CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR ARTICLES OF DRESS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading, George
Edward Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading, all of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Jewellers, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Reading, Samuel
Alfred Reading, George Edward Reading; and Frederick Francis Reading
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
25th June 1866.
We, JOHN READING, SAMUEL ALFRED READING, GEORGE EDWARD READING,
and FREDERICK FRANCIS READING, all of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Jewellers; do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR ARTICLES OF DRESS," to be as
follows (that is to say) :-
Our improvements relate to a modification or arrangement of a bolt or
bolts actuated by a helical spring or springs, or other equivalent means in
connection with a projecting part or parts for forming a catch or catches that
may be attached to a band, belt, chain, cord, or other suitable material or
parts of dress for forming a band, or belt, or connector for uniting or con-
necting the parts, but we will describe our Invention as applied to a lady's
belt clasp, which consists of a front plate, which may be ornamented in any
suitable variety of style, either on the plate or applied thereto, having a

page_text: provision for connecting it by sewing or otherwise to the material of the belt;
at the back a recess or case is formed either out of the metal of the plate
before referred to, or applied thereto for regulating the action of a bolt, which
bolt terminates with a thumb bit and raised stops, and also a contracted part
for receiving a helical spring or other equivalent means, that keep the bolt to
the extent of its throw or action. On one side of the recess or case before
named a slot or opening is formed for receiving the catch, which is inclined
on a part of its edge for the purpose of gliding over the corresponding inclined
part of the bolt to form the connection like an ordinary catch. To this catch
part a loop, bar, or other means is formed or provided for connecting it with
the material of the belt, and although we have described one bolt, one spring,
and one detent, nevertheless two bolts and two springs may be used, the catch
or detachable part having a double incline to complete the double detent or
catch.
In use, either with one or two bolts, the user or wearer has only to press
with the finger and thumb on the one or both of the outward or exposed
projecting end or ends of the bolt or bolts to compress them against the
expanding force of the spring or springs used, when the catch or detachable
part will be free for withdrawal, and of course removal of the belt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading, George Edward
Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
READING, SAMUEL ALFRED READING, GEORGE EDWARD READING, and FREDERICK
FRANCIS READING, all of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Jewellers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading, George Edward Reading, and
Frederick Francis Reading, Her special licence that we, the said John
Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading, George Edward Reading, and Frederick
Francis Reading, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading, George Edward

page_text: Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR ARTICLES OF DRESS," upon the con
dition (amongst others) that we, the said John Reading, Samuel Alfred
Reading, George Edward Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner, the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading,
George Edward Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
:-
Our improvements relate to a modification or arrangement of a bolt or
bolts actuated by a helical spring or springs, or other equivalent means in
connection with a projecting part or parts for forming a catch or catches that
may be attached with their constituent parts either by sewing or the use of
metal eyelets, loops, or other equivalent means, to a band, belt, chain, cord,
or other suitable material or parts of or appendages to dress for completing a
band or belt, so as to form the connector of such or other parts or appendages
of dress for uniting or connecting the parts; but we will describe our Inven-
tion as applied to a lady's belt clasp, consisting of a single front plate
ornamented in any suitable variety of style, either by ornamenting the front
plate, or applying any suitable ornamentation thereto, having, as before stated,
a provision for attaching or connecting the material of the belt or other portion
to the clasp, that the same may be effected by sewing or otherwise.
back a recess or case is formed either out of the metal of the plate before
eferred to, or applied thereto for holding the action of a bolt, which bolt
terminates with a thumb bit and raised stop or stops, and also a contracted
part (that is to say, pierced or otherwise formed) for receiving a helical spring
or other equivalent means that keeps the bolt to the extent of its throw or
action, where it is retained by the stop before mentioned. On one side of the
recess or case (before nained) a slot or opening is formed for receiving the
catch, which is inclined on a part of its edge for the purpose of gliding over
At the

page_text: the corresponding inclined part of the bolt to form the connection like an
ordinary catch. To this catch part a loop, bar, or other means is formed or
provided for connecting it with the other end of the material of the belt; and
although we have described one bolt, one spring, and one detent, nevertheless
two bolts and detents, with one or two springs, may be used, the catch or
detachable part having a double incline to complete-the-double-detent-or
catch.
In use, either with one or two bolts or means of connection, the user or
wearer has only to press with the finger and thumb on the one or (in cases
where two bolts are used in opposite direction) both of the outward or exposed
projecting end or ends or thumb bits of the said bolt or bolts, to compress
them against the expanding force of the spring or springs used, when the
catch or detachable part will be free for withdrawal, and of course thereby
frees the detent and releases the belt. This description, as before stated,
entirely relates and is confined to the arrangement or combination of our
Invention for a belt clasp, notwithstanding the same mechanism has only to
be suitably modified and arranged for other adaptations for dress fastenings
or appendages thereto, such as coat, cloak, or shawl fastenings, connectors for
gaiters, leggings, garters, and other fastenings, affording-room in their con-
struction for receiving our improvements; but as this will be seen and
understood more fully by referring to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, we will proceed to describe the same
in detail (that is to say).

