Improvements in Fastenings for Belts, Corsets, Gloves, Bags, Boots and Shoes, and other articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1892—Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892**
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Belts, Corsets, Gloves, Bags, Boots
and Shoes, and other articles.
I, JAMES JOHN APSEY, of 26 Anstey Road, Baker Street, Reading, Berkshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of fastenings for belts, corsets,
dresses, boots and shoes, bags, portmanteaus, and other articles in which one part
is required to be fastened to the other at more than one point in the same line.
The fastener is of the stud and slotted plate kind such as is generally used for
fastening corsets, formed of two strips of metal, the stud or button or studs or
buttons of one strip passing into the slot or slots of the other strip through passages
at, or enlargements of one end of each slot, or otherwise.
I effect the longitudinal movement and locking together of the two strips by
means of an eccentric having a throw about equal to the length of a slot, attached
at any convenient point to one of the strips, preferably by a rivet about which it
can be rotated. At the corresponding point in the other strip, a transverse slot
is cut whose width is about equal to the diameter of the eccentric, and which may
open at the edge so that the eccentric can be passed in, or it may not be open at
the edge, the eccentric being inserted from the back or front of the strip. When
the eccentric (which relatively to the longitudinal movement of the strips is at one
of its dead centres) and the studs or buttons have entered their corresponding
slots a half turn is given to the eccentric, causing the studs to move lengthwise
to the narrow ends of the slots where they then become locked by reason of the
eccentric being on its opposite dead centre.
The two strips may be made detachable one from the other for use with corsets,
bags and the like, but in some cases, with gloves, some boots and shoes for example,
it may be desirable that the strips should open at one end only, like a pair of
scissor blades. In this case the stud at that end about which the strips rotate is
so fastened to its slot that it can only move lengthwise therein.
Dated this 20th day of October 1891.
JAMES JOHN APSEY
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
› Improvements in Fastenings for Belts, Corsets, Gloves, Bags, Boots
and Shoes, and other articles.
I, JAMES JOHN APSEY, of 26 Anstey Road, Baker Street, Reading, Berkshire,
Engineer, 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 Specification refers to improvements in fasteners of the stud and slotted
plate kind such as are generally used for fastening corsets, formed of two strips,
the studs of one strip passing into the slots of the other strip through passages at,
or enlargements of one end of each slot.
It is found that fastenings of this kind are unreliable, frequently becoming
accidentally unfastened, and as frequently resisting all efforts used to unfasten
them.
.
The object of this invention is principally to remedy these defects. For this
purpose I use an eccentric, having throw about equal to the length of one of the
slots, to retain the strips in the fastened or unfastened position, and to assure the
release of one strip from the other quickly and surely when required.

page_text: When the eccentric is at or near one of its dead points the studs are at the
closed ends of their respective slots, while at the opposite dead point, the studs are
at the open ends of the slots for unfastening.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front view of the fastener improved, as applied to corsets.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same fastener, and Fig. 3 shows the corset fastener
open.
Fig. 4 is a front view of the fastener adapted for a belt.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the fastener as applied to boots and shoes and
Figs. 7 & 8 show the invention as applied to bags and portmanteaus.
Like reference letters and figures refer to like parts.
A, is the eccentric secured to one of the strips a by a rivet or stem B, about
which it may be partially or entirely rotated by means of the handle C which may
be made to fold flat as shown. A forked piece D, between the legs of which the
· eccentric A rotates when the article is to be fastened or unfastened, being secured
to the other strip b at such a point that when the studs c are at the closed ends of
the slots d, the eccentric A is at, or near one of its dead points, i.e., the centre of
the eccentric A, and the centre of the rivet or stem B are in a line which is
parallel, or nearly so, to the slots d, and when the studs are at the opposite open
ends of the slots the eccentric is at or near the opposite dead point.
The mode of operation is as follows:-Referring to the corset fastener, Figs. 1,
2 & 3. To fasten: The lower stud is first inserted into the open end of the
corresponding slot, and the eccentric A being at the dead point shown in Fig. 3,
the other studs c are introduced into the open ends of their slots d, the eccentric
sliding between the legs of the fork D, the eccentric A is then given half a
"revolution by means of the handle C, causing the strips a and b to move longi-
tudinally in opposite directions, and the studs c to pass to the closed ends of the
..' slots d.
8
$
L
To unfasten -The eccentric A when in the position shown in Fig. 1, is given
a half revolution causing the studs c to move to the open ends of the slots d, when
the strips a and b will separate.
The belt fastener shown in Figs. 4 & 5 does not differ materially from the
fastener described for.corsets.
For boots and shoes the strips are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 permanently attached
to each other at that end nearest the sole, the stud c at that point sliding in a
slot which is closed at both ends. In this case one or both of the strips a and b
may slide longitudinally in the casing of leather in which they are enclosed. In
Fig. 6, the boot is shown as having a loose fly or disguising flap which covers the
fastener when closed.
Figs 7 and 8, show the invention as applied to bags or portmanteaus. The
action is precisely similar, but the construction is slightly different to those already
described, the eccentric A is attached to the slotted strip b which constitutes the
frame of the bag or portmanteau, by a stem B fixed to the eccentric passing through
a hole in the said frame 6 which thus forms a bearing in which the stem can rotate,
the eccentric being on the inner or under side of the upper part of the frame b,
while at the upper end of the stem B, outside the frame b, is fixed the handle C.
The studded strip a is attached to the upper part of the frame 6 by studs f, working
in slots which permit a longitudinal movement only, this strip a, also corresponds
to the piece D before described being provided with a transverse slot against the
sides of which the eccentric works when being turned by the handle C. The
slotted strip or frame b is formed and joined together in the manner usual for bag
or portmanteau frames and when closed the slots d engage with the studs c of the
movable strip a.
For dresses I use a fastener like that described for corsets Figs. 1, 2 & 3. In
dresses which fasten at the back this invention becomes most useful, the handle C
being placed.at a point on the fastening convenient to be reached by the wearer
I construct the fastener for gloves similar to that shown in Figs. 5 & 6.

page_text: For gaiters or spats I arrange the strips so that they lie one upon the other
when fastened, like those in Figs. 5 & 6, but as the strips in this case are required
to separate, the slots are both provided with openings at one end like those in
Figs. 1 & 4. The eccentric in this case is attached to the slotted strip by a stem
carrying a handle as in Figs. 7 & 8, the forked piece being carried by the studded
strip.
In practice I have found it useful to make the forked piece of such a form as
to continually exert a spring pressure upon the eccentric and the strip to which the
eccentric is attached, so preventing any accidental rotation, the friction between
these parts being sufficient to retain the eccentric on its dead point when its stem
or rivet has become worn and loose, or I retain it by other equivalent means if
desired.
In the fastener as used for bags and portmanteaus I may form the eccentric
so that it can be locked in place by a bolt operated by a detachable key, or
otherwise.
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 :-
1st. In fastenings of the kind herein described for belts, corsets, gloves, bags,
boots and shoes and other articles, an eccentrically moving part substantially as,
and for the purpose described.
2nd. In fastenings of the kind and for the purpose herein described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, the eccentrically moving part A, and forked
piece D, in combination with the strip a, carrying studs c, and slotted strip b,
substantially as, and for the purpose described.
Dated this 25th day of July 1892.
JAMES JOHN APSEY.