US3351967A

US3351967A - Heel construction

Info

Publication number: US3351967A
Application number: US343344A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben V Dardig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-02-07
Filing date: 1964-02-07
Publication date: 1967-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-14

Description

Nov. 14,1967v Filed Feb. v, 1964 B. v. DARDIG 3,351,967

HEEL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 14, 1967 l B. v. DARDIG 3,351,967

HEEL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l "iz SX NVENTOR.

62. 58 A rrUR/YEKS Nov. 14, 1967 B. VL DARDIG 3,351,967

HEEL CONSTRUCTION 'Filed Feb. 7, 1964 3 sheets-sheet s IIIIIIIIIIA IIIIIL l IIIIIII 'Il IIIII. [El 1 INVENTOR. 55N l/Dwo/G W4 56 BY United States Patent O 3,351,967 HEEL CONSTRUCTION Ben V. Dardig, 4 Peter Cooper Road, New York, N.Y. 10010 Filed Feb. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 343,344 7 Claims. (Cl. 12-147) This invention relates to a construction for the heel of an otherwise conventional shoe and, more specifically, pertains to a method for securing one member of a two member detachable heel to a shoe and to an article of manufacture made in accordance therewith.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a new and improved process of fixing one member of a two member detachable heel to a shoe.

It is a further object o-f my invention to provide a novel heel construction made by the aforesaid process.

This inventiongenerally is concerned with the eld of footwear of the type which includes a detachable heel for a shoe. Detachable heels are well known in the art and the present invention resides in an improved manner of securing the xed member to the shoe. The term fixed member refers to that part of the detachable heel which is permanently affixed to the shoe and which detachably engages the removable member of the heel. The fixed part will, in accordance with common trade terminology, be referred to as the heel base `and the removable or detachable member will be referred to as the heel lift.

Thus, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a process for afxing a heel base to the upper of a shoe, which process is quick and economical and requires a minimum of skilled labor.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method of the character described which will aflix a heel base to the upper of a shoe in a manner such that the connection between these parts is strong and not prone to rupture even after prolonged periods of use.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method of the character described which will mold a heel base as an integral part of a unitary heel and sole member.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method of the character described which will mold a heel base into a unitary heel and sole member Iand then bond the member to the lower periphery of an upper of a conventional shoe.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method and heel of the character described which eliminate the usual step of trimming and scouring the breast, sides and back of a heel lift for the purpose of modeling the same to the corresponding portions of the heel base.

These and various other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to the reader in the following description. v

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps which will be exemplified in the devices and methods hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. l is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a heel construction, with the heel base affixed to the heel portion of the outsole of a conventional shoe, and with the heel lift detachably engaged to the heel base;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of, top to bottom, an insert plate, a heel base, and the heel portion of the outsole of a conventional shoe;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a typical male and female fastener element by which the heel lift is detachably engaged to the heel base;

ice

FIG. 4 is a three-quartered top perspective view of the heel lift;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heel base insert plate poised above and prior to insertion into the heel ring;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear of a conventional shoe positioned on top of the heel ring preparatory to being joined t-o the heel base;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the step immediately prior to nailing the heel base insert plate to the heel base and to the heel portion of the shoe outsole;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a male fastener element on the heel base insert plate, seated on an inset carried by the heel ring;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the heel base insert plate nailed to the heel base portion of a unitary heel and sole member;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the step of nailing the heel base insert plate to the heel base portion of a unitary heel and sole member;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the step of molding the heel base insert plate into the heel base portion of a unitary heel and sole member;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the heel base insert plate molded within the heel base portion of a unitary heel and sole member;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the heel base insertplate molded within the heel base portion of a unitary heel and sole member that is directly molded to the bottom periphery of the upper of a conventional shoe; and

FIG. 14 shows the heel base insert plate nailed to a unitary heel and sole member that is directly molded to the bottom periphery of the upper of a conventional shoe.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 8, the reference numeral 10 denotes a heel construction made in accordance with my invention, the heel being attached to an otherwise conventional stitched or `glued shoe 12. The shoe 12 may be made, in part or intermixed, from leather, pla-Stic, cloth or a rubber composition. The rear portion of the shoe 12 includes the rear portion of the shoe upper 14, which upper comprises a right quarte-r 16 and a left quarter 18. The shoe 12 has a two member heel 20, comprising a heel base 22 and a heel lift 24.

