Improvements in Fasteners for the Legs of Trousers.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HARVEY DWIGHT BLAKESLIE, of No. 337, Washington
Street, Buffalo, New York, United States of America, Merchant.]
Improvements in Fasteners for the Legs of Trousers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 the clasps or fasteners which are employed by bicycle
riders for holding the trousers tightly about the ankles, so as to prevent the same
from becoming entangled with the cranks or the spokes of the adjacent wheel.
The object of my invention is to produce a convenient and reliable fastening
which remains attached to the trousers so as to be readily at hand when required,
and which is concealed on the inside of the same when not in use.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the manner of attaching the fastener to
the trousers.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the leg of a pair of trousers folded and
secured in place by my improved fastener.
Figure 3 is a detached perspective view of the fastener viewed from its
front side.
Figure 4 is a similar view thereof viewed from its rear side.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fastener, with the sliding hook pulled
downward in the position in which it is engaged under the edge of the trousers.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the fastener attached to the trousers or
pantaloon in the position in which the latter is tightened about the ankle.
Figures 7 and 8 are cross sections of the clasp in lines and Y Y
respectively.
Figure 4
Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary views of a modified construction of the
fastener.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the frame of the fastener which consists of a rectangular plate to
the back of which are attached a pin a and an open eye a' for securing the fastener
to the trousers. The frame or plate A is provided at its longitudinal edges with
inwardly turned lips or flanges b, the lower portions of which are formed with
inward extensions which abut against each other and form with the plate a
loop c.
D represents a hook arranged at the lower end of the frame A and made
vertically movable thereon. The flat shank of this book passes through the loop c
and is guided between the longitudinal flanges of the frame. The hook slides
upon the plate A and may be pulled downwardly into the position represented in
Figure 5, or pushed upwardly into the position represented in Figures 3.4 and 6.
The shank of the hook is prevented from being withdrawn from the loop by an
ontwardly turned lip e formed at the upper end of the shank and which strikes
against the upper edge of the loop in the lowermost position of the hook as
represented in Figure 5.
e represents a catch arranged on the frame A and adapted to interlock with the
hook, and retain the same in its raised position. This catch consists of a spring
tongue which is preferably cut out of the metal of the plate A as shown,
and provided on the inner side of its free end with a teat or projection which
engages in an opening or indentation 7 formed in the shank of the hook. This
spring catch possesses sufficient stiffness to retain the hook in an elevated position

page_text: under ordinary circumstances, but is deflected and released from the hook upon
pulling the same downwardly. Upon pressing the hook upwardly, it is automatically
locked in place by the spring catch.
In applying the fastener, the lower front end of the trousers is turned up, as shown
in Figure 1, and the fastener is attached about centrally to this turned up portion,
with the hook at the top, as shown. The end of the trousers is then turned down,
the hook, which is now at the bottom, is pulled below the lower edge of the
trousers and the front portion of the latter is doubled on the line of the fastener,
and folded backward against the outer side of the ankle. The hook, which now faces
inwardly, is then engaged under the lower edge on the unfolded part of the trousers
and pushed upwardly into the position represented by full lines in Figure 6, whereby
only the extreme lower portion of the hook remains exposed. The trousers are by
this means folded smoothly and tightly about the ankle and all unsightly bagging or
gathering thereof is avoided.
The open eye a¹ may be formed in one piece with the plate A by forming the upper
end of the plate with an extension a² which is bent backwardly against the rear side
of the plate to form the eye, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
When it is desired to release the fastener, the sliding hook is pushed downward
and disengaged from the lower edge of the trousers after which it is again pressed
upward inside of the trousers where it is hidden from view.
My improved fastener is very convenient, as it is always ready for use and does
not require to be repeatedly attached and removed from the trousers, and when not
in use, it is invisible and occupies a place where it does not annoy the wearer.
The frame A with its flanges and spring catch is stamped of a single piece of
sheet metal and the hook with its lip is also constructed of one piece, forming a
very simple fastener which is cheaply produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a trouser fastener, the combination with a rectangular frame provided
on its rear side with a pin for attaching the fastener to the trousers and with a
spring catch and on its front side with inwardly bent marginal flanges, of a vertically
sliding hook arranged at the lower end of the rectangular frame and having a flat
shank guided between the flanges of the frame, and provided with an opening or
indentation with which the spring catch of the frame engages, and with a stop
which prevents withdrawal of the hook from the frame, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a trouser fastener, the combination with a rectangular frame provided
on its front side with inwardly bent marginal flanges and on its rear side with a pin
for attaching the fastener to the trousers, and a spring tongue or catch formed
integral with the frame and having a teat or projection, of a vertically sliding book
arranged at the lower end of the rectangular frame and having a flat shank guided
between the flanges of the frame and provided with. an opening or indentation with
which the projection of the spring catch of the frame engages, and with a stop
which prevents withdrawal of the hook from the frame, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a trouser fastener, the combination with the frame provided on its rear
side with a pin for attaching the fastener to the trousers, and on its front side with
a loop, of a hook, adapted to engage under the lower edge of the trousers, having a
shank sliding in said loop and provided with a lip or projection which prevents
withdrawal of the book from said loop, and a spring catch arranged on the frame
whereby the sliding hook is retained in an elevated position, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 28th day of Matcha- 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.