US2610340A - Plastic shoe display form - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16,1952 s. NETTLER ETAL I 2,610,340

PLASTIC SHOE DISPLAY FORM Filed Jan. 26, 1951 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

Sept. 16, 1952 ,s. NETTLER ETAL 2,610,340

PLASTIC SHOE DI'YSPLAY FORM Filed Jan. 26, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1N VENTORS'.

ATTORNEYS,

. 3 show windows. These heat conditions have a tendency to weaken or loosen the cemented or bonded joint and thus make separation thereof easier. Another disadvantage of the two piece or multiple-part plastic shoe form is the relatively high cost of production resulting from the necessity of separately molding the parts, then assembling the parts and cementing or bonding them together into the completed form, and finally performing a necessary finishing operation 4 f Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken as on the 7 88 of Fig. 3.

along the area of the seam or joint to minimize as much as possible the visibility of the joint or scam in the completed form.

It is a primary object of our present invention to overcome and substantially eliminate the foregoing difliculties and disadvantages inherent in the multiple-piece type of plastic shoe display form in which the parts of the form are ce-' merited or bonded together, byproviding a design and construction of one-piece, seamless,

thin-walled, hollow and resilient plastic shoe form. 1

Another object is to provide such acne-piece plastic shoe form which may be produced by injection molding from a suitable thermoplastic material.

Another object is to provide such a shoe form which can be formed of transparent plastic material, eitherclear or colored, for effective shoe display, and which if desired may be readily illuminated due to its one-piece, seamless character to thereby more effectively display a shoe inwhich mounted. r

A further object is to provide a design and construction of such a plastic shoe form in which the generally inwardly turned'fiange surrounding the bottom opening of the form may have a minimum width to maintain a maximum width of opening without substantially lessening the strength structurally or the inherent resiliency of the form. r

A further object is to provide such form with a closed top integral with the walls of the form and without mold marks of any kind on the outer, top surface thereof. r

Another object is to provide such a one-piece seamless plastic shoe form of a design and construction by which a simple form of expansion spring member may be readily inserted and seated in and around the forward portion of the form in position housed and releasably engaged Within the adjacent portion of the flange surrounding the bottom opening in the form, for the purpose of restoring the form to its normal non-compressed shape after removal from compressed position in a shoe.

With theforegoing and various other objects, features and results in view, which others will be readily apparent from the following description' and explanation, our invention consists in certain novel features in design and construction and in combinations of parts and elements, all as will be more fully referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts and elements throughout the figures thereof;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a right foot shoe form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the form of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the form of Fig. 1, taken at the outer side of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken as on line 3-9 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 9a is a perspective view of the spring unit for removable mounting in the form of Fig. 1.

We happen to have selected and to have disclosed herein as an example of our invention, a one-piece, seamless, plastic display shoe form of .the so-called'low heel type designed and intended for use in displaying shoes of the low heel classifications or styles. Such'a low heel type of shoe display form of our invention is characterized generally by the fact that with the form in inserted position in a shoe, the lower exterior surface of the format the underside of the heel portion thereof either lies in the same plane whichpasses through the lower surface of the form at the under side of the portion thereof representing the ball of a foot, or in a plane spaced a relatively slight distance above the plane at the under side of such ball portion. Our invention, however, isnot limited to such low heel types of shoe display forms but includes and is embodied in forms of thosetypes adapted for displaying shoes in-the so-called medium heel and high heel ranges,'respectively, in which the plane of the lower exterior surface-ofa form at the under. side of the heel portion thereof is in a plane spaced at a substantial distance above the plane of the under exterior surface of the form beneath theball portion thereof.

The example shoe form F of the low'heel type embodying our invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, and typifies the various other types, styles, classes and sizes of "shoe forms. of the invention. The display form F is,,in accordance with our invention,

formed as a one-piece, seamless and hollow plastic structure'having relatively thin walls throughout and being resilient so as to .be bendable or compressible laterally, particularly at the ball portion of the form, for insertion of the form under at leastslight compression into the shoe to'be displayed.- The'shoe form F of the illustrated example is constructed of a cellulose acetate thermoplastic and is of a design and construction by which the form may be made by a single injection step in injection molding apparatus forming a part of our invention and disclosed and described in detail hereinafter. The shoe form F is designed as a relatively accurate replica or reproduction in dimensions and in external contours of a human 'foot'and ankle. In this instance'we happen to show the form F as a reproductionoi the right foot and ankle, and of a size or dimensions such as to be insertable under compression in shoes of a definite size or limited range of sizes of the standard system of shoe sizes.

