Improvements in Devices for Stretching Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Stretching Boots and Shoes.
We, EDWARD JAMES LEIGHTON of 106 Howland Street, in the City of
Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and GEORGE EDWARD
BELCHER of Stoughton in the County of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, both
in the United States of America, Engineer and Manufacturer, respectively, 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 :--
The invention relates to that class of shoe stretchers in which is used a split
last, divided longitudinally, the two sections thus formed being hinged at the
rear and adapted to be spread apart by the advance of a wedge driven by a
screw.
As ordinarily constructed, the sections are hinged together positively, and the
force exerted in spreading the last is concentrated at two opposite points at the
toe of the shoe instead of being distributed over the whole interior of the forward
portion.
The object of our invention is to provide a last in which the sections are
hinged together in such a manner that they may separate laterally on parallel
lines to a limited extent, and may roll a little relatively to each other while being
held against longitudinal movement and at the same time spread angularly as
usual, thus allowing the last to fill the shoe and bring the pressure to bear equally
on all parts.
A-
"
hold-fast" of simple construction is also provided, to engage inside the
counter at the heel, and hold the last in position while distended in the shoe.
It holds reliably and is easily and quickly adjusted.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this Specification and represent what
we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the stretcher in place in a shoe.
Figure 2 is a view from above;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section ;
Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and,
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a portion.
It is
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The last shown is formed to match to a shoe having a very narrow toe.
divided longitudinally on the line a extending forward centrally from the rear
nearly to the toc, thence curving at a to the side, and ending at a², leaving the
extreme point of the last undivided, for the reason that the shoe does not need
stretching at that narrow extended forward portion, and as the last separates
more at the front than rear, its engagement in that part of the shoe interferes
with its proper action on the remaining portions. The point is on the right in
a last for the left foot and the left side in a right last. The two sections are
marked A, A¹.
The sections are hinged together by a shackle placed a little distance forward
from the extreme rear edge of the last. The connection consists of a cylindrical
bar C having a central enlargement or boss C' drilled and tapped to receive a
screw-threaded rod D, to be presently described. The bar C on each side of the
boss is cut away on its forward side to form a rectangular notch c.

page_text: It is received in a transverse conical hole a³ in each section, and is engaged to
the latter by a pin a driven nearly through each from above, and passing within
the corresponding notch c in that end of the bar. Thus connected, each section A, A',
is free to move laterally to the limited extent allowed by the notch c, and the
sections may swing apart to an angle limited by the same means and by the contact
of the interior rear edges of each, as is plainly indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 2. Longitudinal movement of one section relatively to the other is
prevented by the pin a filling the entire depth of the notch, and leaving no room
for play in that direction.
It
The rod D is screw-threaded nearly its entire length and is provided at the outer
or rear end with a suitable hand-wheel D¹ by which it may be turned. On the
inner end it carries a wedge or "heart" E, of malleable cast-iron, the function of
which is to separate the sections when advanced by the screw by acting against the
inclined surfaces a in the grooves formed on the interior of the sections. The
heart is a flat malleable iron casting having the contour indicated by its name.
lies in a horizontal plane with its point forward and is finished on its inclined
sides E to ride smoothly on the inclined surfaces a in the last. Lugs e, formed as
projecting spurs, receive between them a collar D on the reduced forward portion
of the rod, and are bent down in place by suitable dies or other tools, to engage
the collar loosely and inclose the reduced portion of the rod.
The latter is finished true on the end and delivers the thrust to a correspondingly
finished surface on a spur e' projecting rearwardly from the front in the open
interior space of the heart, thus relieving the collar D and its inclosing lugs e from
all strain during the severe forward motion; depending on them to effect the
withdrawal of the heart when the screw-threaded rod D is turned in the reverse
direction.
His a yoke having an opening drilled or otherwise produced in the central
portion, through which the rod D passes. It is tapped to match to the pitch of the
screw-threads but the diameter of the opening is larger than the rod so that the
yoke may slide freely on the latter without being turned thereon. It has tubular
guides H, one on each side, the axes of which are at right angles to the rod.
These guides receive the parallel arms H₁ of a loop H³ of heavy wire, the bight
of which extends downward to abut against the interior of the shoe at the heel.
The upper ends of the arms are bent inward at H' to complete the loop and prevent
its dropping through the guides, and also to serve as a handle by which it may be
drawn upward.
J is a convex cast-metal attachment or "bunion piece," having a round shank J
formed by inserting an ordinary rivet in the mould and flowing the metal around
the head. It may be set in either of a series of holes on the outside surface of
each section, and serves its usual function of increasing the strain and corre-
spondingly enlarging the shoe at the point required.
In using the stretcher the yoke H is slid forward on the rod D sufficiently to
allow the loop H³ to enter the heel portion of the shoe when the last is inserted.
The last is then pushed forward as far as required, and the yoke slipped back
until its loop is in contact with the counter in the interior at the heel. It is held
by the engagement of its screw-threads with the threads on the rod, and the
cramping due to the strain. The hand-wheel D₁ is then turned in the direction to
force the heart E forward between the inclined inner surfaces on the sections A, A',
turning in the yoke without releasing the latter. The sections yield and separate,
and by reason of the looseness of the shackle connection bear fairly and equally
on the interior of the shoe, distributing the strain to all parts and insuring a
uniform stretching.
The distended last may be left in the shoe indefinitely without relaxing the strain
on the latter, as the tendency to slip rearward is reliably resisted by the holdfast. J
Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits.
Instead of the pointed last shown, standard lasts split centrally from the rear to
the toe may be employed.

page_text: The bar C may be set further forward or rearward in the sections.
Other forms of the loose hinge connection may be used. We prefer the whole
as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven™
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
--
1. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, a last in sections, connected together by a
loose hinge, as the bar C having notches c, engaged by a pin at in each section, so
that the said sections may separate laterally on parallel lines and also swing toward
and from each other while held against longitudinal movement, in combination
with means as the heart E and screw D adapted to force the sections apart, all
substantially as herein specified.
2. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, a last divided longitudinally into
sections A, A', on a line extending centrally from the rear nearly to the point and
thence to one side, so that the undivided point is carried on one of said sections,
in combination with means as the heart E and screw D for separating the sections,
all substantially as herein specified.
3. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, the heart E and lugs thereon, the
screw D and collar D' engaged between the lugs, in combination with each other
and with the last sections A, A¹, and screw-threaded boss C'engaged therewith,
all substantially as herein specified.
4. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, the heart E and lugs e thereon, the screw D
and collar D' thereon engaged between said lugs, in combination with each other
and with the bearing surface e in the heart, adapted to receive the end thrust of
the screw and relieve the strain on said lugs and collar, all substantially as
specified.
5. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, the last sections A, A', the bar C having
the boss C and notches c, pins a in the sections, engaged in said notches, in
combination with the screw D received in said boss and carrying a heart E adapted
to separate the sections when the screw is turned, and with means as the yoke H
and loop H carried by the said screw and adjustable thereon, substantially as
berein specified.
6. In a stretcher for boots and shoes, the last sections A, A1, binged together
and adapted to be separated by turning the screw-rod D, in combination with the
latter and with the yoke H and loop H³ adapted to ergage the interior of a shoe
at the rear, the said yoke having an opening larger than the said rod and screw-
threaded to match to the pitch of the threads thereon, so that the yoke will slide
freely on the rod and engage therewith when required, by the interlocking of the
screw-threads on each, all substantially as herein specified.
Dated this Twenty-third day of September 1895.
EDWARD JAMES LEIGHTON.
GEORGE EDWARD BELCHER.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Agents.