Improvements in Boot Trees.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot Trees.
I, LEWIS FRAZER of No. 15 Cliffords Inn, Fleet Street, London, E.C. Architect, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to improvements in folding boot trees. It has been generally
recognized that the ordinary boot trees being in separate parts are very inconvenient
and attempts have before been made to remedy this by making them in one
piece, but none of these have, so far, been successful as they are either too costly
or are not easily adjusted in boot.
My invention overcomes these difficulties as it is very easily adjusted and can be
made at small cost, it consists of the following:-
The tree is made in one piece except that the lower part of the back which fits
into the heel of boot is in a separate piece but attached to the tree by a hinge at its
upper end and a vertical rod or bolt with a handle attached to its upper end passes
down through the centre.
When the tree is being placed in the boot, the heel part is kept folded back in a
space cut out to receive it under the instep by means of a spring.
The tree is adjusted when in the boot by pushing down into position the rod or
bolt, the lower end of which forces out the heel part and so makes the tree fit
tight.
To withdraw tree from boot the rod or bolt is drawn up about two inches, this
releases the heel piece which owing to the spring before mentioned at once moves
inwards to the space made to receive it, the tree is then quite loose in the boot and
can easily be withdrawn.
The rod or bolt is prevented from being drawn up higher than is necessary owing
to a stop, but this can be adjusted so that it can be drawn right out if desired for
making it more convenient for travelling.
This tree will also apply to top boots but in this case the foot piece, which
corresponds to the fourth part of top boot trees now in general use, is made in a
separate piece and binged at the top as is done with the heel piece, and is also fitted
with a spring.
The same results may be obtained by fixing a lever at the lower end of the rod or
bolt, and on turning the handle to the right or left the heel piece would be forced out
into the required position as is done in the former case by pulling the handle up.
Dated this 27th day of November 1896
LEWIS FRAZER,
15 Clifford's Inn, Fleet Street, London, E.C.

page_text: Improvements in Boot Trees.
I, LEWIS FRAZER, of 15 Cliffords Inn, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Architect, 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 boot-trees. It has been generally
reeognized that ordinary boot-trees, consisting of separate parts, are inconvenient
chiefly on account of the liability of some of the parts to be either placed in the
wrong boot or mislaid, and numerous attempts have been made to remedy such
inconvenience by constructing each boot-tree with its parts permanently secured
together. These boot-trees have not however proved to be successful because they
are either too expensive for general use or not easily adjustable in the boot. My
chief object is to overcome these defects by constructing boot trees in the manner
hereinafter described whereby they are both simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect
I will describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations illustrating one form of my improved boot tree,
showing the same in its expanded or operative position, and in its folded or inoperative
position, respectively.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevations corresponding to Figures 1 and 2
respectively; and
Figure 5 is a sectional plan on the line 1, 1, of Figure 3.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are similar views to Figures 1 to 4, showing a modified
arrangement for operating the heel piece; and
Figure 10 is a sectional plan on the line 2, 2 of Figure 8.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are sectional elevations showing two further modified
arrangements for operating the heel piece.
Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 are similar views to Figures 1 to 4, showing a tree
adapted for use with top boots; and
Figure 19 is a sectional plan on the line 3, 3 of Figure 15.
Figures 20 and 21 are sectional elevations of a modified construction of top-boot-
tree, showing the same in its expanded and folded positions respectively; and
Figure 22 is a sectional plan on the line 4, 4 of Figure 20.
In all the figures like letters indicate similar parts.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, A is the main piece of the tree,
forming the toe, instep and top thereof, and having a hole or slot in its upper portion
in which slides the rod or bolt C. B is the heel piece hinged to the main piece at b,
and having an inclined surface 62 against which the lower extremity of the said rod C
bears. On pushing this rod C down it will expand or force outward the said heel
piece; and on drawing up said rod the spring b¹ will cause the said heel piece B to
turn or swing into the recess a in the main piece as clearly shown in Figures 2
and 4.
In Figures 6 to 10 I have shown a modified arrangement for operating the heel
piece, according to which I dispense with the spring b¹, and, in place thereof, I
provide the rod C with a transverse pin or one or more projections 63, as may be
desired, which work in slots or grooves in the said heel piece, as shown in Figure 10.
When the rod C is pulled up, the pin 63 will come against the strip 6 forming the
outer flange of the slot or groove b', and by raising the same, cause the heel piece to
turn or swing into the recess a as shown in Figure 9. When the rod or bolt C is

