US462364A - Fastening for shoes - Google Patents

Description

T. G. OAKMAN. FASTENING FOR SHOES.

Patented Nov., 3, 1891.

//V VE IV 70/? J/MW a 0% MW 401 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. OAKMAN, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FASTENINGFOR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,364, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,029- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. OAKMAN, of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fastenings for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to a new shoe-fastener having the construction set forth in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a shoe having the opening on the front of the instep and extending up the ankle, and provided with my improved fastening and with means of attachment. Fig. 2 represents my fastening separately and detached from the shoe. Fig. 3 exhibits ashoe having a fl p at the side, and 4 represents my fastening as adapted to the shoe shown in Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My fastening consists of bars A B, of steel or other flexible and strong material, which are inserted between the upper of the shoe and the lining, with their longitudinal edges in proximity to the edge of the opening to be closed. In one end of the barA and the corresponding end of the bar B are made apertures.

O and D are two metal plates, the plate 0 having hinged to it a buckle E and the plate D having fastened to it, by any suitable means, a strap F. The plates 0 and D are applied on the outside of the shoe and rivets are passed through them and also the bars A and B, thus securing the bars A and B and plates 0 and D to the shoe. The strap F is then in position to enter and engage with the buckle E. A B are bars of spring metal similar to bars A and B and are connected thereto by pivoted links G and II. On the link Gis secured a buckle, and on the link II a strap. The links G and II are metallic plates, which are applied to the outside of the shoe after the bars A B A B are in place. The link-pivots pass through the plates G H and the bars A B A B, and also the leather of the shoe, and thus serve to connect the parts -together. The advantage of this construction is that notonly are the edges of the opening in the shoe made rigid, so that after they approximate they are held together by only two buckles and straps, but the entire fastening is one having great flexibility, inasmuch as it is free to yield to any forward bending of the foot owing to the elasticity of the spring and to any sidewise bending owing to the pivot connections at the links G H. In the form of shoe shown in Fig. 3 the bar 13, link II, bar B, and plate D are omitted, the straps F being fastened directly on the upper of the shoe. This construction is preferable in all cases where there is a flap coming over one edge instead of two edges of the leather being brought into approximation. The bars A A &c., are preferably made of flat spring-steel. The edges of the shoe are held firmly together and the springs prevent any gaping of the opening at points other than where the straps and buckles are placed. The use of the springs greatly reduces the number of straps and buckles or other fastening devices needed.

I claim-- In a shoe-fastening, the combination of the spring-bars A B and A B, the links G H between said bars, and the metal plates 0 D, the said links GH and plates C D being disposed on the outside of the upper of the shoe and riveted through the material thereof to the bars A A B B and also provided with buckles or straps for detachably connecting them together across the opening in the shoe, and the bars A A B B being secured on the inside of the shoe upper on opposite sides of said opening, with their meeting edges coincident with the edges thereof.

THOMAS C. OAKMAN. \Vitnesses:

SAMUEL E. ROBINSON, JOHN F. VAN DEUSEN.

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