Improvements in Last-block Fasteners.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
Improvements in Last-block Fasteners.
I, CHARLES CALTON, residing at No. 100 Johnson Street, in the City of
Brooklyn, Kings County; in the State of New York, United States of America,
Model 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 last and the block may be of any ordinary forms and materials. I can
employ an ordinary pin or dowel set in the last and engaging in a groove in the
under face of the block provided to receive it. In the rear face of the recess in the
last, I provide a groove running centrally up and down in the incline and bridge
across it by a stout bar, formed staple-wise and firmly set in the last flush with the
face which meets the block. In the block adjacent to the point where the said bar
stands in use, I set a rounded projection or stud, formed in my experiments, by
inserting a convex-headed screw or nail, and allow the swell of the head to project,
and further rearward on the same under face of the block, and in the same central
line, I set a flat spring lying in the central groove and extending forward beyond
such projection and pressing upward against it when the block is in position on the
last. The block is applied to the last a little in rear of its final position, and
engaged by sliding it forward. In the movement forward the spring engages under
the cross-bar or bridge. It holds by its elastic force so that the block cannot be
lifted squarely out of contact with the last, but except for the locking due to the
projecting screw-head or its equivalent, the block might be easily displaced by a
reversion of the movement by which it was slid into place.
'
In the act of sliding the block into place its projection or stud strikes the cross-
bar or bridge, the rounded surface of said projection riding over said bridge and
lifting the block in order to pass it. After passing this obstruction or bridge the
block snaps down again with the energy due to the elastic action of the spring, the
projection passing in front of the bridge, and thereafter the block is effectively
retained against all ordinary displacement.
In order to remove the block the latter must be drawn rearwardly with sufficient
force to cause the projection or stud to ride over the bridge rearwardly by lifting
the block against the action of the spring. My fastening device is simple and
dural le, and unusually reliable. The block is restrained by its form and its engage-
ment in the recess in the last, and also by the dowel-pin, against being removed
farther forward. And it is held by the dowel in its proper groove and also by the
spring in its groove against any movement laterally. It is held by the whole force
of the spring against being lifted, and the locking due to the action of the spring
on the stud, while not so strong as to involve any serious difficulty when the shoe
is finished and it is desired to remove the block so as to liberate the last, forms a
very reliable fastening against all accidental forces either while the last is within
the shoe or while it is out of use.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out
the invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a last provided with my improvements.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the last with the block removed showing the
central groove and the bridge across it.
Figure 4 is an under-side view of the block showing my block-fastener in
position

page_text: Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section through the last and block, showing the
first position of applying the block to the last, the stud on the block resting against
the bridge.
Figure 6 is a similar view showing the block pushed slightly forward and the
stud riding over and upon the bridge.
Figure 7 is a corresponding view showing the block pushed forward to its limit
and the stad lying in advance of the bridge so as to prevent spontaneous rearward
motion of the block, also illustrating how the spring by bearing against the under
side of the bridge holds the block and its stud in position on the last proper.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they
appear.
The letter A indicates a suitable last having the ordinary recess or depressed
surface therein, in which recess the block C fits, and A' is a dowel performing its
usual function relatively to the parts A and C, the part C having a recess to
receive said dowel, B is a bridge or bar, which may be in the form of a rectangular
staple driven into the last and extending across a sufficiently long and deep groove a,
which may be of rectangular section extending centrally up and down the inclined
face of the recess or depressed surface of the last.
The block C matches the last as usual, and has a groove c to receive the
dowel A¹, and D is a projection, stud or screw, having a convex head D', which
serves as a stop, and performs important functions.
E is a flat spring firmly held in the block C by screws or nails F, F¹, and
extending forward under and past the stud D, the spring being adapted to pass
under the bridge B, while the stud D passes over said bridge.
In applying the block to the last it is placed a little in the rear of its final
position with the free end of the spring E located in the groove a, and engaged
under the bridge B. Then a sufficiently strong pressure urges the block forward,
causing the stud D to ride over the bridge B, the spring bending to allow this
movement, the block rising until the rounded swell of the stud D moves over and
past the bridge. The elastic force of the spring now sharply draws the block to
the last, causing the stud to be strongly locked in advance of the bridge. The last
now may serve for any period in all the usual ways.
When it is desired to remove the block, it is drawn forcibly rearward and lifted a
little to facilitate. the mounting of the stud upon its passage over the bridge in
opposition to the force of the spring E, which latter, it will be understood,
co-operates with the other parts to hold the block locked until it is so lifted. The
spring E, being in the groove c in the last acts to prevent lateral movement of the.
block in the last.
The advantages of my invention are that the block will be firmly locked upon
the last so that it will not move out of position while the shoe is being made or
repaired at the same time being normally connected with the last when the latter
is out of use, and yet when the last is to be removed from the shoe the block can be
readily withdrawn by giving it a quick sharp puil by a stringe attached to it.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantages of the invention. A nail can be used in place of the screw to
constitute the stud D.
b
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. In a shoe last, the combination of the last proper with its block, one of said
parts having a recess and a bridge thereover, the other part having a stud adapted
to pass over said bridge, and a spring independent of the stud, arranged to pass
under said bridge, whereby the block is held upon the last except when it is both
urged backward and lifted, substantially as set forth.
2. In a shoe last, the combination of the last proper, having a depressed portion
and a centrally located longitudinally extending groove in the face thereof, and a

page_text: bridge or bar extending over said groove, with a block adapted to fit upon said last
proper, and having a stud or projection arranged to pass over and to lie in advance
of said bridge, and a spring arranged to pass under said bridge, to draw the block
and its stud toward the last, and to slide through the groove in the last, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a shoe last the combination of the last proper having a centrally located
longitudinally extending groove, and a bridge or bar passing over said groove with
a block having a stud adapted to pass over and to lie in advance of said bridge, and
a spring carried by said block and consisting of a flat piece of metal held at one end
and left free at the end adjacent to and underlying said stud, whereby said spring
can pass under the bridge while the stud passes over and lies in advance of the
bridge, all arranged for joint operation substantially as set forth.
4. In a shoe last the combination of a last proper having a centrally located
longitudinally extending groove, a bridge or bar extending across said groove, and
a dowel-pin, with a block having a groove to receive said dowel-pin, and provided
with a stud or projection to ride over and lie in advance of said bridge, and with a
spring adapted to pass under said bridge, the parts being so arranged that when
the block is slid forward the spring will pass through the groove in the last and
under the bridge, while the stud will pass over and forward of said bridge, the
spring then acting to hold the stud in position in advance of said bridge, to
prevent spontaneous rearward movement of the block from the last, substantially
as described.
5. A last-block fastening comprising a spring on one part arranged to engage under
a cross-bar or bridge on the other part by a longitudinal motion and to confine the
parts together by the aid of such spring, in combination with a partial-stop, as the
head or stud D', on the part carrying the spring, adapted to offer resistance to
the liberating motion of the parts by abutting against the bridge, and thus hold
the parts more reliably together, as herein specified.
6. In a shoe last, a spring catch and means as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, for
engaging the block with the body, so that they can be separated by lifting at the
rear end.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
c
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.