From idea to innovation: the story of the first rubber heel patent

On January 24, 1899 – 126 years ago – Humphrey O’Sullivan, a Massachusetts printing worker, patented the rubber heel.

The comic "The Story of Rubber Heels," published in 1950, tells us about different types of heels and how Humphrey came up with his invention. As often happens, the idea came to him while performing his main job, which he sought to make more comfortable. He discovered that walking on a rubber mat rather than a stone floor significantly reduced foot fatigue. However, the mat had one major drawback – his colleagues frequently “walked away” with it. Humphrey, thinking outside of the box, decided to attach the mat to his own feet instead! Thus, pieces of a rubber mat nailed to Humphrey’s heels gave birth to the O’Sullivan rubber heel. 

Humphrey’s invention proved so comfortable that the "America's No. 1 Heels," as they were called in advertisements, quickly gained popularity. Many appreciated their springy stride and the ability to extend shoe lifespan.

It seems Humphrey immediately recognized the potential of his discovery. Just three years after starting the development of the "America's No. 1 Heels," O’Sullivan secured his first patents in 1899 – two in fact: US 618127 and US 618128.

Rubber soles themselves were not novel at the time, having appeared on lightweight canvas shoes produced by the Liverpool Rubber Company as early as the 1830s. Rubber components had also been used in heels before. For example, in July 1897, James Hill in the UK filed patent application GB15005 for improved heels featuring a rubber insert placed between layers of other materials. However, such shoes rubber soles differed from O’Sullivan’s innovative approach.

In November and December 1898, Humphrey filed two patent applications, both granted on the same day – January 24, 1899. One patent reveals that an earlier application for a rubber heel was filed on January 20, 1897, by Humphrey and his brother James, though its fate remains unclear.

Examining O’Sullivan’s patents closely, one can see that he didn’t merely patent pieces of a rubber mat nailed to boots. He improved upon his initial accidental invention. His patented solutions involved rubber heels with numerous holes to enhance surface contact. Moreover, the holes were designed to easily expel mud and snow. O’Sullivan also filed similar patents in Canada (CA 61686 and CA 63840).

Humphrey didn’t stop there, securing patents for a rubber sole (US 628209) and a heel with special recesses for screws to attach it to a shoe (US 625897).

A glance at other rubber heel patents from the early 20th century suggests this was a golden age for rubber heel production in the United States. Inventors patented innovations such as heels that adhered better to soles when nailed (US 1369771), heels attachable without nails, pins, or glue (US 1490797), heels that wore down less quickly along the back edge (US 2031753), and heels offering better weight support (US 1998624), among many others.

Humphrey O’Sullivan built an entire business around his original idea. What began with sales in his brother’s store grew into a manufacturing enterprise for rubber heels, first by other companies and later by O’Sullivan’s own firm, bringing global recognition to the inventor.

If you think all heels were invented in Humphrey’s time and there’s nothing left to innovate, think again! Heels and heel tips have their own dedicated section in the International Patent Classification, A43B 21, and anyone curious enough can easily find a wealth of heel-related patents from inventors worldwide. Examples include non-slip heel tips (RU 2719141), glowing heels (CN 219182935), and adjustable-height heels (CN 105661752).

If you’re unsure whether your new heel design qualifies as an invention, you can still patent it as a utility model with minor improvements or as an industrial design if you create an original shape.

Looking to secure a patent for your invention or utility model? Contact us at LEXPATENT LLC today:

 +375 (17) 379-23-32 | +375 (29) 6-370-370

Our experienced patent attorneys are here to provide you with a free consultation and assist you in preparing and filing a patent application for your technical solution. Let us help turn your innovation into a protected asset!

Perhaps your entrepreneurial step in new heels will also become the first stride toward a large and successful business.