US1007369A - Shoestring-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

H. B. & A. J. MGGOWAN.

SHOESTRING PASTENER. APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1910.

1,007,369, Patented Oct. 31, 1911 mwa CDLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH cO.,wAsHlNaT6N. 02c.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. MCGOWAN AND ARTHUR J. MQGOWAN, OF HURLEY, OKLAHOMA.

SHOESTRINGr-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed April 6, 1910. Serial No. 553,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY B. MOGOWAN and ARTHUR J. McGowan, citizens of the United States, residing at Hurley, in the county of Cimarron and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoestring-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in clasps or fastening devices of that type which are designed particularly for use on shoes to engage with the ends of the shoestring to prevent the same from becoming accidentally loosened.

The object of the invention is a shoestring fastener which is quite simple, durable and strong, which is reliable and efficient in use, and which admits of the shoestring being expeditiously applied thereto or detached therefrom according as desired.

With these and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features of in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying draw ing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a shoe.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing the fastener applied to the shoe, the bow being removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the base plate and the parts integral therewith. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slide detached. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of attaching the fastener to the shoe.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

The fastening device forming the subject matter of our invention consists essentially of an elongated base plate 1 that is formed of suitable sheet metal and is preferably slightly curved in the direction of its length so as to be of concavo-convex formation. A spring tongue 2 is integral with the base spaced apart from the adjacent end wall of the opening 3.

A slide 6 extends transversely across the convex or outer face of the base plate and has its end portions returned about the side edges of the base plate, as indicated at 7, to connect the slide thereto. The side edges of the base plate are substantially parallel whereby to permit the slide to move longitudinally of the base plate. The intermediate portion of the slide extends across the spring tongue and is preferably raised, as indicated at 8, and is formed with an aperture 9 into which the hump 4c is adapted to snap, to hold the slide against longitudinal movement.

The opposite end portions of the base plate are formed with longitudinal slots 10 which terminate short of the central opening 3. These slots preferably open outwardly through the end edges of the base plate and provide bifurcations 11 at the ends of the base plate. The bifurcations at one end of the base plate, in the present instance the end adjacent to the free end of the spring tongue, have spring attaching hooks 12 struck longitudinally therefrom. The last mentioned bifurcations are also formed at their outer side edges with stop shoulders 18 which prevent the slide from slipping off suchend of the base plate.

In practice, one of our improved fasteners is applied to each shoe and is placed across the usual slit at the front of the upper with the bifurcations 11 at its opposite ends overlapping the respective reinforcing strips 14 and 14 at the sides of the slit. The reinforcing strips are provided with eyelets 15 or the like through which the shoestring 16 is laced. The slots 10 are arranged to extend over the uppermost eyelets 15 so as to cause the bifurcated ends of the base to embrace the same.

The base plate is attached to the reinforcing strip 14: by means of the spring hooks 12, this being the sole means of attaching the fastener to the shoe.

Before applying the ends of the shoestring to the fastener the slide is moved longitudinally toward the stop shoulders 13 and beyond the free end of the spring tongue. The ends of the shoestring are then passed from the uppermost eyelets 15, through the slots 10 and behind the base plate and are drawn outwardly through the opening 3 between the free extremity of the tongue and the slide 6. The outwardly projecting extremities of the shoe strings lie against the outer face of the spring tongue and extend toward and beyond the fixed end thereof. The slide is then moved to operative position over the hump f so as to positively clamp the ends of the shoestrings therebetween, the hump snapping into the aperture 9 to hold the slide against accidental displacement from such operative position. The ends of the shoestrings are thus firmly fastened in place and are effectually prevented from working loose while the shoe is being worn. Attention is here directed to the fact that the recess 5 in the free eX- tremity of the tongue engages with the ends of the shoestring to keep the same in operative position and prevent them from slipping to either side of the tongue.

To release the ends of the shoestring it is merely necessary to move the slide toward the attached end of the base plate and beyond the free extremity of the spring hook.

The fastening device is quite ornamental and adds considerably to the appearance of the shoe. It is contemplated to employ this device on low shoes or the like in substitution for the buckles which have heretofore been employed. The ornamental value of the fastener may be considerably enhanced by providing a bow of ribbon 17. This how may be attached to the fastener in any desired manner and in the present instance is passed through the raised portion of the slide so as to be clamped between the same and the hump at.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the slots 10 render the fastener susceptible of use in connection with shoes having hooks at the top in lieu of the customary eyelets.

Having thus described the invent-ion, what is claimed as new is:

1. A shoe string fastener comprising a base plate adapted for attachment to the upper end of a shoe and having openings at its ends for the reception of the shoe strings, the base plate being provided with a central struck up tongue having an outstanding hump upon its end thus providing a central opening in the base plate for the reception of the shoe strings, and a slidable casing mounted upon the base plate having an opening therein for the reception of the hump and shoe strings.

2. In combination with a shoe having eyelets and shoe strings for attachment to the upper end of the shoe and having slots in its ends for the reception of the eyelets of the shoe, the base plate also having a central tongue pressed out from its central portion and provided with a hump and forming a central opening in the base plate, the shoe strings of the shoe passing from the eyelets back through the slots and out through the central opening over the hump of the tongue, and a locking member slidable upon the base plate and having a recess for engagement with the hump to bind the shoe strings in position and hold the locking member from displacement.

3. A. shoe string fastener including a base plate having bifurcated ends adapted to engage against the sides of the registering eyelets at the top of a shoe and having tongues at one end for permanent engagement with the shoe, an outwardly pressed tongue carried upon the central portion of the base plate and having a hump for the reception of the shoe strings passing from the eyelets and a slidable casing arranged upon the base plate for engagement over the hump to bind the shoe strings thereagainst.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. MCGOWAN. ARTHUR J. MGGOWAN.

Witnesses BEN GRAHAM, W. T. BARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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