Improvements in Boot Trees.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boot Trees.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSTONE YAPP of 210, Sloane Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Last and Boot 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 for riding boots and Wellington or top boots and
has for its object to provide a tree having no loose parts and adapted to be
introduced into and removed from a boot with greater facility than is the case with
trees as heretofore made. Another object of my invention is to reduce the weight
of the tree, which is of importance more especially in travelling when the weight
of a number of trees as at present made is considerable.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved boot tree in its expanded position
as when placed in a boot.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the top end.
Figure 3 is an elevation shewing the tree in its collapsed position.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
According to my invention the leg of the tree is constructed of two
porticas, a front portion A and a rear portion B, jointed together, like the
two members of a parallel ruler, by hinged links C in order that the two
portions of the tree may be brought close together, as shewn in Figure 3,
to admit of the easy insertion of the tree into the boot or be thrust apart,
as shewn in Figure 1, a sufficient distance to expand the leg of the boot and
force forward the foot portion of the tree into the foot of the boot, this
expansion of the leg of the tree being effected by downward pressure applied to
the rear portion B. The two portions A B are of approximately semi-circular
form in cross-section and, together with the space by which they are separated_by
the thrust links C, make up the complete oval section of the boot leg. The
links C are hinged at each end to plates screwed to the inner flat faces of the
portions A B the links being rather less in breadth than the said faces, as shewn
by the dotted lines in Figure 2, and when the leg of the tree is fully expanded
the links are perpendicular, or nearly so, to the inner faces of the members A B.
The rear portion B is provided with a handle at its upper end which is fixed to a
block D which projects from the inner face of said portion B and has an inclined
under face which by abutting against the face of the portion A may act to some
extent as a wedge to maintain the two parts A. B in their expanded position. The
foot portion E of the tree is hinged to the front leg portion A by a joint at F
which permits of the said portion E being brought nearly into line with the leg
portion A, as shewn in Figure 3, to permit of the easy insertion or removal of the
tree.
The joint F may be made by a knuckle on the part E received between
knuckles on the part A and traversed by a joint-pin by withdrawing which the
foot portion can readily be detached from the leg portion, in order that it may be
packed away, together with the handle, within the leg members which may in that
case be hollowed out, both for that purpose and for the sake of lightness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
A boot-tree whereof the leg portion is constructed of front and rear members

page_text: connected by jointed thrust links, so as to admit of the two members being brought
close together or forced apart, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 21st day of July 1893.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.