Improvements connected with Laces for Boots and other Articles of Wear.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Laces for Boots and other Articles of
Wear.
I, OTTO DANIEL DROOP, of 22, Roseraie, Geneva, Switzerland, Machinery
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In order to facilitate the lacing of boots and other articles of wear and to avoid
the present inconveniences connected with the lacing of same I provide one or both
ends of the lace with a sliding socket shaped knob formed outwardly of ball,
The interior of the knob is formed
acorn, pear or other shape according to taste.
of two or more diameters, one being of a size for the lace with its metal tag to
pass just easily through, the next outer one of a size to take a knot tied on the
lace, and the next, if any, of a still larger diameter and of a dished form. The
application and use of these knobs for boot laces is as follows.
A new lace with
its metal end tags is first passed through all the lace holes and I then pass each
metal end tag through the small interior end of a knob of the kind described and
pull the tag ends through as far as possible. A knot is now tied at each pro-
truding end of the lace at the desired shortening point, which knot on pulling
back the knob enters its wider interior part but is retained from sliding further
by the shoulder at the narrower interior part. Each end of the lace is now cut
off about flush with the large end of its knob, the metal tags not being wanted
any more, especially as regards boots provided with lace hooks on their upper
parts. The lace is shortened so as to keep the knobs a little above the floor when
hanging down after the first half knot has been formed: so that loose lace ends
will not be visible below the trousers, not touch the ground or be trodden_on,
while the knobs if hanging down will caution the wearer at every step. They
prevent the sliding back through the lace holes as well as through the loops or
bows of the lace ends, and also the disagreeable knotting or tangling of loops, to
prevent all of which the otherwise inconvenient excess of length of lace is never
sufficient. The knobs form a convenient means for taking hold of and tighten-
ing the laces and for tying and untying the loops properly and quickly without
the aid of the eye. Where the lacing is done with only one end of the lace, I use
a sliding knob for the lacing end only of the lace while the other end of the lace
is provided with a fixed knob instead of the usual metal tag end.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Laces for Boots and other Articles of
Wear.
I, OTTO DANIEL DROOP, of 22, Roseraie, Geneva, Switzerland, Machinery
Merchant, 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 :-
In order to facilitate the lacing of boots and other articles of wear and to avoid
inconveniences connected with the lacing of same provide one or both ends of
an elastic or other lace with a sliding socket shaped knob, formed outwardly of
ball, acorn pear or other shape according to taste. The interior of the knob is
formed of two or more diameters, one being of a size for the lace with its metal
tag to pass just easily through the next outer one of a size to take a knot tied
on the lace, and the next, if any, of a still larger diameter and of a dished form.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views drawn to an enlarged scale of three different
forms of knob or bead as regards the internal arrangement, but the outward
shape is generally not material and may be greatly varied according to taste.
In Fig. 1 the narrow passage or space A is just wide enough to take the lace
and the tag, while the wider space Ċ with shoulder B contains the knot formed
on the lace, which is efficiently retained in place by the shoulder B; the widest
dish shaped space 1 covers the end of the lace and admits of the easy withdrawal
of the same for reshortening the lace whenever it should be found too long;
and this is an essential feature of my invention and offers a great advantage.
In Fig. 2 the space D is omitted, and the lace can be seized by taking hold of
the loop left to protrude as shown.
In Fig. 3 the space C is omitted and the lace can be withdrawn by taking hold
of the knot or the end of the lace.
The application and use of these knobs for boot laces is as follows. A new lace
with its metal end tag is first passed through all the lace holes, and I then pass
the metal tag end through the small interior end A of a knob of the kind
described and pull the tag end through as far as possible. A knot preferably
formed with a loop as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is now tied at each protruding end
at the desired shortening point which knot on pulling back the knob enters its
wider interior part C or D but is retained from sliding further by the shoulder B
at the narrow interior part A. Each end of the lace beyond the knob is cut off
together with the metal tags which are not wanted any more, especially as regards
boots provided with lace hooks on their upper parts. The lace is shortened so as
to keep the knobs a little above the floor when hanging down after the first half
knot has been formed, so that loose lace ends will not be visible below the trousers,
and not touch the ground or be trodden on while the knobs if hanging down will
caution the wearer at every step. The knobs prevent the present occasional
sliding back through the lace holes as well as through the loops or bows of the
lace ends and also the disagreeable knotting or tangling of loops, to prevent all of
which the otherwise inconvenient excess of length of lace is never sufficient.
The knobs form a convenient means for taking hold of and tightening the laces
and for fastening the ends properly and quickly without the aid of the eye.
Where the lacing is done with only one end of the lace I use a sliding knob of
the kind described for the lacing end only of the lace while the other end of the
lace is or may be provided with a fixed knob instead of the usual tag end. The
laces used in this invention may be the ordinary leather or woven ones but I
find it generally more advantageous to use elastic laces provided with the knobs

page_text: described whereby I obtain the advantage that no tying is necessary, as the knob
ends of the lace may be simply slung or twisted once around each other between
a pair of lace hooks, the pull of the elastic lace and the retention of the knob end
thus effecting an easy and secure fastening which allows of a prompt and easy
undoing.
Fig. 4 shows such an arrangement applied to an elastic or an inelastic lace. Or
the ends of the knobs may when applied to an elastic lace be left to rest against
the lace hooks, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, where the pull of the lace will keep
them in position.
As regards Fig. 4 the inelastic lace may be left long enough to be tied into a
knot with or without a bow as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 when as aforesaid the
knobs will prevent the slipping through of the lace ends.
Thus with elastic or inelastic laces the sliding or movable knobs allow of
shortening the laces while the treading on them is obviated, and the usual tying
into knots or bows and untying the same is done away with. They also present
a neat appearance greatly superior to the present unsightly knots and bows.
The invention is applicable to boot laces made elastic only near their end parts.
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. The application and use in connection with elastic and other laces for boots
and other articles of wear of movable sliding or adjustable knobs or beads for
retaining said knobs against or between the lace hooks, thus admitting of quick
and easy fastening and unfastening and of convenient adjustment of the tightness
of the lace, substantially as set forth.
2. The construction of knob as and for the purpose described and shown.
under fourth day of August 1898.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.