An Improved Lacing Fastening.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 6th Apr.. 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lacing Fastening.
I EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of 38 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent (a communication from Percy Adolphus Vaile, of Auckland, New
Zealand, Solicitor, and William Vaile, also of Auckland, New Zealand, Draper),
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved eyelet and has for its object to secure
the lacing and unlacing of boots, stays, surgical appliances and the like, by
one pull on the lace, and also to prevent the wearing of such lace by friction."
My invention consists in forming the eyelet with a revolving bar or roller, so
placed, either horizontally or vertically, that it receives the strain of the lace which
passes over it.
Instead of the above-mentioned plain revolving bar or roller we may provide a
fixed bar fitted with a revolving case.
This invention can be applied to any of the existing eyelets.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lacing Fastening.
I EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of 38 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent (a communication from Percy Adolphus Vaile, of Auckland, New
Zealand, Solicitor, and William Vaile, also of Auckland, New Zealand, Draper),
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 :-
My invention relates to an improved form of eyelet for boots, corsets, and the
like, the object being to overcome the friction caused by the laces being drawn
through the eyelet holes of such boots, corsets, and the like.
The invention will be readily understood, upon reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a section of the eyelet of which Fig. 4 is a modification thereof.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form of eyelet shown in Fig. 1, Figs. 3, 5 and 6
being like views of modifications thereof.
Fig. 7 is a view of the eyelet as applied to a boot or the like, while Fig. 8 shows
the invention in the form of a tag-eyelet: Fig. 9 being a modification thereof.
a is the circular or other casing forming the eyelet, through which the lace goes
as shown in Fig. 7.
A revolving bar is placed in holes or sockets in the eyelet case, in the position
shown in Figs. 1, and 7, so that the lace goes through the eyelet, and over the
revolving bar or roller b, which, when the lace is pulled, revolves in its sockets or
bearings c, thereby preventing the friction which formerly arose from the lace
passing over the immovable flanges or edges d of the eyelet.
Instead of the revolving bar & as shown, I may use a sleeve e which will revolve
upon the spindle or axle e³.
I may also employ two revolving rollers or sleeves as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in

page_text: the first of which I have shown the revolving bars or rollers b, and in the second,
I have shown two sleeves e revolving upon axles or spindles e'. In either case, the
lace will go in between the revolving parts.
Instead of employing the eyelets as hereinbefore described, I may use the form
of tag-eyelet, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
In the form shown in Fig. 8, the tag-eyelet a' is provided with a revolving roller
or bar e, upon which the lace runs smoothly instead of rubbing against the part b
.as heretofore was the case in existing tag-eyelets.
I may employ a revolving sleeve e and fixed spindle or axle e' for this form of
tag-eyelet, as shown in Fig. 9, instead of the revolving roller or bar e.
With these last forms of tag-eyelets, the lacing can be done entirely on the
outside of the boot, corset or the like, and as in the former cases, the lace can be
pulled quite taut, with one tug on same.
I do not confine myself to the configuration of eyelet shown, but may form them
in a square, oval, or other shape, as desirable or convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :-
1. In an eyelet a, the various forms of revolving rollers, substantially as shown
and described, and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a tag-eyelet a¹ the various forms of revolving vertical rollers, substantially
as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.