A NEW OR IMPROVED SUBSTITUTE FOR EYES OR EYELETS TO BE APPLIED TO BOOTS AND OTHER LACED ARTICLES.
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Claudius Varlot at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1880).
CLAUDIUS VARLOT, Master Bootmaker, in the 4th Regiment of Genie, of
Grenoble, Isère, in the Republic of France. "A NEW OR IMPROVED SUBSTITUTE
FOR EYES OR EYELETS TO BE APPLIED TO BOOTS AND OTHER LACED ARTICLES.'
My Invention consists of an improved form of eye or eyelet to receive any kind
of lace, which can slide freely through it.
According to one arrangement, the eye or eyelet is composed of four distinct
parts, viz.:-
:-
1st. A curved or arched piece made from a piece of copper or other suitable
metallic wire having two cuts formed in each extremity, so as to form a cross.
2nd. Two hollow columns or pillars, also of copper or other suitable metal, in the
form of a truncated cone, each to receive one extremity of the curved or arched
piece, which extremities are inserted into the base or larger end of the conical pieces,
which are formed with a flange at this end.
The hollow columns or pillars are secured to the curved or arched piece by means
of a special instrument, which forms a kind of rivet binding the extremities to the
interior of the hollow columns or pillars.
3rd. An under plate, also of copper or other suitable metal, pierced with two holes
through which pass the smaller ends of the conical columns or pillars. The material
to which the eye or eyelet is to be attached is pierced with holes the same distance
apart as the conical columns or pillars at the extremities of the arched or curved
piece, and through these holes the hollow columns or pillars are passed, the flange
resting on the top surface of the material, and the under plate passed over the
projecting smaller ends of the column, or pillars, when the whole is placed on a
block with the arched or curved piece downwards, and fitting into the matrix in
the block, and a punch is applied to the smaller ends of the conical columns or
pillars, and by two or three blows of a hammer the whole is rivetted together, the
ends of the columns or pillars being rivetted over the edges of the holes in the
under plate. The punch is preferably formed with two projecting pieces to enter
the smaller ends of the conical pieces, and thus rivet the two ends at one operation.
So that no projections may be left on the inner side of the under plate, the latter is
recessed round the holes, whereby the rivetting of the smaller ends of the columns

page_text: or pillars does not extend beyond the face of the plate. The eye or eyelet thus
being fixed solidly to the material by its two extremities, it is unable to turn or
twist, thus assuring the free passage of the lace or cord; which can slide freely
through it when lacing or unlacing the article to which it is applied.
The lace is passed successively through the eyes or eyelets fixed to the sides of
the opening in the article, passing alternately through one of the eyes or eyelets on
one side of the opening, and then through one of the eyes or eyelets on the other
side up to the top. To close the opening in the boot, shoe, or other article, the
lace is pulled by the part above the top eye or eyelet, when it will slide freely
through the whole of the eyes or eyelets, and so take up any slackness, thus closing
the opening, and the lace is then tied ; and in order to enlarge the opening, it is only
necessary to untie the lace and to draw the two sides of the article apart, leaving
the lace free, when it will slide through the eyes or eyelets, and thus permit the
two sides to separate.
The material to which the eyes or eyelets are secured is enclosed and held firmly
between two metallic surfaces of sufficient width to prevent either twisting or
or tearing out of the eyes or eyelets, or tearing of the leather or other material to
which they are attached.
Instead of forming the conical pieces separate from the curved or arched piece,
the whole may be made in a single piece with flanges at the larger ends of the
conical parts, the ends of which are either rivetted each over a separate washer, or
both over a plate pierced with holes through which the ends pass, as before
described. A separate washer may be passed over the smaller ends of the conical
parts before they are passed through the under plate and rivetted over.
The curved or arched piece may be rivetted to a washer, from the centre of which
projects a rod screw-threaded at its lower end, such rod being passed through the
material to which it is to be secured, and a nut screwed on to its lower end. This
arrangement allows the eye or eyelet to be readily detached when required. This
form of eyelet will be applied principally to other objects than boots and shoes,
such as straps, coverings for wagons, sails, etc., on account of having a central rod
only, which will allow it to turn round under a slight pressure. The forms of eyes
or eyelets previously described may also be made detachable by screw-threading
the ends that pass through the material and fitting them with nuts.
The whole of the eye or eyelet may also be stamped or cut in one piece from
sheet metal, and the ends passed through the material and through the holes in the
under plate, and then turned inward to secure them in position.
The different parts of the eyes or eyelets are formed either in a lathe by stamping
or by dies by means of known apparatus, only necessitating the use of special
natrices and punches.
It will thus be seen that the fastening is not only applicable to boots and
shoes, but also for closing tents, sacks, military equipements, cloth for sails,
gaiters, etc.
The fitting on to leather or on any fabric is effected either by presses similar to
those used for fitting ordinary metallic eyes or eyelets, but provided with special
matrices and punches, or by means of a block and a hand punch to be operated by
a hammer, as described.