Year: 1897

page_text: (A communication by ALFRED SHEDLOCK, of Jersey City, in the County of Hudson
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer.)
6i
I, ALBERT WILLIAM WALLACE MILLER, of Manhattan," Gateacre, near Liver-
pool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The improved clasp forming the subject of this invention is designed to hold
and sustain garments and for allied purposes.
The clasps are composed of two essential parts or members, the main or sub-
pended member in one arrangement being composed of a piece of wire bent into
loop form with the upper parts of the slides parallel and the lower parts inclined,
apering towards the lower end of the loop, the ends of the wire being bent over
to form a bar at the upper end. The inclined parts of the sides constitute the
gripping jaws of this member of the clasp.
The other part or member consists of a flat block made of hard rubber or
other suitable material, and having its sides inclined and grooved to correspond
to and partly embrace the inclined rounded jaws of the stationary member; these
inclined grooved sides constitute the gripping jaws of this member and they
interlock with the rounded jaws when the inclined parts of the two members are
brought together. The upper end of this member is of a width to slide freely
between the parallel parts of the sides of the main member, and the front above the
grooved sides is wider than the back, below the grooved sides, and extends
laterally partly over the sides of the main member, the back being of such a
width as to enter between the sides of the main member when the other member
is located at the upper end of the main member. The front of this other member
may be formed the same as the back to permit this member to swing in both
directions out of the loop.
In a hole formed through the upper end of the other member is placed a wire,
the ends of which are formed into eyes which embrace the sides of the main
member; this constitutes a connection for the two members, admits of the other
member swinging away from the main member for the admission of the goods
between them, and provides for it being arranged with its grooved inclined jaws
in a plane with the rounded inclined jaws of the main member, and allows the
other member to slide up and down on the main member.
The means of suspension is attached to a bar, in this case it is a cord connected
to the said bar by means of a clamp, forined of sheet metal and
so shaped as to embrace the cord and the bar, and also to embrace
and cover the upper ends of the sides of the main member. T'his
clamp may be set in position so as to hold the upper ends of the sides of the main
member rigid or a certain amount of freedom may be given those sides in fitting

page_text: these parts together to allow the inclined sides facility for yielding when the
clasp is being applied to heavy goods.
In applying the clasp to the goods the member is swung away from the main
member, whilst in its upper position, and the edge of the goods placed between
them, the member is then pressed down in a plane with the main member, and
the goods clamped between them and but slightly distorted, and in straight lines
by easy folds, around the sides of the main member, and upon tensional strain
being applied to the goods the member will by frictional contact therewith be
drawn down with the goods further into the inclined jaws, thus causing the goods
to be firmly gripped and held between the interlocking jaws; no different or
greater distortion of the goods occurring during this action than what was
initially imparted to them, although by the wedging action of the member in the
main member the tighter will be the grip on the goods the greater the strain they
are submitted to. This feature gives the clasp the functions of a self gripping
device.
In the construction of clasps according to this invention the angle of the
inclined gripping jaws will be sufficiently acute to insure that the member will
remain normally in the inclined jaws of the main member when the clasp is
in use, and the length of the inclined jaws will be such as to give sufficient
sliding movement between them to provide the proper gripping of all classes and
thickness of goods any size clasp is designed to be applied to. It will be observed
that all of the strands or fibres of the goods clamped between all parts of the
rounded inclined gripping jaws are subjected to an equal uniform stress to
resist any strain imparted to the goods, and as such strands or fibres are quite
numerous the liability of tearing the goods, even when of the most delicate fabric,
is reduced to a minimum. It will also be observed that these clasps are quite thin
and flat, which is an important featuro in such devices when applied to wearing
apparel, and that the distortion of the goods is such as to impart no permanent
injury to them.
