Improvements in or connected with Trees and Lasts for Boots, Shoes, Gloves, and other Forms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th July, 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Trees and Lasts for Boots, Shoes,
Gloves, and other Forms.
I, JOHN BERNARD KING, of 29, Cloudesley Street, Islington, in the County of
London, Wholesale Boot Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce apparatus to be inserted into the article
that it is desired to stretch or keep in shape, and which can then be expanded
to the required shape and dimensions, and such apparatus is particularly applic-
able to any article which requires a shaped mould, such as boots and shoes, to
retain the same in form.
be.
According to my invention I make an outer case of cloth or other flexible (not
elastic) material to the form of a boot tree, last, glove, or whatever the model may
An inner case of india rubber is then prepared corresponding in shape to the
outer case.
The inner case is provided with an air tube or valve, passing through
and fixed to the outer case, whereby it is or may be inflated with air, and thus cause
the outer cover to assume the form or shape of the model.
By my invention I am able to produce for example boot trees of the exact shape
of boot or shoe required which when not in use occupy a very small space and are
very light, and consequently especially useful for packing for travelling, but
when required for use as trees, have only to be inflated with air to form trees
superior to wood trees now generally used.
For what are known as finishing lasts these appliances are particularly
applicable.
.
L 1
100
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Trees and Lasts for Boots, Shoes,
Gloves, and other Forms.
I, JOHN BERNARD KING, of 29, Cloudesley Street, Islington, in the County of
London. Wholesale Boot Manufacturer, 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 refers to an improved form maintaining and stretching device,
which is flexible, can be collapsed for insertion into the article that it is desired

page_text: to stretch or keep in shape, and is capable of being inflated and remaining in its
inflated condition, so that after the insertion of the device into the article, the form
maintaining and stretching device is then inflated, it being air-retaining, and the
said device is thus expanded to the required dimensions, and also caused, by auch
to the form the
inflation, to assume the full shape or configuration, according
device was originally given at its manufacture.
Such a form maintaining and stretching device is particularly applicable to any
article which requires a shaped mould, such for example as boots and shoes, and
the said devices constructed according to this invention are very advantageous
for use in the proper and effective exhibition of corsets, dresses, jackets, stockings.
and in fact, for any article which requires, or which it is desirous, should be
maintained in a proper shape and configuration when being exhibited: such
articles can be placed over a suitably shaped stretching device, as hereafter
described, when the device is in a collapsed state, without unduly or improperly
stretching or twisting the article, and upon inflation the said article is brought
to shape and form, in a more convenient manner and with greater perfection than
has been possible heretofore.
I will further describe my invention with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, whereom Fig. 1 shews a construction of my stretching and form maintaining
device in a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of another construction of
same.
Referring to Fig. 1, I make an outer case A of cloth or other fabric to the
configuration of the article it is required to stretch or maintain in form. in this
case a shoe. An inner ense of india rubber is then prepared corresponding in
shape to the outer case A. The inner case B is provided with an air valve or
tube C, passing through and fixed to the outer case A, whereby the inner case
may be inflated with air, and thus cause the outer ense A to assume the form or
shape of the model.
The fabric case A may be composed of properly shaped parts secured together so
as to produce the proper configuration, or the said fabric A may he blocked to the
required shape.
The device in its deflated condition is placed into the shoe, and a force pump is
applied to the valve C, air being forced into the inner case B. and the shoe brought
to the required shape.
Instead of the device being composed of two separate layers, namely fabric A and
india rubber B as shewn at Fig. 1. I may form the devier of fabric A with the
indin rubber B vulcanized onto same as of Fig. 2. Or the device may be composed
of any suitable flexible air-proof material.
Although the drawings only shew the device as to be used for stretching or
maintaining the shape of a bool or shoe, yet it will be readily understood that
similar constructions of the device, properly formed, can be applied to stretching
or maintaining the shape of other articles such as gloves and the like.
By my invention 1 am able to produce, for example, boot trees of the exact shape
of boot or shoe required, which when not in use occupy a very small space, and are
very light, and consequently especially useful for packing for travelling, but when
required for use as trees, have only to be inflated with air to form trees superior to
wood trees now generally used.
For what are known as finishing lasts these appliances are particularly
applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A flexible, stretching, and form maintaining device composed of a fabric non-
elastic case, made of the form which the article to he stretched should assume, an
india rubber case within the outer fabric case, and an inlet valve, through which.
(the device having been placed within the article to be stretched), the device can

page_text: be inflated and the article thereby brought to form and maintained in shape,
substantially as set forth.
2. A flexible stretching and form maintaining device composed of one or more
thicknesses of fabric and india rubber vulcanized therewith, or composed of other
flexible air-proof material, and an inlet valve communicating with the interior
of the device, through which valve the case is inflated, and the articles into which
it has been previously inserted, thereby stretched and maintained in form, as
set forth.
3. The particular constructions of stretching and form maintaining device for
boots or shoes substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th day of July 1898.
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds. Agents for the Applicant.
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds. Agents for the Applicant.