March 5, 1929, s.

CAPEzio 1,704,281
TOE AND BALLET SLIPPER
Filed Oct. 22, 1927 2. Sheets-Sheet l

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Salvatore Capezio
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March 5, 1929. S. CAPEZIO 1,704,281
TOE AND BALLET SLIPPER
Filed Oct. 22, 1927 2. Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR
Salvatore Capezio
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ATTORNEYS
 Patented Mar. 5, 1929. 1,704,281
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
sALVATORE CAPEZIO, or EAST PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.
OE AND BALLE SPPER.
Application filed October 22, 1927. Serial No. 227,907.
This invention relates to a ballet slipper
for toe dancers and has special reference to ment for the dancing section of the slipper
toe. These slippers are usually provided
the provision of an improved toe construc with an outer cover or layer of a finished
tion for such ballet slippers. material such as silk or satin which becomes
5. As is well known, ballet or dancing slip readily frayed, mutilated and torn, particu 60
pers embody a stiffened or box toe structure larly over the front section of the toe, which
designed specially to support or sustain the is due to the grinding and wearing impact
thrust and weight of the dancer in toe danc of the stiffened toe structure with the danc
ing position. The stiffened or box toe struc ing floor. This fraying and tearing of the 65
10 ture in addition to performing the function outer or cover layer of the toe produces a
of rigidly supporting the dancer's weight ragged and unsightly appearance and ma
and aiding to maintain the form and shape terially shortens the life of a slipper, and
of the dancing slipper, serves to provide a the slipper is usually discarded although the
relatively hard outer toe section and surface remaining part of the slipper may still be in 70
15 which is well adapted for engagement with a good condition. To lengthen the life of the
dancing support or floor, particularly under slipper and to improve its appearance, it
pressure of the dancer's weight, such stiff has been the practice in the dancing profes
ened outer toe section being subject to the sion to provide a series of reinforcing stitches
minimum frictional resistance and deforma over the affected surface of the slipper toe. 75
20 tion during the act of dancing. This stitching, however, gives the undesir
These stiffened or box toe structures, are able appearance of a “repaired’ shoe and is
however, “hard' on the foot of the toe not sufficiently integral with the toe struc
dancer; and in order to ease, soften and cush ture to last for a substantial period of time.
ion the engagement of the toe of the dancer's It is a further prime object of my present 80
25 foot with the toe structure of the dancing invention to provide a stitched reinforce
slipper it has been siggests to embody in ment for the dancing toe area of a ballet
or incorporate with the slipper box toe a slipper constructed and designed to produce
cushioning medium or device. These prior. a neat and finished toe, the stitched forma
cushion toe structures, however, do not ade tion being made such an integral part of the 85
30 quately meet the requirements or desiderata toe and the layer or layers of material com
of a ballet slipper, since they have been de posing the same as to produce a wear-resist
signed without full regard given to both the ing and durable toe construction. It is a
cushioning and stiffening characteristics de corollary object of the invention to design
sired for the toe construction. a dancing toe structure which may be worn 00
For effectively solving the problem, it is through several layers without becoming
desired that the outer toe section present a frayed or torn, this object being accom.
relatively stiff and external support for the plished by the provision of a plurality of
slipper and a hard dancing surface for the toe layers, through the bodies of which is
floor, and that the cushioning section or me incorporated a stitched formation, which 95
40 dium present a relatively a soft and yield formation provides a further and outer layer
able support for the dancer's toe, and that of a wear-resisting surface. It is a still fur
both of these stiffened and cushioning sec ther and corollary object of the invention to
tions be permitted to perform their functions construct the reinforced toe by the stitched
independently and in combination without formation so as to aid in securing a further 100.
sacrificing one for the other. It is there and resilient stiffening of the. . box toe sec
fore a prime object of my present invention tion. . ..
