An Improved Last Block Fastener.
Year: 1899

page_text: An Improved Last Block Fastener.
I, JOHN EMMERSON SCOTT, of 1519, Lehigh Avenue, in the City of Phila-
delphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Shoemaker, 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 an improved device for fastening the last block of a
shoe last to the body of the last.
The object of the invention is to provide a fastener for this purpose which shall
avoid the use of washers or linings for the portions of the last and block engaged
by the fastener; and which will not require the use of springs supplemental
to the fastener bolt or pin, for retaining the pin in operative position.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener which will not
project beyond the surface of the last block; but which will not be entirely con-
cealed when in use, so that it may be readily engaged by the last hook or other
suitable implement and withdrawn when desired.
With these ends in view, the invention consists in the peculiar construction
and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and
claimed.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe last having my improvement applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is a sectional view, on the linear of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view of the last block, detached from the last, having the fastener
therein.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the fastener pin.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate steps in the manufacture of the fastener.
Figure S is a side elevation of a last embodying a modified form of my im-
provements, the body of the fastening pin being indicated in dotted lines.
Figure 9 is a view showing the last block detached from the last and the lower
end of said pin engaging therewith to act as a stop against further outward
movement.
Figure 10 is a detail view of the modified form of fastening pin.
Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing, referring to which :--
A, designates the last and B the last block. These parts may be of any
suitable size and material; and, as usual, the block B is separable, or detachable,
from the last my invention relating to the provision of means for holding
said block securely in its seat on the last, when in use.
Various forms of fastening means have been heretofore proposed for this

page_text: Thus it has been proposed to provide the last block, at its upper end, with a
spring like lip or flange adapted to engage with a projection on the last; and
various forms of spring actuated fastening devices have been arranged within
grooves or seats formed in the body of the last, or in the last block, and adapted
to engage with the other member.
Of this style or class of fasteners particular mention may be made of one
employing a spring pressed pin which is arranged within and projects beyond
one end of a sleeve that is fitted in a socket formed in the last body, the free end
of the pin projecting into the lower end of a passage formed in the last block,
when the latter is in working position on the last.
But such fasteners as have heretofore gone into use have been objectionable
for several reasons.
Those employing fasteners which project beyond the surface of the last block,
or last, are objectionable because of the liability of the injury or breakage of the
exposed portions; and because they may interfere with the proper, or desired, use
of the last.
Such a last block fastener as I have above particularly described is objection-
able because the pin, which has to be moved longitudinally out of engagement
with the last block, and therefore, correspondingly pushed into the body of the
last, whenever it is desired to detach the block from the last, can have but a
relatively slight engagement with such block; and, therefore, a greater part
of the passage in the block is left open.
And, again, it has been found necessary to line the lower portion of the passage
in the last block, to protect the walls of such passage from wear; and this not
only increases the expense of the fastener but the jars or vibrations given the last
and last block when in use quickly loosen and dislodge such lining and the
sleeve carrying the pin, thus destroying the usefulness of the last after a short period
of use.
By my invention the last block B, and the last. A are connected by means of
a fastening pin, C adapted to extend through a passage formed in the last block
and into an aligned socket formed in the last A.
This pin. C is preferably formed from a rod or bar of steel, which is semi-
cylindrical in cross-section. This bar or rod is first cut into pieces or sections C¹
of proper length and each of these sections C₁, is subsequently bent and shaped
to the desired form.
The blank C is reduced in thickness at its middle portion, by cutting away,
or removing, some of the metal from its flat face, as at c; and it is then bent
upon itself to bring the two flat faces c opposite each other. There is thus
formed a spring pin having two arms or members arranged relatively close
together at their separated ends and spaced somewhat further apart adjacent to
their connected ends, or the head C2 of the pin.
The ends of the section or blank Care, preferably, beveled, as at 3, so
that when two arms of the pin are brought together a substantially V-shaped
end is provided for the pin.
Preferably the passage in the last block B is formed at one side of the central
longitudinal line thereof, in order that the fastener pin may be more readily
ngaged by the last hook or other implement employed to remove such pin, as
will be hereinafter explained.
And, in order that the outer end of the pin may not project beyond the surface
of the last block it is beveled or cut off angling, as at, C. This causes, as will
be seen by examining Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing, the relatively wider
portion of the slot between the two spring arms of the pin C, to open through
the end wall of the pin, as at, c
Into the eye-like opening 5, which is exposed when the pin C is in working
position, as indicated in Figure 1, may be inserted the end of a last hook or
other suitable implement D, shown in dotted lines in said figure, such implement
extending beneath the head (2 of the pin. By means of such an implement

