US159341A - Improvement in safety-pins - Google Patents

Description

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. MERRITT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPRQVEMENT IN SAFETY-PINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,341, dated February 2, 1875 application filed November 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL` F. MERRITT, of Springfield, Hampden county, State of Massachusetts, have invented a Breast-Pin Catch, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a catch for the pin proper of a breast-pin that shall securely hold the pin and permit it to be caught or released Without the application of undue force.

In the method in general use the pin is ,sprung at right angles to the plane of its hinge, to permit its point to be received within a loop or socket, which then retains it but as it is difficult to proportion the force applied by the hand to the resistance to be overcome in securing or releasing the pinV from its catch, the pin is frequently broken at its hinge,

' or bent to its equal injury; and as the pin is sprung to be caught or released in one motion, the breast-pin can, Without muchdiculty, be detached by thieves.

To obviate these disadvantages, I substitute for the loop usually employed the sleeve-nut '1), slotted at its upper side to -permit the point ot' the pin h tobe swung therein, the point, when so recessed, having the screw-socket a passed over it.

In the drawings, Figure I shows a partial longitudinal section of a breast-pin, with my improved catch. Fig. II is a plan view, and Fig. III a detail view.

The screw-socketcpasses through the lower end of sleeve b, as through a nut, and, being hollow, as shown in Fig. III, passes over the point of the pin, and thus secures it.

In order to release the pin, the screw-socket a is retracted in its nut until the point of the pin is uncovered, when it is. free to be swung up through the sleeve b.

The sorewais provided with a head, d ,which lling the sleeve b and consequently guiding and supporting the screw c, also serves to prevent it from being entirely Withdrawn from its nut, and enables a mouth to be formed to the socket, to better pass over the pin-point.

. I am aware that, as in the patent of William Sherburne, March 13, 1860, a hollow screw is used to be advanced over the point of a pin, to secure it, and also as, in the patent of J. Rabbeth, July 11, 1854, two slotted sleeves, one within the other, have been used to admit the point of the pin when the two slots are coincident, to secure it by the partial revolution of the inner one; but disclaim both devices, and confine myself to the specific device shown.

The head of the screw, vwhen the pin is secured, comes against the lower end of the breast-pin, and is in easy reach of the hand, while inconspicuous.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim is- In combination with the pin h, the slotted sleeve-nut b and screw-socket a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. F. MERRITT.

Witnesses R. F. HYDE, EDWARD MoRRIs.

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