Improvements in the Manufacture of Eyelets for Laces, and in the Mode of and Means for Fixing the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: fi
Date of Application; 29th Dec.; 1899
:
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1900
*PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION."
Improvements in the Manufacture of Eyelets for Laces, and in the
Mode of and Means for Fixing the same.
**4
1
J.LIJ
!I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me
from abroad by Friedrich Koch, of Feldbergstrasse No. 38, Frankfort-on-Maine,
Germany, Merchant) to be as follows:-
..
This invention relates to an improved manufacture of eyelets, such as are
used for laced boots and shoes, corsets, and the like.
The improvements relate firstly to the eyelets themselves, which, according to
this invention, are made of a single piece, and of celluloid, and secondly to the
method of and means for producing such eyelets and for fixing the same on shoes
or other objects.
Such eyelets have heretofore generally been constructed as a' small tube
having a Hange at one end, in which form they are put on the market. They
are fixed on the shoes &c., by means of either a pair of rivetting pliers or by a
simple apparatus whereby the eyelets are secured in the corresponding holes
of the leather &c., and at the same time have their other end bent or rivetted
over by, the action of the pliers &c., so as to form a second flange which 'secures
the eyelet in the material.
Heretofore such eyelets were made out of sheet brass, by stamping into the
tubular form with the flange at one end, and the eyelets thus formed were var-
nished, the varnish being however, liable to wear off in a short time by frictional
contact with the laces and other parts of dress. The shoes or other articles thus
became unsightly, while if hard varnish or enamel was used, this was liable
to crack in the fixing of the eyelet.
In order to obviate this disadvantage, recourse has been had to the compara-
tively expensive method of coating the flanges of the metal eyelets with celluloid
or other similar substance in a heated condition.
This method of coating increased the cost of manufacture to such an extent
that it could only be used with the best description of goods.
--
Even with such coatings it sometimes occurs that they come off under the
pressure of the fixing instrument.
According to the present invention celluloid is exclusively used as 'the
material for the manufacture of the eyelets, whereby the manufacture is cheapened
to such an extent that the cost of the eyelets is only slightly above that of good
metal eyelets, thereby enabling such improved eyelets to be used with cheap
goods as well as with expensive ones.
Such 'improved eyelets do not suffer from any of the disadvantages of the var-
nished or coated metal eyelets, and they have advantages in their application
over both of these. Thus they possess the important feature that the second
flange formed by riveting on the article of dress, and which secures the eyelet
in position, is not subject to oxidation and possesses no sharp edges, so that

page_text: such eyelets can be used on parts of dress and on bandages where the metal
eyelets are not applicable, on account of the action that moisture would have
thereon..
As the entire eyelet is formed. of the same material the colour and appearance
thereof cannot be affected by wear.
:
Various methods may be employed for the manufacture of these improved eye-
lets; it is, however, to be observed that the usual manner of working celluloid
cannot be employed without modification. The material suffers to a certain
extent in such manufacture that either the subsequent formation of a second
flange thereon for fixing is not possible or difficulties arise in the course of
manufacture, such as that the thin walls of the small tube easily stick to the
moulds employed for forming them.
The following methods of manufacture are more particularly applicable.
According to one method the manufacture starts with formed tubes of cellu-
loid, which are cut up into short lengths, and each of these has the required
flange formed at one end by means of heated flanging pliers or a heated stamp-
ing device. Or a flange may be first formed on the one end of the undivided
celluloid tube from which the short length is then cut.
For carrying out this process only a cutting apparatus and a pair of flanging
.pliers or a stamping apparatus is required. In constructing the cutting
apparatus the fact has to be considered that the celluloid in tubular form is very
soft and would easily be bulged inwards on the application of the knife; this
may be avoided by using a knife with oblique cutting edge, so as to produce a
progressive shearing action, whereby the separation of the short tube-lengths
can be easily effected without detriment.
For this purpose, there is mounted in an upright frame a vertically sliding
bar actuated at the upper end by an excentric or cam and the lower end of which
carries a cutting blade with inclined edge. Below this cutter is a guide through
which the celluloid tube is advanced against a stop or gauge which determines
the length to be cut off.
The cut lengths are then provided with a Hange at one end by means of suit-
able pressing or stamping devices, such as have been employed heretofore for
metal eyelets, but in the present case these devices require to be heated..
