US3228049A

US3228049A - Device for positioning and holding a shoe upper to a last

Info

Publication number: US3228049A
Application number: US331079A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter J Sbicca
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-12-09
Filing date: 1963-12-09
Publication date: 1966-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-11

Description

P. J. SBICCA Jan. 11, 1966 DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AND HOLDING A SHOE UPPER TO A LAST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 l er J $/bca,

INVENTOR.

Jan. 11, 1966 P. J. SBICCA 3,

DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AND HOLDING A SHOE UPPER TO A LAST Filed Dec. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa/e/ J 56/2 00,

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,228,049 DEVICE FDR PGSITIQNING AND HCJLDKNG A SHOE UPPER TO A LAST Peter J. Sbicca, 2895 Lorain Road, San Marino, Calif. Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 331,679 (Ilaims. (U. 12-141) This invention relates to a device by which a shoe upper may be positioned and secured on the heel of a last and, more particularly, relates to a device which eliminates the so-called assembling operation as it is presently employed in the manufacture of shoes.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my, now abandoned, copending application, Serial No. 280,- 828, filed on May 16, 1963, and entitled Device for Positioning and Holding Shoe Upper to Last.

In the prior art, particularly in the manufacture of inexpensive shoes, but not limited thereto, the shoe upper is positioned and secured to the shoe last in the assembling operation by means of an assembling machine. This machine puts a tack through the upper heel portion of the shoe upper and into the corresponding portion of the last and puts two tacks into the insole, through the lower heel portion of the upper and into the bottom heel portion of the last. The purpose of this operation is to properly place the back of the shoe upper on the last, that is, centering it and positioning it with regard to height. This prevents the shoe upper from moving during the pulling-over operation and during the heel seat lasting operation.

It is the purpose of the present invention to eliminate the above-so-called assembling operation and to provide a device by which the shoe upper can be centered, properly positioned with regard to height, and secured to the last without the use of an assembling machine and without the use of the three tacks as used in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means and method for positioning and securing a shoe upper to the heel portion of a last.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved means and method for positioning and securing a shoe upper to the heel portion of a last by directly engaging the inner portion of the upper with clutching means on the heel portion of the last. In contrast to the foregoing, in the prior art, the heel of the upper has always been secured to the last by means externally of the upper.

It is still another object of the present invention to eliminate the present assembling operation accomplished by means of an assembling machine. The elimination of this operation saves from $1.50 to $2.00 per hundred pairs of shoes in that a typical leased assembling machine costs approximately $35.00 per month, plus $000225 per pair of shoes. The saving of approximately $2.00 per hundred pairs of shoes is substantial in view of the small profit margin in the shoe manufacturing industry.

It is a further object of the present invention to eliminate the making of a tack hole in the back of each shoe. This typical hole, found in inexpensive shoes, and in some of the best shoes, is undesirable because it adversely afiects the appearance of the shoes. It should be noted that in the manufacture of some expensive shoes, costly means are used to prevent the tack hole or to prevent it from being visible. Thus, the present invention can be used with even more economic advantage in the manufacture of expensive shoes than in the manufacture of inexpensive shoes.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device for securing a shoe upper to a last and which will not damage the last. Lasts are designed for repeated use, but each time a tack is driven into one, there Patented Jan. 11, 1966 is some damage and eventually it must either be repaired or replaced as a result of the tack holes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device, as referred to in the previous paragraphs, which can be secured to an insert, according to the invention, positioned in a bore in the heel of the last. The use of the insert prevents damage to the last which may otherwise occur by the insertion and removal of the shoe upper securing device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device, as referred to in the previous paragraphs, which is removably securable to the last. While it is possible to make lasts with the device according to the invention integral therewith, it is generally desirable that the device be removable from the last. One reason for not having the shoe upper holding device integral with or permanently attached to the last is that the use of the last is thereby limited. For example, it would be impossible to use such lasts for making high shoes or boots. Further, permanently attached shoe upper holding devices, according to the invention, would be in the way when the last was used in the manufacture of open-type shoes, such as sling pumps and sandals.