The heel base 22 may be considered the upper and permanently aiiixed member, and the heel lift 24 the lower and detachable member of the heel 20. Both members may be made of leather or, preferably, a wear resistant elastomer, e.g., natural or synthetic rubber. The two part-s of the heel 20, to wit, the heel base 22 and the heel lift 24, are secured to the thick, heavy outsole 26 of the shoe, the outsole being conventional and well known in the trade. The outsole is fixed directly to the insole 28, which is of relatively thinner material, by conventional means such as gluing, stitching or nailing. A sock lining 30 is superimposed over the insole 28 and provides a smooth, soft and comfortable surface against which the foot of the wearer may press, while the shoe is being worn.

The heel 20 is of the detachable type, that is to say, the heel base 22 is permanently secured to the rear portion of the outsole 26 while the heel lift 24 is detachably engaged to the heel base 26. When desired, the heel lift 24 may be pulled away from the heel base 22 and a new heel lift 24 substituted in its place. Such a substitution will take place when a wearer desires to replace his worn lift with a fresh, unused lift or when a user desires to switch right and left heels.

A useful detachable heel is illustrated in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,932,099 for Detachable Heel. The constructional details and utility of a detachable heel are fully described therein.

The heel lift 24 includes a support plate 32 which by molding is embedded substantially horizontally and in predetermined position within said lift. Protruding upwardly from the support plate 32 are three female coupling or fastener elements 34 which engage three aligned male coupling or fastener elements 36 in the heel base 22. Each female fastener element 34 is secured as by spot welding to the support plate 32.

A useful construction for the male and female fastener elements is illustrated in FIG. 3. However, it will be understood that numerous different types of fastener elements can be utilized within the scope of my invention. Briefly, the female fastener element 34 includes a cupshaped housing 38 which has an open leading end 39 and an internally facing circular groove 40 in the housing wall in which is loosely seated a split snap ring 42. The heel lift 24 has an upper fa-ce 44 which is dimensioned and contoured to match the contour of the opposed lower face 46 of the heel base 22.

The heel base 22 includes a heel base insert plate 48 which is seated against and fixed to the bottom face 46 of the heel base 22. The insert plate 48 includes three male fastener elements 36, each male element being in vertical alignment with its associated female fastener element 34, when the lift and base are engaged. The male fastener elements 36 are joined to the heel base insert plate 48 as by spot welding.

Each male fastener element comprises a short sleeve 49 having an inner wall 50 and an outer wall S2, which walls meet at the externally beaded leading edge 54 of the element 36. The fastener element 36 is so configured that it can be forced internally into the female element 34 so that an external outwardly facing groove 56 on the outer wall 52 will seat and thereafter will be tightly frictionally gripped by the snap ring 42 within the female element 34. The constructional details of the male and

female fastener elements

34, 36 are more fully shown and described in my Patent No. 2,932,099.

It may be properly interjected at this point in the disclosure that the plan outlines (breast, sides and back) of the heel base 22 and of the heel lift 24 are preformed to be the same and the male and female fastener elements are identically located therein. When the lift is positioned and joined to the base by the

fastener elements

34, 36, the physiognomy of the assembled heel 20 is conventional of a finished product and does not reveal its two part, detachable characteristic.

The usual step of breasting, i.e., trimming and scouring of the breast of the heel base and heel lift together, and trimming and scouring the balance of their outside peripheries is thereby made unnecessary and is eliminated. This likewise is true of a resoling operation which through the use of my invention does away with the heretofore always present need of trimming and scouring to match a new lift to the old base.

