Improvements in Sleeve Links.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sleeve Links.
We, CHARLES SMITH and EDWIN PEPPER, trading as Smith and Pepper, of
Vyse Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturing Jewellers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has relation to links for fastening shirt and dress cuffs, and
has for its principal object, to so construct such links that the threading or intro-
duction of the same through the button holes of a cuff and the removal of the
same therefrom may be easily and expeditiously effected, and also that the heads
of the link, shall sit properly against the cuff when in position.
These results we propose to attain by the employment of a link consisting
essentially of a curved rigid or jointed shank or fetter bar having a fast head or
button at one end and a detachably connected head at the other end, although
as a modification, both heads of the link may be made detachable from the shank.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a plan of one form of sleeve
link constructed according to our invention, in which the detachable head is
connected to a curved and rigid shank by a bayonet-joint fastening.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the link.
Figure 3 represents a section of the same, showing the construction of the
joint, which is self locking, and
Figure 4 represents a similar section to that shown in Figure 3, but with the
detachable head disconnected from the shank, whilst
Figure 5 shows the separated parts in plan.
The same letter of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 5
of the drawings.
a is the shank or fetter bar connecting together the heads or buttons b, c,
which may be of any pattern, configuration or design. This shank is made
rigid and is also curved to ensure the heads at its ends coming at such an angle
as to lie properly against the outsides of a cuff, which is particularly necessary
when flat heads or buttons are used instead of those of the bar type shown in
these figures. The one head b, is soldered or otherwise made fast to the rigid
shank, but the other and detachable head c, is secured by a bayonet joint consist-
ing of a stalk c¹, projecting from the head and having a peg 2, adapted to take
into an shaped gap a¹, in the end a², of the shank, which is hollow and con-
tains a locking spring d. This gap has a return part a³, so that when the stalk
is forced into the shank with the peg engaging in the slot, it is partially rotated
so as to bring the said peg into line with the return part, when the spring, which
was compressed by the introduction of the stalk, now expands and forces the
peg along the return part of the gap thus locking the head to the shank.
After the one head has been removed, the shank may be easily threaded through
the button holes of a cuff, and the link fastened by again attaching the said head
as above described.

page_text: Both the heads may be made detachable and either or both may be secured to
the rigid shank by any suitable connection, as we do not limit ourselves to any
particular fastening. For instance, as one modification, we may employ a
simple hook connection, in which case the link would be constructed as shown
by Figures 6 and 7 in plan and elevation with the removable head connected,
whilst in Figure 8 it is shown detached to permit of the threading of the shank
through a cuff.
a, is the rigid and curved shank, b the fixed head and c the detachable one,
which has an eye or loop c¹, at the back of it adapted to be engaged by the hooked
end a, of the shank.
A further modification of fastening, the head is shown in Figure 9, in which
the end a¹, of the shank is formed with a conical collar a², adapted to take through
a hole in the back of the detachable head c, and be engaged by a pair of spring
slides or bolts c', which are disengaged to release the head by pressing upon the
extending ends, of the same by the fingers.
Instead of the fetter bar being rigid, it may be made in two parts jointed
together at the middle so that the same is made flexible in the direction of its
length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
First: A sleeve link having a curved fetter bar such as a, with a fixed head
or end such as b, and a separable or detachable head or end such as e, which is
suitably connected or fastened to the said shank when the link is in use but
admits of being disconnected to facilitate the threading of the shank through
the button holes of a garment, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Secondly: A sleeve link consisting either of a rigid or a jointed shank or
bar, with a head at each end, one or both of which may be detachably connected,
substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1899.