Improvements in Buckles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1892-Accepted, 9th July,. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buckles.
We GILLERY SMITH, of Elerslie, Oak Road Insurance Agent, and EDWIN
JAMES DIDDAMS HARRIS, of Bridge Road, Harness Maker, both of Woolston
in the County of Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to strap buckles applicable to harness and for all similar
purposes and comprises various improvements hereinafter described.
The main object of our invention is to provide efficient buckles of a form that
will not necessitate the sudden and unequal bending of the strap nor the cutting
away of the standing part of same through which—in buckles as ordinarily made—
the tongue first passes.
In making a buckle according to one form or modification of our invention the
same consists of a frame with end cross bars and two intermediate bars to one end
bar we suitably attach the standing part of strap and to the adjacent cross bar the
tongue which is arranged to pivot or hinge upon same.
To the next or second-intermediate cross bar we sometimes attach a steel
spring of flat section with which the tongue will come in contact when lying in a
horizontal direction.
The end cross bars are not in the same plane as the intermediate bars but the
one to which the standing part of strap is fastened is bent down and the other-
which we shall hereinafter refer to as the tongue end cross bar-is bent
upwards.
The tongue is approximately straight lengthways from where pivoted to the next
cross bar but is bent and turned up at its end so as to lie upon the top part of the
tongue end cross bar.
The form in side elevation of the buckle is such that the adjustable end of strap
can lie in same in a straight line.
In connecting the adjustable end of a strap to our buckle it is entered and the
engagement made with the tongue by simply passing the latter through one of the
holes in the strap the end can then be passed through a raised cross bar which
would be provided on the buckle or if preferred through an ordinary leather loop
provided on the standing part of the strap the adjustable end of the strap lies in a
line about parallel with, but above the standing part of strap, as one end of the
buckle is bent up, and the other down-as hereinbefore described--so as to secure
that result.
When strain is brought upon the tongue the latter presses upon the steel spring---
if fitted hereinbefore mentioned and then upon the cross bar next to the tongue
end crossbar, and the strain on the tongue would be taken to a certain extent first,
by the spring and then by the cross bar.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: "
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in Buckles.
We GILLERY SMITH of 110 Hatherton Street Walsall- in the County of
Staffordshire, Agent, and EDWIN JAMES DIDDAMS HARRIS, of Bridge Road
Woolston in the County of Hampshire, Harness Maker, 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:—
Our invention relates to strap buckles applicable to any purpose for which
buckles are used and comprises various improvements as hereinafter described.
The main object of our invention is to provide efficient buckles of a form that
will not necessitate the sudden and unequal bending of the strap and the consequent
breakage of the same nor the cutting away of the standing part of same through
which in buckles as ordinarily made-the tongue first passes.
In making a buckle according to our invention the same consists of a reversed
curved frame with end crossbars and two intermediate crossbars.
The end cross bar (a) to which the standing part of the strap is attached is made.
by a curve in the frame to bend downwards and the other end (6) which we shall
hereinafter describe and refer to as the tongue end crossbar --by a reversed curve
in the frame is made to bend upwards thereby throwing the ends out of plane with
each other. By having the ends thus beut the adjustable end of the strap-when
connected is made to lie approximately straight thereby avoiding the sudden and;
unequal bending of the strap and the breakage thereof.
In connecting the adjustable end of a strap to our buckle the same is entered
and the engagement made with the tongue by simply passing the latter through
one of the holes in the strap it then lies in a line parallel with-but above-the
standing part of strap as one end of the buckle is bent up and the other end down
as hereinbefore described so as to secure that result.
The adjacent intermediate bar (c) to that which the standing part of the strap is
connected is used for the tongue to hinge upon and is constructed with a sunk
centre for the purpose of keeping the tongue in its proper position when hinged
thereon.
The tongue is made to lie straight from the bar upon which it hinges to the next
intermediate bar (d) on which it rests it is then bent up so as to form a right
angle (e) when it is again bent forward to allow the end of the tongue (f) to point
directly to and come in contact with the inside of the tongue end crossbar (6) by
this means the top of the tongue end crossbar (6) and the end of the tongue (f)
are on a plane with each other thus preventing the possibility of accidents that
sometimes happens with buckles that has the end of the tongue protruding over
the bar.
The length allowed between the right angled bend in the tongue (e) and the
forward bend (g) of same is always of a sufficiency for the thickness of a strap
when connected to lie easily thereon thus giving a straight pull to the strap and
causing the full strain to act upon the tongue when pressure is brought to bear
upon it the strap is thereby worked with more independence of the tongue end cross-
bar (b) than is usually the case with the ordinarily made buckles.
By allowing the forward end of the tongue () to meet the inside of the tongue
end cross bar (6) as hereinbefore described an extra strength is given to the buckle
as the strain is equally divided between the tongue end cross bar (b) and the inter-
mediate bar (c) on which the tongue hinges thus reducing to a minimum the risk of
accidents occuring through the breakage of buckles.
The angled bend of the tongue (e) acts as a lock to the strap in such a manner
that when the buckle is being used for purposes that sometimes necessitates the
tongue leaving its proper bearing-such as in tug buckles for harness work—the
strap cannot possibly become detached as the locking of the strap takes place

page_text: automatically and likewise automatically frees itself when the tongue has again found
its proper bearing. Owing to the forward bend (9) having a rounded shoulder it
is much easier for the straps to be fastened and unfastened than is the case with the
ordinarily made buckles.
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 is
1st. The reversed curves in the frame of the buckle.
2nd. The forward intermediate bar (d) upon which the tongue rests.
3rd. The two acute angled bends in the tongue (E) and (G.) which allows a
straight pull on the strap and prevents breakages of same.
4th. The forward end (F) of the tongue meeting the inside of the tongue end
cross bar (b).
5th. The sunk centred intermediate cross-bar (c) upon which the tongue
hinges.
GILLERY SMITH.
EDWIN J. D. HARRIS.