Improvements in Fastening Devices for Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastening Devices for Wearing Apparel.
I, JOSEPH THEODORE ROBIN, of 6, East 32nd Street, in the Borough of Man-
hattan, City, County and State of New York, United States of America Manu-
facturer, 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:-
My invention relates to a device for securing together opposite portions of an
article of wearing apparel, as, for example, the opposite portions of a corset.
I will describe a fastening device embodying my invention and then point out
the novel features thereof in a claim.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front view of a fastening device
embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of the parts of the device
shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view partly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail
sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional
view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are drawn to a larger
scale than Figs. 1 and 2.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.
A and B represents two parts of the fastening device which are secured to the
opposite edge portions of an opening in an article of wearing apparel. The
part A is provided with a series of hooks a which engage with a series of eyes b
carried by the part B. The hooks are each provided with a convex surface a¹.
These surfaces permit when the hooks are in proper position, of the eyes b
engaged with the hooks, riding over these surfaces and becoming easily dis-
engaged from the hooks. The openings in the eyes have a contracted part 61
in which the hooks rest when the parts A and B are fastened together.
In practice when the parts A and B are fastened or are to be fastened, the
hooks a are in the position shown in Fig. 1, but when these parts are to be
unfastened or disengaged, the hooks are rotated a half circle. The rotation of
the hooks brings them in such a position that the convex surfaces a will be
presented to the eyes 6, thus permitting the parts being disengaged.
The part A comprises two superimposed strips a², a³, one of which, as, for
instance, a², is adapted to have a longitudinal movement. This longitudinal
movement of the strip af is adapted to produce the rotation of the hooks a
and this is accomplished by the following means: Each hook a is provided with
a shank or stud a which projects through an opening provided for it in the
strip A gear a is rigidly fixed to the shank or stud and the gear is
engaged by a rack a carried by the strip a². The gears work in elongated
openings provided in the strip a², and on one side of each opening teeth are
formed which may constitute the racks a. Each gear is preferably fixed to
its shank or stud by riveting, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This is accom-
plished by providing each gear with a central opening through which a reduced
portion of the shank passes, and then upsetting the end of the shank. The

page_text: upper face of the gear bears against a shoulder on the shank in order that the
rivet may be made. Each gear is also provided with a flange as which extends
beyond the edges of the elongated openings provided in the strip a². In practice,
I prefer to have each flange integral with its gear. This may be accomplished
by stamping them from metal of the required thickness. These flanges in
conjunction with the shoulders a on the hooks, serve to hold the strips a
and a³ together. These flanges, also in conjunction with that part of each shank
or stud which passes through its opening in the strip as prevent relative
transverse movement of the two strips.
The several gears are provided with teeth only on a portion of their peripheries,
and the purpose of this is that the hooks will only be rotated a half circle or
given a half turn. The other portions of the gears are plain and may bear
against the plain edges of the elongated openings, the said openings being of
such a width as to permit of this. The ends of the openings are also plain and
rounded in order that the gears may fit in these ends at the limits of their
movements. In practice, when the parts A and B are in engagement, there
is a lateral strain exerted on them: This strain produces enough friction between
the several parts to prevent the hooks from being accidentally rotated.
The operation of the device, briefly stated, is as follows: When it is desired to
fasten the opposite portions of the garment, the hooks are turned to the position
shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the eyes engaged with them in the usual
manner. When it is desired to unfasten the opposite portions, the strip a² is
moved longitudinally, which movement causes the hooks to turn or reverse their
position (as shown in Fig. 5) to present the convex surfaces a¹ to the eyes, thus
enabling the parts A, B and the opposite portions to separate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is:-
1. In a fastening device, the combination of the parts A and B, said part B
being provided with eyes, and said part A comprising the superimposed
strips a, a, one of which is adapted to have movement longitudinally of the
other; said part A carrying hooks each of which is provided with a shank to
which a gear is riveted, and said part A also carrying racks which are in
engagement with said gears.
2. In a fastening device, the combination of the parts A and B, said part A
being provided with hooks, each of which is provided with a shoulder and a
Hanged gear, which is adapted to be rotated, and said part B being provided with
eyes which engage with said hooks; said part A comprising superimposed strips
which are held together and prevented from having relative transverse movement
by the shoulder on the hooks and the flanges on the gears.
3. In a fastening device, the combination of the parts A and B, said part B
being provided with eyes and said part A carrying hooks and comprising the
superimposed strips a, a³, one of which is adapted to have movement longi-
tudinally of the other; said hooks being each provided with a gear, one-half
of whose periphery is provided with teeth, while the other half is plain, and
said strip being provided with openings to receive said gears, one edge of one
side of each opening being provided with a rack which is in engagement with
the teeth on its gear while the edge of the other side of the opening serves as
a bearing for the plain portion of its gear, during its rotary movement.
4. In a
fastening device, the combination of the parts A and B, said part B
being provided with eyes and said part A carrying hooks and comprising the
superimposed strips a, a³, one of which is adapted to have movement longi-
tudinally of the other, said hooks being each provided with a gear, and said
strip a² being provided with elongated openings to receive said gears, and being
of such a length as to have their ends limit the gears in their rotary movements,
one edge of one side of each opening being provided with a rack which is in

page_text: engagement with its gear, while the edge of the other side of the opening serves
as a bearing for the gear during its rotary movement.
5. In a fastening device, the combination of the parts A and B, said part B
being provided with eyes b, and said part A carrying hooks and comprising the
superimposed strips a, a, one of which is adapted to have movement longi-
tudinally of the other; said hooks being each provided with a gear having
teeth on its periphery, and said strip a² being provided with racks which are in
engagement with the teeth of the gears, whereby when the racks are moved
rotary movement will be given the hooks.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the. Applicant.