An Improved Thimble or Lining for the Spindle Sockets of Boot and Shoe Lasts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Thimble or Lining for the Spindle Sockets of Boot
and Shoe Lasts.
I, JOHN EMMERSON SCOTT, of 1519, Lehigh Avenue, in the City of Philadelphia and
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Shoemaker, 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 improvements in devices for protecting from wear the
socket provided in a shoe last for the reception of the supporting spindle.
As is well known when these sockets are not provided with an interior inetal lining
the walls thereof, after a short period of use, become so worn and damaged that the
spindle will not fit snugly therein and, therefore, the last will not be properly and
firmly supported.
The object of the present invention is to provide a thimble or lining for such
spindle sockets, which will be cheap of manufacture, and which can be quickly fitted
in and securely retained within such a socket.
And, preferably, such thimble is made from a single sheet or blank of metal,
which is of such form as to provide, when bent into the finished shape, a tubular
body adapted to fit snugly within a spindle socket in a last and may be provided at
its upper and lower ends with means for attachment to the last; and, at an inter-
mediate point of its length, with auxiliary retaining devices arranged to engage with
the last to prevent rotation of the thimble in its socket.
I have illustrated embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings,
wherein -
Figure 1 is a plan view of a last having my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, section of the same.
Figure 3 is a view of the blank from which my improved thimble is formed.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the thimble or lining detached from the
last.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the thimble.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a shoe last, having a modified form of thimble
applied thereto.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the same.
Figure 8 is a detail view of said modified thimble.
Figures 9 and 10 are detail, sectional views thereof.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures of the
drawing, referring to which :-
A, designates the last and, A¹, the detachable last block which may be of any
desired construction.
The last, A, is provided with the usual spindle socket, e, and, B, designates, as a
whole, the thimble or lining for such socket, to which my invention relates.
n 4
077

page_text: This thimble or lining, B, is preferably made from a sheet metal blank, which may
be of the form illustrated in Figure 3. As shown in the last named figure the blank
is of such form as to have at one end three projecting, tapering tongues, C, C1, C2, the
central tongue, C, being wider and longer than those at, C1, C2, which are situated at
the side edges, b, of the blank. At its opposite end the blank is provided with a
suitable number (two in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in this
application) of projecting spurs, d. In the blank (adjacent to the sides, 6, in the
present form) are also formed slits or cuts, d, which thus separate, from the body of
the blank, the sides of triangular shaped prongs,
.
In constructing the thimble, B, from such a blank the latter is so bent about a
suitable former to bring the edges or sides, b, together and the tongues, C, C1, C2,
are bent outwardly from the body of the blank. When thus arranged it will be seen
that the tongues, C, C, lie close together and extend in a direction opposite to that
in which the tongue, C, projects from the body of the thimble.
lie
These tongues, C, C1, C2, thus form a flange or flanges at the upper end of the
thimble, B, which, when the body of the thimble is inserted in the socket, e,
against the upper side of the last, A.
The spurs, d, will penetrate into the body of the last at the bottom of the socket,,
when the thimble is placed therein and a further connection between the thimble and
last is effected by means of screws, D, which are passed through apertures, c, formed
in the tongues, C¹, C².
The spurs or prongs, ¹, are also provided as an additional ineans for securing the
thimble in position in its socket. When the blank is initially turned or bent into
tubular form these prongs are bent inwardly at an intermediate point in their length,
so that as shown in Figure 4 they assume a position in which their pointed ends
extend horizontally and lie flush with, or within, the outer surface of the thimble.
After the thimble has been properly placed within the socket, c, and the
spurs, d, embedded in the bottom of such socket a rod or plunger, having the
same diameter as the spindle which is to be used as a support for the last, is
forced down into the thimble and as it moves down over the inclined surfaces of
the prongs, d¹, the points of such prongs are forced outwardly and into the body
of the last surrounding the socket, e.
