Outsole for shoes

March 20, 1945.

J. GREGG ETAL

OUTSOLE FOR SHOES

Filed Nov. 17, 1942

2,371,689

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2371689A_D0001.tif" />

ATTORNEY

March 20, 1945.

J.. GREGG ET AL

2,371,689

OUTSOLE FOR SHOES

Filed Nov. 17, 1942

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2371689A_D0002.tif" />

ZS 76

INVENTORS

JON GREGG ΛΜ» DAV/ΰ E. LEVIN

<img file="US2371689A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US2371689A_D0004.tif" />

ATTORNEY

March 20, 1945.

J. GREGG ETAL

OUTSOLE FOR SHOES

Filed Nov. 17, 1942

2,371,689

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2371689A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US2371689A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US2371689A_D0007.tif" />

ATTORNEY

Patented Mar. 20, 1945

2,371,689

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE * ' ^: 2,371,689 ;

OUTSOLE FOR SHOES

Jen Gregg, New Hope, Pa., and David E. Levin.

NewYork. N. Y.

Application November

Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and to outsoles therefor.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a platform or ether outsole, the construction of which is such that it requires little :5 or no rubber or leather. ' . Another object of the invention is the provision of a platform outsole which can be readily formed as a unit and assembled as a unit in the shoe. : .a

A further object of the invention is the .provision of an outsole which is waterproof and preferably resilient and which can be made with a small quantity of rubber or reclaimed rubber.

A yet further object of the invention is ,gen- 15 erally to provide an outsole of improved construction and an efficient method of producing outsoles.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be fully under- 20 stood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. Ϊ is a top .plan view of the several parts of ²⁵the outsole, illustrating one step in the manufacture thereof;

Fig. 1A is a plan view, on a smaller scale, of the outer layers of the outsole;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, on a smaller scale, of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, showing said parts in a more advanced stage of manufacture of the outsole;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3—3 of Fig 2; ' . ’.

. ’ . s· . Fig. .4 is a side view of a shoe and of the outsole, embodying the present invention;

. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on the line 5—5 of Fig. 4; ::to

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the completed outsole;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to -Fig. 3, illustrating 45 various features of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of apparatus for manufacturing outsoles embodying the present invention;

Fjg. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10—16 50 of Fig. 9 ;

Fig. 11 is a more or less diagrammatic view' illustrating the method of molding the outsole with a heel of the wedge type;

Figs. .12 and 13 are views similar to Fig. 11 illusr 5®

7, 1942, Serial No. 465,876 (Cl. 36—30) trating, respectively, methods of molding other types of outsoles;

Fig; 14 is a side view of a high-heeled shoe provided with an outsole embodying the present invention;

Fig. 15 is a side view of the outsole before it is assembled in the shoe;

Fig. 16 is a bottom view of the outsole before it is assembled in the shoe;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a device which may be utilized for facilitating the manufacture of the outsole; .

Fig, 18 is a sectional view, on the line 18—18 of Fig. 17.:. .

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the completed shoe embodying the present invention and provided with an outsole of the invention is .illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, said shoe having an upper 10, an outsole 12 and also preferably an insole 14. It will be understood that the shoe can be of any desired style and that the upper can be substantially different from that illustrated. Thus, for example, a shoe embodying the present invention can be a sandal or any other type of shoe. The outsole 12 and the method of producing same will now be more particularly described.

The outsole 12 comprises an inner member 16 of substantially the same size and shape as that of the finished outsole. Said inner member is of ³⁰ substantial thickness, and when, as here shown, the outsole is of the ..platform type, the thickness of said inner member is preferably only slightly less than the final thickness of the outsole. Said inner member preferably has a cushioning or reXi silient characteristic, and while it is preferably made of hair felt, it can be made of any other suitable material, a few of such other materials being jute padding, cotton padding, compressed paper, paper pulp, etc. The inner member 16 is enveloped at the bottom and sides thereof by a layer 18 of fabric or other suitable sheet material secured to said inner member, preferably by an interposed thin layer 20 of rubber which, when vulcanized, secures fabric layer 18 to said inner member 16 and provides a waterproof outsole. Whale layer 20 is preferably formed of rubber, reclaimed rubber, or synthetic rubber, all of which materials are hereinafter referred to as rubber, it is within the scope of this invention to utilize instead of rubber a layer of pyroxylin cement or any other adhesive: or a layer of a plastic or its equivalent for securing the layers 18 and 20 to each other and to the inner member 16.

