Improvements in Flexible or Spring Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible or Spring Heels for Boots and Shoes.
I, GEORGE ELBRIDGE SWAN, of Beaver Dam in the County of Dodge, and State of
Wisconsin, United States of America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature of
my 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 flexible or spring heels of that class in which a device
comprising a cushion and retaining plates is adapted to be applied to the heel of the
boot or shoo.
The object of my present invention is to provide an improved flexible heel which
will effectually obviate the jar usually experienced in walking upon stone pavements,
and which will effectually operate to give a forward spring in walking, thereby imparting
ease and elasticity to the step of the wearer.
Ordinarily, in walking, a propelling action is effected by the ball of the foot, and
my improved flexible heel is designed, by its forward-spring movement as herein-
after described, to impart a supplementary propelling movement to the heel in stepping
or walking.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which will
possess advantages in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction, dura-
bility and general efficiency in operation, which can be readily applied to the heels of
boots and shoes now in use, and which will wear longer than heels of ordinary
construction by reason of its yielding or elastic quality.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the heel and rear portion of a shoe provided with
my improvement.
Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Fig. 3 a bottom view of the heel.
Fig. 4 a detail perspective view of the spring-device detached.
Fig. 5 a detail transverse sectional view thereof.
Fig. 6 a detail view of the front edge.
Fig. 7 a detail bottom view.

page_text: Fig. 10 a detail view of the front edge, illustrating a modification.
Fig. 11 a corresponding view illustrating another modification.
Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the heel of a boot or shoe, comprising the
usual layers of leather a, the lowermost layers having been removed to provide for the
attachment of the spring-device B.
This spring device comprises a spring-plate bent up from a single piece of plate-
steel, and comprising upper and lower sections, C, D, corresponding to the shape of
the heel in horizontal section, and flexibly connected by a bend, E at their front
edges.
The connecting bend E is preferably centrally disposed as shown in Fig. 6, thus
leaving a free open portion along the front edges at each side the bend to permit the
forward-spring inovement hereinafter described.
Between the sections CD is scated a corresponding flat cushion F, of rubber or
other suitable material. This cushion is retained in position between the sections of
the plate by means of a central bolt or rivet G, passing through an eye or opening
in the lower section D, through a corresponding eye g in the cushion, and through
an opening, g in the upper section C, the end being rivetted to the upper section while
the head g³, rests against the lower section.
This single rivet serves to connect the sections of the plate, and retain the cushion
between the same, and the cushion is prevented by the connecting bend E from turning
on the rivet.
To the face of the lower section is secured a corresponding layer of leather H, by
means of a series of small nails or screws 1, extending around the edge of the same,
and passing through perforations i, in the lower section, their ends or points being
bent over or clinched as shown at 12. This leather layer H forms the wearing surface
of the heel and may be secured in position in any suitable manner, and it is preferably
provided at its outer edge with a series of steel slugs J (Figs. 3 and 7) passing only
through the leather and preventing the same from wearing down."
The device is secured in position against the bottom of the ordinary heel by means
of screws K, passing entirely through openings L, formed preferably at each corner
and at the rear edge of the heel. These openings L extend through the layer of
leather H, the lower section, and through the cushion, so that the heads of the screws K
set up against the upper section and thus permit an unimpeded action of the spring-
plate and cushion. Perforations are provided in the upper section C for the passage
of the screw shanks.
The opening g in the lower section D is of greater diameter than the rivet G. This
enlarged opening thus allows an unimpeded forward spring movement of the lower
portion of the spring device (comprising the cushion, lower portion and leather) with
relation to the upper section which is rigidly secured to the heel. An enlarged
opening M, is also provided in the leather to permit lateral movement of the head g³
of the rivet during this forward-spring movement.
In practice, the openings L and M are preferably closed by a packing of rubber or
other suitable material, as shown at N, Figs. 2 and 3.
The operation and advantages of my invention are manifest. The spring-device is
applied to the bottom of the heel proper as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in walking,
when the heel strikes the ground, the device effects a double spring movement, that
is to say the sections of the plate spring together, while the lower portion of the
spring-device, comprising the cushion, lower section and wearing surface (which
portion is not rigidly secured to the heel) has a forward-spring movement at the free
open portion of the front edge of the plate. During the forward-spring movement
the lower section slightly twists with relation to the upper section (the latter being
rigidly connected to the heel) as much as the bend will allow. Many advantages are
obtained by this forward-spring movement, principal among which is the fact that it
imparts a supplementary propelling power to the heel in stepping or walking, and thus
renders the step easy and elastic.
By having the connecting bend E centrally located as above set forth, the device is

