Method of attaching heels to shoes
AssigneeUSM Corporation
InventorFrancis F. H. Rawson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plastic heel is attached by inserting through an insole of a shoe a fastener, and vibrating the fastener at ultrasonic frequency to cause its shank to melt the plastic and become embedded in the heel. The fastener may be a staple with wide legs having holes therein. The shank of the shoe may be bridged by the staple for added attachment strength. Since less work penetration is needed than in nail-attaching of heels, advantage is gained especially in securing sharply tapering or so-called "stiletto" heels.
Claims8
A method of attaching a thermoplastic heel to a shoe having an insole by means of a fastener having a head portion and a shank portion, the method comprising positioning the heel against the heel seat portion of the shoe, inserting the shank portion through the insole and into the thermoplastic material of the heel with the head portion overlying the insole, vibrating the fastener at an ultrasonic frequency to at least soften the material of the heel adjacent to the shank portion, and pressing the fastener into the heel to embed the shank portion in the material while it is at least softened said fastener having its shank portion formed with at least one hole extending transversely therethrough into which the softened heel material flows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.