US455083A - Shoe-horn - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. WOLF. SHOE HORN.

No. 455,083. Patented June 30,1891/ UNTTE STATES PATENT @TTTQE.

EDIVARD IVOLF, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOE-HORN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,083, dated June 30, 1891.

Application filed March 28, 1891. Serial No. 386,822. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD IVOLF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Horns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to shoe-horns; and it consists in a device whereby the shoe while beingpulled on shall be securely grasped and readily released.

My invention further consists in means for smoothing out any wrinkles or folds that may appear when the shoe is on the foot all as hereinafter fully described, illustratedin the drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference point out similar parts on each figure, Figure l is aside View of the device, the lever-arm being partly open, and showing in dotted lines said arm swung open to its extreme limit. Fig. 2 is a top view of the device closed up. Fig. 3 represents the device connected to an overshoe, illustrating the manner of its practical operation.

In the drawings, A represents an ordinary shoe-horn; B, sides permanently connected to the rearend of the horn and uprising therefrom at about right angles thereto to about the median line :0 thereof. From this point there extends forwardly a continuation of each side, forming a tongue I), the lower end of which is arched and not connected to the shoe-horn. The ends of these tongues form bearings for reception of a swinging lever.

In the drawings is shown a thin rod or wire 20, which is passed through a bore in the head of the lever, the opposite ends of said wire being journaled within apertures at the end of each tongue; but any suitable mechanicaldevice for adjustment of the lever within the ends of the tongues adapting it to swing axially will be within the scope and purview of my invention.

L is a swinging lever, consisting of a main arm curved upwardly and downwardly to adapt it when closed, as shown in Fig. 2, to

lie snugly between the opposite sides B. The free end of this arm is provided with an upturned curve 0, against which the hand or finger will rest when operating the device, as will be readily understood and. as plainly shown in Fig. verL is provided witha downward projection forming a fulcrum-clutch Z, the lower edge of which is shaped to conform with the transverse surface-line of the horn A. The clutch is provided with suitable limiting-detents to prevent the lever being lifted beyond a predetermined degree. In the drawings I have shown studs 8 s on each side, which, as the lever is swung, will arrest its progress by contact of said studs with the side piecesB; but suitable limiting-detents may be adjusted upon the surface of the lever to mesh with notches or projections upon the tongues. I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the form of limiting-stops shown in the drawings. The forward end of the lever is transversely orificed and the device is completed by passing through the apertures of each side and through the orifice of the lever an axial bearing to, over which said lever is free to swing downwardly between the sides in the position shown in Fig. 2 and enabling itto be turned into any of the positions shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description and the drawings the operation of my invention will be readily understood. I have illustrated its application to pull a rubber overshoe over an ordinary gaiter, but do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to such use. It is equally serviceable for adjusting any shoe or slipper over the foot.

Its operation may be thus briefly explained: The horn A is insertedvertically within the back of the shoe. the shoe is on the foot or after the toe end has been introduced. The surface of the horn, as common in such device, is arched to conform to the curvature of the heel. The

lever-arm is then swung until it is brought within the sides B, whereby the clutch Z will be pressed against the outer surface of the shoe, and the intermediate material between said clutch and the outer surface of the horn inserted within the counter of the shoe will be securely grasped. The upper end of the This may be done before' The opposite end of the lehorn and lever are then taken hold of by the hand and both are pulled upwardly, drawing the shoe with it. \Vhen pulling shoes on the foot, especially rubber overshoes, the side edges frequently become lapped or overturned, and to unfold such portions is difficult and painful, as before the employment of my device such adjustment was eifccted by introduction of a finger under such disan ranged portion. To overcome this is the object of the end curve 0 of the lever, which can be inserted in place of a finger and will readily smooth out any portion of the edge of the shoe that has become wrinkled or overlapped. This application is illustrated in Fig. 3. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A shoe-horn provided with a swinging lever, the free end of which is overturned to 001m pose curved hook 0, its opposite end journaled to tongues 1), extending from side pieces B, permanently connected to the horn and forming flanges at each side edge thereof, in combination with the fulcrum-clutch attached to and extending downwardly from the pivoted end of the lever, said clutch having projecting detents limiting the movement of the swinging lever, asand for the purpose intended, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ED\VARD \VOL'F.

\Vitnesses.

SAML. I1. JACOBSON, GEO. R. GRAY.

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