Improvements in Fastenings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Fastenings.
I, HENRY BROCKELBANK, of 4, Tokenhouse Buildings, London, EC., Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The object of my invention is to provide an improved fastening for general
purposes, but more particularly for articles of dress. As relating to such, I make
out of wire two interlocking members, which may be termed for the purpose
of description, the link and the clutch. The link I form somewhat in the shape
of an ordinary diess hook but with the neck spread as shoulders, and the bill
end bent or turned down close to the body without leaving an opening space,
forming a nose, which I term it. The other part, the clutch, shape somewhat
as a pair of spring tongs with the claw ends curled. The two parts sewn or
attached to the material, at the points to be connected, are fastened together by
pressing the bite of the clutch on to the nose of the link over which it closes with
spring action and so forms a trio of hooks. With any pull on the fastening so
united the claws of the clutch engage the shoulders of the link.
To prevent
disengagement the base of the nose of the link is also spread, against which the
claws abut with any reaction. Disconnection is made by a pull or leverage
movement of the clutch.
This form of dress fastening has a combination of advantages over any in use
which may be explained thus. The union and disconnection of the parts is
more certain and made with greater facility, and can be done with one hand
without requiring the guiding aid of sight. Whilst the connection, when com-
plete, is sure and cannot fail to hold at all times. The fastening is not subject
to derangement, in the laundry for instance, as the nose of the link can be made
much shorter than that part to which it corresponds in the ordinary dress hook,
and is supported moreover at both ends. Chafing or wearing away of the dress
material in the operation of hooking and unhooking is avoided, as the shank
of the link is made to serve as a friction surface or bearing to the active member,
the clutch. There is no hook or point to entangle in open work on garments
or the hair. The fastening can be made with or without slack.
I distinguish this fastening from other kinds by the title of the “bond
fastening."
The parts may be varied or modified, without departing from the said inven-
tion. The lines constituting the shank of the link may be spread parallel or
shaped Y or other suitable form. The clutch may be simple claws without
shafts and have any suitable spring action, or find position without.
This form of fastening can be applied as a fastening, connecting medium or
coupling for general purposes made from any suitable section of metal in sheet
or length, and heavy or light according to the strength and size suitable to the
purpose to which it is to be applied. In one form the connection makes a union
of a pair of twin hooks. Both parts may be made to engage with spring action.
Ornamental formation may be given to either part where the fastening is worn

page_text: exposed as for jewelry, belts &c. A close and tight coupling can be made by
retaining the form of clutch, but varying the fellow part, so as to give spring
loops or place for the claws to engage or nest in. The parts can be arranged
so that the jaws of the clutch clinch and hold more securely under strain. With
variation in the companion part, the clutch may have its curled ends inverted
outwards, but the other form I prefer. Knobs may be substituted for the curls
of the clutch.
Dated this 9th day of January 1899.
Improvements in Fastenings.
1, HENRY BROCKELBANK, 4, Tokenhouse Buildings, London, E.C., Engineer,
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:
The object of my invention is to provide an improved fastening for general
purposes, but more particularly for articles of dress. As relating to such, I
make out of wire two inter-locking members, which I term, for the purpose of
description, the link and the clutch. The link I form somewhat in the shape
of an ordinary dress hook, but with the neck spread as shoulders, and the bill
end bent or turned down close to the shank or body without leaving an opening
space, forming a nose, which I term it. The other part, the clutch, I shape
somewhat as a pair of spring tongs with the claw ends curled. The two parts
sewn or attached to the material, at the points to be connected are fastened
together by pressing the bite of the clutch on to the nose of the link, over which
it closes with spring action, and so forms a trio of hooks. With any pull on the
fastening so united, the claws of the clutch engage the shoulders of the link.
To prevent disengagement the base of the nose of the link, against which the
claws abut with any reaction, may be also spread. Disconnection is made by
a pull or leverage movement of the clutch.
This form of dress fastening has a combination of advantages over any in
use, which may be explained thus: The union and disconnection of the parts
is more certain, and made with greater facility, and can be done with one hand
without requiring the guiding aid of sight. The connection when complete,
is sure and cannot fail to hold at all times. The fastening is not subject to
derangement, in the laundry for instance, as the nose of the link can be made
much shorter than that part to which it corresponds in the ordinary dress hook,
and is supported moreover at both ends. Chafing or wearing away of the dress
material, in the operation of hooking and unhooking is avoided, as the shank
of the link is made to serve as a friction surface or bearing to the active member,
the clutch. There is no hook or point that can entangle in open work on
garments or the hair.
The fastening can be made with or without slack.
I distinguish this fastening from other kinds by the title bond." The parts
may be varied or modified without departing from the said invention. The
lines constituting the shank of the link may be spread parallel or shaped Y
or other suitable form. The clutch may be a simple claw without shaft and
have any suitable spring action, or find position without.
This form of fastening can be applied as a fastening or connecting medium
or coupling for general purposes, made from any suitable section of metal in
sheet or length, and light or heavy, according to the strength and size suitable

