Improvements in Buckles or Fasteners for Driving Belts and other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buckles or Fasteners for Driving Belts and other
Analogous Purposes.
We ANTON TEHNIK, Postmaster of Kromow Bohemia in the Empire of Austria
and FRANZ VAVRA, Engineer and Mill Owner of Prague, Bohemia in the Empire of
Austria do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the
saine is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is the manufacture of an improved buckle or fastening
in which the usual prong is dispensed with and which buckle will allow of the
extremities of say two driving belts being rapidly, safely and thoroughly fastened
together without being liable to damage or injury and which buckle is equally
applicable as a fastener for other analogous purposes.
This improved buckle or fastener is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing
in which Fig. 1 is a top view of a double wedge buckle, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional
view of Fig. 1 on line -D. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 on line A-B.
Fig. 4 is a top view of a single wedge buckle. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view
of Fig. 4 on line CD and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 4 on line A-B.
Fig. 7 is a top view of a modification of the single wedge buckle and Fig. 8 is a
longitudinal section of the same.
The same letters of reference are used to denote identical parts in all the views.
The principle of this wedge buckle is based chiefly upon the following fact viz. :-
that two belts connected together by this device are not only incapable of being
loosened or released by pulling however hard at the two opposite belts, but that on
the contrary the connection becomes tighter and more secure in proportion as the
strain exerted thereon is increased-as the wedge shaped locking piece hereinafter
described is caused by such pulling action to be still more firmly wedged or clamped
within the tapered grooves provided on each side of the buckle.
Fig. 1 shows a double or duplex buckle on this principle, in one end of which one
of the extremities of the belt is shewn inserted in the sheath a. The side cheeks b of
this sheath which are bent over at the top have a tapered or wedge-like form corre-
sponding to that of the similarly tapered sides c of the locking-device d, the latter
having its transverse edge e or that adjoining the lower or narrowest end of the bent
over edge b, bent upwards and which bent part e thus serves on the one hand as a
locking handle and on the other as a guide-as each of its extremities is provided
with a groove f for sliding upon the bent over edges of the side checks b. The pro-
jections g upon the edge of the cheeks b serving to prevent the locking-piece d sliding
off in front. The lower side of the said locking piece d where the same comes in
contact with the belt is grooved, serrated or otherwise roughened so as to have a
better hold on the leather.
It will be easily seen that when the end of the belt is placed in the sheath a and the
locking-piece d is pushed over the same that the latter inust lock itself that is to say
be pressed all the harder upon the surface of the belt in proportion as the pull thereon
is greater, while the bent-up, wedge-like sides c of the locking piece d are drawn (in
consequence of the pull upon the belt) deeper within the tapered grooves thus rendering
the locking or wedging action upon the belts accordingly tighter.
In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the two belts h and i are laid over one another the locking piece or
wedge being pushed over the same and provided in this case with a wider cover than
that shewn in Fig. 1. When the two belts are placed over one another, care must be
taken that the fleshy or soft side of the belt should constantly be lower-most and that
in case of the uppermost belt the soft or fleshy side should be upon the upper side of
the lower belt.

page_text: In Figs. 7 and 8 the front part of the sheath is provided with an articulated
metallic link k in which one of the extremities of the belt is sewn, while the other
end m is clamped.in position as illustrated in the manner hereinbefore described. In
buckles such as heretofore used and provided with a prong which enters one of the
holes formed in the belt it was highly inconvenient and awkward to bring the desired
hole in sufficiently close contact to the prong and the solidity and strength of the belt
was interfered with and diminished by piercing the same; the buckle also without
prong and with an articulated folding locking device ceased in most cases to be
effective after a short use, while the locking-lever became bent and allowed the belt to
slide off. All these defects are fully met and remedied by the wedge buckle above
described which possesses the greatest advantages particularly in the case of traces
used for yoking horses and other draught animals on account of its being so easily
handled and of its absolute safety. It is equally applicable to other analogous
fastening purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The improved arrangement and construction of wedge-buckle substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. In the construction of a wedge-buckle the employment of a sheath a having
tapering checks or sides in combination with a locking device d provided with
corresponding tapering sides c and a transverse edge on locking handle e all arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of October 1889.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 55, Market Street, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.