page_text: the pin can be readily moved longitudinally out of engagement with the
last A, and its outer, upper, end brought above the surface of the last block B.
It is not necessary that the pin be entirely removed from the last block B,
and it can be retained therein as shown in Figure 3.
If, after considerable use, the passage in the last block or the socket in the
last should become worn to such an extent that the pin C fails to fit as snugly
therein as is described, it is only necessary to remove the pin and force the arms
thereof slightly further apart, thus increasing their spring action; and insuring
a close contact between their curved surfaces and the walls of said passage and
socket.
As it is naturally and obviously quite difficult to bore the socket in the body of
the last into which the lower or inner end of the fastening pin extends in every
case to the same depth. I have found that, at times, when such socket was
made slightly deeper than necessary the pin would pass entirely within the last
and last block so as to prevent or make quite difficult the access to the aperture
provided for the tool or implement by which it is withdrawn.
Again when the last block is detached from the last, I have found that the
pin was liable to be easily detached from such block and, being small, easily
misplaced.
To overcome these slight objections incident to the embodiment of my invention
herein before described, I have provided a modified construction substantially as
shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.
In said figures the outer end of the split pin C is shown of such form as to
lie practically flush with the adjacent surface of the last block and in the present
construction such end is provided with one or more laterally projecting cars e,
which extend slightly beyond the body of the pin and prevent it being forced
into the passage in the last block to such an extent as to cause the opening. el
to be covered.
This opening is formed by two aligned grooves or notches cut in the inner,
flat faces of the two arms of the pin.
The upper end of the pin C can be flattened slightly to form the ears c, or
these may be produced in any other suitable and desirable manner.
One of the arms or members of the pin C, is reduced in thickness for a
considerable portion of its length, by being cut away on its outer face, as at E;
and there is thus formed at the free end of said arm a laterally projecting
finger f
The free end of the other arm of the pin is preferably beveled as shown in
the drawing.
The pin C is of such size at its upper and lower ends, and transversely
throughout its length in one direction as to snugly fit within the passage in the
last block and the socket in the last; and thereby the last block is securely held
in proper position.
However as soon as said pin has been moved longitudinally sufficiently far to
permit the last block to be lifted from its seat, and the body of the pin above
the cut away or reduced portion E has passed above the last block, the elasticity
of the arm carrying the hook f, will cause it to move laterally and bring the
said lug into engagement with the underside of the last block at one side of the
passage therein, as shown in Figure 9.
This, it will be seen, acts to prevent the pin from being entirely disengaged
from the last block; and yet when it is desired to remove the pin a slight pressing
together of the arms of the pin near their upper ends moves the lug, f, into
alignment with the passage in the last block.
It may be found desirable to slightly enlarge the upper end of the socket in
the last in order that there may be no doubt of the lug f engaging with the
last block. But ordinarily it will be found that this is not necessary as it is
not necessary to entirely withdraw the pin from such socket to permit the
last block to be removed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. The combination with a shoe last and a detachable last block therefor, of
a fastener consisting of a pin adapted to extend through a passage in the last
block and into a socket in the last, the outer end of the pin lying flush with the
adjacent surface of the last block and having an aperture therein, substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination with the last and a detachable last block having a passage
formed in its body and opening, through the outer surface of the said block at
one side of the central longitudinal line thereof, of the herein described fastener
consisting of a pin having two spring arms connected at their upper ends and
adapted to extend through said passage in the last block and into a socket in
the last, the outer end of said pin lying flush with the adjacent surface of the
last block when in use, substantially as set forth.
3. The herein described fastener for securing a last block to a shoe last con-
sisting of a split pin having two spring arms connected at one end, said arms
being reduced in thickness near their connected ends, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with a shoe last, and a detachable last block therefor,
having a passage formed therein at one side of the central, longitudinal, line
thereof, of a split pin adapted to extend through said passage and into an aligned
socket in the last, the outer end of said pin being beveled to lie flush with the
adjacent surface of the last block, when in working position, and the arms of said
pin being reduced in thickness near such outer end to provide for the engagement
therewith or means for withdrawing the pin from the socket in the last, sub-
stantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a last, and a last block detachably fitted to a seat in
the last, of a fastening pin adapted to extend through a passage in the last block
and into a socket in the last, and provided with means for normally preventing
it from being removed from the last block, substantially as set forth.
G. The combination with a last, and a last block, of a fastening pin adapted
to extend through a passage in the last block into the last and provided at its
outer end with means for limiting its movement toward the last, substantially as
set forth.
7. The combination with a last, and a last block of a fastening pin adapted to
extend through a passage in the last block into engagement with the last, and
provided with means for engaging with the last block when disengaged from the
last to retain it in the passage in the last block, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with a last, and its last block, of a fastening pin adapted
to extend through a passage in the last block into engagement with the last,
and provided at one end with means for engaging with the last block when in
working position to prevent movement thereof toward the last and provided at
its other end with means for engaging with the last block when disengaged
from the last, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination with a last and a last block therefor, of a pin for connecting
the last block and last together, and provided with means whereby its movement
in either direction is positively limited, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with a last and a last block therefor, of a pin adapted
to connect the last block to the last and provided with a laterally movable
spring actuated lug or finger which automatically engages with the last block
when the pin is disengaged from the last, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
11. The combination with a last and a last block therefor, of a pin consisting of
two spring arms adapted to extend through a passage in the last block and into
a socket in the last, one of said arms being adapted to move laterally and engage

page_text: with the inner surface of the last block when the pin is removed from the socket
in the last, substantially as set forth.
12. The herein described pin for detachably connecting a last block to its
last consisting of two diverging spring arms, one of which is provided at one
end with a laterally projecting lug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1. The herein described pin for securing a last block to its seat in a last
consisting of two spring arms connected at one end by a head that extends laterally
beyond the body of the pin and one of said arms having at its free end a laterally
extending lug or finger, substantially as set forth.
14. The herein described pin for connecting a last block to its last consisting
of a single piece of metal bent to form two spring arms connected by a head at
one end, one of said arms being reduced in thickness at points intermediate of
its length whereby a laterally projecting lug or finger is provided at its free
end, substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 15th day of April 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.