IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES
Year: 1887

page_text: I, JOHN S. BOYD, of number 5 Spears Wharf in the City of Baltimore, and State
of Maryland, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES," 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 certain new and useful improvements in Buckles to be
used for various purposes, and especially those designed to be used for Harness,
Trunks, Shawl-straps etc.
As ordinarily constructed, buckles have heretofore been made so that the natural
tendency of the tongue or prong is to close, or, having been closed, to remain so.
It is found in practice, however, that there often arises a necessity for a buckle which
will normally tend to fly open, and which is only kept from so doing by the pressure
of the fabric with which the prong engages, and it is to meet this demand that I have
invented the device hereinafter specified and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and on which
similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features
Fig. 1, represents a plan view of my improvement, showing the same as it appears
when not in use.
Fig. 2, is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a view of a modified form, looking at the rear end of the buckle, and
showing the tongue away from its seat.
Fig. 4, is a sectional view of Fig. 3, taken longitudinally through the buckle, and
Fig. 5, is another modification showing the rear-cross-bar in the same horizontal
plane as the body of the frame.
The letter A, designates a frame of the usual or any approved construction, the same

page_text: being preferably made of sheet metal, so that it can be readily and easily stamped out,
though it may be cast. The frame in this instance is of rectangular form, though not
necessarily so, and the inner edge B, of the forward bar C, is depressed, so that when
the buckle is in use and the teeth or prong is engaged the said prong will impinge
against the depressed edge B, and the point of the teeth being in a plane below that
occupied by the surface of the frame, will not hurt or scratch anyone who may be
engaged in handling goods provided with my improved buckle.
The side-bars D, at a point somewhat forward of the rear-bar E, are provided with
inwardly projecting supporting arms or lugs F, which terminate in pivotal points.
These armis may be cast separately and then soldered or otherwise secured to the side
bars, or they may be made integrally therewith, as in the present instance.
The letter G, refers to the tongue or prong, the same being preferably, also made
of sheet metal, and having one or more teeth or prongs H, there being three shown.
The rear edge, or that edge opposite the prongs, is bent over upon itself in such a
manner as to form hollow spindles I, into which the arms F, project and thus support
the tongue.
The spring J, in the present instance a spiral spring, has the end K, bent toward
the rear of the frame and under the tongue. The spring on the other side is similarly
constructed, so that the normal tendency of the springs is to force the tongue, not
against the edge B, but away from it, so that it is only the hold of the fabric upon the
teeth that keeps the tongue held against the edge B.
Now referring to Fig. 8, the letter A¹, designates the frame proper of the buckle,
the same being of the usual or any approved construction, and in the present instance
having the contour of its upper face slightly concave.
The forward edge of the frame at the point B' is slightly recessed or depressed, in
which depression the tongue or prong rests, as in a seat, when the buckle is under
strain.
Located at a point about midway the ends of the frame, and depending therefrom,
are the lugs and the cross-bar D₁, the lugs and cross-bar being cast integrally with
the frame itself; and the cross-bar is recessed or partially hollowed out on its rear
face, so as to accomodate the prong E. The upper face of the cross-bar D', at its
centre is cut away for a short distance, so as to admit of the play of the prong
As seen in Fig. 4, this prong at its lower end is provided with apertures G, and H',
through the former of which passes a pivot bar I', so as to hold the prong in place.
The side faces of the lugs near the lower ends are drilled, and the pivot bar I', is
driven through first one lug, then through the prong, and then through the other lug,
into which it fits snugly and is firmly secured in place.
The aperture H', is for the insertion of a portion of the spring El, above referred to,
which is coiled first on one side of the prong, then passed through the aperture H',
and then coiled on the other side of the prong, the two ends of said spring being
up-set or turned over against the upper ends J, of the hollowed out cross-bar, so that
the normal tendency of the tongue or prong, is to assume a position opposite to that
which it would occupy when in use or in other words is away from its seat.
The modification shown in Fig. 5, is sometimes found quite useful, especially for
trunks, and shawl-straps etc. and the essential difference between it and the other
forms is in the omission of the rear portion of the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;―
1st. In a buckle, the combination with the frame thereof provided with bearings,
of a tongue having arms mounted upon the bearings and a spring mounted in
proximity thereto in such manner as to normally keep the tongue away from its seat.
2nd. In a buckle, the combination with the frame thereof having its forward bar
depressed and the side bars provided with supporting arms, of a tongue having teeth
and mounted upon said arms and a spring arranged in such relation to the tongue
and arms as to normally keep the tongue away from its seat.
3rd. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described buckle, the same

page_text: consisting of a frame having its inner edge of its forward bar depressed and its side
bars provided with supporting arms, a tongue whose spindles are mounted on the said
arms, and a spiral spring arranged with relation to the tongue and arms in such a
manner that the tongue will normally fly away from its seat.
4th. In a buckle, the combination with the frame thereof of a tongue or prong
mounted on the frame and having a normal tendency to fly away from its seat.
5th. In a buckle, the combination with the frame thereof, and a tongue pivotally
mounted thereon, of a spring arranged in proximity to the tongue in such a manner
as to keep said tongue normally away from its seat.