US2393990A - Method of and means for attaching shoe heels - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1946. J. 5. KAMBORIAN 2,393,990

-METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SHOE HEELS Filed Sept. 22, 1943 Jaccezflmar m czw@ W9".

Patented Feb. 5, 194a METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SHOEHEELS I 3 Jacob 's. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass. Application September 22, 1943, Serial No. 503,339

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to the manufacture of footwear and relates more particularly to a novel method of and means forattaching heels, for example wood heels, to shoes. Most prior methods of attaching wood heels to shoes are'inadequate not only with reference to the difliculties encountered in satisfactorily performing the heeling operation, but also in that the attaching means, for example nails, does not provide a reliable anchorage, so that it is a common occurrence for a heel tosplit or pull off. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and means for attaching wood or other heels to shoes whereby the attaching operation may be performed expeditiously and without substantial danger of splitting the heel and whereby the heel is firmly and reliably united to the shoe bottom. A further object is to provide an improved 'methodof and means for attaching heels to shoes of the.

22, 1943, said counter having an integral bottom wall 4 which extends transversely across the entire width of the shoe and which integrally merges with a shank piece 5 (Fig. 5). In accordance with the present invention the shank piece is provided with a stiffener I, preferably of metal, although possibly of other materials, for instance a synthetic resin, having an elongate body portion which extends lengthwise of the shank piece 5 and which is longitudinally curved to the contour of the shank portion of the last. The stiffener also has a head 8 at its rear end, preferably transversely curved to conform to the transso-called California or force-lasted type. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the annexed drawing-wherein:

l is a side elevation, to large scale, of one form of fastener embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is, an end view of the fastener of Fig. 1; I Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified construction; I

Fig. 4 is an end view of the fastener of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lasted shoe with the upper broken away to show the counter;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the rear part of a shoe, showing the heel assembled therewith and showing the improved attaching means of the present invention in operative position; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shank stiffener useful in the performance of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I desig nates the outer element of a shoe upper, the upper also comprising a lining 2 (Fig. 6) The shoe chosen for illustration, but without limitation as to the scope of the invention, is a shoe of the force-lasted type having a sock lining 3 whose margin is secured by an inseam 3 to the lining '2 of the upper at the heel end of the shoe, this verse curvature of a last bottom, the head being substantially wider than the body portion of the stiffener and preferably having. a central opening 9 and desirably provided with a plurality'of prongs l0 arranged symmetrically about the Fig. 5 shows the shoe upper and the counter assembled upon a last with the shank piece 5 inplace and with a sole 5 assembled with'the upper. In assembling the stiffener l with the otherparts, it is arranged upon the under surface of the shank piece 5 with the prongs l0 directed downwardly, and the head 8 is subjected to a blow or blows sufllcient to force the prongs Ill through the shank piece 5 and the other elements of the bottom structure and against the metal heel plate of the last so that the prongs are clenched over at the upper surface of the bottom structure. The prongs are thus visible at the upper surface of the bottom structure and, as

they are symmetrically located with reference to of the shoe upper. A moulded counter l is 1n-'.. .9

terposed between the lining and outer member" counter as here illustrated being of the kind more fully disclosed in the copending application of Kamborian, Serial No. 503,338, filed September the opening 9, constitute locating means to indicate the position of the opening 9.

. In accordance with this'invention a heel fastener H such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided. This fastener has a head i2 provided with a slot l3 for the reception of a screw driver or similar tool, the fastener having a tapering body portion provided with external screw threads ll.

In Fig. 1 these screw threads are like those of a conventional wood screw, but the lower end of the tapered body portion of this fastener is (Fig. 2) each formed at the lower end of a groove 18 which extends longitudinally of the body ortion of the fastener.

tener and completed the shoe to the point indi- Having provided the fascated inFig. 5, an outer sole 6 is applied to the shoe bottom, a heel H is-assembled with the other parts in proper location, the shoe being right side up as shown in Fig. 6, and then the fastener I l is forced down through the several elements of the shoe bottom by means of a suitable'tool T, for

tates the fastener and thus causes its cutting edges l to bore or drill an opening in the material of the heel H, the chips escaping up through the groove l6.

