An Improved Heel Stiffener for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left. 19th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
Date of Application, 27th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left. 19th Mar.. 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
An Improved Heel Stiffener for Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HOLMES BUELL of Laughlingtown, County of Westmoreland,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Waggon Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The heel stiffener of this invention is formed from a blank of metal or other
sufficiently rigid material. The blank is formed with a central and enlarged
curvature for the back of the stiffener and with inward extensions having their
adjacent edges, when the stiffener is bent into shape, substantially in parallel lines
and cut backward and outward at their inner ends to afford a space between said
extensions and the curved back, the former being in the horizontal and the latter
in the vertical plane.
Dated this 27th day of June 1896.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM HOLMES BUELL of Laughlingtown, County of Westmoreland,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Waggon Maker, 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 has for object to provide an improved form of heel stiffener
capable of adjustment for boots and shoes of different sizes.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shews the blank, formed of steel capable of bending, or of other
suitable metal, or of leather if so desired, from which the stiffener is formed.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stiffener and Fig. 3 another perspective view
shewing the bottom thereof.
The blank is formed with a central curvature or enlargement A tapering down
towards each end. The lower edge is cut away to form a gap B, of which C is
the top line, and D the ends thereof forming V shaped notches."
The completed device consists of the back or body part A rounded to the shape
of the boot or shoe heel, while the extremities G of the blank are bent inward on
line F-F to form the bottom flange plates which are secured in the heel bottom
and hold the stiffening in place. When bent to proper form the notches form
spaces which separate the inner ends of flanges G from back A, and these spaces
permit the enlargement or contraction of the stiffener by affording room for the
back A to be bent in a short curve for small shoes or more gradual curve for
larger ones without interfering with the ends of said flange plates G. At the

page_text: same time the flange plate ends are cut backward or outward in curved lines so as
to substantially conform to the curvature of the body portion A when in use.
The inner adjacent edges of the flange plates are substantially parallel and
extending from end to end of the device and so exist whether the stiffener be
adjusted for a small or large shoe or boot.
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. An improved heel stiffener comprising the curved back or body portion A
the inward extensions G having their adjacent edges substantially in parallel
lines and cut backward and outward at their inner ends to afford space between
said ends and the body A, substantially as described and shewn.
2. An improved heel stiffening device comprising the vertical curved back or
body portion A, the integral bottom flange plates formed by turning inward the
bottom edge of the curved portion A, the inner ends of the said flange plate being
bent backward and outward to afford a space between the same and the curved
.backing A, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 19th day of March 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.