US1936399A

US1936399A - Shoe stretching last

Info

Publication number: US1936399A
Application number: US628034A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marca Patsy La
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-08-09
Filing date: 1932-08-09
Publication date: 1933-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1950-11-21

Description

NOV. 21, p LA MARCA SHOE STRETCHING LAST Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR.

fluum M r 7 W ATTORNEYS W/T/YESSES Nov. 21, 1933.

P. LA MARCA SHOE STRETCHING LAST 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1932 INVENTOR @272 a, M B EW m w x A TTORNEYs- NOV. 21, LA MARCA SHOE STRETCHING LAST Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR' 2/ BY 722 ,52 M 6/1430 2; 1L rj 4 ATTORNEYJ corn or bunion or other foot defect.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE STRETCHING LAST Patsy La Marca, Coraopolis, Pa. Application August 9, 1932. Serial No. 628,034

8 Claims.

7 This invention relates to a shoe-stretching last and has for its primary object the provisions of an improved form of adjustable last which can be advantageously used for stretching shoes, slippers or other footwear, or as a tree for retaining such footgear in shape when not in use.

A more particular object is to provide a stretcher of the above-noted character comprising a novel construction and arrangement of parts, which is adapted to be quickly and readily adjusted to elongate a shoe, widen the ball or heel portion thereof, stretch or raise the instep,

including the toe, and distort the shoe at the will of the operator to prevent pressure upon a various other novel features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with; the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a single embodiment of the invention'; Fig. 2 a top plan View of the same showing a portion of the instep in section; Fig. 3 a vertical section taken on the line III'III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a plan view of the heel with the instep-adjusting screw removed; Fig. 5 a sectional view of the heel taken on the line V--V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 an elevational view on the line of Fig. 3; Fig.7 a plan view of the instep section of the last; Fig. 8 a side elevation of one of the expansible side sections of the last proper;

Fig. 9 a plan view of the expansible side section shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 a perspective View of a key adapted for use in operating the adjusting screws of the last.

eferring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a plate formed substantially in the shape of the human foot which comprises the bottom of the last and functions as a support for its various other parts. At the toe end of such plate, there is provided a transverse block 2 to which a detachable toe section 3 is connected. This latter section is cut away on its-under side to fit over the block 2, and is equipped with pins 4 which fit in holes 5, provided in such block. On the top of this transverse block 2 the lower end of 'a shell-like instep section 7 is pivotally mounted by a hinge 8 to form the instep, covering of the last. The upper end of this instep section base,

slot 7a in it, and in such slot'a threaded nut 9. is slidably engaged. A threaded rod 11 is in turn passed through this nut for adjusting the height of the instep, as well as for holding the latter in a selected position, the lower end of the rod being supported in a socket 1 3 moun ted on plate 1, and the upper end 14 shaped to receive an adjusting key 15, see Fig. 10.

At the sides of the tongue-shaped instep sec-' tion '7 there is provided a pair of expansible side sections 16, which, with the instep section and toe, form the forward part of the foot. The rear ends of these sections 16 are provided with flanges 1'7 which form channels 18 which are adapted to fit over the end of a lever-supporting and guiding partition 19, mounted on the sole plate 1 at the forward end of the heel portion of the last.

To provide for lateral adjustment of theseside sections, hollow-threaded trunnion-like projections 21 are mounted on their, interiors, near their central and lower edges, the lower surfaces of such projections resting on the top of sole plate 1. Within such projections a pair of screws 22 is engaged. The inner ends of these screws are supported in brackets 23 mounted .on'. the plate 1, and they are equipped with miter gears 24 arranged to mesh with a third miter gear 25,

mounted on the lower end of an adjusting rod, 26, Y supported at its lower end in a bracket 2'7,v adja- 99 cent such gear and passed through an opening 20 in wall 19, from which itis extended to the top of the last. To effect lateral adjustment of sections 16, the key 15 may be applied tothe end of this latter rod and turned, the screws 22 having reverse threads so that the same movement is imparted to both sections 16 by the turning of the rod.

To provide for stretching a shoe in'the vicinity of that portion of the foot where corns and bunions most frequently occur, the side sections 16 are cut away at 16a, oppositethe forward joints of the foot, and the wall of the last is formed at that part by adjustable blocks 28, which are slidably held upon the plate 1 by flat-headed keepers 29 mounted in a transverse slot 30 (see Fig. 3). For adjusting these blocks a .pair of oppositely-threaded screws 31 is engaged in them, being mounted at their inner ends in a pair of brackets 32 secured to the plate 1 and equipped with miter gears 33 which are disposed to mesh with a miter gear 34 mounted on the end of the adjusting rod 35 which is extended to the opening in the top of the last. The lower end of this rod, like the rod 26, is supported in a bracket 36, while its upper end is passed through an opening 40 in the supporting wall 19. To provide for varying the area afiected by these blocks, removable plugs 38 are provided. These plugs which may have different desired shapes, are secured to the blocks 28 by pins 38a.

To assist in stretching the top part of the toe of a shoe with the instep section 7 which is adjusted by the screw 11, a curved plate 39 is provided to fit over the junction where the toe 3 joins the instep section 7. This plate is held in place on the toe 3 by a pin 41, and extended sufficiently far enough upward on the instep section '7 so that when that latter section is raised, it will elevate the plate 39 in a manner to raise the toe portion of the shoe.