to provide a cushion toe for a ballet slipper To the accomplishment of the foregoing
embodying a stiffened outer toe section and a and such other objects as will hereinafter ap
cushioning inner section designed and ar pear, my invention consists in the elements 105
50 ranged to provide the necessary hard outer
dancing surface and slipper support and the and their relation one to the other, as herein
relatively soft and yieldable internal sup after more particularly described and sought
port for the dancer's toe. to be defined in the claims, reference being
Another serious defect in ballet or toe
had to the accompanying drawings whic
55 show the preferred embodiment of my inven 10
5 5 dancing slippers of the prior art resides in tion, and in which:
the absence or lack of a suitable reinforce Fig. 1 is a view of the slipper shown in
 2 1,704,281
toe dancing position with a part broken away In accordance with my present invention,
to show the interior construction thereof, the cushioning means B comprises a pad of
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational yieldable or cushioning material such for
view of the same, example as compacted cotton which is made
5 Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken in cross thickest at the center and which is suitably 70
ision
al
in the plane of the line 3-3, Fig. 2, skived at the circumferential edge to give
the same the proper body and shape. O
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views showing parts obtain the desired object of the invention
of the upper of the slipper and other parts the the cushioning pad B is arranged between
O incorporated thereinto in the process of stiffened outer toe section A and the toe 5
making and constructing the finished slip extremities of the dancer's foot; and pref
per shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. erably this pad is inserted between the lin
Referring now more in detail to the draw ing layers 17 and 18 at the frontal toe section
ings and having reference first to Figs. 1, 2 of the slipper, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1
and 3 thereof, the toe dancing slipper of and 3 of the drawings. In the manufacture 80
my invention is shown to comprise a toe of the slippers this pad B is inserted after
structure embodying a stiffened outer toe the shoe is removed from the last and
section generally designated as A and a “turned, the padB being then placed against
cushioning section generally designated as . the lining 17, after which the lining 18 is 85
20 B arranged interiorly of the stiffened outer arranged in position prior to the attachment
toe section A, the arrangement being such of the shank 13 to the slipper.
that the stiffened outer toe section. A presents By means of this recited construction it
a relatively hard and stiffened external sup will be seen that the cushioning section and
port for the slipper, and the cushioning sec the stiffening section of the toe effectively
5 tion B presents a relatively soft and yieldable cooperate one with the other, the stiffening 90
internal support for the dancer's toe during section A being arranged exteriorly of the
cushioning section B so that it effectively
the act of toe dancing, as clearly illustrated serves
in Fig. 1 of the drawings. its intended purpose of forming a hard
The ballet slipper comprises an upper and relatively stiff external support for the
generally designated as 10 made up of a plu slipper and a correspondingly hard surface
rality of layers of fabric, described more for the dancing engagement with the floor.
particularly hereinafter, which are sewed Conversely, it will be manifest that the cush
by lines of stitching 11 (see Fig. 3) to an ioning section B being arranged interiorly
arched sole 12, while the upper is stretched of the stiffening section. A serves in turn its
35 over a last, after which the slipper is “turned' intended purpose of softening the impact of 100
and the shank 13 affixed interiorly thereto. the dancer's toe and providing a yieldable
The upper 10 is provided with the usual bow and cushioning support therefor.
fastening means or cord 14 which is threaded For reinforcing the dancing toe area and
through the yoke-shaped encircling chan for providing the wear-resisting and durable 105
40 nel 15. , characteristics thereof, my invention further
The slipper upper 10 consists of a plu includes the provision of the stitch formation
rality of layers of material including an C incorporated in and stitched through the
outer or cover layer 16 made of a finished body of the outer or cover layer of the slipper
fabric such as silk or satin, or the like, and a upper forming a substantially integral wear
pair of lining layers 17 and 18, these layers ing part thereof. The slipper toe comprises
being secured together at their lower ends a front section 22 and an underneath or bot
and fastened to the sole 12 by the aforesaid tom section 23 which extends inwardly a sub
stitches 11, and being fastened together at stantial distance from said front Section 22,
their upper ends by being stitched as at 19 as clearly shown for example in Figs. 1 and
to the cord or ribbon channel 15. The stiff 3 of the drawings, each of these sections being
ened box toe A is produced by incorporating at various times in contact with the dancing
in the ballet slipper over the whole toe sec floor surface, as will be evident. To provide
tion thereof a plurality of sheets of material the optimum reinforcement over the entire
such as 20 and 21, preferably made of canvas, wearing area the stitch formation C is in 120
5 5 which are impregnated or coated with a corporated in the toe so as to cover the toe
paste which causes the canvas layers or sheets areas of both said front and bottom sections
to harden and stiffen upon drying, resulting 22 and 23, as will be clear from a consideral
in the desired stiffened toe. The stiffening tionPreferably,
of such figures as 1 and 3 of the drawings.