Other forms of clasps may be employed having the general characteristics and
performing their functions under the same principle of operation as the form of
clasp before described, and where the parts of these modifications are of the same
construction as the described clasp, then, particular description of such parts will
be unnecessary. The only differences in construction of the two members of one
form of modification is that the outside member, made of a single piece of wire
as before, has straight sides converging in right lines from the bar and is left
The connecting
open at the lower end, thus imparting resilience to the jaws.
device for holding the two members together comprises two pieces of wire formed
with eyes to embrace the side, with the ends brought together and seated in the
hole formed through the upper end of the member. The means of suspension is
a piece of webbing with its end wrapped around the bar and held firmly thereto
by a shield of sheet metal.
In another form the main member is made of a piece of sheet metal bent to
form a closed back, and rounded edges, partly parallel and partly inclined, with
re-entering grooves between these edges and the back. The upper end of this
part is folded over to receive the suspending cord. In outline this member is
similar to the corresponding member of the clasp last described. The sliding
block member is substantially the same as the others, the means for connecting
it to the main member having closed back and rounded edges consisting of a piece
of wire bent into crank form, located in the hole of the block with its ends
arranged to slide in the re-entering grooves under the rounded edges of the other
member.
The member, of wire, in another form is attached to the supporting webbing
in such manner that the webbing forms a back for the clasp. The webbing
passes around the bar and is there held by a band of wire, the lower end of the
webbing and the bottom of the loop of this member are fastened together by

page_text: stitches, or by any other suitable means.
A novel feature of construction of the
sliding member is that it is provided with lugs at its extreme upper end arranged
to extend beneath the side bars of the other member, and with projecting corners
on its front a little below the lugs, and arranged to extend above the side bars.
By this construction of the sliding member, which may be applied to any of the
other forms previously described, such member is free to slide and swing in
relation to the other member in the manner before described. Another change in
the construction of this member is that it is made of a piece of sheet metal, bent
over on to itself from its upper end, with its front part suitably formed, and its rear
part formed to pass between the sides of the other member when this member is
located at the upper end of the loop. A piece of material, as india rubber of any
desired degree of softness, is placed between the back and front of this member,
is held in position by spiked projections forced up from the sheet metal so as to
puncture it, and by a part of the front plate being bent down and inter-located
with the back plate. The sides of this piece of rubber are shaped to fit the
inclined jaws and constitute the gripping jaws of the sliding member.
In another style of connection for the two members, the supporting webbing is
passed around the bar and held firmly thereto by a wire band, and the free end of
the webbing is attached to the upper edge of the member by being secured in a
slot formed therein. Between the bar and member, a sufficient length of the
webbing is left to permit the members being brought together and to slide in
relation to one another as before described. Other ways of fastening the two
members to the webbing may be employed, but the way described is though to
be efficient. The sides of this member are straight but inclined, being closer
together at their lower ends than at their upper ends.
All of the corners and edges of all parts of the clasp will be rounded, and
sharp corners and edges that will come in contact with the goods will be particu-
larly avoided in the construction of the various parts.
;
One or both of the members of the different styles of clasp may be made spring
acting this is a normal condition of such members as are made of wire, the
solid members may have this condition imparted to them by being slit longi-
tudinally. An advantage of such resilience in the parts of the clasps is that the
parts may be fitted so as to require a little force to bring their gripping jaws in
one plane, thereby initially gripping the goods and insuring the proper travelling
of the movable member with the goods as before described. The gripping jaws
of the movable member may he scored or roughened, to cause more friction
between the goods and the movable member then between the goods and the
suspended member.
In the clasps now to be described the supported member is the inside one and
the moving member the outside one, while in the other clasps the outside member
is supported and the other or inner member is movably attached thereto, the
direction of inclination of the gripping jaws in the two cases being reversed.
