Year: 1890

page_text: A
Date of Application, 30th June, 1890-Accepted,- 6th Sept., 1890… ·
Fig. 7 is an adaption of the variation shown in Fig. 4 for a key ring.
Fig. 8 shows a modification.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of Fig. 8.
Referring to Fig. 1 the two wires c and d form together a hexagonal figure or
nearly so. They are elastically connected together by the wire wound spirally
round them. The ends e e¹ of the two wires c d lic inside the spring f whilst their
other ends are formed to hooks a and b. a is a hook with its bend outwards and its
shank pointing towards the centre of the figure whilst has its bend inwards and its
shank which is forked at g pointing upwards provided with a stay or bridge h which
rests against the shank of hook a. If now the key or the catch or hasp of a lock be
passed into hook 6 from outside the ring and retained there, whilst the hexagonal
ring be compressed so as bring the two hooks in a vertical line--the key, catch, or
hasp may then be passed from the lower hook into the upper one, and on releasing
the hexagonal ring from the pressure of the fingers the upward shank of hook b will
pass under the key or hasp, leaving it inside the hexagonal ring. At the same time
said shank will close round the shank of hook a so that the key or hasp cannot be
removed from the ring or polygon until the latter be compressed and the process just
described reversed.
Figs. 4-7 shows a variation of the catch. Instead of covering the two wires
with a spiral spring they are encircled in a hollow seamless tubular covering i.
The tubular casing is provided with a hook 6 and has a spring of working or placed
in the socket k and fastened inside it, the other end of which is attached to the
shank m of hook a which runs in the tube. This spring tends to hold hook a in
position shown in Fig. 7. The part n of the casing has a slit so that the shanks of
hook a brought exactly over b. The working of the ring is as hereinbefore described.
Prin

page_text: The hasp or key is first placed in hook or bend b, bend a is then slid round so as to
lie over b, the key or catch is now passed out of 6 into a and a allowed to slide back
under influence of the spring when it takes the key or catch with it into the inside
of the ring.
The arrangement of the mechanism just described, shows the fastening as
particularly adapted for a key ring (Figs. 8 & 9). The principal part of the key ring
illustrated in Fig. 7 consists of a seamless tube, for which however in Fig. 8 a strip
metal bent to the proper shape, is substituted. This metal strip is bent round a
spindle or spike into the form shown in section in Fig. 8. The rings when executed
in the manner may be made of steel which was not possible in the case of the ring
shown in Fig. 7, which had to be manufactured of some other metal.
Whilst thus the first key ring is more of an article of luxury, the second may be
manufactured very cheaply and thus made accessible to all classes.
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. An automatic fastening consisting of the combination of two segments etc. c
and d, having hooks a and b and elastically connected by a spiral spring in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
2. In combination with the segments c and d having hooks a and b and elastically
connected to each other as specified-the forked end g of the hook 6 having a bridge
or stay h substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of wire c having hook a with its shank prolonged downwards
and adapted to engage against the bridge of fork g as and for the purpose
specified.
4. The combination of tube i containing a spring f having its one end fixed in the
tube whilst its other end is attached to the end m of hook a as and for the purpose
substantially as described.
>. The combination of tube i with hook b and split tubular guide n for the purpose
substantially as described.
6. The manufacture of a key ring comprising the combinations herein before
described and claimed from a strip of metal bent into the form in the manner
described.
7. Key rings of the form specified and manufactured of metal.
Dated 30 June 1800
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.