Shoe platform construction

April 3, 1951

2,547,480

E. J. MCDANIEL

SHOE PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION

Filed May 15, 1θ⁴⁸

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ATTORNEY

INVENTOR.

ESKEL J. M^c DANIEL

FIG.3.

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Patented Apr. 3, 1951

2,547,480

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,547,480

SHOE PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION

Eskel J. McDaniel, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 15,1948, Serial No. 27,226

Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and shoemaking and consists particularly in novel platform construction for ladies’ shoes.

Many fashionable ladies’ shoes are now provided with a rather thick sole which is formed by a block of material or platform interposed between the insole and outsole. Various light weight materials have been used in making the platform, but in sufficient thickness, these are rather stiff so as to make walking difficult. Moreover, the platform block must be provided with a lip at the rear edge for merging with the shoe instep portion. To form this, a large block has been cut away at the forward portion, resulting in a substantial waste of material. Also, the top surface of the block has been formed flat so that the bend in the upper at its attachment to the sole is rather sharp.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a shoe platform of greatly improved flexibility.

Another object is to provide a platform, the formation of which results in less wastage than heretofore.

Another object is to provide a platform having a slight peripheral lip for merging with the shoe upper to form a more natural curve at this portion.

These objects and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the fore part of a lady’s shoe embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2—2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the shoe platform.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the platform.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5—5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the structure in Fig. 5 flexed in the same manner as occurs during walking.

The lady’s shoe illustrated has the usual upper 10 of soft material and with a cut-out toe I i. The upper is secured to the periphery of insole 12 which merges, as at 13, with the outsole 14 to form the shoe instep or shank. This portion of the shoe is braced by a rather stiff metal strip 15.

Interposed between the insole and outsole is a thick half-platform 16 formed of a generally flat block of cork, shaped in outline to conform to the shape of the shoe soles (Figs. 3 and 4). The rear edge 18 is inclined to the major axis of the platform which lies, substantially, along section (Cl. 36—19) line 5—5 of Fig. 4, and the under rear portion 19 is curved, as shown, so as to conform to the shape of the foot at the junctions of the sole and instep portions. A wedge shaped projection ⁸ 29 having a curved rear surface and a dished forward surface 21 is glued to the upper rear edge of the block to fill the tapering space adjacent the merging portions of the insole and outsole.

¹⁰ The insole and outsole are secured together and to the platform block by marginal stitching as shown at 22 in Figs. 1 and 2. A number of transverse slots 23 extend into the upper surface of the block and more than half way through the ¹⁵ block so as to substantially increase the longitudinal flexibility thereof. The edge portion of the upper material'is folded between the platform block and insole 12 and stitched thereto as at 24. However, the intermediate portion of the ²⁰ insole is free of the top surface of the platform so that in walking the block will be free to flex in the manner suggested in Fig. 6. The spacing between the insole and block is exaggerated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The _Upp_{er sur}f_{ace o}f the platform block is dished to form a. slight peripheral lip 25 which receives the attached edge of the upper, as at 26, so as to form a neater curve at this point.

A slight bowing of the outsole is produced by ;:_(J filling material, as at 27.

Accordingly, the shoe construction incorporating the novel platform block, is more attractive and more comfortable to the wearer than where platforms of previous types are used and the platform illustrated is less expensive to manufacture. Various details may be modified as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.