Improvements in Shoe-lace Fasteners and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shoe-lace Fasteners and the like.
I KATE BURGIN of 928 F Street N.W. Washington D.C. United States of
America, Lady 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 a shoe-lace fastener, and broadly stated, it consists
in providing a lace at its ends with tips or devices adapted to engage each other,
and one tip adapted to take through one or both of the loops or other part of
the tie, so as to prevent the tie from becoming unfastened.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a low shoe with a lace carrying my
improvements.
Figure 2, is a perspective view of the improvements attached to the ends of
a lace, and illustrated in the act of engaging each other.
Figure 3, is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the improvements,
illustrating the same applied to a lace, and taking through both loops of the
tie, and :
Figure 4, is a side view of a modification with the laces partly broken away
and the female tip partly in section.
Referring by letter to said drawings: A, indicates a low shoe, although it
may be a high shoe, and of any suitable make or character, as the shoe itself
forms no part of my invention, but is here shown for the purpose of illustrating
my improvements. B, indicates a lace, which may be flat, round, or of other
suitable configuration in cross-section, as this also forms no part of my invention.
The lace is provided at one end with a female or socket tip a, and at the opposite
end with the male tip b. The female tip may be provided with an internal
screw-thread c, or it may have an internal shoulder c¹, or other suitable means
for engaging the male tip when inserted, as I do not wish to confine myself to
any special means for accomplishing this object; it being simply necessary to so
construct the tip a, that it will hold the tip b, when brought into engagement,
and prevent the two tips from accidental or casual disconnection. When the
socket or female tip is screw-tapped or internally-threaded, the opposite or male
tip b, should be externally-threaded, at a suitable point in its length as shewn at d,
and when the shoulder is provided in the female member, the male member,
should be provided at a suitable point in its length with a depression or annular
groove d. It is desirable in using a construction, such as shown in Fig. 4, of
the drawings, to split the female tip as shown at e, so that will give sufficiently
as the male tip is inserted and withdrawn, and will have sufficient resiliency to
clamp the male tip and hold the same.
In using a construction employing the screw threaded connection, it will of course
be necessary to turn one of the tips in uniting them, and as this turning of the tip
would tend to twist at least one brauch of the lace, a loose joint or swivel might be
provided as shown at f, comprising in addition to the threaded tip b, a short
section g, having at its outer end a head to engage a flange on the inner end of the
part b. While I have shown a common coupling to permit one part to be turned
without turning the other, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myself
to such construction as any joint might be employed according to the fancy or
dictation of the mechanic or manufacturer, and I therefore reserve the right to

page_text: make any coupling which will overcome the objection mentioned, as I am aware
that many modifications can be employed for accomplishing the object without
departing from the gist of the invention. The ends of the lace may be secured to
the tips in any suitable manner. They can form a permanent part of the lace or
they can be provided with slots i, as better shown in Fig. 2. of the drawing, so as
to permit them to be taken off of one lace and placed on another by simply passing
a thread or the like through the slots and into the lace, such as by sewing.
The male tip is pointed at its free end as shown by h, so as to permit it to be
passed through the loops k, of the lace when tied, or it may be passed through any
suitable part of the lace which will prevent the tie from becoming undone.
In practice, I prefer to pass the pointed tip through both loops of the tie as better
shown in Figs. 1, and 3, of the drawings, but I do not wish to confine myself to
this particular manner of use.
A device of this character can be very cheaply manufactured. It can be applied
to the ends of the lace by the manufacturer of laces.
It will add but a com-
paratively small expense to the articles in view of the fact that the metallic tips
which are now so commonly used, are omitted, and it will serve very effectively in
retaining the tie and also holding the ends of the lace in a neat and convenient
manner.
While have described very specifically and in detail, the several parts in
the precise construction shown, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting
myself to the exact construction and manner of connecting the tips or fastening
them to the lace ends.
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 :-
1. A shoe lace having a female tip on one end and a pointed male tip on the
other, having co-operating interlocking parts to secure the lace in a tied position,
substantially as specified.
2. A shoe lace having a female tip on one end and a pointed male tip on the other
end having co-operating interlocking parts, said male tip also having a swivel or
loose joint so that it may be turned without turning or twisting the lace to which it
is attached, substantially as specified.
Dated this 25th day of September 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.