Improvements in and relating to Split Followers for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Split Followers for Boots and Shoes.
I, JEREMIAH FINTON COLLINS, of No. 38, Court Street, Brockton, in the County
of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Shoe
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 relates to a split follower the fore part of which is divided
longitudinally into two sections which are separable to a limited extent to
distend or widen the follower and are yieldingly forced apart by springs, so that
the fore part may fill shoes of different widths and measurements. The invention
also relates to a split follower which is transversely divided, having a heel part
hinged to the fore part in such manner that the follower may be shortened and
the fore part contracted by swinging the heel section up, thus enabling the
follower to be readily inserted in and removed from a boot or shoe.
invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe
and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings,―
The
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a split follower embodying my inven-
tion, the heel part being shown in full lines in its operative position, and in
dotted lines in its raised or inoperative position.
Figure 2 represents a top view of the follower, the heel part being in its
operative position.
Figure 3 represents a top view, showing the heel part swung upward and
forward to contract the fore part, the heel part being shown in section taken
on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents an elevation of the rear end of the fore-part section,
showing the same compressed, and also showing the hinge member belonging to
the heel section, the latter being removed.
Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the hinge which connects the fore-
part and heel portions.
Figures and 7 represent perspective views of the hinge members attached
to the fore part.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Referring to the drawings, in the embodiment of my invention therein shown,
and selected by me for the purpose of illustration,
The fore part of my improved split follower is divided longitudinally, from
top to bottom, into two sections aa. The heel part b is made in a separate
piece. The divided fore part and the heel part are connected by a hinge having
suitable provisions not only for permitting the heel part to swing into and out
of a shoe, but also for permitting the sections a to be forced apart by a
spring or springs c interposed between said sections to distend or widen the
fore part when the heel section is swung down and the springs permitted to
act, so that the fore part may automatically conform to and fill shoes of different
widths and measurements.
Means are provided, arranged to be operated by the displacement of the heel

page_text: part from the operative position shown in full lines in Figure 1, to that shown
in dotted lines in the same figure, to positively move the fore-part sections
inwardly or toward each other, as shown in Figure 3, said means being prefer-
ably parts of the hinge that connects the fore part with the heel part.
As here shown, said hinge comprises a plate or member d'adapted to be
screwed or otherwise affixed to the heel part b, two ears d'd' formed on said
plate and separated by an intervening space, oppositely acting cams formed
on the inner ends of said ears, and a pintle affixed to the ears and extending
across the space between the cams ds. Each of the fore-part sections is provided
with a hinge member comprising a plate e adapted to be screwed or otherwise affixed
to one of the fore-part sections. Each plate e has an ear e through which the
pintle loosely passes, so that the ears e¹ are adapted to move laterally toward
and from each other on the said pintle, thus permitting the distension and
contraction of the fore part. The cars e are provided with recessed faces or
cams e, which conform in shape to the cam, said cams and e² being formed
so that when the heel part is swung upward and forward the sections of the fore
part will be moved together by the action of the cams, as shown in Figure 3,
and when the heel part is swung downward to its operative position the sections
of the fore part will be permitted by the cams to assume the positions shown
in Figure 2. After the follower is in place in the shoe, the connection between
the fore part and heel part is such that the heel part is maintained in position
against accidental displacement, as will be evident, since in order to disengage
the heel part it is necessary to contract the fore part by engagement of the cams.
It will be seen, therefore, that when the follower is in place in a boot or shoe,
the heel part being in its operative position, the fore part is distended and its
sections pressed outwardly by the springs against the inner surface of the upper.
It will also be seen that the upward and forward movement of the heel sections
preparatory to removing the follower from the shoe contracts the fore-part
section, thus permitting its practically unobstructed withdrawal from the shoe
without interfering with the upper or lining, the insertion of the fore part
into the shoe while the heel part is thus displaced being correspondingly
unobstructed, while the admission of the heel part to its operative position after
the insertion of the fore part into the shoe releases the fore part and permits
its distension by the springs c. Furthermore, as already stated, the construction
is such as to maintain the heel part in its operative position against accidental
displacement.
represents a plate affixed at to the bottom of the section a, extending
partially across the bottom of the section a Said plate has a slot, through
which passes a pin or stud affixed to the section . Said pin and the end of
the slot constitute stop members which limit the separation or distension of
the fore part by the springs c.
My invention is not limited to a split follower having means operated by the
displacement of the heel part from its operative position for positively contract-
ing the fore part. While said means are desirable, and while a split follower
having the same is new, it is obvious that an operative split follower comprising
a heel part and a sectional yieldingly distensible fore part hinged to the heel
part to permit the displacement of the heel part from its operative position may
be made, without provisions for contracting the fore part by the displacement
of the heel part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A follower comprising a heel part, a sectional fore part, a hinge member
connected to the heel part, and a hinge member connected to one of the sections
of the fore part and having a sliding connection with the hinge member of the

page_text: 2. A split follower comprising a heel part, and a sectional yieldingly dis-
tensible fore part hinged to the heel part.
3. A split follower comprising a heel part, a divided fore part, and a hinge
connecting the heel part to the divided fore part, one of said fore-part members
having a sliding engagement with said hinge.
4. A split follower comprising a heel part, a sectional distensible fore part
hinged to the heel part, and means operated by the displacement of the heel part
from its operative position, for positively contracting the fore part.
5. A split follower comprising a heel part, a sectional fore part, and fore-part
contracting and distending means arranged to contract the fore part when the
heel part is moved from its operative position, and distend the fore part when
the heel part is returned to its operative position.
6. A split follower comprising a heel part, a sectional fore part, a fore-part
contracting and distending means arranged to contract the fore part when the
heel part is moved from its operative position, and distending the fore part
when the heel part is returned to its operative position, said means being further
arranged to prevent accidental displacement of the heel part when in operative
position.
Dated this Oth day of May 1899.
JEREMIAH FINTON COLLINS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.