An Improved Fastening for the Coverings of Legs and Feet, such as Boots, Shoes, or Leggings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for the Coverings of Legs and Feet, such as
Boots, Shoes, or Leggings.
I, FREDERICK GILES of Fawkner Street, South Yarra, in the Colony of
Victoria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:--
This invention has been devised to provide a simple clasp for boots, shoes or
leggings by which same may be fastened with much greater facility than
by the means commonly in use for the purpose, and without becoming unfastened
by the natural movements of the foot; a direct outward force being required to
release the clasp.
The invention is specially applicable in lieu of the ordinary button and button
hole in which trouble and annoyance is often caused by the buttons being torn
or broken off owing to the strain put upon them in fastening or unfastening, but
in my clasp these objections are overcome, and the expensive necessity of cutting
and stitching button holes obviated.
The invention consists essentially of a split sphere which is secured to one
flap of the boot or legging and an eyelet or socket for clasping same secured
to opposite flap. The sphere or spherical button is formed preferably in the
following manner.
A perforated plate is provided with an arm at either side such arms having
hemispherical depressions from which smaller arms or cuts project.
The arms, at their junction with the plate, are turned upwardly in such
manner that the hemispherical portions almost meet to form a sphere. The lugs
which project from such hemispheres (when piece is on the flat) are arranged
so that when turned within the sphere they cross each other and press against
the inner surface of the bemisphere of the opposite arm so as to form a spring
and exert an outward pressure tending to opeu the sphere when same is con-
tracted. The eyelet or socket which is secured to the opposite flap of the
boot to clasp the sphere is preferably formed and secured in the following
manner:-
A flanged cylinder is inserted in a prepared hole formed in the fold of the
boot the flange being inside. The projecting cylindrical end is covered by a
cap, which on pressure applied to said cap turns the cylindrical edge (in form
of flange) within the turned and flattened edge of the cap, thus forming a secure
and neat socket.
The flanged cylinder, which with the cap forms the socket as before described, is
provided with an annular bead on the cylindrical portion near its junction with
flange. This annular bead forms a hold on the spherical button which prevents it
coming unfastened by other than a direct outward force or pull of the flap containing
such eyelet or socket.
The position of the button may be readily altered on the boot by unsewing and
resewing the perforated plate in any desired position so as to accurately fit the
wearer.
To fasten a boot provided with these clasps the eyelet is brought into position'
over the hemisphere and pressure brought to bear on same which causes the split
hemisphere to contract or close until the eyelet bead is passed over same when the

page_text: pressure of the ring being released will allow the sphere to expand or open
(such movement being aided by the arms or springs) and thus a secure clasp is
formed..
Dated this 3rd day of November 1893.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for said Applicant.
An Improved Fastening for the Coverings of Legs and Feet, such as
'Boots Shoes, or Leggings.
I, FREDERICK GILES of Fawkner Street, South Yarra, in the Colony of
Victoria, Engineer, 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 has been devised to provide a simple clasp for boots, shoes or
leggings by which same may be fastened with much greater facility than by the means
commonly in use for the purpose, and without becoming unfastened by the
natural movements of the foot; a direct outward force being required to release
the clasp.
The invention is specially applicable in lieu of the ordinary button and button
hole in which trouble and annoyance is often caused by the buttons being toru or
broken off owing to the strain put upon them in fastening or unfastening, but in my
clasp these objections are overcome, and the expensive necessity of cutting and
stitching button holes obviated.
In some forms of fastenings, particularly where the lower member is spherical,
there has been a failing through there being no internal permanent resistance
tending to make the sphere maintain a resistance when being inserted in the top
member. After usage the sphere of the lower member contracts and is weakened
and consequently has little or no hold when inserted in the top member.
With niy invention, however, the insertion of a spring of any form inside and
contained by the split sphere offers a permaneut and suitable resistance and
notwithstanding any tendency on the part of the cups or split spheres towards
weakness they are kept in their position by the resistance offered by the spring.
It will be readily understood that a great advantage of this form of fastening
over the old form of eyelet lies in the fact that in the former any adjustment is
readily made whereas in the latter it is clear that once the flap of the boot having:
been pierced for the insertion of an eyelet no readjustment can take place.
1
The invention consists essentially of a split sphere which is secured to one flap
of the boot or legging and an eyelet or socket for clasping same secure to opposite
flap. The sphere or spherical button is formed preferably in the following
manner.
A perforated plate is provided with an arm at either side such arms having
hemispherical depressions from which smaller arms or cups project or preferably
indentations made to retain the spring in position. In that form where the arms
are used they are, at their junction with the plate, turned upwardly in such manner
that the hemispherical portions almost meet to form a sphere. The lugs which
project from such hemispheres (when piece is on the flat) are arranged so that
when turned within the sphere they cross each other and press against the inner
surface of the hemisphere of the opposite arm so as to form a spring and exert an
outward pressure tending to open the sphere when same is contracted. The. form,
however, which I prefer for insertion between the hemispheres is that illustrated
herein, but it is obvious of course that any form of spring may be used. The eyelet,

