AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE ENDS OF STRAPS AND BELTS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Murray, of Loman Street, South-
wark, in the County of Surrey, Machinist, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED DEVICE FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE ENDS OF STRAPS AND
BELTS."
Sealed the 18th December 1868, and dated the 20th June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Murray
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th June 1868.
I, CHARLES HENRY MURRAY, of Loman Street, Southwark, in the
County of Surrey, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE ENDS OF
STRAPS AND BELTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a novel method of fastening together the
ends of machine driving straps or belts, and is applicable to straps or
belts of any desired size or strength, whether the same are made of
leather, india-rubber, or any other material ordinarily employed for
the purpose.

page_text: The said Invention consists chiefly in the combination of a slotted
piece or frame with a wedge, the two ends of the strap being inserted
into the aperture in the said piece, and the wedge. being placed
between the said two ends in such a manner that the greater the
strain tending to separate them the more firmly the wedge will bind
and secure them.
The slotted piece or frame may be made of steel, iron, or other
suitable metal, and of convenient length and width to suit the
dimensions of the strap or band whereon it is used. The two ends of
the strap are inserted through the said piece, both in the same direction,
instead of in opposite directions as in an ordinary buckle. These ends
are left projecting a short distance beyond the frame at the outside of
the strap, and no projection is formed on the inner surface of the
latter, as in the fastenings ordinarily employed on such straps or
bands. The wedge is then inserted between these two projecting ends,
and as the strap or band is tightened it is drawn inward with the two
ends, wedging and binding them tightly and securely against the sides
of the slotted aperture in the piece. These sides are preferably curved
or rounded, so that the strap or band is not exposed to any sharp or
square edges, and will adapt itself more easily to pulleys of small
diameter. The wedge, which is formed of iron, steel, or other suitable
metal, should extend the entire length of the aperture or slot in the
frame, and may be of about the same depth as the sides of the said
frame. The wedge is preferably formed with a head or ridge, which
compresses the ends of the strap against the edges of the frame, or
with a series of teeth or projections, which are forced into the
leather or other material and prevent any possibility of the accidental
removal of the wedge when the strap or band is slackened.
In some cases it may be desirable to use a cover or shield to
protect the projecting ends of the strap or band. This shield may be
made to clip or lap over the sides of the slotted picce or frame, its
edges being formed to fit into grooves in the sides of the said frame.
If desired, screws may be used to give greater security to the ends
of the band and to strengthen the slotted piece, such screws being
passed through the said ends and through the shield and frame.
screw passed through the shield or cover forms a convenient stop for
the wedge, and allows the same a little play, so that the strap or
band may be readily released and shortened without removing the
A

page_text: wedge, which adjusts itsself to bind the ends of the said strap as the
same is again drawn tight. This self-adjustment of the wedge may
also be effected by means of a pin fixed in the frame and passing
through a long aperture or slot formed endwise through the said
wedge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Murray in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HENRY MURRAY, of Loman Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Henry Murray, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Henry Murray, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Murray, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
DEVICE FOR UNITING AND SECURING THE ENDS OF STRAPS AND BELTS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Henry
Murray, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Henry Murray, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by

page_text: the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings forming a part of this Specification:—
My Invention relates to a novel method of fastening together the
ends of machine driving straps or belts, and is applicable to straps or
belts of any desired size or strength, whether the same are made of
leather, india-rubber,. or any other material ordinarily employed for
the purpose.
The said Invention consists chiefly in the combination of a slotted
piece or frame with a wedge, the two ends of the strap being inserted
into the aperture in the said piece, and the wedge being placed between 1
the said two ends in such a manner that the greater the strain tending
to separate them the more firmly the wedge will bind and secure

page_text: length of the aperture or slot d in the frame a, and may be of about the
same depth as the sides of the said frame. The wedge c is preferably
formed with a head or ridge c', which compresses the ends of the strap
against the edges g of the frame a, which edges may also be slightly
curved or rounded. The head c¹ is formed with a series of teeth or
projections con each side, which when the ends of the strap aro
drawn inward are forced into the leather or other material, and prevent
any possibility of the accidental removal of the wedge c when the
strap or band is slackened. For wide straps or bands, and for such as
are exposed to severe strains in working, I prefer to construct the piece a
with an intermediate rib or a number of such ribs to strengthen the
sides of the said piece. The ends of the strap or band are slit to pass
over these ribs, and the wedge c is also formed with a recess c³ for
the same purpose.
guard or shield to
This shield may be
piece or frame a, its
In some cases it may be desirable to use a
cover the projecting ends of the strap or band.
made to clip or lap over the sides of the slotted
edges being formed to fit into grooves in the sides of the said frame.
If desired screws may be used to give greater security to the ends of the
band and to strengthen the slotted piece, such screws being passed
through the said ends' and through the shield and frame. A screw
passed through the shield or cover forms a convenient stop for the wedge,
and allows it a little play, so that the strap or band may be readily
released and shortened without removing the wedge, which adjusts itself
to bind the ends of the said strap as the same is again drawn tight. This
self-adjustment of the wedge may also be ensured by means of a pin
fixed in the frame and passing through a long aperture or slot formed
endwise through the said wedge.
My improved device may be advantageously used for single or double
leather straps or bands and for india-rubber belting, and may be also
adapted to round belts or gut by a slight modification in the form
of the frame and wedge. As there are no projections on the inner
surface of the strap, band, or belt, I avoid the unevenness in working
which is caused by laces, rivets, or otherwise with such fastenings as
have hitherto been ordinarily used; the durability of such straps or
belts will therefore be greatly increased. A great saving of time is also
effected by the use of my fastening in factories where many straps or
belts are used, as in case of the breaking of a strap the insertion of the

page_text: two ends into the frame a and the securing of the same by the wedge c
may be effected immediately by any workman without any tools or
implements, and without the delay and inconvenience arising from the
necessity of lacing or rivetting the ends together. So long as the strain
is upon the band or strap it will be impossible to remove the wedge or
withdraw the ends of the strap from the frame; but if the strap is
removed from the pulley to be tightened or "taken up" the frame may
be pushed farther over the said strap, and the wedge being then quite
loose between the two ends of the strap is free to follow the frame, and
will adjust itself to secure the strap as soon as the same is again placed
upon its pulleys.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, I wish it understood
that I claim, the frame a and the toothed wedge c constructed and
combined together and with the ends of a strap, band, or belt,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Murray, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight:
CHARLES HENRI MUKKAY. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.