Improvements in Shoe Racks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1891-Accpted, 25th July, 1891
Improvements in Shoe Racks.
A communication to me from abroad by LINDLEY MURRAY MOORE, of number
74, South Fitzhugh Street, in the City of Rochester, in the State of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in shoe-racks and relates to that
class of shoe-racks in which a series of shelves formed of rods or bars are provided
on which to place the shoes; and this device is particularly intended for use in
shoe manufactories.
The said invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of explanatory
drawings whereon letters of reference are marked corresponding with those in the
following description thereof, that is to say:-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my shoe rack.
Figure 2 represents a plan view of the end supports for the dowel rods, showing
the method of fastening the same to the frames of the device.
Figure 3 represents a partial end elevation of my device showing an end support
for the dowel rods and a method of fastening the same to the frames.
A A are two rectangular frames preferably of gas-pipe connected at the corners
by suitable elbows A' A'.
BB are cross-pieces upon which the two frames are fastened by the bolts B¹ B¹.
These cross-pieces are set upon suitable casters C C. I prefer to use three cross-
pieces and to fasten two casters to each and to adjust the casters and the middle
cross-piece so as to be of a greater height than the two end cross-pieces. Thus the
rack is lifted in the middle and may be easily balanced upon and turned on the
middle pair of casters (see Fig. 1).
D D represent end supports for the dowel rods G G. These end supports I
prefer to make of wood and I cut in the end edge of each a groove of such shape
that it will closely fit each of the vertical pipes at one end of the rectangular
frames A A (see Figures 2 and 3). The dowel rods G G I also prefer to make
of wood. When they are in place, as shown in the drawings, they form the shelves
on which the shoes are placed. Immediately below each of the end supports D D
I place a metallic rod E which is a long bolt. This rod preferably passes through
the vertical rods or pipes of the frames AA and is, by means of a nut on one end,
screwed tightly so that the two vertical rods or pipes of the frames A A clamp the
end supports D D and hold the same rigidly in place. The rods E also support
the end supports D which rest thereon.
I prefer to place one of these rods or bolts E under each of said end supports,
although it is not necessary to use so many, if changes obvious to any mechanic are
made in the construction of the device.
On the inner side of each of the end supports D D are countersunk a series of
sockets or holes D₁ D¹ (see Figure 2) of such depth that the ends of the dowel rod
may rest in said sockets and will be held firmly therein when the end supports D D
are in place. In order to replace a broken dowel rod with a new one, the long
bolts E on one end of the shoe rack are loosened and the proper end support is
lifted sliding between the vertical rods or pipes of the two frames A A as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 1. The end of a new dowel rod is then inserted in the
countersunk socket in one of the end supports D and, being cut to the proper
length, it is placed in line with the proper socket D¹ in the other end support.
If

page_text: now the end support after it has been lifted, is dropped to its normal position, the
dowel rods G will be forced into the sockets D' and when the bolts E are tightened,
it will be impossible to remove the rod from the two holes D' D'.
In Figure 1 the solid lines indicate the position of the end supports D D and
dowel rods G G in their normal positions and the dotted lines indicate the same in
the positions just described when a rod is being replaced.
This shoe rack is very strong, stiff, cheap and easy to manufacture. It is made
entirely without nails or screws, except those for fastening the casters C C to the
cross-pieces B B. It can be easily moved about bearing a heavy load of shoes and
can be shipped in a knock-down condition. In case of breakage, any of the parts
can be easily replaced without injuring any other part, and in particular the dowel
rods, which are most apt to be broken, may be easily and quickly renewed. There
is nothing in this rack which, under even hard use, is apt to injure or mar the
shoes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a shoe-rack, the combination of two rectangular frames, end supports
movable as described fitting between the verticals of said frames, bolts fastening
said frames and said end-pieces, and dowel-rods resting in sockets in said end pieces,
the whole fastened upon suitable casters.
2. In a shoe-rack, the combination of two upright rectangular frames, each
composed of pipes joined by elbows, movable end supports fitting between the
vertical end pipes of said frames, bolts passing through said end pipes, dowel-rods
resting in sockets in said end supports and cross pieces provided with casters
whercon said frames are fastened.
Dated this 17th day of June 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.