The suspended or supported member in one form is composed of india rubber,
or other suitable material, is flat and of uniform thickness at all parts, has its side
or edges parallel at the upper part and inclined at the lower part, said inclined
sides being grooved and converging from the bottom edge of the member to
where they meet the parallel parts of the sides. Through the parallel part is
transversely formed a slot and from the upper end of this member to this slot are
formed two holes through which is passed the supporting cord, by means of which
the clasp is suspended. The other member is composed of a piece of wire, bent to
form a bar at the lower end, two inclined sides and a bar at its upper end for con-
nection with the member, said bar being produced by bending inwardly the enda
of the wire so that they may be entered into the slot. The length and width of
this outside member is such that when it occupies its lowest position relative to
the suspended member, that is, with bar at or near the lower end of the slot, the
inclined sides will fit into the grooved inclined sides, and when located in its
highest position, with the bar at its upper end of the slot, its inclined sides wil'

page_text: clear the inclined sides leaving it free to be swung on its bar as a pivot, away
from the member for the admission of the goods between the two members. The
grooved inclined sides of the inner member and the rounded inclined sides of the
outer member constitute the interlocking inclined gripping jaws of the device.
After the clasp with the jaws open have been passed over the edge of the piece
of fabric the outer member is pressed down to bring its inclined jaws in a plane
with the inclined jaws, and this outer member will, by its freedom to slide ou the
inner member and by frictional contact with the fabric, be drawn down with the
fabric thereby causing the fabric to be gripped firmly between the inclined jaws,
and due to this self gripping action of the device its holding properties will
increase with increased tensional strain imparted to the fabric.
In a modification, the outside members are formed of a piece of sheet metal
with their sides bent over to constitute the rounded inclined gripping jaws adapted
to fit into the grooved inclined jaws of the member. The connecting device of
the two members consists of a wire fitting in the slot and through ears formed at
sides of the member at its upper end. The general form and operation of this
outer member are similar to those of the member before described, the only
difference being that the member will be elastic or give on a central vertical line
passing through its flat front while the outside member in the other case will
spring under lateral strains at the lower bar.
The wire outer member of one of the forms described is retained in the modifi-
cation in which the inner suspended member has the same general form as the
member but is made of a piece of sheet metal, blanked out in the requisite form
to be folded at the upper end, and having side pieces adapted to be bent so as to
produce the inclined side grooves, the two parts forming the front and back being
seamed together. The slot for the admission of the upper bar is produced by the
space between the back and front at their upper parts. A slot is made in the
upper bend and through this slot is passed the supporting web, the lower edge
of which is folded or hommed, to provent the withdrawal of the webbing from the
member.
The sides are straight, that is they incline inwardly in right lines toward the
upper end of the member. The other forms of olasp may be made in this way,
it not being necessary that the upper part of the inside member shall have parallel
sides, as the clasp performs its functions practically as well when the whole of
the sides incline.
The jaws of the sliding member of this form of clasp may be roughened or
aerrated to produce more perfect friction between the fabric and these jaws
Dated this 1st day of December 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Clasps for Holding and Suspending Garments.
(A communication by ALFRED SHEDLOCK, of Jersey City, in the County of Hudson
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer.)
I, ALBERT WILLIAM WALLACE MILLER, of "Manhattan," Gateacre, near Liver-4
pool, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
The improved clasp forming the subject of this invention is designed to hold

page_text: and sustain garment
purpose of
be fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a front view of a clasp embodying my invention and shown applied
to a piece of fabric.
Figure 2 is a rear view of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the jaws open to receive the fabrio.
Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4, 4, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5, 5, Figure 2.
Figure 6 and 7 are respectively front and side elevations of another embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8, 8, Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a front view of a modification.
Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on line 10, 10, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view on line 11, 11, Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a front elevation showing other modifications in the construction
of the clasp.
Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view on line 13, 13, Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a detached view of the inner inclined gripping jaw.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of another modification.
Figure 16 is a part elevation showing another form of clasp applied to a fabric.
Figure 17 is a vertical sectional view on line 2, 2, Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3, 3, Figure 16.
Figure 19 shows a modification in the construction of the clasp.
Figure 20 is a transverse sectional view on line 5, 5, Figure 19.
Figure 21 another modification showing the clasp in front elevation;
Figure 22 is a side view of the same, showing the clasp open and
Figure 23 is a transverse section of the same ou the line 8, 8, Figure 21.