Another advantage of not having the device according to the invention permanently attached to the last is that after a shoe is removed from the last, the last is thrown into a bin. Such handling of the last would damage the inventive devices and would also cause damage to the last. Further, permanent attachments would, in general, be more costly because it would be necessary to put one on every last in a factory. Some lasts are used extensively and others are used very seldom. Thus, to have the inventive device permanently fixed on a last that is used infrequently would be an unnecessary added expense to the cost of the last.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which not only eliminates the back seam tack, but also eliminates the need for removing the tack from the back seam of the shoe. This, in turn, prevents the accumulation of tacks on the floor adjacent the operators, the tacks on the floor being dangerous, as well as expensive.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device which will permit an operator to easily properly position and secure the heel of a shoe upper to a last. In the use of the present invention, it is impossible for the operator to make the backs of shoes too high or to vary their heights in that the device positions the backs so that they are all of uniform height. In the prior art, it has always been a problem to obtain shoe backs of uniform height.

It is another object of the invention to provide a means and method for positioning and securing a shoe upper to the heel portion of a last and which will eliminate the need for auxiliary means to permit the last to be pulled from the shoe. In the prior art, wax paper and silicone sprays, for example, have been used between the upper and the last heel to make it easier to pull the last from the shoe, but with the present invention, these last pulling aids are not required.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device for securing the heel of a shoe uppe to a last in a manner so that the upper can be easily removed from the last and so as to eliminate the need for last-pulling machines.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein small details have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe last, including the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially cross sectioned, fragmentary view of the heel portion of a shoe last, illustrating a shoe upper positioned and secured to the last by means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the heel portion of the last shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a heel portion of a last, illustrating still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the heel shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a heel portion of a last, illustrating an embodiment of the invention as it is used with an elastomeric, slotted plug insert;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the plug insert shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary View, illustrating another form of resilient insert for securing the invention to a last; and

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the insert shown in FIG. 10.

Referring again to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3, a shoe last 10 having a heel bottom 11,

heel sides

12 and 13, and a heel back 17. Cut into the heel back 17 adjacent its upper end is a horizontal slot 18 which may be made, for example, with a saw.

Secured to the last back 17 is a shoe upper positioning and holding device, generally designated as 19, and which may be made from a relatively hard elongated piece or strip of spring steel. The device 19 is comprised of an upwardly directed end portion 20, terminating at its lower end in a horizontal U-shaped spring member 23 which is springingly and removably secured in the slot 13 in the last. It has been found that only a slight spring action in the portion 23 is required to securely fasten the device 19 to the last.

Extending from the lower leg 24 of the U spring 23 is an upright, approximately U-shaped portion 25 having

legs

26 and 27. The leg 27 forms a part of an inverted, approximate U portion 30 having an inner, downwardly directed second leg 31. The leg 27 is horizontally spaced outwardly from the leg 31.

Extending downwardly from the leg 31 is a body portion 32 of the device 19 and which terminates at a lower end 35. The body portion 32 is shaped to generally conform to the curved back 17 of the heel portion of the last. The body portion 32 has been perforated in a plurality of locations, as 36, on the inner surface thereof to form sharp, pointed shoe upper clutching means 37. These clutching means may be in the form of barbs or talons so as to extend into a shoe upper and hold it in place on the heel of the last.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of a shoe upper 38 properly positioned by and secured to the heel of the last by means of the device 19. The rear upper end 40 of the upper 38 is snugly fitted in the slot provided between the

legs

27 and 31 of the inverted U 30 and by placing the upper end in contact with the base of the U 30, the proper height for the heel of the shoe is established. Thus, the device should be designed for a particular last made in contemplation of manufacturing shoes having a predetermined heel height.

As the operator inserts the upper end 40 into the inverted U 30, he centers the seam of the upper 38 with respect to the device 19 and simultaneously with respect to the back 17 of the last. When the upper 38 is moved into the inverted U 30, the clutching means 37 automatically engage it to hold it on the last.

In the next step in the manufacture of the shoe, namely, the pulling-over operation, the operator grips the heel of the upper and the last from the rear with one hand, and this positively causes the clutching means to further penetrate the soft leather so that the heel of the upper will not move as the toe of the last and the upper is inserted into the pulling-over machine. During this operation, the toe of the upper is tightly grasped by the machine and tacks are inserted through the bottom of the upper, adjacent the toe, into the sole of the last. As a result of this operation, there is further clutching by the means 37 and the holding efiect of the device 19 on the heel of the upper is substantially increased. The upper is then securely held on the last so that the heel seating operation may be completed without moving the heel of the upper.

