Year: 1896

page_text: I, ERIC ROCK BUTLER, of Wyvern Grange, Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield,
Warwickshire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in boot trees, and consists as follows:-
The tree is made broadly of two pieces, and usually of wood. One of these
pieces is placed vertically in the heel and back part of the boot. It is shaped to
conform to the desired shape of the boot at such part, whilst its upper end forms
a handle to the extent required. At the front of this upright piece it is shaped
to receive and control the one end of the second piece. This latter is made to
assume approximately a horizontal position, that is, it is made a little longer than
the distance from the interior of the toe to the said upright piece. Hence whon
this second piece is pushed into the boot, its one end may be wedged downwards
against the upright piece and thus the boot is stretched. The face of this upright
piece and the end of the second piece which impinges thereon may be variously
shaped for the better ansurance of frictional contact, to prevent slipping back
when the latter is pushed downwards. This may be done by making a groove (of
any desired shape) in the one into which a rib or projection upon the other may
fit; or by notches, teeth or the like, or in some cases I may employ the use of
dissimilar materials to effect this. In some cases the horizontal piece may be
made of two parts, adjustably connected to each other so that its entire length
may be varied when desired.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
proveme
I, ERIC ROCK BUTLER, of Wyvern Grange, Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield,
Warwickshire, Gentleman, 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 rolates to improvements in boot trees, and consists in the
combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, and in order to
more clearly explain this my invention, I have appended hereunto an illustrativo
drawing upon which are figures and letters of reference, and in which :-
Fig. 1, shows the application of my invention to the stretching of a boot.

page_text: Fig. 2, is a sectional view on line A-B.
Fig. 3, shows a modified form of surface on the downward face of the upright
piece.
Fig. 4, shows how the horizontal piece may be adjustable in two parts.
The tree (as a whole) is made broadly of two pieces 6 and 7, and usually of
wood. One piece 6, is placed vertically in the heel and back part of the boot 8,
It is shaped as may be desired to conform to the shape of the boot at such part,
whilst its upper end forms a handle.
The front face of this upright piece is shaped to receive and control the one
end of the second piece 7.
This latter is made to assume approximately a horizontal position, that is, it is
made a little longer than the distance from the interior of the toe of the boot, to
the said unright pieco 6. Hence when this second piece is pushed into the boot,
its one end 7 may be wedged downwards against the upright piece 6, as seen in
Fig. I, and thus the boot is stretched. The face of this upright piece 6, and the
end 7 of the second piece which impinges thereon, may be variously shaped for
the better ensurance of frictional contact, to prevent slipping back when the latter
is pushed downwards. This may be done by making a groove 9, (of any desired
shape in the one into which a rib or projection 7 upon the other may fit; or by
notches or teeth 10, as shown in Fig. 3, or the like, or in some cases I may employ
the use of dissimilar materials to effect this.
In some cases the horizontal piece 7, may be made of two parts as shown for
instance in Fig. 4, which parts may be adjustably connected to each other by the
screw 11, so that its entire length may be varied when desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
In boot trees the combination and arrangement of the two parts 6 and 7
constructed and operating substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 19th day of August 1897.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.