The clasps shown in the drawings are composed of two essential parts or
members, the main or suspended member in Figures 1 to 5 being composed of a
place of wire A bent into loop form with the upper parts of the sides parallel and
the lower parts inclined, tapering towards the lower end of the loop, the ends of
The inclined
the wire being bent over to form a bar A¹ at the upper end.
parts AA of the sides constitute the gripping jaws of this member of the clasp.
The other part or member B consists of a flat block made of hard rubber or other
suitable material, and having its sides inclined and grooved to correspond to and
partly embrace the inclined rounded jaws A A³ of the stationary member; these
inclined grooved sides constitute the gripping jaws 13' 13' of this member and they
Interlock with the jaws A A³ when the inclined parts of the two members are
brought together. The upper end of this member is of a width to slide freely
between the parallel parts of the sides of the member A, and the
front above the grooved sides
than the back, below the
grooved sides B' B', and extends laterally partly over the sides of the member A,
the back being of such a width as to enter between the sides of the member A
when the member B is located at the upper end of the member A as shown at
Figure 2. The front of this other member B may be formed the same as the
back to permit this member to swing in both directions out of the loop.
is wider
In a hole formed through the upper end of the member B is placed a wire C,
the ends of which are formed into eyes which embrace the sides of the member A,
as clearly shown at Figure 5; this constitutes a connection for the two members,
admits of the meniber B swinging away from the member A for the admission
of the goods between them, and provides for it being arranged with its grooved
inclined jaws in a plane with the rounded inclined jaws of the member A, and
allows the member B to slide up and down on the member A.
The means of suspension is attached to the bar A', in this case it is shown as a
cord 1) connected to the bar A' by means of a clamp E, formed of sheet metal
and so shaped as to embrace the cord and the bar, and also to embrace and cover
the upper ends of the sides of the member A. This clamp may be set in position

page_text: so as to hold the upper ends of the sides of A rigid or a certain amount of freedom
may be given these sides in fitting these parts together to allow the inclined
sides A A³ facility for yielding when the clasp is being applied to heavy goods T.
In applying the clasp to the goods the member B is swung away from the
member A, whilst in its upper position, and the edge of the goods placed between
them, the member B is then pressed down in a plane with the member A, and the
goods clamped between them and but slightly distorted, and in straight lines by
easy folds, around the sides of A, and upon tensional strain being applied to the
goods the member is will by frictional contact therewith be drawn down with the
goods further into the inclined jaws A³ A³, thus causing the goods to be firmly
gripped and held between the interlocking jaws; no different or greater distortion
of the goods occurring during this action than what was initially imparted to
them, although by the wedging action of the member B in the main member A
the tighter will be the grip on the goods the greater the strain they are submitted
to. This feature gives the clasp the functions of a self gripping device.
In the construction of clasps according to this invention the angle of the
inclined gripping jaws will be sufficiently acute to insure that the member B
will remain normally in the inclined jaws of the member A when the clasp is
in use, and the length of the inclined jaws will be such as to give sufficient sliding
movement between them to provide the proper gripping of all classes and thick-
ness of goods any size clasp is designed to be applied to. It will be observed that
all of the strands or fibres of the goods clamped between all parts of the rounded
inclined gripping jaws are subjected to an equal uniform stress to resist any strain
imparted to the goods, and as such strands or fibres are quite numerous the
liability of tearing the goods, even when of the most delicate fabric, is reduced to
a minimum. It will also be observed that these clasps are quite thin and flat,
which is an important feature in such devices when applied to wearing apparel,
and that the distortion of the goods is such as to impart no permanent injury to
them.
All of the different forms of clasps shown in the other views of the drawings
have the general characteristics and perform their functions under the same
principle of operation as the form of clasp before described, and where the parts
of these modifications are of the same construction as the described clasp, then
the same reference letters are used and particular description of such parts will
be unnecessary.
The only differences in construction of the two members A A' A³ and B B¹
of the views, Figures 6, 7 and 8 is that the outside member, made of a single piece
of wire as before, has straight sides converging in right lines from the bar A and
is left open at the lower end, thus imparting resilience to the jaws A A. The
connecting device for holding the two members together comprises two pieces of
wire G G formed with eyes to embrace the side A, with the ends brought together
and seated in the hole formed through the upper end of the member D as clearly
shown at Figure 8. The means of suspension is represented as a piece of
webbing H with its end wrapped around the bar A¹ and held firmly thereto by
a shield 1 of sheet metal.