page_text: pushed down it operates the said heel piece in the same manner as previously described
with reference to Figures 1 to 5.
It will be readily seen that I may reverse the arrangement of the pin and slot, by
placing the pin or projections on the heel piece, and the slot or groove in the rod
or bolt.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of my invention in which the lower
extremity of the rod C is connected to the heel piece by a link f, said link having a
wedge-like or toggle-joint action when the rod C is pushed down, as will be easily
understood from the accompanying drawings. In these figures the rod C is shown
in a rearwardly inclined position, but obviously it may be arranged vertically or in
any other convenient position. Moreover, although I have shown the tree adapted to
be expanded or operated by pushing the rod down, I may, by suitably varying the
shape of the parts against which the said link bears, cause the tree to be expanded by
pulling the rod up. By this last arrangement the rod is always pushed inward to
its full extent when the tree is out of use, thereby effecting a saving of
space.
In Figures 13 and 14, I have shown an arrangement in which I provide two links
connected to the rod or bolt, one of which, f, is pivoted to the heel piece, (as in
Figures 11 and 12), and the other, f, to the main piece, behind the instep; thereby
lessening friction and reducing the extent of the projection of the rod or
bolt C.
In this arrangement the tree is expanded by pulling the rod up, but obviously
I may vary the construction so as to cause the pushing down of the rod to expand
the tree.
Figures 15 to 19 illustrate the application of my invention to a tree for top-boots.
In this construction the toe piece D is hinged at d to a swinging arın or link E,
which latter is hinged at e to the main or upper part A of the tree. A spring e' tends
to turn or swing the piece E, and consequently the toe piece D, inward; and the
hinge d connecting the pieces E and D) permits the latter to fall into the position
shown by the dotted lines in Figures 16 and 18, while the tree is being inserted or
withdrawn from the boot. The expansion of the tree is effected by pushing down the
vertical rod or bolt C in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1
to 5, the lower extremity of the said rod or bolt acting on the inclined surface e² of
the piece E, as well as on the heel piece, so that it operates the toe and heel pieces
simultaneously. On withdrawing the rod the springs bl and e' will turn or swing the
parts of the tree inward, as seen in Figures 16 and 18. If desired, I may dispense
with the springs b' c and draw inward the toe and heel pieces by the use of pins or
projections on the rod C, acting in a similar manner to the pins or projections
described in connection with Figures 6 to 10.
Figures 20 to 22 illustrate another form of tree for top-boots which is
expended by the toggle-joint composed of the links f and f pivoted to the lower
extremnity of the rod C. The link is hinged or connected to the heel piece by the
projections 2 at its extremity, which enter and slide in grooves or recesses f³ in said
heel piece. The link fis hinged or pivoted to the toe piece D at the point d, and
to this point is also connected the link E which serves to connect the toe piece to the
main piece of the tree. By these means the pushing down of the rod C will expand
the tree, as shewn in Figure 20, while the withdrawal of the rod will retract or cause
the parts of the tree to fold or turn inwards, as shown in Figure 21.
I wish it to be understood that, although I have described my improved boot tree
as being operated by a simple push or pull of the rod C, I may if desirable operate
the same by a screw rod or other suitable means, without departing from the nature
of my invention.
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
alaim is

page_text: 1. A boot-tree in which the parts A, B and C are constructed and adapted to
operate substantially as described.
2. A boot tree in which the hinged heel piece B is acted upon by the sliding
piece C, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 10 of
the accompanying drawings.
3. The modified construction in which the sliding piece C acts upon the hinged
heel piece B through the intervention of links, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 11 and 12 or Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. A boot tree in which the toe piece is arranged to be shifted towards the heel
piece, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
5. A tree for top boots constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 15 to 19 or Figures 20 to 22 and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.