US948048A - Mechanical clasp particularly adapted for wearing-apparel. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. FRIEND.

MECHANICAL CLASP PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR WEARING APPAREL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1908'.

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CHARLE$ M. FRIEND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. V

MECHANICAL CLASP PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR "WEARING-APPAREL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 191d.

Application filed November 2, 1908. Serial No. 460,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. FRIEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Clasps Particularly Adapted for Wearing-Apparel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical clasps, particularly such as are adapted for use in wearing apparel, and contemplates, especially, a clasping device which may be employed to close an elongated opening or to unite elongated adjacent edges of parts of a garment.

The object of this invention is to rovide a device which may be employed or the purposes above pointed out whereby the proper result may be obtained quickly and easil lt is a further objectof this invention to provide a clasp which may be positively locked against accidental release, and to these various ends I have designed a structure comprising, primarily, two separate parts which may be laterally secured together by relative longitudinal movement and which may be absolutely locked together by preventing such relative longitudinal movement. In keeping with these ideas, I have also designed a structure which is neither difficult to properly adjust to, nor too cumbersome for use in wearing apparel.

y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view illustrating my device as employed in a garment; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, the two separate members being placed and locked together; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of one end thereof, illustrating the locking mechanism; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the device on an enlarged scale, illustrating particularly the locking mechanism.

Like reference numerals are applied to the same parts throughout the various figures.

The device comprises, primarily, two elongated members, such as the leaf bars 6 and 7, of spring material, such as steel, and similar in outline. These members are each provided with a number of small apertures 8, 8 conveniently disposed for sewing the same to the garment, although other means of attachment may be employed.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention as being applied for the purposes of closing the usual slit in a skirt indicated at 9, the two main clasp members being attached respectively to the opposing edges of the garment parts. One of said clasp members, preferably the one attached to the under lapping part of the garment, here the leaf bar 6, is provided with a series of buttons 10, 10, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and depending in number upon the length of the edges to be united, while the other member, here the leaf bar 7, is provided with an equal number of correspondingly relatively disposed keyhole slots 11,11. These keyhole slots have the part 12, of suflicient size to permit the passage of the heads 13 of the buttons 10, and the restricted part 1a, which just accommodates the stems 15 thereof.

The two spring bar members are so placed upon the garment that when the overlapping edges are brought together and in proper relative position the stems of the buttons, which have initially been inserted through the enlarged parts of the slots, will be disposed in the restricted portion thereof. Thus the two main members are positively secured against lateral separation. It is apparent that these two parts are so brought together by a simple relative longitudinal movement and to absolutely lock the parts it is necessary merely to prevent such movement in reverse direction. To this end I provide upon the member 6 which carries the buttons, a post 16, riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, which post is arranged to pass through an opening 17 provided in the member 7 when the buttons 10, 10 engage in the restricted position of the slots 11, 11. The post and the opening in which it engages being properly disposed relative to the buttons and keyhole slots, it is seen that relative longitudinal movement of the members is prevented at the same time that the buttons prevent lateral separation and the parts are thus securely locked together. The main members of the structure being of spring material it is clear that this construction is possible and practicable.

To prevent accidental release of the end of the member 7 from off the post, the post is bifurcated to receive a locking lever 18, pivoted to the post at 19. Its width is less than the diameter of the opening 16, so that when in its upright position, as shown covered by the'garment proper as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lever is well held ters Patent, is

in Fig. 1, it may pass through that opening and may, in fact, assist as a lever to engage initially in the opening 16 to bring the opposing garment parts together, and to lead the opening to the post. When the parts have been brought together as has been described, the lever may be turned down, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 to prevent the member 7 from slipping off the post. Being down in its locking position by the garment part proper against which it must be thrust as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When so brought together the overlapping edges of the garment parts entirely conceal the device and, being flexible in itself, the device may respond to any inherent movement of the garment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire covered by Let- 1. In a clasp in combination, a pair of elongated members, a series of buttons carried by one of said members, the other member havmg a serles of keyhole slots the eni larged portions of which register simulta- 1 in an opening in the other of said memberswhen said members are in their interlocked position, a clamping lever carried by said post, and a part of the garment extending over said lever to hold it in its locking position.

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

CHARLES M. FRIEND.

\Vitnesses VVALTER S. BAER, H. J. Srmsnnnonn.

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