At Figures 9, 10 and 11, the main member is made of a piece of sheet metal
bent as shown to fonn a closed back J, and rounded edges JJ, partly parallel
and partly inclined, with re-entering grooves between these edges and the back J.
The upper end of this part is folded over to receive the suspending cord D. In
outline this member is similar to the corresponding member of Figure 6. The
sliding block member B is substantially the same as the others, the means for
connecting it to the part J J consisting of the piece of wire K bent into crank
form, located in the hole of the block with its ends arranged to slide in the re-
entering grooves under the rounded edges of the other member, as clearly shown
at Figure 11.
The member A A¹ A³ of wire of Figures 12 and 13 is shown attached to
the supporting webbing L in such manner that the webbing forms a back for the

page_text: Buch
clasp. The webbing passes around the bar A' and is there held by the band of
wire M, as shown at Figures 12 and 13, the lower end of the webbing and the
bottom of the loop of this member are fastened together by stitches, as shown, or
by any other suitable means. A novel feature of construction of the sliding
member is that it is provided with lugs N N at its extreme upper end arranged
to extend beneath the side bars of the other member, and with projecting
corners N' N¹ on its front a little below the lugs N N, and arranged to extend
above the side bars A A. By this construction of the sliding member, which may
be applied to
the
any of
other forms previously described,
member is free to slide and swing in relation to the other member
in the manner before described. Another change in the construction
of this member is that it is made of a piece of sheet metal, bent
over on to itself from its upper end, with its front part N formed as shown and
its rear part formed to pass between the sides of the other member when this
member is located at the upper end of the loop. A piece of material O, as india
rubber of any desired degree of softness, is placed between the back and front of
this member, is held in position by spiked projections forced up from the sheet
metal so as to puncture it, as at 01, and by a part of the front plate № being bent
down and inter-located with the back plate as at 0%. The sides of this piece of
rubber () are shaped to fit the inclined jaws Aª Aª and constitute the gripping
jaws of the sliding member.
Another style of connection for the two members, A A' A and B B is shown
in perspective at Figure 15. In this case the supporting webbing P is passed
around the bar A' and held firmly thereto by a wire band Q, and the free end of
the webbing is attached to the upper edge of the member B by being secured in
a slot formed therein. Between the bar A' and member B, a sufficient length of
the webbing is left to permit the members boing brought together and to slide
in relation to one another as before described. Other ways of fastening the two
members to the webbing may be employed, but the way shown is thought to be
efficient. The sides of this member are straight but inclined, being closer together
at their lower ends than at their upper ends.
All of the corners and edges of all parts of the clasp will be rounded, and sharp
corners and edges that will come in contact with the goods will be particularly
avoided in the construction of the various parts.
One or both of the members of the different styles of clasp may be made spring
acting; this is a normal condition of such members as are made of wire, the solid
members may have this condition imparted to them by being slit longitudinally,
as shown by the dotted lines on the member B of Figure 9. An advantage of
such resilience in the parts of the clasps is that the parts may be fitted so as to
require a little force to bring their gripping jaws in one plane, thereby
initially gripping the goods and insuring the proper travelling of the
movable member with the goods ав before described. The gripping
jaws of the movable member may be scored or roughened, as represented
by the lines in the grooved jaw of member B in Figure 3, to cause more friction
between the goods and the movable member than between the goods and the
suspended member.
In the clasps shown in Figures 16 to 23 the supported member is the inside one
and the moving member the outside one, while in the other clasps shown in
Figures 1 to 16, the outside member is supported and the other or inner member
is movably attached thereto, the direction of inclination of the gripping jaws in
the two cases being reversed.
