US2014094A - Moccasin - Google Patents

Description

sept. 1o, 1935'.

Filed sept. 24, 1930 D. W. WIGGIN MOC CASIN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. l0, 1935.

MOCCASIN Filed Sept. 24, 1930 2 Smets-sheet 2 D. w. WIGGIN 2,014,094 Y Patented Sept. 10, 1935 U N IT E D PATENT OFFICE Moo'oAslN poration gf ,Maine Application September 24, 1930, Serial No. 484,037

.6 Claims,

This invention relates to footwear and par.- ticularly to double structure shoes or boots where extra waterproofness or warmth is desired. Articles of this type have been-proposed-as in effect a shoe within a shoe, but obviously the doubling of any ordinary shoe structure must makeit very stiff and rigid particularly in the seams.

The particular fields of .usefulness for footwear of this type are those inwhich much actual walking or climbing must be done and under such conditions the wearer' needs a maximum freedom of foot action as life and limb are frequently dependent on sure footedness and stiff or clumsy footwear is fatiguing in ordinary walking and a handicap in emergency footwork.

My present invention contemplates a combi-nation of different typescf footwear so-that in a single structure I have'the essential factors of two old and well known types built into a novel unit of greatly increased advantage for the purposes suggested.

In addition to the difficulties of providing a strong waterproof boot or shoe of the double type,.

there is the ever `present demandfor neatness and style in appearance which meansin most' cases that the article must appear as of `the .usual modish type while having unusual utilitarian structural features so embodied as not to detract from its external appearance.

My concept is essentially the combinationof two distinct members, an outer and an inner. The inner member is a moccasinof :true type; that is, with the vamp extending under the sole of the foot so `that the same piece forms-.both the sides and thebottom. The .topmay consist of a toe piece sewn to the upturned edges of the vamp with a U seam as is customary with most moccasins of the American Indians, or the vamp itself may be continued up over the foot and its edges stitched together with a T-shaped seam, as was used by certain tribes of Indians (the Chitemacha of Louisiana,the Sauk and Fox of Oklahoma) and to a certain extent by modern moccasin makers.

The outer member is the vamp of a shoe of ordinary external appearance and may be of Goodyear welt, McKay, Stitchdown, or other methods, the Stitchdown construction being preferred.

The advantages of a moccasin next to the foot are great. The foot is cradled in the vamp and the seam is high and above the tread of the foot and above the ordinary water line.

For the purposes of illustration and discussion I have shown in the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of my invention in which a moccasin is given the appearance of an ordinary type of shoe, that shown being a Stitchdown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view of such a shoe having the toe reinforcing portion rolled back to expose the toe of the moccasin and its assembly. 5

Fig. 2 is a view of the toe portion completed.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to' Figure 1, showing a moccasin member of different type.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on they line 5 5, Fig. 4, l0 and Fig. 6 is a View of the pattern of the inner or moccasin member.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the vamp of the moccasin member is l5 indicated at I, united at 2 to a toe member 3, as in any moccasin. The sole 4 is stitched as at 5 to the vamp. This may be done either before or after sewing the seam 2.

On the structure thus formed, which is a 20 moccasin having a sole with edges extending somewhat beyond the sides of the moccasimthe second or external element t is placed. It may be of-any .type or pattern. It is, however, shown as fastened as at 1 by the Stitchdown method to the 25 projecting edges of the sole 4. An additional sole may be applied as desired.

It will be noted that in such a structure the moccasin element becomes a free cradling encasement forthe foot, and that the use of innersole, welt and bottom filler is vavoided as is the case with all moccasin construction, thereby giving the footwear greater flexibility, lightness and comfort.

In ,building .such a composite shoe structure the use of the U-shaped toe seam involves a distinct difficulty in the prominence of the seam 2. In the moccasin this is so characteristic as not to be at all objectionable, but in fact a feature looked for as indicative to the buyer of the true moccasin product.

In combination, however, this characteristic seam is so prominent as to be a problem as the overlying toe member 6 which must be tightly lasted tends to show any ridge or projection in the underlying structure.

