Year: 1886

page_text: We, CYRIL ADIN SMITH and ROBERT PERRY MARBLE, Merchants, doing business
in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and residents of the said town of Attleboro in the
County of Bristol, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention has relation to braces or suspenders; and consists in the novel
construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a back view of a pair of suspenders constructed according to our
invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective front view of a portion of the back of the suspenders,
showing the improved manner of joining and fastening the elastic webs; it also
shows the connecting chain or cord, and the spring button fastener.
Figure 3 is a perspective front view of one of the front ends of the suspenders,
showing the buckle; cast off; chain or cord, and the spring button fastener.
Figure 4 is a view showing the suspenders in position on the figure.
Figure 5 is a view showing the manner of making the buckle and cord holder.
when we use cords instead of chains.
A A are the two elastic webs, which, instead of being permanently fastened
together at the back in the usual way, either by being sewed, or rivetted, are
crossed diagonally near their ends, and fastened by means of the specially designed
buckle B. This buckle has its lower part formed by a flap b, rolled tightly over a
wire b', having at each of its ends an eye 6* to which are attached the con-
necting chains or cords C, having fastened at their lower ends the spring button
fasteners D.
One of the main features of our invention, and wherein it essentially differs from
all other suspenders consists in crossing the webs A diagonally near their ends at
the back, and fastening them together by means of the buckle B, in such a manner,
that, in a moment's time, and without any appliances, they may be taken out and
replaced by others which cannot be done if the webs are sewed or rivetted together
in the old fashioned way.
By crossing the ends of the webs more or less diagonally, in the buckle, the
suspenders will set high or low, on the shoulder, as may be desired; and by
occasionally changing the position of the buckle, the webs will last until completely
worn out, and may then be replaced by new ones.
The metal trimmings, being specially designed for durability, will last for years.
The chain C and button loops D are made of solid nickel wire, and will neither
rust nor corrode. The webbings, as they wear out, may either be replaced by new
ones, or by webbings from ordinary suspenders, that have given out in some part
of the trimmings, and would be otherwise useless,

page_text: .
The other feature of our invention consists in the novel construction of the
spring button-fastener D. It is a double loop, formed from one piece of wire
having its free ends crossed diagonally where they pass through the ring g, the
ends terminating in the balls h. The large loop E is connected by the narrow
neck with the small loop i. The loop being made of smooth round wire, will not
in any way injure the button or its attachment.
As may be seen by the drawings, when the button is passed through the large
loop E, it will bring up at the narrow neck f. A slight pull or strain on the chain
or cord C will then cause the ring g to slide toward the balls h; this will spring the
loop open at the narrow neck f, and the button will slip into the small loop i. The
loop will at once spring back into position at f, thus firmly securing it to the button
so that it cannot unfasten. By grasping the balls h between the thumb and finger,
and pressing them together, the loop E will open and easily slip off the button.
The elasticity or spring in the loop E, i causes it to give with every motion of the
wearer, and at once spring back into position again. Thus any sudden or unequal
strain which in an ordinary suspender, would either pull the button off the pants,
or burst the button-hole, would be equalized by the loop giving, and preventing
any damage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:--
First. The improved suspender, consisting of the shoulder straps or webs A,
joined or fastened together at the back in the buckle B, in such a manner that they
may be readily detached and replaced by others, substantially as, and for the
purposes set forth.
Second. The spring button-fastener D consisting of the ring 9 and the loop E, i
made from one solid piece of wire having its free ends crossed diagonally in said
ring, the ends of said wire terminating in the balls h¹, the large loop E being con-
nected by the narrow neck f with the small loop i, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with a suspender end, of the spring button-fastener D,
consisting of the ring g, and the loop E, i the said loop being made from one piece
of wire having its free ends crossed diagonally and passed through the ring g, the
ends of said wire terminating in the balls h, the large loop E being connected by
the narrow neck f with the small loop i, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In an improved suspender as before described, the combination with
the webbing, of the buckle B, constructed as set forth, the lower part being formed
by a flap b rolled tightly over a wire b¹ and having at each of its ends an eye b²;
the chain or cord C; and the spring button fastener D, all arranged substantially
as set forth.
Fifth. In an improved suspender as above described, the combination with the
webbing of the front buckle L; the cast off c, the chain or cord C, and the spring
button fastener D, all arranged together as set forth.
Sixth. The improved suspenders, consisting of the spring button fastener D, the
chains or cord C, the front buckle L; the rear buckle. B, the shoulder straps or
webs A, A, crossed diagonally through, and secured in, the said rear buckle B, in
such a manner that they may be readily detached and replaced by others; and the
chain or cord C, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 11th dow of 1000