Improvements in Lacing Hooks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lacing Hooks.
I, HORATIO OLIVER WITYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora,
in the County of Kane and State of Illinois, United States of America, Real
Estate Agent, 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 fastenings for boots and shoes or garments wherein
a lacing is employed to hold confronting edges together, and the primary object
of the invention is to overcome an objection heretofore existing to the use of the
ordinary form of lacing hook in ladies' shoes, namely, that skirts are apt to catch
upon the hooks, and, moreover, the rubbing of the skirts against the hooks wears
away the enamel on the latter. Other objects are to provide a form of fastening
which will obviate a strain tending to press the portion of the hook-supporting eye-
let nearest the edge of the shoe inwardly and pull the outer portion of the eyelet
outwardly, and to provide for lacing with a flat string without causing the same to
be twisted or rolled up, as is the case with the ordinary form of hook, by reason
of the fact that the edge of the flat: string works against the bend of the hook;
and further to provide a simple and efficient attaching member for securing the
lacing. hook proper to the article on which the hooks are to be used and to adapt
it to serve as a means for forming a pivotal connection between the same and the
lacing hook, so. as to dispense with sockets or eyes, or other auxiliary devices
such as are usually employed in forming the pivotal connection between two
pivotally-connected parts; and further to provide an economical and efficient
method of producing such attaching members.
While accomplishing the above objects, I also provide for convenient manipula-
tion of the fastenings, so that the operation of lacing is not made more difficult
than with the usual form of hook. Moreover, my invention provides for conform-
ing a shoe more closely to the shape of the foot so that greater comfort and a neater
fit is obtainable than with the usual form of fastenings.
In order to attain the above stated objects, I construct the fastenings so that
when the shoe is laced up no portion of the fastening projects in a marked degree
from the surface of the shoe, but all parts lie so flatly against the same as to offer
no protuberance upon which a skirt can catch. At the same time the form of the
hook with which the lace engages is such that the flat side and not the edge of
the lace draws on the hook.
The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described, with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and
then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.
In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference are used to denote corres-
ponding parts in different views,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a lady's shoe having its confronting
or opposite edges secured together by means of a suitable lace and lacing hooks
embodying my invention.

page_text: Figure 2 represents one of the improved fasteners detached and shown in plan
on a greatly enlarged scale, as compared with Figure 1, the hook appearing in the
plane of the outer flange of the eyelet.
Figure 3 shows the fastening in cross-section together with portions of the shoe-
quarters.
Figure 4 represents the fastening in perspective, illustrating the manner of
engaging the shoe lace therewith.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modified construction, a
portion of the eyelet being broken out.
Figure 6 represents the hook of this modified fastening detached.
Figure 7 shows this modified form of fastening in cross-section together with
portions of the shoe-quarters.
Figure 8 shows another modification in which the hook appears in plan view
lying over a piece of material to which it is attached, and the securing clip is
shown in section.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of embodiment of the
invention, and
Figure 10 represents in perspective a securing clip which may be employed
with either of the forms of hooks shown in Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 11 is a plan of another modified form of lacing hook embodying my
invention, showing the same on an enlarged scale.
Figure 12 is an inverted or bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 11, showing the
lacing hook proper raised or turned outward on its pivot away from the point of
attachment.
Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view on the line 14-14 of Figure 19, looking
in the direction of the arrow 1.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of the same, on the line 15-15 of Figure 19, look-
ing in the direction of the arrow 2.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a metallic blank or plate with prongs pro-
jecting from one edge thereof, illustrating the first step in my method of produ-
cing the attaching member or eyelet of the form shown in Figures 11 to 15, for
securing the lacing hook proper to the material on which it is to be used.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the plate shown in Figure 16 with the prongs
thereon bent at right angles thereto, which is the second step of said method.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the two members of the lacing device of the
form shown in Figure 11, in position to be connected together; the attaching
member being shown in the form in which it is hent in the third step of said
method.
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the two parts of the device of the form shown
in Figure 11 assembled and coupled together, showing the shorter intermediate
prong of the attaching member bent over onto the shank or pintle of the hook
so as to clasp or embrace the same and form a pivotal connection therewith, and
Figure 20 is a plan view of a curved blank or strip with prongs projecting from
the curved edge thereof, illustrating a form of blank that may be produced as
the first step in my method of producing the attaching member of the form shown
in Figures 11 to 15.
The devices shown in Figures, 2 to 20 inclusive are represented on an enlarged
scale.