page_text: or socket which is secured to the opposite flap of the boot to clasp the sphere is
preferably formed and secured in the following manner:
A flanged cylinder is inserted in a prepared hole formed in the fold of the boot
the flange being inside. The projecting cylindrical end is covered by a cap formed
of three members, which on pressure applied to said cap turns the cylindrical edge
within the cap, thus forming a secure and neat socket.
The flanged cylinder which with the cap forms the socket as before described, is
provided with an annular bead on the cylindrical portion near its junction with
Hange. This annular bead forms a hold on the spherical button which prevents it
coming unfastened by other than a direct outward force or pull of the flap containing
such eyelet or socket.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will proceed to describe
the accompanying drawing.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawing.
Figure 1 illustrates the piece of metal stamped out from which the split sphere
is made.
·
Figure 2 is a section of the split sphere containing the spring.
Figure 3 is a section of the cap.
Figure 4 is a section of the washer.
Figure 5 is a view underneath of the washer showing the indents or projections.
Figure 6 is a section of the ring j.
Figure 7 is a section of the eyelet tube.
Figure 8 is an underneath view of Figure 6 showing indents for holding the
material.
Figure 9 is an underneath view of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a section of the upper part of the fastening.
Figure 11 is a complete view of the lower part of the fastening.
The piece of metal illustrated in Figure 1 is formed with a spring inserted into .
the split sphere illustrated in Figure 11.
A washer preferably is placed above the base c of the split sphere a and one part
of the article is sewn or rivetted to the washer f. To the upper portion, into the cap g,
the washer is placed, the ring j is then placed in position and a hole is cut in the
other part of the article through which the eyelet tube k is inserted; the eyelet
tube k is then placed inside the cap next the inner edge of the ring and forced
into position so that the upper portion of it coming against the projections /' is cut
and forced into the spaces between h¹, h', of the washer and is securely fastened in
that position, the indents on the lower part of the ridge j, Figure 8, impressed into
the article will form an additional hold.
In forcing the upper portion over the lower portion of the fastening the annular
bead k, k, presses the spring d and forces the two portions of the sphere together
and when the latter is forced home they expand, a secure fastening being thus
obtained having the appearance of an ordinary button.
Although have described a closed upper part yet it is obvious that an
upper eyelet may be used in combination with the lower part of the fastening.
To fasten a boot provided with these clasps the eyelet is brought into position
over the hemisphere and pressure brought to bear on same which causes the split
hemisphere to put the spring into compression, bringing the hemispheres nearer
together, until the eyelet bead is passed over same when the pressure on the spring
being released will allow the sphere to expand or open (such movement being aided
by the arms or springs) and thus a secure clasp is formed.
Having now described my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware
that a split sphere has been used before, I am also aware that, in relation to the
upper part of the fastening, a cap has been used, a washer has been used and au
eyelet has been used either separately or in combination, I therefore do not. lay
claim to any of these parts, but what I do claim is:
1. A fastening consisting of a hollow split sphere containing a spring connected

page_text: to one part of the article and operating in conjunction with an open eyelet closed
by a cap secured to the upper part of the article, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In a fastening, the combination of a hollow split sphere and a spring contained
in the same, operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 11th day of September 1894.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.