US2763071A - Boots, shoes and like articles of footwear - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 3956 c. H. K. NAPIER BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES 0F FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY c. H. K. NAPIER 2,763,71

BOOTS, sHoEs AND LIKE ARTICLES 0F FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 1a, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvmvron /v HASTINGS KINGSLEYNAPIER ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1956 c; H. K. NAPIER 2,763,071

BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Cu v5 HA sn/yas K/NGSLEYNA PIE/Z ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1956 c. H. K. NAPIER BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES 0F FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR C L /V5 HASTINGS KIA/65L 5) NA PIER ATTORNEY aired BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR Claims priority, application Great Britain September 25, 1952 7 Claims. (Cl. 36-85) The present invention relates to shoes particularly sports shoes, for example, skating boots.

Ice skating boots must fit closely around the heel immediately below the ankle. It has been proposed to incorporate, in the upper, pad-like supports situated on opposite sides of the foot immediately beneath the ankle for the purpose of ensuring a close fit of the boot at that point and providing efiicient support. Such boots are expensive to manufacture as they have to be specially made and fitted. The supporting pads if made of steel are comparatively rigid and so likely to fit either too tightly or too loosely. If of leather or synthetic material having similar properties they are often affected by the combination of heat, perspiration and pressure.

The invention comprises two pad-like supports for application to or incorporated into the shoe article of footwear. These pads are intended to lie on opposite sides of the foot and provide supports in the vicinity of the ankle. Means is provided for drawing said pads into firm indirect engagement with the foot to provide efiicient support.

The supports should not project from the surface of the boot to an extent which might cause the wearer to trip when skating or should be as unobtrusive as possible, in the form of an external fitting.

Preferably, therefore, the pads should be actually incorporated into the boot to lie within the upper with the adjusting external so as to be accessible for adjustment. In that way adjustments can be easily made when the boot is being worn. The boot need differ only slightly in appearance from a boot of normal construction. The support can easily be incorporated into a boot during manufacture or may easily be applied to an existing boot.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried out the invention is hereinafter described With reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skating boot fitted with one form of support in accordance with the invention, the boot being broken away to illustrate the support in greater detail;

Figure 2 is a section on the line AB in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support removed;

Figure 4 is a section on the line CD in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line EF in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure l but illustrating an alternative construction;

Figure 7 is a section on the line G-H in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged section of the construction shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate diagrammatically the operation of one of the blades in the construction shown in Figures 6 to 8;

Figure 11 illustrates a further alternative construction;

Figure 12 is a section on the line I--] in Figure 11. V

In the construction illustrated by Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings the suport is shown built into an ice skating boot. The support includes two metal bladetates Fatent O i 2,763,071 Patented Sept. 18, 1956 ice like members 1 carrying rubber or like pads 2 at their inner faces. The parts 1 and 2 are introduced between the upper 3 and a leather or other stiffener 4 lying adjacent the lining 5.

As will be seen clearly from Figure 1 the blades and their associated pads 2 are shaped so that they lie below the ankle and extend rearwardly into a position in which they lie partially around the heel. The blades 1 at their forward ends projecting downwardly to a point where they are connected with two plates 6 which are so mounted as to permit of the blades and their associated pads being moved angularly towards one another to grip the foot indirectly and give the necessary heel support.

In the arrangement shown two plates 7 are screwed to the under surface of the boot shank 8. The plates are slotted at 9 to receive cranked projections 10 on the plates 6. The arrangement is such that the plates 6 are permitted a limited amount of angular movement in a vertical plane.

The blades 1 are drilled at their lower ends to receive securing screws 11 which pass through holes 12 in the plates 6 and through holes 13 in metal brackets 14 which accommodate the blades at their lower ends. The holes in the brackets 14 are tapped to receive the threaded parts of the securing screws 11. The securing screws 11, therefore, not only hold the plates 6 in position on the outside of the upper, but also connect the plates 6 in a rigid manner with the blades and their associated brackets 14. The manor of connection is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The blades 1 and their associated pads 2 can thus be drawn inwardly towards each other and angularly about the slots 9 in the plates 7. The method of angular adjustment is shown clearly in Figure 2. Each blade is formed with a hole 15 to accommodate the hooked end 16 of a tie rod 17. Each tie rod 17 passes through the boot lining and thence through the downwardly inclined holes bored through the shank. The extremities of the tie rod 17 are screw-threaded to receive adjusting nuts 18 which lie in countersunk recesses 19 in the under surface of the shank so as to be accessible to a screw-driver or other suitable tool.

The left boot is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and as will be seen clearly from Figure 3 the inner blade 1 has associated with it two tie rods whilst the outer blade 1 is associated with a single tie rod, the single tie rod passing between the pair of tie rods associated with the opposite blade. It is possible, therefore, with this arrangement to bring greater pressure to bear on the inner blade than the outer so that the foot can be more adequately supported on the inside than on the outside.

