A Combined Boot and Shoe Scraper and Oleaner.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Boot and Shoe Scraper and Oleaner.
I, HARRY WEAVING of Twyning Farm, Tewkesbury, in the County of Gloucester,
Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
This invention has for its object, a combined scraper and automatic brusher or
means, for removing dirt principally from the undersides, and edges of the soles and
heels of boots and shoes. Thus, the act of drawing the foot upon, or across. the
scraper, causes the brushes, which are situated at right angles to it, to approach each
other, and so present themselves to the edges of the soles and heels, and also to the
sides of a boot or shoe; so that by one operation, dirt is removed from the
undersides, and also from the sides, or sole or heel edges of a boot or shoe as
aforesaid.
My invention consists primarily in mounting and supporting a loose and vertically
working scraper upon the top inner ends of brush or dirt removing arms or levers,
which when non-acting, are counterpoised so as to take the scraper to its highest and
normal position.
According to my invention, the scraper which consists of a flat plate and
shouldered top part, works vertically through a carrying or supporting frame,
through the slotted ends of which, brush-carrying arms work, and to the summits of
which, brushes are fixedly connected.
The lower ends of the brush arms or levers, are cranked inwards to an acute angle,
and with the top side edges of the said inwardly directed angle parts, coming upon
the underside edge of the scraper.
It will be thus seen that the weight of the arms, which are jointed through the
middles of the cranked parts of the framing, or the legs thereof, are sufficiently
heavy to keep the plate normally in its highest and raised position.
The act of placing a foot upon the scraper top edge, which is bevelled to an angle,
forces the scraper downwards, which presses upon the cranked ends, and turns the
brush-carrying arms and brushes inwards upon the boot sides and sole edges; so
that by drawing the said boot or foot across or over the scraper, the brushes being
brought in contact with the sides and sole edges, all dirt from them and the bottom
of the boot, are removed at the same time, and by one operation.
It may be observed that the forcing down of the scraper by the pressure of the
foot, causes the shoulders near its top to rest upon the bed of the framing.
On removing the foot from the scraper, the brushes recede from each other, and
the scraper rises, and thus assume their normal positions.
Instead of employing brushes or bristles mounted within frames or holders, I may
employ rubber strips, placed edgeways, and which act as dirt removers alike unto
scrapers.
By employing means as described for removing dirt from boots and shoes, the use
of ordinary mats for wiping the feet, are or may be, dispensed with.
Although I have described that the arms or levers come under the scraper lower
edge, yet I wish it to be understood, that they may be jointedly connected to the
scraper in manner that the side brushes or scrapers shall be worked by the downward
movement of the scraper alone.
HARRY WEAVING.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Boot and Shoe Scraper and Cleaner.
I, HARRY WEAVING, of Twyning Farm, Tewkesbury, in the County of Gloucester,
Farmer, 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 has for its object, a combined scraper and automatic means,
for removing dirt, principally from the edges of the soles. and heels of boots and
shoes.
The act of placing and drawing the foot upon a part constituting the scraper,
causes the brushes which are disposed at its ends to approach each other, and
come upon the edges of the soles, heels, and sides of a boot or shoe being
scraped.
According to my invention, the scraper, which consists of a flat plate, and
shouldered top part, works vertically through a carrying or supporting frame, through
the slotted ends of which, brush carrying arms work, and to the summits of which
arms, brushes are carried.
The lower ends of the brush arms or levers are cranked inwards to an acute
angle, and with the top side edges of them coming on the under edge of the
scraper.
It will be thus seen, that the weight of the jointed arms are sufficiently heavy to
keep the plate normally in its highest and raised position.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents partly in longitudinal vertical
section, and partly in elevation, a combined boot and shoe scraper and cleaner, con-
structed and arranged according to my invention. The scraper and brushes, which
constitute the cleaner or cleaners, are shown in the positions which they normally
assume, when the scraper is not in use.
Figure 2 represents a like view as figure 1, but with the scraper depressed, and the
brush cleaners, brought into position upon the sides of a boot or shoe.
Thus it will be observed that on a boot or shoe being placed upon, or drawn
across, a scraper, the said scraper descends, and causes the brush cleaners to be
brought inwards.
Figure 3 represents a top side plan of the said combined scraper and cleaner.
a is a stationary base or frame, with a slotted top a², through the middle, or the
middle slot a³, of which, a loose rising and falling scraper, b, works, and with the
underside of which, supported by arms c², of brush cleaning levers c, fulcrumed, or
turning about fulcrum pins c³, as centres, which are supported by hanging brackets a*,
depending from the underside of the framing a.
The upper ends c₁, of the levers c, work within open slots or gaps a³, in the
top side a² of the base framing a, whilst the said ends, carry brush boxes c,
wherein the bodies d of ordinary brushes d, are placed-(see the left hand lever
figure 2).
The brush is introduced from the back of the back of the box (which is removable,)
and affixed in position by small screws c.
The arms c², are troughed on their undersides, for embracing the blade or lower
part 63, of the scraper, which has a longitudinal gap 68, made through it, where-
through a limiting pin e, passes, for preventing the said scraper from being
withdrawn.
The levers c are preferably counterpoised or counterbalanced, in manner, sufficient
to raise the scraper, after each scraping.
The rears of the levers, have roller stops c, upon which they rest, and further,
instead of making the levers themselves counterpoise the scraper, supplementary
weights may be attached to them.
Instead of the brush cleaners being carried at the upper extremities of the bell-
crank-levers as described, they may be made to slide within grooves, or upon the

page_text: scraper base, and further, instead of counterpoising the levers, for the taking back
of the scraper to its normal position, springs may be employed.
OPERATION.
and
The act of placing the foot upon the scraper, forces the same downwards, turns the
bell-crank levers upon their joint-centres, and presses inwards the brushes at their
upper extremities, so that on a boot or shoe being drawn across the
scraper,
pressure applied at the same time, the sole thereof is scraped, and accumulated dirt on
the sides of both sole and sides of boot or shoe, removed by the brushes, which are
brought in contact or pressed up to the said parts.
On removing the foot from the scraper, the scraper and brushes resume their normal
positions.
Instead of employing brushes, rubber strips may be placed edgewise, in their stead,
which form side scrapers.
In employing means as described, for removing dirt from boots and shoes, the use
of ordinary mats, are wholly or partially dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First: A combined boot or shoe dirt scraper and cleaner as set forth.
Secondly-Operating brush or other like cleaners, by the act of scraping or
placing the foot upon the scraper as set forth.
Thirdly-A combined scraper and cleaner, consisting of a rising and falling scraper
part, of the one part, and counterpoised levers or bell crank levers, with brushes or
dirt removers, of the other part, and which said parts, are constructed, arranged, and
work, substantially as described and set forth.
as
Fourthly-The combination with combined scrapers and dirt removers
described, of levers, with box ends, wherein ordinary brushes, admit of being fitted,
as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of March 1890.
HARRY WEAVING.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.