Improvements in Lacing-hooks or Studs and other Analogous Holders or Fasteners Adapted to be Secured to Articles of Wearing Apparel
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in Lacing-hooks or Studs and other Analogous Holders
or Fasteners Adapted to be Secured to Articles of Wearing Apparel
I, EDWARD HERBERT ROBERTSON, residing at No. 85 Wilson Street, in the
City and County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, U.S.A., Goldsmith,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in Lacing-Hooks or Studs and other
analogous holders or fasteners adapted to be secured to articles of wearing
apparel.
In Lacing-hooks as heretofore constructed the mouth part of the hook-opening
bas been made practically wide open or unobstructed so as to readily receive the
lacing-cord. That is to say, articles of this class have heretofore consisted of a
single piece of suitably fashioned metal, the upper or cord-holding portion of each
hook being provided with a fixed or non-adjustable hook-opening.
There are objections to the use of lacing-hooks such as above referred to,-for
example, the lacing-cord is liable to become detached from the hook in case the
cord is accidentally loosened; another disadvantage is that since the cord-receiving
portions of such former hooks are always open in front, the unprotected edges
of the hook adjacent to the opening operate to wear or abrade the surface of the
fabric or material when the latter is brought into engagement with the hooks, as
in use.
This is especially true when the hooks are employed on ladies shoes,
because in that case the front lower edge of the skirt of the wearer is usually in
direct contact with the said exposed edges of the hooks, consequently after a short
time the corresponding part of the fabric is liable to become "frayed or ragged.
The object I have in view is to produce a lacing-hook devoid of the objections
or disadvantages inherent in articles of this class as heretofore made. To that
end my invention consists essentially of a lacing-hook or stud or other analogous
article adapted to receive a lacing or securing member therein, and having a
swinging or axially movable member mounted in and closing the throat-opening
adapted to be made operative by the act of introducing or releasing the said lacing
or securing member.
By means of my improved lacing-hook the hook-opening is completely closed
when in use. Or in other words, shoe or other articles of wearing apparel provided
with my improved hook or fastening device can be worn without abrading or defac-
ing the contiguous surface of any garment liable to be brought into frictional
engagement with the hook. This result is due to the fact that the head portion of
the hook presents a practically smooth and unbroken surface when in use, the
hook-opening being for the time fully closed by means of a spherical
suitably shaped movable member adapted to complete the contour of the head!
At the same time, however, the said movable part is capable of swinging
outwardly, thereby uncovering the hook-opening for the ready reception or
removal of the lacing-cord.
or other

page_text: In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation (enlarged)
of a lacing-hook embodying my improvement, the throat of the hook being open
or in the normal position to receive the flexible lacing member. Fig. 2 is a
similar view, the throat-opening "being closed as in use. Fig. 3 is a vertical
central sectional view, corresponding with Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional
view, the hook being provided with a guide adapted to keep the axis of the movable
closing member in proper relation to the hook-opening. Fig. 5 is a sectional view,
showing the hook-opening closed. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the corresponding
movable member detached from the hook. Figs. 7 and 8 show modified forms of
the hook, in the open and closed positions, respectively.
In my improved lacing-hook or fastening device, the principal or attaching
member a is or may be made substantially as common, though I do not desire to
thus limit my invention. As drawn, the body a consists of a tubular or eyeletted
shanks, a head a¹ and an offset .or eccentric neck or post a² integral with and
uniting said head and shank portions. The head is concavo-convex and generally
extends well towards the front, its underside or circumscribing edge being
substantially parallel with the flange or base a5. As thus constructed it will be
seen that a horizontal U-shaped opening m is formed between the said parts a¹, a³.
It is in this opening that the lacing-cord is mounted, the post a being of sufficient
strength to withstand the pressure or tension of the cord. Thus far the description
applies generally to the ordinary or well-known lacing-hook.