page_text: to the purpose of the application. In one form the connection makes a union
of a pair of twin hooks. Both parts may be made to engage with spring action.
Ornamental formation may be given to either part where the fastening is to be
worn exposed as for jewelry belts &c. A close and tight coupling may be made
by retaining the form of clutch and varying the fellow part, so as to give spring
loops or place for the claws to engage or nest in. The parts can be arranged
so that the jaws of the clutch clinch and hold more securely under strain. With
variation in the companion part the clutch may have its curled ends inverted
outwards, but the other form I prefer. Knobs may be substituted for the curls
of the clutch.
"
"
In the drawings attached Fig. 1 is the link, and Fig. 3 the clutch-enlarged-
to a type of the fastening suitable as a substitute for the ordinary dress hook
and eye. Fig. 2 is side view of the link Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a side view of Fig. 5.
In Fig. 5 is given another form of the fastening for dress purposes. Similar
letters in the several figs. refer to parts corresponding. a is the nose of the
link at the point where the claw ends of the clutch are pressed on in the connec-
tion of the two parts, which, when made, takes position at the shoulders of the
link as seen dotted in Fig. 5. The disconnection is made by a similar reverse
action, that is to say by lifting the clutch out. Disconnection of the parts in
the modified form, Fig. 5, is made by a leverage movement of the clutch on its
fulera f, f-
-see Fig. 6, which is an end view of Fig. 5. In the operation, the
thumb is pressed at e, and the finger at . Fig. 7 is of the same type as Fig. 1
except that the shoulders are rounded instead of square, whereby the lines of the
shank are brought closer together. Dotted lines in Fig. 1 show another variation
of the shank. In Fig. 8 the free ends of the wire are formed into the
nose,
with space left between the extremities for spring action. The latter example
is given as instance of a heavier make suitable for a belt fastening. The fellow
piece may be rectangular shape and have knobs in place of claws after the waist
belt patter shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is one instance of spring claws without
shaft. In Fig. 11 the claws are turned in with more curl than in the previous
examples, a form suitable where a hold under great strain may be required.
The dotted circles in this figure represent sections of the shoulders where hold is
made, from which it will be seen that any great pull would have tendency to
increase the incurvation of the ends, and so give greater security for hold. Figs.
12 and 13 are modified forms of links in which the free ends of the wire go to
form the shoulders. s, s, in the several figs. is where attachment is made to the
garment by sewing. The nose may be turned under parallel with the lines of
the main portion for strengthening. The nose may be made to dip from the
shoulders to facilitate the clutch finding position. For special purposes the
nose may be cut down or dwarfed. It will be obvious from the examples given,
that the principle of the fastening may be carried out in a variety of other
modified forms, varied to suit the particular purpose required, and may be
attached to the articles to be fastened together by any convenient method, made
flexible or rigid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In the construction of a dress fastening, whilst retaining somewhat the
appearance of the ordinary hook and eye, transposing the purpose and operation
in manipulation of each part making the hook to serve as the link by bending
the bill or nose down to the plane of the shank to close passage to the eye-piece
or companion part. Spreading the shoulders or neck of the hook-piece or link
and utilizing the free ends of the counterpart to form and hold thereto by
transverse union as a split, snap or twin hook substantially as described.
2. Constructing or fastening or coupling for any suitable purpose on the
principle set forth and explained as for a dress fastening of any suitable gauge

page_text: of wire sheet or other section of metal in any modified form substantially as
described.
3. Constructing a fastening or coupling for any suitable purpose on the princi-
ple set forth and explained as for a dress fastening in a modified form so as to
amit one or more of its special features to suit the particular purpose required 5
substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of November 1899