Improvements in Clasps or Holders for Hanging up Trousers or other Articles of Dress.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Clasps or Holders for Hanging up Trousers or other
Articles of Dress.
1, WALTER PETERSON of 1 Broadway in the City County and State of New York
United States of America, Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention consists of a clasp or holder for hanging up trousers and articles of
dress or the like. It consists of two clamping jaws, preferably flat pieces of wood, to
each of which are attached wire arms, which for a short distance rise up therefrom
vertically, but are then bent off in opposite directions, at or about which point they cross
each other, each being further bent into a loop or eye. Through these loops are passed
a rod which forms the hinge or pivot of the jaws, at each end of this rod being a knob
which is screwed thereon to prevent its slipping through the eyes or loops, or split
rings passing through holes in the ends will answer the same purpose. Upon these
being removed the rod may be pulled out, and the parts of the clasp more conveniently
packed. In place of this rod, the wires may be so twisted that one will form the axle
for the other, or other means may be employed for hinging the arms together at
this point.
The upper part of one of the arms is twisted at the centre into a further eye or
loop to which is secured a piece of chain, the links of which are flat and are arranged
alternately at right angles to each other. The opposite portion of the other arm has
an open bend formed in it, narrower than the width of the links so that by slipping
the chain into the slot, one link enters edgewise, the adjacent ones preventing the chain
from moving in either direction thus allowing of the chain being employed as an

page_text: adjustable fastener for drawing and holding the jaws together. In using the clasp or
holder, the trouser legs or other article are placed between the jaws, and the holder is
suspended by the chain from a hook or support, the weight of the article drawing the
jaws together upon it while the holder is secured if desired by confining the arms in
the links of the chain. This latter however may be dispensed with, a cord or suspension
loop being employed instead, if the weight of the article is sufficient to cause the
jaws to hold it tightly. If desired the jaws may be formed of the wire itself in place
of being of wood.
Dated this 11th day of January 1007
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clasps or Holders for Hanging up Trousers or other
Articles of Dress.
I, WALTER PETERSON of 1 Broadway in the City, County and State of New York,
United States of America, Clerk, 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:
My invention consists of a clasp or holder for hanging up trousers and articles of
dress and the like and in order that it may be clearly understood, reference is made
to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clasp or holder constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of one of the arms of
the clasp or holder, and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the clasp or holder in use.
Referring to Fig. 1, 7, 7, are two elongated clamping jaws, preferably flat pieces of
wood with smooth faces so as not to crease the goods held between them. These
clamping jaws are securely attached to arms 11, 11, formed of spring wire or other
slightly elastic and flexible material, which, as shown at 12, 12, Fig. 3, rise vertically
or nearly so for a short distance from the clamping jaws, and are then bent away from
the vertical in opposite directions. At 1, 1, the arms 11, 11, cross each other and are
here hinged together. This hinge may be formed in several ways as hereinafter
described. As shown in Fig. 1, the arms are each bent at 1, 1, so as to form a loop
or eye and through these loops is passed a rod or spindle 2, thus hinging the arms

page_text: together. Knobs 4, 4, on the ends of this rod prevent the same from being withdrawn.
The upper part of one of the arms 11, is bent into an eye or loop 5. In the corresponding
part of the other arm is formed a bend or slot 6, open at the bottom while 9 is an
endless chain which serves both as a loop for suspending the clasp or holder and also
as an adjustable fastener for holding the arms together independently of the weight
of the article suspended. The chain 9 is attached to the loop 5, and it acts as an
adjustable fastener in the following manner.
The links of the chain are flat and are arranged alternately at right angles to each
other, and their width is greater than that of the bend or slot 6, while their thickness
is less than the width of said bend or slot, so that by slipping the chain therein one
link enters edgewise and the adjacent ones prevent the chain from being drawn through
the slot in either direction. The elasticity of the spring wire arms 11, 11, allows the
loops 5 and 6 to be drawn together to any desired extent and the lower part of the
chain 9 being tightened and slipped into loop 6, holds the arms in position, and so
forms an adjustable fastener. The upper part of chain 9 forins a suspension loop and
may be furnished with a ring 10 if desired.
In using the clasp or holder the trouser legs or other articles are placed between
the jaws, and the holder is suspended from a hook or support, the manner in which the
arms 11, 11, are bent as before described causing the weight of the article to draw the
jaws together thereon, while the holder is secured if desired by slipping a link of the
chain into the bend or slot 6, as before described. The weight of the article will often,
if not generally, be sufficient of itself to keep the jaws closed with sufficient firmness,
and in that case it is not necessary to confine the arms by the chain 9, and instead of
the latter a cord can then be used.
As before mentioned, the hinged connection between the arms 11, 11, is susceptible
of various modifications. The rod 2 may, as shown in Fig. 3, be fitted with rings 3, 3,
instead of knobs at its ends for keeping it in place. The said rings are passed through
holes in the end of the rod and are preferably split like a key ring so that one of them
can be removed and the clasp or holder taken asunder for convenience of packing, or
one of the arms 11, 11, instead of having an eye surrounding the rod may be passed
through the rod, or, a separate rod or spindle may be dispensed with, the wire of one
of the arms forming an axle.
Or the rod or spindle may be in two parts, and as shown in Fig. 2 the rod is in two
parts and the wire of one of the arms is passed through the same for a short distance
as clearly shown. The other may be the same as in Fig. 1. Also, in order to
simplify the construction, the elongated jaws 7, 7 instead of being made of wood and
attached to the wire arms 11, 11, may be formed of the wire itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The clasp composed of the crossed arms hinged together at their crossing and
having a permanent set or bend in opposite directions, and formed each of a wire bent
upon itself, the elongated jaws fastened to the end of said wire arms below the hinge
at the crossing, and the suspension-loop connected with both arms at the opposite end,
the bending of said arms in opposite directions making the arms above the hinge less
nearly perpendicular than below the same, substantially as described.
2. A clasp having elastic flexible arms and provided with a combined adjustable
fastener and suspension loop in the form of an endless chain, for confining said arms
and for suspending the clasp, one of said arms being provided with a slot open at one
end and of less width than the chain-links, for detachably connecting it with said chain,
substantially as described.
3. The clasp composed of the two crossed and hinged arms, the elongated clamping
jaws and the suspension-loop, the said arms consisting each of two parallel members
connected by a yoke, and formed of a piece of wire bent upon itself, and at least one
of said arms being provided in its parallel members with an eye forming part of the
hinge, and consisting of a circular bend in the said wire, and both arms having a bend

page_text: in the middle of the yoke, and the said suspension-loop being connected with said
yokes at the bend in the middle thereof, the said jaws being attached to the ends
of the said parallel members on the opposite side of the hinge from said yokes
substantially as described.
4. A clasp composed of jaws and hinged arms carrying said jaws, and provided
with a fastener in the form of a chain for holding the jaws together, said chain being
attached to one of said arms, and the other of said arms having a slot into which
the chain can be slipped to establish a detachable connection with said arm, substantially
as described.
5. A clasp having jaws attached to wire arms crossed, hinged together, and provided
with a permanent set or bend in opposite directions in the two arms, in combination
with a fastener connected with the ends of said arms on the opposite side of the hinge
from said jaws, the permanent bending of the arms in opposite directions spreading
apart the said ends, and thus affording a larger space through which the arms may be
temporarily deflected when secured by said fastener, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1887.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London
Applicant's Agent.