Improvements in Boot and Shoe Cleaning Mechanism.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot and Shoe Cleaning Mechanism.
I, ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., of 39, Old Hall
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a machine which can be run by hand or
mechanical power, and which will clean boots while on the wearers feet or off as
desired. The driving shaft if run by hand is preferably connected by gearing to a
countershaft. When used only for power the countershaft can be driven direct.
The countershaft has three cranks the outer ones at 180° with the centre one or
centre pair as the case may be each of them connected by a connecting rod to a
reciprocating bar. The outside reciprocating bars work the brushes on the outer
sides of the pair of boots, the central reciprocating bar works the brushes on the
inner sides of the said boots. The boots rest each on a little platform if they are
brushed on the foot, the person stands with his feet on each of these two platforms.
If they are off the foot they are clamped down by any convenient device on to the
platform, such as a heavy pair of trees formed of metal or a leaden weight with an
inflated sock round it capable of being inflated out so as to fill the boot, or two
screws can be pressed down from above into the boot and these can be surrounded
with an inflatable sock. The outer side of the foot, the front of the toes and half
the heel are brushed in the following manner :--On the outer reciprocating rod
are two oblique spindles, on these is a plate pressed out by springs from the rod.
Jointed to this plate is either one brush or two brushes on a bar. A spring on a
circular curved bar causes these brushes to stand out at right angles until in
reciprocating they strike the toe of the boot, they are then dragged to one side of
the boot by the bar still further reciprocating. In front of these is a second brush
supported by springs on a plate which itself is carried by two spindles passing
through the reciprocating bar at right angles and having distance springs and
regulating nuts. These as the bar reciprocates are brushed past the side of the
hoot polishing the same. If it is a high boot, a second brush hinged to its support
so that it can be thrown out of gear is also used above the first one, or the brush
can be made of any desired height. Behind this are two further brushes supported
preferably on diagonal spindles with similar plates and springs. Both these brushes
are arranged with springs to cause their further ends to project further than the
two ends of the brushes nearest each other. The result is that in reciprocating,
one brush strikes near the centre of the heel and is dragged round the heel, the
other as it is dragged past the heel is forced into the hollow part of the boot and so
tends to brush it. On the central reciprocating bar are two similar bruslies for
brushing the heel and the side of the boot. These heel brushes if desirable,
instead of being worked by springs can be worked by cams or cams and springs.
The top of the front of the boot is brushed by a brush with the bristles pointing
downwards. This runs on a carriage on a horse shoe rail crossing above the part
to be brushed. On this carriage is a spindle, and on the spindle two washers or
eyes connected by rigid links to two arms on the central and side reciprocating
bars respectively. The reciprocation of the bars, the two outer ones being at
180 degrees from the centre one, combined with the rail, cause the brush to cross
over the boot at each reciprocation, brushing the top of it. The two sides of the

page_text: machine being similar it is needless to describe the other side also. In thus
describing my invention I do not bind myself to the exact arrangements herein
described, for it is obvious that so long as the brushes in reciprocating are pressed
against the boot without too hard pressure, it is immaterial exactly how they are
guided. The apparatus as above described is used mainly for polishing. It is
obvious however that it can also be used for cleaning the boots, and even for
applying the blacking. In this case however at least two machines would have to
be employed, one to clean and polish, and the other to spread the blacking, and in
such case arrangements should be made whereby when the brushes momentarily
leave the boot they should be supplied with fresh blacking automatically by passing
the blacking roller or other device for giving them a slight coating of blacking.
Dated the 9th day of April 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
I, ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. of 39 Old Hall
Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, 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 has for its object a machine which can be run by hand or
mechanical power, and which will clean boots while on the wearer's feet or off as
desired.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete machine with a pair of boots in
position;
11
Figure 2 a section thereof on the line. ; and
Figure 3 a section on the line Y y.
In these,
A is the framework, and B the driving shaft. The latter if turned by hand is
preferably connected by gearing C to a countershaft D but if driven by power the
shaft D can be driven direct. The latter is provided with three cranks D' D³, the
outer ones D¹ being at an angle of 180° with the centre one D or the centre pair
as the case may be. These cranks are each connected by a connecting rod E to
reciprocating bar or carrier, the outer ones F of which work the brushes on the
outer side of the boots, and the central ones F the brushes on the inner sides of
the boots. If the boots are brushed on the feet of the wearer they rest each on a
platform G, the person standing with one foot on each platform with the toes
towards the cranks. If the boots are off the feet, they are held in position by
any suitable device keeping them to the platform. The outer side of the boots, the
front of the toe and half the heel or more than half are brushed in the following
Passing through the outer reciprocating rods F are the oblique
spindles H to which are attached plates H between which and the reciprocating
rods are placed springs H2. Jointed to the plates His auother plate I carrying
the brushes JJ, the brushes J being adapted to come against the toe of the boot,
and the brushes J¹ against the outer sides and heel as shown, the brushes in all
cases being connected by springs to the plate I. Springs K on circular or curved
bars, one end of which bars passes through projecting lugs K', the other end being
secured to the plate I causes these brushes to stand out approximately at right
angles, until in reciprocating they strike the boot; they are then drawn to one
side of the boot by the further reciprocation of the bar F, which movement
manner.

