Year: 1887

page_text: I JOHN GARRETT TONGUE of 34 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents (a communication from
John Boyle, of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York United States
of America Manufacturer) 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved grommet to be applied to sails, awnings and
other fabrics exposed to great strain; and the invention consists of a grommet, com-
posed of a flanged thimble, a ring retained by said thimble and an intermediate pronged
washer, the prongs of which pierce the fabric and are clinched between the flange of
the thimble and the ring.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of this
improved grommet.
Figures 2 and 3 are bottom views of the intermediate pronged washer, which form
part of the grommet, and
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on line ac, of the washer shown in
Figure 3.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings a represents a flanged thimble or male part, and the
ring-shaped female part of my improved grommet. Between the flange of the
thimble a and ring b is interposed a pronged washer d. The prongs d' of the washer d
are forced through the fabric and clinched when the shank of the thimble is clinched
in the usual manner over the ring. The prongs of the washer d may be either
formed at the edge as shown in Figure 2, or punched out from the body of the washer,
as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the grommet has to be attached to the fabric,
such as a sail, a hole is first pierced, the washer placed in position on the shank of the
thimble, the shank of the thimble a passed through the hole of the fabric, the ring b
place on the shank of the thimble at the opposite side of the fabric and then the
shank or eye of the thimble clinched over the fabric and ring by suitable dies. Simul-
taneously the piercing of the fabric is produced by the prongs of the washer and the

page_text: clinching of the same, so that they firmly grip the fabric and enable the grommet to
resist great strain exerted thereon. The pronged washer may be made of metal or other
suitable material, or in the shape of a wire-ring, having barbed or protuding points, or
of metal points, held in position by means of a washer of paper, cloth, rubber, leather
or other material of sufficient consistency and strength. The pronged washer is held
in position on the fabric by the thimble and ring of the grommet, which fully enclose
the washer and establish a rigid connection with the fabric, by the piercing of the
fabric by the prongs and the clinching of the prongs.
The pronged washer can be used on any grommet heretofore in use, and increases
the rigid connection of the same with the fabric and the resistance of the same to
strain in a high degree.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A grommet, composed of a flanged thimble, a ring retained by said thimble and
an independent washer interposed between the flange of said thimble and the fabric
and provided with prongs that pierce the fabric and are clinched by contact with said
ring substantially as set forth.