US2151314A - Shoe heel - Google Patents

Description

March 2l, 1939. 1A BURGER 2,151,314

SHOE HEEL Filed Oct. l2, 1935 Z7 l BY l AT RNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE HEEL Joseph Burger, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application October 12, 1935, Serial No. 44,726

Claims.

This invention ,relates to heels of the type known in the trade as wood heels and consisting of wooden heelblocks turned to the desired heel shape and height and covered with some such material as leather, Celluloid, fabric, or the like. Heels of this type have many advantages. The wood may be turned to practically any desired .contour and be of any height required, such as for Cuban heels, Louis heels, '10 etc. A great variety of covers may be used.

Thus this type of heel provides endless possibilities for styling purposes. Also these heels are manufactured complete by specialists in wood turning and heel co-vering operations and are shipped as finished units to the shoe manufacturers who vcan apply them by simple nailing-on operations. This construction however, has certain inherent disadvantages. The separately applied covers require specially trained operators, the operation is a relatively expensive one and these .covers have a tendency to Work loose from the heel block.

'Ihe objects of this invention are to retain the advantages of the wood heels described while avoiding or .eliminating the objectionable features vor vlimitations such as mentioned and, in so doing, to provide a unitary, light weight, new type of wood heel which will be more dura-ble, `less expensive and more desirable in other respects than the wood heels now on the market.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and broadly covered in the claims annexed.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification, a number of diierent embodiments of the invention are illustrated and 40 it will be appreciated that the actual physical structure may be modied in other respects all Within the true intent and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a broken perspective View illustrating 4.5 a length of wood from which the blocks for turning the heels are cut.

Fig. 2 is a broken partly sectional top plan view of a Cuban type heel completed from such stock.

50 Fig. 3 is a brokenpartly sectional and part side elevational view of the completed'heel.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of this same heel as on substantially the plane of line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

l5'5 Fig. v5 is a broken andpartly sectional side elevation of a full-Louis rtype heel produced according to the invention.

Figs. 6 and 7 are part sectional broken side elevations illustrating additional embodiments of the invention. 5

Fig, 8 is a composite view of a modication showing in perspective the separately molded cover shell and the turned heel block to which it is to be applied.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View of the last 10 mentioned form of the heel.

From the several views it will appear that the heel of this invention consists of a fully shaped heel block ID, encased in a thin molded shell Il, of corresponding conformation, l5

Preferably and advantageously, the heel blocks are turned to the desired contour and substantially the full height of the heels, from solid blocks or prisms of wood I2, cut on inclined lines I3, from a continuous length of wood heel stock I4, Fig. 1. This strip of material is shown as grooved along its upper surface at I5, and as grooved along its lower surface at I6, to provide for the bonding or anchorage of the cover material. 25

The top grooves I5, may be and preferably are so spaced as to lie near the upper side edges of the turned block as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 4. The bottom grooves I6 may be closer spaced, so that in the turned heel form, Fig. 4, 30 a plurality of these grooves will extend along the bottom or top lift end of the heel blank.

The cover shell may be and preferably is of rubber or rubber composition molded to the nished cover shape.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 to '7, the thin cover is directly molded about the heel shape, with portions entering the grooves at the top as ribs I-`I and with portions entering the grooves I6, in the bottom as ribs lf3. In addition to these interlocking elements, the heel shape may be formed with grooves I9, eX- tending about the sides of the same and grooves 2li, across the breast end, the cover then having ribs 2l and 22, interlockingly engaged in these 45 side and breast end grooves, Figs. 3 and 4.

In addition to, or in place of the interlocking connections described between heel shape and cover, there may be holes 23, extending inclined or vertically through the heel body and, or, holes 24, extending inclined or horizontally through the block from end-to-end or through from sideto-side to provide the plugs or strands 25, 26, of cover material linking together opposite ends or sides of the cover shell.

Additional bonding and anchorage of the shell to the heel shape may be accomplished by leaving the heel shape in a rough-turned condition with outstanding wood bers which will be penetrated to some extent by the molded cover material. In addition to the gain in anchorage, a saving in the smooth finishing of the heel block is effected by this method.

As shown in Figs. l to 4, the expense of grading the heel blocks may be saved by leaving these blocks, after -being turned, with parallel upper and lower faces and providing the so-called Wedge effect to lift the back of the heel, by a tapered or wedge-shaped thickness of the cover material forming an integral top lift as at 21, Fig. 3. This wedge-shaped integral top lift portion provides a thicker cushion at the rear, where such a cushion and additional Wearing effect is desired.

The flat upper face of the block which becomes the heel seat 28, is surrounded about its edges by an inwardly projecting ange or integral rand 23, of the cover material, which may extend completely about the sides and across the breast end of the heel and, as shown in Fig. 4, the top anchorage ribs I5, may project downwardly from the side portions of this integral rand extension.

The bonding grooves in the heel shape may be continuous or interrupted and they may be square shouldered, dove-tailed or otherwise shaped or undercut to increase the anchorage and bonding effect. Also, these grooves may extend horizontally, verticali-y or inclined in various. ways.

In the full-Louis type of heel illustrated in Fig. 5, the bonding grooves are shown as extending substantially vertically and in the Cuban type of heel illustrated in Fig. 6, these grooves are shown extending forwardly on an upward ineline correspondinggenerally to the direction of the block taken in the turning operation. In this latter construction, these grooves may be produced by having appropriately placed grooves in the knives of the turning machine, so that they will be automatically formed as a part of the heel turning operation.

