A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR SOLITAIRES, SLEEVE LINKS, COLLAR AND SHIRT STUDS AND OTHER SIMILAR DRESS FASTENINGS AND ORNAMENTS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM CHARLES ALLDRIDGE of Brearley Street West, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR SOLITAIRES, SLEEVE LINKS, COLLAR
AND SHIRT STUDS AND OTHER SIMILAR DRESS FASTENINGS AND ORNAMENTS to
be as follows:-
"
My invention has reference to Solitaires, Sleeve Links, collar and shirt studs,
and other similar dress fastenings and ornaments consisting essentially of two parts,
which when in use are connected together by means of a central stem on the one
part engaging in a flattened central tube on the other part, the said stem and tube
passing through the parts of dress to be fastened together-The parts are arranged
and combined as hereinafter described, by which great simplicity in construction
and efficiency of action in the fastening are secured.
I will describe my invention as applied to a solitaire.
The stem or shank carried by the front part of the solitaire is movable and is
capable of rotating or turning around a fixed stem with a crutch catch or cross
head upon its outer end or summit; and within the said movable stem or shank,
flat springs are placed which embrace the flat or angular sides of the fixed square
axis or stem which are for the purpose of fixing the movable shank in either its
closed or in its open position; that is, the movable shank rotates around the
central stem as a centre, so as to bring its longer direction at right angles to the
fixed cross head.
The back part of the fastening of the solitaire consists of a hollow tube preferably
elliptical or Hattened upon its sides, which takes upon the movable stem herein-
before described on the former part-The hollow stem is slotted or cut away near
its bottom end, so as to form shoulders or stops upon which the underside of the
cross head on the fixed stem takes, when the two parts of the solitaire are connected
or fastened together.
In using a solitairo constructed according to my invention, the tubular or hollow
stem on the back part is first passed through the holes in the cuff or other article.

page_text: The shank and crutch end (which are coincident) of the front part, is then inserted
into the hollow flattened tube of the back part, and the said front part rotated,
carrying with it the central fixed stem, the crutch ends of which, now cross the cut
away parts in the bottom of the hollow stem, and thereby fasten the two parts of
the solitaire together.
In fastening as last described, the movable shank rests within the socket of
the hollow shank, while the fixed crutch part which moves with the top of the
solitaire crosses it at right angles-The springs enclosed within the movable shank
retain the fastening in its open and closed position by acting upon the square sides
of the central stem.
To separate the two parts it is only necessary to give a semi-rotation to the top
part when the crutch end is removed from the shoulders or catches so as to bring
it coincident with the central hollow stem, when the parts can be separated from
each other.
The application of my invention to other dress fastenings differs in no essential
respect from its application to a solitaire.
WILLIAM CHARLES ALLDRIDGE.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicant

page_text: and Shirt Studs, and other similar Dress Fastenings and
Ornaments.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES ALLDRIDGE of Brearley Street West, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR SOLITAIRES, SLEEVE LINKS, COLLAR
AND SHIRT STUDS, AND OTHER SIMILAR DRESS FASTENINGS AND ORNAMENTS and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
My invention has reference to solitaires, sleeve links, collar and shirt studs, and
other similar dress fastenings and ornaments consisting essentially of two parts,
which when in use are connected together by means of a central stem on the one
part engaging in a flattened central tube on the other part, the said stem and tube
passing through the parts of dress to be fastened together. The parts are arranged
and combined as hereinafter described, by which great simplicity in construction
and efficiency of action in the fastening are secured.
I will describe my invention as applied to a solitaire.
The stem or shank carried by the front part of the solitaire is movable and is
capable of rotating or turning around a fixed stem with a crutch catch or cross
head upon its outer end or summit; and within the said movable stem or shank,
flat springs are placed which embrace the flat or angular sides of the fixed square
axis or stem which are for the purpose of fixing the movable shank in either its
closed or in its open position; that is, the movable shank rotates around the central
stem as a centre, so as to bring its longer direction at right angles to the fixed cross
head.
The back part of the fastening of the solitaire consists of a hollow tube preferably
elliptical or flattened upon its sides, which takes upon the movable stem herein-
before described on the former part-The hollow stem is slotted or cut away near
its bottom end, so as to form shoulders or stops upon which the underside of the
cross head on the fixed stem takes, when the two parts of the solitaire are connected
or fastened together.
In using a solitaire constructed according to my invention, the tubular or hollow
stem on the back part is first passed through the holes in the cuff or other articlo
The shank and crutch end (which are coincident) of the front part, is then inserted
into the hollow flattened tube of the back part, and the said front part rotated,
carrying with it the central fixed stem, the crutch ends of which, now cross the
cut-away parts in the bottom of the hollow stem, and thereby fasten the two
parts of the solitaire together.
In fastening, as last described, the movable shank rests within the socket of the
hollow shank, while the fixed crutch part which moves with the top of the solitaire
crosses it at right angles-The springs enclosed within the movable shank retain

