Improvements in Belt Fasteners.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
Improvements in Belt Fasteners.
I, JOHN MILTON CAVINS, of No. 608, Fullerton Buildings, St. Louis, Missouri,
U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 has relation to improvements in belt fasteners, and consists
in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fully set forth in the
specification and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a belt showing
my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof; Fig. 3 is an end
view of the fastener showing the belt, however, in section; Fig. 4 is an end
view of one of the leaves detached; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,
showing however the complete hinge, with the addition of the hinge pin; Fig. (
is a perspective of the hinge-pin, detached; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a
modified form of fastener, showing the leaves in position for coupling; and Fig. S
is a top plan of the same coupled together.
The object of my invention is to construct a belt fastener which will effect a
hinged connection between the adjacent ends of the belt fastened or coupled
thereby; one which will permit the ready coupling or uncoupling of said ends;.
one which will ensure a maximum resistance to tensile strain to which the belt
may be subjected; one which produces a minimum degree of stiffness on either
side of the hinge line; and one possessing further and other advantages more
apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows:
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 repre-
sents either leaf or section of the hinge, by which the connection between the
ends of the belt is effected, said leaf being formed of a single piece of metal
folded or bent against itself, the free edges of the folded members or walls being
flush with one another. Disposed along the edge of the inner member, or that
which comes in direct contact with the belt 2, are a series of arms or prongs 3,
integral with the said member, and deflected substantially at right angles thereto,
said arms serving to secure said member to the belt. Projecting from the free
edge of the outer folded member of the leaf, and disposed immediately over the
arms 3, are a second series of securing arms 4, the bases 4¹ of which serve to
remove the arms 4 proper, from the arm 3, a distance equal substantially to the
thickness of the belt, the arms 3 being themselves removed from the hinge line
a distance equal to the thickness of the belt. The distance between the outer
end of the leaf and the center of the adjacent or terminal prong is equal to
one-half the distance between the centers of any two successive prongs, these
distances serving to distribute the strain on the hinge to best advantage.
The edge along which the metal or original sheet is folded, is formed into a
loop 5 the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the thickness of the
belt, this arrangement permitting perfect freedom of deflection of the belt on

page_text: either side of the hinge line, as the belt passes around the pulley. The loop 5
is recessed, at intervals, the recesses of one leaf receiving the solid portions remain-
ing on either side of the recesses, of the other leaf, so that when the two leaves
are assembled the metal will be continuous along the hinge line. The loops 5
are bent inwardly, so as to come entirely between the opposite ends of the belt,
the ends of the belt each, abutting against the adjacent wall of the loop of its
respective leaf. When the leaves are assembled in the manner indicated, a
hinge pin 6 is inserted into the common opening of the loops, the pin being
preferably formed of a single piece of wire of sufficient length and substantially
semi-cylindrical in cross-section, doubled upon itself along its plane or flat face,
whereby when the pin is completed, it will be practically cylindrical.
The
spring or resiliency of the arms of the bent pin ensure its remaining in place
within its housing, but as .a, further precaution, against the working out of said
pin, I form a slight node or swell 6 along one of the arms thereof, said node
ensuring sufficient frictional contact for the purpose of retaining the pin in
place under ordinary circumstances.
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'
While the fastening, prongs 3. and 4 are herein shown as superposed, that is
one prong 4 being directly over its corresponding inner prong 3, it is obvious
that they may alternate or break joint" with one another; but the arrange
ment here shown is the preferred one, from a standpoint of economy. After
the prongs 3, 4 have been inserted into the material of the belt, the projecting
ends are bent against the belt in a direction toward the hinge line as best seen
in Fig. 3. The present construction of hinge is economical, and durable; and
when the respective sections are assembled, they form a hinge which is pliable,
permitting the belt to pass over the pulley with a minimum degree of stiffness.
In the construction, as above described, the two leaves are coupled by means
of the hinge pin 6. In the modifications shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pin is
omitted, the coupling being effected by enlarging the recess of the outer or
exposed wall of one leaf so as to form basal supporting shoulders 20 in the hinge-
loop 5. The solid portions or arms of the hinge-loop of the other leaf are
recessed inwardly forming corresponding shoulders 20 which engage the
shoulders 20 when the parts are coupled. In assembling the two leaves, the
second is held at an angle to the first to enable the enlarged ends of the arms
thereof to freely enter the recesses of the first leaf. Then by swinging the leaves
to substantially the position the parts will occupy normally, they will be per-
manently coupled, as seen best in Fig. 8.
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:-
1. As an article of manufacture, a belt-fastener comprising two leaves or
sections, each composed of a single piece of metal folded or doubled against
itself, the free edges of the folded members being substantially even
or flush
with one another, a series of securing arms or prongs deflected from the edge
of the member immediately in contact with the belt, a series of securing arms
formed integrally with the upper or exposed member, the bases of said armis
being extended outwardly beyond the edge of said member, a loop formed along
the line of the fold and turned wholly below the plane of the exposed member
of the folded section, the diameter of the loop corresponding approximately to
the thickness of the belt, the loops of the respective sections being recessed whereby
they may be coupled, and a hinge pin inserted into said loops, substantially as
set forth.
2. As an article of manufacture, a belt-fastener comprising two leaves or
sections, each composed of a single piece of metal folded or doubled against
itself, the free edges of the folded members being substantially even or flush
with one another, a series of securing arms or prongs deflected from the edge
of the member immediately in contact with the belt, a series of securing arms

page_text: formed integrally with the upper or exposed member, the bases of said arms
being extended outwardly beyond the edge of said member, a loop formed along
the line of the fold of each leaf or section, the loops of the respective sections
being recessed whereby they may be coupled pivotally together, substantially
as set forth.
Tad this Olot day of Navamhar 1900
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.