Improvements in or appertaining to Fastenings for Gloves, Boots, or Analogous Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Fastenings for Gloves, Boots,
or Analogous Articles.
A communication from abroad by FRANKLIN S. MCKENNEY, of Detroit, State of
Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a lacing for kid gloves,
boots, or analogous articles, and consists of the devices and appliances, together with
their combinations and arrangements as more fully hereinafter specified and claimed,
and more particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a view of a glove to which the invention is applied.
Figure 2 is a sectional view through one of the loop-eyelets and face of the glove
on the line x-x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a separate view of one of the completed loop-eyelets.
Figure 4 is a view of a blank from which the loop-eyelet is formed.
Figures 5 and
show modifications of the loop-eyelet.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 5, as applied to an
article of apparel.
In a satisfactory and desirable device for lacing kid gloves, etcetera, it is very
essential that the construction and arrangement of devices be simple, economical and
efficient in their operation, and such as to be readily applied and used. At the same
time the lacing must give an attractive appearance and finish to articles to which it
is applied. It must also be free from roughness, from a tendency to chafe the wearer,
and from a liability of catching and becoming entangled in laces or other articles of
wearing apparel.
It is a well known fact that buttons and glove hooks are a source of much annoy-
ance, on account of such liability and are objectionable from the fact of their often
causing destruction to articles of dress and the like.
It has been the object of this invention to provide a lacing which shall effectually
overcome all these objectionable features and to prevent the objectionable liabilities
heretofore common in devices of this class.
For purposes of illustration, the invention is shewn in the drawings submitted
herewith, as applied to a glove, although it must be understood that. the application
of the invention is not confined to a glove alone, as its application is contemplated
to other purposes for which it is adapted.
The invention is carried out as follows:-
A represents a glove, which may be made and finished in any ordinary manner, a
with the usual inner facing strip A¹ at the edge.
The material of the glove may be turned over and stitched along the edge to form
a neat marginal edge.
The edge of the glove is provided with a series of simple loop-eyelets B which are
constructed and applied to the glove in the following manner :-
As more particularly shown in Figures 3 and 5, the loop-eyelet consists, when
completed ready for application to the glove or other article, of two arms d, d'.
One of said arms is provided with points for fastening the eyelet upon the article.
Attention is specifically called to the fact, that the entire eyelet is stamped or formed
in a single blank or piece, as shown in Figure 4.
Intermediate the extremities of the arms it is proposed to narrow the blank, at
TD 017

page_text: F
twhich point the eye or loop 63 of the eyelet is formed by suitably bending or folding
the blank as shown.
At the point of the loop 63 by suitable means the marginal edges of the device are
turned to throw the edges of the loop 63 outward and thereby prevent unnecessary
wear and friction on the cord, allowing it to run easily through the same.
The present invention is not limited to any exact shape of the extremities of the
eyelet, as one or both may be shaped to form a simulated button head, or otherwise
shaped, to form a neat and attractive appearance.
Any shape may be given thereto which may be desired. The extremity engaging
the under side of the glove is preferably extended a little beyond the termination of
the outer extremity, as thereby greater firmness is given.
In Figure 7 is shewn one extremity constructed with an inwardly turned flange b
under which the points 62 on the opposite extremity may be clinched.
When this construction is employed, the points are entirely concealed when
clinched in the glove, and, being under the outer arın, lie perfectly smooth. As
shown, however, in Figure 3, one extremity may be constructed with marginal
recesses or notches in which the points of the opposite extremity may be engaged
and clinched, the loop-eyelet, when completed ready for application to the article to
be laced, is passed over the marginal edge of the article, as shown, surrounding the
marginal edge of the article, the two arms of the eyelet embracing the edge of the
article. Used upon articles that are pliable and compressible, as ordinary kid, however,
the loop may set in very near the marginal edge.
C represents a lacing cord, which is passed through the loop of the several
eyelets.
