Improvements in Work Supports for Boots and Shoes during Manufacture.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1897--Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Improvements in Work Supports for Boots and Shoes during
Manufacture.
I JAMES WILLSON BROOKES, of Petersham, in the County of Worcester, and
State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 the production of a work support for boots or.
shoes, particularly adapted for use in nailing machines, and providing means for
tipping the last with the boot or shoe thereon in the direction of its length, whereby
the surface of the work then to be nailed is brought substantially at right angles to
the path of the nail or other fastening to be driven therein..
In nailing spring heel shoes the part of the outer sole which is bent over the
inclined or breast portion of the heel is at such an angle to the bottom of the last
that nails or fastenings cannot ordinarily be driven thereinto with their outer ends
flush with the bent portion of the sole.
This is objectionable in that the appearance of the shoe is marred, as in the
buffing of the sole the heads of such nails are not evenly buffed.
By means of the improved work support hereinafter to be described, the shoe may
be tipped in the direction of its length about a centre near to the surface to be nailed,
whereby the shoe is not bodily moved any material distance relative to the nailing
mechanisin above it, and by such tipping movement the bent portion of the sole of
a spring heel shoe may be brought into position substantially at right angles to the
path of the nail or fastening to be driven therein.
The nails will thus be driven substantially normal to the bent portion of the sole,
and their exposed ends will lie flush therewith, to be evenly finished in the
buffing operation.
Fig. 1 in side elevation represents a sufficient portion or a work support to be
understood, embodying one. form of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation' thereof.
Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on the irregular line X-X, Fig. 1, looking down.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bearing and two part last holder, slightly
separated, to be described;
Fig. 5. is a side elevation of a modified form of work support.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation thereof, and
Fig. 7 is a view partly in section on the line x-x¹, Fig. 5 looking down.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, a standard a, forked or bifurcated at its lower
end, as at a¹, and mounted to rock on suitable pivot screws a² extended through the
lower ends of the forked legs a' into a base piece b.

page_text: The base is shown as a ring or collar pivotally mounted at b¹ in a stirrup b²
depending from the head A' of a post or column A extended through the base b,
said head being rotatable about the post A if desired.
The pivots b' are at right angles to the pivots a², forming thereby a species of
universal joint, whereby the standard & may be swung in various directions.
Lugs-secured to or forming a part of the base b have oppositely inclined
faces 6 to act as limiting stops for the bifurcated end of the standard a,
preventing undue rocking movement thereof on its pivots a².
In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the standard a is shown as provided with a circular,
cup-like bearing a³, the wall of which is oppositely notched or cut through at a*.
The standard a is made hollow to receive the spindle dof one of the members d
of the last holder, the upper end of the spindle a being enlarged at d³ to enter the
bearing a³, and having a trough-like lateral extension d³, the bottom of which is an
are of a circle having its centre át or hear the point b, Fig. 1.
The side walls of the extension are notched at 5, Fig. 4, to embrace the wall of 1
the bearing a³,andia nut, on the lower end of the spindle d retains the member d
in place, but rotatable laterally about said bearing.
The cooperating member of the last holder is shown as a block e curved on its
lower side to rest upon the bottom of the extension d³ and be moved at times thereon,
the extended, endel of the block serving as a support for, a toe rest, e², adjustable 2
thereon by a suitable, set screw.e³...
..'t ......
The block.e. has secured...thereto an; upwardly projecting, last pin ex to enter the
body. of the last
dagana
t
As best shown in Fig. 4, the block e is provided with "curved longitudinal flanges.
or ribs e¹ to enter curved grooves d* in the member d, and the block and flanges are 2
also notched on their underside at 5 and 6, to normally embrace the wall of the
bearing and be thereby held from longitudinal movement in the member. d.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a shoe Sis shown.on. the last. L, and it will be seen that while
the last holder. d, e,.may be. swung laterally upon the bearing as the lastacannott
norinally be tipped in the direction of its length:
i
ds
...When, however, it is desired to, nail across..the.. bent portion, 8 of the soles the
last holder is..turned one-quarter around from the position, shown in Fig.. I,.until;
the block eis in line with the openings at in the walls of the bearing, and, the.
notches 5 and 6 in the under side of the block being thus disengaged from thei
bearing, the said block with the last may be moved forward.in the member d'
Such movement, owing to the curvature of the block bottom and the bottom of the
member'd, will cause the last to be tipped in, the direction of its. length on the
standard. about the centre.c,. bringing the bent part 8 of the sole substantially at
right angles to the path of the nails or other fastenings, and they are driven into.
the sole across the breast of the heel, substantially, normal, to the surface of the.
bend s¹, the notches in the: bearing. a3 at such time, locking the last holder..from..
rotation on the standard.
i.l
11.3:
A stop pin 10, see. Fig. 1, limits movement. of. the block e rearwardly, in, the
member it being understood that: the works.support herein..described is used in..
connection with any well known form of nailing mechanism.
The rear end of the block is vertically slotted at, e to; receive therein, aheel
support e pivoted therein at e..and..normally thrown rearwardly by a suitable
springs.
13
When the shoe. is: placed on the last: L the counter C, see Fig.: 1, is drawn over
the heel support, and when the last.is,in place..on the pin ex, the counter moves the
heel support e into position to support the heel of the last, the support, thus
accommodating itself. to various..shapes and sizes af lasts.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 6 and. 7, the bearing, on, the,.standard, a is
shown as a lateral; circular: extension a, separated or notched oppositely at, a, and
having a conical. surface a, upon which normally rest extensions, ft and fof the
last holder f, shown as pivoted at f³, on the upper end of a spindle. f* extended
through the hollow standard a and held rotatably therein by a nut
3

