An Improved Appliance for Preserving the Shape of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Preserving the Shape of Boots and
Shoes.
I, THOMAS FRANCIS EDGEWORTH, of 3 Stokes Croft, Bristol, Surgeon, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved appliance in which this invention consists is designed for pre-
serving the shape of boots and shoes. It consists of a heel block and toe piece,
both of wood or other suitable material, connected by a screw spindle which is
fitted to rotate in a socket in the heel block and to work in a nut provided for its
reception in the rear end of the toe piece which latter has a channel or groove
made through it for the screw to travel in.
In using the appliance for the purpose aforesaid it is placed inside the boot or
shoe; the heel block being placed at the heel end of the boot or shoe, and the toe
piece in the toe end.
The spindle lies approximately in the longitudinal line of tread, and by turning
it in the proper direction the toe piece is advanced into the toe of the boot or
shoe making it rigid and preserving its proper shape.
The thread of the screw is preferably left-handed, and the spindle is fitted
with a suitable handle, or its equivalent, to facilitate rotation of the spindle and
screw.
The appliance is readily withdrawn by turning the spindle in the reverse
direction to that required for advancing the toe piece.
Dated this 1st day of May 1893.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Preserving the Shape of Boots and
Shoes.
I, THOMAS FRANCIS EDGEWORTH, of 3, Stokes Croft, Bristol, Surgeon, 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 improved appliance in which this invention consists is designed for pre-
serving the shape of boots and shoes. It consists of a heel-block and toe-piece,
both of wood or other suitable material, connected by a screw-spindle which is
fitted to rotate in a socket in the heel-block and to work in a nut provided for its
reception in the rear end of the toe-piece which latter has a channel or groove
made through it for the screw to travel in.
In using the appliance for the purpose aforesaid, it is placed inside the boot or
shoe;
the heel-block being placed at the heel end of the boot or shoe, and the
toe-piece in the toe end.
The spindle lies approximately in the longitudinal line of tread, and, by turning
it in the proper direction, the toe-piece is advanced into the toe of the boot or
shoe, making it rigid and preserving its proper shape.
The accompanying drawing represents in longitudinal section my improved
appliance for preserving the shape of boots and shoes.

page_text: It consists of a heel-block a and toe-piece connected by a screw-spindle c
working in the nut d of the toe-piece and free-to turn in the heel-block a from
which it is prevented from becoming detached by the head c¹ of the spindle c. The
toe piece b is grooved to receive the spindle c.
In practically applying the invention to the purpose for which it is designed, the
appliance is placed in the boot or shoe, the heel-block being placed at the heel and
made to bear against the inside thereof.
The screw-spindle c, the threads cut on which are preferably left-handed, is then
turned, through the handle, e, or by any other suitable means, so as to force the
toe-piece forward into the front part of the boot or shoe. In this manner the
boot or shoe is made rigid and remains so until the screw-spindle c is turned in
the reverse direction to that necessary for stretching. When thus relaxed, the
appliance is readily removable..
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:-
An improved appliance for preserving the shape of boots and shoes; said
appliance consisting of a heel-block such as a and toe-piece such as 6 connected
by a screw-spindle such as e free to turn in but not to be withdrawn from the heel-
block and working in a nut fitted in the toe-piece grooved to receive the spindle,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 31st day of January 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.