Untitled record

(Application filed May 10, 1897.)

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, O. C

United States Patent Office.

JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

VENTILATED BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,113, dated December 20,1898.

Application filed May 10,1897. Serial Ho. 635,919. (Ho model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J ohn Ernest Kennedy, manufacturer, of the city of Montreal, in the county of Hochelaga, in the Province of Que5 bee, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilated Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ventilated boots and shoes; and the features io of invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view through a boot provided with my im15 provements. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of the collapsible center sole. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through the toe portion of the boot on the line a b, Fig. 1, and parallel to the tongues of the center sole. Fig. 4 is a cross-section 20 through the heel portion of the boot on the line x y, Fig. 1, parallel to the tongues of the heel portion of the collapsible center sole. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the heel removed, showing the construction and loca25 tion of the valve-casing. Fig. 6 is a detail of the valve-casing with the front plate removed. Fig. 7 is a detail of the valve proper.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each, figure.

A is the upper of the boot.

B is the outer sole, having the heel portion b. C is the welt.

D is the collapsible center sole.

Ε is the insole, and F is the heel.

The collapsible centersoleDismadeof rubber or other suitable elastic material. The front portion of the sole, upon which the ball and toes of the foot rest, is made with a central section, upon which are formed the upper 40 dovetail-shaped tongues D', forming corresponding grooves D³ between them, and the lower dovetail-shaped tongues D³, forming correspondingly-shaped grooves D⁴ between them. The tongues of the upper portion of 45 the collapsible sole are opposite the grooves in the lower portion, and vice versa, so that the one sinks into the other when borne upon, thus constituting an elastic spring. The tongues D' and D⁸ in both portions extend 50 across the foot, as indicated particularly in Fig. 2. The lower tongues D³ are provided with tapered lateral extensions d', which ex tend underneath the welt and are fastened with it to the contacting edges of the upper. (See Fig. 3.) The central portion D⁵ of the 55 collapsible center sole D has lateral extensions d², which also extend underneath' the welt the same as the extensions of the tongues D³ and are secured thereto in the same manner. It will thus be seen that the collapsi- 60 bility of the center sole D is extended practically to the very edge of the sole of the shoe.

D⁶ are preferably dovetail-shaped tongues on the upper and lower portions of the web D⁷at the heel portion of the collapsible center 65 sole, which are separated so as to form correspondingly-shaped grooves D⁸. The tongues formed on the upper portion of the web are opposite the grooves formed in the lower portion, and vice versa. 70

The central or arched portion of the collapsible inner sole D is formed with a longitudinal channel G, which extends completely through the tongues and grooves formed in the sole and heel portion, respectively. The 75 extension G' of the channel G extends underneath the upper tongues D⁶ and through the lower tongues at the heel portion, so as to form openings d³.

G³ is an extension of the channel G, pref- 80 erably narrower than the front end of such channel passing through the toe portion of the collapsible sole.

The insole E is provided with a series of perforations e, arranged longitudinally sub- 85 stantially in the center thereof and opposite the channel G of the collapsible center sole D. The heel end of the insole E is slit horizontally into two parts E' and E³ as far forward in the sole as the front of the heel, thus 90 forming the upper part into an independently-movable flap hinged at the front end. The lower part E³ has a central aperture E⁸cut out of it of substantially the same form as the roundabout contour of the heel, (see dot- 95 ted lines, Fig. 1,) leaving, however, an edge e', which is secured to the heel-stiffener h iu any approved manner.

E⁴ is a layer, preferably of sole - leather, which is placed in the aperture E³ and is de- 100 signed to loosely fit the same and rest upon the flattened top of the tongues D⁶. The layer E⁴ is thicker than the lower part E², and the upper part or flap E' rests upon the top

616,112 of the layer E⁴. The toe portion of the insole E is provided with a projecting rib e^s, which fits in between the front curved end cZ⁴ of the collapsible sole and the inner edge of the up5 per secured to the welt and extends around the upper vertical edges thereof'as far as the heel-stiffener.

J is the valve-casing, provided with a dovetail-shaped inner end fitting a corresponding io recess K in the front of the heel.

J' is the front plate of the valve-casing, which is fitted into a corresponding recess K', so as to be flush with the front surface of the heel. The valve is secured in posi15 tion from beneath by the lower layer F' of the sole, and the dovetail formo f the casing secures it from moving forwardly out of position.

J² is a roller-valve provided with a central 20 diametrically-formed opening,/. The rollervalve J² is journaled in the end openings j' of the casing, and when opened the aperture J is opposite to the outer and inner slots j²and j^s, respectively, formed in the valve-cas25 ing.

In order to provide for th e opening and closing of the valve, I provide a pin which is inserted into the periphery of the roller-valve and extends through a slot j^s formed in one 30 end of the casing J.

K² is a chamber cut out or formed in the heel behind the valve, as indicated.

J³ is a hinged flap-valve which normally covers the inner slot j³.

Lis an opening made through the sole B between the chamber K² and channel extension G'.

Upon the placing of the foot upon the ground it will be seen that the air beneath 40 the insole of the shoe will be forced through the holes e and around the layer E⁴ and between the parts E' and E² around the foot and into and through the upper portion of the boot. Upon raising the foot the suction 45 of the air now caused by the collapsible center sole expanding will draw the air through the valve J, opening the flap in so doing, so as to fill the vacuum caused by the depression of the collapsible sole. Upon the foot 50 passing to the ground again the collapsible sole will act as before, serving to keep the flap against the valve and cause the air to pass up around the foot, as hereinbefore described.

I am aware that there are various ventilating devices in which the air is let in by the raising of the foot from the ground and is expelled upon the placing of the foot thereupon through the same aperture without causing the air to circulate around the foot. By my device the air when once drawn into the boot cannot be forced out through the same aperture again, but must circulate up around the foot and be forced out between the ankle and top of the upper, thus keeping the stock- 65 ing and lining of the shoe dry by evaporating the perspiration or other moisture as it develops and serving to preserve the foot in a healthy, hardy, and comfortable condition.

As the collapsible sole is arranged with the 70 tongues extending across obliquely, it will be seen that upon pressure upon the insole in walking the greatest possible surface of tongues is depressed, so that a maximum vacuum is created, and consequently a maxi- 75 mum amount of air is drawn into the shoe when the foot is raised. As the collapsible center sole extends practically to the edge of the sole, it will be seen that such sole will be caused to wear evenly. The heel, which is 80 now commonly worn at the back, will be preserved to a great extent, as the first concussion will be received upon the layer E⁴, which is collapsibly supported, as hereinbefore described. The collapsible sole also extending 85 practically to the edge of the upper the interior of the shoe becomes larger when the foot is on the ground, thus overcoming to a great extent the discomfort caused by undue pressure upon the foot at certain parts and 90 at the same time preventing the unsightly stretching of the upper.

Although I show the tongues as extending crosswise of the collapsible sole, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself in 95 this respect.