IMPROVEMENTS IN JACKS FOR SUPPORTING BOOTS OR SHOES IN BURNISHING OR OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JACKS FOR SUPPORTING BOOTS OR SHOES
IN BURNISHING OR OTHER MACHINES " 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 Jacks for holding and supporting boots and shoes while
the edges of their soles are being burnished, and the invention consists in the novel
construction and arrangement of parts of the Jack all substantially as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawing Figures 1 and 2 are side views at right angles to
each other of a Jack constructed and arranged for operation according to this
invention.
Figure 3, is a plan view and
Figure 4, is a side view of a detail.
A represents a stand or support for the working and other parts of the Jack..
On the upper end of an arm B of the stand A is a horizontal sleeve C, in which
a rod D is arranged so as to freely slide backward and forward, and to be held'
from movement when desired by a set screw E in the sleeve C.
On the end a, of the rod D, is a head piece F arranged to swivel or rotate on
said rod and having its outer end b concave as shown in figure 3. Attached to the
head piece F is an arm G in two parts H and L, the part H extending from said
head piece toward the arm B and then in a downward direction, on which down-
wardly extending portion is attached the part L by a set screw d, said part L being
bent substantially as shown for its end f to be below or opposite to the head piece F,.
as shown more particularly in figure 1, such end being adapted to fit in a suitable
socket in the last, in the boot or shoe being operated upon.
The set screw d passes through a longitudinal slot g in the part L and screws into
part H by which arrangement the part L can slide on the part H and be adjusted

page_text: as to its distance from the head piece F', as desired, and held to such adjustment by
screwing up said set screw.
A pin w secured to the part H and projecting into the slot g, prevents lateral
movement of the part L on the part H, but allows free movement of the same for
its adjustment as described.
J is a lever pivoted at / to an arm of the stand, its upper arm M at its end
being round in cross section and projecting toward, opposite to, and in a line.
coincident with, the central longitudinal line of rod D.
The boot or shoe which is to have its sole edge burnished is placed with its toe
portion against the hollow face b of the head piece F (said face b corresponding
substantially in its concave line with the last in the shoe and to the outline of the
upper of the boot or shoe at its toe) and the end of the arm G is inserted in a
hole in the last in the said boot or shoe, the rod D having been adjusted as to the
projection of its end a from the sleeve C for the boot or shoe, when held against
its head piece F, to be in proper position to be so held and to be operated upon by
the burnishing tool. The lever J is then swung so that the end of its arin M
will abut against the treading surface of the sole of the boot, and is held firmly
in such position, thus securely holding the boot while being operated upon, all as
shown in Figure 1, the boot being in dotted lines.
To operate the lever and hold it in such position, the lower arm N lias a loop O
made of leather, or other suitable material attached to its end m, in which loop the
operator places his right foot and pressing his toe against the right side of the
pin n attached to the floor or stand and which serves as a fulcrum, swings his foot
to the right, carrying with it the arm N of lever J and consequently moving the
end of the upper arm M against the boot, as described, which is thus held firmly
in its position.
When so held, to burnish the sole edges with the burnishing tool, as shown in
figure 1, or with any other suitable burnishing tool, the boot is grasped at its back
or heel portion with the left band, and with the tool P in the right hand (its
burnishing edge o being revolved in any suitable manner, not deemed necessary to
be described herein,) the boot is turned by the head piece F swivelling on the
rod D, and the burnisher tool passed over the edge of the boot sole as is usual in
burnishing the soles of boots and shoes.
The loop of the lever J is for the right foot of the operator when sitting
down to his work, but when the operator stands, it is more convenient for him to
use his left foot, and for such purpose a loop R is provided attached to the arm N,
by an extension S, and operated by putting the left foot therein and bearing by
the toe against a pint of the floor or stand, as a fulcrum, in a similar manner to
operating the lever by the loop O.
In lieu of the loop R an arm T hung to the end m of the arm N by a link u can
be used, as shown in figure 4, the foot in such case pushing against the end v of
said arm T.
For convenience in handling the lever J a knob or handle U is provided.
The arm G can be in one piece, but it is preferable to have it in two parts,
as shown connected by a slot and set screw, whereby it is adjustable and can
accommodate itself to the different sizes of boots and shoes.
Securing a boot or shoe to a Jack as described and shown has many advantages,
the boot can be easily quickly and conveniently attached, and when attached, as the
centre on which the boot is turned on the Jack when burnishing the sole edge is
substantially the centre of the periphery or edge of the toe of the boot, the burnisher
as it is moved around the edge of the sole in burnishing it, operates or travels
substantially in the same horizontal plane for the whole edge of the sole, which
would not be the case if the centre of rotation was near the heel as heretofore.
It is obvious therefore that the improved machine is much easier to operate and
more convenient for the operator than those heretofore constructed.
The rod D can, if desired, be made stationary and not slide in the sleeve, and in
such case different sizes or lengths of head pieces F could be used to accommodate

page_text: the different sizes of boots or shoes; also the jack is applicable to hold boots or
shoes for burnishing the heels of the same or for trimming the soles and heels
thereof.
Obviously if desired a boot or shoe can be secured to the jack herein described
at other parts of the boot than particularly at or near the toe as described but it is
preferable to secure it at or near the toe as described for the reasons stated.
Also the abutment n or t can be dispensed with, the lever J being held by the
pressure exerted by the foot when placed in the loop, but it is preferable to use
the abutments as is obvious.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. A jack for boots and shoes having an arm D arranged on a stand A, and
a lever J having an arm M pivotted to said stand, said arms being adapted to
hold between them the boot or shoe at or near its toe for the rotation of the same in
the operation of the burnisher or other tool.
Second. In a jack for boots and shoes, an arm D arranged on a stand and
carrying a head piece F having an arm G and swivelling on said arm D, in com-
bination with the arm M, of the lever J, which is pivotted to said stand and
operated by its arm N, the said arms M and D being adapted to hold between
them the boot or shoe, at or near its toe, for the rotation of the same, in the
operation of the burnisher or other tool.
Third. In a jack for boots and shoes, a rod D supported on a stand and carrying a
head piece F arranged to swivel thereon and provided with an adjustable arm G
arranged to be fixed at its place of adjustment, in combination with means for
holding the boot or shoe against and on said head piece and its arm, substantially
as, and for the purpose, described.
Fourth. In a jack for boots and shoes, constructed substantially as described, 'a
lever pivotted to the stand and arranged to hold the boot or shoe against a support
on said jack and to be operated by loops O or R in combination with an abutment n
or t substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1985
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.