It should be noted that an insole, not shown, is secured to the sole of the last before the upper is placed thereon. Although it is not necessary, if wax paper is used between the upper and the heel of the last, the clutching means 37 can be made somewhat longer than when used without the paper.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a body portion 32' with an outer convex face 41 and an inner concave face 42. This embodiment is distinguished from the one discussed above in that it does not have a part equivalent to the inverted U 30, but instead at the upper end 43 of the body 32' there is a generally horizontal U member 45 having legs 46 and 47. The leg 47 also forms a leg of a second substantially horizontal U member 48 having an upper leg 51 which terminates in an upper end 52. The U member 48 corresponds to and functions in the same manner as the spring U 23 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and it is inserted in a slot, as 18, in the heel of a last, securing the device thereto.

In the use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the operator merely centers the back seam of the shoe upper on the body 32, moving the upper end of the back of the upper to be in contact with and centered on the lower leg 46 of the U member 45. The rest of the operation is the same as that described above, the clutching means 37' gripping the inside of the shoe upper to securely hold it on the last during the pulling-over operation.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 57, where heel 53 of a last has a plastic or metal insert 54 secured in the back upper portion thereof. The insert 54 has two substantially horizontal cylindrical openings 57 extending inwardly from the rear of the last.

Here, the shoe upper holding device is comprised. of a curved strip having a body 58, generally contoured to the shape of the rear of the heel of the last, and has two pins 59 extending from a concave or inner side 60. As shown in FIG. 5, the pins snugly engage the openings 57 so as to secure the holding and positioning device to the last.

The pins 59 may be made, as shown, to extend through openings in the body 58 so as to be visible from the convex side 63 thereof and to provide an indicating or positioning means for the placement of the rear upper end 40 of a shoe upper. That is, the operator can use the outer visible ends of the pins to indicate where the shoe upper should be placed on the last to provide the exact height for the heel. At the same time, the operator can position the back seam of the upper so as to be in alignment with the space between the pins and thereby center the back seam of the upper on the last.

Extending upwardly and outwardly from the convex face 63 are barbs 64 which serve as a clutching means for the shoe upper. Again, after the upper is positioned as to height and centered on the last, it will have been engaged by the barbs 64 so as to securely position it to hold it on the last for the pulling-over operation which further tightens it substantially.

The embodiment in the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 13, but with some variations. In FIGS. 8 and 10, an elongated body portion 66 is substantially identical with the portion 32, shown in FIG. 2, having the rough and sharp clutching projections 37 extending from the convex side thereof. The body portion 66 is not only curved longitudinally, as shown, but is also curved transversely, according to the shape of the heel of the last, so that it will fit against the last as snugly as possible.

Extending from the upper end of the body portion 66, and formed therewith, is an inverted, generally U-shaped portion 67, having one of its legs 68 formed as a part of the body portion 66. The leg 68 forms a substantial right angle with the base portion 69 of the U. This permits very accurate positioning of the top of the upper and also permits a very snug fit of the upper on the holding device and the last. The other leg 70 of the U 67 extends downwardly and generally toward the body portion 66 so as to have a spring gripping etIect on the upper. Thus, the space between the lower ends of the legs is less than the distance between the legs at the base 69.

Formed with a substantial portion of the leg 76 is an upright U 72, having a second leg 73 which makes contact with the upper end of the leg 76, thereby closing the upper end of the U 72 to effectively form a loop. A curved extension 74 of leg 73 forms a run over the top of and in contact with the base 69 of the U 67. The extension 74 is joined by a substantially horizontally directed leg 75 of a generally horizontal U-shaped member 76, having an upper leg 78 extending outwardly toward the body portion 66 and terminating in a vertical end portion 79, which is in substantial vertical alignment with the leg '73 of the U 72.

In this embodiment, the horizontal U member 76, with its

legs

75 and 78, need not be a spring member in that it is secured in the last 89, as indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9, within a resilient insert 81. This insert is made of rubber, but may be made of any elastomeri material or of any synthetic plastic having the proper resiliency. The insert is snugly positioned within a bore 84 in the last, drilled into the upper heel portion, so that the center of the bore is positioned at the same point that the top edge of the shoe upper is to be placed on the last.

At the inner end of the insert is a cylindrical portion 85 and the outer end thereof is formed. with a slot 86. As shown in FIG. 8, the slot is horizontally directed in the last and is generally U-shaped, having a relatively wide base portion 87 with a narrower opening 88 to conform to the U member 76 of the shoe upper holding device. Further, the slot 86 is positioned within the insert so that when the U portion 76 of the device is inserted therein, the base portion 69 of the U 67 will be in alignment with the center of the bore and at the point where the top edge of the upper should be when it is secured on the last.