The molded cover may be smooth finished, lined or otherwise formed, or treated to produce dierent desired effects. Thus as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the cover may be grooved as at ill), to represent top lift alone or the general effect of the lifts of a leather heel. The same or similar results may be accomplished by ribs instead ol grooves, representing lift lines as at 3l, in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 shows how oppositely inclined crosshatching 32, may be provided to simulate the dfferent lift layers. In all or any of these effects, the lift lines may be parallel, inclined with respect to each other, or only certain of them inclined, such as to produce the wedge effect indicated at 33, in Fig. '7.

Instead of extending entirely through the block, the holes shown at 23 and 24, may project only partly into the block so as to produce spurs or lugs on the molded cover material and these openings may be tapered instead of the same diameter throughout. Also, they may be run at different angles t-o produce various undercut eects for more complete bonding and interlocking.

By the bonding effects described, the top lift layer 2l is caused to carry the load without transmitting undesirable strains to the thin shell portion oi the cover. The top lift groove line'30, is

an additional factor in saving the thin shell por'- tion from carrying the load to which the top lift is subjected.

While it is usually desirable to form the thin Y cover shell by molding the cover material about the heel shape placed in the mold, it may be preferable for some purposes to mold the thin shell I l as a separate entity as shown in Fig.V 8, and to thereafter force this shell over the heel shape or, conversely, force the heel form into the shell. The rubber or composition shell is so thin and can be of sufficiently elastic material to readily permit this assembly, the rand flange 29, stretching enough to receive the heel seat end of the block and then contracting over the same as in Fig. 9, to secure the parts in this assembled relation. ,Bonding grooves and ribs may be employed in this construction as before andflatex or other suitable cement may be used to assure a permanent unity of the heel shape and molded cover shell. A

In making up this form of the invention, the mold may be formed with a corethe exact or approximate shape, possibly a little smaller than the turned heel block, so that the thin walled cover will exactly nt and closely hug the block and the resiliency of the cover material will be such that in the first instance, it will stretch sufficiently to pull over the mold core and, in. the second instance, will stretch enough for the heel block to fully engage therein. y

In addition to extending parallel or in variously inclined relations, the bonding grooves or openings may criss-cross or meet to effect desired anchorage conditions between the heel form and the thin cover.

The tread face of the integral top lift portion of the cover may be molded smooth or with a non-skid surface and this portion may be Vcolored the same or differently from the rest of the cover.

mold face and by use of different coloring mediums in the mix for the cover material.

The integral rand extending completely about the heel seat end of the block is preferably slightly raised above the Vheel seat surface, so that in the application of the heel,.it will form a complete seal with the counter and sole of the shoe, taking up any normal inequalities in the fit of the parts. The grooves, holes or openings Vin the heel shape are preferably so located as not to interfere with or weaken the nailing-on of the heel to the shoe body. The square shouldered or undercut grooves and ribs, at Vthe heel seat end are particularly desirable as preventing spreading of the rand at the sides of the heel.

In following the method illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, all waste of wood is saved, because the blocks are cut from a board or strip which is of a thickness, substantially the height the block is to be at the breast end of the heel (Fig. 3), or in other words, is of less thickness than heretofore by an amount equal`to that which is usually removed by grading. This lesser thickness board provides when the block isrturned as in Fig. 3, a he'el shape which is without Wedge effect, having parallel top and bottom faces, but this wedge effect Y lining or fancy effects may be provided to match shoes of kid, lizard, alligator, snakeskin, pigskin, canvas, etc., similar to those effects which have heretofore been obtained by subsequentially separately applied cover material.

I'he heels of this invention are comparable in weight to the usual wood heels and may be made by wood heel manufacturers to meet the requirements of diierent shoe manufacturers, at less cost than the present Wood heels and they are of more permanent and lasting character and better capable of withstanding wear. In particular, the heels of this invention may be made to any desired height, even in the slim waisted full-Louis shapes.

This is truly a wood heel as distinguished from a rubber heel or a rubber tread member. It is nailed on and used just as a wood heel and has the lightness, resiliency and nail holding qualities of wood heels.

What is claimed is:

1. A wood heel comprising a wood heel block of substantially the full shape and height of the heel and provided with grooves in the opposite ends of the same, a molded cover over said block and including a top lift portion having ribs entering the grooves in the top lift end of the block and a heel cup portion having ribs entering the grooves in the heel seat end of the block.

2. A wood heel, comprising a turned and ungraded wood heel block having substantially flat and parallel top and bottom surfaces and a molded heel cover having thin side walls about the sides of the turned heel block, a tapered heel seat flange projecting inwardly over the heel seat end of the block and a wedge-shaped top lift portion over the top lift end oi the block.

3. A wood heel, comprising a turned and ungraded wood heel block having substantially flat and parallel top and bottom surfaces and a molded heel cover having thin side walls about the sides of the turned heel block, a tapered heel seat flange projecting inwardly over the heel seat end of the block, a wedge-shaped top lift portion over the tcp lift end of the block and bonding recesses and projections on the block and the cover at positions separately bonding the side covering and top lift portions of the cover to the heel block.

4. The herein disclosed method of forming shoe heels, which comprises grooving the upper and lower surfaces of wood heel stock, cutting said stock in suitable block sizes, turning said blocks in a manner to leave portions of said grooves in the heel seat and top lift ends of the turned heel blocks and then molding covers about said turned blocks and in interlocked engagement with the grooves in the heel seat and top lift ends of the turned blocks.

5. The herein disclosed method of forming shoe heels, which comprise grooving the upper and lower surfaces of wood heel stock, cutting said stock in suitable block sizes, turning said blocks in a manner to leave portions of said grooves in the heel seat and top lift ends of the turned heel blocks and then applying cover material to said turned blocks.

JOSEPH BURGER.

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