Instead of a tapering fastener such as that of Fig. 1, a fastener like that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed. This fastener II has the head I 2 slotted, if desired, for the reception-of a tool but in this case the body portion of the' fastener is substantially cylindrical and is pro-, vided with screw threads l4 similar to those of a machine screw. At its lower end the fastener is provided with one or more cutting edges l5 formed at the lower end or ends of a helical groove or grooves 16. This fastener may be applied in the same way as that indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. f

Since the fastener extends through the opening 9 in the metal stiffener"! and since the head 81s of substantial extent, a very firm anchorage for the heel H is assured and the heel isreliably retained in place during the ordinary life of the shoe.

While the provision of the opening 9 in the shank stiffener facilitates introduction of the fasexample a power driven screw driver which rothe last, providing a fastener element, first locating thetip of the fastener element in axial alignment with the opening, in the stiffener by referenceto the visible prongs of the stiffener and then attaching a heel by inserting the fastener element through the socklining member and the j opening in said shank stifiener and into the heel.

2. Themethod of making a shoe having an upper including an outer element and a lining, a

sock lining anda shank piece underlying the rear 1 part of the sock lining, which comprises as steps providing a shank piece integral with a .counter and provided with a stiffener including an elongate body anda substantially fiat head provided with a central opening and a; plurality of lipstanding prongs disposed symmetrically about said opening, so assembling the shank piece with the other parts that the counter is interposed between the outer element and lining of the upper with the prongs of the stifiener penetrating the sock lining suificiently to indicate, at the upper side of the sock lining, the location ofthe opening in the'stifiener, inserting a last, attaching an outer sole to the bottom structure, providing 'a screw-threaded fastener element having at one end an enlargedhead of greater diameter than said opening, its threaded portion having a bittener, it is contemplated that if the head portion 8 of the stiffener be of soft material, the fastener may drill its own opening in the stifiener.

While the heel fasteners of Figs. 1 and 2 are; particularly desirable in shoes of the force-lasted type because of the insecure heel anchorage which such shoes ordinarily afford, it is to be understood that they may be of utility in attaching heels to shoes of other types; Likewise the shank stiffener herein shown, may be of utility in shoes of other kinds.

While certain desirable embodiments of them- .vention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not lim-'- ited to these precise arrangements but is broadly inclusive of any constructions falling within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: I V V 1. The method of making a shoe'which comprises providing an upper having an outer element and a liner secured together along their top edges and a sock lining secured along its mar-v ginal portion to the lower edge of said liner, the lower marginal portion of said outer element being free and providing a. lasting allowance, inserting a last within the upper, providing a combined shank piece and counter, the shank piece being furnished with a stifiener having an elongate body and a substantially fiat head provided with a central opening and a plurality of upstanding prongs symmetrically disposed about said opening, arranging the shank piece to extend longitudinally of the shank and heel portion of the shoe bottom structure with its counter portion disposed between the outer element and the lining of the upper and with the prongs of its stiffener projecting upthrough the bottom structure so as to be visible at the upper surface of the bottom structure thereby to indicate the location of the opening in the stiffener, turning in and securing the lasting allowance of said outer element of the upper to the marginal portion of said sock lining, attaching an outer sole to the bottom structure, removing the shoe from like end, assembling a heel with the bottom structure and permanently securing the heel in place by first locatingthe tip of the fastener element in axial alignment with the opening in the stiffener by reference to the visible prongs and then inserting the fastener element through the sock lining and the opening in the stifiener and into the heel.

3. The method of making a, hoe which comprises providing an upper having an outer element and a line secured together along their top central opening, arranging the shank so that its stiffener extends longitudinally of the shank and heel portion of the shoe, providing means at the upper side of the shoe bottom structure to indicate the location of the opening in the stiffener, wiping in and securing the lasting allowance of said outer element to the marginal portion of said sock lining, attaching an outsole to the structure, removing the shoe from the last, providing a screw-threaded fastener element having at one end an enlarged head of greater diameter than said opening in the stiffener, its threaded portion tapering to a bit-like end, assembling a heel with the bottom structure 'of the shoe, arranging the fastener element with its tip in contact with the upper surface of the sock lining and in axial alignment with the opening in the stiffener by reference to the indicating means, and permanently securing the heel in place by inserting said fastener element through the sock lining and the opening in said shank stifl'ener.

JACOB s. KAMBORIAN.

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