Year: 1897

page_text: I, JULES LECLERCQ, of Tubize, Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is a last which serves to lengthen and widen
boots and shoes.
This instrument is composed of a last having the general aspect of ordinary lasts
and divided into three principal parts which are:-
The fore-part divided longitudinally into two parts joined at the middle by
means of hinges and having a hollow at the middle whose lateral faces are formed
of inclined planes.
The middle part provided with two horizontal racks penetrating into the hind
part of the last and gearing with two horizontal pinions.
Finally, the hind part provided with two horizontal superposed plates which
hold the two pinions and between which is jointed a rod, by one of its extremities
and which penetrates into the hollow of the fore-part of the last with its other
extremity on which is screwed a ball.
The two pinions work together and one of them is wedged to the lower part of a
rod provided at its upper extremity with a handle and on which is fixed, outside
of the last, a ratchet wheel held by a spring or a catch fixed to the last.
The working of this instrument is very simple; when we turn the vertical rod,
by means of the handle, the two pinions rotate and by the action of their teeth
upon the rack which is fixed, they move the hind part of the last backward which
produces a lengthening of the boot. At the same time the horizontal rod terminat-
ing with a ball is also moved backward and by the action of the ball upon the
inclined planes of the cavity, opens the two pieces of the fore-part of the last and
produces a widening of the boot.
The instrument is held in this position by the spring or stop catch which must be
removed in order to put each part of the last together in its initial position or to
draw the last out of the boot or shoe.
If we wish to lengthen the boot or shoe without widening it, it suffices only to
unscrew the ball which is fixed to the end of the horizontal rod.

page_text: I, JULES LECLERCQ, of Tubize, Belgium, Manufacturer, 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 relates to lasts designed for lengthening and widening
boots and shoes.
In the annexed drawing are given, as examples, two practical forms embodying
my invention.
In this drawing:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a rack-last.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line E F of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modified, last with bevel gearing.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of same.
The last shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of three principal parts: The fore-
part MM longitudinally, divided into two-parts Mand M" hinged on the medial
part E'; the adjacent faces 01 011 of these parts M, M are hollowed out to form
a cavity on the walls of which slides the ball G. The medial part E¹ is provided
at the rear part thereof' with two horizontal' racks FF, extending into the back-
part N of the last and meshing with two pinions B₁, C₁ (Fig. 2).
The back-part N of the last is provided inside with two horizontal plates P1,
holding the said toothed pinions B, C, and between which is secured a rod Di
extending into the cavity of the fore-part of the last and on. the end of which is
screwed a ball G¹.
The two pinions B', C¹, mesh with one another and the pinion B is wedged on
the lower part of a vertical rod A', provided with a handle at the upper end, and
to which is secured, outside the last, a ratchet wheel R2 engaging with a stop-
spring S or a pawl secured to the last.
The operation of this apparatus is very simple. By causing the vertical. rod A'
to turn by operating the handle thereof, the two toothed, pinions B¹, C¹ will also
rotate and, meshing with the teeth of the stationary racks F1 F1, these pinions cause
the heel or back-part to move backward, thus producing the lengthening of the
boot. At the same time, the horizontal rod D terminated by the ball G¹ also
moves backward and, by the action of the said ball upon the curved walls of the
said cavity, causes the two parts MI, M" to open, thus producing the widening
of the boot. The apparatus is held in operative position by the spring S³, which
is withdrawn from the ratchet wheel R2 to bring all the parts back to their initial
position and to withdraw the last from the boot.
If we desire to lengthen the boot without widening the same, it will be sufficient
to unscrew the ball G¹:
The last shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is composed of a back or heel-part N and of a
fore-part formed of two members M and M, articulated on a nut E, and the free
ends of which are controlled by a spiral-spring H. The nut E¹ secured to the fore-
part of the last, is traversed by a threaded rod D1, supported in the front-wall of
the back-part N and held by a plate R preventing the said rod D¹ from moving
longitudinally. The said rod D¹ is provided, at the fore-part thereof, with a head-
guide G¹ upon which slide the convergent lugs 01 and 0" formed within, the
parts M and M", said rod being moved by a bevel wheel C¹ at the back end
thereof, and said wheel meshing with another bevel-gear-wheel B' secured to a
vertical rod A¹, arranged at the back-part of the last and provided with a:handle at
the upper end. This rod A¹ carries outside the last, a ratchet wheel secured
thereto by a pin and engaging with a spring secured to the back part N¹, the object

page_text: of said spring being to prevent the wheel R2 and consequently the vertical rod A¹
from revolving. (The ratchet wheel and the spring are not shown in the drawing,
Figs. 3 & 4.)
The back-part N has two longitudinal holes P in which slide the rods F¹ articu-
lated to the nut E', to guide the said nut as well as the whole fore-part of the
last.
By causing the rod A' to turn in a given direction, the wheel B' actuates the
wheel C and causes the rod D¹ to turn in the nut E¹; the rod D¹ being prevented
from moving longitudinally, the nut E¹ advances, drawing with it the parts M¹
and M" and producing the lengthening of the last; at the same time, the lugs 01
and O sliding on the head-guide G, are obliged to diverge and produce the
widening of the last and consequently of the boot. The last is held in this position
by the ratchet wheel and the spring preventing the said ratchet wheel from turn-
ing. If the boot is to be lengthened without widening it, it will suffice to remove
the head-guide G¹ by unscrewing the nut holding the same at the end of the
rod D¹.
By turning the rod A¹ in an opposite direction to the preceding one, after having
disengaged the spring, the two parts: the fore-part and the back-part of the last
approach each other, and the parts M¹ and M are brought together by the
spring H.
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:
1) A last for stretching boots and shoes, characterised by a fore-part M, M",
the adjacent faces 0 and 0" of the members M and M of said fore-part being
hollowed or depressed to form a cavity, and said members M and M" being hinged_
on a medial part E, provided with two horizontal racks F1, F meshing with two
toothed pinions B, C, said pinions being held by two horizontal plates P¹ belong-
ing to the back-part N of the last and between which is secured a rod 11 ter-
minated by a ball G, another characteristic feature of said last being a vertical
rod A provided with a handle at the upper end thereof and to which are secured
the toothed pinion B and the ratchet wheel R2, engaging with a stop-spring or
a pawl secured to the last, all substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
2) A modification of the shoe last claimed in 1) characterised by a fore-part
composed of two parts M and M controlled by a spiral spring thereon and each
provided inside with a lug sliding upon a head-guide arranged at the end of a
threaded rod D¹ turning in a longitudinally movable nut E', on which are hinged
the two articulated parts of the fore-part of the last, and also two guiding-rods F1
sliding within two holes, made in the back-part of the last, provided with a vertical
rod having a handle at its upper end, and to the lower end of which is secured a
bevel gear-wheel meshing with another bevel wheel wedged on the rear end of
the said threaded rod, held by the back-part of the last and by a plate secured to
said back-part, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of April 1898.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant, 8, Rue des Princes, Brussels, Belgium.