US1449287A

US1449287A - Shoe-expanding appliance

Info

Publication number: US1449287A
Application number: US545735A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander H Keys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-03-22
Filing date: 1922-03-22
Publication date: 1923-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1940-03-20

Description

' Mar.20,1923. 1,449,287.

A. H. KEYS.

SHOE EXPANDING APPLIANCE.

nuzo MAR. 22, 1922.

u [NVENTUH WE T E MNMEHMMYE 1m 147 E Mar. 230, i923 atented t will) SHUE-EXPANDING' APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 22, 1922.

To all 'z r/lmnit may (saucer-n:

Be it known that I. Annxama. H. KnYs a citizen of the United States, and resident ot San Francisco, county of an Francisco, and State (Jaliiornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Expanding Appliance. oi which the toliowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an appliance for use by individuals for expanding sioes so that the same may be made to more comfortably lit the feet, particularly in cases where a person is trou led w ith corns or bani, nother character of my invention resides in appliance which may perform the function of a shoe tree for main taining the shape of a shoe when the same is not in use.

The invention possesses other features which will clearly appear as the description now proceeds with reference to the practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 a longitudinal section of the appliance, Figure 2 is a view in side elevation oi" th, a pliance, Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the appliance, Figure 4% is a detail view of an accessory used in connection with the appliance and Figure 5 is a detail pers 'iectivc view of still another accessory for use in connection with the appliance.

Referring now to the drawing in detail. ll propose to construct the appliance with an irre;, ;ular shaped ttranie 1) made preferably from a metal band and shaped as best shown in Figure 3, so as to conform substantially to the inside of a shoe.

Rivetcd or otherwise fired as at to the back of the frame (1) is a handle (3) made as a convenient means of inserting the appliance in the shoe and withdrawing the ame therefrom. Pivotally fixed to a transve'se rod (a) which is fastened to opposite .ades of the frame (1) is a lever the same having a tulcruined point on the rod (4) at pivotal connect-ion therewith, so t the rod may be rocked back and forth aiive to the frame. The lower part of the rod is made in the form of a U with its pivotal connection with the rod made substantially in the middle of the U so that he end (6) may terminate in an upwardly L presented end and leaving a handle (7) at the opposite end prqectmg above the frame to be engaged by the hand or" the individual Serial No. 545,735.

for manipulating the lover. The end (6) is threaded and made to receive a threaded cap (8) for increasing or decreasing the end (6 l turning the cap up or do n on the screw threads.

Ranged on opposite sides or the fa. me (1) in back of the rod (4:) are upstanding bearings (9) each one having a key-hole slot (10) made to receive the shanks (ll) of the expanding heads (12). shanks (11) of each of the expanding heads is a member (13) which is received in the slotted part of the keyhole slot to prevent the shanks (ll) from turning in the bearhip; thus maintaining the ex anding heads (12) fixed against turning relative to the frame, at the same time leaving them free to be withdrawn at will. The expanding heads (12) may be made in various shapes as best shown in Figure 3, the one on the left of the frame is shorter than the one on the right of the frame. To prevent wob bling of the lever the rod is made with sleeves (4!) on each side of the pivotal connection of the lever which holds the lever in the c cnter of the frame and prevents the same from sliding alongthe rod. Arranged preferably as an integral part oi thov lever and projecting forwardly thereof adjacent its pivotal connection on the rod l) is a wedge shaped block (14-), the same moving; in an orbit around the pivotal con nection out the lever and made to have a wiping connection with the ends of the shanks (11) of the expanding); heads so as to force the same outwardly against the sides of the shoe when the lever 1S pulled down toward the handle (3) so that the leather or material of the shoe may be stretched within restricted area for relieving pressure on a corn or bunion when the shoe worn. The expanding heads (12) icrchanged one with the other or cro ids o1 dishapes 13 he used I be done away with altogether if their use is not required. Hinged to the front of the frame (1) is a frog the same being curved in cross section and adapted to overlie the frame for a greater part of its length and with the cap (8) made tocontact with the underside of a frog so to raiseand lower the same according to the relative position of the lever. The frog is used for expanding or stretching positions and the desired efiectiveness of the Arranged on the (17 thereof made to be inserted in any one of a series of holes (18) arranged at intervals practically throughout the surface of.

the frog or at least along both sides thereof so that the button may be used in combination with any one of the holes according to the particular area of the shoe affected.

In using the appliance the lever is moved to a position as best shown in Figure 2 so that the frog (15) is lowered. It is then inserted into the shoe with the expanding heads (12) attached or detached as desired and also with or withoutthe button (16) and when it has been placedin position in the shoe the lever is pulled back as best shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines, thus raising the frog (15) and imparth ig an outward thrust to the expanding heads. The button being carried by the frog performs it's functionas previously explained. Since the lever inbeing pulled back to its extended position will be past dead center at its pivotal pointthe same will be maintained in this. position until it is pushed forward again. From the above it will be readily that I have produced not only a convenient and practical shoe tree but that I have also provided means for expanding or stretching H I. the shoe and arranged means for relieving the tension of theshoe-on corns' and bunions by the accessory which I use incombination with the appliance. The appliance may be cheaply produced and since it is made of metal it will wear exceeding well and prove a most practical appliance for its intended use.

I claim:

1. In an appliance of the class described, a frame, a frog pivotally connected at the front of the frame and adapted to move above the same in a horizontal angular plane and means for moving and holding the frog inan elevated horizontal angular plane relatively of the frame, comprising a lever pivotally connected to the frame having one end contacting with the underside of the frame and means for adjusting thecontact of the lever end with the under side of the frog, comprising adjustable means carried bythe end of the lever and made to provide a contact between the lever end and the run der side of the frog. I

'2. In an appliance of the class described a frame, a fro pivotally connected at the front of the frame and adapted to move above the same in a horizontal angular plane and. means for moving and holding the 'frog in an elevated horizontal angular plane relatively of the frame, comprising a lever pivotally connected to the frame having one end contacting with the under side of the frame and means foradjusting the contact of the lever end with the under side of the frog comprising a cap threaded to the end ofthe lever and inadeto provide a contact between ethelev'er end and the under side of the frog and means on the frame actuated by the lever for expanding restricted areas of the shoe substantially as and for the purpose described;

' ALEXANDER H. KEYS.