US1897114A - Shoe tree - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1933. 5 EDD|N5 1,897, 1 14 SHOE TREE Filed June 6, 1930 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 sEXTUs A. nDDINsoE QUINCYJMLASSACLUSETTS, ASSIG1\f0R,. BY DIRECT AND .MEsNE W .AssreNMs-NTs. moors. MILLER TREEING MACHINE COMPANY, on PORTLAND,

MAINE, A CORPORATION or MAINE Sim Titan lamination filed J'iine G,

This invention relates to shoe trees and is herein illustrated as embodied in a tree for use in restoring and maintaining the shapes of shoes after they have been worn and during periods ofdisuse'. I p A w T e jm h ply. c ns r te s es trees are of su ch. a size that theyjcan be inserted in substantially any woinans shoe, provided with relatively small toe pieces and with resilient heel piecesw hich can be flexed to lit a shoe of any length. Obviously the toepieceof such a tree cannotbe expected t y tolfit .as e and ac prin ip l y,

pusher to stretch the shoe longitudinally.

on the other hand, while shoetrees are proded each of which is constructed and shaped accurately to a shoe of a particular size and shape, satisfactory use of such trees necessitates the carryingby the retailer of. a large -Q f t .-lld the po sessien y the user of different trees for each pair of differently shapedshoes with the added disadvantage that the trees are likely to be; come substantially useless when other styles of shoes are purchased. Moreover such trees are costly; and, unless care istaken to fit them properly to the shoes inwhich they areto he used, are not satisfactory. For these reasons, their use is not widespread e I n y orm o l t s es t 'eseren w available in which the toepiece is construe ed of sheet pyroxylin which isniolded to shape and most of these are so constructed that the toepiece is open atthe bottom and hasfan inturnedbottomflange; Shoe trees made in this fashion havethe merit of lightness and flexibility and have soine inherent resiliency forcing the sides ofthe toe piece info contact with the forepart of the shoe to fill it. t is desirable; however, to supplement the natural resiliency of a pyroxyliii toe piece in order to force thesidesof the tree harder against thesides oft-he shoe to insure proper treeing action. the. other hand. th re is danger that the toe piece may broken by being. expandedor contracted beyond its natural elastic limit, 7

In view of the foregoing, the present inventionainis to provide an improved shoe tree, relatively inexpensive in construction,

ea). Sean No. 459,525.

which will be eX pansible to a plurality of sizes of. shoes but which will be constructed so as to protect the tree against breakage.

To this end, the invention provides an eX- Peh b re h ti Provis f rigidly relative in-and-out movement of .the sides of the toe piece. .As illustrated, the tree. is constructed of flexible material such as pyroxylin and is protected against injury,

when it is .crowded into asho e of a size smaller than that for which it is intended, by means comprising an extensible bridge. This bridge is, shown as having superposed elements which rigidly secured at their outer endsto inturned bottom flanges at the sides of the toe piece andare slotted attheir inner ends and interconnected so that inward and outward movements of the sides of the toe piece are positively limited. Preferthe outer ends of the bridge. With this arrangement there is no danger .thatthe spring will distort or destroy the material of the toe piece by pressure thereagainst, and there is no opportunity for friction between. the spring and the sides of the toe piece as would be the casev if it rested directly against the inner side thereof. Also it will be noted that the central portion of the illustrated spring is looped around a stud near the forward end of alongitudinal memberof flat spring steel. This serves. to prevent lateral displacement of said forward end and at the same time forms an anchorage for the spring so that it may not readily be displaced in thetree.

Shoe trees are usually provided with a lone gitudinal member, sometimes called a heel piece, which extends the length of the shoe and presses againstthe inside of the rear end of the shoe so as thereby to push the toe piece into contact with the toe end of the shoe.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention it 9, bridge 14, and anexpandingspring 16. The

is rendered less expensive and more eflicient by the provision of a longitudinal member which is secured, between itsends, to a bridge extending across the tree and has its forward end resting on an inturned bottom flange wat the toe end otthe' tree and its rear'end positioned to bear against and be flex-ed by the arched shank portion of thelshoe' so'as' there bytoraisethe .toeiipiece firmlyinto -contact,

with the instep "of" the .shoe and. bye-firm" fricjtional engagement with .the'bottom otthe shoe to preventrearward movement of'the tree in the shoe. This longitudinal member," in the illustrated construction,'passes above the extensible bridge and is loosely riveted the'retoby the fastener which passes through theslotsof the two portions fof said bridge.