The shoe form F, which is a reproduction in dimensions and contour of a selected size of foot and ankle, comprises the sole portion S, the heel portion H, the ankle portion A, the ball portion B, the instep portion I and the toe portion T.

The ankle portion of the form F, which is designated generally by the reference character 'A, usually includes a relatively accurate reproduction in contour and dimensions or the ankle at the ankle-Joint and of a portion: of" the ankle above-#thejoint: Suchupper portion of theankle is designated generally by'the reference character A" and: terminates at its upper, outer end in the completely closed integral, flat top wall I0 which constitutes the' top wall of the shoe form F;

Thewallstructurewhich makes up and constitutes-the hollow shoe form F'includes the outer side wa1l20 which extends from the hack: wall 2| and merges into-and with the wall .22 forming the toe por-tion' T, and the. inner side wall: 23 which extends rearwardly' from. wall. 22 to and merges with the back or rear-walla]. These walls are integralzand continuous over.- and: around the form and: include thefront wall '25-. which extends upwardly: over and defines the ballcportion B, instep portion 1', and. the front: of; the upper,- ankle. portion A, and which merges with theadjacent walls. The side, front and rear walls asabove identified, join integrally with the: top wall: Ifl' at: the upper; side of ankle portion A. Thereis" thus provided. an. unbroken, smooth wall structure which is without seams or joints: at any locationthereon. The front of the form F iscompletely without joints: or. other visible seam forming construction along, the central area thereof from the: tip. of the. toe portion of the form. to thetop wall Ill. This is the area of the surface of. the formonwhich anyjoint, seams or other. blemishes aremostnoticeable when a. form is in display positionin a. shoe. The. top wall: H) is integral'with the sidewalls 20. and 23, the- front walls 22 and 25,. and the rear wall; 2|, which walls join and merge therewith, so that. therev is, no joint or seam around and. between top. wall H3 and the walls joinedtherewith. This top wall in accordance with a feature of our invention, presents a plane outer surface'which is completely'smooth and without b1emishes, marks or disfiguration of any kind; In the usual display position of the form F in a shoe, this top, closing wall ll of the form is in position completely visible to an observer so that. any marks 01' blemishes which may =be:visi-b1e thereon: detract materially from the appearance and. display effectiveness of the shoe form. The construction of top'wall H3 asan integral molded component, of the wall structuremaking up: the formis an. important feature of our invention.

The, toe portion which is designated generally by the reference character. T preferablyincludes. longitudinally disposed. toe-forming grooves i I formed in wall 22 toindicate at least some. of the-imiddle-toes I2 of the foot. These toe-forming grooves, H in the example form F which is for: the right shoe, start with the innermost of the grooves. being locatediapproximately along the center line of instep portion 1: to thus form on the wall. 22 of toe portion T a central rib 5. The side of'the toe portion T to the; right of; grooves l l. generallysimulates the big toe of the foot. The example shoe form F is primarily designed for use: in. displaying womens shoesand the main purposeof the toe forming grooves H and of locating these. toesimulationsatthemiddle section. of the toe portion T, is. to permit of applying to the simulated toes a suitable-color.- ing to give the appearance of painted toenails. which will be visible with open toeshoes and thus add to the realistic and. artistic appearance of the display. A. transversely disposed groove l6 may be provided in wall. 22- acrossthe grooves H to simulate-toe nails.

The lower, bottom or undersideof thehollow,

thin. walled; shoe form: is open and is sur rounded by:- the; sole portion generally; designated by: the reference character 5.. This sole portion S is. constituted by: an. inturned, transverseh curved flange; 30 which extends in this example asacontinuousunbroken flange varying in width andin radii of curvature along-different portions of its. length at specific: locations around the lower or: bottom sideof the form; This flange structure 30 which is integral with the walls of: that-form: constitutesth sole portion S by which the form is supported and maintained in. inser-ted position. in. a shoe with such. flange 3B; being-engaged? down, on. and against: the usual inner solezofa shoe tohezdisplayed.

