AN IMPROVED LACING STUD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED LACING STUD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR BOOTS AND SHOES." A
communication from abroad by Mellen Bray, of Newton, Massachusetts, United
States of America (Manufacturer).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED LACING STUD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR BOOTS AND SHOES." [A communication from abroad by Mellen Bray, of
Newton, Massachusetts, United States of America (Manufacturer).]
This Invention relates to the manufacture of studs to be inserted in boots and
shoes to receive the lacing cord, and which may be used in other leather and cloth
work for various purposes.
The said Invention consists in the construction of a stud. with a tubular shank
or body closed at one end, and a hook-shaped head consisting of two circular discs
somewhat larger in diameter than and concentric with the said tubular shank, and
connected by a neck to receive the lacing cord, excentric to said discs and the
tubular shank. These parts are all made of one solid piece of wire, and adapted to
be inserted in the leather or other material by passing the said tubular shank
through the material, and clenching the same by spreading and turning over
outwardly the open end of the tubular shank in the same manner that eyelets and
tubular rivets are now ordinarily set.
In the manufacture of these improved studs the blanks are cut from wire of a
diameter just equal to the desired size of the shank or body of the stud, and on
these blanks I form rivets having elongated heads and a shoulder.. A. portion of the
head is then milled, turned, or otherwise cut away to form therein an excentric
groove, and I partially divide the head into two circular discs connected at one
side by the neck; which is therefore excentric to the said discs and the shauk or
body.

page_text: The said shank is made tubular by drilling out its centre to a point about on a
line with the shoulder, the shell of the shank being made of even thickness, and
thin enough to adapt it to be readily spread and turned outward in the act of
securing it to a piece of leather or other material.

page_text: foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
I am aware that lacing studs have been made from sheet metal in the form of a
hook or button having an excentric neck, and provided with two or more pointed
prongs to pierce the material and be clenched upon the under side thereof. I am
also aware that a similar hook-shaped button or stud provided with a tubular shank
in the form of an eyelet, all stamped from sheet metal, has been used; and also that
a tubular shanked stud, having the neck to receive the lacing string concentric with
the head and the tubular shank, all made from one piece of wire, has been used;
therefore I do not claim a stud having a hook-shaped head or a stud having a
tubular shank for securing it to the material irrespective of the shape of the head,
but I claim a stud or hook having tubular shank or body closed at one end and
provided with the shoulder, the discs, and the excentric neck, all made from a single
piece of wire, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.