The suspended or supported member a in Figures 16, 17 and 18 is composed of
india rubber, or other suitable material, is flat and of uniform thickness at all
parts, has its side or edges parallel at the upper part and inclined at the lower
part, said inclined sides a being grooved and converging from the bottom.
edge of the member to where they meet the parallel parts of the sides. Through
the parallel part is transversely formed a slot aª aª and from the upper end of

page_text: this member to this slot are formed two holes through which is passed the sup-
porting cord b, by means of which the clasp is suspended. The other member is
composed of a piece of wire, bent as shown to form a bar c at the lower end, two
inclined sides c¹¹ and a bar c² at its upper end for connection with the member a,
said bar being produced by bending inwardly the ends of the wire so that they
may be entered into the slot a³. The length and width of this outside member is
such that when it occupies its lowest position relative to the suspended member a,
that is, with bar at or near the lower end of the slut a, the inclined sides o' ci
will fit into the grooved inclined sides a a', and when located in its highest
position, with the bar at its upper end of the slot a³, its iuclined sides will clear
the inclined sides a' a' leaving it free to be swung on its bar c³ as a pivot, away
from the member a for the admission of the goods between the two members. The
grooved inclined sides a¹ a¹ of the inner member and the rounded inclined sides c¹ c¹
of the outer member constitute the interlocking inolined gripping jaws of the
device.
After the clasp with the jaws open have been passed over the edge of the piece
of fabric d the outer member c c is pressed down to bring its inclined jaws in a
plane with the inclined jaws a¹ al, and this outer member will, by its freedom to
slide on the inner member and by frictional contact with the fabric, be drawn
down with the fabric, thereby causing the fabric d to be gripped firmly between
the inclined jaws, as shown at Figures 16 and 18, and due to this self gripping
action of the device its holding properties will increase with increased tensional
strain imparted to the fabric.
are
In the modification shown at Figures 19 and 20, the outside members
formed of a piece of sheet metal with their sides bent over to constitute the
rounded inclined gripping jaws e' e' adapted to fit into the grooved inclined
jaws a' a' of the member a, as shown at Figure 20. The connecting device of the
two members consists of a wire fƒ fitting in the slot a² and through ears formed at
sides of the member e at its upper end. The general form and operation of this
outer member e are similar to those of the member el before described, the only
difference being that the member e will be elastic or give on a central vertical line
passing through its flat front while the outside member in the other case will
spring under lateral strains at the lower bar c.
The wire outer member of Figures 16, 17 and 18 is retained in the
modification, shown at Figures 21, 22 and 23, the inner suspended member g has
the same general form as the member a but is made of a piece of sheet metal,
blunked out in the requisite form to be folded at the upper end, and having side
pieces adapted to be bent so as to produce the inclined side grooves g¹ g', the two
parts forming the front and back being seamed together as shown at g³ ³. The
slot for the admission of the upper bar is produced by the space between the
back and front at their upper parts. A slot g' is made in the upper bend and
through this slot is passed the supporting web h, the lower edge of which is
folded or hemmed as shown at Figure 22, to prevent the withdrawal of the
webbing from the member g.
The sides g g are straight, that is they incline inwardly in right lines toward
the upper end of the member. The other forms of clasp here shown may be made
in this way, it not being necessary that the upper part of the inside member shall
have parallel sides, as the clasp performs its functions practically as well when the
whole of the sides incline.
The jaws of the sliding member of this form of clasp may be roughened or
serrated to produce more perfect friction between the fabric and these jaws.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A clasp comprising the combination of two members, one member having
an open face whose sides converge at or towards one end forming gripping

page_text: surfaces, the other member having co-operating gripping surfaces, the said
members being so connected as to have their gripping surfaces located in a
common plane with the fabric clasped between them, one or both of said members
being laterally spring acting to provide for a yielding action between the gripping
jaws of the two members.
2. In a clasp, the combination of an outer member having an open face whose
sides form gripping surfaces and aro inclined convergently from their upper to
their lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the upper end of this
member, an inner member having co-operating gripping surfaces formed to fit
between the inclined gripping surfaces of the outer member, and means for
connecting the two members together.
