Improvements in Boot-trees or Stretchers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
OVISIONAL
Improvements in Boot-trees or Stretchers.
I, PHILIP JOSEPH PARMITER, of the Patent Harrow Works, Ansty, near
Salisbury, in the County of Wilts, Agricultural Implement Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to trees or stretchers for boots and shoes.
A boot-tree or stretcher constructed according to my invention comprises
two pieces of metal or other suitable material of angle or L-shape which are
placed back to back in such a manner that, when the two parts are inserted in the
boot, one end of one piece will enter the toe of the boot whilst the other end of
the other piece will bear against the heel of the boot, the two pieces being placed back
to back and so curved or shaped that when the ends herein before mentioned are in
contact with the toe and heel the other or upper ends will be separated.
In order to stretch the boot it is necessary to draw the upper ends, which
project through the top of the boot, more or less together and this I advantageously
effect by means of a bolt which passes through the two ends and has a thumb nut
which when screwed up tends to draw the said ends together or, by lengthening
the ends projecting out of the boot to any desired extent to give the necessary
leverage, and applying a sliding ring.
Deted this 14th day of May 1896
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
I, PHILIP JOSEPH PARMITER, of the Patent Harrow Works, Ansty, near
Salisbury, in the County of Wilts, Agricultural Implement 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:-
My invention relates to trees or stretchers for boots and shoes.
A boot tree or stretcher constructed according to my invention comprises two
levers of angle or L-shape which are placed back to back in such a manner that
when the tree or stretcher is inserted in a boot one arm of one lever will enter the
toe of the boot and one arm of the other lever will bear against the heel of the
boot, the two levers being so shaped that when the ends herein before mentioned
are in contact with the toe and heel the other or upper ends will be separated.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my improved boot tree or
stretcher in conjunction with a boot.

page_text: a, b are the two levers the former of which has two arms a', a² and the latter
two arms b', 62; these two levers are pivoted together at c in such a manner that
when the arms a², 61 are close together the arms a², 62 will be more or less in
alignment. The arms a', 6' at their free ends are shaped to form handles and the
arm a² of the lever a is shaped to fit the toe of the boot or has a toe piece d fixed
upon it, whilst the arm 62 of the lever b is adapted to bear against the heel of the
boot.
The toe piece d is loosely fitted on to the end of the arm a² to permit of removing
it and replacing it by others of different size.
In order to prevent the arm b² from bearing too much upon one part of the boot
I advantageously use in conjunction with my hoot stretcher a loose plate of metal e
which fits more or less around the heel and is put into the boot before the stretcher
is applied.
It will be obvious that when my improved stretcher is placed in a boot, for
instance as shewn in the drawing, and the arms a', 6' of the levers are drawn
together, say to the position shewn by the dotted lines, the toe piece will be pushed
tightly into the toe of the boot and the arm 62 through the medium of the plate e
bear against the heel of the boot thereby thoroughly stretching the same.
Any suitable means may be employed for holding the arms in any position to
which they may be moved in stretching a boot, for instance, a strap may be used
as shewn in the drawing; or a bolt fixed to one arm, say the arm a', and passing
through a hole in the other arm and provided with a thumb nut may be used;
or a link or ring sliding upon the arms a¹, 61 may be used for the purpose.
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. A boot tree or stretcher comprising two levers of angle or L-shape pivoted
together and so arranged that one arm of each lever forms a handle whilst the
other arm of one lever is designed to enter the toe of a boot and the other arm of
the other lever is designed to bear against the heel of the boot, substantially as
described.
2. The manufacture and use of boot trees or stretchers substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 15th der of Tab
1007
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.