Adjustable Heel for Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug.,
1898
Adjustable Heel for Shoes.
I, BERNARD MCKIERNAN, of 216, S, San Joaquin Street, in the City of Stockton,
San Joaquin County, State of California, United States of America, Shoe Manu-
facturer, 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 present invention relates to adjustable heels for shoes and its prime objects
are to provide a heel, simple, compact and comparatively inexpensive, and one
in which the wearing surface is soft and yielding and capable of being quickly
and readily adjusted, to take up any wear on its surface as a whole or any particular
portion thereof, or to accommodate the peculiarities of tread of particular
individuals.
The cushioned wearing portion of the heel is reversible in its arrangement with
the shoe, and in this and its adjustable character, the practical value of the inven-
tion centres, as these qualities more than discount the expense of the remain-
ing elements of the device and thereby bring the heel within the means of the
majority of individuals.
Other objects and advantages of my present invention may appear to those
familiar with this class of devices.
In the drawings referred to, similar numerals of references are employed to
designate corresponding parts in the several views and in which;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ordinary gentleman's laced shoe, a portion of the
heel being shown in section.
Fig. is a central section of the full sized heel, taken on the line a, & Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the heel taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a central section showing a portion of the metal part of the device
imbedded in the rubber.
Fig. 5 is a section of a modification.
Referring to the above views, I might say introductorily to the following
explanation, that the entire shoe with the exception of the heel is made as
ordinarily, without any provision being made for the reception of my invention.
The first elements in the construction of my device consists of a thin rim or case 1,
formed preferably of metal or other suitable material, which completely bounds
the vertical walls or faces of the heel and can be made to conform in appearance
with various styles of heels either of the low, high, spring, or French model. It
is my intention to cover this rim with thin leather of any color desirable, as is
done on the ordinary wooden heels of ladies shoes.
As a means for securing this rim 1 to the shoe, I have provided the series of
integrally formed lugs 2, 21, 21 and cross-plate 3. By means of a screw 4 passing
upward through the plate 3 and into the shoe, the rim is held firmly thereto,
while the spurs 5 on the lugs 2, 21, 211 prevent the rim from twisting or laterally
shifting out of place.
Fitting snugly within this shell 1 is the wearing portion 6 of the heel and is
made of rubber or other suitable yielding substance. The rubber may be either
pure or formed with other constituents to add to its durability or clinging quality.

page_text: To the under portion of this yielding portion 6 I have secured by cement or
suitable screws 7 the rim-plate 8; or this plate may be cast or formed in the
rubber as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
Penetrating this plate 8 and at proper and desirable localities relative to the
portion 6, is a series of threaded perforations through which protrude the threaded
shanks of the screws 9, which latter are swivelly mounted in the lugs 10 formed
integral with the shell 1.
It is manifest that, by means of a suitable screw-driver inserted in a perfora-
tion 11 leading to the slotted head of the screws 9, the latter can be readily turned,
which operation necessarily forces the portion 6 inward or outward and thereby
regulates the amount the rubber projects beyond the shell 1.
It is further evident that, should the heel become unevenly worn at any one
locality, the screw or screws at that point can be readily turned to elevate the
rubber, and thereby even the elevation of the surface of the heel, or, by adjust-
ing the entire series of screws equally, the whole surface of the rubber is moved
a corresponding degree.
Should the portion 6 become considerably worn, say approximately one half
worn away, the arrangement of the parts enables it being reversed and its under
surface presented thereby giving the effect of an entire new heel capable of
again withstanding full wear of an ordinary heel.
The ready capability of the yielding portion being easily repaired is an impor-
tant item, as it will be seen that any exposed vertical seam incident to cementing
or otherwise attaching a patch, or building up a worn part is hidden and pro-
tected by the outer shell.
In the matter of expense in construction, it will be seen that the thickness of
the yielding substance employed is less than the height of the complete heel, as
there is a considerable space between the rubber and the shoe proper. Now, in
the ordinary manner of forming cushioned heels, this expensive substance must
necessarily occupy the entire space of the heel and, consequently, add a corres-
ponding amount to the cost of manufacture.
Lastly, considering the matter of economy to the consumer, it is patent to those
closely familiar with the wearing quality of shoes, that so long as the even tread
of the wearer is preserved, the life of the shoe is materially increased, for, should
any one part of the sole become worn sufficiently to reach the uppers, the entire
remaining portion may be sound and firm and still the shoe be in such a con-
dition as to make it necessary for immediate repairs, or entirely discarded as
worn out. Now, it is manifest that, if the portion of the shoe first coming in con-
tact with the ground is preserved with an even surface, the remaining portion
must necessarily bear evenly on the ground, and as this first contact point is the
heel, it will be seen that I have provided a means for remedying this matter and
thereby make a great saving to the consumer.
From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a heel, simple,
durable, yielding and compact in its nature and embodying all the points of
advantage set forth in the preamble to this specification, as well as the even wear-
ing quality lastly referred to.
I am aware that other means for accomplishing these ends may be resorted to
and I therefore wish to protect myself in the matter of mechanical equivalents.
In Fig. 5 one or more circular holes are bored through the leather heel and a
large headed-screw 9 is driven into the hole until the head rests against the under
surface of the sole. The circular rubber plug is then inserted in this circular
cavity with the perforated metal washer 8 engaging with the screw 9. It will
be seen that by inserting a small screw-driver into the hole 11 the screw 9 can
be turned and the rubber 6 made to move out or into the circular hole. In turn-
ing this screw the rubber 6 and washer 8 remain non-revoluble as the former
grips or hugs the walls of the circular hole, and the latter being held firmly in
the rubber cannot turn independently.

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-
1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an outer shell of an
inner wearing surface and means for adjusting said surface relative to said shell,
as set forth.
2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an outer shell of an
inner wearing surface and means for adjusting said surface relative to said shell,
said surface being capable of reversal within said shell, substantially as set forth.
3. A heel for shoes provided with a wearing surface, said surface being adjust-
ably secured to said shoe for the purpose set forth.
4. A flexible yielding surface for the heels of shoes, said surface being cast or
moulded about one or more metal plates, said plates being perforated for the
reception of a screw or other securing means.
5. A heel for shoes, provided with a yielding surface, a metal plate secured to
said surface and one or more adjustable screws penetrating said plate, substan-
tially as set forth.
Doted this 22nd day of Anvil 1808
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.