US3343283A - Retractible anti-slip device for shoe heels - Google Patents

Description

Spt. 26, 1967 w. HENRY ET AL Filed Jan. 19, 1966 FIG. I

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n z X ,7 A x q H a wa 1i I-||| I a w 2 H 2 k 915 m5 w \M "INVENTORS WILLIAM HENRY CARL H l LT United States Patent Ofilice 3,343,283 RETRACTIBLE ANTI-SLIP DEVICE FOR SHOE HEELS William Henry, 1046 Main St., Wellsburg, W. Va.

26070, and Carl Hilt, 20051 Pelkey St., Detroit, Mich. 48205 Filed Jan. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 521,722

8 Claims. (Cl. 36-61) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retractible anti-slip device for shoe heels is installed within a hollow shoe heel containing spike holes in the bottom thereof and has ground-gripping prongs or spikes which are mounted on an arm of a horizontally-pivoted bifurcated lever and positively projected and retracted through those holes by a crank mounted on an operating rod which is rotated by means of a key, in order to swing the crank into and out of alternate or successive engagement with the arms of the bifurcated lever so as to protect the wearer against slipping while walking on icy surfaces.

This invention relates to retractible anti-slip devices for shoe heels and its object is to provide such a device which is installed within a hollow shoe heel containing spike holes in the bottom thereof and has prongs or spikes which are mounted on an arm and positively projected and retracted through those holes by means of a key, in order to protect the wearer against slipping while walking on icy surfaces.

FIGURE 1 is a bottom perspective view of the rearward portion of a shoe equipped with the retractible antislip device of the present invention, with the spikes projected into their operating positions;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-section through the shoe heel of FIGURE 1, taken along the line 22 in FIG- URE 3 in a plane immediately below the cover plate of the device, showing the device in top plan view;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2, with the spikes retracted;

. FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the spikes projected; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 4, looking rearwardly.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGURES l and 3 show a shoe, generally designated 10, having a hollow heel 12 containing a cavity 14 with laterally-spaced holes 16 in its bottom wall 18 and equipped with a retractible anti-slip device, generally designated 20', according to one form of the invention. The side wall 22 of the heel 12 is provided with a horizontal hole 24 (FIGURES 2 and 5 for the insertion of an operating key 26 similar to a clock key. The cavity 14 is laterally enlarged as at 28 near its rearward end (FIGURE 2).

The retractible anti-slip device 20' includes a channel member or supporting structure 30 having a base portion 32 provided with a pair of laterally-spaced holes 34 aligned with the heel holes 16, and opposite parallel side walls 36 containing aligned holes 38, 38 near its forward end above the base plate holes 34, and aligned downwardly and forwardly-inclined guide slots 40 near its rearward end. The aligned rearward guide slots 40 serve to receive pivot screws 42 and 44 threaded in opposite directions into the internally-threaded axially-spaced hub portions 46, 46 bent around from the rearward end of a bifurcated lever 47 including a spike carrier arm 48 and a retraction arm 52. The spike carrier arm 48 extends forwardly from its hub portions 46, 46 to a location immediately over the aligned holes 34 and 16 where it is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced depending pointed spikes 49 aligned 3,343,283 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 with the holes 34 and 16, which are of sulficient size to permit the spikes 49 to swing upward and downward through them around the pivot screws 42 and 44 as an axis.

The pivot screws 42 and 44 meet one another at their inner ends, the pivot screw 42 having a longer shank than the pivot screw 44 so as to carry the loop of a torsion spring 50 mounted in the gap between the hub portions 46. The lower arm of the torsion spring 50 engages the base portion 32 of the channel member 30 as an abutment while its upper arm is secured to the spike carrier arm 48 between the spike carrier arm 48 and the retraction arm 52. The retraction arm 52 is secured at its rearward end to the spike carrier arm 48 immediately forward of the hub portions 46, 46 and is bent upward at its forward end to be spaced vertically away from the spike carrier arm 48 (FIGURE 3).

Extending into the space between the forward end portions of the spike carrier arm 48 and the retraction arm 52 is the rearward downturned contact end part 60 of a crank arm or actuating element 54 having a slot 56 through which the forward narrowed end 58 of the retraction arm 52 projects. The downwardly-bent end part 60 is alternately engageable respectively with a second contact portion 61 on the retraction arm 52 and with a first contact portion 59 on the spike carrier arm 48. The forward end 63 of the crank arm 54 is integral with and extends transversely to an operating rod 62 rotatably mounted in the aligned forward holes 38 in the side portions 36 of the channel member 30. The operating rod 62 has a squared outer end portion 46 which projects into the hole 24 in the side Wall 22 of the heel 12, so as to be engageable'by the key 26.

Mounted in the heel cavity 14 immediately above the side portions 36 of the channel member 30 is a cover plate 66 having a hole 68 located immediately above the forward end portion 58 of the retraction arm 52 so as to provide clearance for the latter at the end of its upward swinging in its retraction stroke (FIGURE 3). The forward end of the base portion 32 of the channel member 30 is provided with an integral upturned lug 70 which serves as a stop for limiting the forward motion of the downturned contact end portion 60 of the crank arm 54. At the end of its forward or spike-projecting stroke, and after engagingv the first contact portion 59, the end part 60 of the crank arm 54 snaps into the detent portion or grooved end 72 of the spike carrier arm 48 which serves to releasably hold the spike carrier arm 48 in its lowered or operating position (FIGURE 4).

