US1501057A - Manueacture of soles for shoes - Google Patents

Description

E. W. MCVICAR MANUFACTURE OF' SOLES FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 8, 1919 sra-rss! 15V ERETT W. MOVICAR, OF MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASS'IGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OFPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MANUEAGTURE 0F SOLES FUR SHOES.

Application med August a, i919, *serial` No. 316,136.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT W; MCVIOAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marlboro, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in the Manufacture of Soles for Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likereference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

The present invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of shoes.

For purposes of illustration the invention is herein shown and described in its application to the marbufacture of 4turn shoes and more especially turn shoes having rubber turn soles.

In the manufacture of turn shoes it is the usual practice to incorporate the shank stiifener in the shoe by cementing it to the upper surface of the sole because in this way the attachment ofthe stifener to the sole does not appear on the tread or finished surface of the sole as would naturally occur if tacks or similar fastenings were driven through the stiener and iinto the sole.

This manner of attaching'the stiffener to' the sole is not entire-ly satisfactory because oftheV uncertainty and, in many instances, inefectiveness of the 'cement as a fastening means whichlresults in the stiifener failing to perform its intended functions in the e shoe. When a rubber sole is employed. in

making a turn shoe, av cement attachment ofthe shank stiifener to the sole is entirely inadequate chiefly because a sole of this type can not be molded to the desired conformation during the manufacture of the shoe as can a leathersole, but must depend upon the stiffene'r to maintain its conformation, and consequently a considerablestrain is placed upon the attaching means for the shank stifener. Moreover, the surface of a rubber soleis not adaptable for cement.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an improved sole for shoes in which accurate and effective means are provided for attaching a shank stiener to the sole and, also,'to provide a convenient and eicient method of preparing a sole for the application of a stiifening member.-

With the above and' other objects in view,

the invention contemplates a novel -rubber illustrated, this pocket is formed so as to confine the forward portion of the shank stifi'ener against lateral and forward movement relatively tothe sole while the` rear en d of the stiffener is secured to the heel seat portion of the sole by a tack to prevent withdrawal ofthe shank stiffener from the pocket. sists of a body portion of rubber compound and a reinforcing layer of. canvas molded and' vulcanized into an'integral solel struc-A ture, and the stifener receiving pocket is formed between the top canvas layer and the main body portion 'of the sole.-

In accordance with the preferred practice 'of the invention, and as herein illustrated, the pocket in the sole is formed by turn sole provided at the forward portion The sole herein illustrated 'conproviding the reinforcing blank with 4av transversely disposed slit in its shank portion, inserting a member having the approxlmate dimensions ofb the forward portion of a shank stiffener through the said slit and between the sole blank and the reinforcing layer, uniting the said two blanks and thereafter withdrawing the said device to produce a stiifener securing pocket lin the forward shank portion of the sole.V Conveniently the member used to form the pocket -between the body portion of the sole and the reinforcing layer may be the shank stiifener itself, the stifener being withdrawn from the sole after the pocket is formed and subsequently put in place again. By forming a stifi'ener securing pocket in the sole between its upper and lower surn faces as above described, the stiEener can be accurately and positively applied to the sole without the stifener securing means being exposed on the exterior of the shoe or forming an objectionable prot'uberance on the interior of the shoe.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred application of the invention and the novel features of the invention will then be dened in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a preferred embodiment of the sole of the present invention;

F ig. 2 illustrates one step in the process of making the sole shown in Fig. 1, the several sole parts being shown in their assembled relation;

F ig. 3 shows the use of the sole in the manufacture ofa turn shoe.

The sole of the present invention consists of a body portion of rubber 2 and a reinforcing layer of canvas 4 the two layeis being molded and vulcanized under pressure in a mold shaped and arranged to produce a marginally extending sewing rib 6 on the. upper side of the sole, th-is sewing rib receiv-l ing the stitches which attach the shoe upper to the sole.

