US3006083A - Ladies' wedge style shoes - Google Patents

Description

SHIGERU OGASAWARA 3,006,083

LADIES WEDGE STYLE SHOES Oct. 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 INVENTOR Ma O M Oct. 31, 1961 Filed Feb. 9. 1959 SHIGERU OGASAWARA 3,006,083

LADIES WEDGE STYLE SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig; 3(A

INVENTOR.

nited States The present invention relates to ladies shoes, and more particularly to a wedge type of shoe.

It is well known that shoes, like other articles of clothing must not only be comfortable, but also pleasing to the eye, i.e., stylish. Thus, shoe styling includes symmetry of design, unbroken surfaces, no unsightly stitches or lines, as well as providing a shoe which is strong, durable, light and cushiony on the feet. At present most shoes are mass produced on an assembly line basis. That is to say, a series of semi-skilled workmen each perform one operation on a shoe in succession. Such workmen are generally experienced either at stitching or bonding with glue or bonding agents. However, it is extremely difficult to produce good stylish shoes, particularly wedge type shoes on such a mass production basis, since the fitting of the soles and heels usually require the supervision of a master craftsman.

Although many attempts were made to overcome the foregoing difficulties and other difliculties, none, as far as I am aware, was entirely successful when carried into practice on an industrial scale.

It has now been discovered that a wedge type shoe can be provided which is light in weight, comfortable, stylish, and yet easily manufactured on an assembly line.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe which is beautiful and stylish and which can be produced on an assembly line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe having a favorable cushiony feeling at the heel portion, said heel portion being readily assembled.

It is also the purpose of the invention to provide a shoe which can be madeon an assembly line by unskilled or semi-skilled workmen.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combina tion of parts in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention in its broader aspects contemplates a shoe, comprising in combination a plurality of elements, among which are, an instep assembly, an inner heel cover fastened around the inner periphery of the lower rear portion of said instep assembly; a heel cover fastened around the outer periphery of the lower rear portion of said instep assembly, i.e., an outer heel cover; an inner sole and heel combination having a front element or front inner sole, and a wedge shaped heel; and, an outer sole; said elements being combined in such a manner that the instep assembly is put over the inner sole and heel combination to cover it, the periphery of the front cover portion of said instep assembly is folded over the bottom edge of the front element of said inner sole and heel combination, stretching it around the front element of said inner sole and heel combination. The folded periphery of the instep member is then fastened to the reverse side, i.e., the under side of said element by means of a suitable bonding agent. The heel cover member, i.e., the outer heel cover member is then turned down to cover the side surfaces of the heel and then folded under the heel. The folded portion of said outer heel cover member is then glued to the reverse side, i.e., the

atent under side of said heel and sole combination by means of a suitable bonding agent. Finally, the outer sole is fastened to the reverse or under side or surface of said inner heel and sole combination by means of a suitable bonding agent.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its manner of construction and manufacturing method together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a completed ladies shoe of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner sole-heel combination which is one of the elements of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of only the instep assembly of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the instep assernbly of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of only the outer sole of the FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe consists of an inner sole and heel combination A consisting of a front inner sole 1, advantageously made of leather, or one of the synthetic leathers, and a Wedge-shaped heel 2, made of wood or similar material attached to said sole 1 by a suitable bonding agent at the shank portion as shown in FIG. 2; an instep assembly B consisting of a front cover portion 3 having cut portions 7 at the lower sides of the shank, side instep walls 5, a back instep 8; an inner heel cover 1a which is attached, e.g., stitched around the lower edge or periphery of the inside of the instep, which heel cover 1a may be of cloth or leather as depicted in FIG. 3B. On the outer side of the instep, around its lower outer edge or periphery there is attached, e.g., sewed, an upwardly turned wedge-shaped heel cover 4 adapted and designed to cover the heel 2. Fastened, e.g., glued to the underside of the inner sole and heel combination is an outer sole 6, likewise made of leather or leatherlike material. The combined assembling of members A, B, and outer sole 6, is carried out as follows:

First the instep B is put on the inner sole and heel combination A to cover it. Then, the periphery of the instep front cover portion 3 is folded at the position in front of the shank over the edge of the front and around the sides of inner sole 1. This is done while stretching the bottom of said front cover portion 3. The folded portion, i.e., the periphery is glued to the reverse side, i.e., the under side of the front inner sole of said combination. Then, the upwardly turned heel cover 4 is turned down to cover the side surface of wedge-shaped heel 2 and folded over the bottom edge of said heel. The folded portion of said heel is fastened, e.g., glued to the reverse or under side of said heel by a suitable bonding agent. Finally, the outer sole 6 is fastened to the underside of heel 2 and front inner sole 1 by any suitable bonding agent. In the embodiment of the present invention, a cushion 2a made of resilient material such as sponge gum may be attached to heel 2 as shown in FIG. 2. As the bonding agent, any suitable synthetic resin glue may be used.

