Improvements in Hooks, suitable for Fastening Garments and other Uses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hooks, suitable for Fastening Garments and
other Uses.
A communication from abroad by FRANK MURAT CONVERSE, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America, Inventor.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Loudon, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to hooks and particularly to those used on wearing
apparel-garments, shoes, gloves, corsets, etc. The hook is also applicable as
a securing device or clasp for pocket books, sample envelopes and bags and for
various like uses.
The main object of the invention is the production of a hook which will
not come unhooked, without assistance, but which can be readily unhooked when
desired and while hooked will hold the eye with considerable firmness. Another
object is the production of a hook which requires but a short range of movement
to unhook it."
With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction and formation
of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.
The accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification are executed
on an enlarged scale-and therein;
Fig. 1, represents in perspective the improved hook in co-operation with an
ordinary eye.
Fig. 2, represents the hook in plan.
Fig. 3, is a side view thereof.
Fig. 4, represents the hook in its application as a clasp.
Fig. 5, represents a well-known hook now in common use.
The hook is preferably constructed of wire and of a single piece of spring brass
wire. This piece has a securing bend A., formed at one end from which it extends
straight-away forming one side as B, of the shank, curved back upon itself laterally,
forming the looped end C, extends rearwardly forming the other side D, of the
shank, then forms laterally the other securing bend E, whence it extends along
between the sides of the shank forming a tongue F. The looped end C, is curved
over and bent downwardly until within a distance from the shank only slightly
greater than the thickness of the material of which the eye as G, is formed. The
tongue F, is also hent up at its end as illustrated and, in position of disuse,
extends across the hook opening from the extremity of the looped end C, to a
point between the sides of said loop. Its straight portion lies between the
sides of the shank which latter being rigid readily guide the inserted eye into
the hook.
On engaging the hook with an eye, loop or bar, which by preference should be
cylindrical, the tongue F, is depressed into the dotted position Fig. 3, the eye
resting as indicated by the dotted eircle x. The tongue therefore presses the eye
against the bend of the hook and holds it in place with sufficient firmness to
prevent its becoming tangled up with or kinked in the hook as is frequently the
case with the ordinary garment hook and eye. The outlet between the tongue and
the end of loop C, being narrower than the thickness of the eye or bar, it follows

page_text: that considerable pressure must be exerted upon the eye before it can be unhooked.
This required unhooking pressure is such that it precludes the possibility of
accidental unhooking.
One of the greatest advantages inherent in the hook constructed as illustrated is
that of the slight movement of the hook or the eye required to disengage them. The
eye requires to he moved a distance scarcely more than double that of the thickness
thereof and need not be moved out of the plane of the position of rest. This renders
it possible to use the hook upon very tight wearing apparel as upon corsets, gloves
and shoes.
The hooks now on the market have the recurved end I, Fig. 5, extended so far
along the shank that to release an eye therefrom it must be moved more than
the distance across the opening in the eye and therefore the hook or eye has to he
turned from the plane of the position of rest before it can be freed froin the hook,
Then to hold the eye in that position while forcing it beyond an obstruction, as
the hump H, is a difficult matter, particularly on tight garments and renders the
application to corsets, gloves and shoes practically impossible, as sufficient slack
cannot be gained in these articles to enable the eye to be carried from under the
point I.
In adapting the hook to gloves, shoes or pocket-books, a bar as G', may be
substituted for the eye and secured to the article by a ring and eyelet or in any
of the well-known ways. The hook too may be provided with securing means other
than the bends or loops A. The tongue F, being bent up near the loop C, an easy
insertion of the eye is provided, since the tip of the recurved loop or bill C, is free
to assist the shank in guiding the eye into the hook opening and the tongue on
account of its upward bend is enabled to firmly engage the eye between it and the
bill C; so that to insert the eye it is simply necessary to drop it over the end of
the bill and pull it immediately to place by a straight pull, no downward pressure
against the tongue being required.
The tongue alone may be made of resilient material and other changes may be
made in the form of the hook and particularly in the securing means therefor without
departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. A garment hook having a shot downwardly bent recurved portion and
provided with a spring tongue adapted to rest against the inserted eye and press
it firmly against the recurved portion of the hook, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2. The herein described hook having the side portions B and D, spaced apart
and terminating in the short, recurved and downwardly bent, looped end or bill C,
and having a spring tongue F, located between said sides, allowing the rigid shank
to guide the eye, and having its free end bent upwardly to extend obliquely across
the hook opening in position to firmly press the inserted eye against the bill, said
bend occurring at such a point in the tougue, with relation to the tip of the bill, as to
allow said tip to co-operate with the shank to guide the eye into the hook opening,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.