IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY PINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SAFETY PINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS." A communication from
abroad by Edouard Baillet, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 26th August 1879, and dated the 21st March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY PINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS."
[A communication from abroad by Edouard Baillet, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in what are known as safety pins
or nursery pins, which are usually made of brass wire bent so as to form a projecting
guard for the point of the pin. The objections to this kind of pin as ordinarily
made are that the metal of which the pin is made has little elasticity or strength,
and the pin becomes misshapen by a slight pressure or strain, so that the point,
escaping from the guard or protector, is no longer shielded, and the pin is rendered
unserviceable. The improved safety pin of this Invention is free from the above
objections.
According to this Invention the guard for the point of the pin does not project as
heretofore, but is formed by a hollow or channel on the inner side of the end of the
opposite limb of the pin, forming a sheath in which the point is received when the
pin is closed, so that the one limb is let into the other, end to end as it were. This
improved pin is preferably made of steel wire in order that it may have the desired
strength and elasticity.
It should be understood that the improved safety pin may be of various forms,
according to the purpose to which it is to be applied. Thus it may be oval, rect-
angular, square, round, or of other form, the chief feature of the Invention consisting
in the guard or shield for the point as herein specified, which may be applied to all
kinds of fasteners for analogous purposes.

page_text: In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated a
few examples of the improved safety pin in the annexed Drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 show one form, the shield or guard being in section in Figure 1 to
show how the point of the pin is received therein. Figure 3 shows a similar pin,
but looped at the opposite end to give it more elasticity. Figure 4 shows two
views of a modified form, the sheath or guard being also shown in section in one of
the views. Figure 5 shows on a larger scale the portion of the safety pin which
forms the guard for the point.
a, a, is the safety pin complete; b, its point; c, the guard or shield for the point;
and d, in Figure 4, the loop to enable the pin to open out wider.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th August 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY PINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENINGS."
A communication from abroad by Edouard Baillet, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in what are known as safety pins
or nursery pins, which are usually made of brass wire having the extremity of one
limb bent so as to form a projecting guard for the point of the pin. The objections
to this kind of pin as ordinarily made are that the metal of which the pin is made
has little elasticity or strength, and the pin becomes misshapen under slight pressure
or strain, so that the point, escaping from the guard or protector, is no longer
shielded, and the pin is rendered unserviceable.
The improved safety pin of this Invention is free from the above objections.
According to this Invention the guard for the point of the pin does not project as
heretofore, but is formed by hollowing or channelling the end of the opposite limb
of the pin on the inside to form a sheath, in which the point is received when the
pin is closed, so that the point of the one limb (the pin) is let into the end of the
other limb end to end. This improved pin is preferably made of steel wire, in order
that it may have the desired strength and elasticity.
.
It should be understood that the improved safety pin may be of various forms,
according to the purpose to which it is to be applied. Thus it may be oval, rect-
angular, square, round, or of other form, the chief feature of the Invention consisting
in the guard or shield for the point as herein specified, which may be applied to all
kinds of fasteners for analogous purposes.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated a
few examples of the improved safety pin in the annexed Drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 show one form, the shield or guard being in section in Figure 1, to
show how the point of the pin is received therein. Figure 3 shows a similar pin,
but looped at the opposite end to give it more elasticity. Figure 4. shows two
views of a modified form, the sheath or guard being also shown in section in one of
the views. Figure 5 shows on a larger scale the portion of the safety pin which
forms the guard for the point which is indicated by dotted lines. a, a, is the safety
pin complete; b, its point; c, the guard or shield for the point; and d, in Figure 3,
the loop to enable the pin to open out wider.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,—
A safety pin or similar fastener provided with a guard or sheath for the point of
the pin formed by a groove in the end of the other limb, in which the point of the
pin is received, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)