IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR SOLITAIRES, STUDS, SLEEVE LINKS, BOOTS, BAGS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin Edward Halford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1878.
BENJAMIN EDWARD HALFORD, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford,
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR SOLITAIRES, STUDS, SLEEVE LINKS,
BOOTS, BAGS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention consists, first, of a solitaire, sleeve link, or other like fastening, the
parts of which are constructed and arranged in the following manner:-I make, in
the middle of the back of the shell or front part of the solitaire, a series of two or
more corrugations and two or more perforations, a corrugation alternating with a
perforation, the said corrugations and perforations radiating from a central opening
or depression of a size proper for receiving the stem on the back part of the solitaire.
On the end of the stem of the back part a series of two or more short radial arms
or studs is made, corresponding in size and position with the corrugations and per-
forations made in the back of the front part or shell.
The short radial arms or studs on the stem being presented to the perforations in
the front or shell of the solitaire, the said stem is passed into the said perforations
and turned through a small angle. By the turning of the stem its arms or studs
are brought opposite the corrugations. A spring in the shell presses upon the radial
arms or studs on the stem, and forces the said arins or studs into the corrugations,
and holds them firmly therein.
By means of stops or flanges on the sides of the corrugations the motion of the
studs is limited. To release the two parts of the fastening the back or stem part is
turned in the reverse direction to that by which it was fastened to the front part.
When so turned its arms or studs are lifted out of the corrugations, pushing back
the holding spring, and when the said arms have been brought opposite the perfo-
rations the said arms are withdrawn from them, and the two parts of the solitaire
are disconnected from one another.
Instead of using a spring in the shell or front part of the solitaire to hold the

page_text: radial arms or studs in the corrugations a spring rod may be made to work in a
tubular stem of the back part. The spring of the spring rod is compressed by the
introduction of the radial arms on the stem into the perforations in the shell, and
when the stem is turned through the required handle to lock the two parts of the
solitaire, the said spring rod forces the stem outwards, and causes its arms to snap
into the corrugations.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in those kinds of
solitaires or sleeve links, and other like fastenings, in which the stem of the back
part is gripped between two gripping plates in the shell of the front part, the said
gripping plates being pressed into their gripping position by a spring or springs
acting on the said gripping plates.
According to this part of my Invention I make the opening in the meeting edges
of the two gripping plates, between which the stem of the back part is gripped, of
an elliptical figure, and I make that part of the stem immediately under the head,
also, of an elliptical figure in cross section. When the stem of the back part is intro-
duced into the front part containing the gripping plates, the head presses back or
opens the said gripping plates, and when the head has passed the said plates they
close upon the elliptical part of the stem, and thereby securely fasten the two parts
of the solitaire together.
To separate the two parts of the solitaire the stem is turned so as to cause the
elliptical part, under the head, to cross the shorter diameter of the elliptical opening
between the gripping plates. The longer sides of the said clliptical part of the
stem act as short arms, and by pressing upon the gripping plates cause them to
open or separate to a distance sufficient for the withdrawal of the head of the stem
from between them. After the withdrawal of the head the gripping plates again
close upon one another by the elasticity of their spring or springs.
The gripping plates described may be variously constructed. They may consist
of two semicircular plates pressed togeeher by a circular wire spring around their
circumference, or by coiled springs placed in slots in the said plates. Or they may
consist of two oblong plates pressed together by V shaped wire springs acting upon
the onds of the plates, the projecting middle parts of the said wire springs serving
as pushers for releasing when required the stem from between the two gripping
plates. Or the gripping plates may be acted upon by sheet metal pushers, the
pushers and gripping plates being connected together by wire springs.
This last modification may be used with an ordinary stem, the releasing of
the gripping plates in that case being effected by pressure upon the pushers.
My Invention consists further of the following inprovements in fastenings, in
which two spring tops or detachable heads, or fixed heads are used.
I make the coupling bar or link of the two spring tops or detachable heads either
of a single rigid or hinged, or linked bar, or of a double rigid or jointed or linked
bar. At the end of cach coupling bar is a stem at right angles to the said bar, and
at the summit of each stem is a stud or neck for engaging with the spring top or
head of the fastening, the said spring top or heads being constructed by preference
in the manner herein-before described with respect to solitaires.
Instead of making the two tops or heads of the fastening detachable from the
coupling bar or link the said tops or heads may be carried on the ends of a spring
plate, which is jointed or connected at its middle to the middle of the coupling bar
in such a manner that the spring plate carrying the said tops or heads may be
turned so as either to cross the coupling bar at right angles, or be brought parallel
to it.
On the ends of the coupling bar are slots or hooks, and on the ends of the spring
plate are studs, and when the spring plate, after the coupling bar has been passed
through the cuff or wristband, is brought parallel to the coupling bar, the said
studs on the spring plate snap into or engage with the slots or hooks in the ends of
the coupling bar, and the spring plate and coupling bar are fastened together. Or
loops may be made on the ends of the spring plate, which are made to engage

page_text: with hooks at the ends of the coupling bar. Or the loops may be made on the
ends of the coupling bar, and the parts for engaging with the loops on the ends of
the spring plate carrying the tops or heads.
The spring plate described may be dispensed with, and the two tops or heads
may be connected together by a link, to which the coupling bar is jointed, the ends
of the coupling bar being made to engage with slots made at the middle of the tops
or heads of the compound link.