It will be appreciated that the tie rods 17 move the forward parts of the two blades bodily inwards when the adjusting nuts are tightened and although this adjustment may be adequate it is preferred to provide a further adjustment at the back of the heel. In the construction shown each blade carries an extension piece 29 which may take the form of an elongated wire loop, the extremities of the loop being bent inwardly at right angles and flattened slightly to a substantially dove-tail shape. The blade is formed with two holes 21 of substantially key-hole formation, the walls of the narrow part of each hole being under-cut to accommodate the dove-tail parts 22 so that they will maintain their position therein. The extensions 20 are held in postion on the blade by means of securing screws 23 passing through a clamping washer 24, the clamping washer and screw 23 lying on the exterior of the upper.

The greater part of the extensions 20 lie within the upper, but they project therefrom at the points 25 indicated in Figure l. The loop extremities are connected together by a threaded tie bolt 26 carrying at one end 20 together and the blades and their associated pads into indirect gripping engagement with the heel.

The greaterpart of the-support will be hidden from view as it: is. accommodatedbetween the upper and the lining. 'OnlYthe plates dandthe heel adjustment member 26 and clamping washers 24 project from the upper and in; no way detract from the otherwise smooth flush appearance of the boot. if necessary the leather or other internal support dumay. be cut away to permit or freer inward movement of the parts. The pads may be secured to the blades in any. suitable way as, for example,

by means of. adhesive tape 27 diagrammatically illus.-. With the construction. described.

trated. in Figure 3. above the support may alternatively be incorporated into the boot during. manufacture or may be introduced at a later; date. This can be done merely by cutting the stitches. at-the mouth of the boot connecting together. the upper; and lining and, introducing the blades. and their associated pads downwardly into their operative position. The upper is cut a minimum amount. The cuts are hidden from view by the plates 6. The plates 6 in addition serve to clamp the out parts of the upper and prevent any possibility of the upper splitting when the; boot; is worn.

Figures 6 to illustrate a modified construction which is somewhat simpler than that previously described, butwhich does notincorporate the additionaladjustnient at the; back of the heel. It is intended that the blades; 1- shall'initially be bent so that they in themselves tit snugly on; opposite sides of the foot. The blades are moved bodily inwardly with the simple form of adjustment employed.

The blades in this construction are of substantially T shape, although they may be of a shapemoreclosely simulating a. Y. The normally horizontal limb of the T isdownwardly and forwardly inclined. so that it fits snugly beneath the ankle bone. The third limb 28 of the T projects downwardly and is located. in a recess 29:

formed in the outer surface of the heel 30.

It is intended that the blades shall be pivoted inwardly about their. lowermost edges and so the recesses 29 are of. the wedge or tapering crosssectional shape shown in Figure 7. The blades 1 and their associated pads 2 are drawn bodily inwards towards each other by means of twotierqds 17 which are arranged in a somewhat similar inclined manner to those shown in the previously described arrangement. The tie rods in this case, however, passthrough the heel as distinct. from theshank.

One end-of each tie rod is bent over into the form of a hook 16 which in this case passes around a U-shaped lug 31*carried by the blade. The opposite end of the tie rod passes through a hole drilled in the opposite blade and being'screw-threaded toreceivean adjusting nut 18. Tightening of the adjusting nuts 18 will draw the two blades and their associated padsbodily towards one anotherinto good indirect gripping engagement with the foot to provide the required support. Each adjusting nut ls'takes the form of a shouldered nipple, The tapering head of this nipple has a clearance 4 in a countersunk hole in the blade (see particularly Figure 8), thereby to a certain extent retaining the blade in position without restrictingits freedom to swing. The shoulder 45 on the adjusting nut engages a washer 46 through which the shank of the nut passes. The washer becomes a reaction point for the blade in the form, for example, of a rivet 47 whichv is soldered in position in the washer. The shank of the rivet is located in a hole boredin the heel.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10 it will be seen thatif thev rivet is located centrally as in Figure 9 the efiective lengths of arms A and B will be equal. But if the rivet is located other. than centrally, as in Figure l0, arms A and B will be unequal thus providing a degree of unbalanced pressure on the foot if required. It will be seen also that the washer serves to spread the reaction load from therivet head over a reasonablearea of leather.

As the upper must necessarily be cut to allow thedownwardly depending limbs of the blades to project, the cut is covered by means of plates 6 which are generally similar to the plates 6 described in connection with the previous arrangement. The plates 6 are held in position by meansof-scre-Ws 11 which enter threaded holes formed in bosses 11a carried by the blades. The blades 6 are provided with additional holes 32, for the passagev of the adjusting nuts 18 thus exposing the nuts for adjustmentpurposes.

