Year: 1886

page_text: PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HERBERT CYRIL HEARD, of Bute Villa, Roath, Cardiff, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved fasteners or confining devices for the loose or
tagged ends of the laces of boots and shoes, gloves, corsets and other articles which are
or may be furnished with laces to be passed through a series of pairs of lace holes for
the purpose of closing them.
It has for its special object the production of a cheap, compact, easily operated,
durable, efficient, and simple lace-fastening, and consists in the combination with the
material of the article to be closed by lacing, of a plate of metal or other suitable
material (but of metal by preference) by micans of fangs or equivalent devices passed
through the material and clenched or otherwise closely and snugly fixed or fastened on
the other side. The fangs or other equivalent device may be either in one piece with
the plate and bent at suitable angles therewith, or they may be separate.
According to my invention, the plate above mentioned is a plate which, when fixed
to the material, lies in a plane approximately parallel therewith. The object of this
is to secure compactness on the outside of the material, for it is self-evident, that a
fastener which may be, in other respects, useful but which is designed and made in
such a way that it projects.from the surface of the material instead of lying in a plane
approximately parallel therewith, will be a nuisance because of its constant tendency
to catch or fray adjoining material. For instance, a boot lace fastener may not project
from the side of the upper more than a limited distance, or it will fray the inside of
the trouser.
This necessity of compactness dictates the methods which characterise the way in
which the above mentioned fangs or other equivalent devices are fastened on the
inside of the material. I am aware that it has been proposed to make use of a shank-
like continuation of the exterior fastening device at a right angle therewith, to pass
this through the material far enough to expose an eye in its end and fit a transverse
pin in this eye, the function of which pin is to prevent the shank from being drawn out
of the material as well as to furnish a sort of hinge upon which the exterior fastening
device may rock first, in one direction and then in the other, as the lace is passed
under its respective ends.
Now according to my invention, whatever the device I use for connecting the
exterior fastening device or plate to the material, it is always close to and practically
flush with the inner surface of the material, and I rely upon the flexibility of the
material at the point of perforation allowing as much of the rocking motion as
described as may be necessary for the perfect fastening of the lace end.
The plate, when centrally attached by its fangs to the material, will, therefore, offer
to the wearer two arms approximately parallel with said material and held close to it
and partially embedded in it at the point of attachment, one of them pointing towards

page_text: the last lace hole from which the lace is led to the fastening device, and the other
pointing from it.
The lace is passed under the latter arm and pulled. This pulling pushes the upper
in and, because of the flexibility of the material of the upper, throws the fastening
device over.
The lace is then passed under the first mentioned arm and pulled. This
last pull tends to throw the device back again, and the lace is held in compression
between both arms and the opposite portions of the upper. Both pulls may be
dispensed with as the friction of the lace between the arms generally suffices to retain
it, inasmuch as in consequence of the wedge shape of the space between an arm and
the upper, the pressure exerted upon the lace by the arm increases with the strain
exerted upon the end of the lace by the act of walking. The slight oscillating motion
which the device must receive is provided by the flexibility of the material of the
upper without the permanence of the connection between device and upper being
endangered.
The plates are, in plan, preferably of an oblong, or approximately oblong, shape
with rounded ends, but other shapes, as oval or round, may be used if the require-
ments of any particular case render such a variation desirable or advantageous. They
may be flat, but I prefer that their ends be turned up to facilitate the passing of the
lace under. The plates may also be arched between the raised ends and the fangs
for the purpose of making more room for thick laces, or indented near their ends for
the double purpose of raising the latter and making more room for thick laces. Their
under sides may be serrated.
Fangs made in one piece with the plate may be either bent into planes at right
angles therewith for the purpose of being pushed through suitable perforations in the
upper, or they may be made to lie flat upon either side of the upper, being eyeletted
or rivetted thereto. Rivets, or stitching, or any equivalent means for fixing the plate
to the upper may also be adopted, according to the special circumstances of the
particular case.
The nature and scope of my invention, as well as some of the various ways in which
it can be carried into practical effect, are illustrated in the accompanying figures which
are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith, like parts being
marked throughout the figures in which they severally occur with the same reference
letter. The methods of using the invention are described in connection with a boot,
although as I have pointed out, my invention is not confined to fastening the ends of
boot laces.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, plan, side elevation, and perspective view of
a fastening device made according to my invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my invention con-
structed according to Figures 1, 2 and 3 to a laced boot; and
Figure 5 is a sectional longitudinal elevation of the fastening device of Figure 4
(but drawn to a larger scale) illustrating the action of the invention upon a lace.
The fastening device illustrated in the aforesaid five figures consists of an oblong
plate and its fangs.
The plate a has two fangs a', a' formed on its opposite edges midway of its length.
The two arms band e have their tips b', c¹ rounded and turned upwards to facilitate the
passing of the lace between them and the upper. An arch 6, 2, is formed in each
arm leaving a central part a² between them and the two fangs.
The fangs are bent down at right angles to the plate, and in the act of attaching
to the upper are passed through corresponding perforations therein and clenched on
the inside. The act of clenching brings the central part a² of the plate close to the
material of the upper a³, Figure 5, and may partially embed it therein.
The act of fastening a lace by means of my invention constructed as above
described is performed as follows.
The lace is led from the last holed (or its equivalent), Figure 4, under the arm c
and then back towards the arm b, thereby pulling that part of the lace e under the
arme into the wedge-shaped space between the latter and the material a³ of the upper,
and consequently throwing the plate over till the opposite arm b.touches the leather

