AN IMPROVED CLIP FOR HOLDING UP THE LOWER EDGES OF TROUSERS TO PREVENT THE SOILING OF THE SAME, WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FASTENER FOR SHOES, GAITERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Howard Cole Noble at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1881.
HOWARD COLE NOBLE, of New Britain, Connecticut, United States of America,
now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED CLIP FOR HOLDING
UP THE LOWER EDGES OF TROUSERS TO PREVENT THE SOILING OF THE SAME,
WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A FASTENER FOR SHOES, GAITERS,
AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention relates to an improved device or contrivance, which is chiefly
designed as an attachment to a boot for the purpose of providing means, whereby
the trousers of the wearer thereof may be held up at the rear to prevent the same
from becoming soiled when the roads are in a muddy or dirty condition.
The said device when in combination with an additional piece is also applicable
for use as a fastener for gaiters, shoes, or other articles.
In carrying the said Invention into practice, the said device or attachment is
constructed as follows, that is to say, I make a small frame, which may be of
rectangular or other form, and across the centre of the open space there is a
longitudinal strip or bar, over which is placed a broad flat spring filling up the said
open space of the frame. From the said bar this spring is curved rearwardly, and
its upper and lower ends have a bearing against the rear face or portion of the
frame. At the lower part of the latter there are two projections or ears, one on
each side, and these ears are recessed at the rear thereof to receive the ends of a
pin carrying a tongue or clip, which when closed fits closely, firmly, and neatly to
the front of the frame entirely covering the spring. The lower part of this clip
projects slightly beyond the pin, and bears constantly against the lower end of the
spring which covers the same, and exerts sufficient pressure upon the tongue or
clip to keep it closed or opened as desired. Instead of employing a pin there may
be two projections forming part of the tongue itself. The upper part of the tongue
or clip is curved outward away from the frame to afford convenient means for
pulling the clip forward when it is desired to insert the edge of the trousers
between the same and the frame. At the upper part of the frame there is a rear-
ward projection or lug, through which there is an aperture. This projection is
TD 021

page_text: designed to provide means for securing the device to the boot, that is to say, the
said projection is passed through the leather at the rear of the boot, and then an
S-shaped piece or a piece of any other suitable form is put through the aperture
and holds the device securely to the boot, but in such a manner that it may be
readily detached therefrom if desired. I may if desirable provide other means
for attachment to the boot, for instance, the device may be sewn or otherwise
secured thereto.
When the device above described is to be used as a fastener for overshoes,
gaiters, or the like, it is attached to one side of the article in any suitable manner,
and on the other side I secure another piece provided with an aperture at one end,
through which the said tongue or clip may be passed in such a manner that the
two parts of the device are held securely together, and consequently the article to
which they are attached is safely fastened.
My improved device may be made of any suitable metal or other material. I
prefer to make it chiefly of cast iron, so as to reduce the cost of construction to a
minimum, in order that the said device may be sold at a low price.