AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING BOOTS AND
SHOES."A communication from abroad by David Harris, of St.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th February 1874.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING
BOOTS AND SHOES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the provision of a simple, ready, and
effecient machine, whereby the stretching of boots, shoes, and the like is
accomplished combinedly for all the parts of the boot or shoe proper or
independently at any desired part of same.

page_text: The said Invention relates,–
First. To providing the body of the stretcher with a pivoted sole or
bottom plate, connected and operated adjustably by hand screw.
Secondly. To the combination with the said bottom plate and with
the hollow of the body of a peculiar arrangement and construction of
parts, consisting of a movable hump, tongue-shaped lever, and screw
connections, operated adjustably to stretch any part from instep to toe.
Thirdly. To the peculiar construction and operative connection of a
counter or heel plate, by means whereof the process of lengthening or
stretching longitudinally is accomplished.
Fourthly. To the arrangement and combination of all the parts of the
apparatus and their operative connections with the body of the stretcher,
by means whereof the combined operation of stretching the instep and
toe part and lengthening the boot or shoe can be accomplished at one
and the same time.
And, lastly. To the construction and arrangement of parts for the
imitation of corns, bunions, and the like, and for stretching specific
points of parts of boots and shoes.
The last or body of the stretcher is cast of malleable iron, hollow,
according to the pattern, so as to receive the operating parts. The
bottom plate has countersunk edges to conform and fit to and in the
inwardly recessed sides of the bottom of the body, and thus form when
closed in same a neat closing fit.
A follower is arranged to slide vertically within the said body, being
guided in its action by its side grooves. To vertically adjust and operate
the follower the same is connected to the hand screw. The hand screw
is guided and passes through the top of the body, and at its lower end
the connection to the follower is such that to the same is imparted the
forward and return movement of the said screw.
The construction, arrangement, and operation of devices to stretch the
toe part are as follows:-The movable hollow hump is cast or formed
with projecting ends, and its bottom face has guide ledges. One pro-
jection of the said hump engages a recess in the toe part of the body.
Sufficient bearing and play are thus afforded the hump to allow and
accomodate the motions to be imparted chiefly to the rear part
thereof. The other end or projection of the said hump is first acted

page_text: upon, and this projection serves also to stop the full completed action of
hump,
To lengthen or stretch boots and shoes lengthwise a heel plate is pro-
vided. The said heel plate is constructed to conform outwardly to the
counter, and at the top is made to form a bearing, through which a hand
screw operates. Pivoted to the follower is a connecting lever, the other
end thereof being pivoted to the bearings of the bottom plate. To the
said lever two side links are connected, so as to be pivoted. By the
action of the hand screw the counter or heel plate is forced away from
the body in the operation of stretching, and drawn to the said body in
the release movement. Thus the boot can be stretched lengthwise, and
without operating the other or remaining devices. Or the same may be
said of the respective movements of either of the parts or devices that
stretch the instep, or from instep to toe.
By the combined operation of all the adjusting devices it is plain that
the entire boot or shoe can be enlarged and stretched at the same time
in length, across the toes, and around the instep; also, it will be seen
that the independent operation of effecting the stretching at any given
part of the boot or shoe may similarly be effected by working the proper
hand screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-