The reference letter a in Figure 1 designates the shoe quarters, the lower por-
tions of which are provided with the usual eyelets with which the lacing is en-
gaged. At the upper portions of these quarters rows of fastenings of my invention
are located, and each of these fastenings, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, may
comprise an evelet whose upper or outer portion is formed so as to provide a sub-
stantially rectangular cross-wise opening or slot c¹, and its upper or outer flange
at one side is cut away entirely, as shown at ², so as to provide for said slot open-
ing out of the side of the eyelet, and the flange also cut away on one side of the

page_text: said slot, as shown at c³. The eyelet is fastened in the material of the shoe in the
ordinary way, by upsetting one end of its tubular portion so as to produce the
cross-sectional appearance shown in Figure 3, and in the socket of the eyelet there
is a pintle or pivot pin d, which extends through opposite walls of the said socket
and is centrally located in the latter. This pintle may be secured in any suitable
way in the eyelet, or may be confined against endwise movement merely by the
walls of the opening in the material in which the eyelet is secured, and said
pintle constitutes a pivot for the hook with which the lacing is engaged; the hook
and its pivot lying substantially in the same plane. This hook is arranged to
normally lie flatwise on the surface of the material to which the attaching member
or eyelet is secured, and in the same plane as the outer flange of the eyelet, and
is adapted to swing on its pivot outwardly or away from said surface, to permit
the insertion or removal of the lace. This hook consists of an oblong portion e
and a flat stem or tang e shaped to conform to the slot el in the eyelet and occupy-
ing the same, the inner portion of said tang being bent around the pintle d so as
to pivot thereon, or of course the pintle may turn with the tang by reason of
being loosely engaged with openings in the walls of the eyelet. The hook proper c
has an inturned end portion or toe e² which is rounded and confronts an oppositely
curved or rounded portion of the tang so that a throat is formed at this point
through which the lacing is adapted to pass edgewise. It will be seen that the
slot in the top of the eyelet and the cut away portion accommodate the tang
and a portion of the hook proper when the latter is pressed downwardly or in-
wardly, and hence no portion of the hook projects outwardly beyond the plane of
the flange of the eyelet. Therefore when the lacing is engaged with the hooks and
drawn across the meeting edges of the shoe in the ordinary way, the pull exerted
has a tendency to flatten the hooks against the shoe.
The lacing can be very readily engaged with the hooks when the same stand out-
wardly at an angle to the eyelets, as they can be readily caused to do by movement
on their pivots. In unlacing, the hooks are naturally thrown outwardly, and they
are apt to maintain that position so that no adjustment of them is necessary in
Jacing, but should they not be in such position as to readily receive the lacing,
it is an easy matter to throw them out with the lacing. The outward movement
of the hook is limited by the tang coming in contact with the rear wall of the eye-
let, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3, so that there is no possibility of the
hook falling over backwards.
Referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that with the hook standing out from the
eyelet the lace can be easily passed through the throat of the hook and into the
the latter and when beyond the toe e² and enclosed by the hook the lace can be
brought back over the hook with its flat side drawing on the latter as shown in
Figure 1. In unlacing the strings can be pulled through in the ordinary way
and there will be no danger of stripping the metal tips as frequently occurs when
pulling shoe strings through eyelets. Of course the unlacing can be accomplished
by a movement directly the reverse of that pursued in lacing.
It will be seen that in addition to the advantage of having the hook lie flatly
against the shoe, as it is bound to do so long as there is any pull exerted by the
lacing, a flat lacing is not twisted or rolled up by engagement with the hook but
its flat side lies over the long portion of the hook as well illustrated in Figure 1.
Moreover, by reason of the connection of the hooks with the central portions of the
eyelets there is no tendency to tilt the eyelets and press the ivner portions thereof
inwardly to the discomfort of the wearer, or to pull their outer portions out of the
material of the shoe, as so often happens with the ordinary form of rigid hook.
The neatness in appearance of the form of fastening above described will be
apparent, as also its entire practicability. The invention is capable of embodi-
ment in many other ways, and in the accompanying drawings a number of them
are illustrated. In the form of construction shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the
outer flange f, of the eyelet is cut out in substantially the same way as the outer
flange of the eyelet shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, but the socket of the eyelet

page_text: is formed with vertical grooves in opposite side walls as shown at f, the bases
of which grooves constitute bearings for short trunnions formed upon opposite
ends of a boss f³ from which the stem or tang f of the hook springs, the hook
proper f being of the same form as the hook proper shown in the preceding figures.
A cap is applied over the outer flange of the eyelet, this cap being crimped
under said flange and slotted to correspond therewith, but the slot being sufficiently
narrow to provide for portions of said cap extending over portions of the boss f
so as to prevent the trunnions f from riding up in the slots f¹.
