US797953A

US797953A - Shoe-clasp.

Info

Publication number: US797953A
Application number: US19444804A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward J Gurren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-02-19
Filing date: 1904-02-19
Publication date: 1905-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1922-08-22

Description

PAIENIED AUG.22,1905.

E. J. GURREN.

I SHOE CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 19. 1904.

Anmw. s. Mun! m.. mammalian wAswnmm. n. c.

IINI'IF STATES PATENT OFFICE..

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed February 19, 1904. Serial No. 194,448.

To all whom, t may concern:

- Be it known that I, EDWARD J. GURREN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Olasps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to shoe-clasps, together with strips secured to the shoe-upper, which strips are manually engaged in freeing or closing the clasps.

The object of my invention is to dispense with shoe-laces, thus eliminating the incon venience of their use,and to provide means whereby the upper of the shoe is readily tightened or loosenedV while upon the foot.

Figure I is a perspective view of a shoe equipped with my improved clasps. Fig. II is a perspective view of the tongue member of my improved clasp. Fig. III is a perspective view of the casing or receiving member of the clasp. Fig. IV is an enlarged section taken approximately on line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is a detail view showing a modified form of the flexible strip used in connection with my improved clasp and the means of fastening the free end of said strip to the shoeupper. Fig. VI is a detail section taken on line VI VI, Fig. V.

l indicates the shoe, and Qthe usual tongue thereof. 3 indicates a strip of leather or other flexible materialthat is positioned on the outer face of the shoe-upper, its straight edgebeing flush with the edge of the opening in the front of said upper, and said strip is held in position by stitching 4 or in any other suitable manner. The outer edges of these strips are scalloped, thus forming a series of tabs or linger-holds 5. The receiving members of my improved clasp are constructed of suitable sheet metal, the body portions 6 being tubular and of approximately rectangular shape in cross-section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the shoe-upper at the sides of the opening in the front thereof. Formed in the top or outer wall of said tubular bodies is one or more triangularshaped recesses or pockets 7, the same being made by pressing or stamping the material of the tubular casing outwardly.l Integral with the side of the casing opposite the one containing these pockets is a longitudinally-extending plate 8, in the outer end of which is formed a slot 9, its ends terminating in circular apertures 10.

The tongue member of my irnproved clasp comprises a metallic plate 11, inthe center of which is formed an angular bend 12, terminating in a point 13. and in outer or rear end of said plate is formed a slot 14, its ends terminating in circular apertures 15. This plate is slightly curved to correspond with the curvature of the shoe-upper adjacent to the opening in the front thereof, and the end of said plate opposite from the end containing the slot 14 is bent downwardly, as indicated by 16, to form a spring-bearing when the tongue member is inserted in the opposite receiving member. Both members of the clasp are detachably secured to the outside of the shoeupper on opposite sides of the opening in the front by means of rivets 17, which are provided with heads 18 of such a size as that they will readily pass .through the

openings

10 and 15 at the ends of the

slots

9 and 14. The two parts of my improved fastener thus properly positioned lie against the outer face of the shoe-upper on the opposite sides of the opening therein, and the major portions of said clasp are hid from View beneath the strips 3, the stitching securing said strips to the shoe-upper being necessarily located between the clasps.

By providing the

slots

9 and 14 with the apertures at their ends both members of the clasp are made adjustable, so that the shoelupper may be tightened or loosened upon the foot, as desired.

In the use of my improved clasp all the receiving members are located on one side of the opening in the shoe-upper and the tongues l upon the opposite side, and when the shoe is placed upon the foot the wearer engages a corresponding pair of the tabs 5 of the strips 3 and forces the same toward one another, and in so doing forces the tongue 11 into the casing 6 until the bend'lQ in said tongue is seated in one of the recesses or notches 7. rIhe spring-bearing 16 on entering the casing 6 bears upon the inner wall of said casing opposite the wall in which the recesses 7 are formed, and thus causes thebend 12 to retain its position in the notch 7 until the resiliency of the spring is overcome by the parts of the clasp being pulled apart by the action ofthe wearer in removing the shoe. The

strips 3, having their edges formed into the scalloped tabs, present a neat and linished appearance upon the shoe and readily serve as means to be engaged by the fingers in opening or closing the clasps. If desired, these tabs or finger-holds may be provided with ordinary glove-fasteners 19, as seen in Figs. V and VI, thus providing meansfor holding the outer portions of said tabs against the shoeupper.

A shoe-clasp of .my improved construction is very simple in operation, can be quickly adjusted, does awaywith the annoyance incident to the Wearing of shoe-laces, and a shoe provided with the clasps can .be very quickly puton or removed from the foot.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a shoe-clasp, atubular receiving member provided with a plurality of recesses in its front face, means whereby said tubular member is adjustably and detachably secured to the shoe-upper, and a spring-tongue adjustably and detachably secured to the shoeupper opposite the tubular member; which spring-tongue is provided with a bend adapted to enter one of the recesses in the tubular Vmember, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a shoe having rivets positioned in the upper adjacent the front opening therein, of engaging clasps arranged along the meeting edges of the shoe-upper in the outer end of which clasps are formed slots, their ends terminating in circular openings adapted to receive the rivets, substantially as speciied. y

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a shoe having rivets fixed in the shoe-upper adjacent the opening in the front thereof, of a tubular member arranged on one side of the opening in the upper, there being recesses formed in the Jfront Wall of said tubular member and there being a slot formed in the outer end of said tubular member, which slot terminates in apertures to receive one of the rivets, and a spring-tongue arranged on the shoe-upper opposite the tubular member, which spring-tongue is provided With a bend adapted to enter the recesses in the tubular member and which tongue is provided With a slot in its outer end Which slot terminates in apertures adapted to receive another one of the rivets, substantially as specified.

EDWARD J. GURREN. Witnesses:

PETER WRIGHT, JOHN LYoNs.