The enveloping layer 18 can be formed of any suitable sheet material, but is preferably formed

2,371,689 of fabric and which can be a woven or a knit fabric. The preferred fabric is woven cotton fabric known as a rug filler fabric, such fabric having a loose weave and being formed of cotton yam of oppositely twisted threads, said threads having a low or loose twist. The loose weave permits the rubber to penetrate into or through the fabric and further, especially because of the low or loose twist of the threads of which the fabric is composed, the rubber can penetrate into and between the strands of the threads. When the fabric is comparatively closely woven, it may be perforated at the portions through which penetration of rubber to the outer side of the outsole is desired. As illustrated in Fig. 6, a greater penetration of rubber is provided in the areas A and B at the toe and in the region of the ball line to a greater extent than in other areas, these areas A and B being, in general, the areas of the outsole which are subjected to most wear in the use of the shoe.

The fabric and rubber layers extend upwardly from the bottom of the outsole over the peripheral side edge 22 of the inner member and, for one type of shoe, are secured to the upper surface of said inner member at the marginal edge portion thereof, the overlapping upper marginal edge portions of layers 18 and 20 being indicated at 18a and 20a, respectively. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper 10 and the insole 14 are secured to the upper surface of the outsole 12 in any suitable way as by an adhesive or by stitching, the adhesive method of attaching the outsole to the upper and to the insole being illustrated herein. The superimposed layers 18 and 20 are provided with cut-outs 19 and 21 at the toe and heel, respectively, to facilitate folding of the composite layers over the inner member IS, as illustrated in Fig.

2. If desired, the device illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 may be utilized for facilitating the folding of the upper marginal edge portions of layers 18 and 20 over the upper surface of inner member 16 and for facilitating the securement of the folded marginal portions of said layers to said upper surface of inner member i S. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18, a plate P Of fibre or other suitable material is provided with an opening 23 of the shape of the outsole. The inner member 16 having the layers 18 and 20 applied thereto, is positioned in said opening, the edge of plate P at said opening holding the upwardly projecting portions of said layers snugly against the peripheral side edge of inner member 16. This permits the marginal edge portions 18a and 20a to be folded down into engagement with the upper surface of inner member 86, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 18. Said marginal edge portions 18a and 20a may be secured in a downwardly folded position adhesively, by the rubber of layer 20a or by some other adhesive, or said folded over portions 18a and 20a may be stitched to said inner member 16 by a line of stitching 25, as indicated in Fig. 18.

The method of manufacture of the outsole Will now be more fully described. By reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be observed that the inner member 16 is positioned substantially centrally of the superimposed fabric and rubber layers 18 and 20, respectively. Rubber layer 20 preferably has an initial thickness of about one-sixteenth of an inch, but it will be understood that said rubber layer may be thicker or thinner and further it will be understood that the rubber, instead of being applied as a separate layer may be skin coated or frictioned on the inner surface of the fabric layer. This also applies to plastic or other adhesive which may be used instead of rubber. After layers 18 and 20 are assembled with inner member 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1, said layers are folded upwardly to the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, said layers conforming to the contour of peripheral edge 22 of inner member 16 and the marginal edge portions 18a and 20a of said layers being disposed over the upper surface of the inner member 16 at the marginal edge portion thereof. Then the assembled inner member 16 and the layers 18 and 20 are molded under heat and pressure in a suitable mold, as a result of which the rubber layer 20 is vulcanized and is caused to penetrate into or through the fabric to the desired extent and at the desired areas of the outsole. The mold is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figs. 9 and 10. As here shown, the mold comprises a fiat plate 26 provided with a plurality of cavities 28 of the desired outsole size and shape. Said mold-plate 26 can be formed of any suitable material such, for example, as compressed fiber board or compressed wood fibres. Preferably, but not necessarily, said mold plate 26 is formed of “Masonite.” After the parts are assembled as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, they are placed in the mold cavities 28, the depth of said cavities being preferably somewhat deeper than the final outsole thickness so that the upper shims, when the latter are used, are partly in the mold cavity. When the outsole units are in the cavities 28 they are subjected to heat and pressure in the press, which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10, the ram or plunger of the press being indicated at 30 and the decks at 32. In the press, the mold plate 26 is movably and removably supported on a metal plate 34 which rests on the press decks 32, said plate being positioned between the side member or metal bars 36 which are slightly thicker than mold plate 26, and, therefore, limit the movement of the press plunger 30.

As indicated above, the rubber layer 20 can be caused to penetrate completely through the fabric layer 18 at various areas thereof, as may be desired, for example, at the areas A and B as illustrated in Fig. 6. This may be accomplished in accordance with the present invention by positioning a shim or thin pressure-plate 38 (Fig. 8) on the upper surface of the assembled parts in the press, so that when plunger 30 is depressed greater pressure is exerted by said plunger on the part of the outsole at which said shim or pressure-plate is positioned, thereby resulting in a greater penetration of the rubber through the fabric layer 18 at the bottom of the outsole in the area corresponding to the area of the shim. While, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the greater penetration of the rubber through the fabric layer 18 at the bottom of the outsole is indicated at the toe and at the intermediate portions of the outsole in the region of the ball line, forwardly thereof, it will be understood that similar penetration of rubber can be obtained at any other parts of the outsole by the use of pressure-plates of suitable configuration and size.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, the penetration of rubber through the fabric can be prevented, as may be desired, at any part of the outsole. Similarly, the adhesion of the fabric and rubber layers to each other or to the inner member can be prevented at any part'of the outsole as may be desired. For example, when it is

