In- PROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BROOCHES, SLEEVE LINKS, SOLITAIRES, BELTS, AND DODOS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elijah Atkins, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Black Ornament Manufacturer, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BROOCHES, SLEEVE LINKS, SOLITAIRES, BELTS,
AND DODOS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elijah Atkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th January 1864.
I, ELIJAH ATKINS, of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Black
Ornament Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BROOCHES SLEEVE LINKS, SOLITAIRES'
BELTS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY AND DRESS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of the improvements herein-after described
in fastenings for brooches and such other articles of jewellery and dress as
are provided with pins similar to those of brooches, the object of this part of
my Invention being so to arrange the parts of the fastening that the pointed
end of the brooch or other pin shall be capable of being moved from out the
range of the catch or loop when the said pin is required to be removed from
the dress without pressing the pin aside as in the ordinary brooch or other
similar fastening.
I will describe this part of my Invention with reference to a brooch
fastening. At the back of the brooch I fix a case, in which case aplate slides
Price 8d 1

page_text: the upper end of the said plate projects from the top of the case, and to the
said end of the plate the pin of the brooch is jointed. The opposite end of
the said plate projects a short distance from the edge of the brooch; on the
bottom of the case a catch or loop of the ordinary form is fixed, with which
catch the pointed end of the pin can be engaged. A flat or other spring in
the interior of the case presses the plate, to which the pin is jointed in the
direction proper to enable the said pin to be engaged with the catch. The
brooch is fastened to the dress in the ordinary way, but in unfastening it from
the dress instead of pressing the pin aside so as to pass it through the opening
in the side of the catch as is usual, the projecting end of the sliding plate at
the edge of the brooch is pressed towards the said brooch. The pin carried
by the said plate is thereby moved, its pointed end being brought without
the range of the catch, and liberated from the said catch. The pin can then
be withdrawn from the dress. By my Invention the brooch can be removed
from the dress by the use of one hand only instead of two, as is necessary in
separating an ordinary brooch from the dress.
My Invention consists, secondly, in constructing or arranging in the manner
herein-after described the parts of fastenings for sleeve links, solitaires, belts,
and other similar articles. I will describe this part of my Invention with
reference to a sleeve link. To the back of the sleeve link I connect a hollow
case, one end of which is closed, and is pointed or tapered or has a V shape.
The open end of the case is situated near one edge of the back part of the
sleeve link; to the opposite edge of the link a hooked bar or tongue is hinged,
by which bar or tongue the fastening and unfastening of the link is effected.
In the said case a spring consisting of a double piece of wire is situated, the
free ends of the said spring bearing against the V-shaped end of the case.
The top of the spring projects from the open end of the case, and is bent at
right angles to the other part. Across the spring near the open end of the
case is a bar, the said bar being soldered to one limb only of the doubled or
looped spring so as not to impair the elasticity of the free ends of the said
spring. In fastening the sleeve link the hooked and hinged bar or tongue is
passed through the holes in the sleeve, and the free or hooked end of the said
tongue closed upon the back of the link. In closing upon the back of the
link the said free or hooked end bears upon the transverse bar on the spring
and presses down the said spring into the case until a depression in the said
hooked end comes opposite the transverse bar, when the latter springs into
the said depression and securely holds the hinged tongue in its place, and
fastens the link to the sleeve. When the spring is depressed by the hooked
end of the hinged tongue, the free ends of the said spring work against the

