Improvements in or relating to Machines for Building or Forming and Attaching the Heels to Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Building or Forming
and Attaching the Heels to Boots and Shoes.
We, THOMAS BRINING, of 44 Pontefract Street, Richmond Hill, Leeds, in the County
of York, Boot Manufacturer, and GEORGE LISTER, of 5 Oakfield Terrace, Headingley
Leeds aforesaid, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to improvements in machines for building or forming and
attaching the heels to boots and shoes, and its object is to provide means whereby the
same nails that are employed for connecting the "lifts" together are also employed for
attaching it to the sole of the boot or shoe without removing it from the last upon
which it has been lasted and rivetted or sewn.
According to this invention, the heels are built or formed in a die of ordinary con-
struction mounted upon a spring stand provided with one or more grooves or rows of
holes for the reception of the attaching nails or pins, but instead of clenching them as
at present on to the seat of the heel we allow them to pass up into one or more grooves
or rows of holes (corresponding with those in the spring stand) provided for their
reception in the hitherto solid iron block (convex on one side) that fits into the die and
receives the required pressure for compressing the lifts. The holes or groove or
grooves in the iron block may when preferred be made to taper slightly inwards, and
may or may not be countersunk on the convex side of the block.
After the top lift" has been attached to the heel portion, the heel is removed as at
present to the attaching stand or block. But instead of removing the last (as at
present) and attaching the heel with the sole uppermost we use a block or plate
provided with a recess (adjustable or otherwise) into which the heel to be attached is
placed with the projecting nails or pins upward. That is to say, when a plate or block
is required to be used only for one given size of heels, a recess, suitable for receiving
that size of heel, is cast or formed in the said plate and a guard, guide, or rim is
formed around the rear of the recess to fit the back of the boot or shoe, whilst the
front part of the plate may also when required be shaped to fit the waist of the boot or
shoe. But when it is desired to make the plate or block suitable for attaching heels of
various sizes we construct it as follows:-On the plate is mounted at one end thereof
two sliding plates shaped respectively to fit the rear and breast of the heel. These
plates are closed or expanded by suitable levers, screws, or their equivalents so as to
firmly grip the heel and hold it in position. To this end of the plate is also mounted
and hinged a pair of jaws to form a guard, guide, or rim for the back or heel
portion of the boot or shoe. These jaws may be adjusted to the size of the
boot or shoe by screws (carried in suitable bearings) or their equivalents. At
the opposite or toe end of the plate is also mounted a sliding semi-circular or other
suitably shaped guide or guard (hinged or otherwise) capable of adjustment by a
screw or screws or their equivalents to the varying sizes and toes of boots or shoes.
Suitable springs or supports (capable of receding on pressure being applied) may also
be provided, on which the sole of the boot or shoe rests, for holding the boot or shoe
in position during the attaching operation.
After the heel has been placed in the above described recess or between the adjust-
able sliding plates with the projecting nails uppermost, the lasted and rivetted or sewn
boot upper and sole (with the same last within the "upper" on which the lasting and
rivetting operations have been performed) is then placed within the fixed or adjustable
guards or guides with the sole downwards. A bar or pin may then be inserted in the
recess or hole of the last so as to project above the highest portion of the boot upper,
and it is provided with a head for receiving the required pressure from the adjustable

page_text: reciprocating plunger which forces the last and sole down on to the seat of the heel,
and in so doing forces the nails or pins through the sole and clenches them on the
inside thereof, thus preventing the heel from being wrenched off when in wear.
By the above described means the heels may be accurately attached in position, the
use of a separate set of attaching nails dispensed with, and the labour and expense of
removing the lasts after the rivetting operation has been performed is obviated, and
the boot or shoe kept in better form.
Other parts of the machine and the means for conveying motion to the same may be
of ordinary construction.
Dated the Twenty-seventh day of April 1889.
THOMAS
GEORGE
BRINING.
LISTER.
By W. Fairburn-Hart, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Building or Forming
and Attaching the Heels to Boots and Shoes.
