US1100752A - Shoe-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

T. A. LITTLBJOHN.

SHOE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11,1913.

1,100,752. 1 Patented June 23, 1914.

Wm l .T 02225512 .Ziff/sinfn y a, 69M, lym /Qw THOMAS AUGUSTUS LJTTLEJOHN, 0F PAINESVILLE, OHIOv SHOE-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2e, 1914.

Application filed September 11, 1913. Serial No. 789,241.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS AUGUSTUS LITTLEJOHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Painesville, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices stretching shoes lengthwise and laterally.

ln the construction of the shoe stretcher at present in common use, the body portion or form is in two halves, being divided longitudinally. The lateral stretching is accomplished by a rod threaded into a sleeve mounted on trunnions in the heel portions of the form, the forward end of said rod being swiveled to a wedge, adapted to spread the forward parts of the form when the rod is screwed forward. There being no longitudinal adjustment of the form, there is no buttress for the rear thrust of the operating rod, consequently unless the form fits snug endwise in the shoe, as the wedge is forced forward, the whole form slides rearward. Thus the utility ofthe device is limited, as it is not possible to accommodate the same stretcher to various lengths of shoes and maintain the pressure at the desired point without interposing blocks or other suitable packing in the heel as a buttress for the longitudinal thrust. The stretching functions of the ordinary device are also confined to the lateral movement, there being no provision for a longitudinal stress.

The objects of my invention are the provision of means whereby the shoe may be stretched lengthwise or laterally with the same device, and whereby the pressure necessary for the lateral stretching is readily applied at the desired location, and when suflicient stress has been applied, the operative parts of the device are held in a positive position, thereby maintaining the pressure at the exact part of the shoe it is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose set forth, wherein stretching forms of different contour, adaptable to different shapes of shoes, may be readily substituted and applied to the same operating mechanism.

With these objects in yview the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts described in the for specification, illustrated in the drawings and pointed out definitely in the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is an elevation of the improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a plan view in the direction of arrow a, Fig. 1, showing a portion of the forms in section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a section through the cam housing, on line 4 4, Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the cam housing detached, and a crosssection of the worm shaft.

Similar characters of reference are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and specification.

Referring now to the drawings 1, 1 are the stretching members or forms, these may be of various different contours externally, making them adaptable to different styles of shoes. The forms 1, 1 are pivotally attached to a bracket 2 by the hinge member la, the butts 2a, and the pintles 2b, forming hinges which admit of a lateral movement of the forms.

A buttress 3, adapted to rest in the rear end of the shoe and bear on the counter, forms a housing in which an internally threaded sleeve 4 is mounted on lateral trun nions 4a, 4a. A tubular member 5 is threaded in the sleeve 4, and extends through an opening 2b in the bracket 2. An annular shoulder 5a bears on one side of said bracket, and a retaining nut 5b bears on the other side, sulficient clearance being allowed to permit the member 5 to turn freely in the opening 2b.

The meeting faces of the forms 1, 1 are provided with recesses 1b, adapted to incase a member 6, which forms a housing for the gamrs 7, 7 which are mounted on the axles A rod 8 extends longitudinally through the tubular member 5, and has a terminal bearing 88L in the member 6. The rod 8 is provided with a worm 8b, which meshes with worm segments 7b, 71 on the cam members 7, 7. The rod 8 is also provided with an annular shoulder 8c which has a thrust bearing on the end of the member 5 or on the retaining nut 5b.

The outer terminal of the member 5 is provided with a hand-wheel 5, or other.

arranged as to admit of the independent operation of the two members 5 and 8.

It will readily be seen, that when the device is inserted in a shoe, with the member 3 seated in the rear thereof, bearing on the counter, and the member 5 is propelled in the direction of arrow Z), Fig. l, the bracket 2 is forced forward, and carries the forms 1, l with it. It also carries the member 6 and its attachments with it, through the medium of the shoulder Sc.

The elongating or longitudinal stretching oit the shoe is accomplished by the coperation of the members 3, 4, and 5 and the bracket 2 and forms Vl, 1. 'stretching is accomplished by forcing the lforms forward to the desired point, and then turning the rod 8 to the right. The worm 8b being in mesh with the worm segments 7b, 7", causes the cams 7, 7, bearing on the walls 1c of the recesses lb, to spread the forms more or less as desired. The longitudinal position of the forms is maintained during the application of the Vlateral stressl by the counter ot the shoe receiving the thrust.

I have herein described and shown a simple embodiment of the invention, but I do not consider that I am confined to this particula-r detailed construction only so far as stretcher members; a hinged connection between the stretcher members and the interposed member; a vtubular member having a threaded connection with the buttress meml ber and a bearing on the interposed member; l

mechanism in the `stretcher members for impar-ting lateral movement to said Amem-` bers; and actuating means for said mecha-` The lateral y nism extending through the tubular member kand operative independent of said tubular member.

2. In a shoe stretcher, the combination of a buttress member adapted to be placed in the rear ci the shoe and bear on the counter; a tubular member having a longitudinal threaded connection with the buttress; a bracket having a swivel connection with the forward end of the tubular member; stretcher forms pivotally connected with said bracket; mechanism interposed between the stretcher forms for imparting lateral movement to said forms; and actuating means for said mechanism extending through the tubular member and adapted to be operated independent of said tubular member.

3. In a shoe stretcher, the combination of a buttress member; an internally threaded sleeve mounted in said buttrcss member; a tubular member threaded through said sleeve; a bracket swiveled to one end of said tubular member; stretcher forms provided with recesses, connected with said bracket and adapted to be moved toward and away from each other; mechanism in said recesses for moving the forms; and actuating means for said mechanism extending through the tubular member.

4L. In a shoe stretcher, the combination ot a buttrcss member; an internally threaded sleeve mounted on trunnions in said buttress; a tubular member threaded through said sleeve; a bracket swiveled to one end of said tubular member; stretcher forms provided with recesses and having a laterally movable connection with the bracket; a housing member within said recesses; cams mounted in said housing; and means for operating said cams, whereby a lateral movement is imparted to the forms.

THOMAS AUGUSTUS LITTLEJOIIN. IVitnesses:

E. D. BARBER, J. O. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner .of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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