Improvements in Foot Scrapers and Cleaners.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Foot Scrapers and Cleaners.
I, ROBERT JOHN TRUMBULL, of San Rafael, in the County of Marin, State of
California, United States of America, Seedsman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved device for cleaning boots and shoes and is
usually placed at the doors of dwellings and other buildings to be used before entering
the same.
The invention consists of two uprights carrying a scraper and wiper composed of a
web of india-rubber and metal respectively held in position by lugs upon the outside
of a metal-tray.
From the upright plates extend rearwardly curved spring brushes which meet
centrally and engage with the heel of the boot or shoe and wipe the same after the
soles have been engaged by the two scrapers.
To the removable tray are cast the lugs to receive the standards the edges of which
are chamfered to enter the lugs in a manner similar to connecting the legs to stoves.
By this means a sufficient base is provided for the scrapers and the standards can be
removed for the purpose of emptying the tray of accumulated dirt...
The two standards are connected by a metal-scraper set on edge and a web of
india rubber contained or held in a channel iron is placed in front or rear of the
scraper and yields to the pressure of the foot at the same time the metal scraper
engages it; one member or web of the channel-iron is greater than the other in
order to prevent the rubber from buckling, and should the rubber become worn
by constant use below the line of the metal-scraper it is raised up by means of the
strip of wood placed in the bottom of the channel or trough. As thus constructed
and arranged not only is the bottom of the boot or shoe scraped by the metal-scraper,
but the sole is wiped also by the web of the rubber.
For cleaning the sides of the boot or shoe 1 employ spring arms, these are also
connected to the standards by the lugs in the same manner as the standards are
connected to the tray; these spring arms are curved or bent inwardly, so that the
ends nearly meet and the inner faces are provided with brushes either composed of
bristles or animal or vegetable fibre.
By this arrangement of springs and brushes the whole of both sides of the boot or
shoe is engaged and cleaned at one operation, first, the heel is engaged by the
meeting ends of the spring brushes followed by the sides and edges of the sole until
the whole shoe is deprived of its filth which falls into the tray to be removed at
pleasure.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ROBERT JOHN TRUMBULL, of San Rafael, in the County of Marin, State of
California, United States of America, Seedsman, 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 an improved device for cleaning boots and shoes and is
usually placed at the doors of dwellings and other buildings to be used before entering
the same.
The invention consists of two uprights carrying a scraper and wiper composed of a
web of india rubber and metal respectively, and held in position by lugs upon the
outside of a metal tray.
From the upright plates curved springs carrying brushes extend rearward and the
brushes meet centrally and engage with the heel of the boot or shoe and wipe the
same after the soles have been engaged by the scrapers.
To the removable tray is cast lugs with which the standards engage, a similar lug
being cast upon them, the edges of which are chamfered to enter the lugs of the tray
in a manner similar to connecting the legs to stoves. By this means a sufficient base
is provided for the scrapers and the tray can be easily removed for the purpose of
emptying the accumulated dirt.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective-view.
Figure 2 a plan or top-view.
Figure 3 a side-elevation of pan or tray.
Figure 4 a side-elevation of standards and brushes; the front standard being
broken away to expose parts behind.
The two standards A A are connected by a metal-scraper B and metal bars g g set
on edge, and a web of india rubber G* contained or held between said metal bars g g
is placed in the rear of the scraper B and yields to the pressure of the foot at the
same time the metal scraper engages it; and should the rubber G* become worn by
constant use below the line of the metal scraper it is raised up by means of a strip of
wood placed in the bottom of the space between the metal bars 9 g. The renovable
tray connects with the standards A A by means of the lugs H and H*.
As thus constructed and arranged not only is the bottom of the boot or shoe
scraped by the metal scraper, but the sole is wiped also by the web of the rubber.
For cleaning the sides of the boot or shoe I employ two curved brushes C C which
are hinged upon curved strap-hinges one leaf of which is screwed to the back of the
wiping brush CC and the other extends forward and connects with the standards
upon the inside.
To give greater tension to the hinges that carry the brushes the springs E E are
employed, the curved ends of which rest against the flat straps of the hinges D and
the opposite ends extend forward upon the inside of the standards to which they
are connected, one screw or rivet holding both leaves in position.
The brushes are composed either of bristles or vegetable fibre the former being
preferable. By this adjustment of springs and brushes the whole of both sides of the
boot or shoe is engaged and cleaned at one operation, first, the heel is engaged by the
meeting ends of the spring brushes followed by the sides and edges of the sole until
the whole shoe is deprived of its filth which falls into the tray to be removed at
pleasure.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of the pivoted spring brushes with the fixed
standards carrying a metallic scraper and elastic cleaner, as described.
2. In a boot scraper and cleaner, the combination of uprights or stationary
supports set at suitable distance apart to admit the foot, a horizontal scraper uniting
said uprights, a removable tray adapted for insertion between said uprights and
having lugs to engage said uprights, brush-blocks having curved outer end portions
attached at or near their inner ends to the uprights by hinge connections at
converging angles with their curved ends normally in contact on the center and
springs secured to said uprights and adapted to hear upon the back of the brush-
blocks beyond the hinges, as set forth.
Dated this 12th dox of Tonu 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.