In the further modified construction shown in Figures 11 to 12 the adjusting mechansm is more apparent as it is mainly disposed on the exterior of the boot. The blades in this case are moved bodily inwardly by two adjustments, i. e., an adjustment lying beneath the shank and by. a heel adjustment on the backof heel.

In this construction the adjustment takes the form of two levers 33 arranged on opposite sides of the bootand on opposite sides of the shank. The levers each carry a fulcrum pin 34 mounted for angular movement in a pair of eye members 35 which are driven through the shank. The lower ends of the levers are bent inwardly substantially at right angles as at 36 and are drilled and tapped to receive adjusting screws 37 which. bear on the under surface ofthe shank.

The levers 33 carry at their upper ends an upwardly. inclined extension 38 which is connected withits. asso ciated blade at the point 39. Thepartsare connected: by means of a securing screw, a clamping washer 40 and.

42 projects through the holes to the exterior of the upper and extends into a position at the rear of the heel where the parts 42 can be drawn. together with the assistance of a suitable form of heel adjustment. adjustment may be similar to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 5. The adjustment in any case pref erably includes an adjusting nut 43. When tightened this nut serves to bring the parts 42 and their associated blades nearer together to produce the required gripping effect on the heel A It will be appreciated that the construction disclosed by Figures 11 and 12, although not. being so neat asthe two constructions previously described has the merit of simplicity. It can be easily applied to an existing boot with a minimum of alteration. The blades are adjustable individually'by individual tightening up of the adjusting screws 37 beneath the shank.

It is preferred to construct the bladesfrom steel the pads being; composed ofa comparatively soft material such as, for example, sponge rubber.

Although shown-as applied to a skating boot the padlike supports may be used with any other type-pf foot wear where heel support is important.

What I claim:

1. An adjustable heel support fora shoe, comprising two supports for mounting in the shoe tolie on opposite sides.- of the foot. in thevicinity-of-the ankle, each of said supports having a body including a basepartan.

chored' to. a part of the shoe and a. supporting part extending. upwardly from the-base part adjacentvto the upper into ankle engaging position, and-individual adjusting meansoperable from theexterior of the shoe: for drawing each support intogrippingengagementwith the foot to Such I there being two external adjusting devices associated with the supports at their front ends for drawing the supports individually into gripping engagement with the foot at their forward ends and an external common adjustment at the heel for drawing both supports into gripping engagement with the heel at their rearward ends.

3. An adjustable heel support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supports are of substantially T shape and are each movable bodily into gripping engagement with the foot by external individual adjusting means located adjacent the shank and heel of the shoe.

4. A shoe equipped with ankle-supporting means, com* prising a pair of supports one at each side of the shoe having a body including a base part anchored to the heel of the shoe and a supporting part extending upwardly from the base part adjacent to the upper into ankle en gaging position, the body being held relatively fixedly at the base part but capable of inward movement at the sup porting part, screw adjusting means for each support engaging the supporting part and extending diagonally through the heel to the opposite side thereof to an adjusting element exposed on the heel of the shoe whereby the supporting part may be adjusted inwardly or out wardly relatively to the ankle from outside the shoe while the shoe is being worn.

5. A shoe equipped with ankle supporting means, com prising, a support at the side of the shoe having a body including a base part anchored to the sole of the shoe and a supporting part extending upwardly from the base part adjacent to the upper into ankle engaging position, the body being held relatively fixedly at the base part but capable of inward movement at the supporting part, screw adjusting means for said support engaging the body above the supporting part and extending diagonally to the heel of the shoe to the opposite side thereof to an adjusting element exposed on the heel of the shoe whereby the supporting part may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly relative to the ankle from outside the shoe while the shoe is being worn.

6. A shoe according to claim 1, in which each support body is a plate on which the base part is anchored to the heel of the shoe, and the adjusting means includes a shaft extending through the heel of the shoe to engage said plate above its point of anchoring, the opposite end of said shaft projecting from the heel being provided with a threaded end and a nut on said end and means on the heel for engaging said nut whereby adjustment of the nut moves the shaft relative to the nut and so moves the plate toward or away from the ankle.

7. A shoe according to claim 1, in which the body of each of said supports is a plate of which the base part is anchored to the heel of the shoe and said adjusting .means includes a pair of shafts each of which extends diagonally through the heel of the shoe from one plate to the other, one end of each shaft being connected to the plate above the point of anchoring, the other end of each shaft projecting from the heel and being threaded to receive an adjusting nut, the adjusting nut projecting through an opening in the adjacent portion of the supporting member at that side of the shoe, adjustment of the adjusting nut moving its plate inwards or outwards.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,944 Severy Aug. 24, 1920

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