page_text: l
pring, the lower end of which rests against the lower end of the slot, as
hewn in Figure 1. On the side of the case e a slot is formed for receiving
he catch part 1, shewn in a separate view at Fig. 3, which catch part l consists
of a piece of metal cut to the form shewn, so as to provide in this case two
catches for engaging with the corresponding catches or detents k, k, of the
bolt f, Figure 2, and this catch part is also provided with a metal loop " for
attachment by sewing or otherwise to the material of the belt or band, as
stated in relation to the other parts. The action of a belt clasp thus con-
structed will be readily understood, as it is merely requisite that the catch
part be inserted in the side slot of the metal case e, and a slight pressure
applied thereto, when the inclined parts or catches of the catch part 2 will
glide over the corresponding catch parts or detents k, k, of the bolt f, and a
connection thereby effected; when it is required to be released, the pressure
of the thumb upon the thumb piece 9 will contract the spring j, and at the
same time force the bolt finto the case e until the detents k, k, are sufficiently
depressed to free the catch part.
Fig. 4 exhibits in a back view, and Fig. 5 in sectional edge view (taken
through the dotted line a, a, Figure 4) a modification of the belt clasp
described, by having two front plates instead of one, though the mechanism
in this instance is exactly similar to that described.
Fig. 6 is a detached view of the catch, which is attached by any convenient
means to the front plate c', as shown in Figure 4; and in Fig. 7 the catch
part is shewn detained and held in the catch parts k, k, of the bolt f.
Another arrangement of our Invention will be seen by referring to Fig. 8,
which represents a back view of a belt clasp with a metal case applied
thereto for receiving two bolts, two springs, and two raised stops (instead of
one of each, as before described), two slots being also provided in the back of
the case instead of one, as at Figure 1.
At Fig. 9 we have shown a similar view to Figure 8, but with the back of
the metal case e removed in order that the relative positions of the two bolts f¹
and may be clearly seen.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent in detached front and edge views the form of
catch or detent we employ with this arrangement, which consists in so forming
the incline or catch parts that the two catches shall be turned inwards and
face each other, whilst the two catch portions of the bolts f¹ and f¹ are inclined
from each other, so that by forcing the catch part, Figure 10, into the side
slot of the case e the inclined or detent portions of the catch part will glide
over the corresponding inclined or catch parts of the bolts f¹ and f, drawing
them together until the inclines of the catch part pass over the inclines of the

page_text: bolts f¹ and f', when the expanding force of the helical springs will relieve
the bolts into the position shewn at Figure 9, and the connection will thereby
be effected. When desired to release or disconnect the belt it is merely
requisite to press with the finger and thumb upon the thumb bits g and g
until the bolts f' and f¹ meet in the case e, which will have the effect of per-
mitting the double detent catch, Figure 10, to be withdrawn.
Fig. 12 represents the front plate as it would appear when attached to a
band and united, also shewing the projecting thumb bits g and g¹.
Fig. 13 represents in a front view a garter and fastening attached thereto,
the two parts of which fastening are shown disconnected and free, the same
arrangement for detaining and freeing the-parts being adopted as represented
and described at Figures 1 and 2.
Fig. 14 is a back view of the clasp when closed; Fig. 15 a detached view
of the catch or detent part; and Fig. 16 is a back sectional view with the
detents of the catch part engaged in the bolt in a similar manner to that
represented as before stated in Figure 2 as applied to belt clasps.
The same arrangement of 'our Invention may be qually as well applied for
a fastening for shawls, cloaks, or coats; and to illustrate this application we
have represented at Fig. 17 a back view of a brooch form clasp or fastening,
to which is attached by means of soldering, rivetting, or otherwise a metal
case m for receiving and regulating the action of a bolt and helical spring, in
precisely the same manner as before shewn and described. On the one side
of this case is formed a projecting lip or plate n, shewn in edge view at
Fig. 18 as distinct and separate from the front part, and which plate is
intended to be attached to a shawl, cloak, coat, or other appendages of dress,
either by sewing through a series of perforations as shewn, or by other
equivalent means; on the other side of the case m we form a slot for receiving
the catch part, shewn separately in flat and edge views at Fig. 19, in the
latter or edge view of which will be seen the form of this catch, which form
we prefer for this kind of fastening, as it presents when held in the bolt an
even surface on the back face, as shewn at Figure 18, corresponding in form
with the plate n, and is also intended to be sewn or otherwise connected to
the other edge or parts of the shawl, cloak, coat, or appendage, so that when
required a connection may be effected by the two parts being brought together
and secured as herein stated.
At Fig. 20 we have represented in front and edge views the bolt removed
from the case, shewing the form of the thumb bit and raised stop.
It will be obvious that our Invention as described for effecting a connection
may be well adapted for the securing of leggings or stay busks, and we have