The rear-end-of the illustrated longitudinal member is curled upwardly to" form a finger 1 piece by means-of whichvthe treemayjbe in- 'serted in" orwithdrawnlfrom the shoeand as illustrated'the end is curled over to form alloop'so as therebyf'to protectl the-shoe thereto by meansofrivets.

against damage by said end, fAlso as illustrated; the longitudinal member is bent downwardly tern; intermediate point to bring the curledrear endbelow the level of the bottom of the toe'piece-[sofas thereby to increase the f force with whichthe rear end j isheld against theshank-portion of the shoe, or conversely, to increase 1 the force, with which the toe piece israised against; the instep portionof the shoef f Considering the invention" in c another as- P Qt, it will beseen, that itprovides a shoe tree comprising a pyroxylin, toe. piece and askeleton comprising the longitudinal mem i 81; the bridge members, andtl-ieexpanding spring. Thegskeleton 'may; bepre assembled and then in the coursed manufacture of {the tree associated with the molded pyroxylin l Fig. 3 is a view of a shoelcontaining such atree taken partly' in longitudinal section through the'toeof theshoe'and the tree and illustrates the forceexerted .tO'li ft the toe pieoeby the upwardly'fieli lrear end of longitudinal member.- y p The illustrated shoe tree comprises a flexiblei toe, piece lOwhich is molded into shape from sheet material suchuasflpyro xylin, and a metallic skeleton structure: comprising a longitudinal c center member, 12; "an extensible toe piece 10, as illustrated, has an inturned bottom: fiange18extendingaround the i open bottomof the toe piece, this 'lfla'nge being en; larged'at the sides as shown at 20 to facilitate the seculing thereto the extensiblebridge 14. This bridge 1 s made of a pai of flat metal pieces having upturned perforated ears22 at their outer ends and slotted at 24' atltheir adjacent ends to receive a rivet 26 passing through the longitudinal member 12 and said slots, and headed loosely to allow' i freeiinward and outward movement of the 'membersof the bridge 14. T The'outer ends of llhS' bridge are- Y rigidly attached to the 1 flanges .20. by rivets :28 and are in alinement with'oneianother inithe normal or expanded condition of the tree which is illustrated in Figs-'1 and 2; As a result, contraction of the tree will-have substantially no tendency I to displace the" longitudinal member 12.

lengthwise of the shoe tree and hence there flangeql 8. rltwillf -belnoted that any drawing'back'of said longitudinal member which ,wi ll'be no. dangerof disturbing the relation of the forwardend of said member with the might be caused by a contraction of the tree with certain positioningof the bridge me mbers "14 would be apt to pullthe'forward end. of. the member-12 over the edgeof the flanges so thatlit no longer would ;bear upon the tree'butru'pon; the bottom otthe shoe. On

the other hand, ifthere is tooim'uch forward displacement-of the longitudinal member on cO i raction Ofthetree; the forwardend of said member will bear against the inner side otthe toe piece and maybincl to such an extent that it'will not rest upon the bottom flange oithe tree; Thenaturalresiliency of the. flexible toe piece 10 is supplemented by the expanding spring 16(1 The central portion of this spring islooped-about a'rivet 30 on the under side of and near the forward end of the-longitudinal member 12 and the arms of the spring are' 'curved' forwardly and outwardly and then rearwardly: from this rivet andprovide d with outturnedQends 32 entering perforations inlthe ears 22 of the 7 bridge members. This'manner of assembly gives complete freedomofmove'ment tothe spring arms; Thus the flexible toe piece may be compressed or expanded within the limits prescribedby'the slots 24 of the'bridge mem ber, sothat "said toe piecefwillcompletely fill the toeend of a shoe in which the tree is" inserted. Danger of breaking the toe piece of'the tree is minimized bythe controlling eiie'ctj of the slots 24 and. it is noted that the arrangement of the spring, positioned as: it a is out of contact with the toe piece, gives a maximum freedom of act on of sald spring,

asthere is no frictional resistance to its movements as would bejthe case-if it rubbed against the celluloidtoe piece. There is,'fur-,

it ther, no direct pressure againstthepyroxylin toe piece and -hence=no tendencyfto distort the same. 2