Such heating can be effected by any suitable means such as by a gas flame,
steam or the like, only a moderate degree of heating_being_required..
convenient arrangement of such apparatus consists of a frame carrying a
vertically sliding bar, pressed upward by a spring, the lower end of which bar
carries the die for forming the flange, such die consisting of a stud adapted to
enter the tube-length and surrounded by a shoulder so formed that when the
die is depressed by a hand lever so as to enter the end of the tube while this is
held in a suitable support, it spreads out and flattens down such end to form
the flange. Immediately above the die is arranged a horizontal gas jet, imping-
ing on the bar so as to heat it and the die. A very similar apparatus is employed
for riveting the eyelets in the eyelet holes of the leather &c., by forming the
second flange thereon; or a simple pair of riveting or flanging pliers may be
used.
.
According to another method of making the said eyelets, the celluloid is
brought into a soft or plastic condition.
For this purpose the celluloid is taken in the form of plates and is treated in
a mould consisting of three parts; the one part is a plate from which project
a number of small studs, corresponding in size to the inner diameter of the
eyelets.
Over this plate is fitted a second plate having holes corresponding in diameter
to the outer diameter of the eyelets. The celluloid plate having been stamped
with holes corresponding to the position and size of the studs of the first plate, 5
it is placed on this plate, fitting over the studs. The second plate is then fitted
over the celluloid, so that the latter is pressed between the two.

page_text: Upon then heating the plates, the celluloid becomes plastic and is caused by the
pressure to flow into the annular spaces between the studs of the first plate and
the holes of the second one. It is not necessary that the celluloid should be
inquified for this purpose, but only made sufficiently soft and plastic to enable
it to enter the said spaces when subjected to pressure between the two plates.
The perforating of the celluloid plate can in some cases .be effected by the studs
of the mould plate themselves.
This plate is also formed with an annular recess round each stud, so that when
subjected to pressure as stated, the celluloid will enter these recesses and thus
form the flanges, the said recess being made with suitably rounded edges so
that the flange is produced of a rounded form of good appearance, as this flange
forms the visible part of the eyelet.
As before stated, such celluloid eyelets can be fixed in the leather &c., by
forming, a second flange thereon, as in the case of metal eyelets, but the rivet-
ing die requires to be heated for this purpose, as otherwise the operation is not
reliable and the formed flange is liable to crack.
It is also possible to combine the apparatus for fixing the eyelets directly with
the machine for making them.
Doted this 20th day of December 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Eyelets for Laces, and in the
Mode of and Means for Fixing the same.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me
from abroad by Friedrich Koch, of Feldbergstrasse No. 38, Frankfort-on-Maine,
Germany, Merchant) 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 an improved manufacture of eyelets, such as are
used for laced boots and shoes, corsets, and the like.
The improvements relate firstly to the eyelets themselves, which, according to
this invention, are made of a single piece, and of celluloid, and secondly to the
method of and means for producing such eyelets and for fixing the same on shoes
or other objects.
Such eyelets have heretofore generally been constructed as a small tube
having a flange at one end, in which form they are put on the market. They
are fixed on the shoes &c., by means of either a pair of rivetting pliers or by a
simple apparatus whereby the eyelets are secured in the corresponding holes
of the leather &c., and at the same time have their other end bent or rivetted
over by the action of the pliers &c., so as to form a second flange which secures
the eyelet in the material.
Heretofore such eyelets were made out of sheet brass, by stamping into the
tubular form with the flange at one end, and the eyelets thus formed were var-
nished, the varnish being however, liable to wear off in a short time by frictional
contact with the laces and other parts of dress. The shoes or other articles thus
became unsightly, while if hard varnish or enamel was used, this was liable
to crack in the fixing of the eyelet.

page_text: In order to obviate this disadvantage, recourse has been had to the compara-
tively expensive method of coating the flanges of the metal eyelets with celluloid
or other similar substance in a heated condition.
This method of coating increased the cost of manufacture to such an extent
that it could only be used with the best description of goods.
Even with such coatings it sometimes occurs that they come off under the
pressure of the fixing instrument.
According to the present invention celluloid is exclusively used as the
material for the manufacture of the eyelets, whereby the manufacture is cheapened
to such an extent that the cost of the eyelets is only slightly above that of good
metal eyelets, thereby enabling such improved eyelets to be used with cheap
goods as well as with expensive ones.
Such improved eyelets do not suffer from any of the disadvantages of the var-
nished or coated metal eyelets, and they have advantages in their application
over both of these. Thus they possess the important feature that the second
flange formed by rivetting on the article of dress, and which secures the eyelet
in position, is not subject to oxidation and possesses no sharp edges, so that
such eyelets can be used on parts of dress and on bandages where the metal
eyelets are not applicable, on account of the action that moisture would have
thereon.
As the entire eyelet is formed of the same material the colour and appearance
thereof cannot be affected by wear.
Various methods may be employed for the manufacture of these improved eye-
lets; it is, however, to be observed that the usual manner of working celluloid
cannot be employed without modification. The material suffers to a certain
extent in such manufacture that either the subsequent formation of a second
flange thereon for fixing is not possible or difficulties arise in the course of
manufacture, such as that the thin walls of the small tube easily stick to the
moulds employed for forming them.
The following methods of manufacture are more particularly applicable.
According to one method the manufacture starts with formed tubes of cellu-
loid, which are cut up into short lengths, and each of these has the required
flange formed at one end by means of heated flanging pliers or a heated stamp-
ing device.
Or a flange may be first formed on the one end of the undivided
celluloid tube from which the short length is then cut.
For carrying out this process only a cutting apparatus and a pair of flanging
pliers or a stamping apparatus is required. In constructing the cutting
apparatus the fact has to be considered that the celluloid in tubular form is very
soft and would easily be bulged inwards on the application of the knife; this
may be avoided by using a knife with oblique cutting edge, so as to produce a
progressive shearing action, whereby the separation of the short tube-lengths
can be easily effected without detriment.
"
For this purpose as shewn in front view Fig. 1 and in side view Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings, there is mounted in an upright frame A a vertically
sliding bar B actuated at the upper end by an excentric or cam and the lower
end of which carries a cutting, blade C with inclined edge. Below this cutter is
guide D through which the celluloid tube is advanced against a stop or gauge E
which determines the length to be cut off.
The cut lengths are then provided with a flange at one end by means of suit-
able pressing or stamping devices such as have been employed heretofore for
metal eyelets, but in the present case these devices require to be heated.
Such heating can be effected by any suitable means such as by a gas flame,
steam or the like, only a moderate degree of heating being required.
A convenient arrangement of such apparatus as shewn in side view Fig: 3
consists of a frame F carrying a vertically sliding bar G, pressed upward by a
spring, the lower end of which bar carries the die H for forming the flange, such
die consisting of a stud adapted to enter the tube-length and surrounded by a

page_text: shoulder so formed that when the die. is depressed by a hand lever so as to enter
the end of the tube while this is held in a suitable support having a core sup-
ported on a spring so that it can yield, it spreads out and flattens down such end
to form the flange. Immediately above the die is arranged a horizontal gas jet K
impinging on the bar so as to heat it and the die. A very similar apparatus is
employed for riveting the eyelets in the eyelet holes of the leather &c., by form-
ing the second flange thereon; or a simple pair of riveting or flanging pliers may
be used.
According to another method of making the said eyelets, the celluloid is taken
in the form of plates and is treated in a mould, such as is shewn in Figs. 4, 5,
6 and 7.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the lower plate of the mould, Fig. 5 is a plan inverted of the
upper plates, Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, shewing
the plates separated, and Fig. 7 is a part section on the line 4-4 Fig. 4, shew-
ing them together.
The lower plate A has a row of projecting cores a each the size of the interior
of the eyelet, and around each of these cores there is an annular recess b having
the shape of the rim or flange of the eyelet. On the upper plate B are pivotted
two half plates or blades C made with semi-circular notches c such that when
the blades are folded together these make circular holes of the size of the outside
of the eyelet tubes. The plates A and B are provided with dowel pins E and
these as well as C with corresponding holes _e. A plate D of celluloid being
punched with holes to fit the cores a, is placed upon the plate A. The blades C
folded together are then placed on the celluloid along with the plate B, the whole
is warmed to about 100° C., rendering the celluloid soft and plastic, then, on
pressure being applied the celluloid is moulded to the form of a number of eye-
lets. On raising the plate B with the blades C the moulded eyelets are lifted
with them, and drop out on opening apart the blades C.
As before stated, such celluloid eyelets can be fixed in the leather &c., by
forming a second flange thereon, as in the case of metal eyelets, but the riveting
die requires to be heated for this purpose, as otherwise the operation is not
reliable and the formed flange is liable to crack.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The manufacture of celluloid eyelets by cutting off lengths of celluloid tube
and flanging one end of each length.
2. The manufacture of celluloid eyelets by pressing warmed plates of celluloid
between suitably formed die plates.
3. Apparatus for manufacturing eyelets from sheets of celluloid, consisting of
an under plate having cores and annular recesses, and an upper plate with a pair
of blades which, when folded together, present holes for the eyelet tubes, sub-
stantially as described.
4. The apparatus for setting the evelets comprising a spring punch heated by
a gas flame and a die having a yielding core, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of September 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.