Improvements in Fasteners for the Laces of Boots, Shoes, Corsets and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fasteners for the Laces of Boots, Shoes, Corsets and
the like.
I, EMIL DABNEY HEINEMANN, of No. 42 Cedar Street, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:—
This invention relates to Lace Fasteners and its object is to provide a fastener
for securing the laces of shoes, gloves, corsets, umbrellas, hammocks and the like,
and generally wherever such a device is required for holding the end of a securing
thread, string or cord, and wherein, the lace, string, thread or cord is held in a
single loop in such manner that the greater the strain thereon the more securely
it is gripped, and clamped.
In the drawing Fig. 1, is a view slightly in perspective of a fastener embodying
the invention as applied on the left hand side of a shoe or other article.
Fig. 2, is a similar view of a fastener for the right hand side of the article.
Figs 3 and 4, are respectively plan views of the form of fastener shown in Figs. 1
and 2
Figs. 5. and 6, are respectively side elevations of the same.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are respectively views in perspective showing various ways
of forming the fastener securing ends.
at e.
The body of the fastener is formed of a single strand of wire bent into one com-
pleta coil or convolution A, and an additional partial convolution or coil B, super-
imposed thereon and lying in the same plane therewith. The complete coil or
convolution begins, say, at a and ends at b. The partial coil or convolution
forms a continuation of coil A, and extends from point b and terminates
From this point c, the wire forming the upper or partial coil B,
is deflected or bent inwardly into the space enclosed by the complete coil A, and
slightly downwardly away from the plane of the partial coil B, to the point f
approximately at the geometric center of the coil A. Thence the wire is bent
outwardly and underneath the coil A, to the point g. The ends C, D, of the wire
are bent from the points a, g, into suitable relation for securing the fastener to
the article to which it is to be applied. For instance, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2,
3, 4, 5 and 6, the ends C, D, are bent at substantially right angles to the plane of
the coils A, B, and are beveled as at h, in order to facilitate the passage of the
ends through the material or fabric to which the fastener is to be applied
Preferably the bevels h, of the respective ends C, D, are in planes angular with
respect to each other, whereby the said ends may be suitably bent or clinched on
the under side of the material or fabric. This form of fastener is the preferred
form, and is particularly well adapted for shoes, gloves, corsets, umbrellas and
the like. Instead of this the ends C, D, may be bent in lines substantially parallel
with the plane of coil A, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, either open as in Figs. 7.
9 and 10, or crossed as in Fig. 8, and may be finally formed into registering loops E,
as in Figs. 7 and 8, or merely lapped over each other as at F, Fig. 9, or a loop G,

page_text: may be formed in one of said ends and the other end bent at right angles to
itself to form a stem H, which is arranged to pass through the loop G.. The
particular style of arrangement of the securing ends of the fastener is of secondary
in portance and may be varied to suit the use to which the fastener is put, the
primary feature being the arrangement of the body part of the fastener which
receives and clamps the thread, lace, string, cord or the like. It will be observed
that the complete coil A, is at one point underneath the partial coil B, and at
another point over that part of the wire forming a continuation of such partial
coil. That is from the point b to the point c, that is, the portion of the wire form-
ing the coil B, is above coil A, but from point c the wire is bent inwardly and
downwardly into the space enclosed by coil A, and thence outwardly, thereby form-
ing the shoulder f, and thence underneath the coil A. Therefore, when the lace
to be secured is inserted in a single loop between the coil A, and the partial coil B,
such, lace after being received between coil A and coil B, passes over the portion
of the wire extending from c to f, and then underneath the coil A, and hence any
strain exerted upon the lace, string, cord or the like, in a direction tending to draw
it lengthwise through the fastener tends to elevate the near edge of coil A, and to
depress coil B, thereby the more firmly clamping the coils A, and B, together with
the lace or the like gripped between them. And, moreover, such strain does not
tend to cause either of said coils to creep or to be displaced laterally with respect to
each other. The shoulder f serves as a stop to prevent the lace from slipping
or riding out of the fastener.
The
The shoulder f, however, while preferred, is not absolutely essential.
essential feature being the passage of the wire forming a continuation of the partial
coil B, into and across the space enclosed by the complete coil A, and out
underneath said complete coil, whereby the securing lace passes under the near
edge of coil A, over such terminal or continuation and between the proximate
surfaces of coils A, and B.
Thus I produce a fastener wherein the lace or the like may be easily and with
facility inserted in or introduced to the fastener, or removed therefrom, for
sufficient space between the coils A, and B, may be provided to permit the lace or
the like to be readily inserted therebetween, the clamping or gripping effect being
secured by the strain of the lace over the projecting portion of the wire from c
to f and under the near edge of coil A. This is a decided advantage over devices
of this nature of the prior art, wherein the clamping effect is secured merely by
the proximity of the clamping coils to each other, thereby rapidly wearing out
the lace and the like, making it difficult to introduce the lace, and soon resulting
in loss of efficiency in the fastener itself.
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. A lace fastener comprising a single strand of wire bent to form convolu-
tions, the end of one convolution bent inwardly over the other convolution into
the space enclosed thereby, thence outwardly and underneath the convolutions,
and the ends arranged to be secured to the article to which the fastener is to be
applied.
2. A lace fastener comprising a single strand of wire bent to form a complete coil
or convolution, and a partial coil or convolution superimposed thereon, the wire
forming the partial convolution bent inwardly and downwardly toward the
geometric center of the space enclosed by the complete convolution, such fastener
"having securing ends. :
3. A lace fastener comprising a single strand of wire bent to form a complete
coil and a partial coil superimposed thereon in the same plane upon each other,
the wire forming the partial coil being bent inwardly and downwardly towards
he center of the space enclosed by the complete coil, the ends of said fastener
being bent at right angles to the plane of the coils,

page_text: 4. A lace fastener comprising a single strand of wire bent to form a complete
convolution and a partial convolution overlying the complete convolution, the
terminal of the overlying partial convolution bent inwardly and downwardly
towards the geometric center of the complete convolution, and thence outwardly at
an angle, thereby forming a shoulder, and finally underneath the complete con-
volution, said fastener having securing ends.
Dated his 00
T
1007
EMIL DABNEY HEINEMANN,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.