Im- PROVED BUSK FASTENERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Reading, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVED BUSK FASTENERS."
Sealed the 14th July 1868, and dated the 16th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Reading
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th January 1868.
I, GEORGE EDWARD READING, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED BUSK FASTENERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the adoption of the following construction
of busk fasteners. The busks are to be used in pairs as now generally
adopted, and to one (hereafter termed the "first-mentioned") I attach
catch plates, that is, plates secured to the said busk with a portion
projecting beyond the edge of the busk, which portion is turned over
or otherwise formed into a catch to receive the corresponding part of

page_text: another similar catch which is secured on the other busk hereafter
mentioned as the "second" busk. In order to secure the pair of
busks together the catch plates of the first-mentioned busk are pro-
vided with springs, which by pressure on the catches that take into
the catch plates of the first-mentioned busk secure the catch plates
together as a complete fastening. One or more of the above mentioned
catch plates is or are to be provided with a stop or stops so as to securely
keep the same from shifting out of position, but instead of using the stop
or stops above described I can use a bolt or similar fastening to keep
the two busks together, preventing parallel motion; fastening is effected
by pressing the busks towards each other so as to bring the catches
under the springs, when the catches will take into each other. Un-
fastening is effected by pressing the catches out of contact by lateral
movement (but this will not be necessary where the bolt is substituted
for the stops, then unbolting being required), and by an upward or
downward motion all the fasteners will be detached. It will be obvious
that the springs may be secured to either the catch plates of the first-
mentioned busk or to those of the "second" busk, or the springs may
be secured to both sets of catch plates. It will also be obvious that
the stop or stops above mentioned when used may be of different forms
and the catches or hooks may be arranged to act therewith. Further
both catches need not project beyond the edges of the busks, although
one "set".should do so; also instead of catch plates catches or hooks
formed on or otherwise secured to the busks may be adopted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Edward Reading in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
EDWARD READING, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Edward Reading, Her special

page_text: licence that I, the said George Edward Reading, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Edward
Reading, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED BUSK FASTENERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Edward Reading, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Edward Reading, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 consists in the following construction of busk fasteners.
The busks are to be used in pairs as now generally adopted, and to one.
(herein-after termed the first) I attach catch plates, that is, plates of
metal secured to the said busk with a portion projecting beyond the
edge of the said busk, which portion is turned over or otherwise.
formed, into a catch or hook to receive the corresponding part of
another similar catch which is secured on the other busk hereafter
mentioned as the "second" busk. In order to secure the pair of
busks together the catch plates of the first-mentioned busk are provided
with springs which press on the catches of the second-mentioned busk
when engaged with the catches of the first-mentioned busk, and
securely hold both sets of catch plates together. One or more of.
the above-mentioned catch plates is or are to be provided with a
stop or stops so as to securely keep the catches from shifting out
of position; but instead of using the stop or stops above described,
I can use a bolt or similar fastening to keep the two busks together
preventing parallel motion. Fastening is effected by pressing the busks
towards each other, so as to bring the catches of the second-mentioned
busk under the springs, when the catches of both busks engage with

page_text: ór hook into each other. Unfastening is effecting by pressing the
catches out of contact with the stop or stops by lateral movement
(but this will not be necessary where the bolt is substituted for the
stops, then unbolting being required), and by an upward or downward
motion of one of the busks all the fasteners will be detached. It will
be obvious that the springs may be secured either to the catch plates of
the first-mentioned busk or to those of the second busk, or the springs
may be secured to both sets of catch plates. It will also be obvious
that the stop or stops above mentioned may be of different forms, and
the catches or hooks may be arranged to act therewith. Further both
sets of catches need not project beyond the edges of the busks although
one set may do so; also instead of catch plates being made separately
and attached to the busks, catches or hooks may be formed on or
out of the busks themselves. I make the said springs of steel, and
harden and temper them somewhat after the manner steel pens are
hardened and tempered, the object being to make them strong and
elastic, and I am not now aware that any other material besides steel
hardened and tempered as above described would be so good for
the purpose for which I use the said springs. The said springs may be
attached to the catch plates or busks before or after the said catch
plates are attached to the said busks, or may be rivetted or clamped
to the busks with the catch plates by one and the same operation.
My Invention of improved busk fasteners herein described are repre-
sented and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the annexed
Drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, being respectively front, back, and edge
views of the fasteners attached to the busks by means of clips or clamps;
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are similar views of the fasteners attached to the
busk by means of rivets.
The Drawings represent two convenient shapes of springs. One, as
represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, is straight and attached near the back edge
of the busk; the other, represented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, is bent back
and attached nearer to the other edge of the said busk. The same
letters and figures of reference are used for all the Figures.
1, the "first" busk; 2, the "second" busk. a, a, catch plates;
b; springs; c, stops.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be. understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details

page_text: herein described and represented as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention, but I claim as my Invention
the improved busk fasteners as herein described and illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Reading, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
GEORGE EDWARD READING.
(L.S.)
10 Witness,
ALEX. P. WRIGHT,
Secy. to the Inventor's Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur St., Charing Cross.