Improvements in "Jacks" or Apparatus for Applying Slugs and Nails to Heels of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application. 30th Aug.. 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1893 -Accepted, 27th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1893 -Accepted, 27th May, 1899
Improvements in "Jacks" or Apparatus for Applying Slugs and
Nails to Heels of Boots and Shoes.
A communication from abroad by MCKAY SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of
76, Lincoln Street, Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of
America.
1, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Boots and shoes having spring or other heels to be slugged or nailed come to
the slugging or nailing machine on a last, and the holes in the last are frequently
considerably worn or enlarged, and sometimes they are not bored true, and conse-
quently when such a last is put on a stationary upright pin of a jack, the heel to
be slugged cannot be kept in proper relation to the nose or presser plate to ensure
the correct driving of the slugs.
This invention relates to a jack having a last pin supported in such manner
that it may readily adapt itself to any hole in any last whether more or less worn,
and yet enable the last to be tipped preparatory to driving a slug so that the
slug may be driven at the desired angle.
The jack constituting this invention contains a rising and falling spring con-
trolled shank, which sustains, through intermediate devices a last pin which is
free to tip more or less, as required, after the last has been applied to it, the tipping
of the pin being controlled by the pressure of the usual nose or foot plate of the
nailing or slugging machine on the bottom of the last, and during the nailing
operation the last pin is locked and held absolutely stationary.
The last pin herein to be described is mounted loosely in a ball or sphere seated
in a curb. The lower end of the pin has cooperating with it a toothed slide which
is adapted to be moved in a space between a toothed locking plate and a toothed
plate, the pressure of the usual nose or foot plate of the nailing machine on the sole
of the shoe on the last, depressing the last, its pin, and the curb. which causes the
locking plate to engage the toothed slide and retain the last holding pin in fixed
position while each slug is being driven.
The usual nose or foot plate of a nailing machine is provided, and a hole therein
through which the nail is driven into the spring or other heel. A split sleeve is
adapted to be clamped by a suitable screw upon the upper end of the rod or post of
any usual horn of any usual slugging or nailing machine.
This plate is fixed to or forms part of the upper end of the sleeve and has two
stops.
A swing plate rests on the plate and said swing plate has a projection which
is slotted to receive a screw extended into the plate, said screw acting as a guide for
and permitting the swing plate to slide back and forth on the plate and swing to and
fro between the slots.

page_text: The swing plate has rising from it a tubular hub which is surrounded by a
pring
Th ubular hub receives in it the shank of a plate having an attached curb which
y be truncated at its upper end and provided with a spherical seat, the curb
being connected to said plate by a screw.
The lower end of the shank has connected to it by a set screw, a washer or upstop
said washer being normally kept against a shoulder at the interior of said hub by
means of the spring.
The curb just above the plate receives in it loosely a toothed locking plate.
This locking plate has a series of parallel teeth or corrugations, and it has a notch
in which enters a pin or retaining device carried by the curb, said pin restraining
the rotation of the locking plate but permitting the curb to descend as the spring
is compressed, the curb descending, however, without depressing the toothed
locking plate for the reason that said plate rests at such times upon the upper
end of a stud supported by the hub and extending loosely through a hole in
the plate.
Two or more such studs may evenly support the locking plate.
The curb has fixed to it by a suitable set screw, a toothed plate, said plate
having a notch which receives in it a lug or projection of a spring, the latter being
thus retained in fixed position with relation to said fixed toothed plate.
The teeth of the toothed plate stand preferably substantially at right angles
to the direction of the run of the teeth of the locking plate, the teeth on the locking
plate being at its upper side. Between the toothed locking plate and the toothed
plate is a slide plate. This slide plate has a central stud, and both of its faces are
toothed so that the teeth on one side run in a direction substantially at right angles
to the teeth at the other side, such teeth properly engaging the teeth of both the
toothed locking plate and the toothed plate.
The edge of the slide plate is embraced by the spring which holds it in correct
position.
The last holding pin has a connected flange which runs on the secant face of a
sphere, seated in a concaved part of the curb, and said sphere may have a
depending threaded sleeve or foot on which is screwed a nut having a concaved
upper side to fit the convex under side of the seat, said nut keeping the sphere
down in the seat.
The lower end of the last holding pin, inserted loosely through the sphere, is
slotted to embrace the central stud of the slide plate, and said last holding pin is
free to turn, if desired, in the sphere, and the sphere with the pin is free to tip in
any direction laterally, that depending upon the action of the underside of the nose
plate on the heel to be slugged.
The partial ball or sphere is provided with an internal groove within which
is placed a spring clip, and the shank of the pin is provided with an annular
groove, said spring clip while resting on the groove entering also partially the
annular groove of the pin, so that said pin is maintained by said spring
clip.