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the retracti-ble anti-slip device 20 is in its inoperative position of FIGURE 3 with the spikes 49 retracted into the heel cavity 14, as in the normal walking position under favorable weather conditions. When the user encounters icy surface conditions, he inserts the shank of the key 26 through the side wall hole 24 in the heel 12 over the squared outer end portion 64 of the operating rod 62. By rotating the key 26 in a counterclockwise direction, he rotates the operating rod and swings the crank arm 54 in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURES 3 and 4) downward from its horizontal position of FIGURE 3 to its vertical position of FIGURE 4. This action causes the end part 60 of the crank arm 54 to engage and push the first contact portion 59 and the grooved forward end or detent portion 72 of the spike carrier arm 48 downward, carrying with it the spikes 49 so as to push them through the holes 34 and 16 into their projected positions of FIGURES 4 and 5, and at the same times tensions the spring 50. The crank arm end part 60 snaps into the detent-grooved end or detent portion 72 at the end of its stroke. In actual use, the anti-slip device has been found to effectively prevent slipping while the user is walking on icy surfaces.

To retract the spikes 49 after the icy surface condition is over, the user again applies the key 26 to the squared portion 64 of the operating rod 62 and rotates'the latter in a clockwise direction so as to swing the crank arm 54 from its vertical position of FIGURE 4 to its horizontal position of FIGURE 3. During this action, the end part 60 of the crank arm 54 snaps out of the detent portion or groove 72 and positively engages the second contact portion 61 on the under side of the forward end portion 58 of the retraction tongue 52, pushing it forcibly upward, assisted by the torsion spring 50, and consequently forcibly swinging the spike carrier arm 48 and spikes 49 upward into the heel cavity 14. This forcible retraction of the spike carrier arm 48 overcomes any tendency of ice or snow to cause the spikes 49 to jam within their respective holes 16 and 34, as has been found during the actual use of the anti-slip device 20.

In the operation of the invention, the pivot screws 42 and 44 slide rearwardly upward and forwardly downward in inclined guideways consisting of the inclined guide slots 40 during retraction and projection respectively of the spikes 49, causing the spike carrier arm 48 to move back and forth as it rises and falls while it swings on its pivot screws 42 and 44. As preferably constructed, a conventional roll pin is substituted for the pivot screws 42 and 44.

We claim:

1. A retractible anti-slip device for installation in the cavity of a hollow shoe heel having spike holes through the bottom thereof, said device comprising a supporting structure adapted to be mounted in the shoe heel cavity,

pivot means mounted on said supporting structure and having a horizontal pivot axis;

a spike carrier pivotally mounted on said pivot means for generally vertical swinging movement relatively thereto and having a first contact portion thereon spaced away from said pivot axis;

a plurality of pointed anti-slip spikes secured to and depending from said spike carrier remote from said pivot means and positioned thereon for alignment with the shoe heel spike holes;

a retraction member secured to said spike carrier and having a second contact portion thereon also spaced away from said pivot axis and from said first contact portion,

a rotary operating member,

means for rotatably supporting said rotary operating member in said supporting structure for rotation upon a horizontal axis of rotation therein,

and a rotary actuating element operatively connected to said operating member and extending transversely to said axis of rotation,

said actuating element being responsive to rotation of said operating member for operatively engaging said first contact portion and thereby positively moving said spike carrier downward to project said spikes out from the heel and also responsive to further rotation of said operating member for operatively engaging said second contact portion and thereby positively moving said retraction member and spike carrier upward to retract said spikes into the heel. 2. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 1, wherein said spike carrier includes a carrier arm, and wherein said spikes are secured to said arm in spaced relationship to said pivot means.

3. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 2, wherein said carrier arm has a detent portion therein releasably holding said actuating element in engagement therewith.

4. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 2, wherein said retraction member includes a retraction arm mounted on said carrier arm in coextensive relationship therewith.

5. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 4, wherein said contact portions on said carrier arm and on said retraction member respectively are spaced approximately vertically apart from one another and wherein said actuating element is disposed between said contact portions and selectively movable upward and downward successively into and out of engagement with said contact portions in response to rotation of said rotary operating member in opposite directions.

6. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 5, wherein said actuating element includes a crank arm having a contact part thereon space away from said axis of rotation.

7. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 6, wherein said crank arm adjacent said contact part has an opening formed therein, and wherein said retraction arm extends into said opening in the projected position of said spikes.

8. A retractible anti-slip device, according to claim 1, wherein said pivot means includes upwardly and rearwardly inclined guideways in said supporting structure and also includes pivot elements connected to said spike carrier and pivotally and slida-bly engaging said guideways.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,658 10/1916 Senf 36-61 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,171 9/1895 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

G. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

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