Improvements in Rotary Rubbing or Polishing Discs or Devices.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE HENRY PECK FLAGG, of 110, Lincoln
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Rotary Rubbing or Polishing Discs or Devices.
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 rotary appliances for rubbing or brushing surfaces of
boot and shoe soles and other articles which have been treated with wax and black-
ing, in order to properly finish and polish the surfaces thus treated. It is desirable
that an appliance for this purpose be sufficiently yielding to conform to the curva-
tures of the surface of a boot or shoe sole, and at the same time be adapted to exert
a sufficiently forcible pressure thereon to accomplish the desired result. My
invention has for its object to provide an appliance for the purpose above men-
tioned, in which the yielding rubbing or brushing surface shall be composed of the
ends of a series of radially arranged leather strips assembled and combined with
a supporting hub in such manner as to constitute a strong, durable, and effective
appliance. The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed
to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,―
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a rotary wheel or brush embodying my
invention, a portion of one of the clamps being broken away.
Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a perspective view, showing parts of my improved wheel.
Figure 4 represents an enlarged end view of one of the sections of the annular
brushing or rubbing device.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In carrying out my invention, I mount upon a suitable hub a¹, adapted for con-
nection with a shaft a, an annular brush surrounding said hub and composed of
a series of strips 6 of flexible material, preferably a suitable kind of leather, such
as calfskin or split-leather. Said strips are radially arranged, as shown in Figure
1, and are rigidly connected at their inner ends, so as to make the inner edge of
the annular brush practically rigid, so that it cannot yield to external inward
pressure. The outer portions of the strips are free to move laterally to a certain
extent, independently of each other, so that the outer portion or periphery of the
brush is not rigid but is composed of a series of independently-yielding sections,
cach of which is the outer end of one of the strips. These outer ends or sections
collectively constitute a yielding rubbing or brushing periphery.
A practical mode of operation in making the improved appliance is as follows:
The strips are assembled in blocks or packs 6', as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, said dotted lines indicating the portions

page_text: of the packs which are covered by the clamping-plates c c. The inner edges of
the strips composing each pack are rigidly secured together, preferably by means
of glue or cement, the connection extending from the line, which is the inner
end of the pack, to the line a¹¹, which may be about half-way between the inner
and the outer end of the pack. Between the liner and the outer end of the pack,
the strips are disconnected from each other, and are free to yield laterally to a
limited extent, and also to yield somewhat to inward pressure toward the axis of
the hub. The strips are originally of uniform thickness from their inner to their
outer ends. The parts that are glued together between the lines are com-
pressed by the pressure exerted in assembling the packs, so that said parts become
slightly wedge-shaped, as best shown in Figure 4. The parts outside the line al are
not compressed, so that their radial arrangement and uniform thickness causes the
formation of crevices between the outer portions of the strips, said crevices increas-
ing slightly in width from the line ¹ to the outer ends of the strips. The crevices
permit the limited lateral flexure above referred to, as well as a limited yielding
movement under pressure against the ends of the strips toward the axis of the hub.
When the packs are assembled to form an annulus, their inner glued portions are
compressed, as above stated, and are glued together to form a continuous rigid base.
In the said annulus is inserted a ring d of wood, or other suitable material, which
is formed to closely fit the interior of the annulus and the exterior of the hub, its
periphery being glued to the inner ends of the strips. The ring d forms a seat or
support for the inner ends of the strips, and prevents the annulus formed by the
strips from collapsing inwardly, and from being broken at any point. The annular
brush thus formed and stiffened is extremely strong and durable. The brush may
be secured to the hub by any suitable means, preferably by clamping-plates cc,
which are suitably secured to the hub and are formed to bear upon the sides of the
brush. The platesc c are here shown as provided with teeth or corrugations c¹,
which are embedded in the rigid portions of the sides of the brush. The plates
are connected and drawn toward each other by screws 22, as far as the tubular
flanges con said plates will permit, said flanges abutting against each other
when the teeth c¹ have sufficiently entered the sides of the brush. The flanges
cenclose the hub a', and fit the interior of the ring d. The hub a is provided at
one end with a flange a³, its other end being screw-threaded and provided with 'a
flanged nut a³. The flange a² and nut a³ bear against the outer sides of the plates
cc, and hold said plates and brush in place on the hub. It will be seen that the
improved annular brush or rubbing device composed of radially arranged strips
and a stiffening ring assembled to form a practically rigid annular base, and a
flexible or yielding sectional outer portion or periphery adapted to conform to the
curved surfaces of a boot or shoe sole or other article, is very strong, durable, and
effective. The annular brush with its stiffening-ring constitutes an article of
manufacture adapted to be supplied to owners of the hubs, to take the place of worn
brushes, the operation of applying and removing the brushes being very simple.
I do not limit myself to the form of the parts here shown and described, and may
variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of my invention. The
solidity and rigidity afforded by the gluing together and compression of the inner
portions of the strips will enable the annular brush to be firmly held by the clamp-
ing-plates c c, without the use of the ring d. The ring is very desirable, however,
because it increases the strength of the brush, not only when it is in use, but also
when it is unattached to the hub, the ring enabling the brush to be shipped and
kept in stock without danger of breakage.
My improved appliance is distinguished from anything that has heretofore been
devised for the same purpose, so far as I am aware, in that the leather strips are
assembled to form an annulus which is practically rigid at its inner portion, and
flexible or yielding at its outer portion, the rigid portion being engaged with the
hub, so that there is a strong and durable connection between the two parts, while
the flexible outer portion projects from the hub in position for operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-

page_text: tion, 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 :-
1. An appliance of the character specified, comprising a hub, and an annular
brush composed of radially arranged strips compressed and rigidly connected at
their inner portions to form a practically rigid annular base engaged with the hub,
their outer portions being free and constituting a flexible or yielding sectional
outer portion or periphery.
• 2. As an article of manufacture, an annular brush composed of radiating strips
compressed and glued together at their inner portions and provided with an
internal stiffening-ring, their outer portions being free and flexible and constituting
sections of a yielding rubbing or brushing periphery.
3. An appliance of the character specified, comprising a hub, an annular brush
thereon composed of radially arranged strips rigidly connected at their inner
portions to form a continuous rigid annular base, and free at their outer portions,
which constitute sections of a yielding rubbing or brushing periphery, and clamp-
ing devices on the hub engaged with the sides of the brush.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.