IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Weaver, of, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES."
ealed the 11th February 1879, and dated the 20th August 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Weaver at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1878.
JOHN THOMAS WEAVER, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex.
IN BUCKLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
According to my Invention I hinge a lever hooked at the point to the under side
of one end of a buckle frame; the normal position of the lever is down, but when
the toe of the hinge is acted on, the point of the lever is raised. The rise and fall
of lever is limited by the buckle frame.
:
In applying the Invention to an ordinary waist belt the buckle is formed with a
loop on the under side at or about the centre thereof. To this loop one end of the
belt is attached; the other end with holes therein is passed along under the buckle
and through the loop. The action of pulling the belt through the buckle to adjust
its position keeps the point of the hinged lever raised, but on stopping the pull and
strain, thereby acting in the reverse direction, the point falls and enters a hole in
the belt, where it firmly remains until the forward part of the belt is again pulled
forward.
The hinge of the lever is made so that a portion thereof is allowed to project
somewhat below, and it is this part which is acted on by the strap or belt pressing
against same.
F
The hinge may be a simple tube with spindle passing through or of other
simple construction, and a spring may be used in connection with it if desired.
Buckles constructed according to my Invention are applicable to belts, braces,
saddlery, and other useful purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Thomas Weaver in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1879.
JOHN THOMAS WEAVER, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex.
IN BUCKLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
According to my Invention I hinge a lever hooked at the point to the under side
of one end of a buckle frame; the normal position of the lever is down, but when
the toe of the hinge is acted on, the point of the lever is raised. The rise and fall
of lever is limited by the buckle frame.
In applying the Invention to an ordinary waist belt, the buckle is formed with
a loop on the under side at or about the centre thereof. To this loop one end of
the belt is attached; the other end with holes therein is passed along under the
buckle and through the loop. The action of pulling the belt through the buckle
to adjust its position keeps the point of the hinged lever raised, but on stopping the
pull and the strain, thereby acting in the reverse direction, the point falls and enters
a hole in the belt, where it firmly remains until the forward part of the belt is
again pulled forward.
The hinge of the lever is made so that a portion thereof is allowed to project
somewhat below, and it is this part which is acted on by the strap or belt pressing
against same.
The hinge may be a simple tube with spindle passing through or of other simple
construction, and a spring may be used in connection with it if desired.
Buckles constructed according to my Invention are applicable to belts, braces,
saddlery, and other useful purposes.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate and more clearly and fully describe and
exemplify the manner in which I prefer to carry my Invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a view in plan, and Figure 2 is a view in section of a buckle made
according to one arrangement, showing a fixed loop on the under side of the buckle
frame for the connection of the strap or belt thereto.
Figure 3 is a view in section of a similar arrangement of buckle, but with a
loose instead of a fixed loop as before.
Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement provided in addition with a stud on the
under side of the opposite side of the buckle frame..
Figure 5 is a view of substantially the same arrangement of buckle as that shown
at Figure 3, where the hooked-shaped lever is made to act as a spring as well as a
hook.
Figure 6 shows the same or similar hooked spring extending from one end of
the buckle to the other.
Figure 7 is a view of a buckle with the lever shortened, and at the forward
part of the frame.
Figure 8 shows an arrangement similar to that shown at Figure 7, only the lever
is secured to the frame in a modified manner.
Figure 9 shows an arrangement where the lever proper is dispensed with, and
the hooked portion thereof is only used.
And Figures 10 and 11 show in plan and section a similar arrangement to
that shown at Figure 9, but where two hooks are used instead of one as in the
previous arrangement.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
A is the buckle frame in Figures 1 and 2; to the outer end of same at end a
lever B with hook a is hinged or jointed. It is here shown in its normal position,
that is, down and with its point entering an eyelet hole in the belt or strap C, thus
retaining it in the closed or locked position; but when the toe end of the lever
is acted on, viz., by pulling the end of the belt or strap through the buckle to adjust

page_text: its position in the direction of the arrow, the friction between the lever hinge
and the outside of the belt causes the lever B to rise into the position shown by
the dotted lines. On stopping the pull and the strain acting in the reverse direction,
the point or peg of the lever B falls and enters an eyelet hole in the belt, where it firmly
remains until the forward part c of the belt is pulled forward, either for releasing
the belt or for further adjusting its position as required. The one end of the belt
is attached to a fixed loop under the middle bar of the buckle frame as shown.
At Figure 3, which is a sectional view of a similar arrangement of buckle,
the belt is shown attached to a loop or loose frame D hinged to the central bar of
the buckle frame A.
At Figure 4 the buckle frame A is shown with hook or peg a under the buckle
frame, and made to enter an eyelet hole, the point of the lever B entering another
eyelet hole, and thereby affording double security. To release the belt proceed as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or simply cant the buckle as shown in
dotted lines; both the peg a and the point or hooked portion of the lever B will
then be released from their eyelet holes.
At Figure 5 the lever B forms and acts as a spring. To release the belt the
lever B is raised, or the buckle frame A is canted as described with reference to
the arrangement shewn at Figure 4.
At Figure 6 I have shown a modification or combination of the arrangements
shown at Figures 4 and 5. The lever B is in this case made as a spring and con-
tinued to the further end of the buckle frame A, where it is formed with a hook,
peg, or point, which enters an eyelet hole in the belt or strap. The lever B may be
inade as shown in full or as shown in dotted lines.
The lever B is in Figure 7 shown quite short, and also formed with a peg or
point which enters an eyelet hole in the strap. The boss at the fulcrum of the
lever is so formed or hinged (can like) that the friction of the strap against it
when pulled tends to raise the peg or point out of the eyelet hole as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2.
At Figure 8 the lever B is shown acting as a spring as in previous Figures, while
Figure 9 shows a buckle frame A with hook or peg on the under side attached
directly to the buckle frame instead of by the intervention of the lever B.
The arrangement shown at Figure 10, which is a plan, and at Figure 11, which
is a section of a buckle, is similar, but with two hooks or pegs instead of one as
before described. The buckle frame A itself forms as it were or takes the place
of the lever B as well, and is relieved by canting it.
The buckle frames themselves may be decorated as fancy or taste may dictate,
and be made of such forms and shapes to suit varying tastes or fashion without in
any way departing from the essential features of my Invention, and for this and
other reasons, one of which is not to further lengthen and thereby possibly to render
unnecessarily long this my Specification.
I do not consider it necessary to give any further modified arrangements in
illustration of the manner in in which I carry my Invention into effect, although from
the foregoing any one skilled in the manufacture of buckles might devise some
further modified arrangements without departing from the essential features of my
Invention.
And having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is or may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim as my improvements
in buckles,-
First. The construction, employment, and combination of hooked lever with pegs
or studs for taking into and out of the eyelet holes or buckle straps, the said
levers, pegs, or studs being capable of adjustment for regulating the position of the
belt, all substantially in manner and for the purposes herein-before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The combination with buckles of a lever or levers or hook, whereby
the adjustment of the strap is automatically arranged and secured or unfastened at
the will of the wearer, substantially in the manner described, and illustrated with

page_text: reference to the accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Weaver, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the above-named John
Thomas Weaver in the
presence of
J. E. HASELWOOD,
Solr.,
JOHN THOMAS WEAVER. (LS.)
Brighton.