page_text: illustrated its application to the latter description of dress fastenings at
Figs. 18, 19, 20%. Figure 18ª represents a front view of a stay busk,
provided with three cases c¹, which contain bolts and springs similar to those
already described, for receiving the catch parts d' of the other stay busk or
part shown in a separate view at Figure 19, the second or middle catch
part d' is not rivetted to the stay busk, but slides (by means of a slot cut in
its face) upon a stud or projection f¹, rivetted to the stay busk or part
Figure 19, for the purpose of more readily effecting the attachment or
detachment of the parts; and we would remark that all the catch parts d¹
may be made to slide in a similar manner, and further that two or more catches
may be provided instead of three, if preferred. At Figure 20ª the cases c¹are
all in section, disclosing the bolts with the catch parts engaged, but with the
belical springs removed. To effect a disconnection of the parts it is necessary
to first relieve the centre fastening, and draw back the slide by means of the
finger bit h', when the other parts part be freed by pressure upon the thumb
pieces, and the disconnection will be thereby effected.
Fig. 21 represents in a back view a further modification of a fastening
closed, which may be applied to a variety of purposes, consisting of a front
plate o, here shown of an oval form, but which may be of any suitable
outline, divided midway into two equal parts; the upper half is provided with
a metal case p for receiving and retaining a bolt q with its attendant spring,
the form of which bolt is shewn in flat and edge views at Fig. 22.
To the lower half of the front plate is rivetted, soldered, or otherwise fixed
the catch part, shewn detached at Fig. 23.
Fig. 24 represents the catch part engaged with the bolt q, by reason of the
recess t in the catch having caught upon the lip or projection of the said
bolt 9. and their position as here shown is exactly the same in the metal case p,
Figure 21, and by pressing upon the thumb pieces of the bolt q the catch
will be released by the moving of the bolt 9 and its projection from out of the
recess in the catch.
The form or connector just described is represented in Fig. 25 as applied
to a broad band or other article of dress, the two halves of the fasteuing being
open and ready for attachment.
Fig. 26 represents a front view of this same kind of connector applied for
the uniting of stay, corset, or legging busks. u is a stay busk, upon which
are rivetted the recessed catches v forming one entire catch part represented
at Fig. 27; u is the corresponding stay busk, consisting of a metallic case
for holding and retaining the bolts win position, as also the helical springs,
these bolts being seen in their respective positions in the case at Fig. 28.

page_text: The front plate of the busk u' is slotted in a similar manner already described
for the purpose of retaining the helical springs, and for providing a bearing
for the raised stops of the bolts w; this plate is also pierced and stamped to
produce the forms shewn at a, which thus constitute springs, and are provided
with rivet pieces y fixed into them, one of which is shewn in front, side, and
edge views at Fig. 29. The busk or case u¹ is also slotted on each side, as
shewn in Figure 28 at z for the catches to pass freely through, and which
catches in passing glide under the edges of the projections or lips of the bolts w
until the said projections drop into the recesses of the cach parts, thereby
effecting a connection; and when desired to again disconnect them it is only
necessary to press inwards the springs by means of the round or exposed
portions of the rivet pieces y, when the wedge shape of the said rivets will
slide under the bolts w and raise them, which action disengages the projections
from their hold in the recesses of the catch parts v, whilst the catch or detent
parts themselves are thereby free to be drawn out or disconnected.
Fig. 30 is a vertical transverse section, taken through the dotted line b, b,
of Figure 26, shewing the catches detained and the wedge shape of the rivets y.
Fig. 31 illustrates this same modification of our Invention as applied in a more
ornamental form, and represents in a back view a fastening adapted for shawls
or cloaks or other articles or appendages of dress, consisting of two parts, each
of which may be secured to the article of dress by sewing or otherwise, by
means of the perforated fins or projecting lips a', a', the one part consisting of
a metal case with the lip a' attached thereto containing a bolt of the form
seen separately at Fig. 32, which has upon it two projecting lips b', b', raised
out of the metal to give increased steadiness to the fastening. The other part
comprehends the catch, and is shewn in a detached front view at Fig. 33.
Fig. 34 represents the case in section with the catch part Figure 33 engaged
upon the projecting lips or detents of the bolt Figure 32, which merely
requires a slight pressure upon the handle or head of the bolt to release the
connection and free the catch parts.
Fig. 35 is a front elevation of the fastening connected, the form or con-
figuration shewn being that of a Roman sword, and it will be obvious that
when the fins or lips a', a¹, are attached to the inner side of a garment or
article of dress they will be hidden from view, and the effect will be that of an
elegant and chaste ornament.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be carried into effect, we wish it clearly
understood that we do not purpose confining ourselves to the details and
outlines of the various parts of the articles shown, or to the style of finish or

page_text: ornamentation as herein described and exhibited in the annexed Drawings, as
the whole may be varied, extended, or diversified without departing from the
nature and purpose of our Invention; nor do we claim the detents or springs
of themselves, as they are well known, and are commonly used for a variety of
purposes, and form parts of former Patents granted to the said John Reading;
but we claim as new and of our Invention the general combinations or their
equivalents for effecting a non-regulating or positive fastening for articles of
dress, as herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Reading, Samuel Alfred Reading,
George Edward Reading, and Frederick Francis Reading, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACHI,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.