Improvements in Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heels for Boots and Shoes.
We, DUNCAN MCNABB, Engineer, ANDREW LIVINGSTON, Engineer, and JEANNIE
COCHRANE, Widow, all of 81, Chapel Street, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the heels of boots and shoes; the object of the inven-
tion being to provide a simplified and also better form of construction of that
kind of heel which can be rotated so that it will wear evenly.
By this invention, the heel of a boot or shoe is formed of two parts of circular
section so that the lower part can be rotated without altering the outward
appearance of the heel. A metal plate is fitted to the upper part, and is stamped
with slits to form spring tongues when the portions enclosed by the slits are bent
outwardly. These tongues bear upon and normally engage apertures in a metal
plate attached to the lower part of the heel. The two plates are pivotally and
centrally joined together by a rivet.
It will be understood, that when the lower part of the heel is turned, the
spring tongues will snap in and out of the apertures in the other plate and retain
the movable part of the heel in any desired position.
In an alternative form of the invention, the upper part of the heel is formed
with a central cavity in which a sleeve is fitted to reciprocate vertically against
the pressure of a spring coiled around it, and in compression between a flange
on the upper part of the sleeve and the plate on the stationary part of the heel;
the sleeve passing through the plate. A screw is passed through an aperture in
the lower part of the heel and the plate thereon to bind said plate to the sleeve.
One plate has projections or pins which normally engage apertures radially
arranged in the other plate. To rotate the movable part of the heel it and the
sleeve are drawn down until the projections or pins clear the apertures afore men-
tioned;
the spring normally returning the parts when the heel is adjusted as
required.
000
Improvements in Heels for Boots and Shoes.
We, DUNCAN MCNABB, Engineer, ANDREW LIVINGSTON, Engineer, and JEANNIE
COCHRANE, Widow, all of 81, Chapel Street, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
n
037

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;-
-:
This invention relates to heels of boots and shoes which are capable of being
revolved to bring an unworn part to the back of the heel, when that part has
been worn down, thus reducing the frequency with which boots and shoes require
to be repaired.
The invention has for its object the provision of a simplified and better con-
struction of such heels.
Reference being had to the drawings hereunto attached, Figure 1 is a section
through so much of a boot as will serve to illustrate the invention; and Figs. 2,
3, and 4 are detail views of said invention. Figure 5 is a similar view to Fig. 1
but shewing an alternative form of the invention, and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail
views of some of the parts.
By this invention, the heel is made of circular section and in two parts 1 and 2,
the latter being movable on the former as hereinafter described.
The upper
fixed part 1 is recessed on its underside, and the lower part 2 on its upper sur-
face to receive two discs 3 and 4. These discs may be secured to the respective
parts of the heel by screws 5 inserted through countersunk holes 6. The upper
plate 3 is stamped out or otherwise slit as shewn at 7 to form spring-tongues 8.
The lower disc 4 is formed with apertures 9 as shewn.
Before the upper plate has been secured in position, an angular nut 10 is
inserted behind it in the angular cavity 11. The lower part of the heel having
been applied to the upper part, a screw 12 is inserted through the opening 13
in the lower part of the heel and is tightly screwed home into the nut 10, thus
movably uniting the discs and the respective parts of the heel. The opening 13
can then be filled in as shewn in Fig. 1 or by the lower layers of leather form-
ing the heel as shewn in Fig. 5.
When the rear part of the heel is worn down it is simply necessary to rotate
the lower part of the heel a quarter or half revolution, to bring an unworn part
to the rear. The lower part of the heel will be retained in position by the
tongues 8 which will spring in and out of the apertures 9, as will be readily
understood.
In Figs. 5 to 7 an alternative form of the device is shewn, and in this form the
disc 3 is formed with two or more apertures 14, through which pins 15 are driven
into the upper part of the heel, and a central aperture 16. It will be understood
however that the pins 15 may be replaced by projections formed integral with the
upper plate if preferred. The lower disc 4 has four apertures 17 and a central
aperture 18 equal in size or larger than the aperture 16. Both discs have aper-
tures 19 through which screws or nails may be driven to secure the discs in place.
Within the cavity 20 is the sleeve 21 having an annular flange 22, and its lower
end closed, with the exception of the central aperture 23. A spring 24 encom-
passes the sleeve and is compressed between the flange 22 and the disc 3.
screw 25, inserted from beneath, through the washer 26 and the aperture 23.
unites the discs and the upper and lower parts of the heel, and provides means
for regulating the tension of the spring 24. It is essential that the aperture 18
be the same size or larger than the aperture 16 to prevent the discs 3, 4, from
being tightly clamped together, as they would be were the sleeve 21 unable to
pass through the aperture 18 when the screw was inserted to the fullest extent.
A
When it is desired to rotate the heel, the lower portion is drawn downwardly
until the disc 4 clears the projecting ends of the pins 15. It is then turned until
the pins engage another pair of the apertures 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
(1) In a heel for boots and shoes, said heel consisting of an upper and lower

page_text: part, discs secured between said parts, one disc provided with spring tongues, and
the other disc provided with apertures to engage the spring tongues aforesaid, and
a central pivotal connection uniting said discs and the upper and lower parts of
the heel, all substantially as described and illustrated, and adapted to operate as
herein before set forth.
(2) In a heel for boots and shoes, said heel comprising an upper and lower part,
discs secured between said parts, coincident central and radially arranged aper-
tures formed in said discs, pins inserted through and projecting from the radially
arranged apertures in one disc, or formed integral therewith and projecting from
the surface thereof, a central cavity in the upper part of the heel, a flanged sleeve
vertically reciprocal in said cavity, a spring in compression between the aforesaid
flange and the upper disc, and a central pivotal connection movably uniting the
discs and the upper and lower parts of the heel, all substantially as described and
illustrated and adapted to operate as herein before set forth.
Dated this 5th day of December 1898.