the outer cover layer 16 is re
sheets 20 and 21 are preferably arranged as
60 shown between the outer cover layer 16 and inforced and a substantial body is provided
the first lining layer 17, and if desired, the for the stitch formation by the provision of
stiffening layers are affixed to the cover and one and preferably a plurality of backing
lining layers at the contiguous faces with layers 24, 24 (shown herein as three in num
either a hardening or stiffening paste or a ber) which backing layers are arranged pref 30
65 flexible cement. erably underlying the outer cover 16 and be
 1,704,281
tween the same and the first canvas sheet 20 ing section 17. In the assembling of the shoe
over the entire area of the stitch formation. or slipper, the upper so formed is then
The affected toe section of the cover 16 and stretched over a last and all of the layers of
the backing layers 24, 24 are stitched together the upper save the innermost lining 18 are
by preferably closely arranged stitching stitched to the sole 12 as heretofore described. 70
threads, producing the configuration or stitch Thereafter the embryo slipper produced is
formation shown in the drawings. These turned inside out, the cushioning pad B is
stitches are incorporated in and run complete then applied and the lining 18 superposed
ly through all of the layers of the material,
0. and when finished not only unite and bind
over the contiguous face of the pad, a flexible
cement being employed for this purpose if
these layers together integrally, but present desired, the insertion of the shank 13 and its
both outer and inner superposed layers of attachment serving to hold all of the layers
stitches, the outermost layer defining a first Securely together at the bottom of the slipper.
wearing surface. The stitch formation may The manner of making ballet slippers em
be given any contour or design, and for sim bodying the improved cushion and reinforced 80
plicity of manufacture I prefer to run the toe construction of my present invention and
outer threads 25, 25 on both sides of a medi the many advantages thereofwill,in the main,
an plane of the slipper longitudinally and be fully apparent from the above detailed
substantially parallel to such median plane. description thereof. It will be seen that the
20 In Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings I show the relative arrangement and combined construc
upper of the slipper prior to its attachment to tion of the stiffened portion A and the cush
the sole and the manner in which the rein ioning section B of the toe yields a structure
forced toe portion is made. The three back which affords the maximum or optimum com
ing layers 24, 24 of the reinforcement may fort to the dancer by interiorly cushioning
take a configuration such as shown in Fig. 6 the dancer's toe and which permits the ob. 90
of the drawings, providing an enlarged por taining of the desired relatively hard and
tion 24 at one end and an elongated or tongue stiff external support of the slipper and rela
portion 24, 24 at the other end thereof. tively hard dancing surface therefor. It will
These backing layers may be made of a suit be further seen that by incorporating the
30 able material such as buckskin skived at the stitched reinforcement in the toe section of
95
edges or may be made of canvas, the succes the slipper, the reinforcement is made sub
sive layers being of different and graduated stantially integral with (and for a substan
dimensions such as shown in full lines in Fig. tial thickness of) the upper at the toe sec
6 of the drawings and dotted lines in Fig. 5. tion thereof so that even though the surface
35 thereof, all for the purpose of providing a of the toe becomes frayed or worn, the in 100
gradually diminishing body from the center tegrity of the toe structure is still maintained.
towards the edges of the reinforced toe sec Thus the interknitted stitches not only pro
tion. The plurality of backing layers 24 are vide a very hardened and yet resilient wear
superposed on the rear face 16 of the outer ing surface, but because the said stitching is
40 cover 16 of the upper and these layers are through the body of one or more layers of
stitched together as already described, pro material, there is provided a wearing surface
ducing the formation, the front and rear extending to a very substantial depth. e
views of which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of manner in which the stitched construction is
the drawings. It will be noted that the made also results in the production of a stiff
45 tongue sections 24 of the reinforcement pro yet resilient toe which assists in maintaining 110
vide a suitable strengthening tab for the cover the proper shape of the toe even under rough
or outermost layer of the upper, permitting usage. It will be further seen that the rein
the same to be firmly stretched over the last forcement, lends attractiveness to the slipper,
before the “turning” operation, this being an particularly when the stitches are made into
50 important advantage gained by the provision an ornamental design, the ornamental and
of the reinforcement at the bottom portion attractive appearance being maintained
of the toe. In Fig. 4 of the drawings I indi through long periods of use.
cate by the dash-dotted line 26 the line of It will also be apparent that while I have
division between the enlarged or bulbous por shown and described my invention in the pre
tion 24 of the reinforcement which forms the ferred form, many changes and modifications 120
front of the toe in the completed construction may be made in the structure disclosed with
and the tongue shaped portion 24 which out departing from the spirit of the inven
forms the bottom of the toe in the completed
construction.
tion, defined in the following claims.