Insertion of the toe piece in a shoe or its withdrawal therefromiis facilitated bya loop '34: fifo'rmedbyr curlingQtherear. end of the l g u na em rrrwer l i 31 p;

also avoids damage to the insole oi theshoe by providing a curved bearing portion for the rear end of the lon itudinal member. When the tree has been inserted in a shoe, the rear end of the longitudinal member 'is flexed upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the toe piece is lifted firmly against the instep of the shoe and at the same time the forward end of the longitudinal member rests on the inturned flange 18 at the bottom of the toe piece and exerts pressure on the toe end of the sole to straighten it lengthwise and to stretch it back to the shape imparted to it by its last. A shoe tree of this construction avoids the necessity of the long heel piece common in most shoe trees and bearing against the inside of the counter portion of the heel end of the shoe, and provides a light, inexpensive shoe tree, occupying a minimum amount of space when not in use.

The longitudinal member passes above the slotted ends ofthe bridge 14 at the point Where said member is secured to the bridge by the rivet- 26, and as a result there is less distortion of the bridge and of the flanges of the shoe tree and less interference With the tree action of the expanding spring 16 than as if the longitudinal member 12 Were positioned beneath the bridge 14, when said longitudinal member is bent upwardly by contact with the shank portion 40 of the shoe $2. The longitudinal member 12 is given a slight downward bend at 86 to compensate for its elevation above the bottom of the flanges 20 and to increase the lifting tendency of said longitudinal member upon the tree. In the manufacture of such trees the metallic skeleton, comprising the longitudinal member 12, the bridge members 14, and the spring 16, may be completely assembled as a unit an l then attached to the inturned bottom flanges 20 of the toe piece 10 by the rivets 28, thus greatly facilitating the manufacture of the article. A tree of this description does not have to be made in a large number of sizes in order to fit Well al sizes of shoes because it is not necessary for the looped end ill or" the longitudinal member to bear upon the shoe in any exact position, and further because the flexibility of the toe piece and the expansible construction provided by the bridge member i l and the spring 16 allows the toe piece to fit a large number of sizes of shoes. Consequently it is only necessary for a seller of such trees to stock them in small, medium, and large sizes, and there is less danger that a customer will secure a size unsuited to the shoe in which itis to be employed. Furthermore, a pair of trees purchased ior shoes of a particular Width will still be serviceable in case the user desires to employ them for shoes or" a ditierent style which have slightly dilierent Width. The spring 16 with its outturned ends entering the perforation in the ears 22 of the bridge members, and its circular portion looped around the rivet 30, prevents lateral displacement of the forward end of the longitudinal member 12, thus holding this member in'a position Where it will-operate as desired and Will not bindagainst the inner suriaceoi the toe piece.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and'desir'e to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is i g 1. A shoe tree arranged to fill the forward end of a shoe comprising an expansib'le toe piece adapted to be compressed laterally as it is inserted in a shoe, and extensible means rigidly secured to the toepiece and positioned transversely of the toe piece constructed and arranged 'to permit and at 'the same time to limit relative in-an'd-"out movement of the sides of the toe piece.

2. A shoe tree arranged to fill the forward end of a 'shoe comprising a toe pie'ce constructed of resilient material vvhereby it may be compressed laterally as it is inserted in a shoe, and means rigidly secured to the toe piece constructed and arranged to permit a relative movement of the sides of the toe piece and constructed and arranged positively to limit both the contraction and expansion of the side walls of the tree.

3. A shoe tree adapted to fill the forward end of a shoe comprising a flexible toe piece open at the bottom and having inturned bottom flanges, spring means for forcing out the side Walls of the toe piece to cause it to lill the forepart of a shoe, and means engaged by the spring means and secured to said bottom flanges constructed and arranged to permit the contraction and expansion of the side walls While limiting expansion thereof.

l. In a shoe tree, a flexible toe piece open the bottom and having inturned bottom flanges, a spring for expandingsaid toe piece, and means interconnecting said inturned bottom flanges constructed and arranged to allow a limited expansion of said toe piece under the actionot said spring, said means being constructed and arranged also to form abutinents for the spring to prevent distortion of the toe piece.

5. In a shoe tree, a flexible toe piece having inturned bottom flanges, overlapping bridge members secured one to each of said bottom flanges and slotted at their inner ends, and a fastener interconnecting the slotted portions of said bridge members whereby both excessive inward and outward movements of the sides of the toe piece are prevented.