According to my invention I avoid this difliculty and attain further advantage by providing a layer 8 on the toe piece 3 within the lifted seam 2. This may be of any material but according to my invention is a plastic waterproof ller such as has been heretofore used as a sole ller, but preferably more elastic and more waterproof. It is to be noted that the top of the foot and the base of the instep are areas particularly subjected to 55 moisture under pressure as where the wearer is walking through wet grass or snow.

In practice the outer shoe member 6 is cemented to the ller 8 and toe member 2 and so much of the vamp I as it contacts. In fact, the waterproof cement is extended to all contacting parts as to the sole d and the seams 'I when the member 6 is stitched down.

The diiculty involved in the use of the U-seam may be entirely avoided by enlarging the vamp so that a separate toe piece is unnecessary, the upturned edges of the vamp being united by a T- shaped toe seam, thus forming a combined or integral vamp and toe piece (see Figs. 4 to 6). In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the moccasin member Ila is of the general pattern indicated in Fig. 6, the edges of the vamp Il being united by a longitudinal seam l2 and transverse seams IS and a toe seam I8. The sole 4 is applied in the usual Way by stitches 5 and the outer shoe member 5 lasted over the moccasin and stitched or otherwise fastened as at 1. The outer shoe member E may be cemented to the moccasin member Il all as hereinbefore described.

The structures herein shown constitute a new type of footwear combining a member of true moccasin type while outwardly presenting a shoe of conventional style. 'Ihese offer distinct advantages, in some respects even beyond the combined factors of the two essential elements of which they are made. These advantages are: (l) Like a moccasin they have no innersole, welt or bottom ller. They are, therefore, iiexible, light-weight, and offer a permanently flat and uniform bearing for the foot. (2) They offer the cradling support of the true moccasin. (3) The outer element 6 overlies the seam of the moccasin, protecting it from ripping and also from leaking. (4) 'I'he outer element being fastened to the sole at 'l prevents water from entering between the vamp cover 6 and the seam of the moccasin. (5) The sealing together of the two elements cementitiously provides an additional factor increasing their wearing and water turning powers. (6) Since the weakest point of the moccasin is at the seam 2 at the top of the foot and the weakest point of the shoe is at the seam 'l where the upper joins the sole, in these structures, the strong points of the moccasin are opposite the Weak `points of the shoe, and the strong points of the shoe protect the weak points of the moccasin. (7) The outer shoe oiTers great freedom in the way of design and decoration.

As above suggested, the elements of the combination may be of various design or pattern and may be variously assembled, those shown being merely illustrative and suggestive of such changes and modifications as will readily occur to those skilled in this art.

What I therefore claim and Letters Patent is:-

1. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin construction, a sole, a toe filler for the fore part of the moccasin member, and an outer vamp cover overlying the moccasin member and marginally united to the sole.

2. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin construction including seamed vamp and toe piece members, a sole attached to the bottom of the vamp, a filler over the toe piece within the seam thereof, and an exterior member overlying the vamp of the moccasin member and marginally united to the sole.

3. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin construction including a vamp and toe piece seamed together, a sole attached to the bottom of the vamp, a filler over the toe piece within the seam thereof, and an outer vamp cover overlying the moccasin member, the vamp covering being cementitiously united to the moccasin and ller.

4. An article of footwear, comprising a member of moccasin construction, including a vamp and a toe piece seamed together, an outer vamp desire to secure by cover overlying the vamp and toe piece, and a f sole seamed to the upper, the seam uniting said toe piece and said vamp being substantially spaced from the seam uniting said outer vamp cover to said sole.

5. An article of footwear, comprising a member of moccasin construction, including a vamp eX- tending continuously around the foot as an integral tread portion, a toe piece seamed to said vamp a substantial distance above the tread portion, an outer vamp cover overlying the vamp and toe piece, a sole seamed to said outer vamp cover, the seam uniting said toe piece and said vamp being substantially spaced from the seam uniting said outer vamp-cover to said sole.

. 6. An article of footwear, consisting of a toe piece and a vamp extending continuously around the foot as an integral tread portion and seamed to each other a substantial distance from the tread portion, a sole attached to the tread portion and an outer vamp cover overlying the toe piece and vamp above said sole, and seamed to said sole, the seams uniting said toe piece and said vamp being substantially spaced from the seam uniting said outer vamp cover to said sole.

DANIEL W. WIGGIN.

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