Apparatus for form-fitting shoes, and other articles of footwear

摘要

An apparatus for internally expanding an article of footwear. A hand-operated pressure assembly is provided, in which a knob is manually rotated in order to transversely extend first and second piston members. Hemispherical bearing surfaces on the ends of the piston members are received in corresponding receptacles formed in the legs of a hinged spreader assembly; as the pistons extend outwardly, the spreader assembly is forced against and stretches a selected interior portion of the article of footwear. Cupped overlay members are provided for detachable mounting to the legs of the spreader assembly so as to permit selective adjustment of its width to match that of the particular shoe or boot on which the work is being performed. Preferably, the hydraulic fluid which is used in the pressure assembly is ordinary tap water, so that leakage does not represent a hazard in a retail environment.