Year: 1894

page_text: I, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of 37 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park,
South Hornsey in the County of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a flexible adjustable fastening for use more especially in
connection with skirt bands, garters, gloves, belts and the like.
It is constructed, broadly speaking, on the principle of the hook and eye, but
that part corresponding to the eye is formed in the manner described herein-this
particular formation being a feature of the invention.
Instead of there being only one part into which the hook can be placed, I provide
that there may be two, three or any number of parts for its reception, and I do
this by forming that portion of the fastening corresponding to the eye, of a number
of parallel bars (which may be made by either stamping a sheet or bending a
continuous piece of metal) and preferably in such a manner that each bar is
connected, at one end, to the bar next to it on the one side; and, at the other
end, to the bar next to it on the other side.
Of course, each end bar has a free end, and is connected, at its other end, to the
last bar but one.
This allows great flexibility of the whole fastening, and, by causing the ends of
the bars for receiving the hook and their connecting pieces, to be bent and the
hook portion to be suitably shaped, the whole fastening can be made to present a
thickness equal to the sum of the thicknesses of material in the hook and material
in the eye portions.
This fastening may be attached to any fabric by sewing or rivetting or in any
suitable way the portions at the end of each of the parallel bars being those
naturally used for attachment.
The parallel bars provide the ineans for adjustment.
JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of 37 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park, South
Hornsey in the County of Middlesex, Engineer 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 :—
In pursuance of my application with the Provisional Specification No. 24767, of
December 1894 for "A Hexible and adjustable fastening "for skirt bands and the
like; my invention may best be described by reference to the sheet of drawings
annexed.
Fig. A shows that portion of the flexible and adjustable fastening which may,
D. 27

page_text: broadly speaking, be said to correspond with the eye portion of ‘a 'hook and eye
fastening.
The end view of this is shown at Fig. B.
Fig. C shows the part corresponding to the hook portion of a hook and eye
fastening, and Fig. D shows the end view of this.
Fig. E is a view, in plan, showing the parts represented at Figs. B and D in their
relative positions when the fastening is in use.
That part of the flexible and adjustable fastening shown at Fig. A, I make out
of either stamped sheet metal or of bent wire, and the holes at the ends I pierce
in any well known manner.
Each of the parts connecting the parallel bars may be so pierced, for sewing or
rivetting; though, in general, it suffices to sew it on by stitching through the holes
shown, and across the corners of the bends.
I raise the parallel bars above the level of the pieces at their ends, as shown at
Fig. B and by the shading at Fig. A.
It will be noticed that each parallel bar should receive support by being sewn,
or otherwise fastened, at each of its ends and that it is not sufficient to fasten
it, in any way, by the extreme ends only.
The part of the fastening corresponding to the hook in a hook and eye fastening
(Fig. C) I make by simply depressing the central portion, as indicated at Fig. D
and by the shading in Fig. C. This is pierced where most convenient for
attachment.
It will be noticed that the relative elevation and depression of the parts of the
fastening are so arranged that, when in use, it presents, in no place, a thickness of
more than the sum of the thicknesses of the material in the two portions.
(In all ordinary hook and eye fastenings there is to be found a thickness equal
to twice the thickness of the metal in the hook in addition to the thickness of that
in the eye.)
I do not, however, confine myself to this particular elevation and depression of
the parts.
The flexibility of the fastening is obtained by having each parallel bar attached,
at one end, to the bar next to it, on the one side, and, at the other end, to the
bar next to it on the other side. The adjustability is obtained by the parallel
bars.
This fastening forms a most convenient attachment for skirt bands, as, by its
use, the tightness of the skirt band can be varied at pleasure and the amount of
underclothing can be allowed for within very wide limits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tiou, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) The flexible and adjustable fastening for skirt bands and the like,
substantially as described with reference to and shown at the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 17th day of September 1895.
JAMES R. CHURCHILL.