Improvements in or Additions to Dress-belts and in the Fastenings and Connections thereof.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Dress-belts and in the Fastenings
and Connections thereof.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of Great Charles Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Leather Goods Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, the forming of the fastening means of a dress belt,
like unto the bit and bridle, of a horse, that is to say, I make the metallic fastening
parts somewhat alike in form and construction, to that of a bit, or metallic cross bar,
usually inserted within the mouth of a horse or other animal.
The fastening parts as aforesaid, are connected to the belt and body respectively, by
straps in imitation of reins.
In carrying out one form of my invention, the fastening means is made of two
parts viz. a hook part, and an eye part. The eye part is the termination of a hori-
zontal bar, directed in wardly from the middle of a vertical and enlarged ended cross
bar, with a circular or other loop directed from the middle of its outer side; and
through which loop, straps with their ends connected at a short distance from one
end of the belt, pass.
The free ends of the said straps which are alike unto reins or bridle straps, have
buckles whereby their lengths are made adjustable, and the size of the belt varied.
The other fastener part, consists of like parts as aforesaid, with the horizontal bar,
terminated by a hook which is adapted to engage with the eye of the other part.
It may be observed that the attachment ends of the connecting straps are secured
to the terminal part of the other end of the said band.
The construction of the bit shaped fastener, may be varied inasmuch that instead of
the vertical cross bars having loops at their backs they may carry loops at their ends,
where through the adjustable connecting straps pass.
The fastening of this form of connection, may be made by taking a single hori-
zontal bar from one cross bar, and making its end hooked which takes around or upon
the middle of the other cross bar.
The bit connection or fastener, may be made to fasten if necessary; by a clasp at
the back of it, and with the cross bars connected by loops directly to the band of the
belt, instead of employing intervening straps.
The appearance of the front part of the belt, is that of a bridle and bit.
As a modification of my invention, 1 attach to the ends or near the ends of a belt,
a strap connection, with rings or loops passing through their ends, and from which
said rings, the fastening connection of the two sides are carried.
The straps have their connections made with the belt, by horse shoe shaped buckles.
I also provide the belt with a Chatalaine attachment, in the form of a strap, suspended
from one side and the lower edge of the belt and with the end of the said strap
terminated by a stirrup shaped loop from which articles required to be carried may be
suspended.
Dated the 9th day of January 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Dress-belts and in the Fastenings
and Connections thereof,
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of Great Charles Street in the City of
Birmingham, Leather Goods Manufacturer, 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 belt fasteners, or fittings, and their accessories, and consists
of a two part connection, each part being made up of an end bar, a part cross bar,
or arm, with a hook or eye, and an attachment loop, and on the said parts being
.connected together, the form a connection alike unto the iron part of a horse's bridle,
called the bit.
In carrying out one of my improvements, the connection is made up of two parts,
alike in construction, other than the arm of the one part carries an eye, and the arm
of the other part carries a book. These arms, when brought together, constitute a
cross or connecting bar, which has at its ends, end bars directed at right angles, with
outside connection or strap loops.
The accessories consist of straps, passed through the loops, and after being directed
diagonally outwards, are connected respectively at their outer ends to the ends of the
band of the belt.
Instead of loops being carried at the middles, of the outer sides of the bit shaped
connection, they may be carried at the ends of the said end bars, like Tends.
As a modification of my invention, the cross bar, instead of being subdivided about
its middle, it may be made continuous, with a hook at its end, engaging with an eye,
or around the middle of a plain end bar.
The connection may be made if necessary by a clasp, with a stirrup-shaped
attachment connected to it.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation, a dress belt,
or a ladies waste belt provided with fastenings and attachments, constructed and
arranged according to my said invention. It will be seen, that the belt fastening,
or attachment means, is alike in form to the iron part of a bridle, which is inserted
.within the mouth of a horse, and called the bit.
Figure 2 represents an edge view of the same, with parts in horizontal section,
in order to more clearly exhibit, some of the important parts of the attachment.
a is a linked-together cross bar, consisting of inwardly horizontally directed
arms a', a², terminated respectively by an hook and eye a³, a', that is to say, the
arm a¹, carries at its inner end an inwardly directed hook a³, and the arm a², a
vertically directed eye a², wherewith the hook a³, as aforesaid, engages.
The inner ends of these arms, are connected to the inner side middle parts of
upright bars b, which have at their outside middle parts, loops c, wherethrough
adjustment straps d, pass, and are secured by buckles e, to the ends 2, of the band of
the belt f.
The ends of the band, are made to overlap each other, whilst the half attachments,
which are connected together by hook and eye, are cruciform in shape.
The inner ends of the adjustment straps d, are connected to the band, or to a bar
of the buckle frame e, while the outer ends, pass through the buckle, and are affixed
by the prongs; so that by increasing or decreasing the lengths of these straps, which
run through the loops, and are in imitation of bridle reins, the girth or size of the
belt is increased or diminished.
Figure 3 represents another form of my invention, with single strap and buckle
appendages, instead of being double, as in Figure 1.
a¹,
buckle
er
a is a cross bar, consisting of arms a¹, a³, hook and eye fastening ends a³,
bulbous ended frame bars b, loop c, through which the straps d, are threaded,
and band ends ƒ³, of band ƒ.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First: A belt fastening, or attachment, consisting of end or upright bars, united
together by a cross bar or bars, alike unto the bit of a bridle, substantially as described
and set forth in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly-In belt fittings, consisting of end bars b, hook and eye ended cross
bars or arms a¹, a³, a³, a', and loop c, as set forth.
Thirdly: In dress belt fittings and accessories, consisting of the parts a, a¹, a², a³, a*,
b, c, d and e, constructed and arranged, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of October 1800
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.