The heel base insert plate 48 is secured to the heel base 22 by nails 58. The nail heads 60 are disposed on the bottom or exposed face of the insert plate 48 an-d the Shanks 62 of the nails pass through apertures 64 in the insert plate 48, then vertically through the body of the heel base 22, through the outsole 26, and through the insole 28. The tips 66 of the nails 58 are clinched over the top of the insole so that they are permanently fastened therein. The clinched tips are covered by the sock lining.

The heel base insert plate 48 itself is a heart-shaped one-piece member whose outline is somewhat parallel to but remains within the outline of the heel base 22. The insert plate 48 carries one male fastener element 36 at its rear apex location 68 and the two other male fastener element 36 in transverse (side-to-side) alignment on its leading

forward corner locations

70, 72. The insert plate 48 has a central raised or protruding portion 74 which has an outline substantially parallel to its periphery 76. Adjacent to and surrounding the raised portion 74 is a flat border 78 of substantially uniform width, on which the fastener elements 36 are located. The plate has apertures 64 which are spaced along the border 78 as well as at the centers of the male fastener elements 36.

The heel base 22 includes a recess 80 whose outer periphery 82 is slightly larger than the periphery 76 of the insert plate 48. An island 84 is centered within the recess and is configured so as to be smaller in plan than the raised portion 74 of the insert plate 48. Thereby the insert plate 48 can be placed male fastener elements up into the recess 80 with the border 78 of the insert plate fitting into and seating against the recess 80 and the raised portion 74 of the insert plate bearing on the central island 84 on the heel base 22. The exposed surface of the island 84 and the exposed face 46 of the heel base 22 are in horizontal alignment so that, as will be seen in FIG. 1, the raised portion 74 of the insert plate 48 protrudes downwardly slightly beyond the bottom face 46.

The heel base 22 is attached to the outsole 26 by first placing the heel base insert plate 48 into a specially constructed jig, i.e. heel ring 92. Said heel ring 92 defines a cavity 94 whose Outside periphery 96 matches the periphery of the heel base 22. so that said base will be preciselylocated thereby. The cavity 94 includes a central depressed area 98 into which the raised portion 74 of the insert plate 48 will loosely fit.

The male fastener elements 36 each snugly fit into a different associated seat 100 in the bottom wa-ll 102 of the cavity 94 so that the insert plate will be precisely located thereby in the heel ring and precisely predeterminedly positioned with respect to the heel base in the ring. The bottom wall 102 also includes bores 104, each bore being in vertical alignment with lan aperture 64 in the heel base insert plate 48. The sung fit of the heel base 22 in the heel ring 92 and of the insert plate on the seats 100` insures that the male fastener elements 36 attached to the insert plate are disposed in predetermined position with respect to the breast and periphery of the base so that when they couple with the fastener elements 34 of the heel lift 24, an exact fit of contours ensues without the necessity of trimming or scouring as is usual in shoe manufacture.

The heel ring 92 has a rim 106 which includes three slots 108 one on each of the opposed sides of the heel ring 92 land one centered at the rear of the heel ring. Each slot 108 is configured to receive the base 110 of an adjustable stop, which, as will shortly be seen, positions the rear portion of the shoe 12. The ring 92 supports three stops, two transverse stops 112. disposed one on each opposed side of the ring 92 and a rear stop 114. Each stop 112 includes the right angled base 110 and an upstanding leg 116. The upper portion of the leg 116 has a tapped aperture 118 through which passes the threaded shaft 120 of a horizontal positioning screw 122. Said screw 122 includes a large diameter head 124 which may be knurled on its rim so that it can be gripped without slipping by the finger of a worker.

The head 122 is located on the external or exposed end of the shaft 120 and on the innermost end of the shaft is fixed a foot 126 which is smoothly finished on its proximate face so that it can press against the leather quarter 16 of a shoe without nicking or marring. Each stop further includes a locking nut 128 on the shaft which may be tightened against the upstanding leg :116. The base of the stop 112 is fixed in the slot 108 by a screw 130 which passes through an aperture 132 in the base and then into a tapped aperture 134 in the in the bottom of the slot.