page_text: central stem.
To separate the two parts it is only necessary to give a semi rotation to the top
part when the crutch end is removed from the shoulders or catches so as to bring
it coincident with the central hollow stein, when the parts can be separated from
cach other.
The application of my invention to other dress fastenings differs in no essential
respect from its application to a Solitaire.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
8
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a Solitaire constructed according to my
invention Figure 2 is a side clevation of figure 1, and figure 3 is a front elevation
of the parts separately-Figure 4 is an edge view of the parts figure 3, and
figure 5 is a transverse vertical section of the parts as represented in figuro 3-
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section of the parts at right angles to figuro 5-
Figure 7 is a part section of the Solitaire when in use before being fastened-Figure
represents the same fastened, but at right angles to the said figure 7-Figure 9
represents a transverse section on the dotted lines A B figure 6, the T or cross end
of the fastener being shown in the position as represented in figure 7-Figure 10
represents the same view as figuro 9, but with the fastener crossing the longer
direction of the stem of the Solitaire; the said views figures 9 and 10 being shown
on a larger scale in order to better exhibit the position of the springs with regard
to the angles or corners of the stem by which they are opened out-Figure 11 is a
front and side elevation of one of the springs-Figure 12 is a plan and side view
partly in section of the movable stem, and figure 13 is an edge and front view of
the fixed stem with its crossed end.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in figures 1 to 13 both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawing.
a is the front part of the Solitaire and b is the back part-c. is a movable stem
or shank carried by the front part a, the said movable part c is capable of rotating
or turning round a fixed stem d when the part a is separated from the part b―
This allows the said fixed shank d to be capable of rotating or turning round (for
fastening) with its head a, when the shank c is within the hollow stem b' forming
a permanent part of the back b-The stem d which passes down the axes of the
shank c is provided with a crutch or cross end d―This cross end when turned (on
the parts a and b being put together) passes at the back of the shoulder or hollow
part of the part b; and within the movable shank or stem c, flat springs e e aro
placed on opposite sides of the flats of the stem as best seen in figures 9 and 10, so
that these springs e e embrace the sides of the fixed square axis which turns within
the part a The object of the springs is for fixing or holding the part a in its
closed or in its open position, or for the purpose of retaining the crutched end of
the stem in the longer or in the shorter directions of the stems or shanks 6º c when
the Solitaire is fastened or unfastened.
In using the Solitaire constructed according to my invention, the tubular or
hollow stem 6 on the back part b is first passed through the button holes in the
cuff or other article-The hollow shank c with the crutch end d' (which are now
coincident or in the same plane as represented in figure 3 of the front part a) is
then inserted into the hollow flattened stem 6 of the back part, and when in this
position the front part a is partially rotated carrying with it the central fixed
stem d, the crutched ends d of which are now brought at right angles to its former
position so as to cross the bottom b³ of the part 6 as best seen in figure 8; that is,
the crutch or cross end d is made to cross the narrow or short direction of both
the movable and fixed shanks b² c, thereby fastening the two parts ab of the
Solitaire together.
In fastening the parts together as last described, the shank c rests within the
hollow stem or shank 6%, while the fixed crutch part which moves with the top of

