US1961884A - Pad for shoe holding machines - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1934. e. LAGANAS 1,961,884

PAD FOR SHOE HOLDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1935 5Q 57 a 11/0 (wt bow 6280778 Lafamzs Patented June 5, 1934 n ,UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE IAD FOR SHOE HOLDING MACHINES George Laganas, Lowell, Mass.

Application January 21, 1933, Serial No. 652,909

8 Claims. (01. 12-123) This invention relates to a shoe leveling, shapform its function fully but will not mar 01' deface ing and sole securing machine, and more particuthe finished surface of the material from which larly has reference to an improved construction the shoe is made. for clamping a shoe on a pressing element during One of the objects of this invention is therefore i the time that one or more such operations are to provide an improved clamping means for holdbeing performed on it. ing a shoe and last firmly in position against a Previously, shoes have been leveled, and shaped sole leveling, shaping and securing element of the and soles secured thereto by Various means, intype under discussion. cluding the use of a pneumatic pressing element Another object of this invention is to provide a 0 having a flexible wall to fit against the bottom clamping means for the purpose set forth with a part of the shoe while the shoe is on a last. The portion adapted to contact with the finished surshoe and last are held against this flexible wall face of the shoe and hold it firmly and positively and air pressure is admitted to the element thus in position without danger of marring or deforcing the flexible wall tightly against the botfacing it.

15 tom of the shoe and leveling and shaping the shoe Other objects and advantages will become against the last. Similarly pressure has been apapparent from the following description taken plied against the soles of shoes to hold them in in connection with the accompanying drawing, place after the soles have been applied to the it being distinctly understood that the same are shoes by means of cement or other like material. by way of illustration and example only and are 20 It has been necessary to make one wall of the not to be taken as in any way limiting the spirit pressing element of rigid material such as cast or scope of this invention. The spirit and scope iron so that it can be attached to the machine of this invention are to be limited only by the or other support upon which it is to be placed. prior art and by the terms of the appended claims. This attachment must be rigid in order that the Referring now more particularly to the draw- 5 pressing element may have a proper and positive ing in which like numerals indicate correspond- 8Q backing or foundation. The other wall of the ing parts throughout: pressing element must however be flexible in order Figure 1 is a side elevation of a unit embodying that air pressure within the element might force this invention mounted on a Supporting means, this other wall against the bottom of the shoe to the latter being shown in section.

30 perform the function for which the element is Figure 2 is aperspective view illustrating aporintended. When these two elements have been tion of the clamping means. secured together all around their edges there is Figure 3 is a vertical section through the eleformed between the walls an air chamber which ment illustrated in Figure 2. is adapted to receive the air under pressure for Figure 4 is a side View of the element illus- 35 the purpose of inflating the unit and enabling it trated in Figures 2 and 3, some of the parts being to do its work. shown in section.

It has been customary in connection with this Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a type of a device, to provide a clamping means for unit of the type referred to embodying this inholding the shoe and last against the flexible wall vention, the same being mounted on a pair of 49 while air pressure is admitted to the element for hollow support members 1 and 2. Forming a 9.5 the purpose of forcing the flexible wall tightly base for the pressing unit proper is a member 3 against the bottom of the shoe and leveling and which is preferably formed of cast iron or some shaping the shoe against the last. In the past, similar material, and is provided adjacent one this clamping element or arrangement has been end with a transverse opening for the purpose provided with a portion adapted to contact with of receiving the hollow member 2. Adjacent the the last at a point above the heel of the shoe, and other end of the member 3 it is provided with a with a second portion adapted to contact with the semi-circular bearing portion 4 adapted to retoe of the shoe for the purpose of holding the ceive the hollow support member 1. The support toe portion of the last in position. As will be member 1 is then held in position within the Q appreciated, shoes in general are made of leather semi-circular portion 4 by means of a cap memor other similar covering having its outer surface her 5 secured to the portion 4 by means of cap finished, and it is therefore necessary that the screws 6 extending through openings in the ears portion which is adapted to press against the toe '7 of the cap member 5 and being threaded into of the shoe be very carefully constructed in such tapped holes in the member 3.

5. a. manner and of such material that it will per- On the upper side of the porti n 4 there is 1 down therein.

formed a hooked shaped projection 8 extending toward the opposite end of the member 3 and substantially parallel thereto.

At the opposite end of the member 3, there is provided a depending portion 9 located directly below the hollow support member 2, and having an opening therethrough for receiving the shaft 10 on which are mounted the arms 11.

