Improvements in Trees for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trees for Boots and Shoes.
We HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS and ALFRED LEWIS, both of Kettering in the
County of Northampton, Boot Last Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has reference to trees for boots and shoes, and relates
more particularly to those that are used in factories in the treeing, shaping, and
polishing operations, just before the boots are sent out ready for sale.
As an operator has many pairs of boots or shoes through bis hands in a single
day, each of which he has to put upon the trees and remove therefrom after
treatment, it is of great importance that he should be able to put the boots and
and off the trees easily and quickly, and without straining the boot.
The object of our invention is to construct the feet of the trees so as to facilitate
the application and removal of the boots and shoes, thereby increasing the daily
output in the hands of a single operator, who, when aided by our invention, need
not have acquired that knack which the best and quickest operator: now appear
to possess.
In carrying out our invention, we propose to joint the tree at the toe, so as to
permit it to turn up like the toes of the human foot, when the boot is being applied
or removed. This bending of the foot in an upward direction will be found to
greatly facilitate the application and removal of the boot, so that it can be readily
accomplished by any ordinary unskilled hand.
The joints which we propose to employ may be various, but they will yield only
in an upward direction, and will present no line of projection on the surface of the
tree, likely to cause a crease in the "upper" of the boot being polished or
sleeked.
By preference, the hinged toe is somewhat loosely shackled to the main part of
the tree, so that it can move bodily away therefrom, when the joint works, and
take its place again, so that the parts fit closely and solidly together, and present
an even contour, as desired.
Dated this 27th day of May 1896.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
We HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS and ALFRED LEWIS, both of Kettering in the
County of Northampton, Boot Last Manufacturers, 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:-
The present invention has reference to trees for boots and shoes, and relates

page_text: more particularly to those that are used in factories, in the treeing, shaping, and
polishing operations, just before the boots are sent out ready for sale.
As an operator has many pairs of boots or shoes through his hands in a single
day, each of which he has to put upon the trees and remove therefrom after
treatment, it is of great importance that he should be able to put the boots on and
off the trees easily and quickly without straining the boot.
With the ordinary tree, having the usual rigid fore part, there is considerable
resistance during insertion and removal, by reason of the point of the toe hearing
heavily upon the bottom or insole of the boot being treed. In overcoming this
resistance, much skill, and more or less force, has to be employed, which sometimes
rucks up the sock and strains the boots.
The object of our invention is to construct the feet of the trees so as to facilitate
the application and removal of the boots and shoes, thereby increasing the daily
output in the hands of a single operator, who, when aided by our invention, need
not have acquired that knack which the best and quickest operators now appear to
possess, and without which, the application and removal of the boot is exceedingly
difficult.
In carrying out our invention we propose to joint the tree at the toc, so as to
permit it to turn up like the toes of the human foot, when the boot is being applied
or removed. This bending of the foot in an upward direction will be found to
greatly facilitate the application and removal of the boot, so that it can be readily
accomplished by any ordinary unskilled hand.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 shows in side view a tree-foot embodying our present invention.
Figs. 2 and 3. are detached plan and end views of a preferred form of joint in an
open position; and
Fig. 4 is an end view of the same joint closed.
It will be seen that the toe part a of the tree is joiuted to the after part 6 in
such a way that it can be bent upward into the drawn position.
The normal position of the parts is that shown by the dotted lines, and the bent
position is that assumed during the insertion of the tree into the boot, or its
removal therefrom. If desired, a spring or springs may be provided, as shown
in the drawing, to impart a tendency to the toe part to resume, after bending, the
normal or dotted position.
The joint which we have selected for illustration, comprises a pair of metal
plates, preferably malleable cast iron.
c is one plate, screwed to the toe part a of the tree, and carrying curved arms or
projections el d is the other plate, screwed to the part of the tree, having
holes to receive the arms c¹.
Before fixing the plates in position in the tree, they are fitted together by
passing the arms through the holes in the plate d, and securing them by pins e
passed transversely through the ends of the said arms. When fixed in position,
the connected plates c, d, shackle together the parts a, b of the tree, and form a
joint which permits the parts to lie closely together, as seen in the dotted position
of Fig. 1 (the arms ein that case projecting into a space prepared in the tree at
the back of the plate d), or allows the parts a, b to be drawn asunder and bent into
the position shown in full lines on the same figure.
Other forms of joint may be used, if desired; that shown and described is,
however, ou account of the peculiar freedom of movement given to the toe part,
and because of its cheapness and simplicity the one we consider preferable for
common use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A tree for boots and shoes provided at the toe with a joint as described, for

page_text: enabling the foot to bend upwardly, for facilitating the application and removal of
the boot, as set forth.
2. In toe-jointed trees for boots and shoes, the hinge or shackling device above
described, consisting of plates secured to the divided portions of the tree, and
connected together by curved arms, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st der of December 1896
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.