Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd June, 1887
Complete Accepted, 26th July, 1887
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pocket protectors, and has for its object to provide a cheap
simple yet effective device for retaining the mouth of a pocket in a closed position,
which will be applicable to any garment or any sized pocket, whereby the contents of
said pockets are prevented from falling out, and whereof the application will not
disfigure a garment.
The invention consists in providing the mouth of the pocket with concavo-convex
spring strips of flexible material so placed that the convex sides face each other or a
slightly concavo-convex strip of partially flexible material and a concavo convex strip
of flexible material so placed that the convex and concave sides face each other,
or providing the pocket with a straight strip of partially flexible material and a
concavo-convex strip of flexible material so placed that the convex side faces the
straight strip, or in providing the pocket with two opposing straight strips of
flexible material, connected in suitable manner as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
In carrying out the object of the invention flexible metallic strips are employed, of any
desired width, and of a length slightly longer than the pocket purposed to be closed
thereby. Each end of one of the said imetallic strips is made more or less contracted
near the extremities, the said. extremities being provided with T-shaped transverse
heads, which heads are usually constructed of a width about equal to the width of the
main body of the strip at the centre.
The second strip is also constructed of any flexible material such as rubber, whale
bone, or plated brass, but thin plated steel plate is preferred for both strips, the
second strip corresponding in width to the first strip, but being of equal width
throughout its ends having a central dovetail slot cut therein, adapted to receive the

page_text: reduced portions of the first strip, so that the transverse head of said strip will bear
against the inner face of the other or inner strip, whereby a secure and complete joint
is made.
In applying the invention to a pocket of a vest for instance, an incision is made in
the inside lining at the outer edges of the pocket, from the inside, one incision at each
end, then a corresponding incision is made in the outer lining of the vest, opposite the
aforesaid incision in the inside lining, which incisions may be, if found desirable and
are preferably worked with a button hole stitch.
The one flexible strip is now entered the one end incision from the inside in the
lining and pushed forward through the opposite incision in the inter-lining, and then
between the inter-lining and the material constituting the outer facing of the pocket at
the top, longitudinally of the same, having reached the opposite end of the said pocket,
the head of the strip is passed through the incision at that end outside the inside lining.
The strip is then so located that the body thereof is situated between the inter-lining
and the face of the vest while its headed ends project, at more or less of an angle
through the inside lining.
To bring tension upon the mouth of the pocket, and complete the invention the
ends of the inner strip are so sprung that the dovetail slots therein, will embrace
the reduced portion of the said outer strip, the heads of the outer strip bearing
transversely against the outer side of the ends of the inner strip, the said inner
strip extending longitudinally across the pocket in a parallel plane with the other
strip, the result being that a spring tension is brought to bear upon the mouth of the
pocket.
By this invention a pencil or other object is prevented from falling out, likewise
cigars as the strips being wide they will not crush the end. Money, an account book,
or in fact anything within a thickness of an inch and a half and two inches may safely
be carried without danger of loss, and a watch placed in a pocket thus protected, the
springs, clamping the ring, cannot be removed without the knowledge of the wearer.
The invention is applicable to garments of any description, and when found desirable
may be readily detached.
According to one modification the one strip is provided with central end tongues and
the opposing strip has its ends bent inwards at right angles and a rectangular slot cut
therein, the two strips being united by passing the tongues through the said rectangular
slots whereby a hinged connection is produced, the mode of application of this form
being substantially the same as the other.
In another form of protector specially adapted for insertion at the mouth of a
pocket before the introduction of a pocket in a garment, the one strip has ends
which are substantially the same as before, but are connected to the main portion of
the strip by short straight necks, and the other strip is provided at its ends with
rectangular slots. The strips may be run transversely of the pocket parallel with
the mouth on the outside or they may be located if desired one on the inside and
the other on the outside of said pocket. When the strips are united by the insertion of
the T-ends of the one in the slots of the other the two strips will curve in the same
direction.
