Improvements in and relating to Lasting Jacks for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Lasting Jacks for Use in the
Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
I, HORACE HENRY DONOVAN, residing at Birch Street, North Abington, in
the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 contemplates certain new and useful improvements in lasting
jacks.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved jack whereby the pul-
ling over of the upper on the last may be readily and easily accomplished, betier
results being obtained, and the strain of holding the shoe in the hands while
working is entirely avoided.
A further object is to provide a jack of this character applicable for large
or small shoes, and by which a shoe may be brought into any desired position.
avoiding the use of mechanism for raising or lowering the work.
The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:
-
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 is a plan view, a last being indicated
in dotted lines. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the spring tension regulator.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, showing the
pivot bolt of the jack base.
Referring to the drawing, A designates a base, which is composed of a block,.
the upper surface a of which is inclined.
B is a base plate which is pivoted centrally on base A by means of a nutted
bolt passed upwardly through a cylindrical sleeve a set down in the base A.
This bolt so holds the plate B that the latter may be turned axially on said
bolt over the inclined surface of the base block.
C is an arm having lateral trunnions bloosely mounted at their ends in
bearings set on base plate B.
This arm has an angularly extended branch 62, which may be formed integral
therewith, although it is shown as being secured thereto by a set screw 63
which engages the underside of arm C when the latter is extended through
a slot in the branch 2. On the upper end of this branch of arm C is a toe
This toe-block is fast and
block 4, the upper surface of which is concaved.
cannot be moved independently of the swinging arm C, that is, when the branch.
of the latter is fixedly held.
D) is a coil spring, which at one end is hooked to a block d projecting from
the base plate 3 and at its outer end this spring is connected to the branch of
arm C in such manner that the position of the arm may be changed at
pleasure and the tension of the spring regulated. This I accomplish by means
of an adjusting device, which consists of a plate located longitudinally within

page_text: the convolutions of the spring D, and having at its outer ends two hooks d²
which engage the angular branch of arm C. On the inner end of this plate d'
is a swivelled button ³, which being at right angles to said plate and in
engagement with the coils of the springs will hold the said plate d¹ at any
point at which it may be adjusted. By turning this button, causing it to move
the plate inwardly or outwardly, in relation to the spring, the position of
the arm C may be regulated and the tension of the spring increased or
diminished.
E is the heel spindle which projects upwardly from a block e adjustably
mounted on block, that is, parallel side plates el of block e enclose or hug
block d, and a bolt 2 passed through coincident holes in said plates e¹, and
any one of a series of holes e³ in block d, will hold the heel spindle at the desired
point relatively to the swinging arm C. This adjustment of the heel spindle
is intended to accommodate lasts of different sizes, since in lasting boys' or
youths' shoes the heel spindle must be moved nearer to the swinging arm C.
In practice, the arm C is brought to the required position according to the
size of the last on which the work is to be done. For instance, at the maximum
point, that is, with the button of the adjusting device adjacent to the extreme
end of the spring the arm will be in position for a ten or twelve man's last,
which when placed on the jack, will cause the toe-block to engage at the back
of the tip. In working on a number eight last the button of the adjusting
device is turned so as to bring the toe-block into the required position with
proper tension of the spring. In fact, but very little tension is required, since
the heel spindle being stationary the slightest pressure upward of the toc-
block holds it firmly. The upper is placed on the last and the latter is then
placed straight downward on the jack, the hole in the last being in line with
the heel spindle, and upon a slight pressure forward with the toe of the shoe,
the swinging arm C allows the last to drop down on the heel spindle. When
the upper is pulled over the toe the arm gives and comes back with a firmer
clutch as the last sinks still lower or reaches its base. It is then firmly on
the jack and can be displaced in no way until the workman completes the
lasting. As the work on the toe is completed a slight pressure forward on the
arm releases the shoe and it may be easily lifted from the jack. By mounting
the jack on an inclined base over which it has an axial movement, much super-
fluous work is avoided, such as raising or lowering, and by turning the jack
on this inclined base a shoe can be readily brought into any desired position.
A lasting jack constructed in accordance with my invention is extremely
simple and inexpensive. Its advantages are apparent to those skilled in
the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A lasting jack having a stationary heel rest, a pivoted arm carrying a
toe rest, a coil spring, held at one end, a plate extended longitudinally within
said spring and connected at one end to said arm, and a swivelled button on
the other end of said plate, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a base plate having a block, of an arm pivotally
mounted on said base plate having a branch carrying a toe rest, a heel rest
adjustably connected to said block, and a spring secured at one end to said
block and at its other end adjustably connected to said arm, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination with the inclined base, of the plate set on said base,
the pivoted arm mounted on said plate and carrying a toe rest, the adjustable
heel rest mounted on said plate, the spring. held at one end, and the adjusting
device connecting said spring to said arm, said spring tending to draw said
arm toward said heel rest, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. A lasting jack having a base plate provided with a block formed with a
series of holes, a heel rest having side plates hugging said block, a bolt passed
through coincident holes of said side plates and any one of the holes of said
block, a pivoted arm carrying a toe-rest, and a spring held at one end and
connected at its other end to said arm, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the base having an inclined surface, of the base
plate axially mounted on said base and fitting against said inclined surface,
a heel rest rigidly secured to said base plate, a pivotally mounted toe rest
carried by said base plate, and a spring held at one end and connected at its
other end to said toe rest, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.