We, THOMAS BRINING, formerly of 44 Pontefract Street, Richmond Hill, but now of
27 St. Paul's Street, both in Leeds in the County of York, Boot Manufacturer,
and GEORGE LISTER, of 5 Oakfield Terrace, Headingley, Leeds aforesaid, Tanner, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in machines for building or forming and
attaching the heels of boots and shoes, and its object is to provide means whereby the
same nails that are employed for connecting the "lifts" together are also employed for
attaching the heel to the sole of the boot or shoe without removing the boot from the
last upon which it has been lasted, rivetted, or sewn.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1. is a side elevation; and Fig. 2. a front elevation of a power driven heeling
machine with a portion of our improvements applied. Fig. 3. a part sectional
elevation of heel building stand. Fig. 4. a part plan of heel building die. Fig 5. a
plan of compressing block. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are respectively a side elevation, end
elevation, and plan of mechanism for holding the boot and heel during the attaching
operation. Fig. 9. a transverse section on line aa fig. 8. Fig. 10 an enlarged plan
of adjustable heel holder. Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively an elevation and plan of
bar or pin for forcing the heel on to the boot. Fig. 13. an outline of machine with
beel building stand in position capable of being worked by a treadle.
Like parts in all the views are marked with the same letters of reference.
The standard A, its legs a a, and table a¹ constitute the framework of the machine.
Mounted in a vertical bearing a slides a plunger B provided at its lower end with an
adjustable end b of larger diameter than the plunger so as to permit of the end 6 being
screwed onto it and locked in position by means of a nut b¹. At Figs 1 and 2 a
vertical reciprocating motion is imparted to the plunger from any suitable source
through driving pulley 62, (mounted on shaft 63 carried in bearings as formed on
standard A as shown) spur gearing 64 shaft 65 and a cam (not shown in the drawings)
working in the enlarged end 6 of plunger B. But at Fig. 13. the vertical reciprocating
motion may be imparted to the plunger B from treadle 67 (fulcrumed at 68 to the legs a)
connecting rod 69 bell-cranked lever 60 (pivoted at a to the standard A) adjustable
connecting rod 6" and toggles 612, 613, connected together (as well as to the adjustable
end of rod 6) at 6, and at their respective outer ends 618, 616, to the stud as (fixed in
boss a' attached to or on the standard A) and the upper end 6 of plunger B.
All the above described parts, as well as details not shown or described may be of
ordinary construction and operate in the usual manner.
According to this invention, the heels are built or formed in a die C of ordinary
construction mounted upon a spring stand c provided with one or more grooves or

page_text: rows of holes c (in which the driving pins work) for the reception of the attaching
nails or pins, but instead of driving them as at present from the inside of the boot into
the heel we allow them to pass into one or more grooves or rows of holes d, (in the
drawings holes are shown corresponding with those in the spring stand) provided for
their reception in the hitherto solid iron block D (convex on one side to form the heel
seat) that fits into the die C and receives the required pressure from enlarged end 6 of
plunger B for compressing the lifts. The holes or groove or grooves d in the iron
block may when preferred be enlarged as shown in the drawings at Fig. 3 or made to
taper slightly inwards, and may or may not be countersunk on the convex side of the
block.
After the top lift" has been attached to the heel portion, the heel is removed as
at present to what we term an attaching plate or block shown at Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
But instead of removing the last (as at present) and attaching the heel with the sole
uppermost we perform the heel attaching operation without removing the last-that is to
say in order to keep the boot or shoe in good form or draught the heel is attached
to the sole without removing the last upon which the lasting and rivetting operations
have been performed, but we remove the boot or shoe (having the last within it) to an
attaching plate such as is shown at Figs. 6 to 10 capable of being adjusted to various
sizes of boots and shoes, which is constructed as follows:-
On a plate E are cast or fixed the flanges e e¹, the bearings e² e³, and bridge piece e*.
In the plate may also be cast or formed recesses ees for the parts to be hereafter
described. On the plate E are mounted so as to slide within the flanges et e¹ the
sliding plates F and Ĝ arranged and shaped respectively to fit the rear and breast of
the heel, that is to say, plate F is made or shaped to fit the outer contour of the rear
of the heel and works within the flanges e above the plate G which is made
wedged shaped in a longitudinal direction and armed at one end with a transverse lip
or ledge g
which projects upwards and is also made to fit the breast of the heel for
pressing it against the shaped or concave portion of plate F. These plates are shown
in the drawings capable of adjustment by means of the screws H and I (provided
with hand wheels and i) working in the nuts and ¹ which slide in the recess e.
Screw His mounted in bearing and works in nut . Through the centre of the
screw is passed the screw I to the nut i¹. On each screw is also mounted a collar h², 12,
working respectively in the recess e in bearing e³, and against the end of screw H.
