US1115484A

US1115484A - Machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

Info

Publication number: US1115484A
Application number: US44366608A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Bates
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Co AB
Current assignee: USM Ltd; United Shoe Machinery Co AB
Priority date: 1908-07-15
Filing date: 1908-07-15
Publication date: 1914-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1931-11-03

Description

y A. BATES. MACHINE FOR USB IN THE MANUFACTURB 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1908.

1,1 1 5,484. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SEEBT l THE NGRRIS PETERS CO.. FHOWLITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

' A. BATES. MACHINE PoR USB 1N THB MANUPAGTULE gg gggpg A@ ggggg, APPLIoATIoN FILED JUL; 1K5* ggg,

lmllggflsl. mamma, m14.

Uivrrn strains rnrnivr ernten ARTHUR BATES, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOE' TO UNI/IED SEDE WIACHINERY COMPANY, F BATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CGREORATION 0F NEW' JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTUEE 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification o' Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. s, m14."

Application filed July 15, 1908. Serial No. 443,666.

' To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, ARTHUR Barns, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain Improve-` ments in Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of which the foly lowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon boots and shoes, and particularly to machines that operate upon the vheel portionsv thereof, suoli, forexample, as ma chinesfor inserting fastenings .or the like in the heel seat of the shoe sole, or in the tread face of the heel, or machines for perform-l ing other operations upon the heel portions of boots and shoes.

A n important'feature of the present invention comprises the provision in machines f the class above referred to, which have a work holder and a tool for operating upon the heel portion of a shoe, ofA automatic mechanism which effects relative movement between the work holder and tool in a predetermined path. Preferably the automatic mechanism :just referred to isy constructed and arranged to effect a relative movementof thek work holder and tool. ina path corresponding withthe contour of the heel portion of the shoe andis preferably adjustable to vary the path of such relative movement to adapt the machine for operat-z ing upon heel portions of ditlerentsizes or shapes. .Some of the advantages accruing from the employment of such automatic mechanism are that the operator is relieved from the necessity of moving or guiding the work or tool during the operation of the machine, and that greater uniformity is obtained in the treatment 'of a number of shoes of the same size than is thecase when the shoes are guided by hand.

A further important feature of the 1nvention is the provision of automatic mechanism for effecting a relative movement of ka work holder and tool ina machine of the class above referred to which operates in Lare maintained in substantial Aparallelism throughout the relative movement or at least that the same face of the work is presented toy the operator throughout the relah tive movement of thew-ork holder and tool.

. A convenient embodiment of this feature of the invention comprises a construction in which the work feeding means is constructed and arranged to carry the work lbodily into each of the successive operative relations of the work and tool. Any advantageof this feature of the construction is that it simpli-r lies the manipulation of the shoe on the part of the operator. A

inother featurevof the invention that is particularly applicable Lto a machine in which the tool, for example a fasteningy driving mechanism, acts' intermittently `upon the work, is the employment of automatic locking means that prevents accidental relative movement between the work holder and tcoll while the latter is yoperating upon thevwork. 1 y

The invention comprises furthervthe'pro-y vision of means which acts at the completion of the operation of the machine upon' "more conveniently place upon the two shoes of a pair the differing characteristics in .the way of fastening designs. This arrangement of the automatic mechanism for elfecting` the relative movement has an especial advantage in the-illustrated construction in that it effects a considerable saving of time in the treatment of a number of shoes, since by it the said mechanism, after the operation upon'one shoe is completed, does not `have to be returned to an initial position but is automatically put into readiness for ydealing with anotherl shoe.

Other features of the invention comprise the provision in a mechanism for automatically effecting a relative movement of a work holder and a tool along a predetermined path, of means for centering the work in the work holder to bring it into such relation to the movements of the mechanism that the operations of the tool upon it will bear a propei relation to it, and the provision of automatic mechanism for effecting the rrelative movement above referred to which can conveniently be placed out of operative relation to the tool whereby the tool may be used independently of said incohanism.

