Improvements in Plastic Covered Eyelets of Special Form.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plastic Covered Eyelets of Special Form.
I, CHARLES EDWARD VAN NORMAN, of 98, Yale Street, in the City of Springfield,
County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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 improvements in covered eyelets, as termed, that is,
metallic eyelets having on their tops a substantial body or covering of plastic
material, as celluloid or other pyroxylene.
The object of this invention is to provide an eyelet, having the plastic covering
of such shape and character that it becomes substantially a new, more desirable
and more useful article of manufacture, and one which in the trade will be much
preferable for employment in boots and shoes, belts, and in various other situa-
tions, to eyelets as heretofore made, and for reasons which will be hereinafter
set forth.
My new and improved eyelet is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 is an enlarged top plan view of the eyelet.
Figure 2 is an enlarged under plan view.
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side and sectional view of the eyelet.
In carrying out the invention, the body or metallic shell of the eyelet is formed
distinctly elongated, substantially as shown in the drawings, wherein, as viewed
in plan, the eyelet top has, marginally at its ends, inner and outer semi-circular
or rounded boundaries, dd, and between its ends straight, or at most only very
slightly curved, inner and outer marginal portions, ff.
The layer of celluloid or analogous plastic material, g, with which the approxi-
mately elliptical or elongated eyelet top is covered, is provided in such suitable
bulk or quantity, molded on, and preferably so rounded or crowned (as regarded
in its cross-sectional contour) as to provide a most smooth top and throat to the
eyclet, which is not only non-abrasive but non-metallic.
While my invention is identified as relating exclusively to plastic covered eyelets
of elongated form, constituting a new and improved article of manufacture, I do
not limit the same to elongated covered eyelets having any particular or special
formations whereby the plastic covering is interlocked or engaged with the top
of the metallic shell of the eyelet.
The elongated covered eyelet possesses advantages over eyelets as heretofore
made, in respects as follows:
In shoes, they permit the employment of broad lacings, the same lying flat,
imparting a more regular, finished and dressy appearance, for the reason that the
lacing, at its portion which passes through the eyelet, is not curled or bent into
U shape between its edges, and for this reason the shoe-lacing does not become
abraded, roughened and unsightly, and its durability is correspondingly increased.
In belts, the elongated covered eyelet permits the belt, when encircling the

page_text: body, to lie flat and even and is better adapted for the reception therethrough of
the tongue or tongues of the buckle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my-said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I do declare that what
I claim is-
1 A plastic covered eyelet, which in its plan contour is elongated, or approxi-
mately or substantially elliptical, as shown and described, and for the purpose set
forth.
2 The combination with an elongated metallic shell or eyelet of an elongated
plastic covering provided or engaged with, or secured to, the top of said so-formed
eyelet shell, substantially as described.