page_text: •
as shewn in Figure 5. The lace is then pulled under the arm in the same way as
it was previously pulled under the arm c (either springing it up or forcing the leather
under it away from it a little) close up into the wedge-shaped space between the
arme and the leather as shewn at Figure 5.
Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, plan and sectional elevation illustrating two
modifications of my invention, the modifications consisting in bending the arms of the
plate differently and attaching it to the upper by means of a rivet and washer instead
of by two fangs. Figure 8 is a view of the plate only.
Y.
According to this modification in the shape of the plate y the ends are hollowed,
forming convex projections g¹, g². A hole g³ is formed in the centre of the plate
through which a rivet is passed for the purpose of attaching it to the upper a³ as
illustrated in Figure 7.
This modification of my invention is used as follows.
The lace is led from the last hole past the projection into the internal angle in
the underside of the plate as shewn at e in Figure 7, where it is held between the
arm and the upper . The lace is then pulled under the arm ³ in the same way
where it is likewise held between the arm and the upper a³.
With a straight plate as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, it will be noticed that the
lace displaces the upper a³ as it is pulled tight. This displacement of said upper has
the advantageous effect of preventing the end of the rivet from rubbing against.
the sock.
Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, plan and elevation, with the lace and upper in
section, illustrating a second modification of my invention. The modification consists
in making the oblong plate h flat with the-edges of the plate turned up all round to
prevent any possible cutting of the lace, instead of having its tips only bent up. It
is shewn as having a central perforation g³ formed in it, through which a rivet or
eyelet can be passed for the purpose of attaching it to the upper as described in con-
nection with Figures 6, 7 and 8. The method of inserting the lace under the plate is
the same as hereinbefore described. The parts e, f, of the lace between the plate and
the adjacent part of the upper a³ are held in compression between the two sufficiently.
tightly to prevent their slipping.
Figures 12 and 13 are, respectively, longitudinal sectional elevation and plan of a
third modification of my invention, the modification consisting in forming three
indentations i,,, in an oval plate j. The plate is attached to the upper by means
of fangs a in the manner described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The centre
indentation is embedded in the material of the upper in the act of clenching
the fangs.
In fastening a lace with this modification of my invention, the lace is pulled under
the indentations 1, 2, close up to the respective sides of the central indentation i.
Figures 14 and 15 are, respectively, plan and longitudinal sectional elevation of a
fourth modification of my invention.
The plate is narrow and expanded in the centre and at each end. It is attached
to the upper by means of a rivet passing through a perforation formed in the
central enlargement, or by any other convenient device. The ends k², are also
expanded laterally and hollowed, producing two indentations under which the lace
must be passed before it can be drawn up towards the rivet between the plate k and
the adjacent portion of the upper.
Figures 16 and 17 are, respectively, plan and elevation partly in section illustrating
a fifth modification of my invention. The plate 1, is circular with a convex central
portion and is attached to the upper a³ by an eyelet soldered on the back thereof, or
by a rivet.
Figures 18 and 19 are, respectively, plan and elevation partly in section illustrating
a sixth modification of my invention. The plate m is wider in proportion to its
length than those heretofore described. The tips m², m² of the plate are turned up and
the plate itself is attached to the upper a³ by a split pin passing through a central
hole m³. The parts e, f, of the lace between the plate and the upper a³ are compressed
between them as shown in the figures.

