US493202A

US493202A - abney

Info

Publication number: US493202A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1910-03-07

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT Orr-ICE.

DITE. H. ABNEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE \V. ROSE, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-LACE FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,202, dated March 7, 1893.

Application filed A ia 1 2, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DITE. H. ABNEY, of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements 5 in Clasps for Shoe-Strings, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof.

My invention relates to clasps for retaining the free ends of the lacing-strings of shoes, and which are also equally adapted for at tachment to various other articles of wearingapparel, such as corsets, neglig shirts, and the like; and the objects of my invention are to produce a clasp which shall be simple,

strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, and neat and ornamental in appearance, and also capable of securely retaining the free end of the lacing string or cord without poszo sibility of lacerating the same, and which, furthermore, shall cause no inconvenience to the user.

A further object of my invention is to produce a clasp which, in addition to the advan- 2 5 tages above enumerated, shall be capable of ready application to and detachment from the shoe or other article of personal wear, without necessitating the use of special implements or machinery, and also without requiring the service of a skilled assistant or workman.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter 3 5 described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, 1 will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

0 Figure 1 is a perspective View of the upper front portion of a laced shoe with my improved clasps applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of a portion of the upper of the shoe with one of my improved fasteners applied thereto; the said view showing the attaching devices for the clasp. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of my improved clasps. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the same.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the bodyportion orbase of the clasp, said body-portion SerialNo.428,763- (No model.)

or base being preferably of disk-form, and entirely closed, and also of any suitable or preferred dimensions, according to the particular kind of articles of personal wear to which the clasp isto be applied. As shown, this body-portion or base consists of a front portion 1 and a rear portion 2 which is placed in direct contact with the rear side of the front portion 1 and which is secured thereto by the margin 3 of the said front portion; the said margin 3 being bent or spun in such manner as to embrace the margin of the rear portion 2. It is to be understood, however, that these two portions 1 and 2 may also be secured together in any other suitable or preferred manner,'as by riveting, soldering, or the like.

The base or body portion 1 is formed with two lateral and parallel spring-arms 3 which constitute the clasping members of the device, and which are preferably of precisely similar form. Each of these clasping-arms is preferably united integrally at its inner end with the body-portion or base 1,and is in the form of a fragment of a spiral, so that said arms extend obliquely outward and upward from the body-portion or base 1 and in the same plane therewith.

It is to be particularly observed that the clasping arms 3 are wholly and entirely outside of and away from the body-portion 1 of the clasp, such arms extending laterally from the body-portion in the same plane as the face of said body-portion, and being united only at their inner ends to one side of said body-portion. These two arms are entirely separate from each other'throughout their length, and their resiliency causes said arms to normally press closely against each other, 0 as shown. The outer extremities of these arms 3 are formed with oppositely divergent ends 4, which serve as guides to direct the free end of the lacing string or cord between the. arms, as hereinafter explained. From 5 the-rear or inner surface or side of the base or body-portion 1 extend a number of attaching-arms 5 which are of any suitable or preferred metal or other material combining sufficient strength for securely connecting the loo device to the shoe or other article, with sufficient flexibility to enable the arms to be bent or clinched, so as to retain the device in its required position, as hereinafter explained.

6 designates a stud or head, the stem or shank 7 of which is united, either integrally or otherwise, to the body-portion or base 1 preferably at the center of the same, and which projects horizontally outward from said body-portion or base; the said head or stud being preferably formed integrally with the outer end of the stem or shank 7, but being permissibly suitably secu red to said shank, if preferred.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, 8 designates the front upper portion of a laced shoe, 12 the lacing-opening of the same, 9 the usual lacing-hooks, 10 the lacing eyes or holes, and 11 the lacing string or cord. The lacing string or cord is shown as first passed through the usual eyes or holes 10 and then as crossed and laid around the lacing-hooks 9 in the usual manner. After the lacing cord or string has been so laced, its free ends are frequently much too long, for sightliness or convenience, and in such event, the free ends of the string are wound several times around the shanks or stems 7 of the heads or studs 6, until the desired length of string is taken up. The remaining ends of the string are now inserted between the divergent guideextensions 4, and are forced downward between the clasping spring-arms 3. Said springarms thus securely retain the free ends of the string, and absolutely prevent all possibility of the ends becoming detached accidentally either from between the clasping-arms,or from the studs 6.

It is to be observed that, when the user attaches the clasps to the shoe or other article, a number of slight openings are made at the proper points, with a common pen-knife, a scissors-blade, or the like, and the flexible arms of the clasps are inserted into said openings and bent against the inner surface of the material of which the article is composed, as shown in Fig. 2. When the article to which the clasps have been thus attached becomes worn out, the flexible arms are simply bent hack into straight position, and the clasps may then be readily detached from the article.

It is to be further understood that the clasps may be made either of plain or suitably ornamented metal, or other suitable material, either plated, j apanned, or otherwise treated, as desired. When used upon corsets, neglig shirts, or other garments, the position and operation of the clasps are substantially the same as that above described, and it will be seen that the clasps are so attached that the arms 3 shall extend obliquely upward from the bodyportion of the clasp as shown, and in the same plane therewith. It is obvious, also that but a single clasp may be employed in situations where but a single binding cord or string is used, as in reticules, bags, grips, and the like;

it being my intention to apply theclasp or clasps to all classes of devices using lacing or binding cords or similar attachments.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have produced a clasp which is simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive in construction, and capable of application to a great variety of articles both for wearing apparel and other purposes; that the clasp is readily applied to and detached from the article, without requiring the use of special implements or machinery, or the services of skilled workmen, and that the clasp securely retains the free ends of lacing or binding cords or strings, and also takes up all superfluous lengths of said cords or strings.

It is to be f nrther observed that, by virtue of the described form and relative positions of the parts composing the clasp, the free end of the lacing string or cord is securely re tained between the clasping-arms 3 in such manner as to render any injury to or laceration of the string or cord utterly impossible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clasp for shoes, other articles of wear, 850., comprising a closed body-portion or base, a stem or shank projecting outwardly from said body-portion, a head or stud carried at the outer end of said stem or shank, and a pair of parallel spring-arms extending wholly outside of and laterally from and beyond the bodyportion, at one side thereof, and in substantially the same plane as the body-portion, and having divergent outer ends operating as guides, and a number of flexible attachingarms projecting inwardly from the bOClY-POIF tion, substantially as set forth.

2. A clasp for shoes, or other articles of wear, 850., comprising a closed body portion or base, formed of similar adjacent leaves, a pair of parallel spring arms integral with and extending wholly outside of and laterally from and beyond the body-portion, at one end thereof curving upwardly and outwardly to conform exteriorly one with the other and in substantially the same plane as the body portion, and having divergent outer ends servin g as guides, a stud passing centrally through the body-portion at the side of the union of the inner ends of the spring arms with the side of the body portion, and a number of inwardly extending and flexible attaching arms, projecting from the body portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in he presence of two witnesses.

DITE. I-I. ABNEY.

Witnesses:

J NO. L. CONDRON, H. E. PRICE.