Improvements in Flexible Buckles, Clasps, or Loops for Waist Belts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Buckles, Clasps, or Loops for
Waist Belts.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN 24 Great Charles Street Birmingham Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of flexible buckles, clasps or loops for
waist belts, and has for its object a flexibility or means of moving in sections, so
that large buckles, clasps or loops may be worn without discomfort and at the same
time give to the movement or shape of the person.
I construct my invention in the following manner. The sides of an ordinary
buckle frame, clasp, or loop, I form of one or more separate parts which I hinge or
link together by separate hinges or chain links, and in the case of a buckle I also
hinge or link the centre bar (which carries the prongs or tongues) in one, or more
pieces, so that though the ends or upper and lower parts of the frame are rigid, the
buckle as a whole will bend to an arc, and thus give to the formation of the shape
to which it may be placed.
In some cases I form the whole, or part of the buckle, clasp, or loop of flexible
material, or spiral wire spring, which I cover with leather (or other suitable
material) which may be divided or serrated on the side (which is not exposed) for
the purpose of giving it increased flexibility.
Dated this Fifteenth day of July 1890.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Buckles, Clasps, or Loops for
Waist Belts.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of 24 Great Charles Street, in the City
of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in buckles, clasps and loops, for waist
belts, and has for its object, the making or forming of the same, flexible or
vertebrated, in manner that the adjacent and concerted parts or members, of which
the buckles are composed, admit of the same accommodating themselves to the
shape of the waist of a person, irrespective of posture.
The said articles, are particularly applicable to belts, with broad and wide bands,
or broad or wide belts, composed of a series of strands.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a broad
waist belt, provided with a flexion buckle, constructed and arranged according to
one form of my invention.
In this arrangement, the upper and lower solid members are united together, by
concerted links or parts, in manner that the same becomes articulated, or
vertebrated, hence the flexure or cross bending of the same, on the change of
posture of the wearer.
Figure 2 represents an edge view of the said buckle, separately, showing the
uniting links of the middle parts.
a is the band of the belt, and b the buckle, consisting of bifurcated or trident
shaped upper and lower solid end parts c, c, respectively united together by

page_text: concerted link parts d, d', whose terminal ends have loops d', d, with which, the
loops c, c, of the branches c, c³, of the solid end parts c, engage, and thereby
unite or join up the said solid ends, and form a flexion buckle, or in other words, a
cross jointed buckle, which admits of the concerted parts making angles with respect
to each other.
One end of the band a, is connected loopwise around the bar c³, d', directed down
the middle of the buckle frame, whilst the other end is passed under the branches
of the said frame as represented.
The tongues for the securing of the belt are carried by the middle bar d', and
turn upon the same, as joint centres. The loops c, d³, are split and closed linkwise
through the loops (2.
Figure 3 represents in front elevation, a waist belt, provided with a buckle and
runner or slide having vertebrated or cross jointed frames, constructed, formed and
arranged, according to another form of my invention.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the buckle, showing how the solid ends are
connected to the middle part, or the 'middle part to the solid ends.
The connections of the buckle framings are made by snake links.
a is the belt, and the buckle frame, consisting of end parts c, united together
by intermediate middle parts d, connected to the inner terminations of the said ends,
by joints de, are loops, connected to the upper and lower inside parts of the
said frames, and fare snake links or connections. The rummer or slide for the
adjustment of the band length, and to which an end of the said belt is connected,
consists of a frame g, cross jointed at its middle part, alike unto the frames of the
buckle, but with an intermediate bar g, to which the material of an end of the band
is connected. The solid ends g', are bifurcated, or shaped alike unto a three
pronged fork, with the inwardly directed ends of them, jointedly connected to
interinediate links or lengths g³, I^.
Figure 5 represents a cross-jointed or flexion buckle, constructed according to
another form of my invention, having a single connection.
Figure 6 represents an end elevation of the same, showing the joints.
Each of the frames of the said buckle, which are arranged in double order,
consist of Ushaped ends e, having branches c², terminated by loops *, the outer
ones of which, are connected to loops d, of bars d', whilst the inner loops, are
connected to a central-pull-frame d, with middle loop d', sides d³, and back bar d³.
Connection is made between the central-pull frames upon both sides of the primary
frames, by a snake or other connection f
By constructing and jointing the said buckle frames in the manner as described,
they admit of bending, folding or falling to the figure of the waist of the
wearer.
The ends of the bands are connected to, or pass around, the outer bars of the
primary framings.
Figure 7 represents a front elevation of another form of my invention, with the
solid ends of the framing parts, united to the sides or side bars of the framings, by
hinge or knuckle joints.
Figure 8 is an edge view of the same.
c are solid ends, with outside branches c, and an inside branch c³, the latter of
which, are connected to the middle parts d, by hinged joints d², while the middle
parts d', which carry the prongs, are connected to the middle branches c³, by loop
joints c³.
Figure 9 represents in front elevation, a further form of my flexion or flexible
buckle, and
Fig. 10 an edge view of the same.
In this form of buckle, the side bars of the framing are made up of coils of wire,
directed between the solid ends, and having disposed centrally within their axes,
steel strips, or spring wire lengths, so as to prevent the said coiled sides bulging
outwards or inwards, but allowing the frame to bend inwards or outwards in a cross
direction, as it may be desired to follow, around the waist of a wearer.

