Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
I, RUDOLPH FRIEDRICH CHRISTOF ROLLFINCK of 37, Friedrich Franzstrasse,.
Warnemünde, Mecklenberg-Schwerin Master Baker, 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:-
This invention relates to a lacing fastening with a movable roller which compared
with the lacing fastenings heretofore employed in lace-up shoes, gloves, corsets
and other articles requiring to be laced up possesses the advantages of a simpler
and more convenient mode of fastening, greater usefulness and greater durability.
Particularly shoes, gloves, corsets, and the like provided with this new lacing
fastening have a great hygienic value because no unpleasant pressure is produced
by the uniform and sliding tightening actions of the lace or laces, so that a proper
closure and comfortable fit of the shoe, glove, corset or the like is effected and it
thus obviates the loss of time and the inconvenient operation of fastening and also
the loose fit of the lace or laces.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a lacing fastening attached to a
piece of leather or fabric. Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figure 3 is an
underside view of the same.
Figure 4 is an example of the mode of carrying out this invention applied to a
pair of lace-up shoes which are completely provided with these lacing fastenings,
and which can be tightened by one person.
In the fastenings heretofore known it has been partly necessary that the lace or
laces should be carefully inserted or hooked in, in order, when the fastening parts
are tightened, to produce a proper fastening so that the person that tightens has a
daily, tedious and very inconvenient task, whilst in the case of children a second
person's help is necessary. By pulling the laces in the eyelets or hooks usually
heretofore employed, the laces are continually becoming loose with the consequence
that they often break and the fastenings often break even out of the leather or
other material to which they are attached and the wearer has the unpleasantness
of frequently having to repair or replace the same. Further, in the case of every
new glove, shoe, corset or the like which is provided with the fastenings heretofore
used, it is a very unpleasant feeling when lacing up the same to find that parts of
the body are pressed in to such an extent as to unavoidably cause tightness and
shortness of breath and the wearer can move with comfort in a new glove, shoe or
the like only after the leather or fabric of the same has conformed to the shape of
the respective part of the body after a long time of wearing. Now the present
construction has for its object to almost completely obviate these drawbacks. It
consists essentially of a metallic case a in which is arranged a roller c capable of
rotating on a pin b which is provided at its lower end with screw thread, said roller
serving to receive the lace. The attachment of the fastening to the leather or
fabric d is affected by screwing up a nut e (provided with holes) by means of a
suitable key or pin wrench, whilst in order to prevent the pin b from rotating, it is
formed at its head with a square portion which fits and rests in the cover of the
case.
The lace is then drawn through the space which is formed between the grooved
roller and the side of the case, and is tied in a knot at the requisite length so as to

page_text: prevent the lace from passing out of the roller when drawing off the article. As
soon as the article provided with this fastening is drawn on to the part of the body,
it is laced up at the open lacing-place by a single tightening or pulling of the two
ends of the face, as shewn for example in Figure 4 after which it is then tied into
a loop. To undo the lace the proceeding operation is simply reversed. The
capacity for the article to fit or conform to the body produced by means of the
rollers, appears most strikingly in those cases where a new article has not yet been
worn or fitted on. In such a case as also with articles the motion of the body or
bending always produces folds and creases which can always be made to conform
to the movements of the body by means of the rollers. This was not possible
with the previously known fastenings because the lacing was rigid and thus
pressed upon the respective part of the body. Further, the fastenings can be
applied to many other articles which have to be laced. From the above will
be perceived the advantages of this fastening (mentioned in the commencement of
this description) which has almost completely obviated the heretofore experienced
drawbacks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1.) A lacing fastening for shoes, gloves, corsets, and other articles requiring
to be laced, characterised by the fact that a roller c which is capable of rotating
about a pin b is arranged in a metal frame or case a, whilst the lace serving to
lace up the shoe, glove, corset, or other article passes over the said roller.
(2.) A lacing fastening for shoes, gloves, corsets and other articles requiring to
be laced, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of March 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.