In accordance with the present invention the sole is provided with a shank stilfener securing means consisting of a pocket 8 shaped and arranged to receive the forward end portion of a shank stifl'ener 12, this pocket being of substantially the same dimensions as the dimensions of, the forward end portion of thev stiHening member so that the stilfening member is confined against movement relatively to thesole. This pocket is formed in the sole as hercin illustrated by providing the shank portion of the reinforcing layer with a transversely disposed slit 10this slit being of substantially the same width as the stiffening member and being located preferably about midway between the ball line and the heel breast line of the sole. It will be noted that with this location of the slit-only the forward half of the stifener device is received in the pocket while the rear half of the stiifener extends along the upper surface of they sole to the heel seat. In placing the rubber blank, together with. the reinforcing layer4 4, in the mold, a metal shank stiifener 12 or similar device is pushed through the slit in the reinforcing layer 4 so that its forfl ward end-extends between the rubber blank and the canvas layer, a sufficient length of the device being left projecting rearwardly to enable it to be withdrawn from the solev after vulcanization. The assembled sole isl -tween the rubber body and the reinforcing upper and tread surfaces of the sole.

layer prevents'thevulcanized union of these two layers, and its subsequent withdrawal-- produces a pocket in the sole between the t the same time the rearwardly projecting portion of the stifener is embedded in the upper surface of the sole thereby producing4 a recess orbed 14 to receive this portion' of the stifener with its upper surface flush with the Lipper surface of the sole.

To facilitate the subsequent withdrawal of the stifener member from the sole it has been found desirable to coat the forward portion of it with soapstone or like material. l

After the vulcanized sole has been removed froin the mold, the shank stiffener is withdrawn by means of its rearwardly projecting portion so as to leave a pocket in the forward portion of the shank of the sole. The completed sole is thus provided with shank stiiener securing means which will accurately position the'stitl'ener on thc sole and hold it against displacement both iu the manufacture of the shoe and in the subsequent wear of the shoe.

ln the use of the sole thus prepared the shank stifl'ener is not finally applied to the sole until after the shoe has been lasted and sewed and preferably not until after the shoe has been turned right side out 'although under some conditions it may be found ad,- vantageousto apply the stiifener priorto `turning the shoe right side out. By reason of the pocket 8 opening upon the upper surface of the soleA substantially midway bctween the ball line and the heel breast line of the sole it has been found more desirable in practice, to turn the shoe right side out and then insert the forward end of the stif fener in the pocket. It will be seen that the pocket 8 serves to locate the end of the stiti'ener 12 in proper central relation on the sole and, being of substantially the same dimensions as the stiffener, holds it securely in place. The rearwardly projecting portion of the stifencr seats itself in the recess 14 formed in the upper surface of the sole, and

tacking the rear end of the shank stiifener I to the sole within the heel seat area, prevents any shifting or movement of thestif-v fener. By forming the pocket to receive the forward end of the stiffener in the sole in the manner' described, the attachment of the stiffener does not damage or injure the finished tread surface of the sole andneither does it produce any objectionable irregularity or other protuberance on the interior of the shoe to engage the foot. Of course the shank stiifener which is to be incorporated in the shoe will be longitudinally curved to correspond to the arch of the last or foot, and the insertion of the forward half of the stiifener in the pocket and the attachment of the rear end of the stiff-ener to the sole acts to conform the shank portion of the sole to this longitudinal curvature.- The strain of the sole upon the stiffener is taken up by the to its normal Hat condition.

said body portion,

v'sole having Having thus described my inve'ntion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. As an article of manufacture,'a molded and vulcanized sole comprising a tread meinber of rubber compound and a covering member of fabric, thetwo members beingV vulcanized together throughout their extent except at a locality in the shank, there' being formed between them at this locality an empty pocket shaped opening upon the surface of the sole to receive and confine the forward portion of a shank stiffener.

Y, 2. As anarticle of manufacture, sole comprising a rubber body portion and a reinforcing layer co-extensive with the said body portion and said layer being vulcanized together in such manner as to provide a pocket between them adapted to receive and confine the forward portion of a shank stiffening element, said reinforcing layer having an opening approximately midway of the shank to the said pocket. 3. As an article of manufacture, a shoe a pocket formed between its upper an-d tread surfaces shaped and located to receive and confine the forward end of a shank stiffener, and a recess in its upper ysurface communicating with the pocket shaped and located to receive the rear end of the stifener.

LAS an article of manufacture, a molded and vulcanized shoe sole having a pocket leading into its interior from its upper surface shaped and yarranged to receive the forward end portion of a stiifening element and provided with a shank s'tiifener the forward end of which is located in the said pocket and the rear end of which is fastened t`o the upper-surface of the sole. within the .heel seat area to prevent withdrawing drawing cess in the upper of the stiffener yfrom the said pocket.

