Improvements in Buckles or Clasps Applicable for Fastening together Thongs, Straps, Metal Mountings, Fastenings, or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buckles or Clasps Applicable for Fastening together
Thongs, Straps, Metal Mountings, Fastenings, or the like.
A communication from abroad by JAMES LANDRIGAN O'CONNOR, of the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster & 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
This invention relates to that class of buckles or clasps which are used to fasten
together two thongs, straps, metal mountings, fastenings and the like, and relates
particularly to that kind of buckles or clasps, by which the appliances to be fastened
through stacks, at first, are drawn taut by the act of fastening.
In order to carry out the invention a body for the buckle or clasp is formed
which consists of a bottom and two sides, so arranged that the cross section shall be
in the form of two sides of a quadrilateral rectangle. One end of this bottom projects
a little beyond the sides, and is perforated with mortises between the sides as herein-
after described. To these sides and between them is binged a lever, which may be
turned out nearly at right angles to the said bottom, and folded in almost parallel to
the said bottom. A spring latch detains this lever in folded position. To this lever
a little away from its centre of motion is pivoted an arm. This arm is provided with
convenient fingers, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The lever is also provided
with a finger adapted to fit into one of the mortises in said bottom. A strap or plate
of metal is adapted to slip between the end of said lever and the bottom of said
body. This strap or plate is formed with mortises adapted for engagement with the
fingers of the said arm, so that when said lever is folded down, the said fingers will
come into the said slots, and as said lever is folded down will draw said plate a
little into said body. The projecting end of the body and the outer end of the plate
may be fastened one to each of the parts they are intended to hold together. In the
example of the invention here given, these ends are provided with spring snaps, and
the buckle is adapted to the fastening of harness. It is however quite evident that
the buckle, with other end fastenings may be applied to many other uses such as the
fastening of boxes, trunks and the like.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a side view in section illustrating the
buckle with the parts open.
Figure 2, is the same view of the same with the parts closed.
Figure 3, is a plan view of the same.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of the same.
a, a designate the end fastenings, bb the rivets by which they are attached, c c k the
body of the buckle 1, and 11 mortises in the bottom b of said body, c¹ a notch in
the sides ccf the lever pivoted to the sides c cat el, g¹ the latch which holds said
lever folded down by engaging the notch c', g the spring actuating, said latch, f
a thumbcatch to release said latch, f the finger on said lever engaging the mortise 1,
of said bottom, f" the end by which said lever is grasped to operate it, d the arm
pivoted to the lever fat e, d' d d the fingers of said arm, the sliding plate,
ii mortises in said plate adapted for engagement with the fingers d' dd.
In the example of the invention here given as before said, it is alapted to use on
the hames of horses. For this purpose the snaps a a are fastened into the loop
at the lower end of each of the hamnes, so that the buckle will lie along on the collar
between the ends of the hames. The parts are then put in the position illustrated

page_text: in Figure 1. Then the lever f is folded down into the position illustrated in Figure 2.
In so doing the fingers d d d will engage mortises ii of the plate h, and
drawing it forward into the body c c-k bring the hames down so close to the collar
that they will sit securely. To release the buckle, the operator puts his finger under
the end of the lever, and his thumb against and on the other side of the thumb
catch. Then he presses the said catch and lever end towards each other. This
withdraws the latch from the notch c', and the lever is freed so that it can be
turned out into the position illustrated in Figure 1, and the various parts will be.
released.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is,
1. In a buckle, the body c k having sides c constructed with notches c¹ and
bottom k, constructed with slots 1, and 1, of the lever f, pivoted to the said sides c,
working between the said sides, the finger f¹ upon said lever engaging the slot 1, of
said bottom the latch g' working in said lever and engaging the notches c¹ and the
catch, and the spring g, by which the said latch is actuated, all substantially as
specified.
2. In a buckle, the combination with the body c, k and the lever f pivoted thereto,
of the arm d, the fingers d', d", &, upon said arm, and the strap h adapted to slide
into the body ck and having slots i, adapted to be engaged by the fingers d', d¹¹, d¹¹,
all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the body of a buckle substantially as herein described, a
lever having a confining latch pivoted to said body, and an arm pivoted to said lever
and provided with fingers as specified, of a strap sliding into the said buckle body,
constructed with slots adapted to be engaged by said fingers, and means for fastening
the ends of said buckle and all the parts so constructed and arranged that facility is
afforded for fastening securely together various things at different distances apart,
all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1009
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.