Patent US3760445A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3760445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for preparing shoes for a lasting operation
Assignee: USM Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-01
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Mechanism and method for successively conditioning shoe uppers preceding their lasting. A conveyorized series of shoe carriers is moved stepwise through a shoe loading zone, a plurality of cabinets providing controlled non-drying, heated atmosphere, and a shoe unloading zone adjacent to a lasting machine, each shoe carrier pivotally supporting a last in a manner such that the weight of the last effects lengthwise pretensioning of an upper thereon to be lasted in the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 F Hartshorn
- 👤 G Barton
- 👤 P Stapleton
- 👤 G Millar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:11
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43D; A43D11/00; A43D11/14; A43D11/145; A43D33/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for preparing shoes for a lasting operation comprising a conveyor, a series of last carriers mounted in spaced relation on the conveyor, each carrier having a pincer mechanism for seizing a margin of a shoe upper mounted on the last of the carrier and a support for said last disposed to enable it by its weight to tension the upper when its margin is gripped by said mechanism, means for establishing a heated conditioning atmosphere through which the last carriers sequentially pass, and control mechanism ahead of and downstream from the conditioning means for actuating the respective pincer mechanisms, whereby successive conditioned shoes are prepared for lasting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for preparing shoes for a lasting operation comprising a conveyor, a series of last carriers mounted in spaced relation on the conveyor, each carrier having a pincer mechanism for seizing a margin of a shoe upper mounted on the last of the carrier and a support for said last disposed to enable it by its weight to tension the upper when its margin is gripped by said mechanism, means for establishing a heated conditioning atmosphere through which the last carriers sequentially pass, and control mechanism ahead of and downstream from the conditioning means for actuating the respective pincer mechanisms, whereby successive conditioned shoes are prepared for lasting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the conveyor is of the horizontal, endless type, the conditioning means comprises at least one cabinet for providing a heated atmosphere accommodating at least a pair of said carriers, and a drive means for stepping the conveyor to provide a dwell of the successive loaded carriers in said cabinet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pincer mechanisms are respectively biased to closed positions, a manually controlled power means for shifting the individual pincer mechanisms to open positions for loading the uppers, and means for insuring that an upper previously loaded on a last carrier can not be released from its closed pincer mechanism by operation of said manually controlled means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for establishing a heated conditioning atmosphere includes mechanism for circulating steam in the vicinity of each mounted shoe upper and more particularly directing steam to the locality of its upper portion being tensioned by a pincer mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each last carrier comprises a base secured to the conveyor, and said pincer mechanism comprises a two-armed lever pivotally mounted in the base, one of the lever arms being bifurcated to form spaced upper gripping jaws cooperative with the base, and the other of said lever arms providing a fulcrum support for the bottom of the last on the carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said other lever arm is adapted to carry said fulcrum support adjustably spaced from said jaws in a direction lengthwise of the shoe.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of preparing a shoe for lasting comprising the steps of securing an insole onto the bottom of a last, positioning an upper on the last with its heel end portion snugly embraced by the closed back part of the upper, mounting the last/upper assembly on a shoe carrier arranged to travel through a conditioning atmosphere to a lasting machine, and causing the upper as it travels thus mounted lengthwise during its travel, and during any dwell in said atmosphere, to be tensioned by reason of the weight of the last.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of preparing a shoe for lasting comprising the steps of securing an insole onto the bottom of a last, positioning an upper on the last with its heel end portion snugly embraced by the closed back part of the upper, mounting the last/upper assembly on a shoe carrier arranged to travel through a conditioning atmosphere to a lasting machine, and causing the upper as it travels thus mounted lengthwise during its travel, and during any dwell in said atmosphere, to be tensioned by reason of the weight of the last.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |