Insert for rubber heels

Oct 3, 1939.

2,174,752

L. A. LAURSEN

INSERT FOR RUBBER HEELS

Filed April 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Oct 3, 1939. l. a. laursen 2,174,752

INSERT FOR RUBBER HEELS Filed April 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented Oct. 3, 1939

2,174,752

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,174,752 INSERT FOR RUBBER HEELS Lanrits A. Laursen, Copley, Ohio Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,059

Claims.

This invention appertains to the art of rubber or composition heels, and comprises primarily a new form of so-called washer or disc-like member, several of which are embedded in such heels 5 to provide nail centering and anchoring members for the fastenings that attach the heel to the shoe.

Heretofore in this art it has been customary to employ what is known as a perforated washer 10 or insert for the purpose mentioned. This washer or insert is provided with a relatively large nail receiving and centering opening at its center and a number of small perforations at intervals in the body of the washer around the nail 15 opening.

The purpose of these perforations is to permit the rubber or compound from which the heel is made to pass through the washer in order to tie the latter effectively to the substance of the heel 20 itself and thus maintain the washer properly located in relation to the nail openings that are formed in the heel member, and which lead to the nail opening at the center of the washer.

Since the washer is a very small thin metal 25 member, it is found in practise that the structure thereof is weakened considerably by the small perforations above referred to, and therefore, when a nail is driven through the heel and washer in the securing of a heel to a shoe, the 30 washer is frequently split and the nail head may pass entirely therethrough.

Under other conditions, the washer, being of very thin metal, will collapse or become distorted, so as to reduce its efficiency as an anchorage 35 means for the nail, after the heel has been secured to the shoe.

My present invention obviates the disadvantages of the present types of perforated washers by a special formation of the washer providing a 40 reinforcing rim, which may take different forms, and which will be provided with perforations or comprise spaced parts into which the rubber or composition of the heel may flow to effect the anchorage of the washer or insert in the heel as 4S required and referred to hereinbefore.

By the construction which I employ, reinforced in the manner stated, I accomplish the provision of a washer or insert which may be made of substantially the same diameter as those 50 commonly in use, and which will have substantially the same or greater strength than were the said washer imperforate.

In the further carrying out of my invention, it is contemplated that the small perforations or 55 spaces through which the substance of the (CI. 36—35) washer may pass to anchor the same properly in the heel may be formed partly in the body of the washer, and in the rim or flange portion that extends from the periphery of said body.

When so provided, the said perforations or 5 spaces may be produced by removal of small portions of both the body and flange or rim at what may be called the joining shoulder between these two portions of the integral washer or insert structure. 10

Obviously, under such conditions, the perforations are located, practically speaking, in the bend between the washer body and the rim or flange, and the removal of the metal required so far as the body portion is concerned, does not 15 weaken the washer because such removal is more than offset by the formation of the flange that reinforces the entire body of said washer.

Several embodiments of my invention are presented in the accompanying drawings, in which: 20

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a washer embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the construction of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the blank of 25 metal from which the washer of Figures 1 and 2 is formed.

Figure 4 is a side view of a modified form of washer according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view looking toward 30 the upper side of the washer of Figure 4 construction.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of another modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a washer in which 35 the small anchoring perforations are formed at the shoulder or bend between a reinforcing flange or rim and the body of the washer.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of said washer, showing the formation of the body and edge 40 flange or rim.

In respect to the illustrations in all of the figures of the drawings, it is notable that the size of the article shown is very much exaggerated because the diameter of washers or inserts com- 45 moniy employed today is only approximately a quarter of an inch.

According to my invention as proposed in the construction of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the washer or insert is made of a blank of metal 50 formed with the central portion I, having the nail receiving opening 2, there being provided at the periphery of the central portion I a series of spaced tooth-like projections 3 extending entirely around said portion 1. 55

2,174,752

In forming the insert or washer from the blank of metal shown in Figure 3, the central portion is caused to assume a somewhat concavo convex form, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the metal 5 is rolled from the center upwardly and outwardly in effecting such structural formation. The radiating tooth-like projections 3 are likewise caused to^! be rolled or curved until the extremities thereof engage with the underside of the washer 10 body I, as shown at the point 4, the engaging contact being calculated to subserve to a certain extent the rigidity of the rolled edge of the washer or insert. Said rolled edge is made up of the spaced parts 3 which provide therebetween 15 openings or spaces 5 that enable the substance such as rubber or the like, from which the heel is made, to enter and extend through the spaces 5 for anchoring the washer or insert in the heel.

