A Pneumatic Boot Tree and Stretcher.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1891—Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Pneumatic Boot Tree and Stretcher.
I, FREDERICK TENNEY, of 11 Boothferry Road, Goole, in the County of York,
Boot and Shoe Maker, 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 :-
My invention relates to the construction of a boot tree or stretcher, which when
placed within the boot or shoe can be inflated by air, or other suitable fluid to give
the required pressing or stretching effect, in place of the ordinary solid tree or
stretcher expanded by means of wedges or screws.
. In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which represent a boot tree or stretcher,
constructed in accordance with my invention;
Fig. 1 is an external side elevation of the stretcher complete.
Fig. 2 is an under plan of the sole.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of an external stay.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the tree top.
Fig. 5 is an elevation and Fig. 6 a section of same.
Fig. 7 is an elevation and Fig. 8 a section of the air-plng.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the drawings.
The body A, Fig. 1, of the apparatus is cor posed of in lia rubber sheeting
cemented together in the form of a boot or shoe tree, and is provided with internal
and external stays of linen, or other suitable material to prevent expansion where
not required.
B, Fig. 2, is the sole, also made of india rubber. It is strengthened and protected
against injury by means of a light sheet metal plate covered with felt or other
suitable substance. This metal plate is fastened externally to the india rubber by
its outer covering overlapping the edge, and being cemented to the bottom edge of
the tree. It can be made with or without a steel waist spring, as desired.
The tip C, of the toe of the tree, is made of a small piece of vulcanized rubber,
or hard leather.
The head D of the tree is made of vulcanite, or metal, or other suitable material,
of the form shewn in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6.
It is cemented into place, and, if necessary the joint is wrapped round with fine
cord, or a coloured band.
In the centre of the head is a screwed orifice E, which is closed by a screw plug F.
A tapered hole H is made through the plug, which can be closed by a tapered
stopper, or any other suitable device. The shoulder J on the plug, seats airtight on
a washer in the recess K. A piece of elastic is placed over the small end of the
tapered hole to prevent air escaping after the apparatus is inflated.
The dotted line L represents a small air hole, which can be opened to permit the
escape of the air, by partially unscrewing the plug. Any other suitable form of
stop valve may be employed in place of the plug F if desired.
M is a loop, attached to the heel of the sole, to draw out the tree from the boot.
The dotted lines N in Fig. 1, indicate the internal stays, which are made of
linen, or other similar material and cross the tree from top to bottom. They
are cemented in place, and are secured to the head D. The cross stays are fixed
in position on a block and are cemented or sewn to the side stays. The dotted
lines P in Fig. 2 shew where the stays are cemented to the sole. The external side
stay Q, is made of waterproof sheeting, or other suitable material, and is seamed up
the back, it is securely cemented on the body A. The dotted lines R in Fig. 2,
shew where the cross stays cross the sole, they may or may not be cemented to it
as desired.

page_text: A cover for stretching and other purposes, is made to go over the tree and is
formed of linen or any other suitable material and furnished with corn and bunion
relievers, it is laced up the back and is cut to the same size as the tree.
The said corn and bunion relievers may be made of hard vulcanized rubber or
leather, fixed on a piece of elastic sheeting and cemented in the required position
on the linen cover.
The tree is so designed that the parts D and F project above the top of the boot
to form a hand hold.'
The apparatus may be inflated by a pump or other suitable means and is adapted
for stretching boots and shoes of every description.
It gives a uniformly distributed pressure over the whole interior surface of the
boot and shoe, without unduly straining any part, whereas the ordinary apparatus
gives a more or less violent strain in one or two directions only, and in consequence
frequently injures the boot or shoe to which it is applied.
It will be understood that though the tree, as shewn in the drawings, is more
particularly intended for use with an ordinary boot, the design may be varied to
suit shoes or boots of other shape, without departing from the principle of the
invention.
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 and stretcher formed of a flexible chamber, which, when inserted
in a boot or shoe, can be inflated with air or other suitable fluid to give a pressing
or stretching effect to the said boot or shoe.
2. A boot-tree and stretcher, consisting of a hollow flexible chamber, capable of
expansion by air or other suitable fluid and formed of india rubber sheeting
provided with internal and external stays N and Q of linen, or other suitable
material, so arranged and fixed thereto as to limit the expansion of the chamber to
the parts required, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the sole of a hollow expansible boot-tree and stretcher
of an external sole formed of sheet metal covered with felt or other suitable material,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination with a hollow expansible boot-tree and stretcher, of a suitable
stop valve to admit air or other suitable fluid to expand the chamber, to retain the
fluid when expanded and permit its escape when required.
5. The combination with the body of a hollow expansible boot-tree and stretcher,
of a head D, having an aperture E to receive a suitable stop valve, substantially as
set forth.
6. The combination with the head D of a hollow expansible boot-tree and stretcher
of a stop valve F, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a hollow expansible boot-tree and stretcher, of a
cover to fit over the tree and carry corn and bunion relievers, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1891.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.