Each collar is provided with a set screw or pin which passes into a groove turned in
the screw to retain it in the position shown in the drawings, but capable of being
rotated by its hand wheel. At one end of the plate is mounted and hinged to the
bridge e a pair of jaws J to form a guard, for the back or heel portion of the boot or
shoe. The jaws are so mounted on the pin j as to permit of the plates F and G
sliding under them, but at the same time to be capable of adjustment to the varying
sizes of boots and shoes by means of the screws j' mounted in the bearings formed in
the brackets es es cast on or attached to the plate E. At the opposite or toe end of the
plate E is mounted so as to slide within the flanges ee a semicircular or other suitably
shaped guide K; in the drawings this guard is shown shaped somewhat similar to a
portion of the letter D. At or near the extre.nity of each end or horn k of the guide K
is cut or formed a recess into which is fitted so as to slide freely an adjusting or
sizing piece k armed with one or more round, square, or angular guide pins k³
(in the drawings two round pins are shown) which slide in holes provided in the
end k for their reception; said pieces k² being capable of adjustinent across the plate
by means of the set screws k. For the larger sizes of boots and shoes the pieces k²
will not pass out of the recesses k¹, but when they are projected therefrom for the
smaller sizes, the pieces k² are retained in a vertical position by means of the guide pins k³.
The guide K may be adjusted longitudinally by means of a screw 4 provided with a
hand wheel ke working in the bearing e² (which forms the nut), but when preferred
and room is a consideration more than one screw k may be employed and the
simultaneous action of the screws may be obtained by a suitable intermediate shaft and
gearing.

page_text: On the face of the plate E may be mounted the flat springs L which are fixed to the
plate at one end and supported at or near their centres by the supporting pieces
(working in the recesses e) which in turn are mounted on the ends of second springs./¹
fixed at their opposite ends in the recesses e formed for their reception in the bottom
or underside of plate E. Upon the springs L the sole of the boot or shoe rests and
they aid in holding it in position during the heel attaching operation, but they are
capable of receding on the attaching pressure being applied. The above described
stand and plate may be either mounted upon separate machines, as are shown in the
drawings (simply for convenience) or they may be mounted on a slide or slides or
revolving table either of which is customary in ordinary heeling machines capable of
being brought into position at pleasure under the pressing plunger B.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
"
After the heel has been placed between the above described adjustable sliding plates
with the projecting nails uppermost, the lasted and rivetted or sewn boot upper and
.sole (with the same last within the " upper on which the lasting and rivetting
operations have been performed) is then placed within the adjustable jaws J and
guard or guide K (both of which and the plates F and G are adjusted to the boot or
shoe operated upon) with sole downwards.
A bar or pin M (shewn at Figs. 11 and 12) provided with an enlarged head m and
at its opposite end with a rectangular tongue m' to fit the hole in the last) is then
placed in the last so as to project above the "upper" as shown at Fig. 1. The head m
of pin L receives the pressure from the adjustable reciprocating plunger B which
forces the last and sole down onto the seat of the heel, and in so doing forces the
nails or pins through the sole and clenches them on the inside thereof thus preventing
the heel from being wrenched off when in wear.
•
By the above described means the heels may be accurately attached in position, the
use of a separate set of attaching nails dispensed with, and the labour and expense of
removing the lasts after the rivetting operation has been performed is obviated, and
the boot or shoe kept in better form.
In conclusion we would have it understood we are aware that it has been proposed
to build, attach, and breast the heels of boots and shoes by placing the various lifts in
a recessed die or stand provided with an aperture for the waist of the boot and
mounting the boot (without the last upon which the lasting and rivetting operations
have been performed) with the sole downwards upon a jack hinged to the plunger
(directly over the die) of the heeling machine, but to such an arrangement we lay no
claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The manufacture and use of the heel attaching plate such as herein described in
which a heel built with nails protruding through its seat is held by moveable and
adjustable plates such as F and G whilst a boot or shoe held by jaws such as J and
guide such as K is forced by the heeling machine plunger on to the seat of the heel
for clenching or turning the points of the said nails within the boot or shoe sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In a heeling machine, the combination with a spring building stand and die,
of a perforated compressing block such as D as and for the purposes herein
described and set forthi.
3. In a heeling machine the mechanism or apparatus such as herein described
capable of adjustment to various sizes of boots and shoes for holding the heel
during the attaching operation consisting essentially of a flanged and recessed plate
such as E, adjustable plates such as F and G, jaws such as J, guide (and parts con-
nected therewith) such as K, adjusting screws such as H, I and k and springs L
and parts connected therewith, all operating together as and for the purposes herein
set forth.

page_text: 4. The combination with a heeling machine such as herein described, of a plate
such as E and parts connected therewith for holding the heel during the attaching
operation as and for the purposes herein before described and represented at Figs. 1,
6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The improved heel building and attaching machine herein before described and
represented respectively in figures 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of January 1890
THOMAS
BRINING.
GEORGE LISTER.
By W. Fairburn-Hart, Agent.