Boot Fastening.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Boot Fastening.
MARY SANDES HUNGERFORD of The Island, Clonakilty in the County of Cork,
Landowner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
An invention for fastening boots by means of laces drawn through eyelets as
shown in sketch A the said eyelets being rivetted on sides of boots, as shown in
5 sketches B and C, in such a position that the action of pulling the end or ends of
laces by the wearer draws the sides of uppers together.
Dated this 18th day of February 1892.
MARY SANDES HUNGERFORD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Boot Fastening.
I, MARY SANDES HUNGERFORD, of The Island, Clonakilty, in the County
of Cork, Ireland, Landowner, 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 a new or improved means of fastening boots, shoes,
gaiters, and the like its object being to simplify and accelerate the operation by
reducing the number of movements required to manipulate the laces.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings of which Figure 1 shows the front of the boot closed;
Figure 2 the same open for the insertion of the foot, Figure 3 an enlarged view of
one of the fasteners, and Figure 4 a modified form of the same.
As shewn at Figure 3 the fastening consists of a loop a attached to the head of
an eyelet b. It will be understood that in place of the eyelet ba split pin, rivet, or
other device for securing the loop a to the boot may be employed.
The nose or bent portion of the loop a is preferably thickened and rounded on
the inside so that it may not fray the laces passing through the same.
In some cases pulleys e Fig. 4 may be mounted in the nose of the loop for the lace to
pass over, so as to diminish the friction on the same. As shewn at Figures 1 and 2, a
number of these loops a are secured to each of the meeting edges of the front of
the boot, in some cases as in gaiters they may be fastened further in on one side so
as to obviate the use of a "tongue" of leather behind the joint. These loops are
not placed in pairs opposite one another, but those on one side are arranged to
come alternately between those on the other side when the boot-upper is drawn
together as shewn at Figure 2, above each row of fasteners a is placed an eyelet
hole 6 through which the lace c is passed from the inside to the outside of the boot-
upper. Similar eyelet holes d are placed at the lower ends of the rows of loops.
Usually one end of the lace is passed in through one of the upper eyelets 6 and led
directly to the lower eyelet d on the opposite meeting edge at the back of the
boot-upper, and then passed outwards through this eyelet across the front of the
boot and in at the opposite lower eyelet d. The lace is then passed outwards
between the meeting edges or edge and side of the boot-upper and laced through
each of the loops a alternately one on each side as shewn at Figure 2, passing at
last out of the upper eyelet 6 opposite that through which it was first introduced, a
knot is then put on each end of the lace to prevent its slipping out.

page_text: When so threaded all that is necessary to close the boot, shoe or gaiter, is to
draw the end of the lace or laces tight, when the edges will approach each other as
shewn at Figure 1. The longer end of the lace may then be drawn out at the lower
eyelet d and conveniently adjusted in length, to allow of the shorter end being
drawn out equally above at the upper eyelet b and both ends then tied.
To open the boot, the laces are untied and the short end of lace drawn down at
the lower eyelet d and the outer lace loosened here and there by pulling it out
between the loops a, the meeting edges of the boot being then drawn apart by
hand. In some cases, as in short gaiters or shoes, where great length of lace is
not required both ends of lace c may run up through the alternate loops a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
As a means for lacing boots, shoes, gaiters and the like the employment of a
number of loops secured alternately to the opposite meeting edges or edge and side
of a boot or shoe upper or gaiter and the use thereof with a lace or laces passed
therethrough substantially as herein before set forth and described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of Natamba- 1900.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention " Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.