US1705902A - Seam-pressing and smoothing device - Google Patents

Description

- Filed Jan. 10, 1927 Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

u irse YSTATES vPATENTr OFFICE.

JACOB DAUTGH, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL DAUTCH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SEAM-IPRESSING AND SMOO'JI-IING DEVICE.

Application led January 10, 1927. Serial No. 160,162.

This invention relates to tools intended particularly for use byretail shoe dealers and others and has for its object the provision of a novel device by means of which the Seam at the back of the counter of a shoe, slipper, pump or the like may be pressed and consequently smoothed down so as to prevent chafing of the foot of the wearer.

Itis well known that shoes of all kinds have a seam at the center of the back of the counter and it frequently occurs that this seam is rough or projects into the shoe or beyond the adj acent surfaces, thereby defining a ridge which is likely to cause discomfort to the wearer. I am aware that devices have been designed for pressing or working the counter for the purpose of flexing or softening it but such tools do not operate to smooth thefseam itself without affecting the stiffness of the counteritself.

It is with the above facts in view that I have designed the present invention which has for an important object the provision of a device so constructed and arranged as to apply pressure upon the center of the back of the counter of a shoe at the seam for effecting smoothing theieof Without necessarily flexing, softening or in anyway distorting the counter and possibly destroying its shape.

A more specific object of the invention is' to provide .a seam pressing or smoothing device constructed in the nature of a clamp hav-v ing portions to engage 'against kthe interior andexterior of the counter at the seam and provided with means for applying substan tially as great a degree of pressure as may be desired for flattening the seam.

Another object ofk thel invention is to provide a device of this character in which the shoe engaging portions are so shaped as to conform to the general and natural curvature at the back of the shoe so that the shape there of will not be altered as a result'of the em ployment ofthe tool.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character which is of such construction as to be capable of use in connection with shoes of any and all sizes.

and types or styles.

A still further'object is to provide a device of this character which will not mar or otherwise damage the finish and appearance of and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply, use and subsequently remove, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

TWith the -above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention preferably consists in the detailed construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken awayy and in section, showing the device engaged upon the back of a shoe and ready for operation,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ofFigure l, and f Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the letter A designates a portionof a shoe having the usual counter B at the -center of what diagrammatic and simply for the urpose of more clearly illustrating the use o the invention. f v y In carrying out theinvention I provide a .relatively stationary member 10 which is here represented as of substantially inverted `U shape and formed of some suitable metal, preferably by casting.y This frame or main member is shown as having channeled sides simply for the purpose of reducing the weight as it is quite evident thatit may be of solid construction throughout with flush orplane sidesif desired. One leg ll of this member may have its outer and inner edges or surfaces straight and parallel whereasV the other leg 12 has its inner surface 13 curved and conveX so as to fit in substantially conforming engagement against the inside of the back of the shoe, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. All lcorners are of course preferably rounded off partly for the sake of neatness but principally to avoid leaving sharp corners which would cause discomfort 'to the operator in llO handling the device. The bight portion 1li of the member 10 has its inner edO'e or surface formed with a guide rib l5 fbra purpose to be described.

Located within the open central portion of the member 1() or between the legs 11 and 12 thereof is a clamping plate 16 of curved shape adapted to engage against the exterior of the back of the shoe. The surface 17 of this clamping plate facing toward the surface 13 of the leg` 12 is preferably parallel therewith so that when the clamping plate is brought into engagement with the back of the shoe and pressed thereagainst by means to be described there will be no tendency to distort or change the curvature of the shoe counter. In order that the clamping plate 16 may be guided in its movement toward and from the leg 1.2 of the mai Y member', its upper edge is notched at 18 for sliding en gagement along the rib 15.

In order that the member 16 may be moved so that pressure may be applied to the seam at the back of the shoe, I provide a screw 19 threaded through an opening in the leg` 11 and having one end equipped with a handle 2O and its other end formed with a reduced eX- tension 21 fitting within a recess or socket in the rear or outer side of the clamping plate 16. A washer 23 is preferably mounted on the reduced extension 21 and bears against the rear side of the member 16 and against the shoulder defined by the formation of the reduced end portion 21. The washer acts to a certain extent as a force transmitting member when the screw 19 is turned for advancing the clamping plate toward and into compressing engagement with the shoe.