2,371,689 desired to prevent the penetration of rubber through the peripheral edge portion 40 of fabric layer 18. This can be readily accomplished by interposing a strip 42 of paper or other suitable material between the inner surface of the pe- 5 ripheral edge portion 40 of the fabric layer and the adjacent portion of rubber layer 20, as illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 8, Similarly, for example, when it is desired to prevent adhesion of marginal edge portion 20a of 10 the rubber layer and the marginal portion 18a of the fabric layer to the upper surface of inner member 10, this can be readily accomplished by interposing a paper or other suitable protective strip 44 between the upper surface of said inner 15 member ί 0 and the marginal edge portion 20a of rubber layer 20.

As shown in Fig. 7, the fabric and rubber layers 18 and 20 instead of being secured to the upper surface of the inner member 16 or instead of 20 being positioned between the upper surface of the outsole and the upper, can be directed upwardly beyond the upper surface of inner member 16 and vulcanized or otherwise secured to the side portions of the upper Ι0Α above the upper 25 surface of said inner member, the upper surface of inner member 16 being secured adhesively or in any other suitable way to the lasting allowance of the upper and to the insole 14. It is also within the scope of this invention to form the upper as a continuation of the upwardly extending peripheral portion 18a' of the fabric layer, after said fabric layer and the interposed rubber layer are secured to the inner member. In other words, the lower edge of the upper can be secured to the upper edge of the peripheral edge portion 18a' of the fabric layer.

Figs. 11 to 13 illustrate more or less diagrammatically various methods of molding the assembled inner member and fabric and rubber layers. As shown in Fig. 11, for producing an outsole of the wedge type, a heel part 16A, which can be of the same material as that of member 16, is superimposed on the inner member 16 for increasing the thickness thereof at the wedge forming part of the outsole which ordinarily extends from about the ball line rearwardly to the back of the outsole. A filler and auxiliary molding plate 50 is disposed at the upper surface of the assembled parts so that when the assembly is subjected to pressure in the mold 28 there will be produced a unitary outsole I2B of the wedge heel type, the inner member 16 including the supplementary portions 16A, being enclosed 55 within the fabric layer 18, secured by the rubber layer 20 in the same way as described above with reference to the outsole 12. Fig. 12 illustrates a method of producing an outsole 12C in which the rear part 52 of the outsole is positioned above θθ the part 54 thereof, for the attachment of a separate heel to said rear part 52. For this purpose, the filler and shaping plates 56 and 58 are utilized at the top and bottom portions of the assembly in the mold. Similarly, as illustrated 65 in Fig. 13, when it is desired to shape the outsole to the form illustrated 12D, the filler pieces or shaping plates 60 and 62 are utilized at the positions illustrated, piece 62 resulting in a recess 64 being formed in the bottom of the out- 70 sole near, the heel portion thereof. It will be understood that the filler or supplementary molding pieces 50, 56, 58, 60 and 62 extend substantially for the full width of the outsole at the portions thereof which underlie said pieces, respectively, in the mold.

It will be understood, of course, that shoes embodying the present invention and provided with outsoles constructed in accordance therewith, may be of various types and styles for men and boys as well as for women and girls. Fig. 14 shows a high-heeled shoe provided with an outsole embodying the present invention. As here shown, said outsole 12' is substantially of the same construction as the outsole 12 hereinbefore described and is secured to the upper 10' substantially in the same way, except that said outsole 12' has a rear portion 66 of reduced thickness and is secured to a thin heel piece 68 of fibre or any other suitable material. Said rear portion 66 is preferably tapered, as clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and is secured in overlapping relation to the forward part of heel piece 68. This construction facilitates the attachment of the rear part of the outsole to the heel 70, the nails or other fastening means (not shown) customarily Utilized for securing the heel to the rear part of the outsole passing through said heel piece 68.

It is within the scope of our invention to cover the outer surface of fabric layer 18 completely or at any part thereof, as may be desired, with a layer or coating of rubber. It will be under30 stood that the outer surface of fabric layer 18 may be covered with rubber at the peripheral edge 40 of the outsole, if that is desired; although in accordance with the preferred embodiment of our invention, said peripheral edge of the outsole 35 does not have an external coating of rubber. It will be understood further that the outer surface of the sole may be covered with a waterproofing agent, preferably a plastic applied to the outer surface of the fabric and/or other mate40 rial at the outer surface of the sole on the bottom thereof as well as on the peripheral edge thereof, if desired.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the shoe and out-: 45 sole constructions and in the method of making the same, disclosed herein, and will occur to skilled artisans, in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, we do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein specifically shown or de⁵⁰ scribed except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.