It will be noticed that I arrange the spurs, d', about the middle of the thimble,
vertically. By this arrangement I am able to more securely hold the thimble in
place than would be possible if such spurs were situated adjacent to the ends of the
thimble. If the spurs, d¹, were arranged near the upper end of the thimble, for example,
they would necessarily have to be relatively shorter and would not attain the firm
engagement with the socket wall that is desired. While, if they were situated near
the lower end, the turning of the last upon its spindle, when in use, and the consequent
tendency to twist or revolve the thimble in its socket would act to loosen the hold of
the spurs upon the socket wall.
When, however, the spurs are placed, and related to the other parts, as in my con-
struction the wall of the socket is not weakened by the engagement of numerous
spurs at closely adjacent points; and the thimble is also directly connected with the
last, both at its end and at points intermediate of its length.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the tongue, C, extends forward from the socket, c,
and projects partially over the last block and is thus adapted to serve as a spring holder
for retaining the last-block in its seat on the last.
In Figures 6 to 10 I have shown a modified form of thimble. In said figures, B¹,
designates said thimble, it being formed from a metal tube of the proper diameter
and length to fit snugly in the socket, e, and to extend throughout the length
thereof.
For the purpose of retaining this thimble or lining, B1, in place in the spindle
socket it is provided with a series of integral prongs adapted to be forced into
the body of the last.
In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated there are provided four of

page_text: these spurs or holding prongs, two of them, c, c, being arranged at the lower end and
extending longitudinally of the thimble; and the other two, c¹, c¹, being arranged at
diametrically opposite points, about midway of the length of the thimble, and adapted
to be projected transversely of the thimble into engagement with the last.
These last said spurs or prongs, c¹, cl, are stamped out or struck up from the body
of the thimble; and are, preferably, of the form shown in Figure 8. That is they
have a shank or stem, provided with substantially parallel longitudinal sides,
terminating in a V-shaped point, while the spurs, c, c, at the lower end of the thimble
are substantially triangular in form.
The shanks or stems of the lateral spurs or prongs, c¹, c', are initially bent inwardly
to extend into the bore or passage in the thimble; and so as to bring the points of such
spurs within the side lines of the thimble, and thus offer no obstruction or hinderance
to the insertion of the thimble into the socket, e.
After the thimble has been inserted in said socket and forced downward until the
prongs, c, c, thereof have been embedded in the bottom of the socket a suitable rod
or tool is inserted in the bore of the thimble and thereby the points of the spurs or
prongs cl, cl, are forced laterally beyond the thimble and embedded in the side walls of
the socket, e.
The thimble, B₁, is also provided, at its upper end, with an integral annular
flange, D¹, which, at diametrically opposite points, is extended to form cars or
lugs, D2, Dz.
When the thimble is properly placed in position in the socket this flange, D¹, and
the ears, D2, D2, thereof bear close against the surface of the last about the open end
of the socket, e, and protect such surface from the wear caused by the vibration of the
last on the spindle when in use.
In forming the thimble or lining shown in said Figures 6 to 10 I take a section of
tubing of the proper diameter and length; and, after cutting one end of the same
to provide the spurs, c, c, and stamping out the lateral prongs, c¹, c¹, I form slits or
cuts in the end of the tube opposite the spurs, c, c, so that when said upper end is
bent outwardly, the flange D₁, and the ears, D2, D2, will be formed and related as
shown.
It will be noted that this thimble is formed from a solid tubular blank, instead
of from a flat plate, as in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, and that the
flange, D, of the present improvement more completely protects the upper surface
of the last, it extending entirely around such socket instead of merely beyond two
sides thereof.
Again, the lateral spurs or prongs, c¹, c¹, are arranged at diametrically opposite
points, instead of having such spurs at one side only of the thimble.