3. In a clasp, the combination of an outer member having straight interior
gripping jaws formed by its sides inclined convergently from their upper to their
lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the upper end of this
member, an inner member having exterior gripping jaws at its inclined sides
formed to fit between the inclined jaws of the sides of the outer member and
having a hole formed through its upper end, and a wire connection arranged in
said hole, constituting a hinge for said member and formed to slide on the upper
parts of the sides of the outer member.
4. In a clusp, the combination of an outer member made of wire formed with a
bar at its upper end and sides extending therefrom inclined in straight lines
inwardly at their lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the top
bar of this member, an inner flat member having straight inclined grooved sides
constituting with the inclined sides of the outer member the gripping jaws of the
clasp, and means for connecting the two members together.
5. In a clasp, the combination of an outer member made of wire formed with a
bar at its upper end and sides extending therefrom inclined in straight lines
inwardly at their lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the top
bar of this member, an inner flat member having straight inclined grooved sides
constituting with the inclined sides of the outer member the gripping jaws of the
clasp, and a connection between the upper end of the inner member and the sides of
the outer member.
6. In a clasp, the combination of an outer member made of wire formed with
a bar at its upper end and sides extending therefrom inclined inwardly at their
straight lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord, a metal sleeve for connecting
the webbing or cord to the top bar of this member, an inner flat member having
straight inclined grooved sides constituting with the inclined sides of the outer
member the gripping jaws of the clasp, and a wire passed through a lateral hole
formed in the upper end of the inner member and bent to embrace the sides of the
outer member.
7. In a clasp, the combination of an outer member made of wire formed with a
bar at its upper ends and sides extending therofrom inclined inwardly at their
lower parts, which join together in a loop, the bar at the upper end being divided
at its central part thereby affording elasticity to the sides, a supporting webbing
or cord, attached to the top bar of this member, an inner flat member having
inclined grooved sides constituting with the inclined sides of the outer member
the gripping jaws of the clasp, and a connection between the upper end of the
inner member and the sides of the outer member.
8. In a clasp, the combination of an inner member having its sides grooved
and divergently inclined towards its lower end, a supporting webbing or cord
attached to its upper end, the outer member consisting of an open wire loop whose
sides are inclined correspondingly to the inclined sides of the inner member and
means for connecting the two members together.
9. In a clasp, the combination of an inner member having exterior gripping
their upper
surfaces formed by its sides inclined divergently from
lo their lower parts, a supporting wobbing or cord attached to
outer member having interior gripping
upper end of this member, an
the

page_text: surfaces at its sides correspondingly inclined to fit over the inclined jaws
of the sides of the inner member, said inner member having a slot laterally
formed through it at its upper part, and a pin or bar at the upper end of the
outer member arranged to slide in said slot.
10. In a clasp, the combination of an inner member having the sides diver-
gently inclined downwardly and grooved, and a slot formed transversely through
the upper part, a supporting cord or devico attached to the upper end of the inner
member and an outer member formed of a piece of wire with a bar at its lower
end, two inclined sides corresponding to the inclined sides of the inner member
and a bar at its upper end located in the transverse slot of the inner member.
11. In a clasp, the combination of two members one of which is supported and
having exterior gripping surfaces, and the other one having an open face whose
sides form gripping surfaces and attached thereto so as to partly surround it, the
interlocking surfaces of said members being inclined and diverging from their
upper to their lower parts, one or both of the members being spring acting to
provide for yielding between the inclined sides, the said outside member being
free to slide on and swing away from the inner supported member when in its
upper position thereon.
12. In a clasp, the combination of an inner member having exterior gripping
jaws formed by its sides inclined divergently from their upper to their lower
parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the upper end of this member, an
outer member consisting of an open wire loop whose sides are correspondingly
inclined to fit over the inclined jaws of the sides of the inner member, said inner
member having a slot laterally formed through it at its upper part, and a pin or
bar at the upper end of the outer member arranged to slide in said alot, the bar at
the upper end being separated at its central part thereby affording clasticity to
the sides.
1 1.
1
1000