Improvements in the Lasting of Boots, Shoes, and other Shaped Goods, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Lasting of Boots, Shoes, and other Shaped
Goods, and in Apparatus therefor.
1, CHRISTIAN HAMILTON GRAY, of The Indiarubber Guttapercha and
Telegraph Works Co. Ltd., of Silvertown, in the County of Essex, Indiarubber
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to the lasting of boots shoes goloshes and the like and
other shaped goods, and would be applicable to lasting leather goods of the
ordinary construction, but I will describe it particularly as applied to rubber
goods.
This invention may be carried out in the following manner;-
A chief feature of this invention is applying the pressure by pneumatic,
hydraulic or similar power preferably by suitable flexible bags or equivalent. To
effect this I may employ any suitable form of box or casing preferably of cast or
other metal provided with suitable joints for access to the interior; inside this I
have the required number of flexible bags or equivalent, generally two, one for
the upper side of the last and one for the sole being sufficient. It will however
he understood that a single bag or equivalent adapted to take say the upper part
of the last would be sufficient, a suitable support being provided for the sole
portion. The last may be made of any suitable material capable of affording the
Decessary resistance and if necessary receiving the pegs, nails or the like.
In use
the operation of this apparatus will be as follows;-
The upper would be placed upon the last in the usual manner and the last and
upper placed in the apparatus, within or upon the flexible bag, then the insole
would be placed upon the last and the pneumatic or hydraulic pressure is then
applied in the flexible bag which has the effect of pressing the upper evenly upon
the last and if so desired of exercising a drawing motion upon or towards the
edges of the upper and also folding these latter over upon the last, the shape of
the upper or sole bag or of the portion of the casing upon which the flexible bag
obtains its purchase causing the said bag to gradually fold and draw over the edges
of the upper as the pressure increases.
In making rubber shoes and the like the parts may be all stamped out before-
hand and being usually of raw rubber or with raw facings will readily adhere
together so that as soon as the desired result is attained and the parts folded
down the pressure may be relaxed and the last withdrawn, when the outer sole
may be at once applied and the last and shoe placed in either the same apparatus
or another similar one, to receive the final pressure to attach the outer sole, after
which last and shoe may be removed to the vulcanising chamber or otherwise
dealt with as required.
It will be appreciated that almost any required pressure can be obtained by this
means and an exceedingly smooth and efficient lasting effected; also that by
suitably shaping the various parts the previously described drawing action upon
the upper may be increased or diminished and applied at certain parts, and more at
some parts than at others merely by the suitable shaping of the parts of the
apparatus or varying the materials of which the flexible bags are made, parf being
ir desired expansible and part not, and that the strength and details of the whole
of these portions can be varied according to circumstances.
The above described apparatus although applying specially to rubber goods
would be substantially the same when used for leather goods, while in addition to

page_text: the usual lasting operation and the drawing over and smoothing of the upper the
nailing may also be effected, the pressure obtainable being sufficient to effect this,
and suitable arrangements being employed for the application of the nails or pegs;
the nails may be applied one at a time or all at once.
The flexible bags may be made of any suitable material, say for instance rubber
or where it is desired that it should be non-stretchable rubber and canvas or other
material, and should it be inconvenient to form the precise shape in the outer
casing itself, plates or the like may be arranged to project inwardly with their
inner surfaces shaped according to requirements, so that one complete casing may
be employed for boots or shoes of varying size and shape. The flexible bag for
the upper portion may preferably be double, that is to say, the outer wall may fit
against the inside of the case and the inner wall against the last which would be as
it were engulfed in the bag although not in the interior thereof. The previously
described casing or mould may be used in the manufacture of the flexible bags
themselves, the space to be occupied by the last being temporarily taken up by a
last of suitable material, say for example plaster of Paris and the whole being
vulcanised under pressure so that the bag or bags are produced of the exact shape
required and are vulcanised to the interior of the case or mould, so that there is
no fear of their becoming displaced, the mould itself with the temporary last and
bags being placed bodily into the vuleanising chamber, and the nozzle by which
the fluid pressure is applied being also vulcanised on at the same time, though it
may be secured by bolts or other means either temporarily or permanently, I do
not however bind myself to vulcanise the bags and may make thein of material
other than rubber. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the two or more
parts of the case or mould together such for example as bolts wedges or other form
of locking gear, such for instance with a bayonet joint. It will be appreciated
that this invention may be applied to other shaped goods besides boots and shoes,
particularly rubber goods.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Lasting of Boots, Shoes, and other Shaped
Goods, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, CHRISTIAN HAMILTON GRAY, of The Indiarubber Gutterpercha and
Telegraph Works Company Limited of Silvertown, in the County of Essex,
Indiarubber Manufacturer, 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 the lasting of boots, shoes, goloshes and the like and
other shaped goods and would be applicable to lasting leather goods of the
ordinary construction, but I will describe it particularly as applied to rubber
goods.
