A NEW OR IMPROVED SAFETY-CATCH FOR BROOCHES, PINS, EARRINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David MacGregor of the City and County of Perth, N.B.,
for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED SAFETY-CATCH FOR BROOCHES,
PINS, EARRINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David MacGregor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1883.
OR
DAVID MACGREGOR of the City and County of Perth. N.B. "A NEW
IMPROVED SAFETY-CATCH FOR BROOCHES, PINS, EARRINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES
دو
This Invention has for its object a new or improved safety-catch for brooches,
pins, earrings and other similar articles. Such catch consists of a tubular or other
suitable framing of any convenient size soldered or otherwise secured to a brooch
or other article. Such tube has a longitudinal lateral slot cut therein; while
fitted therein is a strong bolt upon which is mounted a spiral spring-Secured to
the outer end of such bolt is a hollow ball or its equivalent which forms the head
of the catch. This head has a notch or opening therein to receive the point of
the pin-A cap fitted on the inner end of the bolt which cap holds the spring
in position. A check is also fitted at this end which check fits into the lateral
slot in the tube.
The operation of my improved safety catch is as follows:-When the catch is
opened the hollow head is simply drawn out, thereby compressing the spring and
the point of the pin is placed in the notch or opening in such hend and when the
head is released the spring expanding, automatically and instantaneously draws
the head of the catch tightly against the tube while the point of the pin is safely
shut within the tube
In order to guide the pin a wire or a bead mount is soldered to or formed on the
tube thus effectually preventing the spring or pin from being accidentally drawn
out-To release the pin it is only necessary to draw away the head from the point
when the pin is set free
Instead of the spiral spring being operated in the manner already described it
may be arranged so as to act by being turned and returned upon itself

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David MacGregor in the Patent Office on the 24th March 1884.
DAVID MACGREGOR of the City and County of Perth. N.B.
" A NEW OR
IMPROVED SAFETY-CATCH FOR BROOCHES, PINS, EARRINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES"
This Invention has for its object a new or improved safety-catch for brooches,
pins ear-rings and other similar articles and in order that my said invention may
be fully understood and readily carried into effect I will now with the aid of the
accompanying drawings proceed more particularly to describe and ascertain the
Баше
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section shewing the internal construction of my
improved safety-catch which may be made either in gold or silver, or in any other
suitable metal.
Such catch consists of a cylindrical or other suitably shaped casing a of any
convenient size which is soldered or otherwise secured to a brooch or other article.
This casing has a narrow longitudinal slot c cut therein while a bolt or spindle d
of a corresponding length with the casing is fitted therein upon which is mounted
a small spiral spring b. On the outer end of this bolt is fixed the catch proper &
consisting of a hollow ball or other suitable equivalent having a notch or opening f
formed therein of sufficient size to easily receive the point of the pin-On the
inner end of such bolt is a cap g which holds the spring b in position in the
Casing. This cap g is furnished with a check h on one side which check works or
slides to and fro in the slot c When the catch is opened the hollow head o is.
drawn out whereby the spiral spring b is compressed as seen in Figure 2-The
point of the pin is then placed within the notch or opening fand upon with drawing
the fingers the spring 6 expanding draws up the head e and causes it to press
tightly against the end of the casing at the same time that the point of the pin is
safely and securely shut within-In order to guide the travel of the point
of the pin I solder small wire or bead mounts a¹ a¹ Figure 3 either to the
side of or upon the Casing which mounts also prevent either the spring or pin
from being accidentally drawn out-In order to release the pin and so unfasten
the Catch it is only necessary to draw away the heade from the point of the pin
and dislodge the latter from the notch f when it is instantaneously free
Or instead of compressing and expanding the spiral spring b in the manner
already described the same may be actuated by causing it to turn and return upon
its own axis as shewn at Figure 4-This I effect by fixing one end of such spring
within the casing a while the other end is fixed to the check b¹ Figure 4 which is
placed on the extremity of the bolt so that such check instead of sliding up and
down in a longitudinal slot as previously described has a circular travel in a
circular slot c cut in such casing
In order to afford a convenient purchase for operating such spring in either way
small studs (i i figures 1-2-3 and d¹ in the remaining figures) are formed on or
affixed to the head of the Catch which can thus be easily drawn out, or turned
round until the notch or opening f in the head e appears when the point of the
pin being placed therein and the fingers with drawn the spring recoils
instantaneously thus securely locking the Catch
Another modification consists in dispensing with the internal spring thereby
reducing the cost and labour of manufacture and rendering my invention very
suitable for ear-rings-Such modification is illustrated at Figures 5-5 and 6-In
this arrangement the hollow head or catch a¹ is fixed on the longitudinal section

page_text: of a tube b turning within the outer tube or casing a and working in a
semi-circular slot a cut therein and provided with a check-When the catch is open
to receive the pin the opening f-in the head is in a line with the slot g-The pin
is then pressed into such opening after which the hollow head a¹ is turned half
round thus securing the point within the head by forcing it into a slight notch
wherein it rests and thus locks the Catch-In order to free the pin it is only
necessary to turn the head in the reverse direction when it is at once released and
springs out
When desired a brooch or pin may be made of a tubular or other convenient
form so as to embody my invention therein without in any way interfering with
the pattern thereof
My improved safety catch possesses the following advantages
Firstly It affords great security as it almost totally obviates all risk of the
pin becoming accidentally free-thus preventing loss and injury
Secondly It combines safety with comfort to the wearer as it neither tears or
injures the dress, or pricks or scratches the hand of the wearer or of others
Thirdly-Owing to the pin not being subjected to so much strain as that now
generally in use the frequent recurrence of breakage is avoided thus resulting in a
saving of trouble and expense
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that
I claim as of my invention
1°. A safety-catch consisting of a slotted casing provided externally with wire
or bead guide mounts and containing a spiral spring mounted on a bolt or spindle
provided with a Cap and Check and having affixed thereto a hollow notched head
furnished externally with studs or projection all arranged combined and fitted
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore specified.
2° The modified construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore particularly
specified whereby a rotary in lieu of a rectilinear motion is imparted to the
spring
3° The modified construction and arrangement bereinbefore particularly specified
whereby the spring is entirely dispensed with thus reducing the cost and labour of
manufacture
In Witness whereof I the said David MacGregor have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty second day of March in the Year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
DAVID MACGREGOR. (L.S.)