page_text: V-shaped end of the case, and are made to approach each other. On the
pressure being removed by the engagement of the transverse bar with
the depression in the hooked end of the tongue, the said free ends of the spring
by their elasticity rise in the case and cause the spring to securely hold
the hinged tongue to the back of the link. To unfasten the sleeve link it is
only necessary to press upon the bent upper end of the spring, when the
hooked end of the hinged tongue is relieved from the transverse bar of
the spring,and can be turned on its joint and the link removed from the sleeve.
This part of my Invention may be applied to the fastening of solitaires, belts,
and such other articles of jewellery and dress as are capable of being fastened
and unfastened by an arrangement of parts similar to that of the sleeve link
described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Elijah Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELIJAH
ATKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Black Ornament Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Elijah Atkins, Her special licence that I, the said Elijah
Atkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others a I, the
said Elijah Atkins, my 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, au Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BROOCHES, SLEEVE LINKS, SOLITAIRES, BELTS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY AND DRESS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Elijah Atkins, my executors, or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elijah Atkins, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of the improvements herein-after described
in fastenings for brooches and such other articles of jewellery and dress as are
provided with pins similar to those of brooches, the object of this part of my
Invention being so to arrange the parts of the fastening that the pointed end
of the brooch or other pin shall be capable of being moved from out of the
range of the catch or loop, when the pin is required to be removed from
the dress without pressing the pin aside, as in the ordinary brooch or other
similar fastening.
I will describe this part of my Invention with reference to a brooch fastening.
At the back of the brooch I fix a case, in which case a plate slides. The
upper end of the said plate projects from the top of the case, and to the said
end of the plate the pin of the brooch is jointed. The opposite end of the
said plate projects a short distance from the edge of the brooch. On the
bottom of the case a catch or loop of the ordinary form is fixed, with which
catch the pointed end of the pin can be engaged. A flat or other spring in
the interior of the case presses the plate to which the pin is jointed in the
direction proper to enable the said pin to be engaged with the catch. The
brooch is fastened to the dress in the ordinary way; but in unfastening it
from the dress, instead of pressing the pin aside so as to pass it through the
opening in the side of the catch as is usual,,the projecting end of the sliding
plate at the edge of the brooch is pressed towards the said brooch. The pin
carried by the said plate is thereby moved, its pointed end being brought
without the range of the catch and liberated from the said catch. The pin
can then be withdrawn from the dress.
By my Invention the brooch can be removed from the dress by the use of
one hand only instead of two, as is necessary in separating an ordinary brooch
from the dress.
My Invention consists, secondly, in constructing or arranging, in the manner
herein after described, the parts of fastenings for sleeve links, solitaires, belts,
and other similar articles.
I will describe this part of my Invention with reference to a sleeve link.
To the back of the sleeve link I connect a hollow case, one end of which is
closed and is pointed or tapered, or has a V shape. The open end of the case
is situated near one edge of the back of the sleeve link. To the opposite edge
of the link a hooked bar or tongue is hinged, by which bar or tongue the

page_text: fastening and unfastening of the link is effected. In the said case a spring
consisting of a doubled piece of wire is situated, the free ends of the said
spring bearing against the V-shaped end of the case. The top of the spring
projects from the open end of the case aud is bent at an angle to the other
part. Across the spring, near the open end of the case, is a bar, the said bar
being soldered to one limb only of the doubled or looped spring so as not to
impair the elasticity of the free ends of the said spring. In fastening the
sleeve link the hooked and hinged bar or tongue is passed through the holes
in the sleeve and the free or hooked end of the said tongue closed upou the
back of the link. In closing upou the back of the link the said free or hooked
end bears upon the transverse bar on the spring and presses down the said
spring into the case until a depression in the said hooked end comes opposite
the said transverse bar, when the latter springs into the said depression and
securely holds the hinged tongue in its place and fastens the link to the sleeve.
When the spring is depressed by the hooked end of the hinged tongue the
free ends of the said spring work against the V-shaped end of the case and are
made to approach each other. On the pressure being removed by the engage-
ment of the transverse bar with the depression in the booked end of the
tongue the said free ends of the spring, by their elasticity, rise in the case and
cause the spring to securely hold the hinged tongue to the back of the link.
To unfasten the sleeve link it is only necessary to press upon the bent upper
end of the spring, when the hooked end of the binged tongue is relieved from
the transverse bar of the spring and can be turned on its joint and the link
removed from the sleeve. This part of my Invention may be applied to the
fastening of solitaires, belts, and such other articles of jewellery and dress as
are capable of being fastened and unfastened by an arrangement of parts
similar to that of the sleeve link described.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, represent a brooch provided with a fastening con-
structed according to my Invention, Figure 1 representing a plan of the back
of the brooch; Figure 2 a side elevation of the same; and Figure 3 a vertical
section of the same; Figures 4 and 5 represent portions of this part of my
Invention as herein-after explained. The same letters of reference indicate
the same parts in Figures 1, 2 3, 4, and 5.
a is the body of the brooch, to the back of which a rectangular case 6 is
fixed. The said case 6 is shown separately in plan of outer side, side
elevation and plan of inner side in Figure 5. In the said box b a plate c

page_text: slides. The pin d of the brooch is carried by the plate c, the said pin being
jointed at de to the bearing d³ fixed to the said plate c; e is the stop of the
joint. The plate c with the pin d is shown separately in plan and elevation in
Figure 4. The end of the plate c, opposite to that at which the pin d is
jointed is made in the form of a finger plate c², and projects from the edge of
the brooch. To the box or case b the catch or loop 62 is fixed, with which
the pointed end of the pin d can be engaged. Inside the box or case b is a
flat spring of vulcanized india-rubber (see Figure 3) which fills up the
space in the box or case, one end of the spring bearing against one end of the
case and the other against the barg situated across the sliding plate c. By
means of the spring the plate c carrying the pin d is pressed forward towards
the catch 62, as represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, so as to enable the point
of the said pin to be engaged with the said catch. Instead of the flat
spring of vulcanized india-rubber a spring of metal may be used. The
brooch, Figures 1, 2, and 3, is fastened to the dress in the ordinary manner,
but in order to remove the said brooch from the dress, instead of pressing the
pin d aside so as to pass it through the opening in the catch 62 as is usual; the
projecting end of the sliding plate c is pressed by the finger towards the
edge of the brooch, the opposite end of the said plate is thereby moved from
out the case, and the pointed end of the pin d disengaged from the catch bª.
The pin d can then be withdrawn from the dress. On removing the finger
from the end of the plate cthe said plate and pin resume their normal position
by the action of the spring f. By constructing brooches in the manner
described and represented, the brooch can be removed from the dress by the
use of one hand only instead of two as is necessary in separating an ordinary
brooch from the dress. The improvements described and represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are applicable to all such articles of jewellery and
dress as are provided with pins similar to brooch pins.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in back and front elevation respectively a sleeve
link, the fastening of which is constructed according to my Invention
Figures 8 and 9 represent a horizontal section and vertical section respec-
tively of the same, the link being fastened; and Figures 10 and 11 represent
a horizontal section and vertical section respectively of the same, the link
being unfastened; Figures 12 and 13 represent parts of my Invention as
herein-after explained. The same letters of reference are used to indicate
the same parts in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
At the back of the body h of the link a case i is fixed. The shaped blank
from which the said case i is made is shown separately in plan and edge view
in Figure 12. One end of the case i is nearly closed, the said end being

page_text: pointed or tapered or of a V-shape, as represented. The plate forming the
top of the case i is prolonged at one end, and the said end carries the joint
piece 2, in which the più or axis of the jointed bar or tongue k works. In
the said case i is a spring 7, the said spring consisting of a doubled piece of
wire, the free ends of which bear against the V-shaped end of the case i as
represented. The doubled end 13 of the spring / projects from the open end
of the case i, and is bent at the angle represented. Across the said spring /
near the open end of the case is a bar m soldered to one limb only of the said
spring. The upper edge of the bar m is bevilled or rounded, and the free and
hooked end 2 of the hinged bar k has a notch or depression in it of a corre.
sponding figure,so that the said bar m may engage with the said notch. When
the parts are in their normal position the free ends of the spring / are expanded
to their fullest extent, pressing the opposite end outwards, as represented in
Figures 8 and 9. When, however, the spring 7 is pressed inwards the free
ends are closed or compressed by moving over the V-shaped end of the case,
as represented in Figures 10 and 11, and on the pressure being removed
the elasticity of the spring causes it to return to the position, Figures 8 and 9,
and to be held firmly in that position. In fastening the sleeve link the hinged
bar or tongue k is passed through the holesinthesleeve and the hooked end k²
of the said bar k closed upon the back of the link. In closing upon the back of
the link the hooked end 2 bears upon the transverse bar m of the spring 7,
and presses down the said spring into the case until the notch in the said
hooked end k² comes opposite the bar m, when the said bar is pressed into
the said notch by the spring and the bark securely held down, and the
fastening of the link to the sleeve effected. To unfasten the sleeve link the
end 2 of the spring 7 is pressed, the said spring is thereby moved in the case
to the position represented in Figures 10 and 11, and the bar m disengaged
from the notch in the hinged tongue or bar k. The said hinged tongue can
then be turned on its joint and the link removed from the sleeve.
removing the pressure from the end 2 of the spring / the said spring resumes
the position represented in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9.
On
The improvements herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 15 may be applied to the fastening of solitaires, belts,
and other articles.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and represented in
the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing
from the nature of my Invention, but I claim as my Invention,-

page_text: Firstly, the improvements in fastenings for brooches and such other articles
of jewellery and dress as are fastened with pins similar to brooch pins herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accom-
panying Drawing, that is to say, the arrangements or combination of the
parts described and represented for effecting the sliding motion of the pin
so as to enable the said pin to be removed from the catch without being
turned aside.
Secondly, the improvements in fastenings for slee ve links, solitaires, belts,
and other similar articles herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 6
to 13, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, the con-
struction and combination substantially in the manner described and repre-
sented of the box or case i, spring 1; and bar m for effecting the fastening
and unfastening of sleeve links, solitaires, and belts, and such other articles
of jewellery and dress as are or may be fastened by means of a hinged bar or
tongue.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elijah Atkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
ELIJAH ATKINS. (L.S.)