US2794194A - Lasts - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1957 R. E. WOODARD 2,794,194

LASTS Filed July 1, 1955 INVEN'TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent LASTS Roger E. Woodard, Milford, Mass. Application July 1, 1955, Serial No. 521,140 3 Claims. (Cl. 12136) This invention relates to lasts for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and has as its main object the provision of a novel and improved shoe last so constructed that one heel part is interchangeable with any number of toe parts.

The provision of sufficient lasts to keep pace with the rapidly changing styles in footwear requires an investment of a most substantial sum of money by each individual shoe manufacturer. The shoe maker must provide as many lasts for each size, width, and style of shoe manufactured as will take care ofthe daily output, having regard to the length of time each last must remain in each shoe made thereon. made almost entirely in the toe parts of the lasts, repeated efforts have been made to devise last constructions in which the toe parts are removable and interchangeable, so that the same heel part may be used with a number of foreparts of different styles and sizes. The constructions ofiered hitherto have however left considerable room for improvement. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a take-down last that can be easily disassembled and reassembled by the hands alone While still having the necessary strength and rigidity during the various shoemaking processes. Another object is to provide a last of this type which permits of easy folding of the last for removal from the shoe, but which will avoid loose, broken or stretching hinges. Other objects are to allow the heel section to be made of some relatively indestructible material other than wood, as well as out of wood, and to provide a locking device for holding the last extended which is easily inserted and Withdrawn, and is of a standard size and pattern for all sizes and widths of lasts. Additionally, the invention aims to provide a method and means of last manufacture which will ensure the standardization of the shape and locations of the parts involved in the making and locking of the joint between the toe and heel parts, and to make possible the turning of the toe sections of the lasts from half-length models as against the full-length models now customarily employed. The hinge surfaces and the adjacent saw cuts of the toe parts will be used as bases for dimensioning and grading the different sizes and widths of the resulting lasts.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are as made plain hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of a last embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the two parts of the last in separatedcondition.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the metal sheath for the knuckle of the joint and of the bushing fixed in the toe part for the reception of such knuckle, respectively.

Figs. 5 and 6 are side views of the lock for holding the last in extended relation, shown in unlocked and inlocked relation, respectively.

Since the changes in style are necessary. This Fig. 7 is a right-hand elevation of the lock shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the manner of holding the blank which is to form the toe portion of the last, during the turning operation.

The heel portion 1 is molded from plastic or pressed from metal or turned from wood. Characteristically it is formed with a hinge element on its forward end in the shape of an integral knuckle 3 of cylindrical form disposed transversely aeross it, encased in a sleeve 5 also of truly cylindrical contour, normally held thereon by its own'contractive effort but pinned to keep it in place if sleeve is of standard diameter, length, and other dimensions for all sizes and widths of toe parts. One or more reenforcing pins 7 extend diametrically through the knuckle 3 and are fixed tightly therein and in the material of the heel part '1, to strengthen the narrow neck joining the knuckle to the heel part. The usual socket 9'is provided for supporting the last on the jack spindle and when the heel part is made of wood a metal heel plate 11 is provided to clinch the heel nails, as indicated in Fig. 1; when made of metal or plastic, an insert 13 of wood or other nailable material is provided in the bottom of the heel to receive tacks holding the insole, as shown in Fig. 2.

The toe part 15, which is to be made in multiple throughout a range of different lengths, widths, and styles for interchangeable use with one and the same heel part, is normally made of wood but may be made of plastic or metal if so desired. Formed entirely separately from the heel part, it is made from a blank which is first bored transversely at 19, then sawed oif as indicated at .17, Fig. 2, in a plane parallel to and intersecting the bore 19. The toe part is then turned down to the desired shape and size in a duplicating lathe, being held and rotated therein by a dog 21, Fig. 8, having a transverse cylindrical extension 23 duplicating the part 3 and its sleeve 5 and fitting accurately within the bore 19, in cooperation with a dead center 25. Relative lateral movement is barred by a key 22 fixed on a cylinder 24 rotatable in extension 23 and turned by a screwdriver slot in its end, so that the key enters a slot 45 in thepart 15; The bore 19 thus forms a reference surface from which the saw cuts are located and the proportions of the different sizes of toe. parts are laid out, insuring their interchangeability on a common heel part.