The automatic mechanism may comprise a crank or its equivalent driven by connec-` tions from any suitable moving part of the machine, and coupled to a holder for the tool or for the work, and a guiding device for the holder, for example a pin engaging a straight slot formed in the holder. Oscillation of the crank about its center will impart to the holder a movement that is a combination of a circular movement derived from the crank and a right line movement caused by the constraming action of the guiding device upon the holder. A. point on the holder can readily be located that describes a curve corresponding substantially to that of the contour ofthe edge of a heel seat of a shoe sole or of the edge of the tread face of the heel. This mechanism may be so combined with a tool and a work holder that one of the latter two elements may be arranged to be moved by it relatively to the other, and thus the tool be caused to operate upon the work carried in the work holder in a line corresponding to the contour of the heel portion.

The point of connection between the crank and the holder is preferably adjustable toward and from the fulcrum of the crank, thereby to vary the effective length of the crank and alter the size of the curve traced by the point aforesaid on the holder to suit heels or heel seats of different size. As different points on the holder describe curves varying in size, an adjustment for heels or heel seats of different sizes could be obtained by shifting the location of the work or of thetool with respectfto the path of movement of the holder of the automatic mechanism. In the event of such adjustment of the movable member, causing the companion member to be displaced with relation to its companion, means may be provided for readjusting the parts to bring them again into their proper cooperative relationship.

ln the construction embodying the present invention hereinafter described, an element of the guiding device, namely the pin and slot connection hereinbefore referred to, is mounted upon a crank for its support and is adjustable toward and from the fulcrum of said crank. This crank is oscillated preferably in the same sense as the crank rst mentioned, by connections from any moving part of the machine; for instance, it may be geared to its companion crank.

rfhe machine hereinafter described, in addition to operating upon the heel portion, is adapted to operate upon other parts of the boot or shoe, and accordingly it is desirable that the automatic mechanism aforesaid be arranged to be readily thrown out of operation. To this end the crank or cranks aforesaid and the work holder are all mounted upon a member that can be moved to place vthem clear of the other working parts of the machine, and means is preferably provided for locking the member in positions which correspond with the operative and inoperative positions of the said automatic mechanism.

A lconvenient embodiment of thevpresent invention will now be described by way of example as applied to a machine that is employed for driving tacks to secure the outer soles to the inner soles of boots and shoes, in which machine a tack strip has tapered tacks cut from it which are driven into the work by a driver.

for preventing movement of the work feedlng mechanism when the fastening is being driven, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of means for moving the work feeding mechanism into and out of operative relation to the fastening inserting mechanism.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that fastening inserting machines of the type herein shown are not usually provided with work supports to support the work against the thrust of the fastening inserting operation, the work being held against such thrust by the hand of the operator, and in the illustrated construction, therefore, the principal functions lof the werk holder are to gage and guide the work and to feed the work between the successive fastening inserting operations.

According to the present invention, the

' it to the innersole.

machine is provided with an automatic mechanism that supports in 4position the shoe, so that the tacks are driven into the heel seat in a row that 'is substantially parallel with the contour of the edge yof the heel seat. The automaticfmechanism comprises a pair of cranks 2 and 4 mounted upon shafts 6 and 8 `respectively that are rotatably mounted in a bracket 10 supported on the machine frame 12. PivotedI upon the crank pin 14 of the rearmost crank 4 is an extension 16from a member 17 that carries a work clamp, presently to `be described, `and the crank'pinlS of the foremost `fcrank passes through a slot 201formed in said member. The cranksy are geared so asto rotate in the same sense'andeachcrank pin is adjustable toward and from the axis of the crank to which it appertains Preferably the foremost crank has a somewhat higher angular velocity than that of its companion. Normally. the crank pins are so adjusted on their respective cranks that the foremost crank has an effective length shorter than that of its companion, and the arrangementv of the cranks and the member they support is such 'that rotation of the cranks moves said member and the work clamp and worky in a curved path below the driver, so that tacks are inserted by the driver arounda marginal portion `of the heel seat tosecure lThe cranks are rotated by a step-by-step movement in the same sense by mechanism that is described hereinafter and they rotate through a little more than half a revolution. In their initial positions the cranks extend to one side of, and slightly rearwardly of, the machine and during the first half of their movement, that isslightly more thana quarter of revolution, a forward and lateral movement is imparted to the work, the lateral component of the movement gradually increasing until it reaches a makimum when the cranks have completed the first half of the movement and are in alinement with one, another. During this movement of thev cranks, the slot 20 formed in the member aforesaid permits the member to slide on the pin 18 in the foremost crank, the slot 2O being disposed along the line that intersectsboth crank pins. i

