Apparatus for Locally Stretching Boot and Shoe Uppers.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Locally Stretching Boot and Shoe Uppers.
We, JAMES SAUNDERS MARSHALL, trading as Dowie and Marshall at 455, The
Strand, London, Bootmaker; and JAMES BOWLER of 33, Raphael Street, Knights-
bridge, London, S.W. Boot Tree Maker; do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide apparatus whereby boot uppers may
be locally stretched and the whole of the stretching force be concentrated in the
part required to be stretched for the purpose of relieving the pressure of a corn,
bunion, joint, tender instep, or other part of the foot, without expanding any other
part of the upper but the part intended to be stretched as is done when stretchers
as at present made are used for the purpose.
The apparatus consists of a tree or last divided longitudinally and chambered
to contain a sliding block or wedge and provided with a number of holes to
receive the stems of changeable knobs or plates by which pressure can be brought
to bear on the inside of the upper wherever desired by the action of the wedge
or block upon the inner ends of the stems. The knobs or plates would vary in
size and to some extent in shape, to provide for producing enlargements of different
characters but in all cases they would be so rounded off as to avoid risk of damaging
the upper.
The wedge or block is operated by a rod verticall mounted in bearings in the
rear portion of the last or tree through a rack and pinion or other equivalent
gear so as to produce the required longitudinal movement of the wedge for the
purpose of forcing the knobs outwards against the upper in which position they
are held in opposition to the tendency of the upper to contract by a suitable locking
device. In lieu of the rack and pinion gear and locking device we may employ
worm gear.
101
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Apparatus for Locally Stretching Boot and Shoe Uppers.
We, JAMES SAUNDERS MARSHALL, trading as Dowie and Marshall at 455, The
Strand, London, Bootmaker; and JAMES BOWLER of 33, Raphael Street, Knights-
bridge, London, S.W. Boot Tree Maker; 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:-
The object of this Invention is to enable a boot tree to be readily adapted to
fulfil the purpose of locally stretching any part of a boot upper that may be
desired for the purpose of relieving pressure on a corn, bunion, joint, instep, or
other tender part of the front portion of the foot, the construction and operation
of the tree being such that the stretching force is applied locally and not generally,
that is to say is concentrated on the particular part intended to be stretched.
For the purpose of this Invention the tree is provided at all the positions where
local stretching is likely to be required, with guide sockets adapted to receive
the stems of pressure knobs or plates of various forms and dimensions and which
are applied wherever required and in whatever position applied are expanded or
forced outwards by the action on the inner ends of their stems of a wedge block
contained within the tree and operated by worm and toothed gear.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a sectional plan view of
a boot tree provided with the improved apparatus.
The tree cousists of a front portion A to which this Invention is applied and a
heel portion B united by an intervening wedge piece C with tongue and groove
sliding joints as usual to enable the parts to be inserted and removed.
The part A is provided at various positions with guide sockets i for the
reception of the stems e of pressure plates or knobs E and one or more of which
may be placed in position at the same time, as may be required. Within a
chamber formed in the part A is a longitudinally sliding block F of cast iron
having inclined surfaces in various positions as at f adapted to act with wedge-like
effect upon the inner ends of the stems e so as to cause an outward thrust of the
various pressure plates E this block F being guided in its motion by the sides
of the chamber in which the wedge block is contained (see Figure 2). The sliding
motion of the wedge block F by which the outward thrust of the plates E is
produced may be imparted, through a toothed rack i fixed to the rear part of the
block, from a pinion j mounted in a stationary bracket and in gear with the
rack i and with a worm on a vertical spindle K passing up through the ankle
portion of the part A of the tree and provided with a handle at top for turning it
by, a "Geneva Stop" being provided if desired for limiting the number of turns
that may be given to operate the wedge block F, to prevent bursting the boot
upper.
The stems e of the pressure plates E may be more or less normal in direction to
the surface of the tree, according to the direction in which the thrust is required
Generally, but not necessarily, they would be inclined towards the heel end of the
tree, as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination, with a boot tree, of one or more pressure plates or knobs
having stems fitted to slide in guide sockets in various positions, and of a wedge-

page_text: like sliding block fitted within the tree and adapted to act on the inner ends of the
stems so as to cause an outward thrust of the pressure plates or knobs substantially
as specified.
2. The combination, with a boot tree, of one or more pressure plates or knobs
having stems fitted to slide in guide sockets in various positions, and of a wedge
like sliding block fitted within the tree and adapted to act on the inner ends
of the stems so as to cause an outward thrust of the pressure plates or knobs, and
of means for operating the sliding wedge block substantially as specified.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.