A NEW HOOK BUTTON FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Layzell Scowen, of Allen Road, South
Hornsey, in the Parish of Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "A NEW HOOK BUTTON FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING."
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 22nd April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Layzell
Scowen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd April 1868.
I, THOMAS LAYZELL SCOWEN, of Allen Road, South Hornsey, in the
Parish of Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW HOOK BUTTON FOR BOOTS, SHOES,
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object greater security, and in some cases
dispensing with button holes, and affording greater facility in fastening,
which Invention consists in having the shanks of buttons long
(length according to purpose), and which shank is placed any distance
from the centre to edge of button according to the purpose intended for,
and bent under the button to form a hook. In others again the shank
is bent to form a double hook for the purpose of attaching the

page_text: hook button to the article without sewing, or button knobs can be
formed on or attached near to the points of the hooks and thus form
a hook button, or the hook button can be formed in one piece. Some
hook buttons will be formed and jointed under the knob in such a
manner that the pulling of the cord, loop, or button hole when hooked
on it will draw the opposite edge of button down to the articlo on
which they are used for the purpose of preventing anything catching
on them. When the above hook button is used on boots which open
up the centre of front a row is placed on each side of opening, and
when used on the ordinary button boot one row is placed on the button
hole piece in lieu of button holes, and a corresponding row lower than
the usual place for buttons on such boots; on either of these boots a
cord is hooked alternately on the two rows of hook buttons, which is
then drawn to close the boot to any degree of tightness required;
similar arrangements can be applied to other articles of dress. When
the hook button is used with button holes the hook shank will be placed
on or near the centre as on. ordinary buttons, and the long end of bent
shank passed through the outer material and attached underneath; this
long bent shank counteracts the pulling up of the button when dragged
upon by the button hole, which makes the fastening more secure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Layzell Scowen in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 21st October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
LAYZELL SCOWEN, of Allen Road, South Hornsey, in the Parish of
Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Layzell Scowen, Her
special licence that I, the said Thomas Layzell Scowen, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Layzell
Scowen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"A NEW HOOK BUTTON FOR BOOTS, SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Layzell
Scowen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters. Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Layzell Scowen, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
:-
one piece.
This Invention has for its object greater security, and in some cases
dispensing with button holes, and affording greater facility in fastening,
which Invention consists in having the shanks of buttons long (length
according to purpose), and which shank is placed any distance from the
centre to edge of button according to the purpose intended for, and
bent under the button to form a hook; refer to Drawings hereunto
annexed, Fig. 1. In others again bent to form a double hook, Fig. 2,
the under part A being pressed up when in the material with suitable
pliers for the purpose of attaching without sewing, or button knobs can
be formed on or attached to the points of hooks and thus forming a
new hook button, or the hook button can be formed in
Some hook buttons will be formed and jointed under the
Fig. 3 and 4, the part B being split to allow the dotted part or lever C
to be jointed between in such manner that the pulling of the cord, loop,
or button hole when hooked on it will draw the opposite edge of button
down to the article on which they are used for the purpose of
preventing anything catching on them. When the above hook button
is used on boots which open up the centre of front a row is placed on
each side of opening, and when used on the ordinary button boot one
row is placed on the button hole piece in lieu of button holes, and a
corresponding row lower than the usual place for buttons on such
boots; on either of these boots a cord is hooked alternately on the two
knob, see

page_text: rows of hook buttons, which is then drawn to close the boot to any
degree of tightness required; similar arrangements can be applied to other
articles of dress. When the hook button is used with button holes the
hook or bent shank can be placed on or near the centre as on ordinary
buttons, see Fig. 5, and the long end passed through the outer material
and attached underneath; this long end of the bent shank counteracts
the pulling up of the button when dragged upon by the button hole,
making the fastening more secure.
I do not confine myself to any particular shaped knob in the
formation of the aforesaid new hook button.
1:
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Layzell Scowen, have here--
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
THOS. HOLTON.
THOMAS LAYZELL SCOWEN. (L.S.)