This opposite end of the member 3 is also provided with a portion adapted to form one part of the valve mechanism for controlling the air supply to the unit, and to receive and support the other part of this valve mechanism.

Mounted on top of the member 3 and having a hook 12 engaging the hook 8 on the member 3 is the rigid cup-shaped wall 13 which goes to form the lower part of the pneumatically operated pressing unit. As previously mentioned, such parts of the member 13 are usually made of cast iron or some similar material. The rigid wall member 13 is supported at one end on the hook 8 as shown in Figure 1, and is supported on its opposite end on an abutment 14 which rests against a cut away portion 15 near the opposite end of the member 3.

Secured to the upper side of the member 15 by any suitable means is the flexible wall 16 of the pressing unit, the same being adapted to expand and press against the bottom of the shoe 17 when the shoe is in place on the last 18 and is securely clamped down in a manner to be presently described.

The clamping means just referred to consists in general of an arm 19 securely mounted on the hollow support member 1 and adjustably clamped thereto by means of a cap member 20 and cap screws 21. This arm 19 is mounted on the hollow support member adjacent the member 3 on one side thereof, and another arm 19 which is in effect exactly the same as the arm just described is mounted on the opposite side of the member 3. At their upper ends, the arms 19 are each provided with bearings for receiving the pins 22 which project in opposite directions from each of a pair of spaced ears 23 on the housing member 24 to pivotally mount the same. The housing member 24 is arranged on its inner surfaces to provide a vertical slide way for the purpose of receiving a corresponding slide on the beam 25 and allowing the beam 25 to slide up or As has been stated, the ears 23 on the housing member 24 are spaced from each other so that the beam 25 may pass between them. For the purpose of adjusting the vertical position of the beam 25 within the housing men ber 24, there is provided a threaded member 26 adapted to pass into the housing member 24 and to cooperate with the beam 25 to position it in whatever vertical position may be desired. The beam 25 is extended from the housing past the ears 23 in the manner just described, and is provided at its extremity with a plurality of openings 27 adapted to receive the ends of springs 28 for the purpose of resiliently holding in its lowermost position this end of the beam 25. The lower ends of the springs 28 are secured to the eyelets 29 provided on the cap member 5 for that purpose.

In order to facilitate the description, the ends of the beam 25 to which the springs 28 are attached will be hereinafter referred to as the rear end of the beam, and the opposite end will be referred to as the forward end of the beam.

The beam 25 is enlarged at the forward end thereof as indicated at 30 for the purpose of providing for the rectangular opening 31 extending transversely of the beam. Extending transversely through the opening 31, and vertically slidable therein is a cross beam 32, its vertical position within the opening 31 being determined by an adjustable member 33 extending through the top of the enlarged portion 36 into the opening 31 and engaging the beam 32 in much the same manner that the adjustable device indicated at 26 engages the beam 25.

At the opposite ends of the cross beam 32 there are pivotally connected a pair of links 34 which extend downwardly from the beam 32 to the arms 11, and are pivotally connected thereto as at 35. These links 34 are curved at a position opposite the shaft 10 so that when the arms 11 are swung about the shaft 10 to their lowermost positions they may swing past their center position to a small degree and the links 34 will have their bent portions 36 in engagement with the shaft 10.

It will be apparent that when the parts are in the position just described the beam 25 will be locked with its forward end down, and cannot be raised until the arms 11 are first pushed toward the rear. It will be noted at this point that the arms 11 are connected to each other by means of a web or some other suitable arrangement 3'7, and. that this arrangement carries an abutment 33 which is adapted when the arms 11 are first pushed rearwardly to release the beam 25 to come into engagement with the rubber bumper 39 provided for that purpose on the under surface of the member 3.

Going back now to the description of the beam 25, it is noted that this beam is provided at a point substantially at its forward end with a downwardly extending lug 40, and is provided with another similar downwardly extending lug 41 at a point adjacent the housing member 24. These two downwardly extending lugs have openings therethrough adapted to journal the ends of a threaded shaft 42 having a crank 43 at its forward end by which it may be turned. As will be noted, the forward end of the shaft 42 is provided with one set of threads 44, and the rearward portion of this shaft is provided with another set of threads 45, the two sets of threads 44 and 45 being left hand and right hand threads respectively.

Surrounding the shaft 42 and in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 44, is a block or abutment 46 which is adapted to engage a projecting portion on the last 18 within the shoe 17, and press the said last against the flexible wall 16 of the pressing unit.