page_text: Figures 20 and 21 are, respectively, a plan and longitudinal sectional elevation of a
seventh modification of my invention, according to which an oval plate n is attached
to the upper a³ by an eyelet formed on the back thereof or soldered thereto.
Figures 22 and 23 are, respectively, plan and longitudinal sectional elevation of an
eighth modification of my invention according to which the method of attaching a
wide oval plate o to the upper a³ is, preferably, by double rivetting or sewing.
Figures 24, 25 and 26 are, respectively, plan, perspective view and longitudinal
sectional elevation of a modification of the construction illustrated in Figures 6, 7
and 8 and described therewith; and are therefore marked with the same reference
letter.
Figures 27 and 28 are, respectively, plan and perspective view of a plate, and
Figure 29 is a longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating a ninth modification of
my invention, according to which the plate p is flat and narrow with its tips p¹
turned up.
Figures 30 and 31 are, respectively, perspective view and plan of a tenth modi-
fication of my invention according to which an oblong plate with round ends has its
opposite corners 7, 7' bent upwards.
Figures 32 and 33 are, respectively, plan and inverted plan of an eleventh modi-
fication of my invention, and Figure 34 is an elevation shewing the method of
attaching it to the upper, and its action upon the end of the lace.
The plate is bent at forming an obtuse angle, and the shorter arm bent
downwards. A tongue formed in one piece with the plate, starting from the
angle, and continued for a length about equal to that of the longer arm of the
plate is, for the purpose of attaching the fastening device to the upper, passed through
à hole formed therein, and rivetted by an eyelet passing through the upper and a
hole formed in the tongue. The lace is passed under the shorter arm² and
pulled towards the angle in the act of passing it under the longer arm. The
parts e, f, of the lace are held in compression between the two arms and the upper.
Figure 35 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a twelfth modification of my
invention. The plates is concave and has two tongues s¹¹, bent in the opposite
direction, according to the curvature of the upper a³. Each tongue s¹ is perforated
and is attached to the upper by eyelets s².
The lace is passed first under one arm of the plate and then under the other, by
which it is pulled up close to the junction of plate and tongues and accordingly
wedged between them as shown ate and f
Figure 36 is a longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating a thirteenth modification
of my invention, according to which the under sides of the arms of the plate t are
serrated for the purpose of lessening the risk of the lace eshaking loose. In all
other respects the modification illustrated in this Figure is the same as illustrated in
Figure 35.
Figures 37 and 38 are, respectively, longitudinal sectional elevation and plan
illustrating a fourteenth modification of my invention according to which I use two-
circular plates u, u each having a perforated tongue u, u³ formed in one piece with it.
These tongues are attached to the upper a³ by eyelets s² as illustrated in Figures 35
and 36. The plates are concave, and the lace inust consequently raise them a little
as with the plate illustrated in Figure 7, as it is pulled under. The maximum distance
at the bight between a plate and its tongue is less than the normal thickness of a lace.
Those parts of the lace, e and f; which are drawn between plate and tongue are
consequently held in compression.
A plate is fixed on. the inside of the upper to keep the two plates in the same
plane.
Figures 39 and 40 are, respectively, plan and longitudinal sectional elevation
illustrating a fifteenth modification of my invention according to which the arms e, e,
are stamped out of a perforated plate which is sewn to the upper, the stitches
being passed through the perforations. The shape of the arms illustrated may be
varied:
In conclusion, I wish to point out that in addition to the lace end being held by

page_text: being wedged between the arms of the plate and the opposite part of the upper, the act
of drawing the tag e³, Figure 4 tight will pull the part of the lace marked c-close up
to the plate, and will therefore wedge the upper part of the lace tightly against the
edge of the arm b, which second wedging will have the effect of confirming the hold
of the arms of the fastening device upon the lace.
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. A lace end fastening device consisting of a plate or a pair of arms fixed to the
material by fangs or a rivet or pin passed through the material and fastened in the
inside thereof by folding or beating down flush with said material, or of a plate with
a pair of arms formed therein and sewn to the material; substantially as described.
2. The combination of a plate and fangs bent at right angles therewith by which
said plate can be attached to the material, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a plate and a convenient attachment device and projections
on the under side of said plate substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 8, and 12 to 15.
4. The combination of a plate, oblong, oval, or round, with the material of the
article to be laced, by means of stitches or by means of fangs or rivets holding the
centre of the plate close to the outer face of the material and the fangs closed
flattened or otherwise fixed on the inner side of said material flush therewith, sub-
stantially as described with reference to the accompanying figures.
5. The combination with a plate of tongues which form wedge-shaped spaces
between themselves and the underside of the arms of said plate, substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying figures 32 to 37.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents.
22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant..