IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES." A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Dalton and Gustave Simon, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturers.
Sealed the 4th June 1878, and dated the 1st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE HEELS FOR
BOOTS AND SHOES." [A communication from abroad by Joseph Dalton and
Gustave Simon, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturers.]
The object of this Invention is to provide an adjustable heel of metal or other
suitable material for boots and shoes, in which the wearing plate or disc shall be
more firmly and securely held and supported against lateral thrust and displacement
than has been heretofore practicable. And the said Invention comprises a novel
combination of parts, whereby this object is effected.
The metallic boot heel made according to said Invention has a frame, the rear
half of whose circumference is made semicircular to conform to the corresponding
portion of the ordinary leathern heel of the boot or shoe upon which it is placed.
The inner portion of the aforesaid frame is provided with a downwardly projecting
wearing surface, the inner edge of which forms a semicircular shoulder opposite the
rearmost circumferential portion. This frame is provided with a suitable number
of countersunk holes, through which screws may be passed to attach the said frame
firmly and rigidly to the common or leather heel of the boot or shoe. To diminish
the weight of this frame, portions may be cut away.
It is to be particularly noted that in this frame at the axis of the circle described
by the circumferential portion and the shoulder or edge, there is a circular orifice or

page_text: socket which receives the hub of the said plate or disc. The latter is flat and cir-
cular, and has such a diameter as to fit easily upon that portion of the frame
circumscribed by the circle, and of a thickness sufficient to bring its outer surface
coincident or nearly so with the wearing surface of the said frame.
Upon this plate or disc is formed the central circular hub, which fits within the
socket of the frame, and coming in contact with the straight or vertical sides of the
said socket, effectually prevents any lateral displacement of the plate or disc by
blows or thrusts or pressure exerted from any direction upon the edge or circum-
ference of the said plate or disc. In the said plate or disc is a central countersunk
hole through which in the attachment of the metallic heel to the boot or shoe is
passed a screw; the head of this screw so fits the countersink of the hole, as to be
flush with the outer surface of the said plate or disc, and at the same time retains
or suspends the disc or plate upon the frame. In other words it prevents the de-
tachment of the plate or disc while the screw itself is relieved from lateral strain,
the latter being borne or taken up by the hub fitted into the socket, as herein-before
explained. The said plate or disc which receives the greater portion of the wear
when this Invention is in use may be readily turned to bring any desired portion
of its circumference coincident with any desired portion of the circumference of the
common or leathern heel of the boot or shoe to which it is affixed, and the wearing
away of one portion of the said plate or disc may be readily compensated by turning
an unworn portion thereof to the position wherein the greatest wear is incurred.
It is to be observed that the plate or disc, and also the frame, may be inade of
metal or any other suitable material, and that the said plate or disc, instead of being
circular, may be of octagonal or other shape.
It will further be observed that this Invention provides an adjustable heel, which
sustains in all its bearings or particulars the unaltered shape of the shoe heel in
general use. In other words the shoe heel with this Invention applied thereto
retains its ordinary form at the same time that it secures the advantages arising
from the said Invention.

page_text: Figure 1 is an inverted plan of a boot or shoe fitted with an adjustable heel
made according to said Invention; Figure 2, is a side view; and Figure 3, a
vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Figure 4 is an inverted plan of one of the parts; and Figure 5 is a sectional view
on a somewhat larger scale, of the Invention detached from the boot or shoe.
And, Figure 6 comprises like sections of the frame and plate or disc of the metallic
heel detached from each other.
A is the frame of the metallic boot heel made according to the said Invention, the
rear half of the circumference of which is of semicircular form, as shown at a in
Figs. 1 and 4, to conform to the corresponding portion of the ordinary leathern heel
of the boot or shoe upon which it is placed. The inner portion of the frame afore-
said is provided with a downwardly projecting wearing surface b, the inner
edge of which forms a semicircular shoulder opposite the rearmost circum-
ferential portion a. This frame is provided with a suitable number of counter-
sunk holes c, through which screws may be passed to attach the said frame
firmly and rigidly to the common or leathern heel of the boot or shoe. In order
to lessen the weight of this frame, portions may be cut away, as shown at d in
Fig. 4.
It is to be particularly noted that in this frame A, at the axis of the circle described
by the circumferential portion a and the shoulder or edge 61, there is a circular
orifice or socket m which receives the hub n of the plate or disc B. This latter is
flat, of circular form, and of a diameter sufficient to fit easily upon that portion of
the frame A, circumscribed by the circle a, b', and of a thickness sufficient to bring
its outer surface coincident or nearly so with the wearing surface b of the frame A.
Upon this plate or disc B is formed the central circular hub n just mentioned,
which fits within the socket m of the frame A, and coming in contact with the
straight or vertical sides of the said socket, effectually prevents any lateral displace-
ment of the plate or disc B by blows, thrusts, or pressure exerted from any direction
upon the edge or circumference of the said plate or disc. In the said plate or disc
is a central countersunk hole c³ through which in the attachment of the metallic
heel to the boot or shoe is passed a screw 2, as indicated. in Fig. 1, and shown
more fully in Fig. 3; the head of the screw fitting into the countersink of the
hole c', so as to be flush with the outer surface of the plate or disc, and at the
same time retaining or suspending the disc or plate upon the frame; in other
words preventing the detachment of the plate or disc, while the screw itself is
relieved from the lateral strain, the latter being borne or taken up by the hub n
fitted into the socket m, as herein-before explained. The plate or disc B, which
receives the greater portion of the wear when the Invention is in use, may be
readily turned to bring any desired portion of its circumference coincident with any

page_text: desired portion of the circumference of the common or leathern heel of the boot or
shoe to which it is affixed, and the wearing away of one portion of the said plate or
disc may be readily compensated by turning an unworn portion thereof to the
position wherein the greatest wear in incurred.
It is to be observed that the plate or disc, and also the frame, may be made of
metal or any other suitable material, and that the plate or disc instead of being of
circular, may be of octagonal or other shape.
It will further be observed that this Invention provides an adjustable heel which
sustains in all its bearings or particulars the unaltered shape of the shoe heel in
general use. In other words the shoe heel with this Invention applied thereto
retains its ordinary form, at the same time that it secures the advantages arising
from the said Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim the plate or disc constructed with the central circular hub, in combina-
tion with the frame, constructed with the central circular socket provided to receive
the said hub, and having the countersunk hole, these parts being made and arranged
to sustain the plate or disc against lateral strain by the action of the hub in con-
junction with the walls of the socket, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W KUB. LAKE. (L.S.)