US1895660A - Shoe shank stiffener - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1933.v c. .1. HAUCK SHOE SHANK STIFFENER Filed Aug. 13. 1931 rNvENToR y Cil/arles J Hama/;

Patented Jan. 31, 1933 A UNITED STATES PATENToFFIcI-z CHARLES J'. HAUCK, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, .ASSIGNOB TO THE SELBY SHOE COMPANY, l

OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, A CORPORATION `O15' OHIO SHOE sHANK STIFFENER Application ieangust 13, 1 931. seriai No. 556,783.

My invention relates to shoe shank stiifen-V ers and particularly to shoe shank stiifeners for turn-shoes. y

In the manufacture of turn-shoes, the outsole is laid with its outer surface against the last and the upper with its outer surface against the last. After the upper 1s secured inside out to the outsole, the last is collapsed and the upper removed and replacedback on the last after it has been reversed; that is, with the grain surface of the upper and the inner surface of the sole against the last. Prior to reinserting the shoe on the last, the

shank stiffener is inserted and it is the shank '15 stiifener which determines the shape of the shoe in the arch portion.

Heretofore, shank stiifeners have i been made by cutting out pieces of leather or other y iieXible material and securing to the leather 20` piece, usually underneath, a metal stiifener piece. The metal stiener piece bends the eXible piece so that it conforms to the shape of the stiifener. The shank stiifener is then inserted within the shoe and is held to the inner surface of the shoe sole by an adhesive. The shoe is then replaced on the last and the operation of forming the outsole in the arch portion so as to fill up the space between the shank stiffener and the inner surface of the sole is performed.

In order to have the shank stiifener fit snugly down against the inner surface of the sole, pieces of flexible material are usually employed. Since however, it has been customary to provide the metallic shank piece with a rib extending out from its concave side, considerable space is ordinarily taken up by the combination of the flexible piece and the metal piece which together form the L shank stiffener.

Accordingly it has been difficult to secure a close bond between the under surface of the stiifener and the inner surface of the sole which tends to make the shoe uncomfortable to the wearer and which prevents the foot from fitting snugly down within ythe shoe. Further, a loosely fitting shank stilfener tends to make the upper of the shoe bulge outv and form'- unsightly wrinkles alongthey sides of tle upper .extending down to the arch of the s oe.

it is an object of my invention to reduce the space between the inner surface of thev sole and the upper .securedv to the sole and the under surface of the shank stiffener.'` Itv In my `new lshank 'stiffener construction, l I' thus provide fa better lineto the Vedge of the sole in the shank portion vofv the shoebecause there being less space than ordinary between the sole and the shank stifener7 the sole requires less bending and beating up to fill in this space. V y

It is an object of my invention to provide a shank stiifenerV which will have substantial y thickness along its longitudinal medial line sothat the edges of the flexible portion may be skived" off to fill in completely the space between the edges of the stiffener and the inner surfaces of the shoe upper Where it is attached to the sole. Y

,Another 'obj ect of my invention is the provision of a flexible portion for the stiifener with a metalstiffener piece' ofsubstantially 1 rigid construction.

Another object of 'my invention is to pro-y vide ya shank stiffener which will permitthe.v

sole portion under the heel to'fit more closely than has been customary to the lastpsoas to permit a stronger and more close fitting bond between the heel and the sole andv which further reduces the amount of the sole which is necessary to cut away for the proper fitting of a Wood heel.

The above objects, it is my purpose to accomplish 1by providing a flexible stiii'ener piece provided with a groove within which themetal stiffener is countersunk; y The above objects and other objects to s which reference will be made in the ensuing `l disclosure I accomplish by that certain com.

bination and arrangement of parts of which I haveshown a preferred embodiment'.

' Referring'to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a shank stiffenerv arrangedk in conformity with the present in,-

vention and with the proper position 'of the shank stiifener within a `shoe indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the {inexv tersunk grooves or recesses `for receiving the stiiener.

Y Figure 3 is a cross section of the iiexibley member shown in Figuref2 taken along the 225,5 lines 3-3 n Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5 5 in Figure 1.

the

n 4,93iribextending out on its longitudinally concave side has inturnededges v13 which tand are countersunk in recesses 12 which are formed in the vunder surface of theiexible piece lO. v

i 4?; VAt its ends themetal piece 11 is provided with the tineslt which seat themselvesfirrnly in the leather at the ends of the recesses 12.

VThe metal stiliening piece and the iexible portion thus form aY shank stiii'enerwhich is 50,; of substantial thickness along its longitudinal 'medial line but which tapers off to provide thin edge portions for fitting down snugly against the inner surface of thesole. The thin edges of the stiifener can be securely bondedto theY inner surface of the sole yand the adjacent upper and will conform readily to the desired shape ofthe shoe Vin its arch ortion without leaving any substantial-space between the stiifener and soleto cause def-l G9; ormation of theappearanceof the shoe.-

Having ,thus described my invention, what.

I have provided a iiexible piece l() shapedv in the under side thereof extending length- Wise thereof, and a rigid member inserted within said grooves.

2. A shank stiifener comprising a leather insert to cover the heel-seat and the shank 7 portion of a shoe adapted for insertion within a shoe after the same has been formed, said insert being provided with longitudinal grooves extending lengthwise thereof, and a rigid metal member having its edges embedded in the said grooves.

3. A shank stiffener comprising a leather insert to cover the heel-seat and the shank l portion` of a shoe adapted for insertion Within a shoe after the same has been formed, said insert being provided. j with longitudinal grooves extending lengthwise thereof, a rigid V metal member having its edges embedded in the said grooves, and means for permanently 20 ible portion of the stiffener showing the coun;

.tions at the ends of the said means.

attaching'said metal member'to said leather 85;

insert.` p, v

l In combination with a turn-shoe, aflexible insertl of substantial thicknessalong its medial line and with thin peripheral edges, and means set within thek substantially thick A" medial portion determining the longitudinal curvature of said insert, said means having a reenforcing rib extending Lfrom its longitudinally concave sideV tapering oif into flat por..

y .95; J. HAUCK.

I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters .l

Y Patent, is: v, Y n,

l. A shankstiffener comprising a flexible 6.5'I ,insert,said insertbeing provided with, groovesr

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