The heel portion of the last is made up of a skeleton-shaped frame 42, which is slidably mounted on the heel portion of the plate 1. The lower part of this frame consists of a block 43 having tapered side walls 44. To guide such block when the last is elongated, a tongue 45 is provided on the sole plate 1 which fits in a groove 46 in the block. For moving the heel frame 42 and its associated parts rearwardly, a threaded bore'47 is provided in block 43 near one side thereof, running from its front face rearwardly, and in this a screw 48 is engaged. The forward end of this screw is supported in wall 19, and is equipped with a miter gear 49, which meshes with a similar gear 51, mounted on an adjusting rod 52, this rod being extended through an opening 50 in wall 19 to the top of the last. To vary the length of the shoe with this arrangement, all that is necessary is to turn the rod 52 in the necessary direction to effect the desired change in length.

The counter portions of the last, or the heel sides, are formed by a pair of curved sections 53 which are tapered at 54 on their lower inner surfaces to fit against the tapered walls 44 of the block 43 when the heel is contracted to its smallest size. In the central portion of these counter sections 53, there are provided trunnion-like projections 55 which have a flat surface on their lower edgewhich is adapted to ride upon the top 56 of the block 43, and guide the sections 53 in a horizontal plane when they are moved inwardly or outwardly. For adjusting the counter sections 53, the trunnions 55 are threaded in a reverse manner, and a pair of screws 57 are engaged in these threads, These screws are supported at their inner ends in brackets 58, mounted on the block 43, and provided with miter gears 59, which are engaged by a cooperating miter gear 61, mounted on the lower end of an adjusting rod 62 which is carried to the top of the last adjacent the other adjusting rods, being supported at its lower end in a bracket 63.

As shown in the drawings, the side or counter sections 53 0f the heel portion of the last do not extend all of the way around the rear part of the last. This latter part of the last is formed by a removable rear heel section 64 which is held in place by pins 65 which engage in holes 66 provided in an upright part 67 of frame 42. This heel section 64, like the toe section 3, is supplied in different sizes to be fitted on the last when it is adjusted for different sizes of shoes.

An advantage of the invention is that all of the movable parts of the last are mounted 50 a justment on a single sole forming plate which does not move when the last is'adjusted. Another advantage is that all parts of the shoe may be stretched by this last, irrespective of every other part, or all at the same time. A further advantage resides in the compact, simple, and sturdy construction employed, which renders the last very durable, as well as capable of readily and efiectively performing its functions.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to be its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

1. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair of laterally-adjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, a vertically adjustable central instep covering section disposed between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, a detachable toe section mounted on the forward end of said sole plate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on said frame, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frame to form the rear end of said last.

2. A shoe stretching last comprising va bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair of laterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screw means operable from the top of the last for adjusting said sections, acentral instep covering section disposed between said side sections and pivotally attached to said sole plate at its lower end, screw means for elevating the upper end of said central instep section, a toe section removably mounted on the end of said sole plate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heel section mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, and screw means for adjusting said heel section.

3. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair of laterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screw means for adjusting said sections. a central instep covering section disposed between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, screw means for vertically adjusting the upper end of said central section, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of said sole plate to form with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heel frame mountedonthe rear end of said sole plate, screw means for adjusting said frame, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on said heel frame, screw means for adjusting said counter sections, and a detachable rear heel section mounted on the rear of said heel frame between said counter sections.

4. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the an adjusting rod connected by miter gears with said screws for adjusting said instep side sections, a central instep-covering section disposed between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, a screw mounted on said sole plate for vertically adjusting the upper end of said central section, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of said sole plate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate,

a screw threadably engaged in said frame and anchored at its forward end to said sole plate, an adjusting rod connected through miter gears to said screw for adjusting said heel frame, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on said frame, screw means for adjusting said counter sections, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted between said counter sections on the rear of said heel frame.

5. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair of laterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, a central instep-covering section mounted between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of said sole plate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of the last, a shoe stretching plate mounted over the junction of said toe and instep sections, an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on said heel frame, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frame between said counter sections.

6. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conforming substantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair of laterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screw means extended to the top of said last for adjusting said sections, a central instepcovering section disposed between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, screw means at the upper end of said central instep section for vertically adjusting it, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of said sole plate to form with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, screw means extended to the top of the last for adjusting said frame, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on said frame, screw means extended to the top of the last for adjusting said counter sections, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frame between said counter sections to form the rear end of said last, said screw adjusting means having their adjusting ends all located in a compact group above said heel frame.

'7. A shoe-stretching last comprising a main supporting frame having a pair of oppositely disposed instep sections mounted for uniform lateral movement on said frame, a pair of oppositely disposed toe-joint expanding elements mounted for uniform lateral movement adjacent the forward end of said frame, a toe section detachably connected to said frame, an axially extended heel mounted on said frame, a central instep cover section mounted over the junction of said laterally adjustable side elements with its lower end pivotally connected to said frame, and means for separately adjusting said instep sections, said joint section, said heel and the upper end of said instep cover section.

8. A shoe-stretching last comprising a main supporting frame having a pair of oppositely disposed instep sections mounted for uniform lateral movement on said frame, a pair of oppositely disposed toe-joint expanding elements mounted for uniform lateral movement adjacent the forward end of said frame, a toe section detachably connected to said frame, an axially extended heel mounted on said frame, a central instep cover section mounted over the junction of said laterally adjustable side elements with its lower end pivotally connected to said frame, a pair of counter sections mounted for uniform lateral adjustment on the opposite sides of said heel, a heel tip detachably mounted on the back of said heel between said counter sections, and means for separately adjusting said instep sections, said joint sections, said counter sections and said instep cover section.

PATSY LA MARCA.