6. In a shoe tree, a toe piece constructed of flexible material and provided with inturned bottom flanges, a bridge extending across the ball of the toe piece and secured to said bottom flanges, said bridge compris ing overlapped slotted members s'lidably interconnected loosely by a fastener, the ends of said slotted members being respectively secured rigidly to"opposite bottom flanges, substantially in alinement when the toe piece is expanded, r

:7. In a; shoe tree, a flexible toe piece open ,at the bottom and having inturned gopposite bottom flanges, and aibridge for intercon necting said'bottom flanges comprising flat (metal strips riveted at their" outer ends] to a from a shoe, an extensible bridge secured to' said opposite bottom flanges and vslotted at their inner ends, said inner ends being posi-; 'tioned in overlapped relation-and connected' to permit "a limited 1 inward f and outward movement of the sidesof the flexible toe piece. 8. 1A shoe tree comprising a; flexible toe piece open at the bottom, a member by means of which the tree is inserted in or withdrawn thetoe piece and extendingacross the open bottom thereof, said bridge having upturned ears ataits outer ends, and a jspring for expanding the toe piecelaterally to'cause r it to fill the forepa-rt of the shoe, saidspring being secured tofsaidmember and havingits ends bearing against said upturned ears.

9. A shoe *treefcomprising 'al flexible toe piece, an extensible bridge secured to and extending. transversely of the toe piece and provided with upturned ends, a longitudinal m'ember secured to said tree for inserting or withdrawing the tree, and apspringfforexpandlng the tree, an intermediate portion of which spring is secured tofthe forward end of said longitudinal member and the end portions of'which are'flexed andbearagainst' said'upturned ends of the bridge;

1 0. 7X shoetree comprising a flexible toe piece having inturned bottom flanges, an extensible bridge connectingjs'aid flanges and provided withupturned perforated end portions, and a longitudinal member secured to saidv bridge having a spring secured, thereto near the forward end of, the toe piece, said spring having outturned ends inserted in the by' 'to cxpandthe toe pieceil 1 V V 11. A shoe tree comprising a toe piecehave ing an inturned bott om'flange, abridge ex tending transversely 'ofsaidtoe piece, and a member extending lengthwise of said toe piece secured to an intermediate portion of erforated end portions'of the bridge theresaid bridge with its forward end resting on said inturned bottom flange at the toe end of the tree, said-member extending rearwardlytofa position abovethe shank portion of a shoe when the tree isinsertedin'the shoe and having its end-curved to prevent contact of 7 said end with the shoe, r V

12.In ashoe tree, a toe piece 'ha ving an inturned bottom] flange, aflbridgev extending transversely of saidtoepiece, a member extendingrlengthwise of said-toe piece and positioned above said bridge and secured to. intermediate port on thereof wlth its for ward fend resting on said inturned bottom flange at thetoe endof the tree, member extending, rearwardly far enough toflrest upon theshank portionof a shoe" when the tree is inserted in the shoe. I

13. Ina shoe tree, a flexible toe piece hav ingan inturned bottom flange at the forward end and at the sides-of the toe piece, a bridge .membersecured tothe side portions of said flange, a longitudinal member disposed with its forward end resting, on the end portion of the flange and having a fastener passing through said bridge member; and means for preventinglateral movement of the forward endof. the longitudinal member.

bridge comprising overlapping portlonssecured at their outer ends to the sides of said toe piece and slotted at their overlapping inner ends, the overlapping portions'of said bridge being constructed and arranged tobe ing over said bridge and having a fastener extending through said slotted ends, said longitudinal member. being bent do wnwardly from the plane oflthebottom of the shoe tree to therear' of said-bridge.

.- l6lA shoetree' comprising a flexible toe pieced-esi'gnedsubstantially to fill the fore.-

, 14:Ina shoe. tree, a "flexible 1 toe piec'epa part of a shoe, means for limiting the contraction and expansion of the toe piece, and a resilient longitudinal member-rigidly secured to said toe pieceithrough saidmeans" and extending rearwardly to engage ,the upwardly arched shanlr- -portion of a shoe so as to belflexed thereby and to exerts lifting action on the instep portion of thetoe piece to'cause it to plumpout' the forepart of the shoe. 7

17; In asho e tree, toe piecedes'ignedsubstantially to fill the forepart ;of a shoe,

and a resilient member offlat strip metal'rigidly secured atone portion, to said. toepiece and having'another portion resting ona'part of said toe piece to extend lengthwisethereof, the rearend of said longitudinal member being curved to form a loop which bears,

whenthe tree is'inserted in the shoe, against theiupwardly arched shank portion of the shoe so as thereby to hold the tree against displacement.

