Improvements in Last Supports or "Jacks" for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Last Supports or "Jacks" for Boots and Shoes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of the Green Hall, Stafford, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is intended to be made use of in nailing, tacking or lasting machines
for the purpose of supporting the weight of the last while leaving freedom to the
operator to turn the boot about in any direction.
The last is placed upon a last peg which is free to turn to a certain extent in one
end of a U shaped frame. The other end of the U frame is elongated somewhat
and is pivoted close to the heel of the boot to a second frame which swings on two
pivots in a third frame. The centre line of the heel pivot if prolonged would pass
through the last longitudinally so that the boot, last, and U frame are free to be
tipped sideways upon the heel pivot.
The common centre line of the two pivots in the third frame is at right angles to
that of the heel pivot and passes through the instep of the last and the two pivots
are so placed that the boot, last, and two frames approximately balance within the
third frame.
The third frame is provided with a stem which is free to slide up and down in a
tubular post, containing a spring to support the weight of the parts, the post being
supported (from the base of the machine to which the "jack" is applied) upon a
universal or ball joint. If desired the post may be carried upon a lever which is
supported by a spring or balance weight.
These arrangements allow of the last being tipped from side to side upon the heel
pivot and lengthwise upon the cross pivots, and swivelling on the last peg stem,
while the whole can be revolved upon the post or ball.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DORMAN, of the Green Hall, Stafford, Engineer, 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 is intended to be made use of in nailing, tacking or lasting
machines for the purpose of supporting the weight of the last while leaving freedom
to the operator to turn the boot about in any direction and is illustrated by the
3 accompanying drawings in which ;—

page_text: Fig. 2 is a back view.
The last a or a (which latter shews a larger size in dotted lines) is placed upon a
last peg b carried in one end of a U-shaped frame c. The other end of the U frame
is elongated somewhat and is mounted on a pivot d placed near to the heel of the
last a or a¹ and carried in a second frame e which swings on two pivots f f¹ carried
in a third frame g.
The centre line of the heel pivot d if prolonged would pass through the last
longitudinally so that the boot, last and Ủ frame c are free to be tipped sidewise
upon the heel pivot d.
The common centre line of the two pivots f f¹ is at right angles to that of the
heel pivot d and passes through or close below the instep of the last and the
two pivots ff are so placed that the boot, last a and two frames c, e approximately
balance within the frame g.
The frame g is provided with a stem h which is free to slide up and down in a
tubular post i containing a spring ; to support the weight of the parts, the post i
being supported (from the base of the machine to which the "jack" is applied) upon
a ball joint k.
The peg I which is fast in the stem h and is free to slide in the slot m formed in
the tubular post i prevents the spring from pushing the stem h out of the tubular
post i. The pin n and block n¹ support the spring; and they may be raised and lowered
in the slot o and tubular post i to increase or decrease the pressure of the spring j on
the stem h being retained by the peg p in the holes q q' formed in the tubular post i.
The height of the last a may be regulated by adjusting the peg r in the holes 8 8¹
formed in the lower end of the tubular post i and the ball stem t.
These arrangements allow of the last being tipped from side to side upon the
heel pivot d and lengthwise upon the cross pivots f f while the whole can be
revolved upon the ball joint k and the last depressed against the lifting effort of the
spring j.
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. Supporting a boot upon a last on a frame by means of an approximately
horizontal pivot placed near the heel of the last, the centre line of said pivot, if
prolonged, passing longitudinally through the last.
2. Supporting a boot upon a last on a frame by means of an approximately
horizontal pivot placed near the heel of the last-the centre line of said pivot, if
prolonged, passing longitudinally through the last-and carrying such pivot in a
second frame on two other approximately horizontal pivots at right angles to the
first pivot.
3. The last support as herein described and illustrated.