I claim:
60 After producing the stitched reinforcement 1. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe 25
the two canvas sheets or layers 20 and 21, having a stiffened outer toe section and a
substantially of the configuration shown in cushioning section arranged interiorly of the
Fig. 6 of the drawings, are affixed as already stiffened outer toe section, the arrangement
described to the rear face of the reinforced being such that the stiffened outer toe section
65 cover 16 and in between the same and the lin presents a relatively hard and stiff external 30
 4. 1,704,281
support for the slipper and the cushioning port for the slipper and the cushioning pad
section presents a relatively soft and yield and inner lining present a relatively soft and
yieldable internal support for the dancer's
able internal support for the dancer's toe toe during the act of toe dancing.
during the act of toe dancing. v
2. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe ing7. an
A ballet slipper for toe dancers compris O
upper having an Outer cover layer,
comprising a stiffened outer toe section em a reinforcement
bodying an outer layer of a finished material cover layer, and afor the toe portion of said
and a stiffening reinforcement attached inte on, incorporated inlayer of stitches superposed
and stitched through the f5
riorly to said layer, and a cushioning Sectioli
0. arranged interiorly of the stiffened outer toe reinforced toe portion of said outer cover
section, the arrangement being such that the layer, said layer of stitches covering the toe
stiffened outer toe section presents a rela area normally in contact with a dancing Sur
tively hard and stiff external support for the face during the act of toe dancing and defin
slipper and the cushioning section presents a ing a stiff, hard and durable exterior dance 80
relatively soft and yieldable internal support wearing surface.
for the dancer's toe during the act of toe prising 8. A ballet slipper for toe dancers com
dancing. an upper having an outer cover layer,
3. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe a reinforcement for the toe portion of said
comprising a stiffened outer toe Section em. cover layer and a stitch formation incor
bodying an outer layer of finished material porated in and stitched through the body of
and a plurality of layers of canvas impreg said reinforced toe portion, said stitch for
nated with a stiffening material attached in mation presenting an exterior Superposed
teriorly to said finished layer, and a cushion dance wearing surface.
ing section arranged interiorly of the stiff 9. A ballet slipper for toe dancers compris 90
25 ened outer toe section, the arrangement being ing an upper having an outer cover layer, a
such that the stiffened outer toe section pre reinforcement for the toe portion of said
sents a relatively hard and stiff external sup cover layer, and a substantially continuous
port for the slipper and the cushioning sec layer of closely arranged stitches superposed
tion presents a relatively soft and yieldable on, incorporated in and stitched through the
30 internal support for the dancer's toe during reinforced toe portion of said outer cover
the act of toe dancing. layer, said layer of stitches covering the toe.
4. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe area normally in contact with a dancing sur
having a stiffened outer toe section, a flexible face during the act of toe dancing and pre
inner lining and a cushioning section ar senting a relatively hard and durable ex OO
ranged interiorly of the stiffened outer toe terior dance wearing surface.
section and between the same and the inner 10. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe
lining, the arrangement being such that the having a reinforced outer toe section and a
stiffened outer, toe section presents a rela cushioning inner section, said reinforced
tively hard and stiff support for the slipper outer toe section including an upper cover
40 and the cushioning section and lining pre layer and a layer of stitches superposed on, 05
sent a relatively soft and yieldable support incorporated in and stitched through the body
for the dancer's toe during the act of toe of said upper cover layer.
dancing. 11. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a
5. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe reinforced cushion toe comprising an upper 10
45 comprising a stiffened outer toe section hav coverlayer and a formation of stitches super
ing a stitched reinforced toe surface, and a posed on, incorporated in and stitched
cushioning section arranged interiorly of the through the body of said upper cover, layer,
stiffened outer toe section, the arrangement said formation of stitches covering the toe
being such that the stiffened outer toe sec area normally in contact with a dancing sur ll 5
tion presents a relatively hard and stiff ex face during the act of toe dancing and pre
ternal support for the slipper and the cush senting a relatively hard and reinforced ex
ioning section presents a relatively soft and terior dance wearing surface, and a cushion
yieldable internal support for the dancer's toe ing means associated with said toe to cushion
during the act of toe dancing. the toe of the dancer.
