Improvements in and in connection with Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Heels for Boots and Shoes.
I, BÉLA LODERER, of Buda-Pest, Hungary, Captain in the Army, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This invention relates mainly to an improved construction of interchangeable
heels for boots and shoes, whereby on the one hand such heels of whatever con-
struction can be readily removed and replaced by others, and on the other hand,
an ordinary heel can be replaced by a new construction of heel with spring action,
according as the nature of the ground or a desired accelerated marching speed
may require.
The new construction of spring action heel is such that its component parts
are not exposed to the detrimental external influences of moisture and dust, while
the heel is as regards its external form, indistinguishable from an ordinary heel.
I will describe my said invention in connection with the accompanying drawing
in which Fig. 1 shews a vertical section through one construction of the improved
interchangeable spring action heel, Fig. 2 shews an underside plan of the same,
Fig. 3 and 4 shew an elevation and plan of the heel as constructed for a ladies boot
or shoe Figs. 5 and 6 perspective views of one construction of the sole plate and
separated heel; Figs. and 8 similar views of the construction shewn at Fig. 1.
Fig. 9 shews a construction suitable for flat-footed persons; Fig. 10 shews a
vertical section of a modification in which the spring acts directly upon the inner
sole of the boot, while the heel itself is fixed and rigid.
The interchangeable heels heretofore employed were either constructed so that
only the bottom plate of the heel could be changed or so that the entire heel
could be changed.
In the latter case the heel was rendered removeable either by means of an
externally visible device, such as a stud etc., which was consequently exposed to
deterioration by wear and concussions in walking or the securing device occupied
the entire inner space of the heel, and required more or less complicated manipu-
lations for effecting the change.
According to my present invention, the ready removal and replacing of the heels
is effected by a combination of parts having sliding action and consisting of a sole
plate a which is fixed to the sole either by claw clamps Z as at Fig. 7 or by small
screws Figs. 2 and 4. The outer edge of the sole plate is formed by a folded
over part F shewn more clearly at Fig. 7; the middle bar of the plate has a
longitudinal groove N; at the back part thereof is a rectangular notch R which
serves for the engagement of the end of the spring f fixed to the heel as at
Figs. 1 and 8. The heel, which may either be an ordinary leather one, or
one with spring action, or of caoutchouc, carries on its upper face the
plate spring f and projections f¹ which on the insertion of the heel enter the
longitudinal groove N of the sole plate. With heels of ordinary construction
there is fixed on the upper surface thereof a horse shoe shaped plate 6 Fig. 4
with slightly turned up rim which slides into the fold F of the sole plate.
The spring f Fig. 3 is in this case directly fixed on the leather or other upper
surface of the heel.
With the spring action heel the upper covering plate 6 Figs. 1 and 8 projects

page_text: somewhat beyond the heel and carries on its upper face the spring ƒ and pro-
jections 1.
On inserting the heel these parts enter the groove N as before described; the
projecting edge of the plate enters the fold F Fig. 7 of the sole plate a and
the spring f Fig. 8 springs into the notch R of that plate when the heel is in
position.
The spring heel is otherwise constructed as follows. The cover plate b is fixed
to the top of the casing c by means of the small screws m. The play of the
spring S is limited by hooks projecting from the upper part c of the casing which
engage with loops on the lower part d, of the casing as shewn at Fig. 1.
The spring S, which is of round or flat steel wire, is so formed that it can be
pressed quite flat and in consequence of the form of the heel its axis forms an
angle with the vertical line; it bears at top against the cover plate b and at
the bottom against the bottom of the lower part d of the casing.
A covering 7
of leather or other flexible material is clamped between b and c at top and between d
and the horseshoe shaped plate at bottom, and is also secured by nails, claws
&c., if required. For thickening the heel a leather plate can be inserted between 7
and h.
The heel is thus enclosed watertight on the one hand by the plate b, on the
other hand by the flexible covering 7 and by the said leather plate at bottom
when used it can be readily removed and any part thereof be renewed. Figs. 5
and 6 shew a modified form of the fixing device; the invention is here offected
from the rear end of the sole, the fold F being in this case formed on the plate b
and the spring catch f is the front end of the heel and springs into an opening R
in the front end of the sole plate a.
The elastic heel is of the same construction as before.
Fig. 9 shows the combination with the elastic heel with a blade spring P
imbedded in the sole of the boot, this arrangement being intended for flat-footed
persons.
Fig. 10 shews a modification of the spring heel in which the latter has itself
no spring action but contains a spring acting upon the inner sole t of the boot
which thus has spring action imparted to it. The bottom plate G is removeable,
being fixed by screws as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In removeable heels for boots and shoes, a sole plate a secured by screws i
or claws Z and having a folded edge F, operating in combination with a plate b
on the removeable heel, having a spring catch f the edge of the plate 6 being
slid into the fold F of plate a and also fitting with projections into the groove N
of plate A with a notch R which the spring f engages when the heel is in
position, substantially as described.
2. An improved construction of elastic heel enclosed in a watertight manner,
consisting of a casing composed of an upper part e connected by hooks with a
lower part d, within which casing is confined a spring S the casing being enclosed
water tight by a flexible covering 7 secured by clamping and by nails or claws,
substantially as described.
3. The modified form of spring action heel herein described with reference to
Fig. 10 wherein the heel itself is rigid and contains a spring that acts upon the
inner sole of the boot or shoe.
Dated this 21st dow of Invil 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.