Supposing the parts to be in the position such that the spring is in the act of
lifting the curb, and the parts in the position they will occupy when work is not
being done on the jack, then the toothed locking plate rests directly upon the top
of the curb provided plate and in such condition that a last may be applied to the
pin and he tipped universally in any desired position requisite to present the
bottom of the sole against and at the desired or proper angle with relation to the
underside of the nose plate at the hole through which is to be driven in usual
manner the slugs or nails.
The last and pin having been brought into the desired position upward movement
is imparted to the horn and the parts carried thereby which results in forcing the
heel end of the sole, or the heel part thereof firmly against the nose plate, thus 5
compressing the spring, this being done as the shank enters further into the
hub.

page_text: As the curb descends compressing the spring the fixed studs arrest the descent
of the locking plate and consequently the slide plate is locked or clamped firmly
between the locking plate and the plate in the position in which it has been left
due to the particular angle or position of the last holding pin then holding the last,
and while the slug is being driven the last holding pin is absolutely locked so that
it cannot yield or tip any further in any direction.
By this use of the apparatus the pin may occupy any desired position preparatory
to driving each slug or nail, and that during the driving operation the pin
holding the last must remain fixedly in its proper position, thus ensuring the proper
driving of every slug or nail into the shoe,
By adjusting the nut on the threaded part of the ball or sphere the friction of
said nut and the ball or sphere with relation to the seat may be regulated so that
a greater or less amount of strain will be necessary in manipulating the last pin
with the last upon it.
The spring acting against the inclined sides of the slide serves to maintain that
slide in such position that its teeth at its opposite sides will stand substantially
parallel with the tooth of the plates with which the said slide cooperates.
It will be obvious that substantially the same result would be obtained by making
the last pin sufficiently long to extend through the partial ball or sphere, threading
the lower part of said pin and slitting it at its extremity.
By providing the bail or sphere with a threaded shank, it is possible to more
easily and readily change the pin when one of another diameter is desired, and
so also it is beneficial in some cases to leave the last pin free to be rotated in
the ball or sphere.
110041
1908
Improvements in "Jacks" or Apparatus for Applying Slugs and
Nails to Heels of Boots and Shoes.
A communication from abroad by MCKAY SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of
76, Lincoln Street, Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of
America.
I, ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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: -
Boots and shoes having spring or other heels to be slugged come to the slugging
machine on a last, and the holes in the last are frequently considerably worn or
enlarged, and sometimes they are not bored true, and consequently when such a last
is put on a stationary upright pin of a jack, the heel to be slugged cannot be kept
in proper relation to the nose or presser plate to ensure the correct driving of
the slugs.
This invention relates to a jack having a last pin supported in such manner
that it may readily adapt itself to any hole in any last whether more or less worn,
and yet enable the last to be tipped preparatory to driving a slug so that the
slug may be driven at the desired angle.
The jack constituting this invention contains a rising and falling spring con-
trolled shank, which sustains, through intermediate devices a last pin which is

page_text: free to tip more or less, as required, after the last has been applied to it, the tipping
of the pin being controlled by the pressure of the usual nose or foot plate of the
nailing or slugging machine on the bottom of the last, and during the nailing
operation the last pin is locked and held absolutely stationary.
The last pin herein to be described is mounted loosely in a ball or sphere seated
in a curb. The lower end of the ball or sphere has co-operating with it a
toothed slide which is adapted to be moved in a space between a toothed locking
plate and a toothed plate, the pressure of the usual nose or foot-plate of the nailing
machine on the sole of the shoe on the last, depressing the last, its pin, and the curb,
which causes, the locking plate to engage the toothed slide and retain the last.
holding pin in fixed position while cach slug is being driven.
Figure 1 in side elevation represents a jack embodving this invention, a last and
shoe being shown thereon in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a right hand end view of the parts shown in Figure 1 together with
part of a nose or foot plate of a slugging or nailing machine.
Figure 3, is a plan view below the dotted line of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a substantially vertical section in the dotted line a¹, the pin and
sphere being shown in elevation.
Figure 5 is a section in the line a Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an underside view of a toothed plate, it in operation being fixed
inside the curb and having the seat for the sphere.
Figure 7 shows in two positions a spring held in position by said toothed plate.
Figure 8 shows detached a toothed slide which, in practice, is loosely connected
with the lower end of the last holding pin.
Figure 9 shows the toothed locking plate which is chiefly instrumental to engage
the toothed slide and lock the last holding pin in the position it may occupy when
a nail is being driven.
Figure 10 a modification to be described.
