US2153021A - Inner sole having resilient insert - Google Patents

Description

A fpijil, 1939.1` M. MARGOLIN l 2,153,021

maar( soLE HAVING RESILIENT INSERT Filed June 1'1, 1938 INVENTOR. meijer' mazlgohn ,u ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 4, 19,39

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

a short distance of the peripheryvof the forepart of the inner sole. The sponge rubber insert may be centrally bulged to provide metatarsal support and, further, may have perforations therein to provide breathing in the inner sole.

' Inner soles are used between the bottom sole and sock lining of shoes. Such inner soles should have fiexibility to make for comfortable walking and this has been achieved in the past by putting a hole in the middle of the forepart of the inner sole. Although this perforation provides the proper iiexibility for the inner sole it diminishes the strength of the inner sole and drops support from the metatarsal arch. Further, it causes the bottom of the shoe to be flat or of such shape as is undesirable from the standpoint of sales value.

I have devised a novelinner sole with an insert of such construction as to provide many desirable properties, viz. to givethe shoe a rounded bottom which is a characteristic feature of all good quality shoes, to provide proper metatarsal support and therefore give a much sounder construction from the standpoint of health. My novel inner sole, further, provides free penetration of air and consequent breathing of the shoe which l's na most important element.

My new inner sole construction comprises an inner sole, as for example a leather innersole, 35 with a cutaway forepart that extends adjacent to the edge of the inner sole. That is, the center of the inner sole is died out to a shape that corresponds to the foot contour as will be more fully described hereinafter. In this cutaway portion 40 of the forepart of the inner sole there is placed an insert of soft resilient material, asfor example sponge rubber or closed cell rubber or any resilient material, which makes for greater exibility in the inner sole and when bulged on top and bottom or either top or bottom as is preferable, it further provides a distinct metatarsal support. The sponge rubber insert is made by shaping in such a manner that the sides of the insert are thinner than the central portion and are of approximately the thickness of the inner sole. This rubberinsert may be perforated with holes for increased flexibility and for complete permeability to air. This is an important advantage of my construction.

The bottom ofthe perforations inthe insert are reinforced as by molded bosses to provide strength to the opening so that the pressure of the footiwill not cause the hole or perforation to closeup, thus preventing the desired breathing. y

The insert may be tted into the inner sole in a variety of manners. I provide rst an in-` sert with an extending lap on one side only which diminishes in thickness down to a feather edge and lies dat upon the inner sole. This lap is l0 on the bottom side only.

In lieu of using a lap en one side only, I may vemploy an insert with the lap on each side, vthat is on the top and the bottom of the inner sole. In this event the insert fits snugly into the cut- 15 away portion of the inner sole and the laps extend from the insert over the edges of the inner sole towards the periphery thereof with gradually diminishing thickness to provide a feather edge and thus impart to the inner sole and to 20 the shoe a desired central bulge and side uniformity. f

I may further provide a felt lining over the inner sole, the felt lining having perforations which'ar'e in line with the perforations of the 25 inner sole and permit the breathing of the shoe.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to-J provide a novel inner sole with a resilient insert.

It is a further object of myinvention to provide 'a novel inner sole having sponge rubber in- 30 sert in the forepart thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel inner sole having a sponge rubber insert that is centrally bulged to provide metatarsal support in the shoe where it is placed.

-It is still a further object of my invention to provide a novel inner sole having a resilient insert, said insert having perforations to provide breathing.

It is still a further object of my invention to 40 provide a novel inner sole having a resilient insert that extends adjacent to the periphery of the forepart of the inner sole and constitutes a central portion of said forepart of the inner sole.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the more detailed description which follows in connection with the drawing, in which,

Figure 1 shows a. shoe in side elevation with a section cut away to show the inner sole construction of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner sole with the single lap insert of my invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along line 55 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the single lap inner sole in the shoe.

Figure 4 represents a detail of the inner sole and insert taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the resilient insert for the inner sole having a single lap.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the double lapped insert in position in the inner sole.

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Figure '7 is a cross section taken along the line 1--1 of Figure 6 showing the double lapped inner sole in position.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the double lapped insert of my invention.

' Referring now more specifically to the drawing, in Figure 1 is shown a shoe i with an outer sole 2 and a sock lining 3 between which is the inner sole of my invention 4 having the resilient insert, as of sponge rubber, 5. The insert 5 of the inner sole 4 has laps 6 which extend over the inner sole and are tapered down to a feather edge as will be described more specifically hereinafter. The insert 5 has the openings 1 which may be perforated or molded therein. The perforations 1 facilitate the transmission of air in the bottom of` the shoe and add tothe breathing properties of the shoe.

In Figure 2 is shown the plan view of the inner sole 4 of my invention with the insert 5 disposed therein. The dotted line lil indicates the extent of the lap Il which is a part'of insert 5 and extends therefrom over the inner sole. As indicated by the dotted lines and by the cross sectional showing in Figure l, this lapA extends on the bottom of the inner sole, and aids in providing the bulge or rounded shape on the bottom of the inner sole. The openings 1 have bosses 8, shown in dotted lines, at the bottom of the openings toprovide strength and reinforcement against closure of the openings under the pressure of the foot.

In Figure 3, which is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the construction of the inner sole is shown in detail, the same numerals applying as in Figures 1 and 2. It can be more clearly determined from this drawing that the bottom of the insert has a bulge which p'rovides the desirable rounded effect to the bottom of the shoe, and this bulge tapers away to a feather edge as shown in this figure at I2.