A chief feature of this invention is applying the pressure by pneumatic
hydraulic or similar power preferably by suitable flexible bags or equivalent.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and
Figure a transverse section of a lasting device constructed according to this
invention, for closing the upper around the last and insole only, or alternatively for
effecting this operation and fixing the sole proper to the insole and upper.
Figure 3 is a plan of the lower of the two principal parts of the device shown
in Figures 1 and 2, and

page_text: Figure is a longitudinal section of a device for fixing the sole proper to the
insole and upper when this operation is not performed in the apparatus shown in
Figure 4.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
There are various ways in which I may carry my invention into practice but to
avoid complication I will first describe one way and afterwards briefly refer to
some of the modifications.
I may employ a box or casing A formed preferably of cast or other metal and
comprising two readily separable parts AA, constituting respectively the box-
body and the box-cover and capable of being secured together as by bolts and
nuts or equivalent B as shown in Figure 2. Inside the lower part A' of the box A
I provide a flexible bag or equivalent C of approximately the shape of the last D
which latter the said bag is adapted to receive or surround as shown in the
drawings. At one or more parts the walls of the bag C may be secured together,
for example as shown at C in Figures 1 and 2; it has conveniently formed
integrally with it a flanged nozzle C2 adapted to pass through a perforated boss A³
in the box-body A' with which it is caused to make a tight joint by means of the
flanged connecting-piece or connector E, and the bolts or equivalent El securing
said piece E to the boss A³. To the connector E may be attached a flexible or
other pipe F leading from the source of pressure.
In the cover I provide a solid block G which may conveniently be of india-
rubber; or the cover may be so shaped as to dispense with the block. At its
underside this block G is provided with a groove G extending all round it and so
shaped as to cause the upper edge C³ of the flexible bag C to move inwards over
the last D when subjected to the required pressure. The bag C at the parts C³
may be of thin or stretchable material so as to allow of its being freely distended
and brought into contact with the surface G which deflects it over the last D.
The previously described apparatus is that by which the upper is closed around
the last D and insole, and the apparatus for fixing the outer sole or sole proper
to the insole and upper as shown in Figure 4 is substantially the inverse of that
apparatus for in that a solid bed G is substituted for the flexible bag C and a
flexible bag C is substituted for the block G.
In use the operation of the apparatus is generally as follows;-
An upper His placed on the last D and the box-cover A having been removed
from A the last and upper are placed in the then-wholly or partially deflated bag C,
the edge H of the upper projecting up beyond the last D and within the edge C³
of the bag C as shown in Figures 1 and 2. An insole I is then placed on the
last D within the edge H' of the upper which latter at the inner side of this part,
or the border of the insole upon which it is to be secured has a facing of raw
rubber or solution so that when subsequently the two parts are brought together
they will be retained in that position by adhesion. The cover A is then secured
to A and the fluid pressure admitted to the bag C, the result of which is to press
the upper H evenly upon the last D and exercise more or less drawing action upon
or towards the edge of the upper, and gradually fold and force this edge over
upon the border of the insole I where it is retained by the before-mentioned facing
of raw rubber or solution.
The pressure is then withdrawn the cover A2 detached from A', and the last D
together with the upper and insole thereon removed from the bag C and placed
in the lower part of the device shown in Figure 4. The outer sole or sole
proper J which is then more or less in a tacky condition is next placed upon the
insole I and edge H₁ of the upper and the box-cover A² containing the bag C' is
secured to the box-body A' containing the solid bed G2 after which fluid pressure
is admitted to the bag C+ so that the sole J is pressed firmly and evenly upon the
insole I and upper where it sticka owing to its tacky condition. After this the.
pressure is withdrawn from the bag C, the box A (Figure 4) is opened and the last D
and shoe thereon are removed and placed in the vulcanizing chamber or otherwise
dealt with as required.

page_text: Instead of the sule J being in a tacky condition when applied to the insole, i
or the insole inay have a coating of raw rubber or solution to ensure their sticking
together after the pressing operation.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a comparatively thick black G of rubber
I may however make it considerably thinner or dispense with it altogether the
cover A, under this last mentioned arrangement being shaped so that it would
fulfil the functions of the block.
