US483764A - Shoe-lace fastener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

C. M. JOHNSON. SHGE LAGE FASTENER.

No. 483,764. PatentedOot. 4, 1892.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE M. JOHNSON, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

SHOE-LACE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,764, dated October 4, 1892.

Application tiled February 2, 1892. Serial No. 420,068. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLAUDE M. JonnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at LeX- ington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in String-Holdin g Clips for Boots, Shoes, and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel clip for securing the end portion of a string employed to close the front or side opening of a boot or shoe, whereby a considerable length of shoe-string can be conveniently disposed of and securely held.

To accomplish this object, my invention consists, essentially, in the combination of a base-plate having a longitudinal rib, the edge of which is normally inclined downward in a direction from the outer to the inner end thereof, and a spring tongue or finger con nected with the base-plate and acting to press a portion or portions of a shoe-string against the inclined edge of the longitudinal rib.

The invention also consists of other features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a detailed perspective view of the improved clip. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the normal position of the tongue or finger-piece. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a Single portion of a shoe-string held by the spring-tongue and rib. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing several portions of the shoestring held by the spring-tongue and rib. Fig. 5 is a front plan View of the improved clip. Fig. G is a longitudinal central sectional view of the same, taken on the line aow, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the clip.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein-- The numeral I indicates a baseplate of any metal or material suitable for the conditions required and provided with means for attaching it to a boot or shoe in juxtaposition to the upper edge of the ankle portion thereof. The base-plate is provided with a pair of lugs or supports 2,between which is arranged a spring tongue or finger-piece 3, and the base-plato is also formed or otherwise provided with a pair of parallel ribs 4, having their outer edges inclining in a downward direction toward the lugs 2. The spring-tongue or finger-piece 3 is adapted to lie between the ribs, and consequently a shoe-string can be conveniently introduced between the springtongue or finger piece and the inclined edges 5 of the ribs 4. The inclined edges of the ribs are important elements and attain a new and useful result, in that they render it possible to hold several portions of a shoestring, as in Fig. 4, as securely as a single portion, as in Fig. 3, whereby a considerable length of shoe-string can be conveniently disposed of and properly held after a boot or shoe opening has been closed by pulling or drawing the shoe-string taut in the usual manner.

My improved clip is particularly designed for use in connection with the boot or shoe closure devices described and claimed in my application for Letters Patent tiled of even date herewith, Serial No. 420,062; but obviously the clip is adapted for use on any boot or shoe where a shoe-string is to be secured after the shoe-opening is closed by pulling or drawing the string taut.

I have described the base-plate of the clip as formed or otherwise provided with a pair of ribs 4, each having its outer or upper edge 5 inclining downward toward the lugs 2; but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to a pair of ribs 4, as a single rib with an inclined edge 5 might be employed, although it would not prove 'entirely satisfactory in practical use.

While the improved clip is specially designed for the shoe-string of a boot or shoe, it can be employed on gloves, corsets, and similar articles employing a string for effecting the closure of the article.

In prior string-holding clips when a portion of the string is insert-ed beneath the springtongue the space between the tongue and base-plate in advance of that part of the string which is gripped is wider or greater than the string itself, and consequently several portions of the string, in addition to a portion already gripped, cannot be properly gripped between the spring-tongue and base. This is an objection whichy renders it inconvenient and difcult to dispose of the long-end portion of a string; but by my invention such objection is avoided, in that a portion of the string inserted, as in Fig. 3, leaves the tonguepiece in advance of such inserted part of they string in such relation to the outer inclined edge or edges 5 that several other portions of the stringr can be separately introduced and securely held or gripped, as in Fig. 4. In this respect my construction differs substantially and materially from all similar devices of which I am aware.

As shown in Fig. 1, the base-plate of the improved clip is provided with thread-holes 6 for attaching it to a boot,.shoe, or other article; but various means for attaching this base-plate can be employed, and consequently I do notconfine myself to the use of threadholes;

The tongue or finger-piece 3 is composed of a fiat strip of. elastic metal having one endV portion 7 brazed soldered, or otherwise secured toit-he under side of the base-plate 1,. and then curved over the base-plate, extended forward, as at 8, and rebent to provide the tongue or` finger-piece- 3. Theside lugs 2 prevent lateral.- displacement of the tongue or finger-piece 3, as well as the portion 8 of the elasticstrip of metal, and these lugs 2j also act as stops for the shoe-string to prevent the latter being pulled to such extent that. it would pass to the free end portion of t-he tongue or linger-piece 3. The base-plate 5 is also constructed with a longitudinal ledge 9, having'a beveled front end, 10, and arranged. centrally between the parallel ribs 4. The upper edge of the ledge 9 is inclined substantially the same asthe upper edge of the ribs 4, and, consequently when a shoe-string is introduced under the tongue or finger-piece 3 such string will be grippedbetweenthe tongue or finger-piece and the ledge 9, aswell as between the tongue or finger-piece and the outer inclined edgesV E the ribs 4. This construction insures the proper retention of the string under all circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A clip for holding the string of a boot, shoe, or other article, consisting of a baseplate provided with a longitudinal rib 4, the edge 5 of which is normally inclined downward in a direction from the outer to the inner end thereof, and a spring-tongue or iinger 3, connected with the base-plate and acting to pressa portion or portions of the string against the inclined edge of the longitudinal rib, substantially as described.

2. Aclip for holding the string of a boot, shoe, or other article, consisting of a baseplate I, provided with a pair of longitudinal lribs 4, the edges 5 of which normally incline downward in a direction fromv the outer to the inner ends thereof,- and aspring-tongue or linger 3cornposed of an elastic strip of metal rigidly secured at one extremity tothe base-plate and acting to pressa portion or -fportions of the string against the inclined edges of the longitudinal ribs, substantially as described.

3. A clip for holding the stringV of` a boot, shoe, or otherv article, consisting of a baseplate provided with a pair of longitudinal ribs 4 and an intermediate longitudinal ledge 9, the edgeof each of which inclines downward in a direction from the outer to the inner end thereof, and a spring-tongue or iinger-piece 3, connected with the base-plate and acting to press a portion` or portions of the string against theinclinededges of the longitudinal; ribs and ledge, substantially as-'described. 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.v

CLAUDE M. JOHNSON. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NoRRIs, J AMES A. RUTHERFORD.

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