Figure 4 shows a detail taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 to illustrate more clearly the contour of the feather edge and of the bosses on the bottom of the inner sole.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the insert by itself. The insert may, of course, be of sponge rubber, closed cell rubber or any suitable resilient material` In this figure it can be seen in what manner the lap Il extends from the main body of the insert 5.

Figure 6 is a planA view of a modification of the inner sole of my invention in which the rubber insert 20 positioned within the inner sole 4 has a double lap that extends on each side of the inner sole'. This is more clearly shown by the cross sectional view in Figure '7 in which the insert 20 is seen with the upper lap 2| and the lower lap 22. This double lap effect firmly secures the insert to the inner sole. The insert has openings 23 and the bosses 24 on the lower surface.

Figure 8 is a detail taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 6 and shows clearly in what manner the laps 2l and 22 .of the insert 20 extend over the inner sole 4 diminishing to a feather point at 25 and 26.

Figure 9 is a plan view of this insert with the double laps.

Although I have specifically described the inner sole of my invention as having perforatlons contained therein with bosses at the bottom of the hole for reinforcement, it is to be understood that it may be economically desired to eliminate the reinforcing means at the bottom of the holes, or in the event that the breathing characteristics are not necessary because of the particular construction involved, the holes or perforations' themselves may be dispensed with and a solid resilient insert employed without perforations.

Furthermore, the shape of the insert itself, although preferable, is not critical, and any desirable shape of the insert may be employed in the inner sole.

The insert` presents many new and unexpected advantages. of its position, the main walking surface of the shoe, that is at the ball of the foot, it provide a springiness and lightness of walk that makes for unusual walking and wearing propertiesin the shoe. It provides all of the advantages of a rubber sole without any of the many disadvantages. It affords opportunity for a combination of the conventional leather outer sole with its excellent wearing qualities and desirable appearance with an added resilience and spring that could not otherwise be obtained. Further, the insert may be molded to any desirable shape and thus, by means of the slight bulge, may provide a metatarsal support. It is difficult to obtain a shoe bottom that will give the proper contour for metatarsal support without resorting to lumpiness as 'produced by felt pads or similar means hitherto employed.

Another factor of great importance in this particular inner sole construction lies in the flexibility of the shoe obtained by the use of this inner sole. When an inner sole is solid, it has a resistance to bend that is preeminently undesirable. Because of the cutaway section of the inner sole of my invention and the rubber insert, the inner sole, While performing all of its desirable functions, has an extremely flexible nature that gives a new and unexpected comfort to the shoe.

The openings in the rubber insert provide breathing properties of the shoe superior to what would be expected by merely providingopenings in the bottom of the shoe. The openings extending through the bottom of the shoe are, of course, undesirable from the standpoint of ordinary wear and the possibility of encountering water or dampness is apparent, but with the openings Alocated in the rubber insert there is forced breathingtaking place because of the constant compression and release of the rubber under the pressure of the food during walking; thus air is being continuously pumped through the shoe bottom and this materially adds to the comfort of the foot. The bosses which I have provided in the bottom of these openings main` tain the, openings against closure and facilitate breathing action.

When the inner sole with the insert is employed in conjunction with a felt inner sole placed thereover, the openings or perforations in the felt inner sole matching the openings in the insert, a very high quality shoe bottom is formed.

Preferably the resilient insert follows the contours of the forepart of the inner sole since this First, since it embodies, by reason.

shape provides the most desirable characteristics. That is the bulge effect then provides a uniformly ,rounded shoe bottom. However, it iswithin the scope of my invention to use an insert of any desirable shape.

Further, although I prefer to use laps to secure the insert firmly within the cut out inner sole, I may use an insert without such laps. The laps, however, provide an additional bulge area for the insert and in some instances this is useful. Thus, when it is desired to give a rather great thickness to the insert to give the rounded shoe bottom effect, this thickness should taper of! gradually and the extent oi the taper is naturally governed by the extent of the insert. When the insert has laps that extend over the inner sole the taper effect is extended and thus enhanced.

I claim:

1. An article comprising an inner sole, said inner sole having an opening disposed centrally of the forepart of the inner sole; and a resilient insert tting Within said opening, said insert having perforations extending through its thickness, said perforations being reinforced on at least one end with bosses, said insert being bulged on at least one side to provide metatarsal support, said insert having a. lap on at least one side which extends over the inner sole thussecuring the insert within the inner sole and providing an insert bulge oi larger area than the opening in the inner sole.

2. An article comprising an inner sole. said inner sole having an opening disposed centrally of the forepart of the inner sole, the opening having the general contour of the forepart of the inner sole; and a rubber insert fitting within said opening, said insert having pertorations extending through its thickness, said perforations being reinforced on the bottom with molded bosses, said insert being centrally bulged to provide metatarsal support and give a rounded shoe bottom effect, said insert having laps on both sides which extend over the inner sole thus securing the insert Within the inner sole and providing an insert bulge of larger area than the opening in the inner sole.

3. An article comprising an inner sole, said inner sole having an opening disposed in the forepart' of the inner sole, said opening generally corresponding in contour to the contour of the forepart of said inner sole, and a resilient insert iltting within said opening, said insert having perforations extending through its thickness, said perforationsbeing reinforced on at least one end with bosses, said insert being bulged on at least one side, said insert having a lap on at least one side which extends over the inner sole thus securing the insert within the inner sole and providing an insert bulge of larger area than the opening in the inner sole.

MEYER MARGOLIN.

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