The rearwardly or outwardly curved or convex heel sectionjl. oft flange 30. which extends across and forms-the under or sole portion of heel H is: formed as an integral part: and: continuation of. the rear wallv 2i of the form; F.- Thev heel section 3 I: continuesforwardly along-and integral with. the outer and. inner: side walls 20 and 23;

as integral portions of thesewalls to provide theinner: side flange. section. 32 and the outer; side flange section; 33. Flange sections: 32 and. 33: areof the; upperankle; section A", while. the inner side section 32-. extends'a. distancev forwardly to terminate approximatelyat. the rear of the ballport-ionB'.v The-flange sections132 and'33 are-continuedforwardly along-the inner and outer sides of the shoe form, as flange sections 34. and 35- which extend: to, thetip. of the toe portion T where. they join into. and form the curved section 36, across the outer end or" tipof the wall 22 which. forms the toe portion T. The flange sections 34,. 35 and 36-are of less width than the width of the: sections, 32: and: 33 and are-formed from. and integral with the opposite side walls 20 and 2-3 andaround the, curved tip of wall. 23 at. an angle of. approximately 90? to the general planeof. such walls, so that, the under side of theseeflanges, provide a. generally flat seating stirface at; the, under side. ofthe toe portion T and ball. portion B. ofthe shoe form F. The edge portion formed between flange sections 36, 35 and. 36 and the walls with which such sections are integral is, preferably formedwith the outer surface: transversely rounded, as willheclear by reference tothe drawings.

The display shoe form. F designed andv constructed as hereinabove described to. provide making for lightness and resiliency whil retaining the requisite structural strength due to the construction of the form and its one-piece, seamless character. Preferably, as in. the example-hereof, the wall thickness may be reduced tothe; order of .05 of anv inch along the. area which, joins the 'major walls of the form with the-continuous flange 30 around the openunder on bottom. Side'of the form. In this instance, the widths: offlange: sections 34-, 35 and 36 may be taken to be approximately ofan inch, while the: width of the sections 31-, 32 and 33 may be-takeni to: be, approximatelyinch from and 36V Due to the one-piece, seamless construction of the shoe, form F, it is possible to provide the form with the continuous-flange 38 around the open'under or bottom side-thereof, as of relatively narrow maximum widths which is a substantial advantage in the molding of the form, as Well as to the inherent resiliency and light weight of the form.

The shoe form F thus constructed is capable of being compressed laterally, particularly across the ball portion 33 thereof, by applying pressures acting inwardly at the opposite sides of such portion to thus bend the side portions slightly inwardly toward each other to reduce the Width of the ball portion and place the same under compression. This bending or compressing action takes place when the form is inserted in a shoe of the range of sizes for which the particular form is designed and dimensioned. However, experience has demonstrated that with a plastic form,'after a period of use under the heat conditions to which such forms are usually subjected, the form has a tendency tto collapse to the shape of the shoe in which it has been inserted and to remain in such collapsed shape when removed from the shoe. When this occurs the form thus loses its originally molded shape and thereafter Will not provide the proper fit for effective display of shoes of the sizes for which the form Was designed.

We have provided for overcoming the tendency of a plastic shoe form to fail to restore to originally molded shape after compression thereof in a shoe, through the medium of an auxiliary or booster spring unit for augmenting the inherent resiliency of the form that normally reacts to restore the form from compressed condition. In the particular example hereof such spring means takes the form of an expansion spring unit 40 preferably formed of spring wire having an external diameter not to exceed.

the width of flange sections 34, and 33. The spring unit 43 is bent into a general U-shape to conform to the shape and general contour presented by the inner surfaces of wall 22 around and surrounding the flange sections 34, 35 and 33. In the form of the spring unit of this example, the unit comprises a short leg 4| and a longer leg 42 connected and joined by a curved base or head 43. This spring unit 43 is adapted to be mounted in position at and around the inner sides of the flange sections 33, 34 and 35, with the curved head 43 thereof engaged under the flange 35 and extending around and con forming to thecurvature of the inner surface of the tip of the wall 22 which providesthe toe portion T.

