Year: 1889

page_text: 1, FREDERICK BRITTAN SPOONER, residing at 56 Downing Street, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in clasps to be used in connection with
corsets, gloves and belts and other articles and consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of the parts thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described and
claimed.
The essential feature of the invention is the use of an automatically operating latch
mounted in a novel form of plate adapted to be attached to the article with which
the clasp is used.
The object of my invention is to provide a clasp which will not become readily
disengaged by the movements of the wearer but quickly engaged and opened
when desired the parts thereof being simple and effective in their construction and
operation.
1 attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings
wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and in
which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represent, respectively, a part of a corset glove and belt with
my improved clasp applied in connection therewith.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the clasp detached showing the latch raised.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the latch.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the plate and latch.
Fig. 7 represents a modified form of the plate."
Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of the plate shown in Fig. 7.
A indicates the latch-supporting plate, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6,
is formed of a sheet of metal doubled over on itself and having a cut or channel
opening thereinto from one end for the reception of the eye or shank of a stud on the
steel opposite in the act of closing.
The other end of said plate A is formed with rivet holes, a¹ for the purpose of

page_text: attachment. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, this plate A, is formed of a single piece of
sheet metal with bent over or looped ends a. The slot or channel a is in a position
in this instance, similar to that in the form of plate heretofore described. The rivet
holes a¹ in the latter plate are formed in ears projecting out laterally from the end of
the plate opposite to that in which the slot or channel is formed.
I reserve the right to use known equivalents of the rivets and rivet holes for
attachment.
To plate A, a latch B is hinged or pivoted by a rivet a passing therethrough and
through said plate. The front edge of the latch B is formed with a hook which
partially overhangs a cam slot, entering from the adjacent side of the latch. The
front edge of the hook 6 is curved rearward to provide a cam-way for the stud eye
or shank to operate against in raising the latch. The cam slot is irregular in contour
from the rear of the hook to a point where an enlargement or swell is formed
and from thence extends downward, the space between the point of the hook and the
lower terminating point of the slot being sufficiently large to allow ready entrance
of the eye or shank of the stud. The upper edge of the latch is formed with a
struck-up part which provides a guard to prevent the latch from falling through or
under the plate A and also serves as a means for raising the latch. As shown in
Fig. 2 the lower edge of the latch may be formed with a similar guard to enable the
latch to be operated from the lower edge if desired.
The latch B is inserted between the parts of the plate A shown in Figs. 4 and 6
and bears against the underside of the form of plate shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
In the use of either form of plate, the hook of the latch is shielded against contact
or engagement with apparel by the bent end thereof.
When the double plate is used, it embraces the steel while the single plate bears
on the upper surface thereof. The advantago gained in the use of the single plate, is
a saving of metal and consequently a reduction or expenso in manufacture.
In operation, if the latch B is down the eye or shank of a stud C strikes
against the front curved edge of hook of the latch and raises the latter.
The said eye or shank then enters the slot a of plate A until it strikes the
enlargement of the cam slot of the said latch, and in riding over said enlarge-
ment it forces the hook down over the said eye or shank and secures the same in
connection with the clasp. If the book be raised, as shown in Fig. 4, the eye or
shank of the stud moves in slot a of plate A and strikes the enlargement 6 when the
operation will be the same. When it is desired to release the eye or shank from the
clasp, the latch is raised by means of the guard 63 when the said eye or shank will be
permitted to pass out through the slot a in plate A.
Thus it will be seen that the wearer only presses the stud into the slot or channel in
the plate on the opposite side of the corset or other article and the latch opens and
closes automatically.
The clasp herein set forth has great strength and durability and is adapted to be
readily attached to any class of articles where applicable.
I do not confine myself to the exact forms of construction and arrangement herein
set forth as the same may be varied without in the least departing from the nature or
spirit of my invention.
I do not limit myself to a stud to be used in connection with my clasp but reserve
the right to use any known equivalent and further, I do not confine myself to the
exact mode of attachment of the slotted supporting plate to a corset steel or other
article as shown but also reserve the right in this instance to apply the said plate in
such manner as not to infere with the practical operation of the locking latch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is
1. A clasp for garments, substantially as set forth, comprising two parts consisting
of a slotted plate, and a cam slotted latch pivoted to said plate adapted to be operated
by the stud eve or shank which it secures.

page_text: 2. A clasp adapted to be operated by a stud substantially as set forth, comprising a
stationary slotted plate with an unattached bent over end, and a cam slotted latch
pivoted thereto and whose bent over end encloses the front part of said latch.
3. A clasp adapted to be operated by and secure a stud eye or shank, substantially
as set forth, consisting of a plate constructed of a piece of doubled sheet metal having
a slot therein for the reception of the stud eye or shank and a cam slotted latch
pivoted to said plate and enclosed theraby.
4. A clasp adapted to be operated by and secure a stud eye or shank comprising
a doubled sheet metal plate having a slot therein and a latch pivoted thereto having
an operating guard, a hooked end and a slot with a cam projection.
5. A clasp substantially as described comprising a slotted plate, a latch pivoted
thereto having an open slot with a cam projection, in combination with an adjacently
situated stud for operating and engaging said latch.
6. A clasp adapted to be operated by a stud, substantially as set forth, comprising
a slotted plate with a bent over unattached end and a cam slotted latch pivotod thereto
having an overhanging hooked end provided with a front curved edge.
7. A clasp comprising a slotted plate a latch having an open slot with a cam
projection pivoted to said plate below the slot thereof and adjacently situated stud or
its equivalent adapted to engage the slots in said plate and latch and close said latch
independent of spring action, substantially as described.
8. A corset fastening having studs or equivalents on one steel thereof and slotted
plates secured to the opposite steel in alignment with the said studs, each plate having
a en slotted latch pivoted thereto and operating through said slotted plato adapted
to be actuated by and socure said studs, substantially as described.
Doted this 2nd day of Jannar 1880
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, Loudon, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.