From this description and the drawing it will be seen that I have provided a very
simple and efficient last-block fastener. One of the greatest advantages which it
possesses is that it does not require the employment of supplemental fastening devices
or springs nor the forming of sockets in or otherwise weakening or changing the last
or last-block.
That is my improved thimble can be readily inserted in the ordinary straight
cylindrical socket commonly formed in lasts and without requiring any change in any
part of the last-block, be secured in place and caused to protect the walls of the socket
from wear and also as a lock or fastening device for the last-block.
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 thimble for the spindle socket of a shoe last, having integral spurs or prongs
adapted to engage respectively with the bottom of a socket and side walls of said
socket at points above the lower end of the thimble, substantially as set forth.
2. A thimble or lining for sockets having at an intermediate point in its length a
spur or prong whose body extends into the bore of the thimble, when in inactive

page_text: position, and whose point is adapted to lie flush with or inside of the outer surface of
the thimble when the latter is inserted in a socket and to be forced beyond such
surface into engagement with the side wall of the socket, substantially as set forth.
3. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last, formed from a single
metallic blank bent to form a tubular body adapted to be fitted within a socket in a
last and provided at its upper end with a laterally projecting flange or lip adapted
to contact with the surface at the upper end of the last-block of the last to hold said
block in its seat, substantially as set forth.
4. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last, provided at its upper
end with an integral laterally projecting lip or flange adapted to engage the last-
block and having a retaining spur or prong adapted to engage with a wall of the
socket, substantially as set forth.
5. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last, having at its upper end
a flange or lip adapted to contact with the upper end of the last-block, substantially as
set forth.
6. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last, formed from a single
metallic blank having at its lower end and at an intermediate point in its length
spurs or prongs for engaging with the bottom and side walls of such a socket, and
also having at its upper end means for securing it to the body of the last beyond
said socket, substantially as set forth.
7. A thimble or lining, for the spindle socket of a shoe last having a retaining
spur or prong struck up or cut from the thimble body and normally having a portion
extending within the bore or passage in the thimble, and its point flush with, or inside
of, the outer face or surface of the thimble, and adapted to be forced beyond the
thimble into engagement with the wall of the socket, substantially as set forth.
8. The herein described thimble for the spindle socket of a shoe last formed from
a sheet metal blank having a spur, d, at one end, and a spur, d¹, cut from the body
of the blank, at an intermediate point in its length, the latter being bent to have its
body extend at an angle to its point and out of line with the body of the plate,
whereby, when the blank is rolled up to form the thimble, the spur, d, will project
beyond the lower end thereof; and the body of the spur, ¹, will extend into the
bore in the thimble, substantially as set forth.
9. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last having at intermediate
points in its length, and at diametrically opposite points, integral spurs or prongs
the stems of which are adapted to extend into the bore of the thimble when it is
being inserted in a socket to hold the points of said spurs inside of the outer face or
surface of the thimble, substantially as set forth.
10. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last formed from a tubular
blank which is cut at one end to provide longitudinally extending spurs c, c,
adapted to engage the bottom of a socket, and having its other end upset to form an
annular flange about the upper end of the thimble to protect the surface of the last
surrounding the socket from wear, substantially as set forth.
11. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a shoe last formed from a tubular
blank which has one end upset to form, at the upper end of the thimble, an annular
flange which extends beyond the outer surface of the vertical walls of the thimble at
all points and protects the last about the socket from wear, said thimble having also
a series of spurs or prongs for engaging with the walls of the socket, substantially as
set forth.
12. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a last formed from a section of
thin metal tubing which is provided with integral spurs for securing it to a last, and
has its upper end slit to provide two members which are bent outwardly to form a
flange about the upper end of the thimble, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
13. A thimble or lining for the spindle socket of a last formed from a section of
light metal tubing having at its upper end a flange adapted to conform accurately to
the top surface of a last about the spindle socket, and having in its tubular body

page_text: portion spurs adapted to engage with the last surrounding the spindle socket, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of April 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.