US2417589A - Shoe tree - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1947; 2. DESROSIERS ,4

' SHOE TREE Filed May 1'7, 1946 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel shoe tree designed to hold shoes in proper shape when not being worn.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character which is also effective in operation. Another object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein the width is adjustable for various widths of shoes within a given range.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the device comprises a main or body portion which is shaped from a blank of metal. The metal is bent to form a bottom section or sole plate and a top plate, with an intervening end wall. The top section is bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges in a manner to form side walls that converge toward the free end of the top section or the end remote from the end wall. In this manner the body of the device is adapted to fit into the forward portion of the shoe.

The top section is slit lengthwise from the end wall to the free end in order that it may be spread to various widths. To accomplish the spreading action, a spreader is mounted between the side walls and has a stem extending through the end wall so that it may be grasped and actuated externally. The spreader consists preferably of a wire member having its shank slidable through the end wall and formed with a spreading loop between the side walls. The stem or shank of the spreader is accommodated in a slot cut through the end wall and having a restricted lower end. It is formed with a series of notches receivable selectively in the restricted end of the slot to maintain the desired position of the spreading loop between the side walls. When the loop is drawn to a wider part or the device, the top section automatically contracts because of the resiliency of the metal from which the device is formed. In the preferred construction a tongue is struck upward from the bottom section and is shaped to guide the shank of the spreader.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a'plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line d-A of Figure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown in the several figures, the body of the shoe tree is comprised of a suitably shaped blank of metal or plastic material bent to form a sole plate or base i that is slightly concave on its upper surface, a top section 2 and a vertical connecting wall 3 at one end of the members I and 2. The top section 2 is'slit lengthwise at 4, and each of the parts thus formed is bent downwardly along its outer longitudinal edge to form a side 5. Each bend is formed along an outwardly curved line 6 so that the top section 2 tapers toward the forward end generally in the fashion of the sole of a shoe. The sides 5 are preferably perforated at l for lightness.

The wall 3 is formed with a vertical slot 8 having its lower end restricted at 9 for a purpose that will presently appear. A rather heavy wire it is sliziably mounted in the slot and is formed along a portion of its length with notches II which permit insertion in the restricted lower end 9. On the outer side of the wall 3, the wire H3 is looped at I2 to form a finger piece. The wire extends a substantial distance along the base plate l and is there formed with another loop l3. This loop is of substantially oval shape having its major axis extending transversely of the sides 5 and longer than the minimum distance between the sides. Thus, when the loop 3 is pushed forward into the tapering part of the device, it spreads the sides 5 apart, at the same time lifting them slightly by riding upward on the sole piece I, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. A tongue M is stamped upward from the plate l and is formed in its upper edge with a recess it that serves as a guide for the wire II).

In the use of the device, the loop 13 is normally retracted to the Wider part of the top section 2 and the device is inserted in the shoe. The wire it! is then moved forward with its loop l3 by pushing on the finger piece l2 until the desired spread within the shoe has been obtained. It will be understood that the notched portion of the wire must be brought into the upper portion of the slot 8 in order to permit sliding movement. After the desired adjustment has been obtained, the wire is pushed down in the slot 8 so that one of the notches H locks in the restricted end 9, thereby securing the selected adjustment of the device. On retraction of the loop 13, the device contracts to its original condition.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls converging toward the free end of said top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, a stem slidable through said end wall, and a spreader for said side walls carried by said stem.

2. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls converging toward the free end of said top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, a stem slidable through said end wall, means for locking said stem in adjusted positions in said end wall, and a spreader for said side walls carried by said stem.

3. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to pr vide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls converging toward the free end of said top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable through said end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls and having a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls, and. means for locking said stem in adjusted positions in said end wall.

4. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls cnverging toward the free end of said 4 top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, said end wall having a slot therein with a restricted end, a wire slidable through said slot, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls and having a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls, said wire having notches adapted to lock selectively in the notched end of said slot.

5. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls converging toward the free end of said top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable through said end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls and having a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls, a tongue formed on said bottom section and guiding said wire, and means for locking said stem in adjusted positions in said end wall.

6. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottom sections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bent downwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said walls converging toward the free end of said top section, said top section being slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable through said end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls and having a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls, a tongue formed on said bottom section and guiding said wire, said wire having notches adapted to lock selectively in the notched end of said slots.

ZENON DESROSIERS.

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