US635184A - Fastener for shoes, &c. - Google Patents

Description

No. s3s,|a4. Patented 0E1. 17,1899.

H. 9. PRICE.

FASTENER FOR SHOES, 8w.

(Application filed June 22, 1898.)

(No mddel.)

' 7 Br? I fimi? m: Nonms PETERS 0a.. vnoroumm wwma-ron. 04 c.

NITED STATES ATEN Eric.

FASTENER FOR SHOES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,184, dated October 1'7, 1899.

Application filed June 22, 1898. fierial No. 684,175. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY GREGG PRICE, a citizen of theUnited States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Fasteners for Shoes, Gloves, Corsets, &c. of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a fastening for shoes, gloves, corsets, &c. that the two parts can be drawn together by a simple pull upon the lacing, and this object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, referenee being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- T Figure l is a view of a shoe with fastening constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of said fastening; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of parts of the fastening, showing features of construction not clearly indicated in the other views.

To each side or flap of the shoe-top, glove, corset, or other article of apparel which is to be fastened I attach a hollow rib 1, having a contracted mouth or throat 2, this rib being secured to the leather or other fabric by sewing or otherwise and being, if desired, provided with perforated flanges or lugs for this purpose. The ribs may be of any desired material possessing such flexibility as is demanded by the use for which they are intended, and to each hollow rib are adapted the enlarged heads 4 of a series of studs 5, which have shanks swiveled in eyelets 6 or other suitable carriers secured to the lacing 7, the latter crossing from rib to rib, as shown in Fig. 1. The studs 5 can thus turn in the eyelets of the lacing and can also slide longitu dinally along the hollow ribs 1. Hence if the shoe-flaps are separated a pull upon the upper ends of the lacing, tending to straighten the latter, will cause the pulling together of the hollow ribs and with them the opposite flaps of the shoe, the studs being prevented from leaving the hollow ribs by reason of their enlarged heads, but being free to slide longitudinally along the ribs as the lacing is drawn tight. After the flaps have been thus drawn together the lacing may be secured by tying or by any suitable form of clip or retainer.

While I prefer to use a doubled lacing having runs crossing each other diagonally, as shown, a lace having a single run carried back and forth from one rib to the other .may in some cases be all thatis necessary. The studs may also in some cases be secured to the lace instead of being swiveled thereto, although thelatter construction is preferred. The center portion of the lace has an eyelet 10, which is engaged by a hook 11 or equivalent fastening secured to the shoe, so as to retain said central portion of the lace in its proper position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the contracted mouth of each hollow rib is enlarged at the lower end of the rib, as shown at 12, for the insertion of the enlarged heads of the studs, a spring-tongue 13 closing said enlargement and being depressed by the heads of the studs as they are inserted, but then springing back to its normal position, so as to prevent the release of the studs from the rib. (See Fig. 4.)

I am aware that fastenings for shoes, gloves, corsets, and the like have been devised in which have been combined ribs or guides on the two parts to be drawn together, these ribs or guides engaging with studs carried by a lazy-tongs structure consisting of links crossing each other and extending from part to part of the structure to be fastened, these links being pivoted together at the crossingpoints. A lazy-tongs structure, however, is such that movement of any one part implies corresponding movement of all other parts. Hence a connection of this character does not provide for local irregularities in the object to be covered, such as would permit the connected parts to approach closer at one point than at another. For instance, in the ease of a shoe the flaps can be drawn closely together at their lower ends, but are apt to spread more or less across the instep, and then can be drawn closer together again at the top, and it will be evident that the lazytongs structure will not permit of any such adjustment. In my fastening device, however, the portions of the lacing between the opposite parts of the object to be fastened are disconnected from each other, and hence are free to assume any angle which the ap proach or separation of the opposite sides of the object to be fastened may require. Hence the fastening device adapts itself perfectly to any irregularity which may be met.

each having a contracted longitudinal mouth or throat enlarged at one end, an elastic closure for said enlargement, studs having enlarged heads adapted to pass through the enlargement and to depress said elastic closure and a lacing carrying said studs, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY GREGG PRICE.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. BECHTOLD, J 0s. H. KLEIN.

Images