AN IMPROVED LACING HOOK OR FASTENER FOR BOOTS OR SHOES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
"
and Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED LACING HOOK OR FASTENER FOR BOOTS OR SHOES
communicated to him from abroad by Edgar Horace Train of Union
City Connecticut United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED LACING HOOK OR FASTENER
FOR BOOTS OR SHOES [a communication to him from abroad by Edgar Horace
Train of Union City Connecticut United States of America]
"
This invention relates to that class of boot and shoe fasteners which are made in
the form of a hook and are attached at each side of the opening, and with which a
lacing is engaged crossing the opening from the hooks on one side to those on the
opposite side, the object of the said invention being to make the introduction of
the lacing to the hook easy, and to secure it there when interlaced; and it consists
in the construction of the hook as hereinafter described.
The improved hook consists of a base provided with prongs upon its under side
by which it may be attached to the boot or shoe. The hook part is turned up from
the base, and bent over and down toward the base. In transverse section the hook
is concavo-convex thus providing great strength, and enabling the use of thinner.
metal than could be used were it not for such peculiar shape. On the base at each
side of the mouth of the hook an upward projection is formed which leaves a cavity
directly in front of the hook. The said projections gradually die out toward the
front so that the cavity between them extends to the extreme front, that is to say,
the base is in a continuous plane from the hook and forward between the
projections, and without obstruction in front of the hook, so that the lacing may
be inserted between the upward projection and the hook on one side, then brought
around beneath the hook and projection on the opposite side, which provides a
ready and convenient introduction of the lacing and when in place the projections
stand in such relation to the lacing that it cannot accidentally slip out of the
mouth of the hook.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Patent Office on the 21st February
1884.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine. Lake, and C Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED LACING HOOK OR FASTENER
FOR BOOTS OR SHOES A communication to me from abroad by Edgar Horace
Train of Union City Connecticut, United States of America.
This invention relates to that class of boot and shoo fasteners which are made in
the form of a hook and are attached at each side of the opening, and with which a
Incing is engaged, crossing the opening from the hooks on one side to those on the
opposite side; the object of the said invention boing to make the introduction of
the Incing to the hook easy, and to secure it there when interlaced; and it consists
in the novel construction of the hook as hereinafter described.
1
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, represents the fastenings as applied to a boot or shoo, and laced.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fastening detached, and
Figure 3 is a section through the hook and upper, showing the hook as secured
in place.
This improved hook consists of a base A provided with prongs a a upon its
under side, as shown at Figuro 2, by which prongs it may be attached to the boot
or shoe. The hook b is turned up from the base, and bent over and down toward
the base, as shown in Figure 2. In transverse section the hook b is concavo-
convex, thus providing great strength, and enabling the use of thinner metal than
could be were it not for such peculiar shape.
On the base, at each side of the mouth of the hook, an upward projection d d is
formned, which leaves a cavity o directly in front of the hook, as shown. The
projections d d gradually die out toward the front, so that the cavity between
them extends to the extreine front, that is to say, the base is in a continuous plane
from the hook and forward between the projections, and without obstruction
in front of the hook, so that the lacing may be inserted between the upward
projection and the hook on one side, then brought around beneath the hook and
projection on the opposite side, which arrangement provides for a ready and
convenient introduction of the lacing, and when in place, the projections stand in
such relation to the lacing that it cannot accidentally slip out of the mouth of the
hook.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by
my foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I Claim :-
A boob or shoe fastener consisting of the base A provided with prongs for
attachment to the upper, and a book turned up from, and over toward, the base
with an upward projection d from the base on each side, but so as to leave the
base in a continuous plane from the hook between the projections to the opposite
edge, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.