Attention is directed to the fact that the portion between the heel and shank of the inner sole of the inner sole and heel combination A has heretofore been most difiicult to properly cover in a stylish and even manner in the mass production of wedge style shoes. However, since according to the present invention, this operation is carried out by folding and turning heel cover 4 over the heel, and the periphery of said heel cover is turned over the lower edge of the heel and fastened under the heel, this operation is considerably simplified. Since the heel is covered by heel cover 4 which is fastened to the outside of instep walls and back 8, the instep isnot inserted between the back portion of the inner sole and the heel as is the present conventional. practice. Therefore, there is no slit at the top of the heel.

In carrying the invention into practice, the instep assembly may be made of one, two or more sheets of material, i.e., cloth, leather, or the like. For example, the instep assembly may be made of a front instep, e.g., a front cover portion, a side instep, i.e., side wall portions and a back or rear instep, all of which are sewn to one another as illustrated in the drawing.

It is to be observed therefore, that the present invention provides for a shoe, comprising in combination; an instep assembly B with a front cover portion 3 adapted to lay over the front of the foot, the lower periphery of said front cover being inwardly folded, and a rear portion having a back 8 and two side walls 5 adapted to engage the wearer's heel below the shin bone, said rear portion extending around the back of the foot; inner heel cover 1a attached to the inside of said side walls 5 and back 8 around the lower periphery thereof; a Wedge shaped heel cover member 4 having a folded upper edge,. fastened around the outside of said walls 5 and back 8 at the lower periphery, the fastening taking place inside said fold, the lower edge of said heel cover member being likewise inwardly folded; an inner sole and heel combination A having a front sole portion 1 and a wedge shaped heel 2' attached to said front sole portion at the shank, said inner sole front portion 1 being joined to said front cover portion 3 of the instep assembly, the bottom edge of said inner sole being fastened to the fold of said front cover portion. 3, and, the heelZ being; covered by said heel cover 4, the folded lower edge of said heelcover 4 being fastened to said heel 2 under said heel; and, an outer sole 6 fastened to the underside of said inner sole and heelcombination.

Furthermore, the invention-provides for a method of making wedge shaped ladies shoes wherein precut shoe fittings are assembled and joined; the improvement in the method comprising the steps of placing; over an inner sole and heel combination A, which combination consists of an already fabricated front inner sole 1, and a wedge shaped heel 2 attached to said sole 1 at the shank portion; an instep assembly B, which assembly comprises an already fabricated front cover portion 3, and a rear portion having sidewalls 5 and a back 8, and which has an inner heel cover In attached around the lower periphery of the inside of the rear instep; and an upwardly turned wedge shaped heel outer cover 4 fastened to the outside of the instep around the lower outer periphery; folding the periphery of the instep front cover 3 over the front and the sides of inner sole 1 while stretching said instep periphery, and fastening said periphery to the under side of said front inner sole 1; turning down said upwardly turned heel cover 4-to cover heel 2, folding the lower edge of said heel cover 4 under said heel 2, and fastening, e.g. gluing said folded portion thereunder; and, finally gluing said outer sole 6 to said inner sole and heel combination.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

I claim:

l-. A ladies wedge style shoe, comprising in combination; an instep assembly with a front cover portion adapted to lay over the front of the foot, the lower periphery of said front cover portion being inwardly folded, and a rear portion having a back and two side walls adapted to engage the wearers heel below the shin bone, said rear portion extending around the back ofthe foot; an inner heel cover attached to the inside of said side walls and back around the lower periphery thereof; a wedge shaped heel cover member having a folded upper edge, fastened around the outside of said walls and back at the lower periphery, the fastening taking place inside the fold, the lower edge of said heel cover member being likewise inwardly folded; an inner sole and heel combination having a front sole portion and a wedge shaped heel attached to said front sole portion at the shank, said inner sole front portion being joined to said front cover portion of the instep assembly, the bottom edge of said inner sole being fastened to the fold of said front cover portionand, the heel being covered by said heel cover, the folded lower edge of said heel cover being fastened to said heel under said heel; and, an outer sole fastened to the underside of said inner sole and heel combination.

2. A ladies wedge style shoe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heel is provided with a cushion layer thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,613 Messina Aug. 27, 1940 2,318,846 Fern May 11, 1943 2,321,713. Turner June 15, 1943 2,348,952 Braun May 16, 1944 2,379,681 Cohen July 3, 1945 2,381,503 Le Rette Aug. 7, 1945 2,383,052 Everston Aug. 21, 1945 2,384,431 Beestrum Sept. 11, 1945 2,392,815 Gleason Jan.- 15, 1946 2,392,816 Gleason Jan. 15, 1946 2,422,494 Morein June 17, 1947 2,482,010 Lissak Sept. 13, 1949 2,514,057 Herlihy July 4, 1950 2,526,925 Atlas Oct. 24, 1950 2,538,373 Maling Jan. 16, 1951 2,543,183 Maling Feb. 27, 1951 2,581,524 Ford Jan. 8, 1952

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