My invention resides in interposing a freely movable spherical or other suitably
shaped member, as in said hook-opening m: the same being placed therein
before the head a is fully bent down into position. When completed the device
presents somewhat the appearance of a ball-and-socket joint. I prefer to make
the member a hollow sphere, and having a suitable or V-shaped transverse
notch formed therein the bottom of said notch or recess should not, however,
extend past the centre of the sphere as otherwise the member could not be so readily
oscillated, owing to the reduced leverage.
In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have represented my improved lacing-hook provided with.
means for maintaining the sphere or hook-closing member 6 in position axially.
This consists in providing a short and narrow fixed tongue n on the underside of
the head a¹ the wall of the sphere having a correspondingly shaped groove or
opening n formed therein, the same being arranged at right angles to the said
notch and extending rearwardly therefrom on both sides of it, substantially
as shown in Fig. 6.
In Figs. 7 and 8 the bent post or neck a² of the lacing-hook is unprovided with
a head. The base or flange is, however, provided with a series of upturned
fingers these in conjunction with the post serve to hold the notched loosely
mounted ball-shaped member in place. The ball itself may be made of hard
rubber, celluloid or other suitable material. Fig. 7 shows the device ready to
receive a lacing-cord in its notch 61, and Fig. 8 shows the ball swung or turned
rearwardly, as in use.
The following is a description of the operation of my improved Jacing-hook.
Assuming that a series of the hooks are arranged and secured to a shoe
substantially as usual, the lacing-cord is then introduced into the several hook-
openings in a zig-zag manner as common; in the present instance, however, the
shoe-lace first enters the throat of the hook-opening m and is arrested by the
bottom of the notch 1 of the ball member (the position of the latter then being
substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7), meanwhile the slight pressure or
tension exerted upon the cord or lace as in lacing up a shoe causes the balls to
successively and automatically turn rearwardly on their socket-shaped seats,
thereby carrying or transferring the lace from the notches to the inner face of
the corresponding posts a²; the latter then sustaining the entire tension or work
to which the lace is subjected, as in the usual lacing-hook. Figs. 2, 5 and 8 show
the corresponding position of the balls. The simple act of unlacing the shoe
causes the lace to engage the upper side of the notch b¹ of the halls b, the slight

page_text: pressure or pull upon the cord at the same time causing them to swing towards the
front and uncover the hook-openings, thus freeing the cord from them.
I may add that in lacing-hooks or other fastening devices embodying my
present invention and capable of being made operative by the employment of the
usual lacing-cord, it is obvious that the balls or movable members are subjected
practically to no work whatever: in fact they can be used with the same
rapidity and facility as lacing-hooks unprovided with the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a lacing-hook or stud having a movable
member mounted in the throat or hook-opening thereof, arranged to automatically
close said opening by the action of the lacing-cord in lacing the shoe, substantially
as described.
2. In a lacing-hook or stud provided with an attaching shank, and an opening
or hook portion adapted to receive a suitable lacing-cord, the combination therewith
of a notched movable member mounted in the said.hook-opening.
3. A lacing-hook or stud having a circularly seated notched revoluble member
located in and practically filling the head portion of the stud, means for limiting
the movements of said revoluble member, and having the base of the hook provided
with an eyelet or other suitable attaching means, all constructed and arranged
whereby when in use the said revoluble members automatically close the hook-
openings of the studs by the action of the lacing-cord in lacing the shoe,
substantially as described.'
4. In a lacing-hook or stud having an attaching shank provided on its upper end
with a concave seat, and a cord retaining post extending upwardly from the shank,
the combination therewith of a movable splierical-shaped member resting on said
concave seat, means for retaining the sphere in position, and a notch or recess
formed in the face of the sphere to receive a lacing-cord, constructed and arranged
whereby the act of lacing the shoe causes the sphere. to turn rearwardly and
deliver the cord to said post, the upper part of the sphere being thereby exposed
and practically constituting the cap of the lacing-hook.
Dated this 25th day of May 1897.
EDWARD HERBERT ROBERTSON.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.