IMPROVEMENTS IN TREES OR HOLDERS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
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 TREES OR HOLDERS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES"
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 boot or shoe trees or holders and consists in so
constructing and arranging the body of a tree or holder that it can be expanded,
at or near its bottom, in a lateral direction or across its width to accommodate the
tree to various sizes or widths of backs and feet to be attached thereto, and yet
present a smooth and continuous outer surface at its sides, so that a greater or less
number of different sizes or widths of boots and shoes can be placed on the same
body portion of the tree and operate thereon, all substantially as hereinafter fully
described..
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boot or shoe tree constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 a rear view in elevation with the back removed, showing the sides
in their normal position and set for the narrowest width of boot for which the tree
is adapted.
Figure 3, is a view of the lower portion of figure 2, showing the sides as
expanded.
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Figures 4, and 5, are views of the under side; figure 4, showing the sides as
closed, and similar to figure 2, and figure 5, as expanded, as shown in figure 3.
Figures 6, and 7 are sectional views of details drawn to an enlarged scale and
hereinafter referred to.
A is the body of a boot or shoe tree provided with a journal B at its upper end
on which the boot or shoe tree is supported and rotated in operation.
C. is the foot, D the back, and E the centre rod having an eye F, all the said
parts being constructed and arranged to be secured together for operation as
[Price 6d1

page_text: usual in boot or shoe trees except as to this invention, and needing no particular
description herein.
The foot C is attached to the body portion by a dove-tail joint G, and when in
position, is secured thereto in any suitable manner.
The body A is preferably made of iron, although it can be made of any suitable
material, and on each side is secured by screws a, a strip H of brass or other
suitable material. These strips project, by their edges b, back from the body A,
forming a recess or space J between them, in which space the back D, is adapted to
be placed and to closely fit, being secured therein in any suitable and well known
manner.
These strips H extend, as shown, nearly to the bottom of the tree, and are
connected by screws ḍ, at their lower portions, each to a separate part K of the
body A, fitting in a proper recess L of the body. When in place therein the said
strips form a continuation of the body and correspond with their outline or outer
surface to the proper configuration of the boot tree at the foot.
The parts K fit at their upper ends by a bevel joint f to the body, which allows
them to be pressed outward at their lower ends from the main body, their strips H
at or near such joint bending or springing sufficiently for the purpose.
Each of the parts K, at its lower end, has a vertical groove g fitting over a
tongue on the body portion, which tongues and grooves serve as guides in the
movements of the parts K and prevent sidewise movement of the same.
By placing the back D between the strips H, and pressing it to its seat, if its
bottom portion is wider than the space at and between the portions K, it will
force out the latter correspondingly.
This expansion of the sides of the body portion as described allows for various
widths of heel or back pieces D to be attached to it, as well as different widths of
feet C within given limits, and yet present a smooth and suitable continuous outer
surface at the sides of the boot or shoe tree to suit the various widths of boots
and shoes.
The strips H. are preferably made of spring metal, so that they will bear closely
against the back when inserted between them, whether a narrow or wide one, and
thus hold the portions K in position for the proper operation of the boot tree.
In figure 4, is shown a plan view of the bottom of the boot or shoe tree with its
back of the least width for which the tree is adapted, and figure 5 is a similar view
showing the tree expanded to its full width with a corresponding back and foot
piece. As will be seen in each case, the sides m of the tree are continuous and
smooth and suitable for proper operation on the various widths and sizes of
boots for which the tree is adapted.
Figure 6, is a sectional view similar to figure 3 and drawn to an enlarged scale
showing the joint f, which is bevelled as at n, with a corresponding bevel q on the
upper end of the part K, whereby the strip H is relieved from any outward strain.
In figure 7, which is a similar section to figure 6, the part K is shown as being
hinged to the body A, so as to swing on its pivot r.
The sides of the tree can be expanded by any suitable means and the back then
inserted, but the means described are the most practical and convenient, and it is
not intended to limit the invention to the particular manner herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First: A boot or shoe tree having its body portion formed with separable side
pieces to admit of lateral expansion and contraction, in combination with detachable
back and foot pieces for adapting the tree for different sized boots or shoes,
substantially as described.
Second: A boot or shoe tree having portions K of the sides of its body portion A
separate and connected to the body portion by spring pieces H, substantially as,
and for the purpose, specified,

page_text: Third: A boot or shoe tree having portions K of the sides of the body portion
separate and attached to it by spring pieces H, and each having a groove g for
a tongue h on the portion A, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fourth: A boot or shoe tree having portions K of the sides of the body portion
separate and attached to it by spring pieces H, in combination with the back D,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth: A boot or shoe tree having portions K of the sides of the body portion
separate and attached to it by spring pieces H, and a joint f, substantially as, and
for the purpose, specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.