Improvements in and relating to Socks or Removable Insoles of Shoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct. 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Socks or Removable Insoles
of Shoes.
We, JOHANN FRIEDRICH ADOLPH MIETHLING of 16 Spandauer Strasse,
Berlin, Master Shoemaker and LOUIS CHRISTIAN SIMON and OTTO BOMBORN,
both of 20 Exercier Strasse, Berlin, Building Contractors, 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 relates to a frame-like device for keeping the removable insoles
of shoes or boots, no matter of what material, stretched or extended, so that
twisting, wrinkling or moving of such insole in the shoe, is prevented. It is there-
fore rendered possible by this improved device to employ any suitable material, for
insoles, since a very loose or thin material, as, for instance, flannel can also be
stretched, and kept extended by this device. At the same time this device has the
further great advantage, that the nails, which may have penetrated the inner sole,
are covered by the stretcher-frame, and consequently are not perceptible to the
sensitive foot; injuries to the feet from walking etc. are therefore avoided.
We will now describe our invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1. is a plan view of such a stretcher-frame for shoes, the last being the
same for both feet.
Fig. 2. is a sole for the right foot, having different lasts for both feet.
Fig. 3. is a section on line a-a, of Fig. 2.
The stretcher device consists of a frame a, the contour & shape of which
corresponds to the form of a last & is made to fit the shoe, & the insole to be
put into same. Near the middle of the frame a, where the sole bends during
walking, a transverse connection or cross-piece 7, is provided for strengthening
the same.
The frame a & cross-piece b need only be made very narrow, viz. :-in
accordance with the distance of the rows of nails attaching the sole of the shoe &
especially according to the kind of insole required; i.e. whether a very elastic, or
as for instance, in shoes with double soles, an insole of less elasticity is required;
the smaller the frame a, the more elastic it is.
On the edge of the frame a, as will be seen from the drawings, pairs of holes, c.
are provided, which serve for sewing or fastening by stitches the frame to the
material to be employed for the insole, (not shewn on the drawings). Felt, flannel,
cork, straw, sponge, or other suitable material may be used as insole. Any other
means of securing the insole to the frame a, may be employed instead of stitching.
For instance thin material for the insole can be turned underneath the outer edges
of the stretcher-frame a, and secured by means of any suitable adhesive material.
Or the insole may be made of two layers of material in the form of pocket,
& sewn all round the edges, the under layer being cut in the middle to admit of the
insertion of the stretcher-frame a. These layers can also be left unsewn, at one
side or end, for fulfilling the same purpose. Another suitable method of connecting
the insole with the frame, is to secure a small border of fabric, or the like, corre-
sponding with the shape of the sole, to the underside of the insole by means of
stitching the edges, which then secure the inserted frame. By the latter arrange-
ment, the insole need not be permanently fixed to the frame; consequently worn
insoles can be easily replaced, or the frame easily inserted into a new insole.
order to prevent the stretched insole moving or sliding in a somewhat large shoe,
the frame a may be provided with points d, which enter the inner sole of the boot
or shoe, by the pressure of the foot on the frame. Such points can be preferably
formed by punching or stamping when cutting out the frame a; they may
In

page_text: however be dispensed with or substituted by other suitable means for securing
the sole.
Thin elastic & resistable sheet metal is preferably used for the stretcher-frame.
Other material may, however be employed to advantage, as for instance, elastic or
springy wood; indiarubber vulcanite celluloid etc. Independent of the insole, the
fraine a, can be used for protecting the foot from nails, in which case a thin paper
sole is preferably laid over the frame, or the latter placed under the inner sole, so
that the edges of the stretcher-frame are not felt by the font.
This invention is not restricted to either the employment of a certain material,
or a particular form of insole & stretcher frame, since such can be modified without
departing from the gist of this invention.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we
claim, is :-
1. An improved device for keeping insoles stretched or extended, or preventing
same from twisting, wrinkling, or moving in the shoe, consisting of a frame a,
corresponding to the shape of the foot, & made of elastic material, the insole being
secured to same by stitching, adhesion, or other suitable manner, substantially
as described & shewn in the drawings.
2. An improved device for keeping insoles stretched, consisting of a frame a, to
be inserted & secured in a pocket-like insole, made of two layers of fabric
& provided with side or middle slits for inserting the frame, without requiring to
be permanently secured to the insole, substantially as described & shewn.
3. An improved device for keeping insoles stretched, consisting of a frame a,
connected to the insole so as to be easily removable, by stitching a border of fabric
or other suitable material, all round the under edge of the insole, into which
border said frame is inserted, substantially as described & shewn in the drawings.
4. An improved device for keeping the insoles stretched, consisting of a frame a
in the shape of a sole & provided underneath with points or pins, which enter
the inner sole & prevent same from moving in the shoe, substantially as described
& shewn.
5. An insole for shoes or boots which is prevented from twisting, wrinkling, or
moving by being suitably secured to a stretcher-frame a substantially as described
& shewn.
6. The use of stretcher-frame a without insole, for protecting the foot from
nails, which may have penetrated to the inside of the shoe, substantially as described
& shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicants.