IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES AND BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hinks and Thomas Hooper, trading as Hinks, Wells,
and Company, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Steel Pen Manufac-
turers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES AND
BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 21st August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hinks and Thomas
Hooper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August
1879.
JOHN HINKS and THOMAS HOOPER, trading as Hinks, Wells, and Company, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Steel Pen Manufacturers. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES AND BOOTS AND SHOES."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein after described in fastenings
for gloves and boots and shoes, by which improvements the said fastenings are made
very simple in construction and efficient in action.
We will describe our Invention as applied to the fastening of a glove.
We take two narrow strips of thin sheet steel or other hard and elastic metal or
alloy of a length somewhat less than that of the division in the palm and wrist
of the glove. We joint these strips together at one end, and one or both of the
strips are so fashioned near the joint that the overlapping of the strips is confined
to the parts immediately adjacent to the joint, the other parts of the strips being
situated in the same plane, and when the strips are closed upon their joint they do
not overlap, but their inner edges are presented to each other. The strips are slightly
curved to fit that part of the hand and wrist on which they bear when the glove is
worn. Near the unjointed end of one of these strips a small metallic loop is fixed,
the said loop overhanging the inner side of the other strip, and on the other strip
and immediately opposite the loop described a stud is fixed of a size and shape
proper to engage in the said loop.
The fastening is sewn in the divided part of the glove, the joint being situated
at the termination of the division. All the parts of the fastening excepting the

page_text: loop and stud are enclosed in gussets formed at the edges of the divided part of the
glove. The loop and stud protrude through openings in the gussets, and are the only
parts of the fastening which need to be exposed.
In using the fastening described the unjointed ends of the fastening after the
glove has been put on are pressed together; the loop is thereby made to overhang
the stud, and by gently pressing the said loop upon the stud the two parts engage
together by a snapping action, and the divided parts of the glove are held securely
together. In order to unfasten the glove the loop is pressed in the direction of
the stud, when a gentle upward pressure applied to the loop separates it from the
stud.
Instead of the metallic loop described a flexible non-metallic loop made of
leather of which the glove is made, or other flexible material, may be employed on
one edge of the division of the glove to engage with the stud or a button on the
other edge.
The application of our Invention to boots and to shoes differs in no essential
respect from its application to gloves, the only material difference being in the size
and strength of material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent filed by
the said John Hinks and Thomas Hooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th February 1880.
JOHN HINKS and THOMAS HOOPER, trading as Hinks, Wells, and Company, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Steel Pen Manufacturers. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES AND BOOTS AND SHOES."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein after described in fastenings
for gloves and boots and shoes, by which improvements the said fastenings are
made very simple in construction and efficient in action.
We will describe our Invention as applied to the fastening of a glove.
We take two narrow strips of thin sheet steel or other hard and elastic metal or
alloy of a length somewhat less than that of the division in the palm and wrist
of the glove. We joint these strips together at one end, and one or both of the
strips is or are so fashioned near the joint that the overlapping of the strips is
confined to the parts immediately adjacent to the joint, the other parts of the strips
being situated in the same plane, and when the strips are closed upon their joint
they do not overlap, but their inner edges are presented to each other. The strips
are slightly curved to fit that part of the hand and wrist on which they bear when
the glove is worn. Near the unjointed end of one of these strips a small metallic
loop is fixed, the said loop overhanging the inner side of the other strip, and on the
other strip and immediately opposite the loop described a stud is fixed of a size
and shape proper to engage in the said loop. The fastening is sewn in the divided
part of the glove, the joint being situa 1 at the termination of the division. All
the parts of the fastening, excepting the loop and stud, are enclosed in gussets
formed at the edges of the divided part of the glove. The loop and stud protrude
through openings in the gussets, and are the only parts of the fastening which need
to be exposed.
In using the fastening described the unjointed ends of the fastening, after the
glove has been put on, are pressed together. The loop is thereby made to overhang
the stud, and by gently pressing the said loop upon the stud the two parts engage
together by a snapping action, and the divided parts of the glove are held securely
together. In order to unfasten the glove the loop is pressed in the direction of
the stud, when a gentle upward pressure applied to the loop separates it from the
stud.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing
the manner in which our Invention is to be performed.
Figure represents in front elevation à glove fastening constructed according to
our Invention, applied to a portion of a glove; Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent
the said fastening detached from the glove, drawn double the real size, but we do
not limit ourselves to any particular size of the fastening; Figures 2 and 3 are front
elevations of the fastening, an elevation of a portion of the back of one of the strips
being also shown in Figure 2; in Figures 1 and 2 the fastening is represented open,
and in Figure 3 closed, and the two parts fastened together; Figure 4 is a side
elevation, and Figure 5 a longitudinal section of the fastening; Figure 6 is a cross
section taken through the two strips; and Figure 7 is a cross section taken through
the fastening parts of the strips.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6;
and 7.
a, b, are the two narrow strips of thin sheet steel or other elastic metal or alloy,
constituting the body of the fastening, the said strips being jointed together at one
end by a hollow joint, pin, or eyelet c, or by a solid joint pin. The said strips a, b;
are slightly curved to fit that part of the hand and wrist on which they bear when
the glove is worn (see Figures 4 and 5). Near the unjointed end of the strip a is
a metallic loop d (see the underside view of Figure 2), to which a cap or hollow;