Another modification similar to the last but differing only in that slots are triangular
instead of rectangular whereby a more secure connection is effected. The application
of this modification to a pocket is as follows. The material constituting the pocket is
carried over upon the inside to form opposing webs or loops into which the leaves or
strips are entered their ends projecting from either side and being united. The strips
may however be placed outside the pocket proper or one inside and one out if desired,
and held in position in any approved manner.
According to another modification specially adapted to pockets intended to contain
papers, account books, pocket books, or other bulky articles and which may be applied
to the pocket substantially as above described, the one strip is formed with T-shaped
ends, the said ends being however bent inwards at right angles to the body and
the other strip or leaf has triangular slots, the slotted ends being also bent at right
angles to the body, and when the ends of the two strips are united, the square

page_text: hinged connections admit more extended expansion of the pocket to which the device
is attached.
In another modified form of protector the strips are similar in all respects to the last,
with the exception that the T-shaped ends of the one strip are entered through
rectangular slots in the other strip.
In applying the device to an outside or patch pocket of a coat both strips are
entered from the inside, the one strip being passed through an encasing sheath formed
inside the coat and the other strip through an end casing sheath formed inside the
pocket parallel with the said first sheath, the ends of the strips being united at the inside
of the coat. The casing upon the piece forming the pocket may be made separate and
attached either to the inside or outside of the pocket piece. This method of applying
the protector can be used on ready made coats.
If found desirable a shield adapted to cover or enclose the outer edge of the pocket
may be made integral with or be an attachment to the adjacent strip and the width of
the pocket reduced thereby.
It will be observed that in every instance the strips are united at each end by
a free joint, which produces when the strips are spread out from the centre a jaw like
movement thus admitting of as great a degree of expansion as the material used will
permit. This movement may be obtained by a sloping T head moving in a slot of any
desired or suitable shape preferably a dove tail or by a shouldered T head moving in
an opening of any desired or suitable shape preferably a rectangular one.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Pocket Protectors.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from
abroad by David Jenkins Scott of Ridgeway in the County of Warren and State of
North Carolina, United States of America, Druggist,) 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 pocket protectors; and has for its object to provide a cheap,
simple, yet effective device for retaining the mouth of a pocket in a closed position,
which will be applicable to any garment or any sized pocket, whereby the contents of
said pockets are prevented from falling out and whereof the application will not
disfigure a garment.
The Invention consists in providing the mouth of the pocket with concavo-
convex spring strips of flexible material so placed that the convex sides face each
other; or a slightly concavo-convex strip of partially flexible material and a concavo-
convex strip of flexible material so placed that the convex and concave sides face
each other; or providing the pocket with a straight strip of partially flexible
material and a concavo-convex strip of flexible material so placed that the convex
side faces the straight strip; or in providing the pocket with two opposing straight
strips of flexible material connected in suitable manner; as will be hereinafter fully
set forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part of this
specification, in which figure 1 is a front elevation of a pocket, having the invention
applied, and figure 2 is a front elevation of a modified form. Figure 3 is a plan view
of the front and rear leaf of the protector. Figure 4 is an edge view of a modified
form of leaf shewn in figure 2, and figures 5 and 6 are plan views of the disconnected
leaves of modified forms and edge views of the same connected. Figure 7 is an edge
view of another modification, and figures 8 and plan views of the disconnected
leaves of further modifications and edge views of the same connected. Figure 10 is
a transverse vertical section through figure 1, and figure 11 is a transverse vertical
section through the modification shewn in figure 6, applied to a pocket. Figure 12
is a transverse vertical section through the leaves applied to an inside vest pocket
fastened as in figure 5, the leaves however, being of equal length, and figure 13
represents the application of a shield, when used in connection with one leaf of the
protector.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In carrying out the invention, flexible metallic strips A are employed of any desired
width, and of a length slightly longer than the pocket purposed to be closed thereby.