The first tack is inserted in the heel seat at a point near the shank of the shoe and the combined forward andlateral movement imparted to the shoe causes'the heel `seat to be moved beneathl the driver along a path such that each'nail is inserted at substantially the same distance from the edgeof the heel seat as its companions. yWhen the cranks are in alinement, as above described, the tack, or tacks nearest the heel end `and the medial line of the shoeare inserted and Vtherewith the cranks complete the ysecond half of their movement, thereby continuing the lateral movement of the shoe, but at the same time moving it backwardly so that `tacks are inserted on the opposite sideof the marginal edge of thev heel seat. The work is held by a self-centering clamping device, comprising two

levers

22, 24, p ivoted to the member aforesaid and provided with intermeshing teeth that cause them to move in company, but in :opposite directions. A` y spring 26 connecting said levers forces them into contact withnthe heel seat situated between them. ,r

A rest for'theend of the shoe` comprises a counter-embracing band 28ysecured to, or forming part of, a lugl) thatis detachably secured to themember'li" by a pair kof leaf springs 32, 32 .that enter notches formed inthe lug. Eachlever of the clamping devicer of the machine the cranks shall move in the! reverse direction and the locking device operates to lockthe cranks against movement when a tack is being driven. These will now be described.y

They driving mechanism for the cranks comprises a double-ended pawl 36 pivoted upon' a pawl carrierk 38 that is loosely mounted upon a shaft 40 vjournaled in the bracket 10 aforesaid. "The pawl 36 is adapted to engage with one or the other of two'

ratchet wheels

42, 44 fast upon the shaft 40 above- .mentioned The teethof each wheel are oppositely disposed vwith relation to the teeth of the other wheel sothat the shaft can be rotated in either direction iny accordance `with the ratchetwheel withwhich `the pawl 'is in engagement. The pawl `is yieldingly maintained in engagementwith the teeth of' one or the other offtheyratchet wheels byy a toggle device consistingof aball-ended strut 46 of which one end isseated in a recess in an adjustable or other spring-pressed' plunger 4S located in aL socket 50 formed 'on the pawlcarrier while supports the strip carrier 54 in the'machine.

to which the invention is herein shown as applied. For a more detailedjdescription of the construction of thismachine referencek may be had to United States Letters Patent vto L. Goddu, No. 490,623, granted'January .the other end of said strut is seated in a re-v 24,1893. rThis frame is moved laterally dur 'the operation lof 'the machine, :and such movement is herein utilized lto `oscillate the paWl-carrier 38. The :connections Lbetween the frame and carrier comprise :an 'adjustable or other collar '56=on the Yrear endiof the frame .52, and a -ballfendedexltension 58 on the carrier :engaging a seating formed in A#the collar.

VThe shaft 40that carriesthe ratchet Wheels is operatively Aconnected 1to=the two shafts 6 and 8 -of the cranks aforesaid by means of gear Wheels 6() and 62V i'one l'the respective shafts 6 and 8, coupled by an intermediate gear 'Wheel 64 fand ia Vclutch er loclcing -device between the ygear 62 on ithe reaiunost vcrank shaft and the shaft 40of the ratchet Wheels, it being understood ythat the shaft `8 of the rearmost crank -is hollow and vreceives 'Within rtf-the shaft 40 of fthe ratchet wheels. The clutch `or locking device comprises two

blocks

66, 68,=adjustahly supported upon the gear 62 on the rearmost-'crank Vshaft, and a casing YTO secured to or vforming lpart lof the bracket 10 aforesaid.