Surrounding the shaft 42 and in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 45, is a second block 47. This block 47 is slotted to receive a pad element 48, which in turn is adapted to press against the toe portion of the shoe 1'7 and hold the said toe portion of the shoe and the last against the flexible wall 16 of the pressing unit. The member 48 may be secured to the block 4'? by any suitable means such as the key 49. As will be appreciated from a study of Figures 2, 3 and 4, the key 49 is adapted to fit into the key way 50 in the member 48, and into a complementary key way in the block 47.

The member 48 forms the shank for the novel clamping pad forming the subject matter of this invention. Formed integrally with the shank portion 48, and extending from one side 'thereof is a web 51, to the opposite edge of which is inte- 'grally joined a substantially flat cross member 52. This cross member 52 is slightly longer and somewhat wider than the shank 48, and has its external surface slightly cylindrical as shown at 53. Substantially at the center of the member 52, and on the external face thereof there is formed a second cylindrical surface 54 intersecting the cylindrical surface 53. It will be noted that both of these surfaces 53 and 54 'are substantially cylindrical, but that the surface 53 is convex whereas the surface 54 is concave. The upper surface of the member 52 is cut away adjacent each edge for the purpose of receiving and positioning the flexible strips 56 and 57 respectively. The web 51 is cut away at 58 and 59 respectively for the purpose of receiving the bolts 60 and 61 which are adapted to hold the flexible members 56 and 57 in proper position and clamp them on the flat cross member 52. In practice, the outer flexible strip 57 is made of leather having a smooth outer surface so that it will not mar the finish on the toe of the shoe. A very satisfactory material for this flexible member has been found to be the product commonly known as patent leather, because of the fact that the surface of such leather is very smooth and very unlikely to injure the finish on the shoe. The flexible member 56 is composed of a cushioning material such as gum rubber whereby a small degree of resiliency will be given to the outer surface of the member 57 which presses against the toe of the shoe. In addition to the members 56 and 5'7, a strip 57a is provided which may be formed of rubber having a substantial amount of fabric reinforcement embedded in it. Because of the fabric reinforcement, this member 57a is somewhat stiffer than either the member 57 or 56, but it is flexible enough to permit it to be pushed in toward the concave cylindrical surface 54 of the cross member 52. As seen from Figure 3, this member 57a does not pass entirely around the cross member 52 as do the members 56 and 57; but instead it engages only the outer face of the member 52. It is held against this outer face by the members 56 and 57 respectively. In order that the members 56 and 57 may be clamped about the cross member 52 in such a manner that they will not tear out and come off, the end portions of the member 57 are doubled inwardly upon themselves so as to form a double thickness at 62 adjacent the line of attachment. After the member 57 has been doubled over at 62 as just described, holes are punched through the doubled over portions 62 and through the end portions of the member 56 for the purpose of receiving the bolts 60 and 61 as previously described. The holes which are punched in the doubled over portions 62 of the member 57 are then provided with metal or other suitable reinforcing eyelets 63. In order to still further guard against any tearing out of these parts, a bar 64 of metal is provided for the purpose of engaging each of the doubled over end portions 62, each of these bars being formed with holes corresponding to the holes which have been punched in the flexible members for the purpose of receiving the bolts 60 and 61.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the operation of the structure that has been described will be clearly apparent. The last 18 is first placed within the shoe 1'7 in the ordinary manner, and the shoe 17 is properly positioned on the flexible wall 16. The blocks 46 and 4'7 are then adjusted so that they will lie directly above the heel portion of the last and the toe portion of the shoe respectively. The adjustable members 26 and 33 are manipulated to adjust the height of the block 46 and the pad for engaging the toe of the shoe so that when the beam 25 is pulled downwardly the shoe will be clamped down in its proper position. The beam 25 is then pulled down until the links 34 swing the arms 11 about the shaft 10 to a point where the bent portions 36 of the links come in contact with the shaft 10. It will then be seen that the arms 11 will be swung past the center of the shaft 10, and the beam 25 will be locked downwardly in clamping position. The pressing element composed of the members 13 and 16 is then inflated by means of the valve 65 provided on the member 3 for that purpose. This valve as will be seen is operated by means of a handle 66. After the pressing operation is complete, the arms 11 are pushed rearwardly so as to allow the links 34 to move upwardly and release the clamping means 46 and 47 from the shoe and last, after which the shoe and last may be removed.