To provide a suitable connection between the screw and the clamping plate so that the latter may be retracted from engagement with the shoe upon reverse rotation of the screw, I preferably employ a bolt or screw 24 passing` through the clamping plate and threaded vinto the screw 19 axially thereof. The screw 24- has its head tapered and countersunk within the member 16 so that the shoe engaging surface thereof will be flush andsmooth. To

avoid disconnection of the parts at any time .advance the plate 16 into engagement with the exterior of the counter. rI"he surface 13 of the leg` 12 engages against the seam B to be pressed down or smoothed out. `rIhe application of continued pressure results in pressing the seam until it is in an absolutely flat by changing the shape thereof and likewisey nothing to mar, scratch or otherwise damage the finish and appearance.

lhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that the disclosure is. merely an eXemplification of the principles involved and that the right is reserved to maire all'such changes and modifications as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such variations corrstitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereuntoA appended.

Having thus described the invention, l. claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a relatively stationary member adapted to have a portion thereof engaged within a shoe in contact with the seam at the back of the counter, and a relatively movable member located within said first named member and adapted to engage the exterior of the shoe at the back of the counter' for applying pressure to the seam and flattening the same.

2. A device of the character described comprising a main membery having a portion adapted for engagement within a shoe in cont-act with a seam, a clamping member movably mounted with respect to said first named member and adapted to engage'the exterior of the shoe at a point opposite thev seam, and means for moving said movable member into compressing engagement with the shoe for flattening the seam, saidl means comprising a manually operable screw having engagement with said movable member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a main member having a portion adapted for engagement within a' shoe in oontact with a seam, a clamping member movably mounted with respect to said first named member and adapted to engage the exterior of the shoe at a point opposite the seam, means for moving said movable member into compressing engagement with the shoe for flattening the seam, said means comprising a screw threaded through a portion ofsaid main member and engaging the movable member, and means for guiding the movable member in its movement and preventing rotation under the influence of the screw.

4. A device of the character described comprising a main member having a portion adapted for engagement within a shoe in contact with a seam, a clamping member movably mounted with respect to said first named member and adapted to engage the exterior of the shoe at a point opposite the seam, means for moving said movable'member into compressing engagement with the shoe for flattening'the seam, said means comprising a manually operable screw threaded through a portion of the main member, and means swivelly connecting the screw with said movable member.

5. A device of the character described comn prising a substantially U-shaped member adapted to be straddlingly engaged upon the counter of a shoe at the back thereof and having a portion adapted to engage the seam in the counter, a clamping plate slidably mounted within said U-shaped member Aand engageable with the exterior of the shoe, and screw means threaded through the U- shapedmember and connected with said clamping member for moving the'same, the shoe engaging portion of said member and the shoe engaging face of the clamping plate being curved and substantially parallel.

6. A device of the character described comprising 'a substantially U-shaped member adapted to be straddlingly engaged upon the counter of a shoe at the back thereof and having a portion adapted to engage the seam in the counter, a clamping plate slidably mounted within said U-shaped 'member and engageable with the exterior of the shoe, and screw means threaded through the U-shaped member and connected with said clamping member for moving the same, theseam engaging surface of the U-shaped member and the shoe engaging surface of the clamping member being correspondingly curved.

7 A device of the character described comprising a substantially U-shaped member kadapted to be straddlingly engaged upon the counter of a shoe at the back thereof and having a portion adapted to engage the seam in the counter, a clamping plate slidably mounted within said U-shaped'member andv tact with the seam at the back` of the shoe counter, a guide rih at the bight portion of the U-shaped member, a clamping plate located within the U-shaped member and having a notch slidably engaging said rib, and a screw threaded through the other leg of the U-shaped member and having swivelled connection with said clamping plate, the shoe engaging surfacesbeing substantially parallel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` JACOB DAUTCH.

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