IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, GLOVES AND OTHER OBJECTS A
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Brougham, of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENINGS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, GLOVES AND OTHER OBJECTS A communi-
cation from Gottfried Klotz, a person resident at Dresden, Kingdom of
Saxony, German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Brougham
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1883.
FREDERICK JOHN BROUGHAM of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, GLOVES AND
OTHER OBJECTS (a communication from Gottfried Klotz a person resident at
Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire)
л
This invention has for object improvements in fastenings for boots, shoes, gloves
and other garments.
According to this invention the edges that are to be brought together are
provided with bars, each so constructed on one edge as to form together a pair
of flanges, folds or rebates. A locking device is provided that can be drawn or
pushed over the bars so as to bring them, and consequently the edges to which
they are attached, into close proximity throughout their entire length, or, in other
words, to close the shoes, boots, gloves, stays or other objects. As is evident the
invention may be variously modified according to the garment or object to which
it is to be applied. Thus, for example, in the case of a shoe the apparatus would
be arranged as follows:-The bars would be fixed to the edges that are to be
brought together by sewing through eyes formed with or attached to the bars;
or the bars may be attached by clamping or in any other suitable manner. The
bars are arranged so as to open outwards with the upper parts of the shoe, and
each bar forms a flange over which the locking device takes. This device would,
in the case of a low shoe, consist of a chain formed of a series of links rigidly
connected together, their bent sides embracing the edges of the bars. The top link
of the locking chain, which, when closing the shoe, is placed first over the bars,

page_text: is open at one end for the more convenient introduction over the bars, and is
provided with a swivelling part which serves the two-fold purpose of forming a
hold, which can be grasped, in order to draw the locking chain along the bars and
of fixing the chain so as to retain the bars in their closed position To effect this
the swivelling part of the top link is formed with a bent end which is hooked over
the end of one of the bars which is bent for that purpose. By this means the chain
is retained in its locked position.
In applying the invention to a ladies high boot the bars, if formed each in a
rigid piece, are curved to follow the curved form of the foot and leg. The locking
chain is not all in one rigid piece as in the case of a shoe, but of several links
connected together, so as to easily follow the curve of the bars, some of the links
being rigidly connected to other links, and some not rigidly.
In order to avoid the locking chain being entirely disconnected from the bars,
when the boot or shoe is taken off the foot, the upper or leading end is provided
with a small hook which engages with or between the lower ends of the bars.
In fastening the boot or shoe it is only necessary to draw the chain up the
bars and to hook the bent portion over a catch or projection at the end of one
of the bars.
The improved fastening may be adapted to the side of the boot as well as to

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick John Brougham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1883.
FREDERICK JOHN BROUGHAM of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR BOOTS, SHOES, GLOVES AND
OTHER OBJECTS (a communication from Gottfried Klotz, a person resident at
Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire)
"
This invention has for object improvements in fastenings for boots, shoes, gloves
and other garments.
According to this invention the edges that are to be brought together are
provided with bars each so constructed on one edge as to form together a pair
of flanges, folds or rebates. A locking device is provided that can be drawn or
pushed over the bars so as to bring them, and consequently the edges to which
they are attached, into close proximity throughout their entire length, or, in other
words, to close the shoes, boots, gloves, stays, or other objects. As is evident thẻ
invention may be variously modified according to the garment or object to which
it is to be applied. Thus for example in the case of a shoe the apparatus would
be arranged as shewn in Fig 1 which is a plan of a shoe in the open position,-
The bars a are fixed to the edges that are to be brought together by sewing
through eyes a' formed with or attached to the bars; or the bars may be attached
by clamping or in any other suitable manner. The bars are arranged so as to open
outwards with the upper parts of the shoe, and each bar forms a flange over which
the locking device takes. This device consists of a chain b formed of a series of
links rigidly connected together, their bent sides embracing the edges of the bara a.
The top link d of the locking chain, which, when closing the shoe, is placed first
over the bars, is open at one end for the more convenient introduction over the
bars, and is provided with a swivelling part c which serves the two-fold purpose
of forming a hold, which can be grasped, in order to draw the locking chain along
the bars, and of fixing the chain so as to retain the bars in their closed position.
To effect this the swivelling part of the top link is formed with a bent end e which
is hooked over the end of one of the bars a which is bent for that purpose as shewn
at f. By this means the chain is retained in its locked position.
In applying the invention to a ladies high boot (Fig 2) the bars, if formed each
in a rigid piece, are curved to follow the curved form of the foot and leg. The
Jocking chain is by preference not all in one piece as in the case of a shoe, but
of several links connected together, so as to easily follow the curve of the bars,
some of the links being rigidly connected to other links, and some not rigidly.
In Fig 2 the part d and link 1 are in one piece as are also the links 5, 6, 7,
but the links 2, 3, 4, are formed of separate pieces moveably connected together.
In order to avoid the locking chain being entirely disconnected from the bars,
when the boot or shoe is taken off the foot, the upper or leading end d is provided
with a small hook g (Fig 1) which engages with or between the lower ends of the
bars a. In fastening the boot or shoe it is only necessary to grasp the part c,
draw the chain up the bars a a and hook the bent portion e over the catch or
projection f.
Figs 3, 3 and 3b shew a modified arrangement of fastening wherein the bara a
are fixed underneath the edges that are to be brought together so as to form (by
their bent shape) guides for the pieces m m¹. The shapes of the bars a and pieces
m m' are clearly shewn in Fig 3, which is a section in line A. B. of Fig 3 looking
in the direction of the arrow. The locking device b is provided with several slots