page_text: The last holder has a last pin f projecting upwardly..therefrom, and a toe rest f
adjustable on an extension f of the holder;to sustain a last Le
Norinally the last holder may be swung laterally about the standard; the
extensions f¹ and f2 resting on the conical face a of the bearing preventing the
last from being tipped in the direction of its length sich hate!
When the last holder is turned until the extension f1 registers with one of the
spaces or notches a, it' can enter therein, 'and the, holder and last may then be
tipped in the direction of its length on the pivot bringing the shoe in position to
have the bent portion 8' of the sole 8 nailed, as before, the last tipping on a centre
near to the point at which the nailing, mechanism is to act, the holder being. also
locked from rotative movement.
The extension f2 is made wider than either of the spaces a³, so that the tipping
can only be rearwardly, or by elevating the toe of the last.
An adjustable stop pin 10 limits the rearward tipping of the last, by bearing
against the standard at such time, and the part f¹ of the last holder serves as a heel
rest for the last.
This invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein
shown and described, as the same may be modified or re-arranged without departing
from the spirit and scope of this invention, the gist of which consists in mounting
the last holder upon the standard to normally be swung laterally thereon and to be
tipped in the direction of the length of the last at a predetermined point.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A work support for boots or shoes, consisting of a standard, a last holder
mounted to rotate thereon and adapted to be tipped in the direction of the length of
the last, and means to normally prevent the last holder from tipping, while
permitting it to be tipped when rotated to a predetermined point, substantially as
described.
2. A work support for boots or shoes, consisting of a standard, a last holder
mounted thereon to turn in a lateral plane and adapted to be tipped at times in the
direction of the length of the last, and means to permit the holder to be tipped at
a predetermined point, and to automatically lock it thereat from lateral movement,
substantially as described.
3. A work support for boots and shoes consisting of a standard, a last holder
mounted to turn laterally thereon, and adapted to be tipped in the direction of the
length of the last, means to permit the last holder to be tipped at a predetermined
point, and a stop to limit the extent of tipping movement of the last holder
substantially as described.
4. A work support for boot and shoes consisting of a standard forked at its lower
end, a sustaining member upon which said forked end is pivoted, stops to limit the
rocking movement of the standard thereon, a last holder mounted to turn laterally
on the standard, and adapted to be tipped in the direction of the length of the
last, and means to normally prevent the last support from tipping, substantially as
described.
5. A work support for boots or shoes consisting of a standard, a circular bearing
thereon having an opening in its side, and a last holder mounted to turn laterally
upon the standard and engaging said bearing, rotation of said holder to bring its
engaging portion opposite the opening of the bearing permitting the holder to be
tipped in the direction of its length, substantially as described.
6. A work support for boots or shoes consisting of a standard, a rotatable and
tipping last holder thereon provided with a fixed last pin and a inovable heel support
pivotally mounted on the holder, controlled as to its position by the counter of the
boot or shoe, substantially as described.
7. A work support for boots or shoes consisting of a standard, a rotatable and
.

page_text: tipping last holder thereon provided with a fixed last pin, and a spring controlled
heel support pivotally mounted on the holder, and positioned by the counter of the
boot or shoe, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of July 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.