US2775049A - Self-retaining pump type shoe - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1956 R. APTEKER SELF-RETAINING PUMP TYPE SHOE Filed Aug. 24, 1955 INVENTOR APTEKER Ruam BY 2% United States. Patent 2,775,049 SEIIF-RETANING SHOE Rubin-Apteker, -villi1' rarkgnii," assignor to Sears, Roebuck and C0,, Chicago,-Ill.-, a.corporation of New York Applicatioir Augl'lst z i 1953;' seriiil Noi 37 5,974

' a common problem for the wearer is to have a shoe which will fit snugly enough to remain on the foot in the ordinary movements incident to walking, climbing or descending stairs, etc., while at the same time not being tight enough to produce discomfort. This is a serious problem and, hence, it is not uncommon for women to purchase shoes which, while large enough to be comfortable, will readily slip off the foot, to the embarrassment of the wearer.

I have conceived of a pump type shoe construction which snugly fits the foot, while at the same time not being excessively tight. This arrangement contemplates a resilient construction within the heel inclosing portion which will yield when the wearers foot is inserted in the shoe and will then cling snugly to the foot around the heel thereof, so as to prevent inadvertent slipping of the heel out of the shoe.

Briefly considered, my invention embodies a thin strip or sheet of resilient material such as sponge rubber or the like inserted inwardly of the counter and forepart. A satisfactory construction which I have evolved embodies a relatively thin piece of sponge or foam rubber inserted between the outer layer of the upper material and the lining. Such a strip may extend for any desired distance around the heel inclosing portion of the shoe and may include the entire quarter or forepart.

As an additional feature of my invention I preferably use as a lining covering the resilient strip above referred to a quilted material such as of soft leather, fabric, etc., which provides additional resilience enhancing the gripping action on the wearers heel while at the same time facilitating insertion and withdrawal of the foot into the shoe.

In other embodiments of my invention, I contemplate employing the combination of resilient material, such as a thin sheet of foam or sponge rubber, between the outer material of the shoe, such as leather, imitation leather, textile fabric, etc., and the lining at restricted areas of the shoe. Such lining is preferably of the aforementioned quilted material in such restricted areas of the shoe. Such an area may be, for example, the entire forepart of the shoe, to ease the pain of bunions, corns, hammer toes or other skin or bone deformities of the foot. Aside from providing added comfort to the wearer in such cases, my invention permits the wearing of shoes which are not radically shaped, calling attention to the wearers aflliction.

Other advantages incident to my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention,

2,775,049 Patented 11cc. 25, 1956 Fig-f1 is a perspectivewiew ofa ladies "pum iIIu'S the line 3+2, of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken "subs'tantially 'along'- Fig. '5 isa'fragmentarysectional"view"-on an enlarged scale of a the rear'quarter' portion of "the pump.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, my invention is applied to a ladies pump indicated generally'jby-the numeral 10=comprisin'gasole*portion' 12, aheel 13 and an upper portion-15.

Insertedfin tli'eheel inclosingportion'or quarter of the upper is the usual counter 18, an outer sheet 19 of leather'or fabric being provided, and disposed between said counter andthelihing is a relatively'thinsheet 20 of sponge-rubber or fdamrubber or other suitable resilient material, as seen best in Fig. 5. Said resilient strip 20 may extend merely for the curved rear end of the quarter or may be substantially co-extensive with the counter 18, as desired.

Although I may employ the usual type of leather or fabric lining in conjunction with the resilient strip 20, in its preferred embodiment my invention contemplates a lining 2323' of soft quilted textile material such as of cotton or synthetic fibre, soft leather or the like, which will have a puffed resilient character which readily yields on pressure of the foot and quickly springs back to shape when pressure is relieved. As well understood in the art, such quilted material comprises sheets 2323 secured in puffed relation by criss-cross stitching 24. Such quilted lining may be restricted to the area of the resilient sheet 20 or may extend throughout the shoe, and may be of straight stitching or otherwise.

A heel pad 25 of foam or sponge rubber or the like may be inserted under the heel portion of the foot directly beneath sock liner 27.

As another embodiment of my invention, I may provide a thin pad of sponge rubber or the like, preferably covered with a quilted lining as above described, in the forepart of a shoe alone or in combination with such an arrangement in the heel inclosing portion.

It will be seen that my invention accomplishes a number of highly desirable purposes. When used in the rear or quarter portion of the shoe, my invention will prevent the common-place slipping of the shoe up and down on the foot as the wearer walks and even inadvertent stepping out of the shoe in some cases, and consequently will reduce wear on the stockings. It eliminates the necessity of wearing shoes that are too tight, resulting in painful pressure on all portions of the foot.

Ventilation of the foot in walking is facilitated by my invention, air being pumped in and out of the shoe with each step and flowing through the channels of the quilting, adding greatly to the comfort of the wearer' As additional comfort features, use of my invention in the heel inclosing or quarter portion of the shoe eliminates the usual cutting of the upper into the wearers foot adjacent the instep or other portions of the foot, which is commonplace in the wearing of pumps; furthermore, as used in connection with a strapless shoe or sandal, my invention reduces the usual pressure under the strap.

It is well known that the foot of a normal person usually swells in the warm weather and after exercise, and under such circumstances the wearers shoe may become unbearably tight and cut into the foot. Where my invention is applied, however, such discomfort is greatly reduced or eliminated because of the yielding fit as the foot swells. l

a "fragmentary longitudinal section of the In another embodiment of my invention, a combina tion of sponge rubber, foam rubber or the like together with a quilted lining may be used throughout the entire upper portion of the shoe and employed in shoes of various types for men, women and children. Such a shoe is especially desirable for its insulating properties against heat and cold and may be utilized in a mans work shoe or boot for camping and general outdoor wear.

Various other embodiments and advantages may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein or uses mentioned, but intend the scope of my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A low-cut pump type shoe comprising a sole and an upper, said upper comprising an outer sheet and a lining therefor, and an insert between said outer sheet and said lining of the upper, said insert comprising a layer of resilient material of the character of sponge rubber, said insert being disposed at least in the quarter portion of said shoe, and said lining adjacent said insert being formed of quilted material, whereby said shoe will snugly fit the wearers foot without the necessity for fastening means.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe is provided with a counter in the quarter portion and said insert is disposed between the counter and the lining and is substantially co-extensive with said counter. 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe is also provided with an insert in the forepart of the shoe substantially similar in character to the insert in the quarter portion, a quilted lining also being provided over said forepart insert for the relief of foot deformities.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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