An Improved Suspender Buckiе.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1888
Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
An Improved Suspender Buckiе.
We; CALVIN VOORHIS, of Crauford in the County of Union and State of New
Jersey, Gentleman and ABRAHAM SHENFIELD, of New York, U.S.A. Gentleman
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:
Buckles for suspenders have been made by stamping the same in one piece from
sheet metal. Such buckles have usually had a transverse slot adjacent to the upper
edge of the plate and a similar slot parallel to it and adjacent to the lower edge of the
plate. The upper edge of the lower slot had teeth formed on it the points of which
were bent forward, so as to project beyond, or in front of the face of the plate. While
a buckle of this description securely holds to a suspender to which it is attached, yet it
is a matter of great difficulty and annoyance to alter its position upward or downward
on the suspender. To obviate this very objectionable feature in an efficient and
economical manner is the object of the present invention.
In the drawings, Figures 1, and 2, are elevations in large size of the buckle in
slightly different forms. Figure, 3, is a section with the suspender in place. Figure, 4,
is an elevation, and Figure 5 a section, of a modification of the buckle; and Figure, 6,
shows the buckle and suspender.
We construct, our buckle with a main plate, A, having a slot at or adjacent to its
upper edge formed by the separate loop B, Fig. 2; or the slot may be cut in the plate,
leaving the bar or loop B, Fig. 1.
Where the separate wire is made use of, the ends are attached to the upper edge of
the plate by the bent tongues or clips 4, Fig. 2. The middle portion of the lower
edge of the plate has teeth 2 formed in it, which are bent forward at an angle of about
forty-five degrees, so that the points of the teeth stand well in front of the face of the
plate. A sufficient portion of the edge of the plate is left at the ends of the row of
teeth to form tongues, which are bent up into eyes or bearings, 5. Through these
eyes the ends of another loop, D, pass, said ends being bent inward toward each
ID
011

page_text: other. The main portion of this lower loop, D, beneath the teeth is bent in such a
manner that it forms a cross-bar, 6, parallel and adjacent to the teeth. The central
portion of this bar is formed into a ring or hook, 8, to which the suspender-end may
be attached.
It is preferable, although not necessary, that the ends, 9, of this lower loop, D,
which are between the two eyes or journals; 5, be bent or curved slightly out of line
with each other-upward, if at the front of the plate, as seen in full lines in Figure, 1;
or downward if at the rear of the plate, as seen by the dotted lines, Figure, 1. These
bent ends form springs which become operative when the loop is moved or swung out
of the plane of the plate, to tend to force such loop back again into line with the
plate. By this means the web or strap which lies in front of the teeth is forced by the
crossbar, 6, of the loop, against the points of the teeth, causing them to penetrate
the fabric. At the point of penetration the web or strap by the action of the loop and
projecting teeth, is bent backward at a right angle to itself or nearly so, and any strain
brought to bear on the buckle while in that position tends to embed the teeth more
firmly and deeply into the fabric. Above the point at which the teeth penetrate the
web passes through the upper loop or slot to the rear of the buckle. Consequently
the top bar of the loop, B, lies against the face or front of the suspender, and resists
any tendency of the latter when under strain to draw the toothed edge of the plate
out of its proper position relative to the lower loop. Instead of bending the ends of
the lower loop into springs, the main bar of the loop may be curved either upward
or downward, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure, 2, and pass through the lower
eyes, either on the front or rear of the plate A, and the ends of the wire loop are
carried downward to be attached to or formed into a connecting ring or hook for the
suspender end.. In each instance mentioned the spring will operate in like manner to
force the lower part of the loop into its proper position below and adjacent to the
teeth. A sheet metal plate in connection with the loops may be dispensed with, and
the ends of the upper loop, after being inwardly bent, may he bent downward and
form the teeth, as seen in Figures 4 and 5, the points of which are bent forward at
about the same angle as those on the plate before mentioned, and the ends of the
lower loop may be bent at right angles to form the pivots corresponding with and
parallel to those on the upper loop, and joined together by small sheet metal loops or
double or single eyes around the respective parts, thus hinging them together. The
lower loop, instead of being bent at right angles, may have eyes formed thereon
to encircle the corresponding part of the upper loop. and form pivots or
hinges.
It is to be noticed that in ordinary buckles the ends of the teeth press upon the
plate or cross bar, while in our improvements hereindescribed the teeth do not come
into contact with the cross-bar of the buckle-loop, but pass clear of them in all the
movements, and the suspender strap when bent round the teeth is held by the angle in
which the suspender is bent, and not by the penetrating points coming against a
cross-bar.
To change the position of the buckle on the suspender, it is only necessary to
swing the lower loop, D, slightly upward to the front, or press the plate slightly
backward, when the teeth will be disengaged, and the buckle may be freely lowered
or raised on the strap.
It is advisable, also, when placing the buckle on the suspender to turn the lower
loop into a position at right angle to the face of the plate, as in that position the
springs are inoperative, and the loop remains as placed, offering a free passage to even
the thickest web without allowing the teeth to retard it in any way.
We are aware that buckles have been made with upper and lower slots separated
from each other by a toothed bar; but such slots were always in a fixed position to
each other. We are also aware that buckles have been made of two wire loops
joined or hinged, together by eyes; but in this case the extremities of the lower loop
are turned upward to form teeth, the points of which when in use lie against the bar
of the upper loop; also that spring loops are known which connect and force two
plates against each other.

page_text: Neither of these features do we claim broadly but;-Having now particularly
described and ascertained the nature of our said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is;
1st. In a buckle, the combination, with the main plate A, having a transverse slot
and loop, B, at its upper edge, through which the suspender-weh or other material
passes, the teeth 2, and eyes or journal 5. at lower edge, of a swinging loop, D,
pivoted to said plate, so that the main bar of said swinging loop D is parallel with
and adjacent to the points of said teeth, and through which loop the suspender-web
or other material passes, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The plate A, having teeth and eyes or journals 5 at its lower edge, in combi-
nation with the loop D, having a cross bar, 6, adjacent to the teeth, 2, the ends of
said cross bar, 6, passing through the eyes or journals 5, and bent or curved at 9
to form springs, and the loop B at the upper part of the plate A, substantially as
set forth.
3rd. The plate A, having loop B, at the upper edge, and teeth and eyes or
bearings at the opposite edge, in combination with the loop D, which is curved to
form spring 9, and suspended by the eyes or journal 5, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 10th day of September 1888.