Each screw 122 may be rotated in either direction so that its foot 126 will press against an

adjacent quarter

16, 18 of the shoe upper and properly locate the shoe so that the heel portion 90 of the outsole 26 will fit on top of the -heel ring 92 in a predetermined vertically aligned position.

The rear stop 114 is similar in construction to the side stops 1412 and also includes a head 136 xed on to the exposed end f a shaft 138 which is threaded through an pstanding leg 140. The rear stop also includes a crescent shaped foot 142 to fit against the rear end of the shoe 12. It will be appreciated that by proper adjustment of the side stops 112 and the rear stop 114, the rear of the shoe 12 can be positioned as desired over the heel ring 92.. Since the

stops

112, 114 are adjustable, different sizes of shoes may also be accommodated.

As has been previously stated, the insert plate 48 is iirst placed into the heel ring 92 fastening elements down as illustrated in FIG. 5. Then the heel base 22 is placed into the cavity 94 in the heel ring 92 and over the insert plate 48. The height of the heel base 22 is greater than the depth of the ring cavity 94 so that an upper portion of the heel base 22 projects above the cavity and upon this projecting portion the rear portion 90 of the outsole 26 is placed. (See FIGS. 6 and 7.)

summarizing what has been previously stated, the rear of the shoe 12 is positioned by means of the

stops

112, 114 so that the heel portion 90 of the outsole 26 is in vertical `alignment with the heel base 22. The heel base 22 is held within the cavity `94 in the heel ring 92 and is superimposed in predetermined relationship over the heel base insert plate 48. A shoe last is contained within the shoe L2.

As seen in FIG. 7, the shoe last 1144 includes a steel bottom plate 146 which is the portion of the last 144 that presses against the insole 28 of the shoe 12. The shoe last 144 further includes a metal hollow socket 148 which passes vertically through the last and which is located centrally above the rear portion 90 of the outsole 26. When the shoe 12 is in its proper position, a stud 156 presses downwardly on top of the last 144 and the stud 150 has a protruding nib 152 which enters into the socket 148. Thereby the position of the socket with regard to the stud 159 is xed and the stud exerts sufficient downward force on the last and thus on the insole 28 and the outsole 2.6 of the shoe so that the other steps, soon to be described, can be successfully carried out.

A heel nailing machine 154 is provided to attach the insert plate 48 and the heel base 22 to the outsole 26 in one operation. Said nailing machine includes a stationary nailing block 156 in which are located elongated vertical passageways 158. The heel ring is mounted for movement into position above the block. Each passageway 158 is in vertical alignment with a bore 104 in the heel ring 92 when the heel ring is placed in nailing position.

The nailing machine 154 further includes a hammer 160 which is reciprocated by a piston means of a conventional nature. Fixed to the hammer 160 are cylindrical nailing heads 162, each head being slidably engaged within an ailiated passageway 158.

Upward movement of the hammer160 will cause a concurrent upward movement of each of the heads 162 within their ailiated -passageways 158. It may be noted at this point that a slight gap 164 is provided between the nailing machine 154 and the heelring 92 when the latter is in nailing position so that these parts may be easily slid into their proper locations without interference by other parts. A cylinder 166 slidably supports and guides.

the hammer 160 and holds the nailing block fast. Within the passageways 158 small nails 58 are placed with their heads 60 downwardly and against the nailing heads 162 and with their tips 66 pointing upwardly. (See FIG. 7.) The nailing heads 162 are drawn downwardly to a suicient depth so that the nails 58 are completely received within the passageways 158. The passageways 158 are of a diameter such that the heads 60 of the nails may easily slide up and down therein.

FIG. 8 illustrates in detail the structure for guiding a nail 58 through an aperture 64 in the heel base insert plate 48.

The seats 100 are formed by hardened metal insets 168 which are located in openings 169 in the bottom wall102 of the cavity 94 of the heel ring 92,. VEach inset 168 in- :n

cludes a circular base 170 which is integral with a coaxial upwardly converging and protruding cone 172. The external radius of the cone 172 matches the internal radius of the inner wall 50 of the male fastener element 36 and the fastener element 36 is seated on the inset 168. The leading edge 54 of the fastener element is snugly seated in an annular channel 173 formed between the ring wall and Vthe cone.

