Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Retaining, Suspending, or Supporting Articles of Wearing Apparel or other articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Retaining, Suspending, or
Supporting Articles of Wearing Apparel or other articles.
I, ALFRED MAY ZIEGLER of 20 Cedar Park, Roxbury District Boston in
the County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer 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 has for its object to improve means or apparatus for retaining,
suspending or supporting articles of wearing apparel or other articles whereby they
are made more convenient and durable.
My improved suspenders have a peculiar buckle composed of preferably a sheet
metal frame provided with a cross-bar toothed at its underside, the body of the
buckle above the cross-bar having a space with an open mouth into and out from
which the side edges of the web may be passed when the buckle is to be shifted on
the suspender web, said frame having at its lower end an upturned hook with which
co-operates a teat preferably semi-spherical in shape, the hook supporting the end
pieces, which engage the front buttons.
Heretofore the end pieces referred to have been made of narrow flat webs having
woven button-holes, and so also cords have been used for the end pieces.
In order to gain the requisite elasticity for the suspender instead of employing
an elastic flat web, I have devised a new end piece composed of a central elastic
core composed of india rubber strands covered with a braided textile covering, the
said elastic core being held under greater or less tension and the strands forming
the covering being presented, during the braiding, or it may be weaving operation,
at a greater or less angle to the centre of the elastic core to thereby bind the core
at some places more closely than at other places, the portions of the core at the
points where the threads are more nearly at right angles to the core, so binding the
core that it cannot, when the core is relieved from tension, expand as can the parts
of the core opposite the points at which the angularity of the covering cords and
the strands of the elastic core are more nearly parallel.
A cord of the class referred to when removed from the machine will present
portions of different diameter and the longitudinal extension of the cord when
subjected to strain is almost wholly derived from the bulged portions, or portions
of greatest diameter.
My invention, therefore, consists in a cord having an elastic core extended
continuously from end to end thereof, and a tubular cover composed of individual
threads interlocked about the core to hug some portions of the same closely to
prevent such portions of the core from resuming their normal or unstretched
condition, and loosely covering other parts of the core to allow of greater diameter
owing to the contraction of the core, thus affording a springy portion, substantially
as will be described.
Also in a cord consisting of a continuous elastic core and a covering therefor,
said covering being bound more snugly around the core at some than at other
parts of its length, whereby the said cord presents elastic and non-elastic sections,
substantially as will be described.
Also in a cord having an elastic core extending continuously from end to end
thereof, and having a covering composed of threads interlaced and binding the core
more snugly at some than at other points, the parts of the cord where the core is
not so closely bound being of larger diameter and possessing greater elasticity than
where the cord is of smaller diameter, substantially as will be described.
Fig. 1 of the drawing represents a pair of suspenders embodying my invention.

page_text: the forward parts of the suspenders at one side being so bent (as to show the buckle
at one side in face view, and at the other side, as will appear, at the inner side of
the suspender: and
Fig. 2 shews the buckle in perspective and on a somewhat larger scale.
The web A is and may be of any usual or suitable material, preferably a non-
elastic web.
The buckles B made adjustable on the front ends of the web are shewn-as
having each a central cross-bar a having a series of downwardly and outwardly
turned teeth to engage the web.
Above the cross-bar a the buckle presents a space with an open mouth out and
into which the web may be led laterally when it is desired to adjust the buckle on
the web, the web being led out from the said space preparatory to adjusting the
buckle, the buckle during its adjustment on the web being tipped over so that the
web has free course through the slot below the cross-bar, the buckle at such time
standing nearly at right angles to the web.
The buckle frame below its lowermost slot referred to, is contracted in width
and bent inwardly and upwardly to form a hook c, which in use will bear against
the outer side of the end of the suspender web.
In Fig. 1, one end of the suspender is represented as broken away to shew the
inturned hook, the other end of the suspender shewing the front face of the web
against which lies or bears the hook of the buckle.
This inturning of the hook avoids wearing the vest lining and enables the hook
to have a suitable surface, such as the web, against which to rest.