Each end a of one of the said metallic strips A, is made more or less contracted near

page_text: the extremities at a¹, the said extremities being provided with T-shaped transverse
heads a², which heads are usually constructed of a width about equal to the width of
the main body of the strip A, at the centre, as illustrated in figure 3. The second
strip B is also constructed of any flexible material such as rubber, whale-bone or
plated brass, but thin plated steel plate is preferred for both strips A and B, the
second strip B corresponding in width to the strip A but being of equal width
throughout, its ends 6 having a central dovetail slot 6¹ cut therein, adapted to receive
the reduced portions a¹ of the strip A, so that the transverse head a² of said strip A
will bear against the inner face of the inner strip B, as shewn in dotted lines figure 1,
whereby a secure and complete joint is made.
In applying the invention to a pocket C of a vest D for instance, as illustrated in
figures 1 and 10, an incision is made in the inside lining d at the outer edges of the
pocket C from the inside, one incision at each end, then a corresponding incision is
made in the outer lining E of the vest opposite the aforesaid incision in the inside
lining, which incisions may be, if found desirable and are preferably, worked with a
button-hole stitch. The flexible strip A is now entered the one end incision from the
inside in the lining and pushed forward through the opposite incision in the inter-
lining and then between the inter-lining E, and the material constituting the outer
facing of the pocket at the top, longitudinally of the same, as shewn in figure 1,
having reached the opposite end of the said pocket C, the head a² of the strip A, is
passed through the incision at that end outside the inside lining. The strip A is then
so located that the body thereof is situated between the inter-lining and the face of the
vest, while its headed ends project at more or less of an angle through the inside lining.
To bring tension upon the mouth of the pocket, and complete the invention, the ends
of the inner strip B are so sprung that the dovetail slots b¹ therein will embrace the
reduced portion a¹ of the said outer strip A, the heads a² of the strip A bearing
transversely against the outer side of the ends 6 of the strip B, the said strip B extending
longitudinally across the pocket in a parallel plane with the other strip A, as shewn in
figures 1 and 10, the result being that a spring tension is brought to bear upon the
mouth H of the pocket C.
By this invention, a pencil or other object is prevented from falling out, likewise
cigars as the strips being wide they will not crush the end. Money, an account book,
or in fact anything within a thickness of an inch and a half and two inches may safely
be carried without danger of loss, and a watch placed in a pocket thus protected, the
springs clamping the ring, cannot be removed without the knowledge of the wearer.
The invention is applicable to garments of any description and, when found desirable,
may be readily detached.
In figure 4, one strip A is provided with central end tongues 1 and the opposing
strip B has its ends 2 bent inward at right angles and a rectangular slot cut therein,
the two strips being united by passing the tongues 1 through the said rectangular slots,
whereby a hinged connection is produced. The application of this form is illustrated
in figure 2, and is substantially the same as in figure 1.
Figure 5 represents a protector specially adapted for insertion at the mouth of a
pocket before the introduction of the pocket in a garment. It will be observed that
the strip A is shorter than strip Band that, while the T-shaped ends a² are substantially
the same as shewn in figure 3, but are connected to the main portion of the strip by
short straight necks, the other strip B is provided at its ends with rectangular
slots 4. The strips may be run transversely of the pocket parallel with the mouth
on the outside or they may be located if desired one on the inside and the other upon
the outside of said pocket. When the strips are united by the insertion of the T ends a²
of the one in the slots 4 of the other, the two strips will curve, as shewn, in the same
direction.
Figure 6 illustrates a modification similar to figure 5, differing only in that slots 5
are triangular instead of rectangular, whereby a more secure connection is effected.
The application of this modification to a pocket is illustrated in figure 11. The pocket
proper 7, is positioned in a garment 8 being the outside and 9 the inner surface and
linings. The material constituting pocket 7 is carried over upon the inside to form

page_text: opposing webs or loops 10 into which the leaves or strips are are entered; their ends
projecting from either side are united as in figure 5. The strips may however be placed
outside the pocket proper, or one inside and one outside if desired, and held in
position in any approved manner.
