Improvements in Clasps or Fastenings for Shoe Laces and Reins or . other Cords or Bands.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clasps or Fastenings for Shoe Laces and Reins or .
other Cords or Bands.
I, MILES EVART HENDRICK, horticulturist, of the town of Amity, in the County
of Yamhill, in the State of Oregon, one of the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of my said 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 improvements in clasps or fasteners and has more
particular relation to clasps or fasteners for securing the laces of shoes without
the usual tying.
The invention consists of a single piece of metal bent to form an attaching
eye and two lace receiving loops lying parallel to each other.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved clasp or fastener applied
to an infant's shoe, and
Figure 2 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of my said improved
clasp.
Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale the laces inserted in my said improved
clasp.
The numeral 1 in the drawings represents the shoe, 2-2 the laces of the same,
and 3 my improved clasp or fastener. Said clasp is preferably constructed of a
single piece of brass wire bent to form an attaching eye 4, two parallel lace
receiving loops 5-5, and two finishing rings 6-6. The said loops 5-5 lie
sufficiently near together to form a decided kink in the laces when drawn through
the same as shown in the drawing so as to prevent the laces from pulling
through said loops. In applying the laces within the loops each lace is first
passed over the outside of one loop and then drawn down into the opposing loop
By this peculiar method of passing the laces through the respective loops the
tension of the said laces create a contracting pressure upon said loops in addition
to their inherent spring quality and thus firmly bind the respective laces in
position.
The tighter the laces are pulled the greater the pressure upon the loops and
upon the laces contained therein.
My improved fastener is preferably secured to the rear of the shoe near the
top of the same by a suitable rivet or other attaching means 7. In securing the
said fastener in position the finishing rings 6-6 of the same are preferably
arranged at the top so as that the laces may be inserted into the fastener by
simply drawing the same down into the respective loops from opposite sides. By
the employment of my invention the tying of loops and knots in the laces is
altogether avoided and the same are secured firmly in position without any
liability of slipping but at the same time may be instantly disengaged by simply
pulling the ends upward which causes them to pass out of the tops of the
respective loops. The wire of which the fastener is formed is sufficiently resilient

page_text: to enable the pressure of the laces alone to contract the respective loops and thus
bind the laces passing through the same firmly therein.
My invention is particularly applicable to infant's shoes as by its peculiar
construction the laces may be secured or detached very quickly and with a
minimum of trouble.
I do not care to limit the application of my invention to the securing of shoe-
laces as the same may be aptly employed as a rein holder by being secured to the
inside of the dash board in the proper position.
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 clasp or fastener comprising a single piece of wire bent to form an attach-
ing eye and two parallel lace cord or band receiving loops, substantially as
described.
2. A clasp or fastener comprising a single piece of wire bent to form an attach-
ing eye and two parallel lace cord or band receiving loops having finishing
rings at their ends whereby the lace cords or bands may be instantly passed into said
loops, substantially as described.
3. A clasp or fastener comprising a single piece of wire bent to form a double
coil or eye and two parallel lace cord or band receiving loops having finishing
rings at their extreme ends whereby the laces cords or bands may be instantly
inserted into said loops, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of April 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.