Next, the block is sawed along a radial plane through the axis of bore 19 to leave the surface 27. The bore 19 is lined with a part-cylindrical metal bushing 29 whose outside diameter accurately fits the recess comprising what is left of bore 19, being fixed therein by a screw 31. The inside of this bushing fits accurately with a sliding fit upon the outside of sleeve 5 covering the knuckle 3. The open gap extending from end to end of bushing 29 is less than half the circumference of the sleeve 5, so that the hinge members comprising the pivot or pintle formed by the knuckle 3 and the socket 19 form a mortise and tenon join-t which cannot be separated except by relative transverse movement of the toe and heel parts along the axis of the knuckle, and the toe and heel parts remain securely connected whether extended during the making of the slfioe thereon or folded for removal from the finished s oe.

Means is provided for locking the heel and toe parts of the last rigidly in the extended position of Fig. 1 by immobilizing the hinge during the making of the shoe. Such means comprises the lock shown in Figs. 5 to 7. It has a wedge-shaped metal body 33, conveniently, but not necessarily, of 3-ply sheet metal construction, slotted as indicated at 35, with a latch 37 pivoted at 39 in the slot. This lock is of mainly triangular outline to fit the V-shaped crotch between the toe and heel parts defined by the surface 27 of the toe part and the obliquely cut opposing surface 41 of the heel parts. A lobe 43 on the bottom end of the lock is received, within a slot'45, cut at mid-width of the toe part and registering with aslot 47 provided at mid-length of the. bushing 29 and a similar slot 48 through sleeve and the underlying material of knuckle 5, all four slots matching in width the thickness of the lobe 43. The sharp end 49 of latch 37 is received in a saw cut 51 in the heel part 1, the upper surface of such latch engaging with the top of the cut 51 and acting as a lever to force the wedge into the crotch between the toe and heel parts as the latch is turned to lie crosswise of the crotch. This brings and holds the opposing surfaces of the heel and toe parts below theknuckle joint in mutual engagement. Cut 51 is narrower than the thickness of wedge 33., being just wide enough to admit the latch; while cuts 45, 47 and 48 admit the full thickness of the wedge.

To hold the latch in locked relation, since in use the last is inverted, sole upward, a spring catch 53 is fixed on the side of wedge 33, as by spot welding or riveting, with its upper end offset to contact ifrictionally the side of latch 37 and hold it in closed relation by means of a projection struck up from the offset upper portion which enters a hole 55 in the end of latch 37.

Thus the lock 33 bridges and is wedged in the crotch between the heel and toe port-ion, prevents relative rotation about the axis of the knuckle 3, and also prevents relative axial movement of the heel and toe parts along such axis, thus holding the toe and heel parts in alignment. However, the last is instantly unlocked for removal from a completed shoe by tilting the latch 37 as indicated in Fig. 5, as by a hook inserted in hole 55. The look is then withdrawn or drops out freely from between the heel and toe portion, leaving the latter free to rotate about knuckle 3 into contracted relation for removal from the shoe.

Substitution of one toe part for another is then instantly and easily effected without the use of tools, by sliding the toe part axially along and off from the knuckle 3 and sliding the new toe part on in its place.

When it is desired to make the toe parts out of molded or shaped material like the heel part-s, instead of out of wood, inserts of nailable material 57 will be provided for the tacks to hold the insole in place.

When the improved lasts are molded from plastic matenal, a very substantial economy results in the case of I and thus to hold the toe the manufacture of womens shoes through the avoidance of broken lasts commonly experienced through excessive wear and strain on the wood used heretofore, as well as through being able to use interchangeable toe parts of different sizes and styles with the single heel par-ts.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which my invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

1. A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket, a heel par-t having a knuckle coaxially disposed in such socket, and a Wedge entered between the toe and heel parts so as to prevent folding of the last about. the knuckle, and having a portion entering the socket and knuckle and holding the toe and heel parts in alignment.

2, A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket and a heel part having a knuckle fitting within such socket and therewith forming a hinge, a wedge entered between the toe and heel parts immobilizing the hinge, and means rele-asably locking the wedge in such relation and forcing the wedge. into the socket and the knuckle to bar relative axial movement thereof.

3. A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket in its rearward surface, a bushing fixed in such socket having a part-cylindrical interior, a heel part having an extension on its forward end, a cylindrical sleeve on such extension fitting the interior of the bushing and forming therewith a, hinge joining the two parts, a Wedge entered between the toe and heel parts lock-ing them in extended relation, and also entering registering slots in the bushing, the sleeve, and the extension on the heel part to prevent relative axial movement of these elements part aligned with the heel part, and locking means holding the wedge in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,668 Smith Jan. 1, 1889 639,990 .Tapiot Dec. 26, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS 389,327 Great Britain ,--,-V-. Mar. 16, 1933

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