Each inset 168 has an upwardly converging, i.e. cammed internal Ipassageway 174. The radius of the passageway 174 at its upper portion is such as to slightly exceed the radius of the aperture 64 in the insert plate 48. As will be seen from FIG. 8, the bottom radius of the passageway 174 is larger than the radius of the passageway 158 in which passageway the nails 58 are located.

The cammed internal passageway 174 within each inset 168 is provided so that when a nail 58 with its tip 66 is forced upwardly, although the diameter of the shank 62 of the nail is considerably less than the diameter of the passageway 158, even if the tip shifts slightly within the passageway during its upward movement, it will be cammed into and through the aperture 64 in the insert plate 48, which aperture is vertically registered with the corresponding passageway 174.

The step of nailing the insert plate 48 to the heel base 22 and in the same operation to the outsole 26 and insole 2S is commenced by upward powered movement of the piston 160. The piston moves the nailing heads 162 upwardly within the passageways 158 in the nailing block 156. Each nailing head presses against the head 60 of one of the nails 58 and thus forces the tip 66 and the shank 62 of the nail upwardly, rst through the guiding passageway 174, then through the aperture 64 in the insert plate 48, then through the body of the heel lbase 22, then through the outsole 26, and finally through the insole 28. Continued upward pressure exerted by the piston 16) forces the nail tip 66 against the metal bottom plate 146 of the shoe last 144. Since the nail 58 is softer than the plate 146 and cannot penetrate the same, it is forced to one side and is clinched over the top of the insole 28. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, each nail 58 fastens the insert plate 48 to the heel base and this unit to the outsole 26 and insole 28.

FIG. 9-illustrates a second embodiment of my invention and shows the manner in which my novel heel construction can be used with a one-piece heel base and sole member 178. The one-piece heel hase and sole member 178 corresponds to the outsole 26 and the heel lbase 22 except that these two parts are now a single unitary molded part. The heel base portion 179 of the one-piece heel base and sole member 178 has a recess 180 which is like the previously described recess Si? in the heel base 22. The insert plate 48 and the heel base portion 179 are axed to the shoe upper 14 in the same manner as was previously discussed in relation to a separate heel base and outsole, the only different being that each nail 58 passes through the aperture in the insert plate 48 through the heel 'oase portion 179 of the heel base and sole member 178 (there being no separate outsole), and then through the insole 28. Each nail is thereafter clinched over the insole 28.

A detachable heel construction is particularly important with shoes made with a one-piece heel base and sole member, since it will be evident that the heel or the sole of such a shoe can no longer be easily replaced. The ability to replace the heel lift 24 of such a shoe considerably lengthens the serviceable life of such a shoe construction. The onepiece heel 'base and sole member 178 can lbe attached to the sole, instep and heel portions of the upper and insole by gluing or stitching; the nails enhance this securement at the heel portion.

FIG. l0 illustrates the nailing step in the production of shoes utilizing a one-piece heel base and sole member 178. The upper 14 of a conventional shoe 12 is used, including l a right quarter 16 and a left quarter 18. This ligure uses reference figures the same as those used with the figures (FIGS. 1-8) illustrating the shoe with a separate heel base 22 and outsole 26. As previously described, a last 144 is placed into the shoe. This last 144 also includes a rocket 14S into which the nib 152 of a stud 150' is placed which keeps the shoe pressed downwardly against the heel ring (jig) 92. The last 144 also has a metal bottom plate 146 which serves to clinch the nails 58 over the insole 28. With the one-piece heel base and sole member 178 in place, the same upward drive of the nails S8 as has been previously described takes place.

Another embodiment of my invention includes a heel construction formed by the molding of an insert plate into the heel base portion of a one-piece heel base and sole member 17S. FIG. 1l illustrates the step of molding the insert plate in position substantially completely embedded within the heel base portion. Said step is effectuated by use of a molding form 182 which defines the bottom surface and side surfaces of a molding cavity 184. The top surface of the cavity is defined by a face 186 of a forming piston 18S. The cavity 184 includes a heel base molding portion 19t) and a sole molding portion 192.

