Improvements in Metallic Strap-fasteners.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Metallic Strap-fasteners.
We, EPHRAIM LATHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Washington, in the District of Columbia, U.S., gentleman, and ETHAN A.
SAWYERS, of Brownsville, County of Lynn and State of Oregon, U.S. Farmer,
do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC
STRAP-FASTENERS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. I is a side elevation of a portion of a halter showing the invention in service.
Fig. II is a horizontal section of the same at the line x, Fig. I.
Fig. III is a perspective view of the fastener proper.
Fig. 1V is a perspective view of the fastener loop inverted.
Fig. V is a side elevation of a strap and buckle joined by the fastoner.
6 represents the headstall of a halter, of which headstall, 7, is the removable end
now shown secured by a common buckle, S. The end, 9, of the headstall, 6, being
passed through the buckle is secured back upon the body of the headstall by one
of the fasteners, 10.
This fastener consists of two staple-shaped end loops, 11, having opening enough
to receive into each, one or two thicknesses of the strap as may be required, joined by
a light frame, 12, having a stud, 13, projecting from its middle across the plane of the
two loops, 11. This is the main feature of our invention, and it is shown in its simple
form in Fig. III, also upon the throat latch, 14, of the halter. The fastener loop, 22,
shown at Fig. IV is a simple elongated metallic band having a hole, 15, in its under
cross-piece to receive the stud, 13. 16 is a side loop whereby the fastener may
connect a branch strap such as the throat latch, 14, with a straight line strap such as
the headstall, 6. The main bar, 17, of this loop it is preferred to make straight, in
order that a strap may bend naturally around it, and it is placed at any required
angle with the side of the main portion of the fastener to give the desired direction to
the branch strap as shown in Fig. 1. If the branch strap stands at right angles to the
line strap, the bar, 17, will be parallel with the side of the fastener body.

page_text: To apply this device as a strap fastener we will refer to the throat latch, 14, in the
following directions. First form two holes, 18 and 19, in the strap at the required
points to leave the desired amount of end, 20, projecting beyond the stud, 13, and the
desired size of loop, 21. Now work the strap through the fastener, bending it up to
pass over the stud until the hole, 18, is reached; then pass the end of the strap through
the loop, 16, and afterward return it through the fastener beneath its former portion
and over the end of the stud until the hole, 19, registers therewith; then press both
portions of the strap down firmly on to the stud and the fastening is completed. The
loops, 11, should be only open enough to receive the required thickness of straps
closely pressed, and the two loops should be so close together as to require some effort
to bend the strap and force it over the stud to its place; then the fastening will be
secure and permanent, and can never wear out as stitches of thread will. To apply
the fastener loop, 22, it is only necessary to put it in place upon the stud as shown
and pass the end of the strap through it on the way in, and under it on the way back,
thus securing the loop upon the stud between the two portions of the. strap. Now the
loop rises above the outer strap enough to receive and retain the end, 9. Fig. V
shows the application of the fastener to a common strap, the numbers of reference
corresponding with similar parts in other views. In places where a branch strap is to
be attached to the side of a single line strap the loops, 11, will be only open enough to
pass the single line strap through and the bar, 17, will be made at the required angle
of inclination to the line strap.
These fasteners are thus adapted to secure parts of harness together in all styles of
joints, whether the two straps are to overlap each other, or to join end to edge at any
required angle. A punch, an awl, or even a small-bladed knife will serve every
purpose required of tools in applying the fastener, and a farmer or lone traveller may
quickly repair a break in harness by having with him a few of these fasteners to suit
the different sized straps of his harness. When made of malleable iron or cast
steel and japanned, the expense is very little, and when cast in brass and highly
finished and plated it adds to the beauty of the harness. It is impossible to part a
joint in barness or other straps secured by this fastener, because the joint is stronger
than other portions of the straps joined, and there is no movement to wear the leather
inside the fastener so that a joint thus made will wear as long as any part of the
harness. Harness may be made new with these fasteners as cheaply as by sewing, and
a greatly superior result is produced. Trunk straps, shawl straps, school book straps
⚫ and straps of every kind may be neatly and profitably secured by this fastener, and
any one may procure straps and fasteners at the stores and construct devices of harness
or strap work to suit himself with little trouble. Thus these fasteners will become an
article of manufacture and commerce.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim as our invention is:
1. The strap fastener described, consisting of two loops of metal placed practically
parallel with each other at a little distance apart, the openings in the loops being of a
size and form to receive one or more straps passed in line through the two loops; the
loops being connected by framework, and a stud fixed in the center between the loops
upon the framework in position to engage a strap located in the loops.
2. The combination of the following elements forming a metallic strap fastener in
one piece a body or frame portion; a bar along one edge thereof and connected
therewith at its ends forming a side loop in the plane of the frame; a loop at each
end of the said frame, these two loops standing at right angles to the plane of the frame
and parallel with each other, their openings being in position and of a form to receive
one or more straps passed in a line through them, and a stud rising from the frame in
the center between the said two loops, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination, in a metallic strap fastener of a portion consisting of two
parallel loops joined by a framework having a stud rising from the center between the
said loops all in one piece; and a loop of metal adapted to receive two thicknesses of

page_text: leather and having a hole in one of its sides adapted to fit upon the said stud,
substantially as shown and described.
4. As an article of manufacture and commerce, a fastener for straps, consisting of
two loops, a frame joining them, and a stud projecting from the frame between the
loops all in one piece, substantially as shown and described.
5. As an article of manufacture and commerce, a metallic loop adapted to receive
two thicknesses of leather straps, and having a hole in one side of the loop adapted to
fit upon the stud of the fastener hereinbefore described, as and for the purpose
specified.