18 In a shoe tree, a flexible toe piece de signed substantiall tofill the forepart of a,

shoe,"a transverse bridge offlat strip metal secured tothe sides ofsaid toe piece, an'd'a resilient 'member of flat strip metal rigidly secured to said bridge; and llitVlllgQlbS "fore; "wa-rdijend vrestingon said toe;piece,said;v

resilient member extending lfengthwise of the tree, the rear end of the flat resilient memher being curved to form a substantially closed loop preventing contact of the end with the shoe.

19. In a shoe tree, a flexible toe piece having an inturned bottom flange adjacent to the forward end of the toe piece and the sides thereof, slotted bridge members secured to the side portions of said flange, a longitudinal member of flat spring metal resting on the toe portion of the flange and passing above said slotted bridge members, and a fastener extending through said longitudinal member and the slots of said bridge members, said longitudinal member extending rearwardly far enough to rest upon the shank portion of the shoe thereby to lift the instep portion of the toe piece when the tree is inserted in a shoe.

20. I11 a shoe tree, a toe piece having an inturned bottom flange at the forward end and at the sides of the toe piece, slotted bridge members secured to said side portions of said flange and provided with upturned perforated end portions, a longitudinal member passing over said bridge members and having a fastener extending through the slots thereof, the forward end of said longitudinal member resting on the flange at the toe end of the tree and extending rearwardly far enough to rest upon the shank portion of a shoe in which the tree is inserted, and a spring secured at an intermediate portion thereof to the forward part of said longitudinal member, the flexed outer ends of said spring being outturned to enter the perfora tions of said upturned portions of the bridge members whereby said toe piece is expanded by said spring and lateral flexings of the sides of the toe piece are limited both inwardly and outwardly by the engagement of said fastener member with the slots of said bridge members.

21. In a shoe tree, a toe piece having an inturned bottom flange, a bridge secured to said toe piece, and a longitudinal member secured to said bridge with its forward end resting on said inturned bottom flange, said longitudinal member being bent downwardly from the plane of the bottom of the shoe tree at a point between said bridge member and its rear end and having its rear end curled to form a loop.

22. In a shoe tree, a toe piece designed substantially to fill the forepart of a shoe, a bridge between the sides of said toe piece, and a resilient longitudinal member secured to said bridge and arranged to bear downwardly against the forward end of the toe piece, said longitudinal member being curved to form a loop at its rear end, which loop in use rests upon the shank portion of the shoe and serves as a finger piece to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the tree.

23 In a shoe tree, a toe piece designed substantially to fill the toe end of a shoe, a bridge between the sides of said toe piece, a resilient longitudinal member secured to said bridge and arranged to bear downwardly against the forward end of the toe piece, said longitudinal member being curved downwardly for contact with the bottom of the shoe at the shank portion and having an end portion which is curved to form a loop, said loop serving as a finger piece to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the tree.

24. In a shoe tree, a flexible toe piece, and a metallic skeleton structure for said toe piece comprising an extensible bridge, a longitudinal member, an intermediate portion of which is secured to and supports said bridge, and an expanding spring the central portion of which is secured to said longitudinal member and the diverging ends of which are secured to the ends of said bridge.

25. A metallic skeleton structure adapted to be incorporated in a shoe tree having a flexible toe piece with inturned side and toe flanges, said skeleton structure comprising a transverse bridge of flat strip material the ends of which are adapted to be secured to the side flanges of the toe piece, and a longitudinal member secured to said bridge between its ends and extending substantial distances to the front and to the rear of the bridge, thereby adapting said member to rest at one end on the toe flange of the toe piece and at the other end on the shank portion of a shoe in which the tree is used.

26. A metallic skeleton structure adapted to be incorporated in and secured to a shoe tree having a flexible toe piece, said skeleton structure comprising an expansible bridge, a longitudinal member an intermediate portion of which is secured to said bridge. and an expanding spring an intermediate portion of which is secured to said longitudinal member and the diverging ends of which are secured to said bridge.

27. A shoe tree having a flexible toe piece open at the bottom and provided at the bottom with inturned side and toe flanges, a loop spring having its ends connected to said side flanges to expand the toe piece, an expansible bridge of flat strips connecting said side flanges, and a longitudinal member secured to an intermediate part of said bridge having its forward end overlying said toe flange and extending rearwardly to a position above the shank portion of a shoe when the tree is inserted in the shoe.

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

SEXTUS A. EDDINS.

Images