According to the construction of the invention, 20 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the general conformation of the central body of the washer, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is employed, but the edge portion of the washer is formed with a peripheral flange S which extends parallel to the 25 axis of the nail opening 2. This flange 6 is formed with the perforations 7 that afford the anchoring function for the washer when the same is embedded in the body portion of the heel.

The flange 6 provides a means of rendering 30 very rigid the whole body structure of the washer supplementing in this connection the effect obtained by the concavo convex formation of the central portion of the said washer.

While I have shown a single row of perfora35 tions 7 in the flange 6, it is to be understood that these perforations may be arranged in a plurality of rows, or they may be staggered instead of being in alignment as illustrated, or placed in the shoulder forming the flange 6 and washer body. 40 Referring now to the modification of my invention shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, it is notable that the washer body 8 is in the form of a metal plate structure equipped with the central nail receiving opening 9, and the edge 45 portions of the body 8 of the washer are curved outwardly, as shown at !fl, and then curved inwardly as at 11, until they contact as at 12 with the body 8. The portions ii, under such conditions, virtually form a bracing structure con50 necting the outwardly bent portions 10 at their outer edges with the body 8.

The parts 10 and 11 of the washer are formed with the perforations 12 adjacent to the periphery of the washer, and the perforations 13 ad55 jacent to the points of contact of the members ί I with the central portion of the body 8, said points of contact being practically a continuous circling contacting portion surrounding the opening 9.

Virtually speaking, the portions of the metal of the washer designated 11, which curve inwardly, are seated against the outer face of the body 8 of the washer in this construction, and provide a concavo convex element having the 65 characteristics of the similar portion of the center of the body structure in the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the construction illustrated has some of the characteris70 tics of that shown and described in reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

In this type of construction of the invention, the body 14 of the washer is of somewhat concavo convex formation in cross section, and is equipped with a rim or flange 15 at its periphery.

At the bend or shoulder provided by the jointure of the integral flange 15 with the body 14 are located the small perforations 16 that afford the anchorage means for the washer, when it is embedded in the rubber or similar substance of the ₅heel, said substance being adapted, of course, to pass through these perforations. According to the constructions of Figures 7 and 8, it is evident that the body of the washer is substantially solid throughout its area except for the provi- ₁₀sion of the nail opening 17, since the perforations 16 are located so near to the periphery of the body and only partially formed in the said peripheral portion as well as in the flange or rim 15. 15

The structure last described is very efficient and affords maximum strength for the washer body since the latter is substantially imperforate. Moreover, owing to the location of the perforation 16 at the shoulder or bend joining the parts 20 14 and 15, the body structure of the washer is not weakened in any way, practically speaking, the reinforcing or strengthening rim 15 more than compensating so far as reinforcing the washer is concerned, for the removal of the small 25 amounts of metal required to be stamped out from the washer in the provision of the perforations IS.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided very simple forms of construction 30 to carry out my invention, and the manner of reinforcement of the edge portions of the washer is such as to form a peripheral flange of high strength and rigidity, which rigidity, of course, is correspondingly imparted to the body of the 35 washer. In the case of each of my constructions, the said peripheral flange is perforated to provide the anchoring spaces into which the substance of the heel may enter and pass through.

In the instances of the constructions of Fig- 40 ures 1 to 3, and Figure 6, it is apparent that the central concavo convex formation of the part 1 of the first modification and the part 11 of the second modification provides a nail guiding surface to assist in centering the nail opening of 45 said structures.

When the inserts or washers are vulcanized in the rubber heel as customary, the anchorage intermediate the same and the substance of the heel will be more efficient than is obtainable ac- 50 cording to the constructions of flat or more concave discs or washers at present used for the purposes of the invention.