While I consider it preferable to employ the eyelet or equivalent form of secur-
ing device for the hook, yet it is within the scope of my invention to employ other
forms of securing means which will permit the hinged movement of the hook, and
in Figure 8 I have shown a hook in the form of a round rod or wire bent into
partly circular form to constitute a hook proper and provided with a straight inner
end portion constituting a pintle which is recessed to provide a reduced por-
tion, and this reduced portion is embraced by a metallic clip comprising a tubular
part occupying the recess of the pintle and clinching, tangs which pass
through the material of the shoe or garment and are bent over on the under side
of the same, as illustrated in broken liues in Figure 8. In Figure 9 a hook some-
thing similar to that shown in Figure 8 is illustrated, said hook being formed of
a rounded wire or rod bent into partly circular form to constitute the hook proper i,
and reversely bent to provide a pintle portion it, shouldered to confine the fasten-
ing device which in this instance is a thread or cord stitched through the material
and embracing the pintle portion of the hook between the shoulders thereof.
The lacing hook proper in the form shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 18 and 19,
Sheet 2 of the drawings, consists preferably of an oblong portion m and a flat
shank or tango, shaped to conform to the opening or slot between the two arms
of the attaching member to be presently described; said tang being formed or
provided with a pivot pin or pintle p, for pivotal engagement with the attaching
member. The attaching member consists of a substantially U-shaped body por-
tion or strip, the arm of which extends slightly beyond the arms and on the
inner edge thereof are formed a series of pendant preferably equi-distant prongs,
and an intermediate preferably shorter prong . The shorter arms of the attach-
ing member is preferably cut square across so as to form a shoulder or abutment
for contact with a correspondingly shaped shoulder on the lacing hook, the tang
of which, carrying the pintle, is fitted in the opening or slot formed by or between
the two arms of the attaching member with its pivot pin or pintle resting on the
under side thereof, and is pivotally connected therewith by turning down the short
prong, so that it may overlap and clasp or embrace the rear portion of the tang
or the pintle thereon in such manner as to pivotally connect the two parts thus
assembled.
In Figures 16 to 19 I have illustrated the attaching member in different stages
of its development so as to illustrate the several steps taken in its production. In
Figure 16 is shown a flat strip or blank, having a series of prongs projecting
from one edge thereof in the plane of said strip or blank portion, one of said
prongs being preferably shorter than the other for a purpose to be presently
stated; the said prongs corresponding with the prongs t, t, in the complete device
shown in Figures 18 and 19. This strip with its prongs in the form shown may
be stamped or cut out of sheet brass, or sheet or other metal by means of suitable
dies or otherwise, which constitutes the first step in the method of production. The
said prongs are next bent at right angles to the blank or body portion of said
attaching member, so that they may assume the form shown in Figure 17, and
either before or after or simultaneously with the bending of the prongs the blank
or strip is preferably bent transversely, as also shown in Figure 17, so as to pro-
duce a slightly concave form, or a depressed center with beaded edges which may
take into and secure a firm hold upon the material to which the device is secured.
But this bending of the blank transversely is not essential and may be dispensed
with. The blank is then swaged or pressed into a substantially U-shaped form,

page_text: as shown in Figure 18, in which, as shown, each of the arms of the strip is pro-
vided with a prong on the inner edge thereof, substantially equi-distant from a
third prong in the rear, one prong being located at the terminus of the arm and
the other arm extending slightly beyond this point, while the third prong depends
from the edge of the strip at the rear side of the opening or slot therein. The
shorter prong occupies a position between one of the front prongs and the prong
at the rear.
In assembling the two parts constructed as shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 18
and 19, they are brought to the position shown in Figure 18, and thereupon the
shank of the hook proper is fitted into the slot or opening between the two arms
of the attaching member with the pivot pin or pintle thereon resting against or
on said arms, adjacent to the two outermost or front prongs, whereupon the short
prong is bent over so as to overlap and clasp or embrace the tang or pivot pin p
in such manner as to pivotally connect and secure the two members together;
the front prongs serving to prevent the withdrawal of the tang and consequent
separation. Thus assembled the lacing device is adapted for attachment to the
confronting edges of the shoe uppers or other article to which such devices are to
be applied, by inserting the prongs through the material and clamping the same
on the opposite side. When attached in the manner indicated in Figure 1, Sheet!
of the drawings, the material will serve to prevent separation of the parts the
same as the short prong, hence the latter is used principally for convenience in
assembling the parts and retaining them in assembled position ready for attach-
ment to the article on which the device is to be used.
Instead of cutting or stamping out a straight blank, as indicated in Figure 16,
the curved form shown in Figure 20 may be preferred, as in the latter case there
is less distention of the metal along the outer edge of the strip in bending than
in the former, and also less compression about the bases of the prongs so that
there is less liability of weakening the strip in bending than in the form shown
in Figure 16, but the compression within reasonable limits about the bases of the
prongs is desirable as it gives increased strength and rigidity to the device.
It will be seen that the several modified constructions embody the same prin-
ciple as the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and that the operation
of lacing with these modified forms would be substantially the same as that ex-
plained in connection with said construction.
