US2338104A - Adjustable shoe tree - Google Patents

Description

Jan.'4,' 1944. J. FITZPATRICK ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Filed Oct. '2, 1942 Snnentor Patented Jan. 1944 ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Jeremiah Fitzpatrick, Weymouth, Masa, assignol to Arnold Bros & Company, Weymouth, Mass a firm composed of Charles H. Fitzpatrick and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick Application October 2, 1942, Serial No. 460,727

3 Claims The invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable shoe tree having a fore part and a heel part relatively movable towards or away from one another between extended and retracted positions.

The essential object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective means for adjustably separating the fore part of the tree from the heel part for relatively lengthening the tree, or for efiecting a quick release of the forepart enabling its return to its normal retracted position with relation to the heel part, and especially to provide a construction by which the fore part will maintain without back slip any adjusted position to which it may have been moved as the tree is used.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a construction, or assemblage of parts, that may be made entirely of wood.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawing in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of the shoe tree.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. l but broken away in part.

Fig. 3 is a plan, viewed from the under side of the tree.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a fragmentary plan of a portion of the heel part of the tree showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the drawing: 6 represent the heel part of the shoe tree, and 2 the fore part. The parts are held in aligned position by an interposed bar 3 and movable towards or away from one another between relatively extended and retracted positions. The longitudinal axis of the bar 3 extends preferably along the longitudinal axis of the tree, or parallel thereto.

The fore end portion of the bar 3 is socketed within a cutout 4 in the forepart of the tree and turns on a cross pin or axis 5 substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the bar. The socketing of the fore end of the bar within the cutout 4 is such that the fore end of the bar, in its relation tothe fore part of the tree, will be retained against lateral displacement, the fit being a relatively snug fit.

The bar 3 is, also, socketed to have a sliding fit within a cutout 6 in the heel part, thus maintaining the parts at all times in proper aligned position. The bar has such extension that its rear end will enter a socket I formed within the heel part. This socket in the heel part is preferably formed by a boring inwardly from its under side.

Located within the socket l in the heel part is a cam 8. This cam is borne by a shaft 9 to the end of which the cam is secured. This shaft extends upwardly to turn within a bearing it in the heel part above the socket, and with such disposition that the cam will turn upon a vertical axis beyond the end of the bar 3, and within the longitudinal axis of this bar, if its axis be extended, substantially normal thereto. The disposition of the parts is also preferably such that the cam when turned will not engage the Wall of the socket within which it is con tained but will turn freely therein. Arranged upon the shaft 9, with end bearing against the top surface of the heel part of the tree, is a knob. H by which the shaft 9 is turned. The knob is fixed to the shaft by a pin it. The assembly is such that there is a coincident hearing by the cam against the top surface of the socket within which it is contained when the bottom end of the knob is engaging the top surface of the heel part, consequently the cam will have permitted turning, but will be held against endwise dis placement.

The cam presents a working edge 53 gradually increasing in radial extension from the axis of the cam. The edge it has wiping engagement with the end of the bar 3, as the cam is turned, and consequently the cam will exert pressure upon the bar 3 for reciprocating the fore part of the tree from the heel part, thereby relatively lengthening the tree, depending upon the extent of turning of the cam. During this operation, owing to the aligned disposition of the axis on which the cam is turning with relation to the longitudinal axis of the bar 3, or extension th ereof, as previously explained, the center of pressure between the cam and bar will be one of dead center, consequently there can i be no back slip of the fore part when projected, and the fore part will maintain any adjusted position to which it has been moved. A simple reverse turning of the cam for relatively shortening the tree will release all pressure on the bar, when the fore part may be restored to its normal retracted position with relation to the heel part.

If desired the end of the bar 3 may be bevelled, as shown in Fig. 5, to leave an'edge id lying within its longitudinal axis against which the working edge of the cam has bearing, although this bevelling is not necessary if the various elements are properly combined as described.

For holding together the two parts of the shoe tree, when not in use, the bar 3 is provided with a slot l5 through which passes a pin $6 in the heel part.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising an aligned fore part and heel part movable towards or away from one another between extended and retracted positions, a bar pivotally retained to turn on said fore part and be slidable within said heel part for maintaining the aligned position of said parts, and a rotary member located within said heel part adaptable when turned and when in engagement with the end of said bar to project said bar longitudinally and thereby move said fore part away from said heel part into adjusted position dependent upon the turning of said rotary member, means for mounting said rotary member within said heel part whereby it may when turned engage the end of said bar and move said bar as aforesaid, and means for turning said rotary member.

2. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising a fore part and a heel part movable towards or away from one another along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tree between extended and retracted positions, said heel part having a socket formed within it, a bar interposed between the said parts, said bar being laterally retained to turn within said fore part and be slidable within said heel part with entry into said socket, means for pivotally supporting said bar whereby it will turn in said fore part on an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said bar, a cam located within said socket presenting a cam edge gradually increasing in radial extension from the axis of said cam, means for mounting said cam to turn within said socket beyond the end of said bar, in engaging relation to said end, upon a vertical axis within the longitudinal axis of said bar if extended and substantally normal thereto whereby the center of pressure between the cam and bar will be one of substantially dead center and said fore part of the tree will be projected into adjusted position as said cam is turned, and will maintain any adjusted position to which it has been moved, without back slip as the tree is used, and means for turning said cam.

3. In an adjustable shoe tree the combination comprising an aligned fore part and heel part movable towards and away from one another between extended and retracted positions, said heel part having a socket formed within it, a bar pivotally retained to turn on said fore part and be slidable within said heel part with entry into said socket, a rotary shaft extending through said heel part from above the socket therein and entering said socket, a cam located in said socket afiixed to said shaft and turned thereby, said cam being adaptable when turned to have wiping engagement with the end of said bar and project said bar and fore part with relation to said heel part dependent upon the turning of said cam, means for maintaining said shaft and cam against endwise displacement, and means whereby said shaft may be turned from without said heel part.

JEREMIAH FITZPA'I'RICK.

Images