IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR HOLDING OR SECURING THE LACES OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Green, of Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Solicitor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
OR APPLIANCES FOR HOLDING OR SECURING THE LACES OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 3rd July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Green at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1879.
THOMAS GREEN, of Northampton, in the County of Northampton, Solicitor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR HOLDING OR SECURING THE
LACES OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention has for its object to secure the laces of boots and shoes without
having to tie the ends thereof. For this purpose I construct a metal clip consisting
of a piece of metal having one or more narrow grooves or slits of such a width
that the lace on being passed in at the open end will be held thereby with sufficient
friction to prevent it from falling out. If necessary the hold may be increased by
roughening the surfaces of the groove or by making the edges thereof project
slightly. The clip may be formed by bending up a flat strip of metal so that a
narrow space constituting the said groove intervenes between the two parts, or the
strip may be bent backwards and forwards so as to form two such narrow grooves.
If desired the clip may be formed with two opposite grooves by bending up the
two ends of a long strip. The clip may be secured to the side of the boot or shoe
at any convenient point, either by providing it with a shank that is secured to the
leather by rivetting or otherwise, or it may have a plate attached to it with holes,
so that it can be sewn to the leather.
。 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Green in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd January
1880.
THOMAS GREEN, of Northampton, in the County of Northampton, Solicitor.
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPLIANCES FOR HOLDING OR SECURING THE
5 LACES OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention has for its object to secure the laces of boots and shoes without

page_text: having to tie the ends thereof. For this purpose I construct a metal clip consisting
of a piece of metal having one or more narrow grooves or slits of such a width
that the lace on being passed in at the open end will be held thereby with sufficient
friction to prevent it from falling out. If necessary the hold may be increased by
roughening the surfaces of the groove or by making the edges thereof project
slightly. The clip may be formed by bending up a flat strip of metal so that a
narrow space constituting the said groove intervenes between the two parts, or the
strip may be bent backwards and forwards so as to form two such narrow grooves.
If desired the clip may be formed with two opposito grooves by bending up the
two ends of a long strip. The clip may be secured to the side of the boot or shoe 1
at any convenient point, either by providing it with a shank that is secured to the
leather by rivetting or otherwise, or it may have a plate attached to it with holes,
on that :.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews part of a lace boot B with my before-described lace-clip attached
thereto at A. The clip consists of a piece of metal cast or bent into a hook shape,
so as to have a narrow slot or groove a into which the lace b is inserted, the groove
being of such a width as to slightly nip the lace when introduced, and to increase
the hold the surfaces may be slightly roughened, or by preference it is corrugated
or grooved, as shewn in front view, side view, and cross section respectively
nt Figs. 2, 3, and 4; or the grooves may be formed as shown at the section at
Fig. 4a.
For securing the clip to the boot it may either have a projecting hollow stud c,
Fig. 3, on its back surface, so as to be rivetted to the leather B, as shewn at Fig. 5,
the cup-shaped end A¹ serving to enable the clip to be fastened to the leather by
means of the same machine as that by which the ordinary lace hooks are secured,
or it may have a hole at its end and be secured by a separate eyelet rivet, as at d,
Fig. 6, or it may have a plate with holes, as at e, Fig. 7, by which it can be sewn to
the leather.
In Figs. 6 and 7 the clip is shewn with a double groove, so that the lace can be
secured by passing it first into the one groove and then over into the other; Fig. 8
shews a double clip for the same purpose, or for securing both the laces to one and
the same clip instead of having one on each side of the boot.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. The use in combination with a boot or shoe of a metal clip or holder
having one or inore narrow grooves into which the boot lace is passed so as to be
held thereby, substantially as herein described.
Second. The manufacture of metal clips for securing the laces of boots or shoes
having a narrow groove into which the lace is passed, the surfaces of such groove
being roughened, grooved, or corrugated, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Green, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.