IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS OR APPLIANCES AVAILABLE AS NAPKIN RINGS, AS NAPKIN HOLDERS WHILE AT TABLE, ALSO AS BRACELETS, HAT HOLDERS, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Von Hoven, of 50, Finsbury Park Road, and
Mathias Neuhaus, of 61, Charlotte Street, Portland Place, in the County
of Middlesex, Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS OR APPLIANCES AVAILABLE AS NAPKIN RINGS, AS NAPKIN HOLDERS
WHILE AT TABLE, ALSO AS BRACELETS, HAT HOLDERS, AND FOR OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES." Partly a communication from abroad by Paul E. Faber,
of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th May 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 28th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Von Hoven and
Mathias Neuhaus at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
28th October 1878.
LOUIS VON HOVEN, of 50, Finsbury Park Road, and MATHIAS NEUHAUS, of
61, Charlotte Street, Portland Place, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES AVAILABLE AS NAPKIN RINGS,
AS NAPKIN HOLDERS WHILE AT TABLE, ALSO AS BRACELETS, HAT HOLDERS, AND
FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES." Partly a communication from abroad by Paul E.
Faber, of New York, United States of America.
For the purposes of this Invention we bend or shape a strip of metal or other
material into a horse shoe or some approximate form and attach to one of the free
ends a clip or fastener by which the other end can be connected to make the article
into a complete yet irregular shaped band or ring into which a table napkin can bo
drawn. The clip or fastener can be released from the one end, and that end being
free can be adjusted inside to hang from the necktie or collar of a person sitting at
table, a corner or other part of the napkin being clipped in the clip or fastener to be
supported by it as a protection to the clothes of the wearer while eating or drinking.
The clip or fastener may be of any shape and of any kind. We prefer to make it
however of straight form to give ease and facility of opening and of closing it. The
Drin Cil

page_text: -clip-we-purpose using is composed of two claws held together by a spring, or a ring
or slider between or upon their tail ends.
Instead of making the horse shoe-portion from one strip of metal or other material
it may be from two or more pieces hinged or jointed as to enable the article to be
folded into a small compass, the clip or fastener folding in along with them.
The strip or strips of metal or other material may be plain, corrugated, or other-
wise shaped to produce-strength with lightness in weight; they may also be orņa-
mented, engraved, or otherwise embellished, as may also the clip or fastener, if
_desired.
The articles thus constructed are-applicable to many useful purposes besides those
above mentioned, and when made of the baser metals they can be used as hat holders
in railway trains and the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Von Hoven and Mathias Neuhaus in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th May 1879.
•
LOUIS VON HOVEN, of 50, Finsbury Park Road, and MATHIAS NEUHAUS, of
61, Charlotte Street, Portland Place, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES AVAILABLE AS NAPKIN RINGS,
AS NAPKIN HOLDERS WHILE AT TABLE, ALSO AS BRACELETS, HAT HOLDERS, AND
FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES." Partly a communication from abroad by Paul E.
Faber, of New York, United States of America.
For the purposes of this Invention we bend or shape a strip of metal or other.
material into a horse shoe or some approximate form, and attach to one of the free
ends a clip or fastener by which the other end can be connected to make the article.
into a complete yet irregular shaped band or ring into which a table napkin can be
drawn. The clip or fastener can be released from the one end, and that end being
free can be adjusted inside to hang from the neck tie or collar of a person sitting at
table, a corner or other part of the napkin being clipped in the clip or fastener to be,
supported by it as a protection to the clothes of the wearer while eating or drinking.
The clip or fastener may be of any shape and of any kind. We prefer to make it
however of straight form to give ease and facility of opening and of closing it.
clip we purpose using is composed of two claws held together by a spring, or a ring.
or slider between or upon their tail ends.
The
Instead of making the horse shoe portion from one strip of metal or other material
it may be from two or more pieces hinged or jointed as to enable the article to be
folded into a small compass, the clip or fastener folding in along with them.
The annexed Drawings represent several forms that may be arranged for the
purposes of this Invention.
Figure 1 shows a plain strip of metal, hard rubber, whalebone, or other suitable
material A bent into the requisite shape; one end B of this bent strip has linked or
hinged to it a tail piece C of a clip or claw appliance between the jaws or lips D, E,
of which the opposite end F of the strip can be arranged, this end having a slot or
aperture G in it, or it may be a roughened surface or surfaces for nipping purposes,
whereby a complete yet irregularly shaped ring as a napkin ring is formed.
Figure 2 shows the same article with the fastener attachment released and with
the corner of a table napkin or it may be a handkerchief inserted into and held fast
by it; the other end of the strip being free can be passed over the shirt band, the
neck band, the collar, or the waistcoat of the person using it while seated at table,
the napkin or handkerchief being spread over the chest and knees to protect the
clothes from splashes.
Figure 3 represents a similar article from two strips of material, hinged at H to
enable it to be folded when not required for use. The claw or clip appliance in this
arrangement is formed that the nipping action is effected by sliding a thumb button I
along the slots of the body and the tail piece.
Figure 4 shows a similar article with the ring portion formed from three strips of
metal, hinged at J and K to facilitate its being folded into a very small compass, as
in Figure 5, or it may be folded as shown at Figure 6. The clip fastener in
this case has a slider L upon the tail ends, but any other catch will answer the
purpose.
Figure 7 shows a napkin ring composed of two segmental strips of material A, A,
each having over lapping ends M, M, that one portion may slide upon the other to
reduce the bulk and to facilitate the article being carried in the pocket when not
otherwise in use.
Figure 8 represents a similar sliding arrangement of napkin ring, each end M, M,
having a stud upon it to enable one to slide in a slot of the other.
Figure 9 represents one of the improved napkin rings, as before set forth, in use

page_text: as a hat holder, and suspended from a cross bar, say, the net rail of a railway car-
riage or other conveyance, or-the-back-rail-of-a chair.
Figure 10 is a view of a napkin ring or bracelet, of similar form to those above
described, the ends being furnished with snap attachments instead of the claw
fastener. The pocket N of this attachment is sufficiently open to admit of a napkin
end being placed in with the snap P and to be secured in position after the ring A
has been passed through, say, the neck tie of the person using the article as a
napkin holder.
Figures 11 and 12 are representations of a napkin ring and holder with the body
perforated ornamentally to lighten it in weight and to improve its appearance.
Figure 13 being the claw fastener, shown detached.
If the articles are of metal the edges of the strip or strips may be rounded off or
bent outwards, as shown by Figure 14, or the strips may be of curved or of crescent
shape in cross section, the body of each being "tempered" to spring slightly open
when the claw or other attachment is released.
The articles may be engraved, embossed, enamelled, or otherwise treated to give
them an artistic finish if desired.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
.
The several forms of rings as napkin rings or bracelets, shown in the annexed
Drawings, said rings being provided with spring clips, claws, or other attachments
to render them available for holding or supporting napkins, hats, and other articles,
as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Louis Von Hoven and Mathias Neuhaus,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness to the signature of
Louis Von Hoven,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet Street,
London.
LOUIS VON HOVEN. (L.S.)
M. NEUHAUS.
(L.S.)