Referring to the drawings represents a part of the usual nose or foot plate
of a nailing machine and the hole therein through which the nail is driven
into the tread face of the spring or other heel. The split sleeve a¹ is adapted to
be clamped by a suitable screw a upon the upper end of the rod or post of any usual
horn of any slugging or nailing machine.
The plate a² is fixed to or forms part of the upper end of the sleeve and has
two stops a
A swing plate 1 rests on the plate a² and said swing plate has a projection b
which is slotted to receive a screw extended into the plate a², said screw acting
as a guide for and permitting the swing plate to slide back and forth on the
plate and swing to and fro between the stops at
The swing plate has rising from it a tubular hub which is surrounded by a
spring c.
The tubular hub 62 receives in it the shank of a plate d, having an attached
curb d', herein shown as truncated at its upper end and provided with a spherical
seat d², the curb being connected to said plate by a screw_d.
The lower end of the shank has connected to it by a set screw a washer or
upstop ³, said washer being normally kept against a shoulder at the interior of
said hub by means of the spring c.
The curb just above the plate d* receives in it loosely a toothed locking plate e¹,
it being shown in section in Figure 4 and detached in Figure 9.
C
This locking plate has a series of parallel teeth or corrugations, and it has a notch e²
in which enters a pin or retaining device e³ carried by the curb, said pin restraining
the rotation of the locking plate but permitting the curb to descend as the
spring c is compressed, the curb descending, however without depressing the toothed
locking plate for the reason that said plate rests at such times upon the upper end
of a stud e supported by the hub 62 and extending loosely through a hole in
the plate d³.
In practice there will be two or more such studs e to thereby evenly support the

page_text: locking plate e', one of said studs being shown by dotted lines in Figure 4. The
curb has fixed to it by a suitable set screw et a toothed plate e, see Figures 4 and 6,
toothed at its lower side, said plate having a notch, as e, which receives in it a
lug or projection e, see Figure 7, of a spring es, the latter being thus retained in
fixed position with relation to said fixed tooth plate.
The teeth of the toothed plate e' stand preferably substantially at right angles to
the direction of the run of the teeth of the locking plate e', the teeth on the
locking plate being at its upper side. Between the toothed locking plate e and
the toothed plate e is a slide plate f, see Figures 4 and S. This slide plate has a
central stud, f, and both of its faces are toothed so that the teeth on one side run
in a direction substantially at right angles to the teeth at the other side, such
teeth properly engaging the teeth of both the toothed locking plate and the
plate &
The edge of the slide plate is embraced by the spring which holds it in correct
position.
The last holding pin g has a connected flange g², which runs on the secant face of a
sphere g, seated in a concaved part 2 of the curb, and said sphere may have
a depending threaded sleeve or foot on which is screwed a nut g having a
concaved upper side to fit the convex underside of the seat, said nut keeping the
sphere down in the seat.
The lower end of the foot is slotted to embrace the central stud f of the
slide plate f, and said last holding pin is free to be rotated, if desired, in the sphere,
and the sphere with the pin is free to tip in any direction laterally, that depending
upon the action of the underside of the nose plate t on the heel to be slugged.
The spring occupying a fixed position embraces between its free ends, see
Figure 3, the inclined edges of the slide plate f having the central stud f' which
is embraced by tne slotted lower end of the foot 3 of the sphere, and said spring
normally acts to hold the sphere and its pin g so that said pin occupies normally an
inclined position, see Figures 2 and 4, and in this condition if a last having an
enlarged or irregularly bored hole be put on said nin, the pin, owing to its
diagonal position will touch opposite sides or the hole in the last at some point, and
the contact between the last ping and the hole in the last will be maintained by the
pressure of the nose against the tread face of the heel of the shoe to be slugged
or nailed.
The sphere g is free to tip in any direction in the socket to thereby enable
the tread part of the heel to be kept at the desired angle and in contact with the
underside of the nose plate t. To prevent the sphere from rotating in the
socket and yet not prevent its tipping therein the socket is provided at its
right hand side with a small teat 20, see dotted lines Figure 4, which enters a
small groove made in the exterior of the sphere.
The partial ball or sphere g' see Figure 5 is provided with an internal groove h
within which is placed a spring clip h, and the shank of the pin g is provided with
an annular groove, said spring clip while resting on the groove h entering also
partially the annular groove of the pin, so that said pin is maintained by said
spring clip h
Figure 4 of the drawing shows the spring cas lifting the curb, the parts being
represented in the position they will occupy when work is not being done on the
jack, and in this figure the toothed locking plate el rests directly upon the top of
the plate, and in such condition it will be assumed that a last may be applied
to the pin g, and that said last and pin and sphere may be tipped universally in any
direction requisite to present the bottom of the sole against and at the desired or
proper angle with relation to the underside of the nose plate t at the hole through
which is to be driven in usual manner the slugs or nails.