page_text: head or button e, overhanging the inner edge of the said strip a, is affixed. We
will herein after call the closed loop d, e, the hollow head of the fastening. On the
other strip b and immediately opposite the hollow head.e is a.stud-f having a slightly;
expanded top, the said stud being situated on the inner projecting, part g of the
said strip b. The projecting part g on the stud side of the fastening may be dis-
pensed with, the strip in this case having a straight inner edge. The strips a, b, of
the fastening are enclosed by preference in gussets formed at the edges of the
divided part of the glove, the joint c being situated at the termination of the
division, as seen in Figure 1. The strips a, b, are thus concealed, but the hollow
head e and stud f project from the material of the glove, openings being made in
the gussets to permit of the protruding of the said head and stud. The head and
stud are the only exposed parts of the fastening.
In fastening the glove to which our Invention is applied the free or unjointed
ends of the strips a, b, carrying the hollow head e and stud fare closed upon one
another, and the strip a is slightly lifted above the plane of the other strip b. The:
inner edges of the two strips are thereby made to slightly overlap, and the hollow
heade on the strip a to overhang the stud f on the strip b. By then pressing the
hollow bead upon the stud the former engages with the latter by a snapping action
due to the elasticity of the strips a, b, the pressure on the opposite edges of the
glove causing the two strips to take their normal or parallel position. The slight s
lateral separation of the two strips, after the heade has engaged upon the stem f
causes the expanded end of the said stem to bear closely against. the inner side of
the hollow head c, and thereby to bind the two parts a, b, firmly together, and effect
the secure fastening of the glove, as seen in Figure 7. The expanded end of the stud f
prevents its withdrawal from the hollow head e so long as the parts e, f, occupy the 2
relative positions shown in Figure 7.
In order to unfasten the glove the hollow head e is pressed in the direction of
the arrow, Figure 7. The stud f is thereby made to occupy an axial position in the
hollow head e, and no longer bears against the inner side of the said head. By now
giving a gentle upward pressure to the head e the latter is lifted off the stem f, and
the glove is unfastened.
Instead of rigidly connecting the hollow head or button e to the strip it may be
connected thereto by a hinge joint, so that by raising or lowering the head or button
upon its hinge joint it may be lifted from or depressed upon the stud, and the
raising of one of the strips out of the plane of the other strip is rendered
unnecessary.
Figures 8 and 9 represent another fastening constructed according to our Inven-
tion, Figure 8 representing the fastening open, and Figure 9 the same closed, and
the two parts fastened together. In this arrangement a loop h having an eyeletted
edge is used on the strip a instead of the hollow head c, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7,
and the stud on the other strip b is furnished with a neck (see the cross section,
Figure 8), with which the eyeletted loop h engages when the said strips are fastened.
together. The fastening or unfastening of the glove provided with the arrange-
ment, Figures 8 and 9, is effected in the same manner as when a hollow head is
used.
Or a loop of the kind represented in front elevation in Figure 10, side elevation
in Figure 11, and the parts separately in Figure 12, may be used. In this arrange-
ment a separate loop i is rivetted at to the strip a, and one end of the loop i has
a recess or contracted part & made in it (see Figure 10) for engaging with the stem
of the stud or button 7 (see Figure 11). In fastening the glove the large opening
in the loop is passed over the head of the stud or button 1, when the pressure
upon the two edges of the glove causes the separation of the two strips, and the
engagement of the contracted part of the loop i with the stem of the stud or
button. To unfasten the glove the two edges of the glove are pressed together,
so as to close the two strips. The head of the stud or button is thereby brought
into the large part of the loop i, and the strip b carrying the loop can be lifted from
the stud or button..
...

page_text: The joint end of the strip a, Figures 10, 11, and 12, is cranked or bent at a³ so as
to bring the said strip a into the same plane as the strip b. The overlapping of the
two strips is thereby confined to the parts immediately adjacent to the joint (see
Figure 11). When the two strips are closed upon one another they do not overlap,
but are presented to each other edge to edge.
Or the joint ends of both strips may be cranked or bent for the same
purpose.
The joint end of the fastening herein first described having a hollow head may
be fashioned in the manner shown in Figure 13, where the cranked part of the
strip a is marked a². In this arrangement it is preferred also to crank or bend
the free end of the strip b into a lower plane than the other part of the strip, as
shown at 6, so that when the strips a, b, are fastened together their edges above
the stud and hollow head are presented to each other or lie in the same plane. The
application of our Invention to boots and to shoes differs in no essential respect from
its application to gloves, herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, the only difference being in the size and strength of the material of which
the fastening is made.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Inven-
tion of "Improvements in Fastenings for Gloves and Boots and Shoes,”-
First. The combination with the two jointed metallic strips of the fastening
connected respectively to the edges of the two portions of the glove or article to be
secured together of a stud near the free end of one strip, and a fixed or hinged
hollow head or button near the free end of the other strip for fastening the two
strips together, the said stud and the hollow head or button being engaged with
and disengaged from one another for fastening and unfastening the glove or boot
or shoe, and constructed substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 13 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The arrangements hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8,
9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawing, in which a metallic loop is used in
place of a hollow head or button.
Lastly. Cranking or bending one or both of the jointed metallic strips of the
fastening, so that the said strips when closed shall be for the most part presented
to each other edge to edge, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hooper, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and sighte
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
THOMAS HOOPER. (L.S.)