CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR GLOVES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE MEANS USED FOR SECURING SPRINGS TO GLOVES OR OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bown, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR
GLOVES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE MEANS USED FOR SECURING
SPRINGS TO GLOVES OR OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 24th September 1878, and dated the 1st April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1878.
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR GLOVES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN
THE MEANS USED FOR SECURING SPRINGS TO GLOVES OR OTHER ARTICLES."
I will describe my improvements in springs as applied to gloves only, but it will
be understood that by a slight modification they can be applied to boots, shoes, or
other purposes.
Springs for gloves have been constructed on the knife blade principle, with the
head fixed to or forming part of one arm, the other arm opening and closing with a
spring action.
In practice, when opening and closing the glove with this construction, it has
been found that the complete spring cannot be firmly secured in position, and
various modes have been adopted to obviate this defect but without success.
My improvements consist,―
Firstly. In constructing the said springs with a fixed head or cap, the arms being
so connected to it as to permit the opening and closing of the arms simultaneously
with a spring action without affecting the head part which can be securely fastened
in the glove. This I effect either by securing the two arms in the cap or head on
two separate centres, and putting teeth in each part of the arms and levers that
come in contact at the head part, so that they will work to the extent of their
action similar to a pair of cog wheels, and connecting with one or both of the arms
a suitable spring or springs, so that when the spring is closed by taking hold of one
• Prins (id1

page_text: of the arms or levers, the other will open simultaneously in a corresponding degree,
one actuating the other; or instead of mounting these arms or levers on two centres,
they may be mounted on one common centre, the head or cap being also fixed as
before described, in which case the cogs or teeth are dispensed with, the ends of the
arms or levers at the head part being so constructed that the force of the spring
causes the two arms, after being opened or closed to a certain distance, to spring
simultaneously to the full extent of the action whether open or closed.
Secondly. My improvements refer to the means of securing such springs, whether
of my improved description, as before mentioned, or the ordinary knife blade spring
now commonly used for gloves, and consist in the use of a fastening made of brass,
copper, or other soft metal cut out and bent into a staple form, the ends passing
through the material of the glove, and bent over on to the top of the head or cap of
the spring, or vice versa, firmly securing it in position.
The advantage of this mode of securing such springs over stitching or rivetting
is, that should it be found necessary to remove the spring, the shanks of the staple
can be turned up, and the staple removed, thereby freeing the spring from the
material of the glove without damage to the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Bown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st October
1878.
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR GLOVES AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN
THE MEANS USED FOR SECURING SPRINGS TO GLOVES OR OTHER ARTICLES."
I will describe my improvements in springs as applied to gloves only, but it will
be understood that by a slight modification they can be applied to boots, shoes, or
other purposes.
Springs for gloves have been constructed on the knife blade principle, with the
head fixed to or forming part of one arm, the other arm opening and closing with a
spring action.
2
In practice, when opening and closing the glove with this construction, it has 3
been found that the complete spring cannot be firmly secured in position, and
various modes have been adopted to obviate this defect but without success.
My improvements consist,―
Firstly. In constructing the said springs with a fixed head or cap, the arms being
so connected to it as to permit the opening and closing of the arms simultaneously 3
with a spring action without affecting the head part, which can be securely fastened
in the glove. This I effect either by securing the two arms in the cap or head in
two separate centres, and putting teeth in each part of the arms and levers that
come in contact at the head part, so that they will work to the extent of their
action similar to a pair of cog wheels, and connecting with one or both of the arms 4

page_text: a suitable spring or springs, so that when the spring is closed by taking hold of one
of the arms or levers, the other will open simultaneously in a corresponding degree,
one actuating the other; or instead of mounting these arms or levers on two centres,
they may be mounted on one common centre, the head or cap being also fixed as
before described, in which case the cogs or teeth are dispensed with, the ends of tho
arms or levers at the head part being so constructed that the force of the spring
causes the two arms, after being opened or closed to a certain distance, to spring
simultaneously to the full extent of the action whether open or closed.
Secondly. My improvements refer to the means of securing such springs, whether
of my improved description, as before mentioned, or the ordinary knife blade spring
now commonly used for gloves, and consist in the use of a fastoning made of brass,
copper, or other soft metal cut out and bent into a staple-like or other equivalent
form, the ends passing through the material of the glove, and bent over on to the
top of the head or cap of the spring, or vice versa, firmly securing it in position.
The advantage of this mode of securing such springs over stitching or rivetting
is, that should it be found necessary to remove the spring, the shank of the staple
can be turned up and the staple removed, thereby freeing the spring from tho
material of the glove without damage to the samo.
But as my Invention will be best understood by referring to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, I will proceed to describe the same with the aid of the figures
Figure 1 represents a glove spring constructed according to my improvements
with the arms A and B extended or opened to the position they would assume
when pulling on or pulling off the glove.
Figure 2 represents flat and edge views of the spring when closed; Figure 3, flat
detached views of the arms A and B; Figure 4, detached view of the spring C; and
Figure 5, detached view of the part D.
The cap or head part E is formed by preference of sheet metal bent into the
shape seen in the edge view, Figure 2. Within this head or cap the two arms A
and B are secured, working on pins or axes at a and b, and each having an inde-
pendent action to the head or cap; the upper ends of these arins are formed with
teeth or notches, seen best at Figure 3, so that when secured in position within the
cap they work one within the other, similar to the action of a pair of gear wheels.
Thus it will be seen that when the head E is fixed in the glove by any of the
means now known, or by my improved means herein-after described, the inde-
pendent spring action of the arms A and B will not strain the material of the glove,
or cause the head to tear the material of the glove or work loose in its place.
At Figure 6, I have exhibited a modification of the arrangement, shown like
Figure 1, with the arms F, G, in an extended position. In this case, I adhere to
the same principle as above described, viz., the fixed head and independent action of
the arms, but as will be seen, I mount both arms on one common centre or axis C,
and dispense with the teeth or notches as before described; in this construction the
top part of the arm F from its peculiar formation acts on the spring H in such a
manner when the spring is being opened, either for pulling on or pulling off the
glove (by taking hold of one or other of the arms when about half opened), the
force of the spring will cause the other arm also to snap open, and vice versa when
being closed.
To regulate the extent to which this spring can be opened, I place suitable stops
as at d, e; and to prevent the arms swinging around, I place a stop or rivet marked f
in the front part of the cap J, against which the arms F and G abut when closed.
Figures 7 and 8 are front and edge views of this construction of spring closed;
Figure 9, detached views of the arms F and G ; and Figure 10, detached view of the
spring.
Figure 11 represents flat and edge views of my improved means for securing such
glove springs as I have above described, or any other description of glove springs to

page_text: the glove which consist of suitable staple-like fastening formed of copper, brass, or
other soft metal, the ends of which are passed through the material of the glove and
other strengthening material where required, and then through the holes formed in
the head shown at g, g, Figures 1 and 6, and bent over one on the other, thus
forming a simple but effective fastening, permitting the removal of the spring if 5
required, and re-application without inconvenience or damage to the glove.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it understood that I do not purpose confining
myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied without
departing from the spirit of my Invention, but what I claim and wish protected by 1
these my in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The improvements in springs for gloves, boots, and other purposes herein
described and exhibited, viz., the forming of the head part independently of the
arms, affording greater security in fastening such springs to the material.
Secondly. The improved means for securing glove springs to the material of the
gloves as herein described and exhibited.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Bown, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WM LOACH.
WILLIAM BOWN. (L.S.)