The resiliency of the insert material permits the opening 88 to be widened when the U member is inserted therein, and. when the U member 76 is fully inserted into the slot, the structure of the insert surrounding the U snugly and resiliently secures the holding device in the last. The fact that the insert is relatively snug within the bore 84 causes the insert to additionally exert its stored energy to secure the upper holding device on the last.

The insert may be glued in the bore, but this is not generally necessary. As may be seen in FIG. 8, the outer surfaces of the insert are almost flush with the outer surfaces of the heel and this permits a maximum of gripping surface by the insert on the U member 76. Further, by having the vertical end portion 79 and the leg 73 in substantial vertical alignment, the holding device can be inserted into the insert and in turn placed on the last with the operator having his thumb in pushing position on the surfaces of the portion 79 and the leg 73.

The operator may insert the shoe upper into the U 67, with the top of the former in abutment with the base 69, either before or after the U 76 is secured in the insert within the last.

In FIGS. and 11, another type of insert 39 is shown, as used in the last 80. The insert 89 is made of stamped metal and has a generally cylindrical inner end portion 90 from which extend two horizontally directed spring fingers 91. The spring fingers are shaped and spaced to provide a snap fit on the U member 76 of the holding device. Again, here, the U member need not have spring properties in that the fingers M securely hold the holding device on the last.

Both of the

inserts

81 and 89 are formed to specifically engage the U member 76 which forms the securing means of the holding device to the last. Vlhen the insert is made of an elastomeric or plastic material, it is molded to conform to the U member 76 and, similarly, when the insert is made of metal, the fingers, such as 91, are shaped with a die to conform .to the outer surfaces of the legs of the U member. Both types of inserts are such that it is easy for the operator to secure the upper holding device in them, either before or after the inserts are in the last. Further, both .types of inserts, 31 and 89, should last for many years, and in most cases, the lasts will become obsolete before the insert has to be replaced. The inserts, of course, are inexpensive and their replacement would not be a significant cost.

By the present invention, the shoe upper is held to the last by clutching means from the inside, as distinct from the outside holding means provided in the prior art, generally in the form of a hole-creating means, namely, a tack, which damages the last as well as the shoe upper.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example. I do not Wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except as defined in the accompanying claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

1. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) a member adapted to be secured to the rear of the heel portion of a last;

(b) positioning means adjacent an upper end of said member,

(c) said positioning means being exposed rearwardly from said last when said member is secured thereon; and

(d) shoe upper holding means extending outwardly from said member below said positioning means so as to be directly and securingly engageable with the interior of said shoe upper.

2. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) an elongated member curved to fit on the rear portion of the heel of a shoe last;

(b) securing means extending from adjacent a concave portion of said member and adapted to be inserted into recess means in said last;

(c) a shoe upper positioner adjacent an upper end of said member; and

(d) shoe upper clutching means extending outwardly from a convex portion of said member below said positioner,

(e) said convex portion being opposite to said concave portion.

3. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) an elongated member shaped to fit on the rear portion of the heel of a shoe last,

(b) said member having an inner face and an outer face, said inner face being adapted to fit along the rear portion of said last;

(0) last securing means projecting from said member inwardly of said inner face and adapted to be inserted into recess means in said last;

(d) a shoe upper guide-stop means adjacent an upper end of said member and extending outwardly of said outer face; and

(e) a plurality of shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly from said outer face of said member below said guide-stop means.

4. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) an elongated member having a body with opposite inner and outer faces;

(b) spring means extending from said body adjacent one end of said member,

(c) said spring means projecting away from said outer face and in a direction inwardly of said inner face;

(d) a shoulder on said body outwardly of said outer face and between said outer face and said spring means; and

(e) shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly from said outer face.

5. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) a member having an elongated body with a concave face and a convex face;

(b) an approximate inverted U formed at one end of said body;

(c) one of the legs of said inverted U being formed by said body and the other leg extending over an end portion of said convex face and being spaced therefrom to be adapted to receive a shoe upper heel portion therebetween;

(d) an approximate upright U having one leg formed by said other leg of said inverted U;

(e) last securing means extending from the other leg of said upright U and projecting over the base of said inverted U beyond the line of direction of said concave face; and

(f) clutching means projecting outwardly from said convex face.

6. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) a member having :an elongated body with a concave face and a convex face;

(b) an approximate inverted U formed at one end of said body;

() one of the legs of said inverted U being formed by said body and the other leg extending over an end portion of said convex face and being spaced therefrom to be adapted to receive a shoe upper heel portion therebetween;

(e) last securing means extending from the othehr leg of said upright U and projecting over the base of said inverted U beyond the line of direction of said concave face,

(f) said securing means being of approximate U-shape adapted to be inserted into a slot in a heel of a shoe last; and

(g) clutching means projecting outwardly from said convex face.

7. A device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on a last, comprising:

(a) a member having an elongated body with a concave face and a convex face;

(b) an approximate inverted U formed at one end of said body;

(c) one of the legs of said inverted U being formed by said body and the other leg extending over an end portion of said convex face and being spaced therefrom to beadapted to receive a shoe upper heel portion therebetween,

(d) said other leg extending from the inverted U base in a general direction toward said one leg;

(e) an approximate upright U having one leg formed by said other leg of said inverted U,

(f) said one leg of said upright U converging toward its other leg;

(g) means to secure said member to said last extending from the other leg of said upright U and projecting over the base of said inverted U beyond the line of direction of said concave face,

(b) said securing means being of approximate U-shape adapted to be inserted into a recess in a heel of a shoe last,

(i) the legs at the base of the U of said securing means being spaced apart a greater distance than the other ends of the legs, the other ends of said last legs being relatively adjacent to the base of said inverted U; and

(j) shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly from said convex face.

8. In combination, a shoe last having a device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on the last, comprising:

(a) a rear, generally vertical heel portion on said last;

(b) an elongated member removably secured to said heel portion and being shaped to correspond thereto;

(c) a shoe upper positioner projecting outwardly from said member adjacent an upper end thereof; and

(d) shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly from said member.

9. In combination, a shoe last having a device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on the last, com prising:

(a) a rear, generally vertical heel portion on said last;

(b) an elongated member secured to said heel portion and being shaped to correspond thereto,

(0) said member being secured to said last by means thereon projecting into a recess in said last;

((1) an inverted approximate U formed adjacent the upper end of said member;

(e) one of the legs of said inverted U being formed on a portion of said member extending along said heel portion and the other leg extending over said portion of said member and being spaced therefrom to receive a shoe upper heel portion therebetween;

(f) an upright approximate U having one leg formed by said other leg of said inverted U,

(g) said securing means extending from the other leg of said upright U and projecting over the base of said inverted U into said recess; and

(h) shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly from said member.

10. In combination, a shoe last having a device to hold and position the rear end of a shoe upper on the last, comprising:

(a) a rear, generally vertical heel portion on said last;

(b) a generally horizontal bore in said heel portion open to the rear thereof;

(c) a resilient insert in said bore having a horizontal slot open toward the exterior of said heel portion, (d) the exterior portion of said slot being spaced apart a lesser distance than the interior thereof;

(e) an elongated member secured to said heel portion and being shaped to correspond thereto,

(f) said member being secured to said last by means thereon projecting into said slot;

(g) an inverted approximate U formed adjacent the upper end of said member;

(h) one of the legs of said inverted U being formed on a portion of said member extending along said heel portion and the other leg extending over said portion of said member and being spaced therefrom to receive a shoe upper heel portion therebetween;

(i) an upright approximate U having one leg formed by said other leg of said inverted U,

(j) said securing means extending from the other leg of said upright U and projecting over the base of said inverted U into said recess; and

9 (k) shoe upper clutching means projecting outwardly 2,301,295 from said member. 2,449,216 3,027,579 References Cited by the Examiner 3,095,590

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 381,845 4/1888 Mullen 12129.5 1,452,237 4/1923 Dentten 12-1295 Lafferty 12129.5 Gordon et a1. 12129.5 Batchelder et a1. Neckrich.

GORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE TO HOLD AND POSITION THE REAR END OF A SHOE UPPER ON A LAST, COMPRISING: (A) A MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE REAR OF THE HEEL PORTION OF A LAST; (B) POSITIONING MEANS ADJACENT AN UPPER END OF SAID MEMBER, (C) SAID POSITIONING MEANS BEING EXPOSED REARWARDLY FROM SAID LAST WHEN SAID MEMBER IS SECURED THEREON; AND (D) SHOE UPPER HOLDING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID MEMBER BELOW SAID POSITIONING MEANS SO AS TO BE DIRECTLY AND SECURINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID SHOE UPPER.