The last and pin having been brought into the desired position upward movement
is imparted to the horn and the parts herein represented as carried thereby
which results in forcing the heel end of the sole, or the heel part thereof firmly

page_text: against the nose plate, thus compressing the spring c, this being done as the
suank d enters further into the hub 62.
As the curb descends compressing the spring c the fixed studs e arrest the descent
of the locking plate e and consequently the slide plate is locked or clamped
firmly between the locking plate and the plate in the position in which it has
been left due to the particular angle or position of the last holding pin then holding
the last, and while the slug is being driven the last holding pin is absolutely locked
so that it cannot yield or tip any further in any direction.
It will be readily understood by the use of the apparatus hereinbefore described
that the pin g may occupy any desired position preparatory to driving each slug
or nail, and that during the driving operation the pin holding the last must remain
fixedly in its proper position, thus ensuring the proper driving of every slug or
nail into the shoe.
By aujusting the nut g on the threaded part of the ball or sphere the friction of
said nut and the ball or sphere with relation to the seat ² may be regulated so that
a greater or less amount of strain will be necessary in manipulating the last pin
with the last upon it.
The spring acting against the inclined sides of the slide f serves to maintain
that slide in such position that its teeth at its opposite sides will stand substantially
parallel with the teeth of the plates, and with which the said slide co-operates.
It will be obvious that substantially the same result would be obtained by
making the last pin g sufficiently long to extend through the partial ball or sphere,
see Figure 10, threading the lower part of said pin and slitting it at its extremity.
By providing the ball or sphere with a threaded shank, it is possible to more
easily and readily change the pin g when one of another diameter is desired, and so
also it is beneficial in some cases to leave the last pin g free to be rotated in the ball
or sphere.
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. In a jack for holding a boot or shoe having a heel into which is to be driven
slugs, a swing plate having a hub and a vertically moveable shank therein, a
spring to support said shank, and a pivotted last holding pin made moveable
vertically with said shank, substantially as described.
2. The use in a jack for the purpose stated having a universally tippable last
holding pin, of a support for said pin, and locking means to hold said pin in any
position in which it may be put by the requirements of the work, said locking
means holding said pin firmly in position while a slug or nail is being driven
into the sole on the last supported by said pin, substantially as described.
3. The use with a jack for the purpose stated having a last holding pin provided
with a ball or sphere, of a support for said ball or sphere, whereby it and said pin
are free to tip in its support, of locking means to hold said pin in fixed position
during the driving of a slug or nail into the shoe on the last held on said pin,
substantially as described.
4. The use in a jack for the purpose stated having a last holding pin provided
with a partial ball or sphere, of a curb having a seat for said ball or sphere,
substantially as described.
5. The use in a jack for the purpose stated having a last holding pin provided
with a partial ball or sphere, of a curb having a seat for said ball or sphere, and a
moveable nut to aid in keeping said ball or sphere seated in said seat, substantially
as described.
6. The use in a jack for the purpose stated having a last holding pin provided
with a partial ball or sphere, and a curb having a seat to receive said ball or
sphere, of a toothed plate, a toothed slide moveable with or by said pin, and a
toothed locking plate, the said locking plate and toothed plate engaging said toothed
slide and locking the last holding pin fixedly in position when the shank of said

page_text: curb is depressed in its holding hub preparatory to driving a nail or slug in the sole
laid on the last mounted on said pin.
7. In a jack for the purpose stated, the use with a curb having a seat, and a
fixed toothed plate, of a moveable toothed slide, a last-holding pin having a ball-
like or spherical portion entering said seat, a toothed locking plate mounted loosely
in said curb, a shank attached to said curb and entering a hole in the hub, a
spring applied to said hub to normally keep said curb elevated, and a device to
arrest the movement of said toothed locking plate as the curb is depressed to
compress said spring, whereby said toothed slide is grasped to maintain in fixed
position the last holding pin while the slug is being driven into the work.
8. The use in a jack for holding boots or shoes having a heel into which is to be
driven slugs or nails, of means to support a curb having a seat for a sphere
provided with a last holding pin, and means to normally keep said pin in its
inclined position.
9. The use in a jack for holding boots or shoes having a heel into which is to
be driven slugs or nails, of means to support a curb having a seat for a sphere
provided with a last holding pin, means to normally keep said pin in an inclined
position, and means to lock the sphere and pin in position when the heel to receive
the slugs or nails is acted upon by a nose plate.
Dated the 7th day of April
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.