US1561982A - Shoe-tree - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. KAYE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TEE KAYE SHOE TREE IVIANU- FACTURING CO., INC.,

F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE-TREE.

Application led June 4,

'' tion whereby the tree may be used in connection with shoes which have become stretched by wear or which are of diiferent sizes within af limited range.

Another purpose is to produce a shoe tree capable ofholding the upper or vamp in an adjustably stressed condition.

A further aim is in the provision of means whereby the shoe is thoroughly ventilated while the tree is in place.

These and analogous aims, objects and purposes such as ease of operation, adaptability, long wearing qualities and low cost of construction, are accomplished by the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter `describedand shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of an embodiment of the invention, shown in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a bottom or sole plan view of the same. f Y

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, and illustratingthe tree in. a semi-expanded and raised position, as in use. f

Figure f1 is a perspective view of the end of the bar and its engaging'element.

The front portion ofthe tree, generallyl designated in the-drawing by the numeral 10, is shaped in the form of a last with opposed recesses 11 in its rear upper portion, the same acting as linger grips in maneuvering it and is preferably curved, as at 12, at the rear to match the correspondingly concavely curved front 13 of the heel portion 14.

A slot 15 extends from the rear end 12 towards the toe, inthe bottom of the front ,member l0, at the center, to `an undercut,

1923. sei-iai n0..643,141.

its rear end in conformit with the sha Je' of the heel member. v

The forwardly extending portion of the bar is fitted to loosely engage in the slot 15, reduced in thickness at its front portion 20, which contains a narrow elongated rectangular opening 21, the bar being reduced in weight by an elongated recess 22y in its upper side as shown in Fig. 1.

A trilobed plate 23 is secured over the recess 16., level with the under surface of the tree, by screws 24 entering therein and formed on the plate is a post 25 extending nearly o1' quite to the bottom of the slot 15 at its junction with the recess 16. y

An arm 26 extends integrally from the inner end of the post, parallel with the plate, towards the undercut end of the recess 16 and formed on the arm, at its end and at a point midway in its length, are downwardly ext-ending lugs respectively 2 and 28, the ends of kthese lugs being spaced from Vthe inner side of the plate a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the bar element 20, through the slot 21 of which the post and lugs extend.

In the Curved rearA surface 12 of the tree body are formed two or'more angular notches,.as at 29 and 30, and selectively cngageable therein is a. detcnt 31 formed by bending' a wire to present a central loop` its angularly disposed ends 32 being formed to closely embrace the sides of the heel element 14, and then bent at rightangles forming pivots 33 entering from opposite sides of the heel element and turning freely therein, this device providing means for stretch'- ing the shoe and also for Ventilating and drying it by the free access of air to the interior.

In operation, the tree is entered into the shoe in the position shown in Fig. 1 and if found to fill the shoe from toe to heel, the rear portion of the front element is raised, pivoting on the end of the bar to permit the detent 31 to engage in either of the notches, holding the shoe stretched ina manner apparent in Fig. 8.

1,11 Case the tree in 4its normal tion is insuiificient in length tor the shoe, the heel portion 14 is grasped in the hand, the bar 18 moved by suitable action outwardly to clear the lug 27 and the end of the bar engaged with the arm between the lugs, so that thrust is taken on the outer lug 27, thus spacing the surfaces 12 and 13, causing actual operative elongation ot the tree.

In a similar manner the end of the bar may be engaged witlr the lug 2S, increasing the operative length ot the tree to its 'full extent, but at no time can the bar, and hence the heel portion ot the tree, be released from the front portion except by removing the holding screws.

It will also be apparent that the angular* ity, and hence upward stretching effect, can be adjusted by the detent and notches indicated.

Due to the simple construction and ease of operation in making required adjust.- ments, all of the several objects are thought to be fulfilled.

Although the foregoing is descriptive ot the preferred embodiment ot the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front member being longi tudinally recessed in its lower side, a rectangular bar rigidly iixed `in said rear member to extend into thementioned recess, and meanscarried by said front member adjustably engaging the end of said bar.

2. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front member being longitudinally recessed in its lower side, a bar iixed in said rear member to extend into the mentioned recess, said bar being reduce-d in thickness at its front end and having- :in opening in its reduced portion, a plate fixed on said front member to extend over he recess therein, and means on said plate extending through the opening in said bar adapted to adjustably engage the end of the bar.

S. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, said front member being longi-` tudinally recessed in its lower side, a bar iixed in said rear member to extend into the mentioned recess, said bar being reduced in thickness at its front end and having an opening in its reduced portion, a plate tix-ed on said front member to extend over the recess therein, a post extending inwardly through the opening in said bar, an arm on said post, and lugs on said arm selectively engageable with the end of said bar an-d on which the bar may pivot.

A shoe tree comprising normally contacting front and rear members, a hinged bar connecting said members permitting relative angular movement in a vertical plane, means carried by said front member cooperative with said bar for maintaining said members in adjustment, means for positively adjusting the operative length ot` the tree, and means on the. rear member for holding the front member in an inclined position.

5. A shoe tree comprising front and rear members, normally in contact, said front member having notches in its contacting sur- Vtace, a detent pivoted on said rear member` adjnstably engageable in the notches, a bar fixed in said heelmember extending loosely into the front member, and means on said iront n'ieniber against which the end of said bar adjustably abuts, said means permitting a pivoted movement of said bar and rear element relative to the front element.

6. A shoe tree comprising separable front and rear members, said front member having a longitudinal recess in its bottom, a plate having prongs set in the bottom of said iront section, a bar iixed in the rear section to freely enter the mentioned recess, said bar having an opening to engage selectively with the prongs, a lever pivoted in the rear' section, and means in the front section to selectively engage said lever.

7 A shoe tree comprising separable front and rear members, said front section having linger recesses in its sides and a groove in its bottom, a bar rigid in said rear section at the center thereof, said bar being freely receivable in the mentioned groove, means in thevgroove to a'djustably engage the end of said bar, and means pivotally engaged in said rear section vto maintain the -ront seotion at different inclinations relative to the rear section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this application.

JAMES E. KAYE.

Images