Instead of using a solid block G or the cover A2 for fulfilling the functions
thereof as before described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, I may use a flexible
air-bag such as indicated in dotted lines at C in those two figures, this bag C
being conveniently connected with the bag C by means of branches C C located
in extensions of the box body A¹ and cover A, and like the block G provided
with a groove G. Either of these branches may if desired be fitted with a cock
or valve so as to control the supply of fluid pressure to the bag C. Instead
however of connecting the two bags C C together each may have its independent
connection with the source of pressure as will be readily understood.
In using the apparatus arranged as last described the operation would generally
be as follows;-
-
The upper H would be placed on the last D and these two placed in the then-
deflated bag C, the insole I placed on the last, inside of the edge of the upper and
the cover A fixed to A all as previously explained. The fluid-pressure would
then be admitted to the two bags CC the latter being thus in a condition_to
present the necessary resistance for preventing the last D from being raised under
the influence of the bag C and for causing the edges C³ of the bag C to move
over the last and upper. The fluid-pressure supply would then be withdrawn the
box A opened and the outer sole or sole-proper J (Fig. 4) placed in position on the
insole and the then-inturned edge H' of the upper H. The cover A would then
be replaced and fluid-pressure again applied in the bags C C so that the sole would
be pressed firmly and evenly on to the insole, after which the operation would
proceed as before described.
It will be appreciated that almost any required pressure can be obtained by the
foregoing means and an exceedingly smooth and efficient lasting effected; also that
by suitably shaping the various parts the previously described action upon the
upper may be increased or diminished and applied at certain parts, and more at
some parts than at others merely by the suitable shaping of the parts of the
apparatus or varying the materials of which the flexible bags are made, part being
if desired expansible and part not, and that the strength and details of the whole
of these portions can be varied according to circumstances.
The above described apparatus although applying specially to rubber goods
would be substantially the same when used for leather goods.
The flexible bags may be made of any suitable material, say for instance
rubber or where it is desired that it should be non-stretchable, rubber and canvas
or other material, and should it be convenient to form the precise shape in the
outer casing itself, plates or the like may be arranged to project inwardly with
their inner surfaces shaped according to requirements, so that one complete casing
may be employed for boots or shoes of varying size and shape. The flexible bag for
the "
may preferably be double, that is to say, the outer wall may fit
against the inside of the casing and the inner wall against the last which would be
as it were engulfed in the bag although not in the interior thereof.
upper
The previously described casing or mould may be used in the manufacture of
the flexible bags themselves, the space to be occupied by the last being temporarily
taken up by a last of suitable material, say for example plaster of Paris and the
whole being vulcanised under pressure so that the bag or bags are produced of
the exact shape required, and are vulcanised to the interior of the case or mould,
so that there is no fear of their becoming displaced, the mould itself with the
temporary last and bags being placed bodily into the vulcanising chamber, and the
nozzle by which the fluid pressure is applied being also vulcanised on at the same

page_text: time, though it may be secured by bolts or other means either temporarily or
permanently. I do not however bind myself to vulcanise the bags, and I may
make them of material other than rubber.
Any suitable means may be employed for securing the two or more parts of the
case or mould together such for example as bolts as shown in Figure 2, wedges or
other form of locking gear, say with a bayonet joint or by hydraulic or pneumatic
pressure or otherwise quickly secured or released.
66
It will be appreciated that this invention may be applied to other shaped goods
besides boots and shoes, particularly rubber goods, the term lasting employed
in the claims being intended to cover all the applications mentioned in this
Specification.
Instead of using one bag C for lasting the upper H and one (C) for applying
and fixing the sole to the insole I may use two or more for either of these
purposes.
Heels may be applied to the soles of boots and other foot coverings by means of
one or more flexible bags inflated in the manner previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Lasting by the direct application of fluid pressure.
2. Lasting by fluid pressure substantially as described.
3. Lasting by direct fluid pressure applied through the medium of one or more
flexible bags.
4. The combination with a boot or other last pattern or mould of one or more
flexible bags which by fluid pressure are inflated and press into contact with the
pattern the material to be lasted or shaped.
5. The process of lasting or shaping consisting in pressing the material to be
shaped upon the pattern by one or more bags inflated by fluid pressure and
retaining the material in the shape or condition thus imparted by adhesive material
substantially as described.
6. The employment of direct fluid pressure for applying or fixing soles or heels
to boots or other foot-coverings substantially as described.
7. In lasting apparatus a flexible bag such as C C C³ substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In lasting apparatus the combination with a flexible bag such as C C¹ C³ of a
grooved block such as G G¹ or second flexible bag such as CG substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In lasting apparatus the combination with a solid bed or block such as G' of
a flexible bag such as C substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete lasting
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in full lines in Figures 1, 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete lasting
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in full and dotted lines in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
12. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete lasting
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
Doted this 27th dow of Amil 1905
C. H. GRAY.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.