page_text: care the solid ends, connected together by strips of tempered steel, or other
flexible metal h, surrounded by coils of wire i. The middle branches ³ of the said
ends c, are united together by a flexible or jointed prong or tongue bar d¹, connected
at its ends at c³, hence an articulated buckle frame, having flexion or flexible side,
and middle bars.
Figure 11 represents in front elevation, a modification of the arrangement
Figures 9 and 10. care the ends, connected, or jointedly connected together, by
flexible strips of metal h, upon which, are threaded bead-like, segments i, forming
as it were, vertebrated side bars. The prong or tongue bar, is alike unto Figures 9
and 10, and is marked with the same letter of reference.
The component and concerted parts employed in the formation of the said buckle
frames, or slides, may be jointedly connected together in other ways than described
and represented, such for example, as the termination of one part may be made in
the form of a socket, which is closed around a head or bulbous termination of the
adjacent part, and thus connected, linked, or otherwise joined together.
The application of my invention, to clasps and other like fastenings, differs in no
essential respect from its application to a buckle, or buckle frame; and further, the
means for fastening or connecting together the said cross jointed frames, may be
varied, according to the character of the framing or fastening required.
The sides of the frames, when formed of spirally coiled wire, may be covered
with leather or fabric, and when stout coils are employed in connecting the ends of
the frames to one another, internal flexible supports need not be employed. In this
case, the prong or middle bars, are preferably made flexible and continuous, and
around which, the material of the band of the belt, is sewn, or comes, which also
assists in increasing the rigidity of the flexible middle bar as aforesaid.
Or instead of using coiled wire, (with or without internal supports,) I may employ
strips or lengths of flexible or spring metal, which may be plain, or be provided with
intermediate or middle coils.
It is understood, that the said flexible lengths, are preferably connected or united
at their terminations, to the end parts of the framings.
The buckle frame, although described as being made up of a series of concerted
link-like formations, or parts, and with jointed or pronged middle bars, yet the
same may be made up of like link formatious, with unjointed middle bars; that is
to say, the middle bar forms a flexible and middle stay, which keeps the parts in
their relative or distended positions, so that in making up a buckle frame entirely
of links connected together, the middle bar constitutes a stay for keeping the same
in their proper relative positions. I propose that in this chain buckle, the stay, or
middle prong, or other bar, should have loops at its ends, wherethrough the chain
passes; and which chain, should be preferably of the curb type, so as when fitted
up, the same lies flat.
The flexible middle stay or bar, is embraced by the material of the belt, which
assists in giving increased flexibility and rigidity, and also lateral stay, to the
buckle, whose frame is as aforesaid, composed of links, connected together
chain-wise.
It is understood, that in Figure 1, the material of the band, acts as in the last
described arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First: A cross-flexion buckle, clasp, or runner loop, or a buckle, clasp, or
runner loop, which yields or gives in a cross direction, for the purpose as
set forth.
Secondly A cross-jointed, or invertebrate flexion buckle, clasp, or runner loop,
or the frames thereof, for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly In a cross-jointed or flexion buckle, clasp, or runner loop, or the
frames thereof, consisting of primary end parts, connected together by intermediate

page_text: and jointedly connected middle parts, substantially as and for the purpose, as set
forth in Figures 1 to 8.-
Fourthly In the frames of cross-jointed buckles, clasps, or
:
runner loops,
making the connections of the said frames one with another, by centralizing pull-
frames d, in combination with the other frame parts, as set forth in Figures 5
and 6.
Fifthly In a cross-bending flexion buckle, consisting of solid or composite ends,
with the sides made up of coils, or helixes, or parts, having internal flexible
stays running down their middles, as described and set forth in Figures 9, 10
and 11.
Sixthly In a cross-bending flexion buckle or frame, consisting of solid or
composite ends, with the sides made up of coils, helixes, links, or other like con-
certed parts, as set forth, so as to admit of the said buckle, or buckle frame,
bending or changing its figure crosswise.
Seventhly Making the frame of a buckle, clasp, or the like, of chain, or
connected-together links, or liuk formations, as described.
Dated this 16th day of April 1891.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.