I have added to the buckle frame a spring-plate d having a semi-spherical teat d
which is located near the end of the hook and aids in preventing the suspender end,
to be described, from being accidentally removed from the hook, and beside being
semi-spherical, it readily yields to any upward pulling upon the suspender and in
order that the end may be removed from the hook when it is desired to undo the
suspenders.
The end pieces are of novel construction and possess great utility, they are
composed of a suitable core of india-rubber or equivalent threads or strands, as
shewn at e where the outer covering is broken away.
In the manufacture of my improved end pieces, I take several strands of india-
rubber and stretch them in a suitable braiding machine having suitable carriers,
and I braid about such strands forming the elastic core, a tubular covering, and at
certain portions in the length of the core I present the covering threads at, say
substantially, a right angle to the centre line of the elastic core, and at other
portions of the core I present the covering threads to the elastic core at an angle
less than a right angle.
As a result of this difference in presentation of the covering threads which are
formed into the tubular covering the portions of the core where the angle of
presentation is of the covering threads with relation to the core is greater, results in
binding the core more firmly, whereas at those portions of the cord where the
covering threads are at a less angle, the covering produced is less firm and is free to
expand or be stretched from its inside outwardly by the elastic core after the
latter, having been released from its tension is permitted to resume its natural
condition.
A cord produced in the manner described when removed from the machine
presents portions, as f, of one diameter, and portions, as f', of a larger diameter,
the portions being suitable to be engaged with a hook e or other suitable support
therefor attached to or forming part of the suspender and also for being, bent up
to form button-engaging loops, the ends of the cord so bent up being preferably
confined in loop form by a suitable metallic clasp, as f
This cord made into the end pieces when subjected to strain, stretches chiefly at
its points of greatest diameter, as at f'.
The amount or extent to which the end pieces may stretch may, it will be
obvious, be limited by putting into the mass of elastic or india-rubber threads

page_text: forming the elastic core, a strong fibrous thread which will arrest the stretching at
a certain predetermined point.
It is obvious that this elastic cord may be used in connection with other personal
wearing apparel than suspenders and be productive of great advantage.
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 :-
:-
In means or apparatus for retaining suspending or supporting articles of wearing
apparel or other articles:
1. The herein described buckle composed of a metallic frame provided with a
cross-bar having teeth at its underside, the frame of the buckle above the cross-bar
having a space with an open mouth into and out from which the web may be passed
when the buckle is to be shifted, the said frame having at its lower end an upturned
hook adapted to support a suitable end piece having button engaging loops,
substantially as described.
2. The herein described buckle composed of a metallic frame provided with a
cross-bar having teeth at its underside, the frame of the buckle above the cross-bar
having a web-receiving space, said frame having at its lower end an upturned hook
adapted to support a suitable end piece having button-engaging loops, and also
provided with a yielding semi-spherical teat, substantially as described.
3. The herein described end piece consisting of an elastic core having a braided
covering capable of expansion at some portions more than at others, the end piece
yielding at those portions where the covering is capable of expanding the most,
substantially as described.
4. The herein described elastic cord consisting of a central elastic core having a
tubular braided jacket, part of which is applied to the core during manufacture of
the cord in such manner as to restrict the expansive diameter of the core at some
points, and at other points to permit greater expansiveness, as and for the purposes
set forth.
5. The herein described elastic cord, consisting of a cord having an elastic core
extended continuously from end to end thereof, and a tubular cover composed of
individual threads interlocked about the core to hug some portions of the same
closely to prevent such portions of the core from resuming their normal or
unstretched condition, and loosely covering other parts of the core to allow of
greater diameter owing to the contraction of the core, thus affording a springy
portion, substantially as described.
6. The herein described elastic cord, consisting of a continuous elastic core and
a covering therefor, said covering being bound more snugly around the core at
some than at other parts of its length, whereby the said cord presents elastic and
non-elastic sections, substantially as described.
7. The herein described elastic cord, having an elastic core extending continuously
from end to end thereof, and having a covering composed of threads interlaced and
binding the core more snugly at some than at other points, the parts of the cord
where the core is not so closely bound being of larger diameter and possessing greater
elasticity than where the cord is of smaller diameter, substantially as described.
8. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus as and
for the purposes set forth.
soit
N
1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.