US2725645A - Outer shoe sole unit - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1955 Filed Feb. 19 1953 J. D. SCALA OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOSEPH D. ScALA Dec. 6, 1955 J. D. SCALA 2,725,645

OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT Filed Feb. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSEPH D 5CALA AI'YFH/VE) United States Patent O OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT Joseph D. Scala, Bronx, N. Y.

Application February 19, 1953, Serial No. 337,805

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-3) This invention relates to sole constructions for footwear and, more particularly, to an outer sole unit for an article of footwear.

It is well known that the laminated sections of an inner sole and an outer sole when joined have a tendency toward stiffness because of the multi-ply effect of said sections. That is, when a moderately flexible inner sole and a moderately flexible outer sole are assembled in a shoe and secured together, the resulting structure is very greatly stiffer than either of its components.

It is a principal object of the present invention to dissipate this multi-ply effect by providing an outer sole unit for an article of footwear, such as a shoe, having a moderately flexible outer sole and a moderately flexible inner sole secured to part of the outer sole only so that an unexpected and highly desirable degree of flexibility results, affording a cushioning or sponge support for the foot of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unit for a shoe and the like which constantly conditions the foot of the wearer for comfort and ease in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unit for a shoe and the like which does not transmit heat to the foot of the wearer thereby preventing perspiration and enhancing the healthy condition of the foot.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unit with an integral arch support whereby displacement of the arch support is prevented and its fixed position assured.

It is further proposed to provide an outer sole unit for a shoe and the like which is sturdy, pebble-proof and pleasing in appearance.

It is further proposed to construct an outer sole unit for an article of footwear which is simple in construction and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an outer sole unit embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the cushioning strip and inner sole in raised condition. 7

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the inner sole omitted.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the sole unit.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved outer sole unit shown herein comprises a full length outer sole indicated generally at 10 of usual thickness which is preferably of rubber or rubber composition adapted to be molded into a predetermined shape. The outer sole consists of a toe or forepart 11, shank part 12 and heel part 13. A narrow upstanding rim 14 extends around the periphery of the outersole on its inner face, and the rim is formed on its upper face throughout its length with ornamental ridges 15. Theouter sole ascends at the location of the instep arch from the center portion and extends to its inner side whereby an arch support 16 is formed which is integral with the outer sole. A cavity 17 is formed in the inner face of the outer sole, said cavity conforming to the shape of the outer sole and extending the length thereof thereby providing a shouldered portion 18 therearound and between it and the rim 14. The base of the cavity at the heel part 13 is. formed with a plurality of air pockets 19, arranged in tic-tac-toe fashion.

' A lining strip 20 of cushioning material such as cork, sponge. or paper'and the like is fitted in the cavity 17an'd covers the pockets 19 therein. The strip 20' is substan tially equal in thickness to the depth of the cavity 17 so that after the cushioning strip has been inserted into the cavity it will substantially fill the latter and the upper surface of the cushioning strip will be substantially flush with that of the surface of the shouldered portion 18. The strip is secured in place over the toe or forepart 11 by means of a suitable adhesive 21, such as rubber cement. The remainder of the strip which extends over the shank part and heel part is unattached, fitting loosely in the cavity 17. The rim 14 facilitates the proper location of the cushioning strip.

An inner sole 22 of leather or other suitable flexible material is placed over the cushioning strip and secured to the outer sole 10, over the toe or forepart 11, by a line of stitching 23, along the shouldered portion 18. The stitching may be lock-stitching or chain-stitching and may be done accurately and rapidly by machinery already available for that purpose, or the stitching may be done by hand if desired. Furthermore, the outer surface of the outer sole It may be provided with a groove 24 along its peripheral edge so that the line of stitching may be countersunk therein to protect it from wear. The remaining portion of the inner sole which extends over the shank and heel parts is unattached, the same as the cushioning strip 20 so that said inner sole and the cushioning strip are movable at the rear of the shoe or other article of footwear as shown in Fig. 2.

Because of the inherent flexibility of the inner sole 22 and the soft yielding character of the cushioning strip 20 and the loose condition of such parts, the flexibility of the outer sole is increased over conventional shoe construction and a uniform walking surface is produced. The loose condition of the inner sole and the cushioning strip at the heel part, permits air to enter the pockets 19, and the action of the rubber making up the outer sole 10 and the walls 25 defining the pockets 19 in the heel part is such that in walking, the heel contacting with the ground first causes compression of the rubber and gradual constriction of the Walls 25 of the air pockets 19 with the result that air is forced out of the pockets and into the shoe or other article of footwear thereby ventilating the foot of the wearer and conditioning it for comfort. When pressure of the heel is released, air is sucked into the pockets. This air is sucked in and expelled at each walking step, the air assisting in cushioning the foot of the wearer and at the same time ventilating it. The arrangement of the pockets in tic-tac-toe fashion enhances the cushioning effect.

It will be understood that the outer sole 10 may be made of leather, plastic, foam rubber, crepe rubber or other suitable rubber mixtures or compositions.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifi- P'atented" Dec. 6, 1 5

cations coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent An outer sole unit for a shoe, said unit being adapted to provide flexibility and ventilation, said sole unit, comprising an outer sole member comprising a fore part, a shank part and a heel part with an arch support in said shank part on the inner side of said outer sole member, a substantially flat smooth cavity of substantially uniform depth in the upper face of said outer sole member and eX- tending from the heel part to the fore part but around the arch support, a substantially flat margin extending around said cavity from one corner of said arch support to the other corner thereof, air pockets below said cavity in the heel part only, a cushioning strip in said cavity overlying said air pockets and extending to the tip of the fore part, said strip being attached to the bottom of said cavity only at the fore part thereof and unattached about the rear part thereof, the upper surface of the cushioning strip upper surface thereof flush with the upper surface of said inner sole.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,167,035 Westheimer July 25, 1939 2,292,318 Daly Aug. 4, 1942 2,614,342 Hoza Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,986 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932 376,872 Italy Nov. 29, 1939 499,470 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1939 974,150 France Sept. 27, 1950

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