When the clamping member carrying the toe pad is brought down, the smooth surface of the member 57 engages the toe of the shoe within which is positioned the toe of the last. Upon further downward movement, the strip 56 is compressed thus serving to press the toe of the shoe tightly against the flexible member 16. At the same time, the member 57a is allowed to flex so that its center portion will sink into the central depression left by the cutting away of the cylindrical portion 54, and will form a slightly rounded surface for engaging the toe of the shoe.

Thus, it will be seen that a member has been provided for engaging the toe of the shoe and clamping the shoe and last against a shaping element, which member will not mar or deface the finished surface of the toe of the shoe, but will instead have a slight cushioning effect to resiliently force the toe of the shoe to its proper position, and will at the same time assume a slightly concave shape so as to rest on the toe of the shoe substantially all the way across the toe instead of only at its center. The toe of the shoe is therefore clamped in its proper position and in an entirely satisfactory manner without any danger of marring or harming its finished surface. The pad member which has been formed will cooperate with the other portions of the device described for the purpose of carrying out the functions and objects of the same in the most efficient manner. Also, it will be noted that this pad element is removable for the purpose of being exchanged with other elements of different sizes to accommodate different types of shoes, as well as for the purpose of being removed to replace the flexible elements 56, 57 and 57a. The flexible elements 56, 5'7 and 57a, are on the other hand mounted on the shank 48 in such a manner that they will be least likely to be torn out, thus lengthening the life of these flexible members to a very substantial degree.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, an intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, a relatively soft smooth covering around said enlarged terminal portion adapted to contact the finished surface of the toe of the shoe, said enlarged terminal portion having a portion of its outer surface hollowed out to form a concave seat to receive the toe of the shoe, and a relatively stiff resilient member between said covering and said concave seat, and resiliently spaced from said concave seat when not clamped against a shoe.

2. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, an intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, said enlarged terminal portion having a portion of its outer surface hollowed out to form a concave seat to receive the toe of the shoe, a relatively stiff resilient member over said hollowed out portion, a relatively soft resilient covering around said enlarged terminal portion and said relatively stiff resilient member, and a pliable smooth covering around said resilient covering and adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe.

3. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a metal base having a shank portion, an intermediate Web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, sm'd enlarged terminal portion having a portion of its outer surface hollowed out to form a concave seat to receive the toe of the shoe, a relatively stiff rubberized fabric member over said hollowed out portion, a relatively soft gum rubber covering around said enlarged terminal portion and said rubberized fabric member, and a patent leather covering around said gum rubber covering and adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe.

4. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, a reduced intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, a relatively soft smooth covering around said enlarged terminal portion adapted to con tact the finished outer surface of the shoe, said covering having its ends disposed on opposite sides of said Web portion, and means extending past said reduced intermediate web portion and securing said ends in such position to retain the covering on the base.

5. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, a reduced intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, a relatively soft smooth covering around said enlarged terminal portion adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe, said covering having its ends disposed on opposite sides of said Web portion, and means extending on opposite sides of said reduced intermediate web portion and securing said ends together to retain the covering on the base.

6, In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, an intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, a soft resilient covering around said enlarged terminal portion, a pliable smooth covering around said resilient covering and adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe, said pliable smooth covering having its ends disposed on opposite sides of said web portion and folded over so as to form double thickness portions at each end, and means securing said double thickness portionsin such position.

'7. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, an intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion, a soft resilient covering around said enlarged terminal portion, a pliable smooth covering around said resilient covering and adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe, said pliable smooth covering having its ends disposed on opposite sides of said web portion and folded over so as to form double thickness portions at each end, said double thickness portions having perforations therethrough, reinforcing means surrounding said perforations, and means extending through said perforations and said reinforcing means for securing said double thickness portions in such position.

8. In a device of the character described, a shoe abutting member comprising a strong hard base having a shank portion, an intermediate web portion, and an enlarged terminal portion a soft resilient covering around said enlarged terminal portion, a pliable smooth covering around said resilient covering and adapted to contact the finished outer surface of the shoe, said pliable smooth covering having its ends disposed on opposite sides of said web portion and folded over so as to form double thickness portions at each end, said double thickness portions having perforations therethrough, reinforcing means surrounding each of said perforations, other reinforcing means surrounding and extending between said perforations on each end of the pliable smooth covering, and means extending through said perforations and said reinforcing means for securing said double thickness portions in such position.

GEORGE LAGANAS.

Images