OR IMPROVED FASTEN- INGS FOR ATTACHING WATCH KEYS, SEALS, WATCHES, LOCKETS, ARTICLES OP JEWELLERY, AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES OF DRESS IN GENERAL TO CHAINS, AND FOR SECURING THE CATCHES OF BROOCHES.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Reading, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED FASTEN-
INGS FOR ATTACHING WATCH KEYS, SEALS, WATCHES, LOCKETS, ARTICLES OP
JEWELLERY, AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES OF DRESS IN GENERAL TO CHAINS, AND
FOR SECURING THE CATCHES OF BROOCHES.".
Sealed the 29th August 1856, and dated the 1st March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Reading at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition on the 1st
March 1856.
I, JOHN READING, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED FASTEN-
INGS FOR ATTACHING WATCH KEYS, SEALS, WATCHES, LOCKETS, ARTICLES OF
JEWELLRY, AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES OF DRESS IN GENERAL TO CHAINS, AND FOR
SECURING THE CATCHES OF BROOCHES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of a fastening constructed in the following
manner: Two plates of metal are hinged together at one end, somewhat after
the manner in which the pin of a brooch is hinged to the said brooch. .A
small bolt or snap works in a slot in one of the plates, the motion of the said
bolt being in the plane of the plate in which it works. The said bolt is urged

page_text: forward by a coil'd spring. A hook or staple connected with the other plate
presents its inclined end to the inclined end of the bolt, and by pressing the
two plates together, the said bolt engages behind the said hook or staple. In
order to disengage the said bolt, a pin or stud fixed therein is pressed so as to
counteract the action of the spring. On the plate to which the hook or staple
is affixed two projections are situated, one serving to arrest the motion of the
moveable plate when the bolt which it carries has engaged with the hook; the
cther projection has for its object the separation of the parallel parts of the
loop of a chain, on which the fastening may be placed. In using this part of
my Invention, the chain is introduced between the fixed and moveable plates,
and the article to be attached to the said chain is hung on the hook or staple.
By pressing the plates together the bolt engages in the hook or staple in the
manner described, and the fastening is completed. I sometimes attach a loop
somewhat resembling the loop of the ordinary watch swivel to the back of one
of the plates. The said loop is convenient for attaching the chain to, and
renders the ordinary swivel unnecessary.
My Invention consists, secondly, of a fastening similar in its general con-
struction to that described, but provided at its top with a ring which may
readily be connected, with, and disconnected from the fastening, and which
answers for purposes such as the ordinary split ring is applied to.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in applying a spring bolt similar to that
herein-before described to the catch or pin of brooches, by which said spring
bolt the pin of the brooch is prevented from escaping from its catch until
released by pressure on the said bolt.
the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 2
by the said John Reading in the Great Seal Patent Office on t
30th August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
READING, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said.
John Reading, Her special licence that I, the said John Reading, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Reading, my
8

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and, at 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 "NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENINGS FOR ATTACHING WATCH
KEYS, SEALS, WATCHES, LOCKETS, ARTICLES OF JEWELLRY, AND ORNAMENTAL
ARTICLES OF DRESS IN GENERAL TO CHAINS, AND FOR SECURING THE CATCHES OF
BROOCHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John 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 John Reading, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say:
and
My Invention consists, firstly, of a fastening constructed in the manner
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawing; Figure 1
being a front view, Figure 2 a back view, and Figure 3 an edge view. a, b,
are two plates of metal, hinged together at c. A small bolt or snap d works in
a slot e in the plate b, the motion of the said bolt being in the plane of the
plate b. The bolt d is urged forward by a coiled spring f; g is a hook con-
nected with the plate a. When the plate b is pressed against the inclined end
of the hook g, the end of the bolt d engages behind the said hook, as represented
in Figure 3, and the plate 6 is secured in the position represented in the said
Figure 3. In order to disengage the bolt d, the pin or stud d' is pressed
towards the joint c, and the bolt d is disengaged from behind the book
the plate b may turn upon the hinge c. Two projections h, i, are fixed on the
back of the plate a; the projection h arrests the motion of the plate b, and
the projection i has for its object the separation of the parallel parts of a loop
of a chain on which the fastening may be placed. In using this part of my
Invention, the chain is introduced between the plates a and b, and the article
to be attached to the chain is hung on the hook g. By pressing the plates
a, b, together, the bolt d engages with the hook g, as represented. I some-
times modify this part of my Invention in the manner represented in Figures
4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, I attach a loop k
somewhat resembling the loop of the ordinary watch swivel, to the fixed plate

page_text: of the fastening. The said loop is convenient for attaching the chain to, and
renders the ordinary swivel unnecessary; I sometimes attach the loop or swivel
at the end of the fastening, as represented in Figure 8.
My Invention consists, secondly, of a fastening to be used in place of the
oralinary split ring, which said fastening may either be used by itself or attached
to the fastening last described. Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 illustrate this part
of my Invention. is a ring divided at m; the opposed ends have the figure
represented in Figures 10 and 12; n is a small ring, carrying the piece marked
o, the form of which will be understood by an examination of Figure 10.
When the ring n is pushed towards the centre of the ring l; the piece o
separates by a wedge-like action the ends of the ring 7, and escapes from the
said ends, as represented in Figure 12. Keys or other articles may now be
placed upon the ring 7, and the ring 'n and piece o, being brought into the
position represented in dotted lines in Figure 11, are pulled in the direction
of a radius from the centre of the ring 1; the said part o engages with the ends
of the ring 1, as represented in Figure 10.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in applying a spring bolt similar to that
herein described and represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
Drawing to the catches or pins of brooches. This part of my Invention is
illustrated in Figure 13, which represents a back view of a brooch; Figure 14,
which represents the edge view of the same; and Figure 15, which represents
the end view and transverse section of the same: p is a bolt sliding in the
case 1, and urged by a spring r; s is a tongue on the bolt p, the inclined face
of which bears against the inclined face of the hook t, under which the pin u
of the brooch engages.
In fastening the brooch, the pin , which is external
to the hook t, is pressed against the inclined face of s, when the bolt p is
carried into the case q, and the pin u enters the hook t. The spring imme-
diately brings the bolt into the position represented. In order to unfasten the
brooch, the end of the bolt p is pressed, when the tongues retiring, the pin u
"may be disengaged from the hook t.
Having now described the nature of my said 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 herein-described and represented, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I
claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the new or improved fastening for attaching watch keys, seals,
watches, lockets, articles of jewellry, and ornamental articles of dress in general
to chains, as herein described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Secondly, the modifications of the said fastening herein described and illus-
trated in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, the substitute for split rings, herein described and illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly, the method of securing the pins or catches of brooches, herein
described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 15 of the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Reading, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
•
JOHN READING. (L.S.)