Th'ecasing 70 surrounds the -fgear .Wlieelf62 and the blocks on the latter are ycut away to` form Aclutch pockets 72, 74, in each 'ofxvhich is seated a

roller

76, 78, that isacted =upon by "a 'spring -8O which forces it into v.a narrow portion o'f the pocketfandagainst ithefcasing 70, "and fthereby locks the block 'and f'gear Wheel against rotation. Each roller Aacts to lockthe gear Wheel against rotation in .a direction opposite to that lagainst Which its companion locks the gear Wheel,so =thatthe latter,'as long as v.the rollers areacting,"ean not be moved in either direction.

To unlock the gear Wheel-andcau'se ittofbe rotated, there is a collar 82 'secured tothe sha-ft 40 -of "the ratchet Wheels, which xvcellar.

has a projection '84C 'that extends through a hole @formed in "theggear wheel v62. "The/endA of said Iprojection is 'situated het-Ween the two c'lu'tch rollers 76, 7 8,"so thatrrotation of the said shaft in one or the other direction causes the projection lfirstto engage a clutch roller and move it into a Wider part yof the clutch pocket in which itis seated, thusun-j locking the jgear Wheel and permitting it tto'4 be rotated 'by :the said projection which fnext' engages a part of "thetvheel, preferahlyoneend of the Vholethrough which Ithe projection i .alole that said automatic lmechanism be arextends.

`With the above construction, 'the 'gear Wheels, crank shafts, and Work clamp are rigidly held against movement at Iall times,

except just when the pawl is Aac'tingitoimits idlestrokeftheicompanion roller is moved by its aspring into the Vnarrow part of its clutch Apocket 'andxstops all movement ofthe parts :in fsuch .given direction.

The ireversing 'device hereinbefore referred to'consists lof two adjustable :or other projections 86,88, supported upon the hollow shaft 8 of the rearmostcrank One or the otherzofithese projections as ythe crank shaft is rotated, gwill be brought into the path vof movement of'latailpiece 90 on the doubleended lpavvl 36 as the .latter is making its return yor idlelstroke and Will-cause the pawl to `be tipped. about its pivot fand `bring its other end. into engagement `With the companion ratchet Wheel. rlhis occurs at the end .of the foperation of the machine `upon the heel seat `of one shoe, so that the automatic mechanism Will-be set in readiness to deal withthe next shoe which it Willmove in fthesame pathas that in which it `moved the first shoe,hutiinlthefreverse direction.

As vrthe tlateral tcomponent l*only of themovement-'ofthesh o'e is reversed in' direction it will be kclearthat thecurved line of `tacks inserted in ythe second shoe will -correspond `exactly yWith that inserted in the first shoe,

the order -in which the tacks are inserted loeing, of course,l immaterial. At vthe end of the operation'of lthe `machine upon the heel seat .of the secondk shoe, the tail piece 90 of 'the paWl 36 will be engaged with the companion projection andthe paWl will be rcturned to :its yoriginal position as the Imovement 'offthe ythird shoe alonfgthe same path and in `the same direction in Which the first .shoe `is moved.

j 1t. `is -to he noted that the projections 86, 88, :act upon the tail piece 90 of the pawl during theretnrn or idle stroke-of the 'latter-,landes has |`been pointed out yhereinloefore the `cranks and `their appurtenances are rigidly locked against movement at this time. Accordingly, sa1dzp'roject1ons Which are supported kon one of 'the crankshafts, Will like- Wise the locked against movement, and therefore they Will lact in icoperation With the

toggle device

46, 48, of the 'patvl With certainty `and precision to 4'tip the flatter about Vits pivot.

As the machine herein described is somel'times employed to insert tacks in yparts of thefshoefother than the heel seat, it is desirfchine iframe, so that the bracket kcan be In'iovedby ithe f-k'fnee lever into positions that correspond to the operative and inoperative positions in said mechanism.