5. As an article of manufacture, a shoe solecomprisinga rubber body portion and a reinforcing layer vulcanized thereto, there being 'formed between the layer and pocket and communicating with the rear end of the pocket a resurface of the sole, and

a shank stiffener the forward portion of which is located in the pocket andthe rear portion in the recess. A

6. vThatimprovement in the art of making shoe soles.. which consists in assembling a sole blank and a sole reinforcing` blank having a @transversely disposed slit in its shank portion, projecting through the said slit and between thesaid two blanks a means having the dimensions of the forward portion of a 'shank stiifening element, unit.- ing the sai-d two blanks and thereafter withthe said means to produce a pocket i-n the sole toreceive the forward portion of a'stiening element.

a shoe 7. That improvement in the art of inaking shoe soles which consists in assembling a sole blank and a sole reinforcing blank having a'v transversely disposed slit in its shank portion, projecting through the said slit and between the said two blanks a shank stilfener, leaving a portion of the said stiifener projecting rearwardly of the said slit, uniting the said two blanks throughout and theu withdrawing' the said stiffener by means of the rearwardly projecting portion from between the said two blanks to produce a pocket subsequently to 'receive the shank stifener in the use of the sole.

8. That improvement in inethodsiof making rubber soles which consists in essembling in a mold a rubber compound sole blank and ia sole reinforcing blank having a transthrough .the slit and betweenthe said two .blanks a metal device having the measurements of the forward portion of a shank stiifener, leaving "a portion of the said'element projecting rearwardly of the said slit, molding and vulcanizing the assembled sole; and then withdrawing the said device to produce a pocket subsequently to `receive the forward portion of a shank stiifener.

9. That improvement in methods of-making rubber soles which consists in assembling in a mold. a rubber compound sole blank and a sole reinforcing blank having a transverse slit midway of its shank portion, projecting through the slit andbetween-the twolblanks a means adaptedto prevent vulcanization of the said two blanks throughout an area corresponding to that of the forward ortion of a shank stiffener,and then mol ing and vulcanizing the assembled sole.

1 0.v That improvement in methods of making rubber soles which consists in assembling in a mold a rubber compound sole blank and a sole reinforcing blank having a transverse slit in its shank portion, providing a metal device having the measurements of the forward portion of the shank stiffener,`treating the metal device to enable it to resist vulcanization to a rubber body, projecting the said device through the said slit and between the said two blanks leaving a portion of the said device projecting rearwardly of the ing rubber soles which consists inassemblin i in a mold a rubber compound sole blank an a canvas reinforcing blank having a transverse slit in its shank portion, projecting -through the slit and between the said two blanks the forward end portion of a shank stifener, leaving a portion of the said element projecting rearwardly of the said slit upon the heel seat portion of the sole, vulcanizing the sole under pressure and then withdrawing the said stifener by means of the rearwardly projecting portion to produce a pocket subsequently to receive the forward portion of the shank stiifener.

12. That improvement in methods of making rubber soles which consists in assembling in a mold a rubber com Iound sole blank and a canvas reinforcing b ank having a trans- -verse slit midway of its shank portion, projecting through the slit and between the said blanks a means adapted to 'form a pocket between the said two blanks to receive the forward portion of a shank stiener and then vulcanizing the sole under pressure and withdrawing the said device by means of the rearwardly projecting #portion to ,produce a pocket subsequently to receive the forward portion of the shank stifener.

13. That improvement in methods of Inak- I ing rubber soleswhich consists in assembling tion, applying a shank stiffening member in position on the canvas layer with its forward monat? end projecting through the slit and between the said two layers, vulcanizing the assembled `sole under pressure and then withdrawing the shank stiiener to produce a pocket sub sequently tcv receivethe forwardvend portion.

14. As an article of manufacture, a molded .and vulcanized solei having a pocket formed between its tread and upper surfaces to receive the forward portion of a shank stiffener, said pocket opening upon the upper surface of the shank portion of the sole, and a shank stiffener having its forward end portion located in said pocket and extending rearwardly of said pocket upon the surface of the sole.

15. As an article of manufacture, a shoe sole comprising a rubber body portion and a reinforcing layer, said body portion and layer being vulcanized 'together in such manner as to provide a pocket having its open end leading out to the upper surface of the lsole so as to be `adapted to have inserted therein the forward end ofa shank stifening element.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EVERETT W. MCVICAR.

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