page_text: adapted for application to, and serves with equal efficiency upon, either the right or
left shoe. The forward-spring movement will always be towards the inner side of the
foot: therefore assuming the device as shown in Fig. 9 to be in position upon the
right shoe, the forward spring will be in the direction indicated by the arrow.
By reason of the yielding or elastic action of the spring-device, the wearing
surface Hoffers less frictional resistance to the pavement or ground, and will there-
fore wear longer than an ordinary heel. The durability of the heel is thus greatly
enhanced.
To secure greater durability, the leather layer H forming the wearing surface may
be of special thickness and may be saturated with asphaltum to render it hard and
impervious.
It is manifest that numerous modifications may be made in the construction and
arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,
and I therefore do not limit my invention to the exact construction and arrangement
herein shown and specified, but reserve the right to all such changes as properly fall
within the terms of my claims.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 10, the connecting bend E is at one side the
front edges of the sections of the plate, and preferably extends about one-third the
length of said edges, thus leaving a free open portion for about two-thirds the length
of the front edges to permit the forward-spring-movement. In this construction,
rights" " and "lefts are used, and the right and left spring devices are applied to
the heels of their respective shoes with the bend E at the front outer side, so that in
walking a forward-spring movement will be permitted at the free open portion of the
front edge of the plate at the front inner side of the heel.
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29
In Fig. 11 have shown a further modification, in which a narrow connecting
bend E is provided both at the front outer side and near the centre of the front edges,
this construction being especially adapted to give the requisite strength and dura-
bility when an especially soft and flexible steel plate is employed, as is sometimes
desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An elastic or spring device adapted for application to the heels of boots and
shoes, and comprising a spring plate having an upper and lower section, substantially
as described, flexibly connected and corresponding in outline to the heel, an elastic
cushion secured between the said sections and corresponding in outline to one of the
layers of the heel, and a wearing surface secured against the lower section and carried
thereby, the said device being adapted to be secured to and against the bottom of the
heel proper; substantially in the manner set forth.
2. An elastic or spring device adapted for application to the heels of boots and
shoes, and comprising a spring-plate having an upper and lower section flexibly
connected at their front edges, the upper section being adapted to be rigidly secured
to the bottom of the heel proper so that the lower portion has a spring movement
with relation to the heel, an elastic cushion seated between the sections of the plate,
a retaining bolt or rivet rigidly secured to the upper section and projecting through
the cushion and lower section, and a wearing surface corresponding to and secured
against the lower section; substantially as set forth.
3. An elastic or spring device adapted for application to the heels of boots and
shoes, and comprising a spring plate bent up from a single piece forming an upper
and lower section flexibly connected at their front edges, the upper section being
adapted to be rigidly secured to the bottom of the heel proper so that the lower
portion of the device has a spring movement with relation to the heel and upper
section, an intermediate cushion secured between the sections of the plate, and retained
against lateral displacement by the said connection, a central rivet or bolt secured to
the upper section and passing down through the cushion and lower section and
provided with the retaining head, a layer of leather forming the wearing surface, and

page_text: devices connecting this layer to the bottom of the lower section; substantially as set
.forth.
4. In an elastic or spring device adapted for application to the heels of boots and
shoes, a spring plate comprising an upper and lower section corresponding in outline
to the heel and flexibly connected at the front edges of the sections, said connection
extending across a portion of the length of the front edge, and thus leaving a free
open portion, substantially as set forth, the upper section being adapted to be rigidly
secured to the bottom of the heel-proper, and the lower section having a spring
movement with relation to the upper section and a forward-spring movement upon
the connection and towards the free portion of the front edges of the sections, and an
intermediate cushion; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In an elastic or spring device adapted for application to the heels of boots and
shoes, the combination, with a spring plate comprising an upper and lower section
flexibly connected, the lower section having an enlarged opening g, and with a corre-
sponding cushion having an eye, of a central retaining bolt or rivet secured to the
upper section and passing down through the eye of the cushion, through enlarged
opening and provided with a head by which the sections are retained together,
whereby the lower portion of the device has a spring movement with relation to tho
rigid upper section; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described elastic or spring
device adapted for application to the bottom of the heel of boots and shoes,
comprising a spring plate bent up from a single piece and forming an upper and lower
section connected by a bend, a corresponding intermediate cushion, a bolt or rivet
connecting the sections of the plate and securing the cushion in position, and a leather
wearing surface secured against the under face of the lower section, the whole being
adapted to be detachably secured to the heel by means of screws or equivalent devices
as described; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with the heel of a boot or shoe, of an elastic or spring device
comprising an upper section having perforations 1, a lower section having an enlarged
opening and connected with the upper section by a bend, an intermediate cushion, a
bolt or rivet secured to the upper section and passing through the cushion and opening g
and provided with a retaining head, a wearing surface secured to the bottom of the
lower section and having an enlarged opening M, openings L in the wearing surface,
lower section and cushion, and screws passing through the upper section; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of October 1887