Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
WILLIAM JONES 66
Boot and Shoe Stretchers.
Stanley Road Kirkdale Liverpool Plumber do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A sole plate made of sheet metal also an upper plate made to fit the form of a
boot upper or front the two to be hinged at the toe between the sole and upper
plates a spring, attached to the sole plate, and acting on the upper, at the heel of
sole plate a loop or staple from which a wire will hook in then coming up
perpendicular and passing through an eye or staple projecting from the back or
inside of upper plate. The end or top of wire to be a ring or handle, which by
pulling compresses the spring and enables the apparatus to enter and leave the
boot with ease.
Dated this Second day of October 1895.
Boot and Shoe Stretchers.
I, WILLIAM JONES, of 66, Stanley Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, Lancashire,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
A boot stretcher according to this invention consists of two members, namely
a sole-plate and an upper-plate or mould, which are hinged together at their front
or toe end. A spring or springs disposed between said plates tend to press the
upper-plate upwards and so straighten or mould the boot upper. A spindle
provided with a ring and serving as a handle is hinged to the sole-plate, and has
formed upon it a detent which engages with the upper-plate and holds the same
down when the stretcher is being inserted in a boot.
In the drawing hereto annexed
Figure 1 is a side view of a stretcher according to this invention, shewing its
application to a boot ;
Figure 2 is a plan of the stretcher.
dd are
a is the sole-plate. bis the upper-plate, hinged to the sole-plate at c.
two springs held in sockets e e on the sole-plate. f is the spindle, provided with a
finger ring g and detent h, which latter engages with a staple k on the upper-plate.
1, 1, 1 are pins on the under side of the sole plate, their function being to prevent
the stretcher from slipping backwards in the boot.
To insert the stretcher in a boot, the upper-plate ó is depressed and locked by the
detent h. When the stretcher is in position in the boot the detent h is released by
pressing forward the spindle f. The springs d d now press the upper-plate b
upwards and so straighten and mould the boot upper.
With the screw-operated stretcher at present employed an excessive pressure is
put upon the upper when the stretcher is first inserted, with the result that the
boot is strained and sometimes burst; and when once the stretcher has been thus
expanded no further expansion takes place.

page_text: By the use of a spring actuated stretcher according to this invention these
defects are obviated, as a medium pressure is constantly exerted on the upper
during the whole time the stretcher is in the boot.
The finger ring g provides a ready means by which the boot may be hung up
out of the way or exposed for sale in a shop window.
Either or both plates a b may be perforated, so as to permit of the boot more
readily drying.
The sole-plate a is preferably corrugated longitudinally, to prevent it from
buckling.
Provision is made in the stretcher for two springs d which are loosely fitted in
their sockets e so that they may be replaced in case of fracture, or one spring may
be taken out when the stretcher is applied to light boots such as ladies' or dress
boots.
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 stretcher comprising a sole-plate a hinged as at c to an upper-plate b, a
spring or springs d loosely fitted in sockets e, a spindle f, ring g, detent , staple k
and pins l, all combined, arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth
with reference to the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent,
10 St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.