An Improved Fastening for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Boots and Shoes.
I ELKANAH CHURCH Engineer etc. of Albion Works Beckenham in the County of
Kent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of two parts and is made of brass or steel (the latter is preferable). It
can be easily adapted to any kind of existing lace up boots, in lieu of the ordinary
laces, effecting a great saving of time, and perfect immunity from the annoyance of
breaking laces, yet is very strong and neat in appearance.
Fig. 1 shews the fastenings attached to Boot.
Fig. 2 & 3 the two different parts separately.
Fig. 4 shews the same when closed together.
Fig. 5 represents the mode of attaching same to Boots, B. B. B. B. are ordinary
small size shoe buttons the shanks of which are placed through the eyelet holes
& A. A. A. A. and then a piece of strong wax end or other material is passed through
the eyes C. C. C. C. and fastened at each end and the boot is complete.
ELKANAH CHURCH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Boots and Shoes.
I ELKANAH CHURCH Ironmonger of Albion Works Beckenham in the County of
Kent 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 is intended as a substitute for the use of laces in boots and shoes,
and is made of steel or other metal and is composed of two parts which are shewn in
drawings sent with provisional specification (to which I shall here refer) in
Figs. 1 to 5.
In glancing at Fig. 1. I think it will readily be seen how the fastenings are used.
They are shewn on the boot closed on the foot, Fig. 2 represents one half of the
fastening viz: the tongue F with 2. 3 or 4 holes punched through its centre, which is
turned up at one end through which a wire passes which serves as a pivot on which
the tongue F works making a hinge joint and being formed into an eye at each
end A. A.
It is easily fixed to the boot as shewn in Fig. 5. The other part is shewn
in Fig. 3.
The plate E is made to clip round the edge of the upper of the boot at the one
end, and is attached through holes A. A, the same as Fig. 2. To the plate E is attached
a spring lever catch or hook D.
Fig. 5. is a sectional view of the upper of a boot, B. B. B. B. are ordinary boot
buttons whose shanks or eyes C. C. C. C. are passed through the existing lace holes,
& then a piece of strong wax end, wire or other material is passed through the
eyes C. C. C. C., & fastened at each end, when they are fixed complete & will retain
their position until the boot is worn out, which can be done by any amateur.
To fasten the boot, you have only to pass the tongue F, Fig. 2, over the lever D
Fig. 3, & press it down as shewn in Fig. 4.
The object of having the eyes A. A. made of wire is that they may be pinched
closer or farther apart, to suit the existing holes in the boot.
The object of having the holes in the tongue F. Fig. 2 (which may be either round,
square or oval), is to enable the boot to be closed more or less tightly as required;

page_text: but I do not confine myself to the exact mode of making the fastening as
described above, because that only applys to ready made boots with existing
lace holes.
I claim to be allowed to vary the pattern, and use sheet metal with hinge joints for
new boots, in lieu of the wire, or with or without a hinge joint.
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
: !
IL :::
1st. The introduction of a hinged tongue, with 2 or more holes in it at equal or
varied distances, either round, square, or oval, which forms one part of the improved
fastening, and passes over a spring or lever hook or catch, which when connected,
fastens the 'hoot' or 'shoe at varied distances apart.
2nd. The adaptation of the above combined fastening for application to ordinary
ready made lace up boots & shoes.
3rd. The adaptation of the same to new boots & shoes before any ordinary lace
holes are made, which fastening is attached with either buttons as shewn or with
specially made rivets or eyelets.
4th. The combination of the several parts, & general construction and application
as described and shewn.
Dated this 5th of July 1880
ELKANAH CHURCH.