Figure 7 illustrates a modification specially adapted to pockets intended to contain
papers, account books, pocket books, or other bulky articles, and which may be
applied to the pocket, substantially as above described. The strip A is formed with
T-shaped ends, as in figures 5 and 6, the said ends being however bent inwards at
right angles to the body and the strip or leaf B has triangular slots, as shewn at 5 in
figure 6, the slotted ends being also bent at right angles to the body, and when the
ends of the two strips are united, as shewn, similar manner to figure 6 the square
hinged connections admit more extended expansion of the pocket to which the device
is attached.
The modification illustrated in figure 8, is adapted for an inside coat pocket and is
constructed and united in similar manner to figure 6, with the exception that
the two strips A and B are of equal length. The modification shewn in figure 4
is also applicable for this purpose. In all the different methods of application,
the strips of metal forming the protector may be, if desired, encased in any suitable
material.
.
In the modified form of protector, figure 9, the strips are similar in all respects to
those of figure 7, with the exception that tho T shaped ends a² of the strip A, are
entered through rectangular slots in strip B.
Figure 12 represents the application of the device to an outside or patch pocket of a
coat, in which both strips are entered from the inside, the strip B being passed through
an encasing sheath 12 formed inside the coat and the strip A through an encasing
sheath 13 formed inside the pocket parallel with said sheath 12, the ends of the strips
being united at the inside of the coat 14. The casing upon the piece forming the pocket
may be made separate and attached either to the inside or outside of the pocket piece.
This method of applying the protector can be used on ready made coats. If found
desirable, a shield 16, adapted to cover or enclose the outer edge of the pocket, may be
made integral with or be an attachment to the strip A or B and the width of the pocket
reduced thereby. This form of strip is illustrated in figure 13.
It will be observed that in every instance the strips are united at each end by a free
joint which produces, when the strips are spread out from the centre, a jaw-like
movement thus admitting of as great a degree of expansion as the material used will
permit. This movement may be obtained, as shewn, by a sloping T-head moving in
a slot of any desired or suitable shape preferably a dove-tail or by a shouldered
Thead moving in an opening of any desired or suitable shape, preferably a
rectangular one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. The combination with a garment pocket, of parallel interlocking strips of
flexible material, substantially as shewn and described and for the purpose herein
set forth.
2. The combination with a garment pocket, of two strips of flexible material
arranged in parallel lines each side of said pocket detachably united at their ends,
substantially as shewn and described and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination with a garment pocket, of two strips of flexible material
arranged in parallel lines transversely of the pocket at each side of the mouth the said
strips detachably united at their ends, substantially as shewn and described and for the
purpose herein set forth.
4. The herein described method of protecting a pocket, which consists in flexible
interlocking strips arranged at each side of said pocket, as set forth.
5. The herein described method of protecting a pocket, which consists in
arranging flexible interlocking strips at each side of said pocket, to intervene

page_text: between the pocket and inner lining and the said pocket and face of the goods, as
set forth.
6. The herein described method of protecting a garment pocket, which consists in
passing a flexible strip between the lining and material constituting the outside edge of
the pocket, passing a second flexible strip in parallel lines with the first strip either
under or outside of the inner lining of the garment and interlocking the ends of both
strips, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the pocket, of a flexible strip A between said pocket and
the inside lining having headed ends a, and the flexible strip B having dovetailed ends b
adapted to engage the ends of said strip A outside the said lining, substantially as
shewn and described.
8. The combination with a pocket and the inside and interlining Ed of a garment,
of a flexible strip A between the interlining and the facing of said pocket, having its
ends provided with an enlargement a² and a flexible strip B having dovetails b¹ in the
ends adapted to extend outside the inside lining and engage said strips A, substantially
as shewn and described.
9. The combination with the flexible strips A provided with reduced end portions a¹
and enlarged extremities a², of a flexible strip B of equal width, provided with a
dovetail slot 6 at the ends, the said dovetail slots, adapted to receive the reduced
portions a¹ of the strip A, substantially as shewn and described and for the purpose
herein set forth.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.