AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO FACILITATE THE PUTTING ON OF BOOTS OR SHOES A com
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W..P. Thompson
& Boult, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in
the county of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPLIANCE TO FACILITATE THE PUTTING ON OF BOOTS OR SHOES
A com-
munication from Guillaume Narcisse Vallery of Yvetot in the Republic of
France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult, Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer. "AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO FACILITATE THE PUTTING ON OF BOOTS
OR SHOES" [A communication from Guillaume Narcisse Vallery of Yvetot in the
Republic of France]
:
This invention relates to an improved appliance for enabling boots to be readily
and easily put on the feet of the wearer and which consists of an octagonal frame
forming the base, from which rise four uprights fixed by screws or otherwise on
the four short sides of the octagon, viz the "corners;" a second octagonal frame
forms the top and rests on the uprights; the four longer sides of the top are fitted
with four tubes or sleeves which receive four rods. Two rods, on the longest two
sides of the apparatus, are fitted with knobs at their inner ends which take against
the India rubber springs of the boot; the other two rods have suitable hooks or
eyes for the straps of the boot. In each sleeve and surrounding the four rods, are
coiled springs tending to push the rods, inwards, these latter are provided with
teeth so as to form a rack, and at their outer ends have knobs by which they are
pulled outward when desired. Spring bolts or latches take into the racks and
serve to keep the rods in proper position.
When the appliance is to be used the two knobs at the inside of the long sides
are brought to bear on the springs of the boot or shoe, the eyelets or hooks are
inserted into the straps and all the four rods are pulled outward till the mouth or
top of the boot or shoe is opened out sufficiently to admit the foot; by a slight
pressure downward the springs are slipped off the knobs, whilst the straps are
disengaged when the foot is raised out of the appliance.

page_text: Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th September 1883.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO FACILITATE THE PUTTING ON OF BOOTS AND SHOES
A communication from Guilaume Narcisse Vallery of Yvetot in the Republic of
France.
This invention relates to an apparatus which serves to facilitate the putting of
boots or shoes on to the feet of the wearer.
The apparatus or appliance is shewn in the accompanying drawing in which.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section.
Figure 2 represents a transverse section,
Figure 3 represents a plan
Figure 4 shows a hinged column detached
Figures 5. 6. and 7 show the parts of said column detached.
The boot lifting apparatus consists of an octagonal piece A Figure 1.which forms
the foot or bottom of the apparatus, on this are provided four rigid or jointed
columns b b¹ b³ 63 placed at the centre of each corner (videlicet the shortest sides
of the octagon) and fixed by means of screws or otherwise. Another octagonal
piece C of the same dimensions as the first is placed on the top of the four columns
but its sides are furnished with tubes or sleeves d, d¹. d. and d³ mounted hori-
zontally and serving to receive four rods e. e'. e³. e. one at each side and one at each
short side or end.
.
The two rods at the sides, e'. and e. are provided with knobs f¹. and ƒ³, which
take upon the inner face of the elastic sides of a boot: all the said four rods are
furnished with teeth or formed into racks as shown in Figure 1. and at their ends
they have pull buttons or handles g. g¹. g³. g. Inside each tube or sleeve there is
a coiled spring preferably of brass and serving to push the rods towards the
interior of the apparatus. At the side of each tube or sleeve there is a small
spring bolt or catch h placed vertically and also provided with a coiled or other
spring. these spring bolts serve to stop the toothed rods at one or the other of
their notches or indentations as may be required by the size of the boot which is
to be put on.
Figures 4. 5. 6 and 7 show a kind of jointed or hinged column 6 which may be
folded up and is attached to the pieces A and O by hinges which imparts the
great advantage to the apparatus that it will occupy but little space when it is
folded up for travelling.
Figure 4 shows the column ready to be attached to the top and bottom frames,
and straight, Figures 5 and 6 show the principal pieces of which the column
consists, Figure 7 represents the connecting piece: the construction is obvious from
these figures.
When this apparatus is to be used, the two knobs at the sides f¹. and ƒ³. are
inserted into the mouth of the boot then the two straps are hooked on to two
hooks or projections i and . and upon being pulled out open the boot as far as is
required for the foot to enter. Then the foot is put into the boot and at the same
time the two knobs become disengaged and when the foot is withdrawn from the
apparatus the two straps become unhooked from hooks i and the foot is shod
without any effort and without the wearer of the boot putting his hand to it, so
that a child may put his boots on as easily as a man,

page_text: Having now fully described the said invention and the manner of performing
the same, as communicated to me by my foreign Correspondent, I wish it to be
understood that what I claim and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:
A boot holding apparatus consisting of two frames A and C connected by either
rigid or hinged columns b, the upper piece C carrying four tubes or sleeves which
serve as guides for the rack rods placed therein and having knobs and eye bolts or
hooks by means whereof the opening or mouth of the boot is widened in the
manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal the Twenty-fourth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.