IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TREES OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING OR RESTORING TO SHAPE BOOTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL."
Year: 1878

page_text: «
LETTERS PATENT to Ludovich Montefiore Carmichael, of Aldershot, in the
County of Hants, Captain, 5th Lancers, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN PORTABLE TREES OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING OR RESTORING TO SHAPE
BOOTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ludovich Montefiore
Carmichael at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July
1878.
"
LUDOVICH MONTEFIORE CARMICHAEL, of Aldershot, in the County of Hants,
Captain, 5th Lancers. IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TREES OR APPARATUS FOR
STRETCHING OR RESTORING TO SHAPE BOOTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING
APPAREL."
This Invention has for its object to construct light portable trees for stretching or
restoring to shape boots and other articles of wearing apparel. For this purpose I
form a tree of clastic or flexible material, made up into the form or approximately
so of the interior of a boot or other article required to be stretched or restored to
shape; this clastic or flexible tree is closed and provided with a tube by which
air or other fluid can be blown or forced into it, and the tree be so inflated; it
is also provided with a valve by which the exit of the air or other fluid can be
prevented.
When a boot or other article of wearing apparel is to be stretched or restored to
shape, a tree of the form of its interior is inserted into it, and inflated, so stretching
the boot to its proper form, and keeping it so stretched just as though it were on
an ordinary rigid boot tree. By this means a boot tree or other tree may be
formed, which when out of use will occupy but little space and be of little weight,
and will therefore be particularly adapted for use when travelling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ludovich Montefiore Carmichael in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th January 1879.
LUDOVICH MONTEFIORE CARMICHAEL, of Aldershot, in the County of Hants,
Captain, 5th Lancers. " IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TREES OR APPARATUS FOR
STRETCHING OR RESTORING TO SHAPE BOOTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING
APPAREL."
This Invention has for its object to construct light portable trees for stretching or
restoring to shape boots and other articles of wearing apparel. For this purpose I
form a tree of elastic or flexible material made up into the form or approximately
so of the interior of a boot or other article required to be stretched or restored to
shape; this elastic or flexible tree is closed and provided with a tube, by which air
or other fluid can be blown or forced into it, and the tree be so inflated; it is also
provided with a valve by which the exit of the air or other fluid can be prevented.
When a boot or other article of wearing apparel is to be stretched or restored to
shape, a tree of the form of its interior is inserted into it and inflated, so stretching
the boot to its proper form, and keeping it so stretched just as though it were on
an ordinary rigid boot tree. By this means a boot tree or other tree may be
formed, which when out of use will occupy but little space and be of little weight,
and will therefore be particularly adapted for use when travelling.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I have shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed a portable boot tree
constructed in the manner I prefer.
Figure 1 is a side view of the boot tree when inflated; Figure 2 is a plan view
of the same.
A is a closed bag of vulcanized india-rubber or fabric made impervious to air,
and approximately of the form of the interior of a boot; B is a sole of wood or
other stiff material secured to the under side of the foot portion of the bag; C is a
strip of wood or stiff material which passes up at the back of the leg; this
strip need not be attached to the fabric of the bag, but may as shown only be held
to the leg by a band of canvas D encircling the leg. At its lower end the strip C
is jointed to the sole B by a strip of canvas E. The strip C serves as a handle to
facilitate the insertion of the "tree" when uninflated into a boot. The rigid sole B
which is cemented or otherwise attached to the fabric of the "tree" insures that
the toe of the tree shall properly enter the toe of the boot; F is a strip of canvas
secured to the toe end of the sole B; it is led up to the top of the leg, and at its
upper end has a strap G secured to it by which it may be connected to a rigid
plate I placed above the top of the bag.
The strip F may either be fixed to the fabric of the tree or may be loose, and
only held in place by being passed through the canvas band D, and the canvas band
H which is fixed to the sole; J is a strap secured to the upper end of the strip C;
this strap also serves to hold down the plate I on to the top of the bag. From the
top of the bag passes a flexible pipe K provided with a suitable mouth-piece and
closing valve to permit of the bag being inflated after it has been introduced into a
boot. Before inflating the bag the tabs or loops which are ordinarily provided at
the top of the leg of a boot are secured to the top plate I, so as to hold it down and
prevent any strain coming upon the fabric of the bag lengthwise of the leg. If
there are tabs at the front and back of the leg of the boot, they may be buttoned
on to the buttons Q secured to the straps that hold down the rigid plate I, or they
may be otherwise secured to these straps; or if the boots are provided with loops at
the side, they may readily be secured to the plate by the means shown at Figure 3.
In this case two small chains L are secured at one end to the top of the plate, at
their other they carry a knob M, the chains are passed through the loops of the
boot, and the free end of the chains then hooked under or on to hooks N; O are

page_text: small metal tubes on the chains; these are passed into the loops of the boot to
prevent the side edges of the loops from being injured by the chains when a strain
comes upon them; P is a screw socket at the centre of the plate I; into this may be
screwed the stem of a handle, so the tree with a boot upon it may be held by this
handle when cleaning the boot.
In some cases it is desirable to inflate the tree with a greater pressure of air than
can conveniently be produced by blowing in from the mouth through the tube K.
To enable this to be effected the mouth-piece of the tube K may be formed to
receive the nozzle of a small syringe-like air pump, so that air may be forced into
the bag by this pump to any pressure required.
Light portable trees for stretching or holding in shape other articles of wearing
apparel may be formed in a similar manner to that herein-before described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the construction of boot trees or
apparatus for stretching or restoring to shape boots and other articles of wearing
apparel, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ludovich Montefiore Carmichael, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.