Year: 1898

page_text: I, CHARLES FREDERICK GROTE, of the City and Suburban Gold Mining Company,
Limited, Johannesburg, in the South African Republic, Fitter, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows: -
My invention relates to an improved fastener or clasp applicable for shoes,
boots and the like.
It is designed with the object of providing a fastening device which will
enable the shoe or boot to be firmly secured on the foot of the wearer much more
readily than is possible by the means now generally employed and to dispense with
all laces, buttons, straps, etc.
It consists of a fastening device comprising a curved or arched preferably
spring hardened steel wire frame connected to links at either end which are
attached to the shoe, so that the spring frame acts through said links
to secure the shoe in position when they are folded beneath or within it.
In carrying out the invention I take a piece of steel wire and form a
rectangular frame slightly arched or bowed from end to end. The size and
curvature imparted to the frame will vary more or less with the size and shape
of the shoe or boot to which it is to be fixed. This steel wire frame is now spring
hardened. Any desired ornamental device may be clamped to the frame to fill up
the centre.
At either side of the opening of the shoe or boot I attach by sewing or otherwise
a wire link of brass or other suitable metal. These links are preferably rectangular
in shape and are so attached that they are capable of turning freely about the point
of attachment to the shoe. Each link at its free end is connected by means of
small eyes formed thereon or eyelets or the like with one extremity of the steel
wire frame.
It will be seen that all the parts of the device are permanently attached to the
shoe and consequently cannot be lost. One, two or more of the devices may be
employed for each shoe or boot as may be desired.
In securing the shoe one of the links is first folded against the shoe underneath
or within the spring frame, the other end of the frame being then sprung over
the link at the other side, the frame then lying against the shoe and over both links.
On raising one side of the frame beyond a certain point the device flies open and the
shoe is released.

page_text: ง
Improved Fastener or Clasp for Shoes, Boots, and the like.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK GROTE, of the City and Suburban Gold Mining Company,
Limited, Johannesburg, in the South African Republic, Fitter, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved fastener or clasp applicable for shoes,
boots and the like.
It is designed with the object of providing a fastening device which will
enable the shoe or boot to be firmly secured on the foot of the wearer much more
readily than is possible by the means now generally employed and to dispense with
all laces, buttons, straps, etcetera.
It consists of a fastening device comprising a curved or arched preferably
spring hardened steel wire frame connected to links at either end which are
attached to the shoe, so that the spring frame acts through said links
to keep the shoe closed and secured in position when they are folded beneath or
within it.
The invention will be more particularly described by aid of the accompanying
drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device closed.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of same open and fully distended.
Fig. 4 plan of Fig. 3.
In the drawing A is a rectangular frame, produced from a piece of steel wire,
arched, curved or bowed from end to end as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. This steel
wire frame A is subsequently spring hardened. The size and curvature imparted
to the frame will vary more or less with the size and shape of the shoe or boot to
which it is to be fixed.
Any desired ornamental device may be clamped or otherwise fixed to the frame to
fill up the centre.
B B are small wire links of brass or other suitable metal also slightly curved or
arched, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to lie within the frame A when the device is
closed. These links are formed with eyes bb¹ which loosely embrace the
extremities a a¹ of the steel wire frame A.
The opposite sides or ends 62 of the links B B₁ are attached to the upper at either
side of the opening of the shoe by means of a piece of leather C doubled and sewn
or otherwise attached thereto in such a way that the links B B¹ can turn freely
about their point of attachment to the shoe.
It will be evident that the links B B' may be attached to the upper in other ways
and that they may also be otherwise connected with the frame A say, for instance,
by means of eyelets encircling both or by a piece of metal clamped loosely round
them.
In securing the shoe one of the links B B is first folded against the shoe under-
neath or within the spring frame A as seen in Fig. 2; the other end of the frame
is now sprung over the link at the other side, the frame then lying against the
shoe and over both of the links BB' as also shewn in Fig. 2. On raising one side
of the frame A beyond a certain point the device flies open and the shoe is
released.
It will be seen that all the parts of the device are permanently attached to the
boot or shoe and consequently cannot be lost. One, two or more of the devices
may be employed for each shoe or boot as may be desired.

page_text: 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
1. A fastener or clasp for shoes, boots and the like comprising a curved or arched
spring hardened steel wire frame, links loosely attached to the boot or shoe at
either side of the opening of same, said links being also loosely attached to the
extremities of the curved wire frame in such a way that it acts through said
links to keep the boot or shoe closed and secured in position when they are folded
beneath or within it substantially as described.
2. In a fastener or clasp for shoes, boots and the like the combination of the
arched or bowed and spring hardened steel wire frame A, the curved links B B¹
the eyes 66 formed thereon for loosely connecting the same to the extremities of
the frame and the pieces of doubled leather C for attaching the links B B' to the
upper at either side of the opening of the boot or shoe substantially as described
and shewn.
Dated this 8th day of June 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.