IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT-JACKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALOIS GEHRIG-LIECHTI of Zurich in Switzerland, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT-JACKS, to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate to the more commodius, easy and painless removal of
boots and such like than heretofore without damaging or deforming them.
The improvements comprise the construction of boot-jacks, for withdrawing
boots etc. with spurs on and the combination of pliable and folding boot-jacks.
Also the special shape given to the part which catches the heel of the boot, per-
mitting small, as well as large boots to be withdrawn and preventing the slipping
through of the boot, when pulling and lastly an elastic counter-holder instead of a
rigid or stiff one.
The boot-jack for domestic use can be provided with an out-cut to allow of with-
drawing spurred boots. The fore part or counter-holder is made of a caoutchouc
tube, stuffed with a suitable material or may be left hollow, the tube is kept fast to
the fork by metallic tubes or other convenient fastening.
The under part is composed of two pieces pivoted in a hinge-joint which is
screwed on both parts of the boot-jack, a metallic foot is supplied made of two
parts, pivoting on a pin so that they can be turned away or towards tho centre to
allow of the folding of the fore part upon or over the back. When open the fore
part is kept in position by the convenient hooks and pins-the counter-holder may
also be composed of two spiral springs, placed one in another, the larger one joining
both ends of the fork, the smaller one reaching only a small distance, thus
effectuating the transition from the stiff to the elastic part. The springs may be
covered by a caoutchouc-tube or left open.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALOIS GEHRIG-LIECHTI, of Zurich, Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT-JACKS, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
These improvements have for their object the commodious and painless removal !
of boots and such like without damaging and deforming them.
The improvements relate to the construction of boot-jacks for withdrawing
boots etc with spurs on, also to the combination of folding and of decomposable
boot-jacks.
The special shape given to that part, which catches the heel of the boot, permits
to withdraw small as well as large boots and prevents the boot from slipping
through, when being pulled.
The improvements also comprise an elastic counter holder, instead of a
rigid one.
The annexed drawing represents various kinds or forms of boot-jacks embodying
my invention.
Fig. 1. is a plan and Fig. 2 a cross section of a bootjack for domestic use, provided
with a recess a to allow of withdrawing spurred boots. The fore-part or counter-
lolder b is made of an india rubber tube, which may be left hollow or filled with
any suitable material. It is attached to the forked part of the bootjack by metallic
tubes a
:
Fig. 3. is a bottom view and Fig. 4 a section of a folding bootjack. The body or
platform of the bootjack is composed of two pieces connected by a hinge-joint e e¹
formed by metallic hinge-pieces screwed on to the body of the bootjack.
The metallic foot or stand is made of two parts, pivoted on a pin or stud g so
that they can be turned towards the centre (as indicated in Fig. 3 by dotted lines)
to allow of the folding of the fore part upon or over the back. When open or
extended, the fore part is kept in position by hooks and pins f, f¹ shown in
Fig. 4.
-
As shown in Fig. 3, the counter-holder may also be composed of two helical
springs placed one inside the other, the larger one joining both ends of the fork,
while the smaller one reaches but a short distance, thus effecting the transition
from the stiff to the elastic part. The springs may be covered by a rubber tube, or
left open.
Figs. 5 and 6-show the same folding combination, but with a recess a¹ for the
passage of spurs, to which end the two parts of the foot or stand are curved.
Fig. 7 represents a bottom view and Fig. 8. a cross section of a bootjack which
can be decomposed into two parts namely the plank A and the counter-holder B,
which latter is supposed to be of wood. The wooden foot C has two holes h to
receive the ends of the counter holder, which are armed with metallic tubes b¹,
adapted to slide in and out and to be fixed by means of binding screws c, so as to
render the bootjack suitable for long and for short feet,

page_text: The heel part, instead of being semi-circular, is formed by converging sides i as
shown by the drawings, to render the same bootjack equally suitable for large and
for small boots.
What I claim as my invention is
1) An elastic counter-holder, made of a stuffed or hollow elastic tube, or of
helical springs, or of a tube and springs combined, as described.
2) The specially shaped heel part adapted to fit for large as well as for small
boots and to prevent the slipping through of the heel, substantially as illustrated.
3) A boot jack provided with a recess a to permit or facilitate the removal of
spurred boots, substantially as illustrated.
4) Folding boot-jacks constructed and composed substantially as described and
illustrated by Figs 3.-6.
5) A boot-jack adapted to be decomposed into two parts substantially as described
and illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8.
A. GEHRIG-LIECHTI.
By Herbert & Co., Agents,
67, Strand.