page_text: representing certain positions of the movable parts of the apparatus;
Figure 2 is an external elevation of the same.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 shew detached portions of the said Invention.
A represents the last or body of the stretcher. This is made of
malleable iron, cast hollow according to the pattern, so as to receive the
operating parts. B is the bottom plate. This plate has outward inclined
sides b, b', as in Figure 3, so as to conform to the inwardly inclined
sides a, a¹, of the bottom of the body A, and thus form, when closed in
the same, a neat closing fit. The bottom plate B is formed with
bearings 63, by means whereof it is pivoted to turn on the end of a
follower C.
The follower C is arranged to slide vertically within the body A, being
guided in its action by its side grooves c. To vertically adjust and
operate the follower C the same is connected to a hand screw O'. This
hand screw C¹ is guided and passed through the top of the body A, and
at its lower end its connection to follower C is such that the same par-
ticipates in the forward and return movement of the said screw.
bottom plate B thus connected to the hand screw C¹ can therefore be
made capable of assuming any position required for the stretching of the
instep.
The
The construction, arrangement, and operation of devices to stretch the
"toe part" are as follows:-A movable solid hump D is cast or formed
with projecting ends d, d¹, and at the bottom face has a recess d², and
beginning at the curved outline, as shewn. The projection d of the
hump engages in a recess d³ in the toe part of the body, and the latter is
provided with lugs to support the said forward part of the hump.
Sufficient bearing and play are thus afforded the. hump to allow and

page_text: accommodate the motion to be imparted chiefly to the rear part thereof.
The end d of the hump is first acted upon, and this projection serves
also to stop the full completed action of the hump. Thus formed the
hump D protrudes through the opening D¹, Figure 7, when placed in
the body A.
The adjustable operation of the hump D is accomplished by the move-
ments of a lever E, follower F, and hand screw F". The lever E is partly
wedge shaped, its constructive design being clearly shewn in Figure 1,
the object of the face e of the lever E being to operate against the
bottom face of hump D, while the opposite face e¹ of the said lever
simultaneously engages the top face of the bottom plate B. The lever E
by its shank is pivoted at e² to the bearing of the follower E. The
follower F is arranged to operate vertically in the body A, which for this
purpose has side grooves f (Figure 7). The follower F is also connected
properly to the hand screw F", to be acted upon as well as follow up all
movements of the same. The screw F¹ thus operates the follower F
and lever E vertically, and the latter at the same time, by its bottom
face e¹ coming in contact with the top face of the bottom plate B,
adjusts the same outward from the body A. Simultaneously with this
action the lever E, by its upper face e engaging the recess of bottom of
the hump D forces the same upward. Thus the required movements
for stretching the toe part of the boot or shoe are achieved.
To lengthen or stretch the boot or shoe lengthwise the heel plate G is
provided. This heel plate G is constructed to conform outwardly to the
counter, and at the top to form a bearing, through which a hand screw G
operates. This hand screw connects to a socket, bearing, or follower H,
so as to impart to the same a vertical motion and in return motion to
follow the screw. Pivoted at h to follower H is a connecting lever I,
the other end thereof being pivoted at h¹ to the bearings of the bottom
plate. To the lever I two side links 1' are connected, and pivoted
respectively at i and i, being made with a bearing or lug projecting
from the inside face of the counter or heel plate G, as shewn. By the
action of the hand screw G' therefore the counter or heel plate G is
forced away from the body A in the operation of stretching, and drawn
to the said body in the release movement. Thus the boot can be a
stretched lengthwise, and without operating the remaining devices.
By the combined operation of all the adjusting devices it is obvious
that the entire boot or shoe can be enlarged and stretched at the same

page_text: time in length, across the toes, and around the instep; moreover, it will
be seen that the independent operation of stretching at any given part
of the boot or shoe can similarly be effected by working the proper hand
screw.
The body of the stretcher is provided with suitable holes to receive
inserted rounded lugs or imitation corns, bunions, and the like.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The bottom plate B, follower C, and hand screw C', arranged
and constructed to operate in combination with the body A of the
stretcher, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The bottom plate B, hump D, wedge-acting lever E,
follower F, and hand screw F', arranged and constructed to operate
in combination with the body A of stretcher, as herein described and for
the purpose set forth.
Third. The heel plate G, hand screw G₁, follower H, lever I, and side
links I', in combination with bottom plate B and body A of stretcher, as
herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of bottom plate B,
follower C, hand screw C', hump D, wedge-shaped lever E, follower F,
hand screw F", heel plate G, hand screw G', follower H, connecting
lever I, side links I' and body A, all constructed to operate as herein
described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
HENRY JAMES NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)