Preferably, means is provided for locking the bracket in its two extreme adjusted positions, and to this end the connection between the knee lever and the vertical shaft is constructed as follows: To the lower end of the shaft is secured a socket 98 which receives a rod 100 that is pivoted to the end of the knee lever 94. An adjustable or other spring-pressed plunger 102 carried on an i extension from the socket has a V-shaped end that is adapted to engage a similarly shaped recess 104. The knee lever and rod constitute a toggle joint, and when the automatic mechanism is in its operative or in its inoperative position the toggle is broken and the plunger, by engaging the V-'shaped recess in the rod locks it and the mechanism in said position. As the knee lever is moved by the operator to shift said mechanism from one adjusted position to the other, the rod 100 moves rearwardly in the socket until they toggle joint passes a central position when a continued movement of the knee lever will cause the rod to reverse its movement until the plunger, which was forced out of the V-shaped recess by the rearward movement of the rod, is again in register with and enters said recess to lock the mechanism in its new position.

It is to be understood that the ball-ended extension in the pawl carrier and the seating formed in the strip carrier frame are shaped to permit them to be disengaged when the automatic mechanism is swung by the knee .lever into its inoperative position.

In the operation of the machine, the crank y pins 14 and 18 are adjusted to suit the shape of the particular heel seat to be operated upon. The reversing projections 86, 88, for the double-ended pawl are adjusted also in accordance with the number of the tacks that are to be inserted, and the position which they shall occupy in the shoe and a suitable counter-balancing band 28 is applied to the clamping device. These adjustments having been made, if necessary, the operator places the shoe in the work clamping device and then starts the machine. Tacks are then driven by the driver into the heel seat of the shoe, the shoe being held rigidly while the tacks are driven, and then again released so that it can be fed step-bystep by the mechanism hereinbefore described. At or about the time the last tack is driven, the double-ended pawl 36 is tipped about its `pivot as described and the machine which is nowv stopped is in readiness to operate upon the heel seat of another shoe. 1f the operator wishes to insert tacks in parts of the sole other than the heel seat, he now removes` the shoe from the Work clamping device and swings the knee lever 94 to move the automatic mechanismiinto its inoperative position. It is to beunderstood that the. present invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular construction herein set forth, or in its application to tack driving machines, for the invention can be embodied in many other constructions or applied to machines other than tack driving machines Without departing from the scope thereof.

The provision of lautomatic mechanism for effecting various steps in the operations for which the illustrated embodiment of the invention is intended to be used such as would readily suggestitself to one skilled in the art upon reading the description of thev said operations is believed to be Within lthe scope of this invention, and it is intended to cover broadly in the appended claims not only the illustrated construction but its obvious modifications.

Having described my invention, what kl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States lis 1. A machine yof the class described, having, in combination, a tool, a work holder presenting a work receiving opening to the operator, means for automatically and positively edecting a relative feeding movement @of said work holder andtool along alpath corresponding substantially to the contour of the work, constructed to constrain `,said work holder against presenting `a different face of the work to the operator during/the feeding movement, and means for reversing the operation of said aforementioned means at the end of its operation upon one piece of work whereby the relative feeding movement of the tool and the work holder is reversed in direction for the succeeding piece of work.

2. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, anintermittently operating tool, and means for effecting positively between the operations of said tool a relative feeding movement of the work and tool alonga path corresponding substantially to the contour of the work, while presenting the same face of the work to the operator, said means being constructed and arranged to be automatically reversed at the end of its feeding movement upon one piece of work whereby the succeeding piece of work is fed ina different direction past said tool. i

3. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, an intermittently operated tool, intermittently operating work feeding means constructed and arranged to effect positively between the operations of said tool a feeding movementof the work along a path corresponding substantially to the contour of the work, while presenting the same face of the work to the operator, said feeding means being moreover so constructed and arranged as to be automatically reversed at the end of the feeding movement upon one piece of work whereby the succeeding piece of work is fed in a different direction past said tool, and means for locking said feeding means to hold the work stationary during the operation of the tool upon the work.

4. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool, a self-centering work clamp opening toward the operator, and means for automatically moving said work clamp past said tool along a path corresponding to the contour ofthe portion of the work, embraced by said clamp, con-v structed to maintain said clamp in such angular relation to the tool throughout the feeding movement that the opening in the clamp is constantly presented to the oper ator.

5. A machine ofthe class described, have ing, in combination, a tool, a selfcentering work clamp constructed to adjust itself automatically to shoes of different sizes and presenting its work receiving opening toward the operator, andautomatic means for effecting positively a movement' of said clamp past said tool along a path corresponding to theV contour of the portion of the shoe embraced by the clamp, said means being` constructed to maintain such an angular relation between said clamp and said'tool that the opening in saidl clamp is presented constantly to the operator.

6. A machine of the classdescribed, having, in combination, a. tool and a work holder constructed to center the work as it is presentedto said holder and to furnish anabutment against which the rear end of the work may be pressed constantly bythe operator during the operation of the tool thereon, andfmeans for automatically and positively effecting a relative bodily movement ofsaid holder and tool in such manner that the point of operation of the tool is transferred from one side of the work to the other along a path corresponding to the contour ofthe work, and that the work `receiving opening in the holder is presented constantly.`

7. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a toolA` and a work holder constructed to engage the sides and an end of the work, and means for automatically and positively e'ectingrelative bodily movements of said'holder and tool in directions substantially normal to said sides andsaid end of the work, said'movements being so directed that the ,point ofr operation ofthe toolis transferred from one side of the work to the other along a path corresponding to the contour of the work and that thework holder presents the same face of the work to the operator throughout the relative movement of said holder and tool. Y

8. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool and a work holder constructed to furnish an abutment against which the rear end of the work. may be pressed constantly by the operator during the operation of the tool thereon and means for automatically and positively movingsaid work holder toward and away from the operator and in directions transverse to the direction of movement toward and away from the operator, said means being constructed to control the movements of said holder in such manner that the point of operation of the tool istransferred from one side of the work to the other along aI path corresponding to the contour of the work.

9. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool and a work holder comprising a work clamp opening toward the operator, said holder being constructed to embrace the counter of a shoe to position the sole of the shoe with respect to the tool and means Ifor automatically and positively moving said work holder to cause the point of operation of said tool to be transferred from one side of the work to the other along a path corresponding to the contour of the work, said means being constructed to cause said work holder to present the same face of the work to the operator throughout its movement.

10. A machine ofthe class described, having, in combination', fastening inserting mechanism and means for feeding the work beneath said inserting mechanism constructed to cause the work to be fed in such manner that a rowy of fastenings will be driven substantially parallel to its edge while presenting the same face ofthe work to the operator throughout the feeding movement, and means yieldngly engaging the sides of the work for centering the work in said work feeding means.

11. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool and mechanism for automatically feeding successive pieces of work bodily in different directions along the same path beneath said tool, constructed and arranged to be moved bodily out of operative relation to said tool.

12. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, means for performing successive operations upon a shoe, and

,means for feeding the work bodily with relation` tofsaid' operating means during each work feeding operat1on comprising a work h'older and work feeding mechanism bodily movable into and out of operative relation tosaid operating means.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an intermittently operated tool, mechanism operating automatically between the operations of said tool to carry the work bodily past said tool, and means for moving said mechanism bodily out of operative relation to said tool.

lil. A machine of the class described having, in combination, anintermittently operated tool, mechanism operating automatically between the operations of said tool to carry the work upon which the tool I operates bodily past said tool, means for moving said mechanism bodily out of 0perative relation to said tool, and means for locking said ymechanism either in its operative or in its inoperative relation to said tool.

Inv testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR BATES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each. by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patents, Washington, D, C. v

[t is hereby certied that in Letters Patent No. 1,115,484, granted November 3. 1914, upon the application of Arthur Bates, of Leicester, England, for an improvement in Machines for Use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 52, after the Word constantly insert the Words to z/Le operator; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the saine may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of January, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. VVHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.