US927953A - Clasp for garment-supporters. - Google Patents

Description

J. G. COPELAND.

CLASP r03 GARMENT SUPPORTERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 18, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

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JAMES C. COPELAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP FOR GARMENT-SUPPORTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1909.

Application filed June 18, 1908. Serial No. 439,110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James C. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Clasp for Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to garment supporters, my more articular purpose being to provide a meta lic member of a special use for supporting garters and the like and comprising certain parts, some of which are movable relatively to others, and so arranged as to facilitate the clasping and unclasping of the movable portions and for enabling the movable portions to spring automatically into the positions which they occupy when unclasped.

My invention further comprises further details of construction having general utility in relation to garment supporters of this general type.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of the device, showing it in its abnormal condition, that is to say, unclasped and held open by its own spring mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, showing the spring as occupying the greatest angle it ever assumes relatively to the backplate, this occurring when. the supporter is unclasped, and Fig. 3 is a substantially cen tral vertical section through the device complete, showing its lower end in engagement with a stocking or analogous article of clothing to be supported.

The back-plate 4 of metal is provided with a longitudinal slot 5 and is further provided with a tongue 6 and with an opening 7. The tongue 6 is slightly curved, as indicated in Fig. 1, and is preferably made by striking up the metal so as to form the opening 7 and provide the tongue 6 at a single operation. The back-plate 4 is further provided with cars 8, bent substantially into cylindrical form, and a single piece of spring wire 8 is passed through these ears and bent back upon itself, so as to form a U-shaped member 9. A latch 10,-having approximately a triangular shape, is provided with a mutilation 11, a hook 12 being thus formed upon its upper end. The opposite end 13 is bent back upon the body portion 10 and is also curved slightly at 14, so as to engage the lower end 15 of the U-shaped member 9. The garment to be supported is shown at 16, and the backplate 4 is supported by aid of a strap (not shown), extending through the slot 5.

My device is used as follows: The backplate 4 being supported as above described, the operator detaches the hook 12 from the tongue 6, thereby allowing the latch 10 to swing outwardly, as indicated. in Fig. 2, which it does very readily under the impulse of the spring. The outer end 12 of the latch is lowered still farther, if necessary, and the garment 16 is passed upwardly between the spring 9 and the adjacent end of the latch 10. The latch 10 is next swung upward at its free end, so that the hook 12 engages the tongue 6, as indicated in Fig. 3. In doing this the hook 12, because of its rotund form, engages the tongue 6 in such manner that pressure is needed in order to force the hook past the tongue; such pressure being applied by the fingers, the hook 12 springs slightly to the left, according to Fig. 1, and snaps underneath the tongue 6, which allows the latch to spring slightly sidewise into its proper central position.

In order to release the garment 16 the reverse process is followed. The operator, by a slight pressure of the thumb or finger upon the latch 10 forces it sidewise to the left, according to Fig. 1, thereby releasing the hook 12. The pressure being removed, the upper or free end of the latch 10 swings downward, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The spring connecting the latch 10 with the back-plate 4 performs two distinct offices, to wit, it causes the latch 10 to swing outward when the hook 12 is released and it also causes the latch 10 to spring laterally into a central position when the hook 10 is forced past the tongue 6.

I find that considerable economy in manufacture is obtained by the construction above described, and further, that such construction is very efficient in actual practice. The entire device consists of only one spring, and that consists of a single piece of wire. The cars 8 so encircle this spring as to hold it firmly and need not be soldered to it, but if desired they can be soldered or otherwise secured firmly in relation to the spring.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a back plate pr0- vided with a tongue projecting from the proximate center thereof, said back plate being further provided with cars, a single piece of spring wire extending through said ears and with a portion bent so as to form a substantially U-shaped member, and a latch of sheet material provided with a hook for engaging said tongue, said latch being further provided with a portion bent back upon itself and engaging said U-shaped member, said latch also engaging a portion of said piece of spring wire at a point removed from said U-shaped member.

2. The combination of a back plate provided with a slot and with an opening merging into said slot, and provided also with a tongue integral with said back plate and struck up therefrom in forming said opening, said back plate being likewise provided with ears, a single piece of spring wire threaded partially throu h said ears and bent so as to form two members, each of substantially U- shape, a latch journaled upon one of said members and made of a piece of sheet material bent back upon itself and provided with a portion for engaging the other of said U- shaped members, said latch being further provided with a hook for engaging said tongue.

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

JAMES C. COPELAND.

Witnesses MILTON ISAACS, CARRIE IsAAos.

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