Improvements in or connected with Trees for Boots and Shoes
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by OLIVER AMAT MILLER, of 272, North Warren
Avenue, Brockton, in the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in or connected with Trees for Boots and Shoes
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:- -
This invention relates to trees for boots and shoes and is particularly adapted
for use in the operation of removing creases from the uppers of boots and shoes.
The object of my invention is to provide such trees with simple and efficient
means for stretching or pulling upward and forward the uppers with a constant
and uniform force, the operator being thus relieved of flie work entailed in
holding and stretching the uppers himself while ironing the same.
According to my invention I provide a tension device adjustably secured to
the tree in a suitable position relative to the boot or shoe. The tension device
is adapted to be attached to the upper. The tensioning means preferably con-
sist of coil springs connected at one end to the means of attachment to the upper,
and at the other to the tree or to a member connected to the same.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boot tree with a boot thereon, and having
one form of my upper stretching device applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a separate view of such device drawn to a larger scale, and
Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating a modified form of my upper stretching
device.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, A is a tree of any ordinary construction, upon
which a boot B is mounted. Extending forwardly from the front of the tren
is a bracket or arm a to the end of which the upper stretching device is con-
nected. b, bare two arms having loops at their lower extremities. In the
example shown the two arms are formed in one piece bent to the shape of an
inverted V, and are connected at their upper ends to a plate c. Attached to
this plate are two coil springs d, d, whose opposite extremities are connected
to opposite ends of a cross piece e. This cross piece has a central screw threaded
aperture and is adapted to screw upon the screw threaded part of a rod f
depending from, and pivotally connected to, the bracket a.
When my upper-stretching device is to be used, the cross piece e is screwed
up or down upon the rod f until it is adjusted to the desired position with rela-
tion to the corners of the uppers and having regard to the contractile force
of the spiral springs when extended and the pull to be exerted upon the uppers.
The arms are then forcibly drawn down by the operator and their loops are

page_text: caused to engage the topmost lacing stud on each side of the boot, as shown in
Figure 1. This can be very easily effected by pressing or drawing down the
plate with one hand so as to bring both the arms 6 into position for engaging
the studs or hooks on the boot, which engagement is effected by the other hand
of the operator. The springs d d will then stretch or draw the uppers up-
wardly and forwardly with a constant and uniform force, and will draw out any
creases that the leather may possess, or that may have been formed therein when
it was stitched to the vamp or at any other time. The operator then has both
hands free for ironing the uppers, instead of having to stretch and hold said
uppers with one hand while ironing with the other.
In the modified construction shown in Figure 3, the rod f is screw threaded
at its upper end and passes loosely through a hole in the end of the bracket, a,
being secured against downward movement by the nut g upon said sorewed por-
tion. A single spring is attached to the lower end of the rod, the lower
extremity of such spring being formed with a loop from which are suspended
the two arms b, b, for attachment to the uppers. The operation of this device
is identical with that previously described. The device illustrated in Figure 3
possesses the advantage however, that it is thereby possible to adjust the ten-
sion or stretching force by moving the nut after the device has been con-
nected to the boot.
It will be seen that, in both the devices shown, the springs can be readily dis-
connected and replaced by others of greater or less strength as may be required.
It will also be readily understood that, instead of employing loops at the
ends of the rods 6 for attaching the same to the uppers, I may employ hooks
adapted to engage the lacing eyelets, or suitable clips or clamping devices
adapted to grip the leather itself.
Other arms or rods b, when such are employed, may be attached to the uppers,
say, midway down the lacing edge of the same, or at the side of the top edge
thereof.
Obviously the springa d and the arms or rods & might be formed of one piece
of steel wire; or a separate spring might be connected directly to ench arm
or rod. I prefer however to employ one or other of the arrangements of the
springs that I have illustrated, because of means of these arrangements, both
sides of the upper are pulled or stretched to approximately the same position;
and if one side be much more creased and consequently shorter than the other,
practically the whole force of the springs employed in the device will act upon
that side to draw out the creases; whereas if separate springs be connected to
each arm, only the force of that spring connected to the arm or arms attached to
the most creased side would be exerted on the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to mo
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. The combination with a tree for boots and shoes of a tension devico adjust-
ably connected to the free substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with a tree for boots and shoes of an adjustable tension
device having its parts constructed arranged and combined to operate substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accom-
panying drawings for the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.