The eyelets may be arranged alternately upon the opposite edges of the glove, in
which case one end only of the cord need be passed through the loops, and it will be
evident that by pulling on the one en the cord may be readily drawn up so as to
bring the marginal edges of the glove close together, the lacing cord lying in between
and along said edges, when they are snug together. The cord is provided with a
tab at the end so that it will not pull out through the loops.
It will be seen,
therefore, that the glove may be readily unlaced by loosening the cord and pulling
the edges of the glove apart.
The eyelets being located alternately as described, the edges of the article may
be brought very snugly together. There are no projecting points anywhere to catch,
and the lacing is in every way neat and tasteful in appearance, as well as convenient
and secure.
The loop-eyelets may be applied throughout upon the article to be laced, or, as
shown in Figure 1, the upper part of the article may be provided with hooks D of
ordinary construction upon which the end of the cord may be laced in the usual
manner, thereby taking up the cord, after it has been pulled up to bring the edges
of the article together.
The lacing cord used may be small, and of the same colour as the article to which
it is applied, and so when drawn up is practically concealed from observation.
A loop-eyelet so constructed is made and applied in a single piece, without the
necessity of any additional plate or washer or anything of a similar nature hitherto
employed.
There are no openings or points above the surface.
The cord will never be disengaged from the eyelets, but is always in position to
be grasped and pulled up to bring the edges of the article together, while at the same
time it is readily loosed and the edges of the article drawn back for disengagement.
It is especially evident moreover that the cord being thus engaged with the eyelets
upon both edges of the article upon drawing up the cord, the strain is evenly
distributed to all the eyelets upon both edges tending to easily bring the edges
together to a proper fit without the liability of stretching or tearing at any particular
point as in the case of a button or hook, as the strain is so evenly distributed the
lacing may be carried to the lowest point of opening at the palm, thereby nicely
"closing that part which is usually left to gape open by the devices hitherto in use.

page_text: The construction and arrangement are such that the orifices of the eyelets all lie in
the same direction as the marginal edge of the article to which they are applied, and
all in line with the lacing cord when the article is laced up. This construction and
arrangement lessens friction and allows the marginal edges of the article to be brought
snugly together, the lacing lying in between said edges.
These loop-eyelets when applied to a glove present a smooth surface on the interior
and exterior, a matter of great advantage and superiority.
It will be evident that, when clinched upon the article, the two arms are clinched
and held firmly together. Where the eyelets are provided with points, no orifices
are required to be cut in the article to which the eyelet is attached, dispensing with
the process of punching the material to receive the fastening, leaving the material
intact and in its full strength. The invention however is not limited to this con-
struction, for, as shown in Figure 6, one arm may be perforated as at 66 while the
other arm is constructed with an integral eyelet 67 adapted to pass through the
perforation of the opposite arm and be clinched therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion 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. As an article of manufacture, a loop-eyelet constructed with arms adapted to
embrace the material, one of said arms provided with a fastening for engaging said
material and the other arm provided with a seat for said fastening, substantially as
set forth.
2. A glove, boot, or analogous article provided with loop-eyelets constructed with
arms embracing the marginal edges of said article of apparel, one of said arms provided
with fastening projections for engaging the apparel, and the cther arm provided with
seats for said fastening projections, the edges of the end portion of the loop being
curved outward, substantially as set forth.
3. As an article of manufacture, a loop-eyelet constructed with arms adapted to
embrace the material, one of said arms provided with piercing prongs on opposite
marginal edges, and the other arm provided with seats at its sides to be engaged by
said piercing prongs, the edges of the end portion of the loop being curved outwardly,
substantially as set forth.
4. As an article of manufacture, a loop-eyelet constructed with arms adapted to
embrace the material, one of said arms provided with piercing prongs on its opposite
marginal edges and the other arm provided with marginal recesses on its opposite
sides to be engaged by said piercing prongs, the edges of the end portion of the loop
being curved outward, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.