This embodiment of my invention utilizes an insert plate 194 which is quite similar to the insert plate 4S previously described except that since this insert plate 194 will be completely embedded within the heel base portion of the heel base and sole member, it may be and is shown as substantially fiat rather than containing a central raised portion 74. The insert plate 194 also includes male fastener elements 36 located and spaced as described in connection with the first embodiment of my invention, The molding step is initiated by the placement of the insert plate 194, fastener elements 36 downward, into the heel base molding portion 19t) of the molding form 182.v Each fastener element 36 is placed into an upwardly facing cupshaped well 196 which has a top edge that seats against the bottom face of the insert plate 194 to prevent the molding material 262 from contacting the fastener elements 36.

The center of the insert plate 194 is supported by a stub protrusion 20) which rises centrally from the heel base molding portion 190 of the molding form 182. Thereafter the molding material 202 is introduced into the molding cavity 184. This material may be a synthetic or natural rubber compound or such substances mixed with conventional filler materials. The molding material 202 may be placed into the molding cavity 184 in biscuit form and then by the application of pressure and heat be partially liquefied and forced to flow to the desired configuration, or the rubber material may be directly injected in a liquid state into the cavity through sprues which lead into the cavity and then allowed to form, cure and harden.

The heel base and sole member 178 as it appears When fixed to the insole 28 of a conventional shoe is illustrated in FIG. 12. The insert plate 194 is firmly practically completely embedded within the heel base portion of the onepiece heel base and sole member with the male fastener elements 36 protruding slightly beyond and below this heel base portion. The well 196 has prevented the molding material 292 from contacting the fastener element 36 so that this material does -not interfere with the detachable coupling to the female fastener 34. A heel lift 24 of the same type as used with a separate heel base and outsole is employed with the unitary heel base and sole member 178 as now formed. The heel base and sole member 178 is fixed to the insole 28 as by gluing, stitching, nailing or other conventional fastening means.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet another embodiment of my novel heel construction. The construction shown therein is quite similar to that shown in FIGS. l1 and 12, except that the one-piece heel base and sole member 17,8 including the insert plate 194 with its fastener elements 36 is molded directly to the upper and insole 23 of a conventional shoe 12. The process for molding a heel and sole member directly to the upper 14 of a conventional shoe is well-known and is more fully set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 2,987,738 for Machine for Attaching Shoe Soles to Vamps. With the teaching of the present invention in mind, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the molding cavity shown in the cited patent is modified so that not only the sole but a one-piece heel base and sole member incorporating an insert plate 194 is formed in one step, for later use with a detachable lift 24. The heel base portion will, evidently, be of lesser height than a full heel.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 14. A one-piece heel base .and sole member 178 is molded directly to the insole 28 of a conventional shoe. However, a recess 8f) is provided by the molding step in the bottom face of the heel base portion of the one-piece heel base and sole member 17S, which recess is like the recess that was previously described as being formed in the heel base 22. Thereafter an insert plate 58 like the insert plate previously described in the first embodiment of the invention is nailed in the manner previously described through the one-piece heel base and sole member 178 and is thereafter clinched over the insole 28.

It thus will be seen that I have provided devices and methods which achieve the several objects of my invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In the process of fabricating a heel construction comprising a two member detachable heel secured to the heel portion of a shoe, one member constituting a heel base and a heel base insert plate secured to the heel base, said one member being fixed to the shoe, and the other member constituting a detachable heel lift and a heel lift support plate secured to the heel lift, and means carried by said plates for detachably coupling said members, the method of attaching the heel base and heel base insert plate to the heel portion of the shoe, including the steps of:

(a) locating the heel base insert plate in a heel positioning device;

(b) providing the heel base with the same breast and peripheral configuration as the heel lift;

(c) situating the heel base in the heel positioning device in contact with the heel base insert plate in a predetermined position which position is the same as the position of the support plate with respect to the heel lift; and Y (d) securely fixing the heel base and the heel base insert plate to the heel portion of the shoe;

(e) so that the fixed member is positioned to registrably receive the detachable heel lift in matched registration therewith without trimming.

