IMPROVE- MENTS IN SPRINGS OR FASTENERS FOR GLOVES, SLIPPERS, SHOES, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Little, of Yeovil, in the County of
Somerset, Ironmonger and Glover's Cutler, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SPRINGS OR FASTENERS FOR GLOVES, SLIPPERS, SHOES, OR OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE
SAME."
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 8th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles Little at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1878.
HENRY CHARLES LITTLE, of Yeovil, in the County of Somerset, Ironmonger and
Glover's Cutler. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS OR FASTENERS FOR GLOVES, SLIPPERS,
SHOES, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR PRO-
DUCING THE SAME.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of springs or fastenings
for closing the openings in the wristbands of gloves when in use, applicable also to
slippers, shoes, and other similar articles when an opening thereto requires to be
closed when in use. For this purpose two lever arms are jointed together at one
end; one of such arms being fixed between two small outer plates, the other arm
being free to move upon a pin joint between them.
Projections are formed upon the inner surfaces of the outer plates, which press
against the end of the moveable arm so as to retain the two lever arms in a closed
position, but on moving the jointed arm outwards to place the two arms at an angle
to each other, the end of the moveable arm in passing between the projections
on the outer plates forces them apart, and on the spring plates closing again, the
projections act to retain the two arms at an angle to each other, the moveable arm
being free or at liberty to move, so as to avoid all strain upon the article to which
the improved fastening is attached.

page_text: The outer plates, which combine the lever arms together, act as springs to retain
the arms in a closed position.
The end of the moveable lever arm when open comes against the end of the other
lever arm, or against a fixed stop, to arrest its further movement outwards.
The arrangement and action of the outer plates may be varied.
One of the lever arms and the outer plate may be formed in one piece if
desired.
Holes are formed in the arms to attach the spring fastening to a slit or opening to
a glove, shoe, or other article to which it is applied.
The several parts are made from sheet metal stamped out by suitable dies and
cutting and shaping tools, and they may be made of various sizes to suit the
article to which they are applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Charles Little in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
August 1878.
HENRY CHARLES LITTLE, of Yeovil, in the County of Somerset, Ironmonger and
Glover's Cutler. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS OR FASTENERS FOR GLOVES, SLIPPERS,
SHOES, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR PRO-
DUCING THE SAME."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of springs or fastenings
for closing the openings in the wristbands of gloves when in use, applicable also to
slippers, shoes, and other similar articles where an opening thereto requires to be
closed when in use. For this purpose two lever arms are jointed together at one
end, one of such arms being fixed between two small outer plates, the other arm
being free to move upon a pin joint between them.
Projections are formed upon the inner surfaces of the outer plates, which press
against the end of the movable arm so as to retain the two lever arms in a closed
position, but on moving the jointed arm outwards to place the two arms at an angle
to each other, the end of the movable arm in passing between the projections on
the outer plates forces them apart, and on the spring plates closing again, the
projections act to retain the two arms at an angle to each other, the movable arm
being free or at liberty to move, so as to avoid all strain upon the article to which
the improved fastening is attached.
The outer plate or plates, which combine the lever arms together, act as a spring
or springs to retain the arms in a closed position.
The end of the movable lever arm when open comes against the end of the other
lever arm, or against a fixed stop, to arrest its further movement outwards.
The arrangement and action of the outer plates may be varied.

page_text: One of the lever arms and the outer plate may be formed in one piece if desired;
or both of the lever arms may be made movable, and a stop made in the outer plate
or plates by an indentation in the outer plate or plates, or by a fixed rivet through
the outer plate or plates.
'
Holes are formed in the arms to attach the spring fastenings to the sides of a slit
or opening to a glove, shoe, or other article to which it may be applied.
The several parts are made from sheet metal stamped out by suitable dies and
cutting and shaping tools, and they may be made of various sizes to suit the
article to which they are applied.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.
parts being open for the insertion of the hand.
OVER TODORge appunto, w
Figure 2 shows an edge and side view of the lever fastening closed; and Figure 3
shows two views of the same lever fastenings arranged and constructed in accordance
with my Invention, one of the spring plates being removed to show the form of the
parts.
a and b are two lever arms, and c, c, are two outer plates rivetted to the lever
arm b, the lever arm a being free to move to and fro between the plates on a fixed
pin a¹, as shown.
The arm band one of the outer plates may be formed in one piece if desired.
c¹, c, are indentations in the outer plates, which form projections on the inner
surfaces opposite to each other, and serve to retain the lever arm a either in an
open or closed position, as previously described, and clearly shown in the
Drawings.
Figure 4 shows two views of a similar lever fastening to that previously
described, the corners of the outer plates c, c, being bent inwardly to retain the lever
arm a in position, in place of the projections c¹, c², formed by the indentations in
Figures 3 and 4.
The several parts of this improved construction of lever fastening for gloves and
other articles are made from sheet metal stamped out in suitable dies, and cutting
and shaping tools; and as the nature and use of such dies and tools are well known
to competent mechanics for other like purposes, they will readily adapt the same for
making the several parts of my improved fastening. It is therefore unnecessary for
me to describe the same more minutely.
The size and length of the lever fastenings will of course depend upon the size and
nature of the gloves or other articles to which they are applied.
My improved lever fastenings are much lighter, open and close easier, are more
simple, effective, and durable than any fastenings of this character hitherto
produced.
The movable arm when open is loose, or at liberty to move to a certain extent,
thus avoiding all strain upon the glove or other article to which it is attached.
I would remark that I am aware that it has before been proposed to construct
glove fasteners with two lever arms having a separate spring mounted between
them to retain the levers in position; I therefore make no claim to any of such well
known parts separately, but what I claim is,
'
First. The improved arrangement, construction, and method of combining the
parts of springs or spring fastenings for gloves, slippers, shoes, or other similar
articles in which the spring or closing action upon the lever arms is obtained by
means of an outer plate or plates c, c, suitably formed to act as a spring or springs to
retain the lever arms a and b in position, substantially in the manner herein-before
described and represented in the Drawings annexed,

page_text: Secondly. I claim the manufacture of my improved springs or fastenings by means
of dies and cutting and shaping tools corresponding in form with the several parts,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charles Little, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.