In using hooks such as have heretofore been employed the difficulty of engaging
and disengaging the lacing makes such constructions impracticable. Moreover
in fastenings of the description heretofore produced there is the further objection
that the strain exerted upon the hook has a tendency to press the inner
portion of the eyelet inwardly and pull the outer portion of the eyelet from the
material as with the ordinary form of hook. I am aware that there are instances
in the prior art of hinged lacing hooks employed in boots and shoes, and that these
hinged hooks have been employed in conjunction with eyelets, but in no prior
patent to my knowledge has a flat hook been hinged to an eyelet or equivalent
device, and such contrivances as are exhibited in said patents are impracticable
in use and subject to the principal objections my invention is designed to over-
come, as above stated. Compared with the prior forms of fastenings employing
hinged hooks, a form of fastening embodying my invention is obviously superior
in the facility with which the lacing and unlacing operations can be pursued, and
also in the matter of relieving strain upon the eyelet tending to the discomfort
of the wearer and also to the disengagement of the eyelet from the material. More-
over, my form of fastening is better adapted to accomplish the object of preventing
the catching of garments and also the wearing of the surface of the fastenings by
contact with the garments.
It is evident that the invention is capable of embodiment in other forms than
those here shown, and hence in the appended claims the essential elements are
recited. without restriction to details of construction.

page_text: my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
1. A lacing device comprising two pivotally connected members, one of which
is constructed for attachment to the article to be laced and the other provided
with a hook arranged to normally lie flatwise on the surface of the material to
which the attaching member is secured and to swing outward or away from said
surface to permit the insertion or removal of the lace, substantially as described.
2. In a laced shoe or garment, a flat lacing hook connected with the material
of the shoe or garment adjacent to the edge thereof, so as to be pivotally movable
toward and from the surface of said material, said flat lacing hook and its pivot
lying substantially in the same plane as set forth.
3. A fastening for laced shoes or garments, the same comprising a securing
device for anchorage in the material of the shoe or garment, and a flat lacing hook
hingedly connected with said securing device so as to be pivotally movable toward
and from the surface of said material, said flat lacing hook and its pivot lying
substantially in the same plane as set forth.
4. A fastening for laced shoes or garments, the same comprising an eyelet for
anchorage in the material of the shoe or garment, and a flat lacing hook hingedly
connected with said eyelet in the socket thereof so as to be movable toward and
from the surface of said material, said flat lacing, hook and its pivot lying sub-
stantially in the same plane as set forth.
5. An attaching member for lacing hooks consisting of a substantially U-shaped
strip or body portion having a series of prongs projecting from its inner curved
edge at right angles thereto, one of said prongs being adapted to be bent over so
as to embrace the tang of the hook proper and pivotally connect the same with
the attaching member, while the other prongs serve as a means for securing the
device to the article to be laced, substantially as described.
6. The hereinbefore described method of forming an attaching member or eyelet
for securing a lacing hook, which consists in stamping or cutting out from a suit-
able blank of sheet or other metal a strip of the desired length and width with a
series of prongs projecting from one edge thereof, then bending said prongs at
an angle to the strip, and finally bending the strip edgewise into a substantially
U-shaped form, thus grouping the attaching prongs, substantially as described.
7. The hereinbefore described method of forming an attaching member or eyelet
for securing a lacing hook, which consists in cutting out from a suitable blank
of sheet or other metal a flat strip of the desired length and width with a series of
prongs projecting from one edge thereof, then bending said prongs at right angles
to the strip, and then bending the strip edgewise toward the bases of the prongs
into a substantially U-shaped form, thus grouping the attaching prongs on the
inner circle of the strip, substantially as described.
il
8. A fastening for faced shoes or garments, the same comprising an eyelet for
anchorage in the material of the shoe or garment, and a flat facing hook having
stem or tang pivoted in the socket of the eyelet, said flat lacing hook and its pivot
lying substantially in the same plane and the hook adapteď to lie against the
material of the shoe in the plane of the outer flange of the eyelet, substantially
as described.
9. A fastening for laced shoes or garments, the same comprising an eyelet having
a slotted outer flange, and a flat lacing hook having a stem or tang pivoted in the
socket of the eyelet, said flat lacing hook and its pivot lying substantially in
the same plane and the hook adapted to lie against the material of the shoe in the
plane of the outer flange of the eyelet, the tang occupying the slot of the latter,
substantially as described.
10. A fastening for laced shoes or garments, the same comprising an eyelet
having a slotted outer flange, a flat lacing hook having a stem or tang pivoted in
the socket of the eyelet, said flat lacing hook and its pivot lying substantially in

page_text: T
the same plane and the hook adapted to lie against the material of the shoe in the
plane of the outer flange of the eyelet, the tang occupying the slot of the latter;
together with a cap applied to the eyelet flange and correspondingly slotted, sub-
stantially as described."
HORATIO OLIVER WHYMAN.
F. Wise Howorth,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.