page_text: through two of which the pieces m m¹ pass, the slots used being at the option of
the wearer. If now the locking device b is moved upwards along the bars a, the
edges of the boot or other object are caused to mutually approach to an extent
depending on the distance apart of the slots in the locking device b through which
the pieces m m¹ pass. This arrangement possesses the advantage that the closing
may be more or less complete, at the option of the wearer. The locking device b
is made spring-like as seen best in the longitudinal section Fig 3b. The inner part
of this spring presses against a bar n which is inserted through a hole at o. This
bar, whose shape is indicated in dotted lines Fig 3, is bent down in the direction
of the arrow (Fig 3b), after the locking device b has reached its uppermost position,
so that any open space between the edges of the boot or other object will be covered
by the bar n; a hook is provided at the lower end of the bar n to take underneath.
ono edge, so as to keep the bar in place.
Another modification is shown in Figs 4, 4ª and 5. In this arrangement the
locking device (Fig 5) is entirely drawn off or removed after the edges have been
closed or brought together by it. In this case I by preference dispense with the
bars a and substitute for them hooks p, these being fastened two and two opposite
each other on the edges of the object. Underneath one edge a leather strap q is
sewn or otherwise fastened at r; this strap is in plan of wedge shape and it is
provided with metal strips s arranged at the same distance apart from each other,
as are the hooks p at each side, or, in other words, there is one strips between each
pair of hooks pas shewn in Fig-4. These strips are each provided with a number
of slots, corresponding slots being also provided in the leather strap g underneath.
On the opposite edge to that to which the strap is fastened small hooks t are pro-
vided, one for each strips, and taking into the slots of the strips. The two edges
on being closed or brought together by the locking device, will remain in the closed
position by reason of the hooks t taking into the proper slots of the strips a. The
locking device (Fig 5) consists of two plates u u', overlapping each other, one being
provided with a pin v and the other with a slot w, which engage together, so that the
plates uu, which are connected by the spring shaped prolongation u², can approach
each other but cannot move apart beyond a certain distance. The plates u u¹ are
bent at their outer edges as clearly shewn in Fig 5. These bent edges take over
the hooks p and the length of the plates u u¹ is such that they will not leave one
pair of hooks before reaching another pair, so that the locking device may be easily
drawn by means of a ring, hook or handle over the whole series of hooks p,
thereby securing the one edge of the boot or object into one line of slots in the
strips 8.
As will be obvious the improved fastening may be adapted to the side of a boot
as well as to the front.
Having described the nature of the said invention and explained the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect as communicated to me as aforesaid I would
have it understood that what is considered to be novel and original and is therefore
claimed as the invention secured to me under the Letters Patent herein before in
part recited is :-
1 The use for fastening boots, shoes, gloves and other articles, of rails or plates
one fastened to each of the edges to be brought together, a locking chain which
when drawn over the said rails or bars causes the two edges of the article to which
they are attached to mutually approach and a combined pull and locking device
attached to the said chain substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2 The use in conjunction for fastening boots, shoes, gloves and other articles of
two rails or bars each in one or more parts bent to form flanges folds or rebates
and applied and fastened to the edges of the article that are to be brought together,
or closed and a chain (in one or more parts) which when drawn along the said rails
or bars causes the edges of the article to which they are attached to mutually
approach, the said chain being provided with a hook like part serving not only for
drawing the chain but also for securing it to prevent its slipping back, and also

page_text: being furnished with a hook or equivalent device or devices to prevent discon-
nection of the chain from the boot or other article when open substantially as
described.
3. The use for closing and securing boots, shoes, gloves and other articles of
fastenings constructed, arranged and operating as hereinabove described with
reference to and illustrated in Fig 1, in Fig 2, in Figs 3, 3ª, 3³, and in Figs 4, 4º,
and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Frederick John Brougham have hereunto set my
hand and seal this ninth day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.