US2488720A

US2488720A - Shoe stretcher

Info

Publication number: US2488720A
Application number: US52491A
Authority: US
Inventors: Galterio Elia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-10-02
Filing date: 1948-10-02
Publication date: 1949-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-22

Description

E. GALTE'RIO Nov. 22, 1949 SHOE STRETCHER Filed Oct.

JNIEN TOR. [L/A GAL 719/0 v M ATTORNLY.

Patented Nov. 22,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE STRETCHER Elia Galterio, Denver, 0010.

Application October 2, 1948, Serial No. 52,491

. 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a shoe stretcher and has for its principal object the provision in a single device, means whereby the width of the shoe, the length of the shoe, and or the height of the vamp can be selectively and individually stretched as desired Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. .Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved stretching last;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view of the improved last, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; looking upwardly;

Fig. 5 is a detail section through a handle employed with the improved last taken on the line '55, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary view taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 3.

The improved shoe stretching last incorporates means for exerting either a Widening action, for stretching the shoe transversally, .or a lengthening action, for stretching the shoe longitudinally, or a lifting action for lifting and stretching the vamp of the shoe.

The above actions are accomplished through the following construction. A hollow last body If! is provided having a toe portion 'l I. The body I0 is open at the bottom, the opening being closed by means of a curved bottom plate l2 which is secured to the body by means .of suitable screws l3 or in any other desired manner. A curvated vamp plate I4 is mounted in a receiving socket IS in the top of the body Ill. The vamp plate I 4 is mounted adjacent to its forward extremity on a horizontal hinge pin :16. The upper extremity of the vamp plate I4 is supported on a toggle link 11..

The link is hinged at one extremity to the vamp plate 14 upon a hinge pin I8 and is hinged at its other extremity on .a second hinge pin 19 mounted in a threaded nut 20. The nut :20 is threaded sonto slut-able threads 2| formed upon is rotatably mounted in, and extends upwardly and rearwardly from, the body l0.

It can be seen that if the tubular shaft 22 be rotated clockwise, the nut 20 will travel downwardly along the threads 2|, causing the toggle link ll to lift the rearward extremity of the vamp plate M about the axis of the hinge pin l6.

An operating shaft 23 extends throughout the length of the tubular shaft 22 and terminates at its lower extremity in abevel gear 24. The bevel gear 24 is in constant mesh with a second .bevel gear 25 fixed on a horizontal longitudinally-extending, threaded shaft 26. The threaded shaft 26 is provided with adjacent right and left-hand sets of threads 27, upon each of which a nut member 28 is threaded.

A pair of toggle arms 29 extend oppositely outward from each nut member 28 and terminate in hinge pins 39 mounted in foot spreading blocks 3]. The foot spreading blocks 31 project through the sides of the body H1 and are supported entirely by the toggle arms 29. The shaft 26 is ret-atably mounted in supporting bearings 21 in the body Ill.

It can be readily seen that when the operating shaft 23 is rotated in one direction, it will cause the nut members 28 to approach each other, thus forcing the toggle arms 29 together to force the blocks 3! outward and when rotated in the other direction the nut members will be separated to draw the blocks 3! inward. The blocks 3! are free to swing about their hinge pins 30 so as to automatically fit themselves to the contour of the shoe.

An outer tubular shaft 33 rotatably surrounds the tubular shaft 22 and terminates within the body l0 .in .a third bevel gear 34. The bevel gear 34 is in constant mesh with a fourth bevel gear :35 which .is mounted on the forward extremity of a threaded screw 36 extending medially rearward from the body l0.

. .Endwise movement of the tubular shaft .33 and the threaded shaft .36 is prevented by means of set collars secured to the latter shafts and bearing against thrust washers 5|.

A heel nut 31 is threaded onto the screw 36. .A U-shaped heel yoke v38 is tiltably mounted on the nut 31 upon suitable pivot pins 39. The yoke 38 extends from both sides of the nut 31 rearwardly around the rearward extremity of the threaded shaft 36 and conforms generally to the shape .of the heel of a shoe.