55 6. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe 12. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a toe 120
comprising a stiffened outer toe section em comprising a stiffened outer toe section em
bodying an outer or cover layer, a plurality bodying an outer layer of a finished material
of stiffening canvas layers next adjacent and a stiffening reinforcement attached in
thereto and a lining layer contiguous to the teriorly to said layer, and a cushioning sec
60 canvas layers, a flexible inner lining layer, and tion arranged interiorly of the stiffened
a cushioning pad arranged interiorly of the outer toe section, the arrangement being such
stiffened outer toe section and between the that the stiffened outer toe section presents a
two lining layers, the arrangement being relatively hard and stiff external support for
such that the stiffened outer toe section pre the slipper and the cushioning section pre
sents a relatively hard and stiff external sup sents a relatively soft and yieldable internal 30
 1,704,281 5.
Support for the dancer's toe during the act
of toe dancing, and a reinforcement for said [Link]
In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a
a front section and an underneath
Outer toe section comprising a formation of or bottom section extending inwardly a sub
5 stitches incorporated in the body of said outer stantial distance from said front section, said 55
layer over the toe dancing area thereof.
13. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a forcementembodying
sections
for said
an outer cover, a rein
toe, and a stitch formation
reinforced toe comprising an upper cover incorporated in and stitched through the
layer, a backing layer arranged at the toe body of the outer cover of said slipper, said
O portion of the upper cover layer, and a stitch stitch formation covering the reinforced toe 80
formation incorporated in and stitched area in both said front and bottom sections of
through the bodies of both said upper and the toe which are normally in contact with a
backing layers, said stitch formation pre dancing surface during the act of toe dancing
senting an exterior superposed dance wear and presenting a relatively hard and durable
ing surface.
5
14. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a 19. In a ballet slippersurface.
exterior dance wearing
for toe dancers, a
65
reinforced toe comprising an upper cover toe having a front section and an underneath
layer, a backing layer underlying the cover or bottom section extending inwardly a sub
layer at the toe portion thereof, and a stitch stantial
20
formation incorporated in and 'stitched Sections distance from said front section, said
embodying an outer or cover layer 70
through the bodies of both said cover and and
backing layers, said stitch formation pre same,a and backing sheet or layer underlying the
a reinforcement for said toe com
senting an exterior Superposed dance wearing prising a stitch
surface. formation incorporated in
and stitched through
15. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a and backing layers, said the bodies of said cover
reinforced toe comprising an upper cover ering the toe area in bothstitch formation cov 75
said front and bot
layer, a plurality of backing layers under tom
lying the cover layer at the toe portion there tact toe with
sections which are normally in con
a dancing surface during the act
of, and a stitch formation incorporated in of toe dancing and presenting a relatively
30 and stitched through the bodies of said outer hard and durable exterior dance wearing sur 80
and backing layers, said stitch formation face.
presenting an exterior superposed dance 20. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a
wearing surface. toe having a front section and an underneath
16. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a re or bottom section extending inwardly a sub
35
inforced cushion toe comprising an upper cov stantial distance from said front section, said 85
er layer, at least one backing layer underlying section embodying an outer or cover layer and
the coverlayer at the toe portion thereof, a re
inforcing stitch formation incorporated in a plurality of graduated backing layers un
derlying the same, and a reinforcement for
and stitched through the bodies of both said said toe comprising a stitch formation in
40
outer and backing layers, and a cushion pad corporated in and stitched through the bodies 90
arranged interiorly of the reinforced layers. of said cover and backing layers, said stitch
17. In a ballet slipper for toe dancers, a formation covering the toe area in both said
reinforced stiffened cushion toe comprising front and bottom sections which are normally
an upper cover layer, at least one backing in contact with a dancing surface during the
45 layer underlying the cover layer at the toe act of toe dancing and presenting a relative 95
portion thereof, a reinforcing stitch forma ly hard and durable exterior dance wearing
tion incorporated in and stitched through the surface. -
bodies FE said outer and backing layers, Signed at New York in the county of New
stiffening sheets arranged next adjacent to
50 said reinforced layers, an inner flexible lining 1927. and State of New York, October A. D.
3.
and a cushioning pad arranged between said
stiffening sheets and said inner lining. SALVATORE CAPEZIO.