US1180204A - Last. - Google Patents

Description

J. E. SWANSON.

LAST.

APPLICATWN FlLED FEB. s, 1916.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

lnverwm. Jmhn E. Bwunsnn n omen.

LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ll atented Apr. Tl, iltlllti.

Application filed February 5. 1916. Serial No. 76,373.

I! 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jon): E. Swanson, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lasts, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification. like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in lasts and the principal object thereof is to provide an instep former adapted to be removably secured to the instep or waist portion of a last in such a manner that the form of the last may be varied to adapt it for the manufacture of different types of shoes or shoes having insteps differing in height.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instep former which may be applied readily to lasts of different widths or different sizes for the purpose aforesaid.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, the drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

The drawings illustrate a preferred form of my invention as applied to a last for a ladys shoe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a last with an instep former applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of alast embodying my invention showing the toe and vamp of a pump lasted thereupon. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the instep former in section and applied to the waist and instep portion of the last, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of an instep former.

In the manufacture of shoes and boots the upper margin of the vamp extends along the side of a last to the lower end of the waist of the shoe to provide an opening through which the foot may be inserted. In high shoes the upper is sewed to the edge of the vamp and toe portion. When however pumps or button boots are to be made upon the last the vamp is carried higher upon the waist of the shoe so that the opening through which the foot is introduced would be con siderably restricted. This necessitatesthe use of a different last or of a filler placed upon the waist and instep portion of the last of sufficient thickness to give the required opening for the introduction of the foot. This has heretofore been accomplished by tacking or otherwise securing a skived piece of leather or cardboard or production of a uniform instep former which may be used with any size of last and which will serve to build up the waist and instep portion of the last in such a manner that pumps, and button boots may readily be constructed upon a standard last. Furthermore this is adapted to permit the general use of lasts having unusually low insteps such as those which are commonly used in making shoes for growing girls, since by building out the waist and instep of such lasts by the invention herein the last may be made to conform to womens standard sizes thereby rendering it unnec essary for the manufacturer to carry a large number of different forms of lasts.

A preferred form of the invention disclosedherein consists of an instep former having a ll-shaped body portion 1 of resilient sheet metal such as sheet steel. The sides 2 and 3 are adapted to embrace the instep a. and waist portion 0 of a last, said side portions 2 and 3 merging into extended flanges 4 and 5 and terminating in a curved end portion 6 which with the margins of the flanges 4 and 5 form a curved end adapted to rest upon the toe portion of a last. The central portion 7 of the body of the former desirably is slightly arched as illustrated herein. In order to provide a convenient means for supporting the instep former in proper relation to the last means are preferably provided whereby the body portion will be supported at three points. This is accomplished in the prc ferred form of the invention illustrated herein by providing an integral bent down extension or flange 8 at the upper end, and by stamping out and bending down a lug 9 adjacent the lower end of the instep former so that when the device is applied to the last it will rest upon three supports, viz: the flange 8, lug 9, and upon the end portion 6, the flanges or extensions l and 5 closely em bracing the last at the bottom of the waist portion thereof. One or both of the supporting devices 8, 9 may. if desired, be made adjustable. This may be accomplished in any convenient manner as for example by positioning said flanges or lugs at any do sired angle to the body portion, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that the toe portion of the upper will be raised from the point 0 Fig. 2, which designates approximately the point at which the vamp or toe portion terminates upon the last in ordinary shoes, to a point (5 upon the bridge or former where pumps such as are illustrated in Fig. 2 are to be made, thus increasing the aperture through which the foot may be introduced into the shoe and forming a comfortable shoe.

The instep former may conveniently be removably secured to the last by tacks, screws or other fasteners inserted through aperturesIO, 11, 12 and 13 at the ends of the former and extensions thereof.

By reason of its resilience the metallic former is adapted to adjust itself to lasts of different sizes and different widths; furthermore it may be applied to the last as indicated herein or in positions either above or below those indicated so that the last may be in effect reconstructed to meet various conditions of manufacture and also to provide for the manufacture of special shoes Without the necessity of producing specially formed lasts.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is not restrictive and that various modifications in details of construction may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a last, a metallic instep former comprising a V-shaped body portion and lateral extensions adapted to embrace the instep and waist portions of the last and means for securing the same to the last.

2. In combination with a-last, a metallic instep former comprising a V-shaped body portion and lateral extensions adapted to embrace the instep and waist portions of the last, and a plurality of means integral with the body portion for supporting the same at a predetermined distance above the instep and waist of the last, the ends and extensions engaging and embracing a portion of the last. i

An instep former for lasts comprising a body portion V-shaped in cross section, the sides thereof having lateral extensions. and means carried by said body portion for positioning the same at a predetermined distance from the instep and waist of the last, said body portion and extensions being apertured to receive fastening means.

4. An instep former for lasts consisting of a resilient sheet metal body portion V- shaped in cross section and arched longitudinally and having lateral extensions, the lower margins of said extensions and of said body portion forming a continuous curve arranged to conform to the shape of a last, adjustable means for positioning said body portion. at a n'edetermined distance from the instep and waist of the last and means whereby said instep former may be secured to the last.

An instep former for lasts consisting of a resilient sheet metal body portion V- shaped in cross section and having lateral extensions at its lower end. the margins of said body portion forming a continuous curve adapted to fit the fore portion of a last. said body portion being provided centrally of the extensions with :1 lug and at its opposite end with a downwardly turned spacing flange, and means whereby said instep former may be secured to the last.

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

JOHN swANsoN.

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