US3000119A - Instep straps - Google Patents

Description

J- l. ALTMAN INSTEP STRAPS Sept. 19, 1961 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 FlG.l

FIG. 4

FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

JACOB I. ALTM AN W 5 4 l fly ATT'Y United States Patent l 3,000,119 INSIEP STRAPS Filed Sept. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 686,354

Claims. (Cl. 36-585) I v This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in instep straps for use with ladies shoes.

Ladies pumps are occasionally held snugly on the feet by means of a removable elastic strap of one sort or another. Such strap usually encircles the instep of the shoe and the wearers foot, and, frequently, the construction of the strap is such that the elastic bites into'the instep of the foot, causing a certain amount of discom fort to the wearer. Moreover, many types of instep straps are not only uncomfortable to wear, but are relatively unattractive in appearance.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide an instep strap which is sufliciently elastic to hold a shoe on the foot of the wearer, but yet will not bite into the instep of the foot.

It is also the object of the present invention to provide an instep strap of the type stated which is relatively 'attractive in appearance.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instep strap constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention and showing the strap as applied to a shoe;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the instep strap;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of the present invention, A designates an instep strap comprising a sheet of non-stretchable plastic or other similar material lengthwise folded and stitched together by a lap-seam 1 in the provision of a tubular element having opposed ends 2, 3, which are telescopically interfitted and transversely stitched at 4 to form an endless annular band 5. The band 5 so formed includes in inelastic tubular section 6 held flat by the stitched seam 1 which extends therethrough, and an enlarged tubular shirred covering 7, preferably of a length slightly greater than that of the inelastic section 6. Secured at its ends by means of transverse stitches 8, 9, and enclosed within the shirred covering 7 is a thin elastic strip 10, the shirred covering 7 being somewhat loosely disposed around the elastic strip 10.

In use, the instep strap A is placed around the pump p in the manner shown in FIG. 1, with the shirred covering 7 presented upwardly so as to fit against the foot of the wearer, and the inelastic section 6 fits against the instep of the pump 2 and sole thereof. The elastic strip 10 within the shirred covering 7 will permit the instep strap A to hold the pump p on the foot of the wearer. It will be apparent that the shirred covering 7 forms a cushion between the foot of the wearer and the elastic strip 10 so as to permit the instep strap A to be worn in comfort and not bite into the instep of the wearers foot, and, at the same time, the shirred covering presents an artistic and attractive appearance. The flat inelastic section 6 does not contact the wearers foot and, in fact, for the most part, is concealed from view.

Patented Sept. 19., 1961 ice It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the instep straps may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Hvaing thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An instep strap for removable disposition around the shank of a ladys pump and the instep of the wearer when the pump is on the foot, said strap consisting of an endless tubular memberof relatively inelastic material arranged and secured in a flat two-ply band adapted to-fit comfortably across the under side of the. shank of the pump, said band being integrally connected at its opposite ends to a symmetrically positioned medial portion having the form of an internally open, somewhat flattened tube, said medial portion being shirred throughout its length and thereby shortened, said medial portion being adapted to fit across the wearers instep, and a flat elastic strip extending freely through the medial portion, said elastic strip being shorter in length than the unshirred 1 length of the medial portion and being secured at its ends to, and within, the opposite ends of the two-ply band so as to hold the pump firmly on the foot of the wearer while cushioning the tendency of the elastic strip to bite into the wearers instep.

2. An instep strap for removable disposition around the shank of a ladys pump and the instep of the wearer when the pump is on the foot, said strap consisting of an endless tubular member of nonstretchable plastic arranged and secured in a flat two-ply band adapted to fit conformably across the under side of the shank of the pump, said band being integrally connected at its opposite ends to a symmetrically positioned medial portion having the form of an internally open, somewhat flattened tube, said medial portion being shirred throughout its length and thereby shortened, said medial portion being adapted to fit across the wearers instep, and a flat elastic strip extending freely through the medial portion, said elastic strip being shorter in length than the unshirred length of the medial portion and being secured at its ends to, and within, the opposite ends of the two-ply band so as to hold the pump firmly on the foot of the wearer while cushioning the tendency of the elastic strip to bite into the wearers instep.

3. An instep strap for removable disposition around the shank of a ladys pump and the instep of the wearer when the pump is on the foot, said strap consisting of an endless tubular member of nonstretchable plastic arranged, folded and stitched together by a lap seam in a flat two-ply band adapted to fit comformably across the under side of the shank of the pump, said band being integrally connected at its oppositeends to a symmetrically positioned medial portion having the form of an internally open, somewhat flattened tube, said medial portion being shirred throughout its length and thereby shortened, said medial portion being adapted to fit across the wearers instep, and a flat elastic strip extending freely through the medial portion, said elastic strip being shorter in length than the unshirred length of the medial portion and being secured at its ends to, and within, the opposite ends of the two-ply band so as to hold the pump firmly on the foot of the wearer while cushioning the tendency of the elastic strip to bite into the wearers instep.

4. An instep strap for removable disposition around the shank of a ladys pump and the instep of the wearer when the pump is on the foot, said strap consisting of an endless tubular member of nonstretchable plastic arranged and secured in a flat two-ply band adapted to fit conformably across the under side of the shank of the V r 3 pump, said nonstretchable plastic portion being concealed from view for the most part and not in contact with the foot of the wearer, said band also being integrally connected at its opposite ends to asymmetrically positioned medial'portion having the form of an internally open, somewhat flattened tube, said/medial portion being shirred throughout its length and thereby shortened, .said medial,

portion being adapted to -fit across the wearers instep, and arfiat elastic strip extending ireely'through'the medial portion, said elastic strip-being shorterin length than the unshirred length :oI themedial portion and being secured at its ends to, and the opposite ends of'the twoply band so as to hold'the "pump firmly on the foot of the wearer'while cushioning the tendency of the elastic strip to bite into the wearers instep;

,5. An instep strap for removable disposition around the shank of a ladyispump and the instep of the wearer when the pump is on the foot, saidzstrap consisting .of an endless tubular member of ,nonstretchable plastic arranged and secured ina flat .two-plyband adapted to fit confonnably across theunder side of the shank of the pump, said band being integrally connected at its opposite ends to a symmetrically positioned medial portion having the form of .an internally open, somewhat flattened tube, gsaid medial portion being shirred throughout its length and thereby shortened, said :medial portion being adapted tofit :across the weareris instep, and a flat elastic strip extending freely through the medial portion, said elastic strip being shorter in length than the unshirred length of the medial portion and being secured at its ends to, and within, the opposite ends of the two-ply band so as to hold the pump firmly on the foot of the wearer, wherein the shirred covering will ,form a cushion between the foot of the wearer and "the elastic strip so as to permit the instepistrap to be worn in comfort vand present an' artistic and attractive appearance.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,660 Asliworth July 20, 1886 382,287 Brandenburg May 1, 1888 1,272,519 Piper July 16, 1918 1,363,241 Florsheim Dec. 28, 1920 1,385,328 Louden July 19,1921 1,410,533 Platt ,Mar. 21, 1922 1,467,235 Dekofi Sept. 4, 1923 1,651,285 'Levick Nov. 29, 1927 1,687,592 .Rothstein Oct. 16, 1928 1,794,959 Howard Mar. 3,1931

FOREIGN PATENTS 41,799 Norway Aug. '31, 1925 177,005 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1922 223,602 Great Britain V May 21, 1925 226,591 Great Britain Dec, 22, 1 924

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