page_text: с
the Solitaire crosses the parts at right angles, and so prevent the withdrawal of the
part a from the part b until it has been again partially rotated and the crutched
end made to be coincident with the longer direction of the shanks or stems b³ c
when the parts can be withdrawn-The springs c e enclosed within the movable
shank c holds the fastening in its open or in its closed position by following the
square sides or flats of the central stem-Figure 14 represents a modification of my
invention Figure 15 represents a side view of figure 14. Figure 16 is a front
elevation of the parts detached-Figure 17 is a side view of the parts figure 16-
These views 16 and 17 represent the respective positions which the parts assume
when the front part is to be introduced into the back part-Figure 18 represents a
longitudinal vertical section of the parts separated as shewn in figure 16 and
figure 19 a like section to that of figure 18 but taken at right angles to the said
figure-Figure 20 shows the front part partly in section and the movable stem
with a teit or knob upon its underside taking into a hole or depression on the face
of the under plate-Figure 21 is a complete section of parts in an intermediate
position between fastened and unfastened-Figure 22 is a plan of the underside of
the front part, showing the Solitaire in its unfastened position and figure 23 in its
fastened position Figure 24 is a plan of the underside of the front part-Figure 25
is the stem with the cross end and figure 26 is the movable shank.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in figures 14 to 26 both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
a is the front part of the Solitaire and b is the back part-c is the movable stem
or shank carried by the front part a which shank is capable of turning upon the
fixed axis or stem d and is also capable of slightly rising and falling for fixing and
releasing the shank from the holes or indentations a³ in the plato a' of the front
part, best seen in figures 19 and 24-d is the cross end of the stem d which crosses
the underside of the plate 6 of the back part b, the underside or hollow of the
back part b forms a chamber or cavity in which the crutch end lies when crossing
the underside of the stem b³ of the back b when the two parts are connected
together c³ care small rises or teits on the top face of the movable part c-
These projections sent themselves within two of the opposite depressions a³, when
the Solitaire is in its fastened or its unfastened position-e is a coiled spring
resting upon the shoulder d³ of the stem d and the other ond abutting against the
inside upper end of the movable shank c.
To fasten the two parts together after the back part has been inserted through
the article of dress to which it is to be used, insert the stem c of the front part a
into the hollow of the stem b³ of the back part b, when by turning the head a,
through a semi-circle, two of the depressions a³ are removed from off the pro-
jections c, and on the said teits or projections c³ becoming coincident with the
other two depressions the parts become locked, and the parts a and b secured
together by the crutched d' being kept in its fastened position-The locking and
releasing being effected by the rising and falling of the projections c' carried by the
shank c, in virtue of the action of the spring.
To disconnect the parts a and b, rotate the head a in the direction, when the
spring which forces the holding projections up to their bearings is compelled to
yield by the force exerted; and on the crutched end becoming coincident with the
bore of the stem b³, the parts can be separated as best seen in figures 16 and 17;
the said parts being also retained in their respective positions by the projections of
the one lying within the depressions of the other, and retained there, by the force
or pressure of the spring.
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
The improvements in solitaires, sleeve links, collar and shirt studs and other
similar dress fastenings and ornaments, consisting of a detachable front part, with

page_text: a turning or swivelling stem, which takes into a fixed tubular stem on the back
part (or vice versa) The said movable or swivelling stem has a fixed axis with
Tor crutch end; which crutch end when the parts are unfastened and put
together, lies in the longer direction of the said stem; but when fastened, it lies in
the shorter direction; the two positions (fastened and unfastened) being determined 5
and fixed by a spring or springs, substantially as described and illustrated in the
several figures of the Drawings.