An Improved Eyelet for Facilitating the Lacing and Unlacing of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Eyelet for Facilitating the Lacing and Unlacing of
Boots and Shoes.
ALFRED HENRY HUNTER, 25 Waring Street, & ROBERT LINDSAY GILMORE,
19 Shaftesbury Square, both of Belfast, Ireland, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved method, whereby the operation of
lacing and unlacing boots and shoes, may be accomplished in an easy and effectual
manner, and furthermore whereby time may be economised in the act of such
lacing and unlacing. In carrying out our invention we propose to substitute for
the ordinary eyelet or aperture at present in use, a device consisting of an eyelet
attached to the upper edge of which is a loop. A number of these devices are
secured to the closing edges of the boot, or shoe, by inserting the aforesaid eyelet
through the thickness of the material & clinching same. There is thus presented
along the closing edges as many loops as are necessary for the effectual closing of
the parts, and through these loops is threaded the lace, which upon being pulled, or
tightened, the closing edges are brought together to the required extent.
Immediately the lace is untied it will run freely through the loops and cause the
edges to part readily, thus facilitating the unlacing of the boot, or shoe.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1891.
ALFRED HENRY HUNTER.
ROBERT LINDSAY GILMORE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Eyelet for Facilitating the Lacing and Unlacing of
Boots and Shoes.
We, ALFRED HENRY HUNTER, of 25 Waring Street, Belfast, Gentleman, and
ROBERT LINDSAY GILMORE, of 19 Shaftsbury Square, Belfast, Solicitor, 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 has for its object to provide means whereby the operation of
lacing and unlacing boots and shoes may be accomplished in an easy and effectual
manner, and the time occupied therein economized.
According to our invention, we use, in lieu of the ordinary eyelet, a device
consisting of an eyelet, having upon its upper edge, a loop, through which the laces
are threaded. A number of these devices are secured to the closing edges of the
boot or shoe, and they are attached thereto by inserting the eyelet in a hole made
in the edge of the material, and clinching same. There is thus presented along,
and on the outside of, the closing edges, a number of loops (as many as are
necessary for the effectual closing of the parts) through which is threaded the lace,
which, upon being pulled or tightened, causes the edges to be brought together to
the required extent.
When the lace is untied and the edges pulled or pressed slightly apart, the lace
will run freely through the loops and allow the boot or shoe to open without any
great exertion, and in a very short space of time.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate the invention,
Figure is a front view of a boot provided with improvements under the
intantion

page_text: Figure 2 is a section through an eyelet, and the edge of a boot or shoe, to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a plan of this eyelet ; and
Figure 4 is a section of a modified construction of eyelet.
In the drawings, the part of the eyelet by which it is fastened to the boot or
shoe edges, is designated a, whilst the loop thereof is designated b. The boot or
shoe edge or edges is or are designated c, whilst the laces are designated d.
The form which we prefer to make the eyelets, and particularly the part b
thereof, is shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4, that is to say, it is higher at that part
nearest the edge of the parts c, and where the laces normally lie in it, and it slopes
away downward towards the opposite edge at which it is joined to the part a or
comes in contact therewith, and the edges of the part bare all rounded or curved
so as not to catch on the wearer's garments. The form of the part >> generally
provides against this happening, the inclined back of the part b being mainly so
formed for this purpose.
In the modification shewn in Figure 4, the hole in the eyelet part a is filled or
stopped by a plate a' therein.
In laced boots, the upper fasteners, e, in the example shewn, are hooks of the
ordinary type over which the laces are passed when fastening or from which they
are removed when unfastening; hence, so far as the upper fastenings of boots are
concerned, the fastening and unfastening is the same as heretofore, and the lower
part only is provided with the herein described eyelets b.
This combination or arrangement is the one that we prefer in most cases, but, if
desired, in some cases eyelets 6 only can be employed.
In the application of this invention to shoes, the improved eyelets only would be
employed, in most cases.
To obtain smooth and easy working of the laces through the eyelets by tightening
up the laces and drawing together the edges c, or when loosening same by pressing
or pulling the edges c apart, the eyelets should be or are better spaced about to
an inch apart, and one lace run under the other throughout, as shewn in Figure 1.
As already above stated, to fasten a boot or shoe provided with improvements
as herein above described, all that has to be done, is to pull up the laces (preferably
first on one side, i.e. the lower one, and then the other, after having first taken in
the slack), when the whole of the part of the edges c provided with the eyelets,
will be drawn up together. Then, on the other hand, to unfasten the boot or shoe,
the action of unfastening simply consists in drawing or pressing apart, the edges c,
when the laces will run freely through the eyelets.
It will thus be seen that no lacing or drawing of the laces through individual
eyelets, as ordinarily has to be done with existing eyelets, has to be performed in
fastening up the boot or shoe, and the same in unlacing. Hence a great deal of
trouble and time is saved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The herein described improved boot or shoe eyelet, consisting of the annular
eyelet part a fixed to the boot or shoe as set forth, and the loop b on the upper
outer edge of same, and through which the laces thereof are adapted to be threaded
constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth, and as shewn
in the drawings, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 12th dor of January 1802
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.