Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Fern House, Solihull Lodge, Holly Wood, near Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 object of my invention is the production of an improved detachable split or
spring ring applicable either as a key ring, or as a hammock ring, as well as for
any purpose requiring, in the device intended to answer it, two points of suspension,
one to which the weight to be carried is to be attached, and the other by which the
ring can be itself suspended with its weight.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same can be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will describe the same in
detail referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken
as part of this specification and read therewith, and in which like parts are marked
throughout the figures with the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation.
Fig. 2 is a side view looking at Fig. 1 from the right hand side.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the ring represented in Fig. 1 opened, as it would appear
looking at it from the left hand side of Fig. 1.
The ring is made by any suitable machinery or process.
The marked strength and tenacity of the wire drawn from the alloy made
according to my patent No 4436, of A.D. 1879, specially adapt it for use in the
manufacture of the rings which are the subject of the present invention, inasmuch
as these qualities enable a split ring of much greater holding power combined with
so simple a construction as is that described and illustrated herewith to be made
from wire so produced, than from wires of the metals in ordinary use e.g., copper,
brass, iron or steel.
At the same time, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the use of wire drawn from the above mentioned alloy, as any suitable
metal may be used.
A ring embodying my invention resembles a figure 8 made of wire, the upper
part of which has received an additional half twist at the point, where the wire is
crossed..
The upper part A is generally made of a smaller diameter than the lower part B,
and both, preferably, circular, as drawn, although the shape may be varied,

page_text: The improved spring ring is made capable of opening and closing by having the
wire cut transversely to its own length at a point a where one part of the wire is
bent round and past the other part.
This break in the continuity of the wire produces a hook b, and the lower
ring B is opened by pressing its opposite sides together and away from each
other.
To close the ring B, the hook 6 is made to engage in the bight formed by the
junction of the upper part or eye A with the uncut side b¹ of the ring B.
It is obvious that the bend given to the wire by forming the hook 6 stiffens the
wire, and enables it to resist the straightening stress to which it would be subjected
by constant use.
The upper part or eye A is used as the means by which the whole invention is
hung from a hook, belt, or other point of suspension, while the larger one is used
for the reception of the main object to be suspended e.g., keys, hammock cords, or
the like.
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
I claim is,
A split or spring metallic ring of one piece of wire bent into the shape,
approximately, of a figure 8 and having the major half twisted for half a.
revolution round the vertical axis of the figure, the wire being cut (i.e., ceasing to
be continuous) transversely at a point close to the bottom of the smaller half,
thereby producing the closing hook of the ring, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying figures.