2. In the process of fabricating a heel construction comprising a two member detachable heel secured to the heel portion of a shoe, one member constituting a heel base and a heel base insert plate secured to the heel base, said one member being fixed to the shoe, and the other member constituting a detachable heel lift and a heel lift support plate secured to the heel lift, and means carried by said plates for detachably coupling said members, the method of attaching the heel base and heel base insert plate to the heel portion of the shoe, including the steps of:

(a) locating the heel base insert plate in a heel jig;

(b) locating the heel base in the heel jig and against the heel base insert plate in a predetermined position which position is the same as the position of the support plate with respect to the heel lift;

(c) locating the heel portion of the shoe against the heel base; and

(d) guiding nails through the heel jig so as to nail the heel base insert plate to the heel base and to the heel portion of the shoe (e) so that the fixed member is positioned to registrably receive the detachable heel lift.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the heel base insert plate carries coupling members and the jig includes insets, and wherein the heel base insert plate is located in the heel jig by the engagement of the coupling members with the jig insets.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the heel base is preformed with a recess and wherein the heel base insert plate is seated in said recess.

5. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of securely aixing the heel base and the heel base insert plate to the heel portion of the shoe is performed by nailing.

6. A process as set forth in claim 5 wherein the insert plate has apertures therein and the nailing step includes driving nails through said apertures.

10 7. A process as set forth in claim 1 which further includes the step of molding the heel base in one piece with the outsole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,339 3/1921 Arntz et al. 36-42 1,740,976 12/ 1929 Farrar 36-36 1,805,738 5/1931 Lee 36--36 1,990,395 2/1935 Abrams 12-103 1,998,012 4/1935 Grant 36-42 2,120,112 6/1938 Nebeling 36--42 2,127,362 8/1938 Huiiin 12-147 2,187,825 1/1940 Clarke 12-147 2,324,889 7/ 1943 Susskind 12-147 2,934,773 5/ 1960 Shnuriwsky 12-103 2,987,738 6/ 1961 Novotny et `al 124-332 3,068,592 12/1962 Antelo 36-36 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, A. R. GUEST,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. IN THE PROCESS OF FABRICATING A HEEL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A TWO MEMBER DETACHABLE HEEL SECURED TO THE HEEL PORTION OF A SHOE, ONE MEMBER CONSTITUTING A HEEL BASE AND A HEEL BASE INSERT PLATE SECURED TO THE HEEL BASE,. SAID ONE MEMBER BEING FIXED TO THE SHOE, AND THE OTHER MEMBER CONSTITUTING A DETACHABLE HEEL LIFT AND A HEEL LIFT SUPPORT PLATE SECURED TO THE HEEL LIFT, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PLATES FOR DETACHABLY COUPLING SAID MEMBERS, THE METHOD OF ATTACHING THE HEEL BASE AND HEEL BASE INSERT PLATE TO THE HEEL PORTION OF THE SHOE, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: (A) LOCATING THE HEEL BASE INSERT PLATE IN A HEEL POSITIONING DEVICE; (B) PROVIDING THE HEEL BASE WITH THE SAME BREAST AND PERIPHERAL CONFIGURATION AS THE HEEL LIFT; (C) SITUATING THE HEEL BASE IN THE HEEL POSITIONING DEVICE IN CONTACT WITH THE HEEL BASE INSERT PLATE IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION WHICH POSITION IS THE SAME AS THE POSITION OF THE SUPPORT PLATE WITH RESPECT TO THE HEEL LIFT; AND (D) SECURELY FIXING THE HEEL BASE AND THE HEEL BASE INSERT PLATE TO THE HEEL PORTION OF THE SHOE; (E) SO THAT THE FIXED MEMBER IS POSITIONED TO REGISTRABLY RECEIVE THE DETACHABLE HEEL LIFT IN MATCHED REGISTRATION THEREWITH WITHOUT TRIMMING.