Improvements in Eyelets, Lacing Studs, and analogous Fastenings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Eyelets, Lacing Studs, and analogous Fastenings.
We, ALBERT LATHAM, of 246 Pine Street, in the City of Springfield, County
of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, and JAMES WILLIAM NOURBOURN of 119 King Street in said Spring-
field, Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to improve the construction of the top of an
eyelet, lacing stud, button or analogous fastening, especially with respect to the
means comprised thereat for providing an unusually effective anchorage or inter-
lock of and for the comparatively thick layer or body of the pyroxilin or other
plastic material which covers and surrounds the upper part of the eyelet or stud for
concealing the metal and preventing the same from being exposed and wearing
bright. The attainment of an eyelet which is strong and capable of withstanding
the hydraulic or other great pressure necessarily imparted in the molding
operation, and subsequently the pressure in the setting operation, one in which the
covering is permanent and proof against scaling, chipping, breaking or stripping,
and one which may be produced with entire practicability and at an unusually
inexpensive figure, is an object for the accomplishment of which the present
invention has special aptitude.
The invention consists in an eyelet, stud, or other analogous fastering, having
its metallic body constructed at its upper portion with a series of separated marginal
members which have in addition to their radially extending dispositions also
hooked, return-bent or curling or equivalent formations, whereby the plastic
material in addition to having a multiplicity of separate engagements or anchorages
between and surrounding the said members, each as a whole, also is embedded
within and has a clinching engagement by each of said members, and all as will
hereinafter fully appear and be set forth in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which an actual and
practical carrying out of the invention is illustrated.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the eyelet, with a portion of the plastic covering
broken off.
Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the body of the eyelet without the plastic cover.
Figure 5 being a vertical central section on the line 5-5, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the metallic body of the eyelet showing the several of
the radial members thereof as being in the form which they occupy previous to
being overturned, three of the overturned members however being indicated.
Figure 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the top of the covered
eyelet as taken on the line 7-7, Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken vertically through the overhanging top portion
of the eyelets on line 8-8 Figure 1.
We will now proceed to describe the eyelet precisely as here shown :-
The head or upper part, a, of the metallic tubular body or clinch-tube, b, of the
eyelet consists of the annular flange which is constructed with the series of separate
radial members, c c, each of which is outwardly tapered, although its end is com-
paratively wide or blunt. The radial members, cc, when the eyelet body is

page_text: constructed, are of arching form, that is they are overturned with their extremities
depending and somewhat inturned towards the circular wall of the eyelet-body
whereby a series of marginal depending hooks having a considerable depth, are
acquired.
The body of the eyelet has the cylindrical upper portion v, thereof of greater
diameter than the lower and clinching portion, , whereby the annular rest or
internal seat, y, is produced, into which the plastic may bottom while covering the
inner, as well as the upper and outer and underneath parts of the top.
The plastic material, t, is molded about the top of the eyelet internally and
externally by the employment of suitable dies, and it is to be stated particularly of
the molding operation: That the plastic material and the head of the eyelet are
subjected to such considerable compression that the plastic a not only surrounds
and fills the spaces between the individual overturned members, and also the spaces
within such members, but the overturned and somewhat inturned members are
flattened vertically and further inturned or curled whereby in effect a plurality of
tubes are constituted which acquire, as they are produced or perfected under the
pressure of the dies, very important and valuable clinching engagements with the
therein embedded composition.
In the eyelet having the construction shown the bent over arched or U-shaped
and tapering members form a series of distinct anchorages not only against the
internal surfaces thereof but between their edges wherein the spaces of keystone
shape are formed: thus the pressure on the plastic material from or against the
bottom thereof is resisted by the upwardly convergent boundaries of the spaces
between the series of metallic members.
It has been the particular aim in this invention to provide an eyelet or stud in
which the plastic material will not and cannot scale or strip off from the metallic
body, and it will be perceived that there can be no cracking off or breaking out of
the material in such a way as could permit substantial portions thereof to become
detached. And in this connection the fact will be appreciated that each marginal
section of the covering may be cracked and even then not drop out.
In the eyelet constructed as above described, the somewhat flexible condition of
the curled or tubular members relative to the tubular body of the eyelet ensures a
peculiar and satisfactory metallic support at the under side of the overhanging top,
always allowing said overturned members to yield to the pressure in the molding
operation until they reach the true surface of the die thereunder, and thus eyelets
of great uniformity are produced.
It is to be further observed that incidental to the formations illustrated, whereby
the overturned separated depending and inturned prongs or members are provided,
that spaces are left of considerable size in and through which the plastic material
may freely entor.
The plastic material meeting no resistance in the spaces between the tube sections
prevents the crushing or distortion of the shell because the material is permitted to
enter and be embedded within the curled or tubular members at the sides.
And finally it will be stated that the radial members-hooked, tubular or
curled, being somewhat flexible in their relations to the more rigid body of the
eyelet, equalize or prevent any undue strain upon the covering, they nevertheless
always possessing sufficient strength to resist all ordinary strains in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. An eyelet or analogous fastening having its metallic body constructed at its
upper portion with a series of separated marginal members which have besides their
radial extensions also hooked or curling formations, whereby the applied plastic
covering material in addition to having a multiplicity of separate engagements or
anchorages between and surrounding the said members, each as a whole, also is
embedded w thin each thereof, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. An eyelet consisting of a body having at its top a series of separate radially
extending outwardly tapered members which are overturned and inwardly deflected
leaving, between them, downwardly opening and upwardly convergent spaces and
the plastic material covering the top of the eyelet and surrounding and engaged
with the said members, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of August 1895.
ALBERT LATHAM.
JAMES WILLIAM NOURBOURN.