page_text: compresses the curved springs K and also the springs H to some extent and on
the return movement these springs return the brushes to their original position.
It will be observed that these brushes adapt themselves, owing to the flexible
connections, to the shape of the boot. The brushes J carried by the central
reciprocating bars Fare for brushing a portion of the beel, the inner side and a
portion of the toe of the boot, and are connected by springs as shown each to a
short plate L, such plates being hinged to a plate corresponding to the plate H¹
of the opposite side, except that it is longer and has two curved distance springs K.
If required, in this arrangement, the two brushes may be hinged together. M are
curved or horse-shoe rails fixed to the framework at N, which rail may be either
semicircular or it may comprise of a circle, their curved portion being located
above the boots, and O are carriages adapted to run on these rails and to carry
brushes P, Figure 2, with their bristles downwards for the purpose of brushing
the top of the front of the boot. These carriages are caused to travel on the
curved tracks by means of links Q which are pivoted at R to the carriages and
at their other ends to upright bars S fixed one to the inner and the other to the
outer reciprocating bars F and F. The reciprocation of the bars in combination
with the links Q and the curved rails M cause the brushes P to cross over the
boot at each reciprocation and as shown in Figure 2, owing to the spring connection
to adapt themselves to the exact shape of the boot.
It will be observed that the brushes P in Figures 2 and 3 are shown in the
centre of the curved rail M and right over the toes of the boots, while in Figure 1
they are shown moved round a little. This is for the sake of clearness to show
how the brushes adapt themselves to the shape of the boots.
The mode of action is as follows:-
:-
The cranks being as shown in their furthest position or at the end of their
stroke, the brushes will be approximately in the position shown. Now on the
return stroke, the brushes (J) having brushed the side and the larger portion of
the heel of the boot will leave it, and the top of the toe will then be brushed by
brushes (P) which, owing to the reciprocating bars F F¹ moving in opposite.
directions, will be caused to travel along the curved rail (M) to the opposite side.
In the meantime the brushes (J) will have reached the front of the toe of the
boot and will not only brush the toe but owing to the hinged plates and springs,
a portion of the outer side also, the top brush or brushes having first got clear
of the toe brushes J, and the brushes J' moving with the centre reciprocating bars
will also have brushed a portion of the heel, the inner side of the boot, the front
brush having also brushed a portion of the toe missed by the brushes J.
In thus describing my invention, I do not bind myself to the exact arrangements
herein described, for it is obvious that so long as the brushes in reciprocating are
pressed against the boot it is immaterial how they are guided. The apparatus as
above described is used mainly for polishing, but it will be obvious that it can also
be used for cleaning boots.
It is not intended that each machine shall have the attachment of the brushes
sufficiently complicated to clean all sizes or shapes of boots and shoes, but that
each machine should have such attachment sufficiently flexible or adjustable to
allow for the cleaning of boots or shoes of some slight variation in size or shape.
When the boots are cleaned off the feet, I put inside a last or its equivalent to
support the leather over the instep so that the brushes in passing over cannot press
the leather down and make it miss polishing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improvements in or relating to apparatus for cleaning or polishing boots
and shoes while on the wearer's feet or off as desired, substantially as described
and illustrated, also the following parts or improvements taken separately:-
(a) In combination the reciprocating bars or carriers, one located on each side

page_text: of and in proximity to the boot or shoe to be cleaned, brushes mounted on
these rods or carriers and provided with a series of spring connections to
render them resilient and capable of adapting themselves to the shape or
size of the boot or shoe and means for reciprocating the said rods substantially
as' described;
6) The combination of reciprocating rods or carriers having brushes such
as J J and J mounted thereon for brushing both sides of the boot or shoe,
the front of the toe and the heel, a fourth brush P for brushing the top of
the front of the boot, this brush being mounted with spring connections on
a carriage travelling in a stationary curved track and means for causing
said carriage to travel in a curved path simultaneously with the travel of
the other brushes, substantially as described;
c) The special arrangement of parts for mounting the brushes on the recipro-
cating bars or carriers, and for enabling the brushes when reciprocated to
adapt themselves to the shape and size of the boot or shoe, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 8th dex of November 1905
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.