In order to retain the spring unit 4!] in mounted, assembled position against inadvertent displacement, we have molded integrally with the form at opposite side locations on the interior thereof, the lugs or ribs 44 and 45. Rib 44 is located in generally vertically disposed position at or adjacent the inner end of the outer section 33 of flange 30. Rib 44 extends inwardly from the inner side of the outer side wall 23 immediately adjacent to the flange section 33, being in this particular example joined with" the flange section. Rib 45 is located in vertically disposed position at or adjacent the inner end of the inner side flange section 32, and extends inwardly from the inner side of the inner side wall 23 immediatelyadjacent the flange section 32. Rib 45 is extended to and joins flange section 32, in this instance. Rib 44 is located inwardly from the tip of the toe portion T a greater distance than the spacing inwardly of rib 45 from such tip. The greater spacing inwardly of rib 44 is to accommodate the long leg 42 of spring unit 40 in mounted position at that unit.

The spring unit 40 may be readily inserted and snapped into assembled position in the shoe form'with the end of long leg 42 engaged and abutting against the forward side of rib 44 and the end of the short leg 4| being engaged and abutting against the rib 44. Preferably the spring unit 40 is placed under at least slight compression at its inner free ends when in assembled position, if only to assist in retaining the unit against inadvertent displacement. However, if desired, the legs of the spring unit may be spread a sufficient distance apart to place the unit under substantial compression when in seated, assembled position. It is to be particularly notedthat when in assembled position in a shoe form F, the spring unit 48 is located completely over and around flange sections 33, 34 and 35, with such sections andth'e wall 22 of the toe portion T forming a'housing for the unit. In'this manner the spring unit is maintained against displacement and is positioned against interfering engagement with either the hand or fingers in inserting and removing the shoe form into and from a shoe, or with structure of the shoe during such operations.

We have thus provided as a new article of manufacture, a one-piece hollow, thin walled and resilient plastic shoe form which is without seams or joints. Because of. such one-piece, seamless construction the shoe form lends itself to production in clear, transparent and colorlessfplas' tic, or to various colors and shades thereof of transparent or semi-transparent character. However, due to the design and construction of the shoe form F, and particularly to the fact that the width and length dimensions of the opening surrounded by the inner edge of the continuous flange 33, are less at every location thereon, than the width and length dimensions of the interior of the form immediately adjacent such flange, the molding of such form presents certain serious and diflicult problems. We have overcome these problems by the design, construction and functioning of an injection molding apparatus which forms a part of our present invention and which is described and explained in detail hereinafter.

It will also be evident that various other changes, various eliminations, substitutions and additions may be resorted to without departing from the broad spirit and scope of our invention and, hence, we do not desire or intend to limit our invention in all respects to the particular example thereof herein disclosed'cxcept as may be required by intended limitations thereto appearing in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe display form comprised of a one-piece, thin-walled, seamless hollow body structure molded from a thermoplastic material; said body structure providing a foot portion including a toe portion and a heel portion; said body structure being closed at the top side thereof by a wall integral therewith and disposed transversely thereacross in continuous integral jointure with said body structure; said body structure being open at the bottom side thereof and being formed with an inturned flange integral therewith and extended around the open bottom side thereof; and said flange around the heel portion of said body structure being curved inwardly on a radius of curvature greater than-the radius of curvature of said inturned flange around said toe portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe display form comprised of a one-piece, thin-walled, seamless hollow body structure molded from a thermoplastic material; said body structure providing a foot portion including a toe portion, a heel portion and an intermediate portion therebetween; said body structure being closed at the top side thereof by a wall integral therewith and disposed transversely thereacross; said body structure being open at the bottom side thereof and being formed with an inturned, seamless flange integral therewith and extended around said open bottom side; said flange around the heel portion and along the opposite sides of said intermediate portion of said body structure being curved inwardly on a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said inturned flange around and along the opposite sides of said toe portion; the inturned flange along one side of said toe portion being of greater length than the portion of said flange along the opposite side of the toe portion; and the flange portions along opposite sides of the toe portion joining and merging uninterruptedly into and integrally with the adjacent ends of the portions of the flange at opposite sides of the intermediate portion of said body structure.

' STANLEY NET'ILER.

MARIO MACCAFERRI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Fairy Forms Catalog No. 62 (copy in Division 11).

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