US2535123A - Overshoe with shank filler piece therein - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 2,535,123

K. c. DEM ICK OVERSHOE WITH SHANK FILLER PIECE THEREIN Filed Nov. 25, 1946 llllllllllllllllllllll 1n M7012 .Zfzzneffi [2552 222]: 3 F m w. aw

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 QVERSHOE VJITH SHANK FILLER PIECE TEEREIN Kenneth C. Demick, Cambridge, Mass, assignor to The F3. l Goodrich Company, New York, N. $1., a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 712,033

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an overshoe, and particularly to an overshoe having a wedge-heeled appearance.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide an article of footwear which can be worn over shoes; to provide an article which has the appearance of a wedge-heeled construction, but which at the same time is adapted to accommodate the heel of a shoe placed therein; to furnish an article which provides a frictional surface over substantially the entire lower face thereof; to provide an overshoe which furnishes a substantial Walking base even when worn over highheeled shoes; and to provide an article which fits well about the shoe. Further objects of this invention are to construct such an article of footwear in a minimum number of operations with an economical use of materials; to construct the article so as to maintain a neat and pleasing appearance at all times; and generally to construct an article which achieves the necessary requisites of practicality without the sacrifice of esthetic considerations.

An article of footwear which is to be worn over shoes must of necessity have either an entirely flat sole or a raised shank portion to accommodate the shank and heel of the wearers shoe. In overshoes where appearance is not a primary requisite, the insole and outsole members are nearly flat. This has the advantage of furnishing a large walking surface, which provides stability and maximum frictional contact for use on ice and similar slippery surfaces. Such a flat-soled overshoe, however, does not fitclosely about a shoe having a heel of any substantial height and wrinkles badly in use.

On the other hand, the conventional overshoe having a raised shank portion fits closely about the shoe over which it is worn and presents a neat and pleasing appearance, but furnishes only a small walking surface with a resultant decrease in stability and frictional contact. This is especially the case with womens overshoes, which are adapted for use in conjunction with shoes having tall heels,

By means of this invention. an article of footwear is constructed, in a minimum number of simple operations, in which the insole fits closely about the shoe and has a recessed heel portion, and in which the outsole is substantially fiat in order to provide maximum stability, present a large frictional Walking surface, and provide a neat and pleasing appearance at all times.

The-invention is best understood by reference to a preferred embodiment as illustrated by the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructional details of an overshoe embodying the invention, a section being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the filler member which is positioned between the arched insole and the substantially fiat outsole of the overshoe;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unitary outer covering for the filler and heel portions of the article;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wedge-heeled overshoe with the shank filler member concealed by the unitary covering;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative embodiment; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view along line 6-5 of Fig. 4.

In the preferred method of constructing an overshoe embodying this invention a conventional insole IE3 is shaped on a last to provide a fiat forward portion H and an upwardly inclined shank portion l2 terminating rearwardly in a depressed heel portion It. The insole may be of any suitable material such as leather, plied fabric, or similar material.

An upper portion M of conventional design is prepared of rubber, fabric or other suitable material. This upper I4 comprises the usual vamp l5 and quarter I 6 portions forming an ankleencircling assembly. The upper portion 14 is then lasted over the insole H] by cementing, stitching or other suitable means.

In accordance with this invention, a filler member ll is provided. This member is generally wedge-shaped so as to occupy the space below the inclined shank portion l2 of the insole ID and extend rearwardly to the forward edge l8 of the heel portion. The filler member I! has a generally planar lower face l9 adapted to form a continuous surface with the lower face 20 of the flat forward portion 6 l of the insole Ii). The member preferably comprises a molded rubber article, although rubber sponge, cork, wood or other materials shaped by suitable means may be used. The upper face 2! of the filler member is shaped to conform to the arched shank portion l2 of the insole IQ and terminates in a generally Vertical rear face 22.

The filler member l! is positioned under the shank portion l2 of the insole and is preferably attached thereto by means of cement or similar means. A toe cap 25 is cemented over the toe portion of the vamp [5 to give the article a finished appearance. A generally flat outsole 23 is provided comprising rubber or a similar suitable material. This outsole 23 is lasted to the lower faceZfl of the insole III in accordance with ordinary construction methods to give a laminated construction in the region of the shank portions of the insole and outsole. The filler member I! is preferably also attached to the outsole by cementing or other means. In the preferred embodiment, a unitary outer covering 24, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided for the filler member I! and heel portion [3 and is attached thereon to give a Wedge-heeled appearance to the overshoe. The covering 24 may be made of rubber, fabric, or other suitable material, and, if desired, may be of contrasting color to the rest of the upper and also may cover only the lateral faces of filler member 11, being secured to the upper along its margin 26 as shown in Fig. 5.

The overshoe constructed as a preferred embodiment is neat and pleasing in appearance; does not wrinkle in the shank portion durin use; can be worn over shoes having heels; and maintains a close-fitting position while providing a large walking surface for increased stability and maximum frictional contact. The overshoe is practical without departing from the conventional standards of appearance. The method of construction is simple and economical. The invention may, of course, be embodied in any article of footwear having an inclined shank portion and a recessedheel portion. The materials employed in the article may be varied as desired.

The invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a preferred method of construction, but variations and modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary overshoe comprising a generally fiat outsole extendin from the toe end to the heel end of the overshoe, a generally wedge-shaped shank filler member having a forwardly sloping upper face and a generally vertical rear face and having its bottom face secured to the upper face of said outsole in the shank portion thereof, an inner sole secured throughout the major central portion of its extent to the upper face of the assembled outsole and shank filler member and to the vertical rear face of said member, and a footenclosing upper having its lower margin inturned under and secured along the extent thereof to the margin of said inner sole throughout its extent.

2. A unitary overshoe comprising a generally fiat outsole extending from the toe end to the heel end of the overshoe, a shank filler member having a forwardly sloping upper face and a generally vertical rear face and having its bottom face secured to the upper face of said outsole in the shank region thereof, an inner sole secured throughout the major central portion of its extent to the upper face of the assembled outsole and shank filler member and to the vertical rear face of said member, a foot-enclosing upper having its lower margin inturned under and secured along the extent thereof to the margin of said inner sole throughout its extent, and a generally triangular heel cover secured to said upper with its lower margin inturned and secured to the upper face of said outsole and extending from a region along and slightly forwardly of the forward edge of said filler member at each side of said overshoe rearwardly around the heel thereof whereby the lateral faces of the shank filler member are covered by said heel cover.

KENNETH C. DEMICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,535,123 December 26, 1950 KENNETH C. DEMICK It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctlon as follows:

' Column 4, list of references cited, under the heading UNITED STATES PATENTS add the following- 579,577 Hanscom Mer. 30, 1897 that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

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