Improvements in Boot-trees.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot-trees.
THOMAS GEORGE STEVENS, 5, Cobham Terrace, Greenhithe, Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A boot tree according to this invention consists of two parts, one of which is
an arched last of the form of the upper portion of the boot and having a slotted
stem extending upwards from it, and the other a tube or rod connected by a
pin to the two sides of the stem of the last, the pin passing through a slot in the
tube or rod.
The tube or rod carries a spring which tends to keep the pin at the top of the
slot in it, and is provided with a roller at its base.
Two or more holes are made in the sides of the stem of the last to receive the
pin for varying the pressure and for adapting the tree to various sizes of boots.
When the tree is inserted into a boot the roller is placed upon the heel,
and the last into the front portion of the boot; the top ends of the two parts of
the tree are pressed away from each other, the pin being slidden down the slot
and the spring compressed. In this manner pressure is always maintained by
the last in the front portion of the boot.
Dated thin 10th da
N 1007
I, THOMAS GEORGE STEVENS, of 5, Cobham Terrace, Greenhithe, Kent, Engineer,
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:-
A boot tree according to this invention consists of two parts, one of which is
an arched last of the form of the upper portion of the boot and having a slotted
stem extending upwards from it, and the other a tube or rod connected by a
pin to the two sides of the stem of the last, 'the pin passing through a slot in the
tube or rod. The tube or rod carries a spring which tends to keep the pin at the
top of the slot in it. A heel piece is preferably attached to the tube or rod.
Two or more holes are made in the sides of the stem of the last to receive the
pin for varying the pressure and for adapting the tree to various sizes of boots.
When the tree is inserted into a boot the heel piece is placed upon the heel
and the last into the front portion of the boot; the top ends of the two parts of
ID 017

page_text: the tree are pressed away from each other, the pin being slidden down the slot
and the spring compressed. In this manner pressure is always maintained by
the tree in the boot.
The drawings annexed to the specification show trees made in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a section of the last which in this case
is hollow on the line 2-2 Figure 1. Figure 3 a side view of a tree adapted for
use in shoes.
a is a last, with a stem b. projecting up from it in which is a slot e through
which a tube d passes. e is a pin secured to the stem 6 of the last through one
set of the set of holes f f 72. The pin e passes through a slot g in the tube,
a spring in which always tends to keep it at the top of the slot
9.
The bottom of the tube d.is attached to a heel piece i by a pin k. In some
cases the heel piece may be dispensed with and a roller such as is shown in
the tree in Figure 3 may be advantageously substituted.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 the stem 6 is omitted and the tube d
is made shorter.
The bottom of tube d is forked and a roller is secured by an axis m which is
free to slide in a slot n in the heel piece.
The slot n may be dispensed with the tube d is then pivotted to the heel piece i.
In the case of top boots the tube is made telescopic one part sliding within the
.other and pressed apart by a spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A boot tree consisting of a last of the form of the upper portion of the boot,
a rod or tube pivotted at one end to the last, the other end resting against the
heel of the boot and a helical spring tending to press this end away from the
last.
2. A boot tree consisting of a tube or rod jointed by a pin to a last of the form
of the upper portion of the boot, the pin passing through a longitudinal slot
in the tube or rod and a spring bearing against the pin and pressing the tube or
rod outwards.
3. Boot trees substantially as described and shown in the drawings.