AN IMPROVED EYELET
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED EYELET." A communication from abroad by James Whitehead
and James Butterworth, both of Cranston, Rhode Island, United States of
America.
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 23rd July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1877.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED EYELET." [A. communication
from abroad by James Whitehead and James Butterworth, both of Cranston, Rhode
Island, United States of America.]
This Invention consists in notching and slitting the smaller end of the eyelet to
enable the better setting and fastening of the same in place, and in bending
inwardly the points thus formed, whereby they are prevented from catching as
the eyelet is inserted in the hole cut for its reception.
I am aware that it is not new to indent the edge of an eyelet, nor to cut longi-
tudinal slits in the body of the same, to facilitate the turning of the thin edge and
the splitting of the eyelet regularly in being set, but I consider as a novel and
useful Invention, the combination in the same eyelet of both notches and slits, as
herein specified.
The value of this combination is, that I obtain at the same time the advantages
of both the notches and slits, and secure results impossible with the use of either
form separately. This is apparent in considering the great variety of uses to which
eyelets are put.
The fabrics or substances to be thus united differ much in thickness, and the eye-
let consequently is to be more or less turned in accordance with these varying
circumstances.
If the layers were of uniform thickness, the notched eyelet cut to the proper
distance would be well adapted for the purpose, but if the thickness of the layers is

page_text: less than the distance between the flange of the eyelet and the bottom of the
indentations, then the eyelet in being set, must be split as soon as the turning edge
passes the lowest points of serration. On the other hand, a slitted eyelet, though
perfectly adapted to varying thicknesses of layers, cannot be secured in place
except by the turned edge, which being divided at frequent intervals and because
so thin at this part, are easily bent upward by any casualty, and the eyelet is
insecurely held as a consequence; but if serrated also, the sharp points turning
over into a hook shape, are embedded into the enclosed substance or fabric, and so
the eyelet is immovably held in place. This combination therefore gives me an eyelet
adapted for use with materials of whatever variation or difference in thickness, and
which will not split in its body irregularly, and which secures the fastening in the
firmest manner possible, and these results together cannot be obtained by the use of
any eyclet hitherto constructed.
The eyelet constructed according to this Invention is provided on its thin or
smaller edge with a series of notches or indentations forming sharp points for the
purpose aforesaid. From the bottom of each of these indentations a slit is cut
longitudinally along the body of the eyelet to within a short distance of its
flange.
The series of points are bent inwardly, and thereby the eyelet can be easily
inserted within the hole without catching into the fabric.
This eyelet is designed to be applied by means of a tool of suitable construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED EYELET.' A communication
from abroad by Janes Whitehead and James Butterworth, both of Cranston,
Rhode Island, United States of America.
This Invention consists in notching and slitting the smaller end of the eyelet to
permit the better setting and fastening of the same in place, and in bending
inwardly the points thus formed, whereby their catching, as the eyelet is inser td
in the hole cut for its reception, will be prevented.
I am aware that it is not new to indent the edge of an eyelet, nor to cut
longitudinal slits in the body of the same to facilitate the turning of the thin
edge and the splitting of the eylet regularly in being set; but the combination in
the same eyelet of both notches and slits as herein specified has not heretofore been
known or used.
The value of this combination is that I obtain at the same time the advantages
of both the notches and slits, and secure results impossible with the use of either
contrivance separately. This value will be apparent in considering the great
variety of uses to which eyelets are put.
The fabrics or substances to be united by them differ much in thickness, and
the eyelets consequently have to be more or less turned in accordance with these
varying circumstances.
If the layers were of uniform thickness, a notched eyelet cut to the proper

page_text: distance would be well adapted for the purpose; but if the thickness of the layers
is less than the distance between the flange of the eyelet and the bottom of the
indentations, then the eyelet in being set must be split as soon as the turning edge
passes the lowest points of serration. On the other hand, a slitted eyelet, though
perfectly adapted to varying thicknesses of layers, cannot be secured in place
except by the turned edge, which being divided at frequent intervals, and being
very thin at this part, is easily bent upward by any casualty, and the eyelet
is insecurely held; but if the eyelet is both serrated and slit, the sharp points
turning over into a hook shape are embedded into the enclosed substance or fabric,
and so the eyelet is immovably held in place. This combination therefore produces
an eyelet adapted for use with materials of any thickness, which eyelet will not
split in its body irregularly, and which secures the fastening in the firmest manner
possible, results which together cannot be obtained by the use of any eyelet hitherto
constructed.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn a perspective view of an eyelet
embodying this Invention.
The eyelet is provided on its thin or smaller edge with a series of notches or
indentations a, forming sharp points for the purpose aforesaid. From the bottom
of each of these indentations a slit b is cut longitudinally along the body of the
eyelet to within a short distance of the flange c.
The points a' are bent inwardly as shown, and thereby the eyelet can be easily
inserted within the hole without catching in the material or fabric.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim an eyelet with inwardly turned teeth at the top of its tubular portion,
and with slits extending from the bottom of the notches or serrations to or nearly
to the base or flange of the eyelet, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM BORT LAKE (α