IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
We EDMUND NEWBERRY of 70 Northall Street and JOHN WILLIAM SHARP
Engineers of 24 Thorngate Street, THOMAS HENRY SALMON and FRANKLIN JACKSON,
the latter parties trading as Salmon & Jackson of the Victoria Works, Engineers, all
of Kettering in the County of Northampton, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
"
This Invention has for its object Improvements in and appertaining to lasts used in
the manufacture of boots and shoes and relates to improvements on our former
Patent No. 464 A.D: 1886 wherein a detachable heel block was shown as being
secured to the foot portion of the last by an horizontal sliding bolt which served to
lock the said parts firmly in their relative positions and yet at the same time readily
admitting of being detached.
In the specification of the aforesaid patent we set forth, and illustrated a method
of adjusting the instep and our present improvements also relate to improvements
theron and in conjunction with lasts having detachable heel blocks or other parts.
According to our invention the bolt which serves to lock the heel block to the last
is continued through the said last to a point immediately underneath the instep and to
effect this the last is hollowed out. The loose instep which is hinged towards the toe
is suitably shaped and at the instep end is provided with a pivotted rod which extends
downwards in the cavity or hollow of the foot portion of the last. This rod in
addition to its pivot is connected to the instep by a spring which serves to keep the
rod vertical when in position and to allow of the same being capable of being moved
simultaneously with the releasing of the sliding bolt. The rod is provided with an
adjustable collar which rests upon a step or projection on the last and the aforesaid
bolt passing through as before described and being pushed forward by the lever to
release the heel, the movement thereof serves at the same time to push the instep rod
from its position on the step and so release both the heel and the instep and allow of
the ready withdrawal of the last from the boot.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings Figure 1. is a side elevation and Figure 2. is a plan.
At Figure 3. we have shown the last and the arrangement of the bolt in sectional
elevation with the heel portion removed. Similar letters of reference refer to like
parts in all the Figures. A is the last. B is the detachable heel piece. Û is the
controllable instep hinged to the last at D. To this controllable instep is pivotted
at the rod-a-which is connected to the instep before referred to by the
spring It is upon this rod that the collar--is attached and it is free to slide
up and down the said rod-a-in order to determine the height of the instep.
In the loose heel piece there is an opening E cored out in order to allow of the
insertion of a Lever serving to operate on the end of the locking bolt F which passes
through the last A as will be seen more clearly with reference to Fig. 3.
On the end of this sliding bolt is a wire rod F¹ the end of which enters a hole
parallel to that in which the bolt F slides. This part F¹ not only prevents the bolt
from turning but serves to retain the part F.
In Fig. 3. the bolt F is shown in its normal position assumed by the application of
the spring F2 as shown in Fig. 3. Immediately on depressing the Lever, and
operating on the end of the rod F the opposite end F serves to actuate the rod-a-
and its collar-e-and releases it from its position on the step-d-by which move-
ment the said rod-a-assumes the position shown at Fig. 4. By this movement of
the instep the heel piece is simultaneously detached and the last readily removed from
the boot.
It will be seen that owing to the curve of the parts G and H referred to in our
former specification the said parts are as readily released and as readily and securely
locked. In figure 5 we have shown another modification of the horizontal bolt. In
this example the instep is connected to the last by a flexible hinge at D as shown at
Fig. 5. It may be as shown by means of springs or in some cases it may be by a
loose connection. In this example we have shown the rod-a-with the collar-e-
secured to the said rod in any desired position by means of a set screw; in this
example the bolt F is at the last end provided with a head F1 which serves to prevent
the bolt from entering too far into the heel portion B. This bolt is retained in its
normal position by a flat spring F instead of by a coil spring as shown in the
previous examples. In this modification we have shown the heel portion provided
with a wearing piece marked B¹ secured to the said hcel portion by a screw or other
suitable device. This wearing piece may be of steel or other suitable metal and may
be provided with a slot in order that it may be set up to the bolt and properly
adjusted. In this figure we have shown the Lever I for disconnecting the parts A
and B. It will be obvious that this locking bolt instead of passing through the
portion of the last may be attached to the heel portion and in Fig. 6 we have shown
a modification of the same. Instead of the opening for the insertion of the Lever
being provided in the heel portion we find it advantageous that the said space should
be in the last; the bolt F on the insertion of a suitable Lever is disconnected from
the part A and simultaneously it has been found that this movement of the Lever may
serve to operate upon the sliding bolt F* for effecting the release of the instep as
described with reference to the previous figures.
We would have it understood that instead of a sliding bolt F that the same may be
hinged in a manner well known in the trade without departing from the essential
features of our said invention.
We are aware that it is not new to divide a last by arranging a detachable heel for
the purposes which are well known, such lasts having been divided in a similar manner
at the commencement of the present century and in which the hinged locking
connection or catch has been described, however we would have it understood that to
this we lay no claim.
In Figures 7 and 8 we have shown in part plan and side elevation, respectively a
modification of the connection between the instep C and the last A whereby the
instep is free to be moved and at the same time readily detachable. We provide the
instep with a flat surface Cx and pivot D. This pivot forms the fulcrum of the instep
and works in the corresponding recesses in the last, as shown. To attach the instep C

page_text: it must be inserted at or about the angle shown at X Fig. 8, which when locked to
the last assumes the position indicated by Y in the same figure.
According to this part of our improvements there is no necessity for any fitting,
the parts being connected in an unfinished state being slid into position from the
side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we would have it understood that
what we claim is
1st. In combination with a divided last the irregular division connected by the
curved projections G and H in combination with a horizontal sliding bolt F for
locking the foot and the heel portions to the said last substantially as herein described
and set forth with reference to figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In divided lasts the combination of a hinged or loose instep provided with an
adjustable step actuated simultaneously with the disconnection of the heel piece as
shown and described with reference to the various figures of the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In divided lasts provided with an adjustable instep the combination of the
locking bolt F in the heel portion B and the releasing bolt F* in the foot portion
operated upon simultaneously and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4th. In a divided last the projecting locking parts G and H in combination with
the sliding bolt F working in the heel portion B whether in a radial or horizontal
manner substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
set forth.
5th. In lasts where a loose or pivotted instep is employed the detachable method
hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 7 and $ of the
accompanying drawings.
JAMES F. PHILLIPS,
11, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.