US258917A - Former for supporting hollow felted articles - Google Patents

Description

(No Model-) I k A. A, HAWLEY. FORMER FOR SUPPORTING HOLLOW PELTED ARTIOLES;

No. 258,917, Patented June 6, 1882.

N, FETERi FhoIo-Lilhognpher. Wuhinglnn. CLC.

' UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED A. HAWLEY, OF MERRIMAO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERINO SHOE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FORME R FOR SUPPORTING HOLLOW FELTED ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,917, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed February 13, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. HAWLEY, of Merrimac, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have'invented an Improved Former for Supporting Hollow Felted Articles During the Processof Finishing the Outer Surface, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to formers to be used in finishing the surface of boots and shoes made from wool by felting whole without seams,-as described in patents to Palmer and Houghton and to Hawleys, heretofore issued; but itis also applicable tohats and to any other hollow felted article the surface of which is to be finished by sandpaperin g or other abrasive action.

The object of the invention is to make a former which will distend and completely fill the hollow article to be finished on it, and with sufflcient rigidity to hold it in form during the process of finishing, and. at the same time so light that it can be held in the hands of the operator without fatigue, and having such elasticity that it will yield to a moderate pressure; and it consists of a flexible elastic-air-tight bag in form approximating to the form of the hollow article to be finished on it, introduced into the interior of the article to be finished, and there inflated with compressed air, so that it will completely distend and fill the hollow article to be finished on it.

In the drawings annexed to'illustrate this invention, Figure 1 shows a boot felted from wool whole, without seam or joining of parts, with a rough surface, as it comes from the process of felting. Fig. 2 shows an air-tight flexible elastic bag of a form similar to that of the boot, having a neck at the top connecting it with a metallic faucet, which'is opened to admit air into thebagor to discharge it from it, and is closed when the bag is sufficiently inflated in the boot to distend it to its proper size and form to retain the air in it under sufficient compression while the boot is submitted to the process of finishing by abrasion. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a felted wool boot and a side view of the flexible elastic former in it inflated with compressed air. Fig. 4. is a shoe of wool, felted whole, with a flexible elastic former inflated with air in it.

piece of sand-paper or on a block in the hand of the operator, and later with the sand-paper or sand or other suitable abrasive substance affixed to the edge of a wheel which is made to revolve rapidly. In either method itis necessary to support the walls of the boot or other article from the inside, and this has always been done by inserting a wooden former of such shape and dimensions as would completely fill and distend the boot or other article to its full sizeand shape. Such a former made of wood is quite heavy, and as it has to be held in the hands of the operator against the edge of the revolving abrading-wheel without any guide or gage, itis not only quite fatiguing but very difficult to so supportand handle a boot with a wooden former in it that satisfactory work can be done, and it will often happen in the hands of the most experienced operators, and more with inexperienced ones, th at the surface of the boot will be brought against the wheel in such a manner that thin places will be-made in the fabric by too much abrasion, and sometimes holes will be made through it, and thus cause a loss of material and labor, as wool which has been felted cannot be restored and used again.

'I make the flexible elastic former of sheetrubber so cut and joined as to form an air-tight bag of suitable form and dimensions,'with a neck extending to a suitable faucet to close and retain the compressed air, and through which it can be introduced into the air-tight elastic bag. The air may be forced in by an air-pump or by any other practicable means. I use an airpump and a reservoir for compressed air, from which I take air into the former by a very small diameter of tube, not greater than one hundredth part of an inch, so that the former will not be filled too quickly; but this method, though probably the best, is not indispensable. This former, being inserted'in the interior cavity ofthe boot or other article, is con 1 handle, and, though it maintains the form of the boot, it is so elastic that it yields to pressure, and there is little, it any, liability to make thin places or holes in the fabric by accidentally holding the boot against the wheel with too much pressure, as the great elasticity of the former gives it a tendency to rebound, so that the rapid motion of the wheel will throw the boot entirely out of contact with it.

It is obvious that this flexible elastic former can be used with equal advantage in finishing the surface of boots, shoes, hats, or any other hollow article made of wool felted.

' I claim as new and my invention- ALFRED A. HAWLEY.

Witnesses:

CHs. HOUGHTON, J. F. PICKERING.

Images