Two finger-engaging hooks 46 extend forwardly and upwardly from the yoke 38 to be engaged the lower extremity of a tubularshaft 22 which 5 by the fingers of the user. The yoke 38 is pre vented from dropping below the horizontal position of Fig. 3 by means of a stop pin 4|. It can, however, be raised to the broken line position of Fig. 1 for insertion in, or removal from, a shoe. When in the raised position, the hooks 40 pass on each side of the tubular shaft 33 as shown in broken line in Fig. 1.

The upper extremity of the operating shaft 23 terminates in a first hub 42, and the upper extremities of the tubular shafts 22 and 33 similarly terminate in second and third hubs 43 and 44, respectively. The hubs are positioned adjacent each other and may be selectively engaged to a handle member 45 by a shifting movement of the latter.

The handle member 45 is provided with a hub sleeve 46 which extends over the hubs 42, 43, and 44. Each of the latter three hubs is provided with a detent socket 41 into which a detent 48 can be brought into engagement. The detent 48 is carried on a detent spring 49 secured to the sleeve 46 and extends inwardly through an opening in the latter.

In use, the toe portion H is inserted into the toe of the shoe, and the heel yoke 38 is then forced downwardly into the heel of the shoe. Should it be desired to stretch the shoe lengthwise, the handle 45 is forced forwardly until the detent 48 engages the notch 41 of the third hub 44. The rotation of the handle now will be imparted through the gears 34 and 35 to the threaded shaft 36 so as to force the yoke 38 rearwardly against the backstay and counter of the shoe, and the toe portion ll forwardly into the cap thereof.

Should it be desired to stretch the vamp of the shoe, the handle is withdrawn rearwardly until the detent 48 engages the notch 41 in the second hub 43. Rotation of the handle now will be imparted to the tubular shaft 22 and from it, through the nut member 20 and the link IT, to the vamp plate l4, moving the latter upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle 45.

Should it be desired to stretch the width of the shoe, the handle 45 is withdrawn still further until the detent 48 engages the notch 41 of the first hub 42. Rotation of the handle now will rotate the operating shaft 23 and act through the gears 25 and the threaded shaft 26 to draw the toggle arms 29 together so as to force the blocks 3l outwardly to stretch the width of the shoe.

When it is desired to remove the device from the shoe, the heel yoke is actuated forwardly and the user hooks his two fingers beneath the hooks 40 and tilts the heel yoke 38 upwardly out of the shoe.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; a tubular shaft extending rearwardly and upwardly from said body and having a threaded lower extremity extending into said cavity; a nut threaded on said extension; a toggle link hingedly connected between said nut and said vamp plate to reciprocate the latter in consequence of rotation of said tubular shaft; and means at the other extremity of said tubular shaft for rotating the latter.

2. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a, bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; means for raising and lowering the rearward extremity of said vamp plate; a horizontal, medially extending threaded shaft rotatably mounted in said body and being provided with adjacent sets of right and left hand threads; a threaded nut member mounted on each set of threads; a pair of toggle arms extending oppositely outward from each nut member; a foot spreading block projecting from each side of said body; a toggle arm from each nut member being hingedly secured to each spreading block; and means for rotating said threaded shaft to cause said nut members to move toward and away from each other.

3. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; means for raising and lowering the rearward extremity of said vamp plate; a horizontal, medially extending threaded shaft rotatably mounted in said body and being provided with adjacent sets of right and left hand threads; a threaded nut member mounted on each set of threads; a pair of toggle arms extending oppositely outward from each nut member; a foot spreading block projecting from each side of said body; a toggle arm from each nut member being hingedly secured to each spreading block; an inclined operating shaft extending from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly from said body; a first bevel gear on the forward extremity of said operating shaft; a second bevel gear on said threaded shaft in mesh with said first gear; and means for rotating said operating shaft.

4. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; acurvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; means for raising and lowering the rearward extremity of said vamp plate; a foot spreading block mounted in each side of said body; means for moving said latter blocks simultaneously outward and inward in said body; a rotatable screw extending rearward from said body; a nut block threaded on said screw; a U-shaped heel yoke; means pivoting the two legs of said heel yoke to said nut block so that it will extend rearwardly therefrom around said screw; and means for rotating said screw to cause said heel yoke to move toward and away from said body.

5. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; means for raising and lower,

ing the rearward extremity of said vamp plate; a foot spreading block mounted in each side of said body; means for moving said latter blocks simultaneously outward and inward in said body; a rotatable screw extending rearward from said body; a nut block threaded on said screw; a U-shaped heel yoke; means pivoting the two legs of said heel yoke to said nut block so that it will extend rearwardly therefrom around said screw; a bevel gear on the inner extremity of said screw within said cavity; a rotatable shaft extending rearwardly and upwardly from said body; a second bevel gear on the forward extremity of said shaft in mesh with said first bevel gear; and means for rotating said shaft to cause said heel yoke to move toward and away from said body.

6. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; means for raising and lowering the rearward extremity of said vamp plate; a foot spreading block mounted in each side of said body; means for moving said latte blocks simultaneously outward and inward in said body; a rotatable screw extending rearward from said body; a heel yoke; and finger engaging members mounted on and projecting forwardly and upwardly from said heel yoke.

7. A shoe stretchin last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity openin to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; a first rotatable tubular shaft extending rearwardly and upwardly from said body; means for transmitting the rotation of said first tubular shaft to said vamp plate to raise and lower the rear extremity of the latter; foot spreading blocks mounted in the sides of said body; an operating shaft extending from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly through said first tubular shaft; means for transmitting power from said operating shaft to said spreading blocks to cause the latter to approach and depart from each other; and means for independently rotating said first tubular shaft and said operating shaft;

8. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body; hinge means securing the forward extremity of said vamp to said body; a first rotatable tubular shaft extending rearwardly and upwardly from sleeve for selectively engaging any desired hub so;

said body; means for transmitting the rotation of said first tubular shaft to said vamp plate to raise and lower the rear extremity of the latter; foot spreading blocks mounted in the sides of said body; an operating shaft extending from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly through said first tubular shaft; means for transmitting power from said operating shaft to said spreading blocks to cause the latter to approach and depart from each other; a rotatable threaded screw extending rearward from said body; a nut block threaded onto said screw; a U-shaped heel yoke mounted on said block and extending rearwardly about said screw; a second tubular shaft extendin from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly around said first tubular shaft; means for transmitting rotation from said second tubular shaft to said screw to rotate the latter; and means for selectively and individually rotating said operating shaft, said first tubular shaft, and said second tubular shaft.

9. A shoe stretching last comprising: a hollow foot-shaped body having an internal cavity opening to the bottom of said body portion; a bottom plate closing the bottom of said cavity; a curvated vamp plate inset in the top of said body;

hinge means securing the forward extremity of c said vamp to said body; a first rotatable tubular shaft extending rearwardly and upwardly from said body; means for transmitting the rotation of said first tubular shaft to said vamp plate to raise and lower the rear extremity of the latter; foot spreading blocks mounted in the sides of said body; an operating shaft extending from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly through said first tubular shaft; means for transmitting power from said operating shaft to said spreading blocks to cause the latter to approach and depart from each other; a rotatable threaded screw extending rearward from said body; a nut block threaded onto said screw; a U-shaped heel yoke mounted on said block and extending rearwardly about said screw; a second tubular shaft extending from said cavity rearwardly and upwardly around said first tubular shaft; means for transmitting rotation from said second tubular shaft to said screw to rotate the latter; a hub member on the upper extremity of each of said operating shafts, said first tubular shaft and said second tubular shafts, said hubs being arranged in adjacent axial alignment; a handle member; a hub-sleeve on said handle member extending over all of said hubs; and means on said hub that the latter will be rotated by rotation of said handle member.

ELIA GALTERIO.

No references cited.