
tap detached, and the screw by which they are secured together.
Figure 5 is an under side view of the tap, showing the end of the grain of the
wood forming the wearing surface of the same.
Figure 6 is an under side view of the heel shell, showing the plate by which the
same is secured to the boot or shoe, the nail holes, and the central boss by which
the tap is secured to the said shell.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a lady's "dress" boot provided with a metallic
heel constructed according to this Invention.
. Figure 8 is a sectional view, shewing the method of attaching the said metallic
heels adapted for ladies' "dress" boots.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a walking or army shoe.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
a represents the boot or shoe; b, the sole; and c, the counter of the same; d
represents a metallic heel shell, which has the outer form of the boot or shoe heel;
it is provided with the plate e, made preferably in one piece with the said shell a,
and provided with a number of holes ff, which serve to secure the plate and with
it the heel shell d to the boot or shoe by means of nails, which should be clinched,
as shewn in the Drawing, or by screws or other suitable means.
g is a flange arranged to surround the sole of the boot or shoe, and when required
raised sufficiently high above the plate e to support the counter, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2; h is a central boss extending downward from the plate e, the said
boss being screw-tapped to receive the screw i, by means of which the heel tap lis
secured to the heel shell. The said detachable heel tap consists of a metal rim n
divided into two parts by the central or nearly central plate or diaphragm m; the
said central plate projects beyond the outer surface of the rims n, n, and forms a
double shoulder by which the tap rests firmly against the lower edge of the shell a,
and when secured to the shell by the screw i forms a solid structure.
A central boss o forms a countersink bearing for the head of the screw i, and also
protects the said screw from injury. The aforesaid rims n, n, are slightly bevelled
to allow them to enter the shell d, and form a firm bearing on the same.
The said.
rims are usually made of equal width, so that the tap may be used with either side
upward, that is to say, so that the wearing surface of the tap may be readily

page_text: reversed, and the said rims may in some cases be of a different depth, so that the
height of the heel may be changed at will; thus, when these heels are used on boots
or shoes for soldiers the higher portion may be used on parade, giving the man a
better appearance-and-more-graceful-motion,-and-the-tap may be reversed and the
lower portion used when on the march, thereby causing him less fatigue. This
construction of the reversible tap, having one side much higher than the other, is
represented in Figure 2, in which the higher side is shown extending below the
heel shell.
The metal frame of the heel tap is filled with compressed wood p, presenting the
grain of the same as the wearing surface, and not as has been done heretofore with
a simple layer of wood. By this arrangement several advantages are secured; that
is to say, the fibres-of the wood can be compressed more perfectly when the pressure
is applied laterally than when the pressure is applied endwise to the fibre; "the
softer cellular tissues will yield more readily to the pressure, and the grain is more
closely packed; it presents a better wearing surface, as more of the hard fibres are
concentrated in a given space, and wears longer as the friction and wear on the
end of the fibre has a tendency to beard or wedge each individual fibre, and sand or
dirt is forced into the interstices of the cellular tissues, and remains there and
hardens the surface and increases the durability. This filling is not liable to split,
peal, or sliver, and the wooden filling will wear until all the metal portion is worn
away, which is not the case with heels provided with the wood filling heretofore.
used..
This improved heel tap may be readily interchanged when one side wears, and
can thus be maintained at a proper level; this is important for young persons, as
the wearing of the shoe heel on one side injures and weakens the ankle of the foot
and also destroys the boot or shoe; and as these taps are also reversible a good-
new tap can at once be substituted for a worn tap by simply reversing the
same.
This metallic heel may be readily attached to a boot or shoe and securely held
thereon; it will strengthen the shoe, and when the flange extends to the counter it
firmly supports the same, and forms a firm and even support for the heel of the foot,
as the plate e is made of the proper curve to receive the heel portion of the sole.
It is substantial, strong, and can be made attractive or ornamental if desired. By
supporting the counter it prevents the breaking down of the same after the boot or
shoe has been welted, and the tap ensures a good and firm hold, preventing slipping.
on ice, snow, or smooth walks.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,
First. In a metallic heel the combination with the shell arranged to receive a
renewable tap of the base plate provided with lioles to permit the heel shell to be
secured to the boot or shoe, and with a screw boss to secure the tap to the shell, as
above described.
Second. In a metallic heel shell-arranged to -receive-a renewable-tap.the.combi-
nation with the shell of the plate e, made in one piece with the same and provided
with the screw boss and holes, as and for the purposes specified.
Third. In a metallic heel the combination with the heel shell made in one piece
with the plate e of the rim, arranged to support and protect the counter, as above
set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In combination with a metallic heel shell provided with the plate e
arranged to secure the shell to the boot or shoe the renewable and reversible tap
with two wearing surfaces and the screw, as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a reversible heel tap the combination of parts comprising the rims
provided with the plate or diaphragm projecting beyond the outer surface of the
same, the central boss, and the laterally compressed wooden wearing surface pre-
senting the end of the grain, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The combination with the metallic heel shell and plate made in one piece

page_text: of the double and reversible heel tap filled with laterally compressed wood, as and
for the purposes specified.
Seventh. A reversible heel tap arranged to regulate the height of the heel, as above
set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination with the heel shell provided with the plate e of a
reversible heel tap provided with a rin to rest against the lower edge of the shell,
and arranged to be secured to the same when the two sides of the said tap are of
different thickness, whereby the heel can be raised or lowered by reversing the tap,
as and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. A boot or shoe heel extending upward to support the counter, and down-
ward to receive a renewable tap, made in one piece of metal, with a plate arranged
to secure the heel to the boot or shoe, and also to secure the tap to the heel, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Richardson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
FREDERICK RICHARDSON. (L.S.)