An Improvement in Tags for Securing them to Boot Laces.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Tags for Securing them to Boot Laces.
I, ARTHUR MARSDEN, of Picton, in the County of York, Draper, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of tags for securing them to boot laces,
my object being to furnish boot laces with tags which when connected to the lace
according to my invention cannot be detached therefrom by any strains to be
applied in ordinary usage or in other words do not come off by accident.
My invention is applicable to the metal sheath tags of boot laces generally, but
is more especially applicable to such tags for securing them to laces made of
mohair or the like textile material.
Various means have been employed to more securely connect metal sheath tags
to laces such as indenting the sheath or making punctures therein it being essential
that the means employed be too simple to affect the cost of manufacture.
It has been found in practice that such means as have hitherto been in use do
not effect this purpose, except they are too complicated and expensive for
general use.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the tag of the usual shape, that
is in the form of a metal sheath wrapped round the lace, but the essential feature
of my invention consists in furnishing the metal sheath with one or more prongs
to hook into the lace. In some cases these prongs are formed out of the sheath
itself by cutting the end partly away and turning over the part left to form a
prong, or one or more prongs may be formed at intermediate positions of the tag
by suitable incisions cut into the sheath which enable a strip to be bent over in the
form of a prong.
These prongs are preferably bent inwards lengthwise of the
tag, but may be bent inwards crosswise or anglewise and are so formed as attach-
ments to the sheath that when the sheath is wrapped up and pressed together each
prong hooks into the lace, and effectually prevents the tag from slipping off.
In other cases I substitute for prongs formed out of the sheath as above
described, detached prongs such as would be formed by turning up the sharp end
of a pin and hooking it into the lace with the head projecting just beyond the
sheath so that when the sheath is wrapped up and pressed together the pin head
prevents the pin from drawing through the sheath and consequently prevents the
tag from slipping off. It is obvious that the detached prong need not take the
exact form of a pin so long as one end is hooked into the lace whilst the other
engages with the outer end of the sheath to serve the same purpose as the pin
head.
Dated this 19th day of August 1801
G. J. CLARKSON,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Tags for Securing them to Boot Laces.
I, ARTHUR MARSDEN, of Picton, in the County of York, Draper, 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:-
My invention relates to tags of boot laces, my object being to furnish boot laces
with tags which when connected to them according to my invention are not easily

page_text: .
detached therefrom by any strains to be applied by ordinary usage, or in other
words do not come off by accident.
My invention is applicable to the metal sheath tags of boot laces generally, but
is more especially applicable for securing such tags to laces made of mohair or the
like textile material.
Various means have been employed to securely connect metal sheath tags to
laces, and have usually taken the form of indentations or punctures formed in
the sheath before wrapping round the lace to increase the frictional grip inside.
It has been found in practice that these or the like simple and inexpensive devices
have failed to prevent tags from coming off boot laces as used in the ordinary way,
and that the purpose of my invention has not been accomplished to satisfaction by
the use of tags which in their construction and mode of attachment are not too
complicated and expensive for general use.
In the accompanying drawing my improved tags are shown connected to mohair
laces which are to be taken as representatives of laces generally to which such
metal tags are attached, the several figures being drawn to an enlarged or
exaggerated scale in order to more clearly illustrate the essential feature of my
invention; and consists in furnishing the metal sheaths with one or more hooks
or prongs or their equivalents which hook or penetrate into the lace in such a
manner that either the said hooks or prongs must give way, or the lace itself
be pulled in pieces or ript laterally, before the tag can be slipped off as dis-
tinguished from a frictional grip such as is due to a tight fit of the tag, assisted as
is usual with punctures or perforations.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, which are corresponding views of the same tag,
a is the tag, the lace, and c the prong by which the tag is secured to the lace ;
the tag a is formed in the usual manner, that is, consists of a metal sheath wrapped
round the lace, the tag is then punched or indented with one or more indentations,
each of which takes the form of a pointed tongue or prong, sufficient force being
used to force the point into the lace so that any movement of the tag in the
direction of slipping off draws the prong point deeper into the lace and effectually
secures the tag thereto, it being obviously impossible for the said prong to either
bend or break, or to rip the tag laterally from any strains arising in ordinary
usage.
Although I prefer to form the prongs c lengthwise of the tag as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, these prongs may be similarly bent inwards or indented crosswise
or anglewise, so long as any movement of the tag in the direction of slipping off' is
prevented by the prong hooking into the lace.
Figures 3, 4 and 5, illustrate modifications of my mode of securing tags to laces
for the purposes of my invention. In Figure 3, a is the metal sheath in the flat
with the prong or tongue e formed on the end of it, as for instance by cutting the
end partly away. This prong is first pressed into the lace and when the tag is
wrapped round takes the form shown at c', from which position it will have to be
drawn out by considerable force before the tag can slip.
In some cases I substitute for prongs formed out of the sheath as above
described, detached prongs or their equivalents such as arc illustrated in Figures 4
and 5.
In Figure 4, the hook c is formed by turning up the sharp point of the pin d,
the head of which projects beyond the sheath so that when the sheath is wrapped
up and pressed together it forms a seat to the protruding pin head which cannot be
drawn through in consequence, and being hooked into the lace prevents the tag
from slipping.
It is obvious that a detached prong of this kind need not take the exact form of
a pin so long as one end is hooked into the lace whilst the other end engages with
the sheath so as to serve the purpose of the pin head.
In Figure 5, the detached prong is shown in the form of a rivet, that is both
ends engage with the metal sheath a, which is punctured for the purpose, the ends
being closed up like the heads of a rivet. 1 would observe that whilst the detached

page_text: prongs as above described will prevent the tag from slipping off in ordinary or fair
usage, the lace, especially when made of mohair or the like textile material, can
be torn out or ript laterally in cases where the prong as shown in Figures 1 and 2
would easily retain its hold.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
Firstly In combination with boot laces for securing tags or metal sheaths
thereto, the use and construction of such metal tags and sheaths with one or more
tongues or prongs which hook into the lace as part of the tag, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly-In combination with boot laces for securing tags or metal sheaths
thereto, the use and construction of such metal tags or sheaths with the particular
form of tongue constructed and inserted into the lace as part of the tag, substan-
tially as described with reference to Figure 3.
Thirdly-The use in combination with ordinary tags of a hooked pin or its
equivalent by which the hook of the pin is inserted in the lace and the head is
seated by the tag or sheath, substantially as and for the purpose as described with
reference to Figure 4.
Fourthly The use in combination with ordinary tags of a prong or hook
passed transversely through the tag or sheath with both ends closed up in the form
of a rivet, substantially as and for the purpose as described and illustrated in
Figure 5.
Dated this 10th day of M. 1900
G. J. CLARKSON,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.