Improvements in Lasts or Trees for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1891
.
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lasts or Trees for Boots and Shoes.
I, HENRY TITTERTON BROCKWELL, of 47 Philbeach Gardens, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, to be as follows:-
Pneumatic lasts or trees for boots and shoes, as heretofore constructed, have
been ineffective owing to their not being capable of withstanding sufficient,
pressure to effectually distend the boot or shoe to which they were applied, the
tendency of the air pressure being to force the last or tree out of the boot
or shoe, on account of provision not having been made to resist this upward
tendency.
Now, my invention is designed to overcome this disadvantage, by so constructing
these lasts or trees that they shall be capable of withstanding considerable air
pressure without the tendency to leave the boot or shoe, and therefore be very
efficient for the purpose for which they are intended.
To this end, I provide the elastic tree or last, at its upper eud, or part, with a
cap or collar of such a shape that when placed in the boot or shoe, and this latter
be laced buttoned or fastened over it, the last or tree will be firmly retained therein
during and after inflation, and which inflation will give to the last or tree a
downward pressure.
This cap or collar may be made of metal, wood, or other suitable rigid material,
and it has an aperture through which extends a valve communicating with the
interior of the last or tree, and said last or tree is inflated with air by means of a
suitable pump; said valve and pump being, for instance, similar to those used with
pneumatic tyres.
The elastic portion of my improved last or tree, may be in the form of a sock,
but any other convenient form which will readily adapt itself to the internal shape
of the boot or shoe may be employed.
When not in use, this last or tree may be folded up so as to fit inside the cap or
collar, thereby occupying very little space and rendering it specially suitable for
travellers, and others, who could not conveniently carry, or employ, the ordinary
solid wooden lasts or trees owing to their great weight and bulk.
Dated this 9th day of July 1894
Improvements in Lasts or Trees for Boots and Shoes,
I, HENRY TITTERTON BROCKWELL, of 47 Philbeach Gardens, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
[Price 8d.]

page_text: described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
As heretofore constructed, pneumatic lasts or trees for boots and shoes have
been ineffective, owing to their not being able to withstand the pressure necessary
to properly distend the boot or shoe to which they were applied, the tendency of
the air pressure being to force the upper part of the last or tree out of the boot.
or shoe on account of no provision having been made to resist this upward
tendency.
Now my invention is designed to overcome this disadvantage, by so constructing
such lasts or trees that they shall be capable of withstanding a very considerable
air pressure without the tendency to leave the boot or shoe, and therefore be very
efficient for the purpose for which they are intended.
To this end, my improved pneumatic last or tree comprises two portions, viz: an
elastic air vessel or sock, and a suitably shaped metal or other cap adapted to fit
over such sock, and to be retained in the upper part of the boot or shoe by lacing,
or buttoning, the boot or shoe over it, or by otherwise securing it therein. This
cap serves to confine the elastic air vessel' or sock in the boot or shoe. The air
vessel or sock is provided, at its upper end, with an air-tube (furnished with a
valve) projecting through an aperture in the upper part of the cap.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will proceed to
describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 represents the hollow metal cap adapted to fit inside the boot or shoe and
to enclose the upper portion of the sock or air vessel..
Fig. 2. shews separately the elastic sock or air-vessel of the pneumatic last or
tree, and
Fig. 3'shews, in section, the improved pneumatic last or tree applied to a boot,
the latter being indicated by dotted lines..
Referring to the drawings, a is the elastic sock; a¹ is the air tube with which
this sock is provided at its upper end, and having a non-return valve similar to
those used with pneumatic tyres, and to which a small air pump, such as used by
cyclists, can be applied for the purpose of inflation. a' is a nut on the said tube
which may be screwed down on to the cap, as shown in Fig. 3, to keep the sock
and cap in contact. is the hollow metal cap in which is an aperture ¹ to allow
passage to the air tube, when the said sock and cap are combined.
This cap
of
such a shape that when it is placed in the boot or shoe, and the latter laced,
buttoned, or otherwise fastened over it, the last or tree will be firmly retained
therein during and after inflation.
The improved last, when inflated, serves to restore the boot or shoe to its original
form and does not splay or widen it, as the pressure of the air forces the front or
toe portion of the boot or shoe upwards, and thereby removes creases or wrinkles,
thus improving the shape of such boot or shoe.
The metal caps, when not in use, may be packed one inside the other; and the
socks be folded up and placed inside the inner cap, thus rendering my improve.l
lasts or trees very convenient for travellers and others, who could not readily
employ the ordinary solid wooden, lasts or trees owing to their great weight an
bulk. The said caps may, however, be made of any other suitable material.
In applying my improved lasts or trees to riding boots, cavalry boots, and the
like, which have neither laces nor buttons, the caps, which are also suitably shape.l
to fit the leg of the boot, may be maintained in position during and after inflation
by a strap (or other fastening) passing under the waist or shank of the boot.
At places where it is not necessary to exert pressure against the boot, as for
instance inside the cap, the elastic portion) or sock. of the last orr tree. may be,
covered with canvas, or other strong material which will resist the air pressure
and so direct the air towards the toe or front portion, or to such portions of the
boot or shoe where it is more especially required.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I déclare that what [
claim is :
1. A pneumatic last or tree for boots and shoes having a metal or other cap
which serves to confine the inflated elastic portion or sock in the boot or shoe,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a pneumatic last or tree for boots and shoes, the combination with an elastic
sock or air-vessel, of a hollow metal cap perforated for the passage of the air-
tube, and adapted to fit in the boot or shoe so as to enclose the upper part of
such sock and prevent it, when inflated, being forced out of the boot or shoe,
substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
3. My improved pneumatic last or tree for boots and shoes, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this on day of April 1999.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.