Improvements in Sleeve Links.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Improvements in Sleeve Links.
We, JOEL CADBURY and FRED WALKER LAMBERT, trading as Green, Cadbury
and Company, of Great Hampton Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to sleeve links, and has for its objects, to facilitate
the introduction or threading of the heads of the link through the button holes
of a cuff or garment and also to ensure that the heads shall be flat against the
outside of a cuff when in position.
The improved link comprises a pair of heads or buttons united together through
the medium of a pair of long shanks in the form of arms, rocking about the
inner ends as centres, whilst their outer-ends are flexibly coupled together by
a small link or fetter. The inner end of each bar shank is directly jointed to
the back of the head or may have a square-sectioned or flat-bottomed crutch end,
which works as the joint within an inverted and middle-gapped cupped seating,
containing a tongue spring pressing against the underside of the cross end so
as to tend to retain the shank in either an outstanding or a flat position,
according as to whether the head is in use, or in the act of being threaded
through a cuff.
Thus, when in use, the shanks stand out at a proper obtuse angle from the
head, which lies flat against the outside of the cuff, whilst the middle link
forms a flexible joint. The inner ends of the shanks, outwards of the crutch
pieces, pass through the gaps in the inverted cupped bearings, which are formed
out of the back of the blank constituting a part of the head.
On the other hand, when the heads are being, or are about to be, introduced
through a button hole, the shank is turned down and their inner joint ends come
on a level with, or below, the set down back plate of the head:
We do not confine ourselves to the particular form of joint for the rocking
shank arms, as any suitable construction may be employed as desired.
Dated this 9th day of October 1899:-,

page_text: facturers, 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 sleeve links, and has for its objects, to facilitate
the introduction or threading of the heads of the link through the button holes
of a cuff or garment and also to ensure that the heads shall be flat against the
outside of a cuff when in position.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a sleeve link constructed
according to my invention, applied to a shirt cuff, and showing how the heads
of the said link lie flat against the outsides of the cuff when in use.
Figure 2 represents an underside plan of the said sleeve link, upon a large
scale and with the heads shown in the positions in which they are placed prior
to the threading of the same through the button hole of a cuff.
Figure represents a longitudinal vertical section of the said heads upon
the dotted line a Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view showing the link with the heads and their connection
fittings in the same positions as they assume when in use.
Figure 5 represents the said link with one head or button in edge view and
the other in longitudinal section and with their jointed shank bars projecting
at a right angle from the heads.
Figure 6 is a view showing the parts in the same position as in Figure 4,
but with one head represented in end view and the other in transverse section
on the dotted line Figure 4.
Figure 7 represents, upon a still further enlarged scale, one of the link heads,
with its jointed but laterally rigid shank, in longitudinal vertical section.
Figure 8 shows the several component parts of one of the heads, and also the
shank, separated or dis-assembled from one another, and upon the same scale as
Figure 7.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said Figures 1
to 7.
This form of the improved link comprises a pair of heads or buttons a, each
made up of a front or top shell a¹ and a back plate a², and being connected
together through the medium of a pair of long shanks b, b, in the form of arms,
turning in the longer direction of the head about their inner ends as centres,
whilst their eyed or looped outer ends b², which extend to just beyond the edges
of the heads, are flexibly coupled together by a small ring or fetter c. The
inner termination of each bar shank is jointed to the back of its head by means
of a square-sectioned crutch end 63, the pivot ears 4, of which work and are
confined within inverted bearings or seatings a³, struck up from the metal of
the back plate, upon the opposite sides of a middle gap or clearance a', through
which the inner part of the shank passes, whilst the back plate encloses between
itself and the front shell, a spring plate d impinging or pressing against the
cross end of the said shank and thus tending to retain the latter in either an
outstanding position at right angles to the head as in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6,
or in a flat or turned down position as represented in Figures 1 and 2 according
as to whether the head is in use, or in the act of being threaded through a cuff,
in addition to which the employment of a joint of the character described in
which the inner end of the shank is confined and constrained to turn only in
the longer direction of the link head by working within a gap in the back plate
ensures the perfect lateral rigidity of the said shank relative to its head, and
greatly facilitates the act of threading the link.
Thus, when the link is in use, the shanks stand out at a right angle from
the heads and are maintained in this position by the pressure of the enclosed
spring plates against the flat underside edges of their crutch ends, whilst the
middle link or connecting ring c forms a flexible joint between the respective 5
heads and shanks and permits of the heads lying flat against the outsides of the

page_text: cuff with the shanks at an obtuse angle relative to one another, as represented
in Figures 1 and 4.
On the other hand, when the heads are being, or are about to be, introduced
through a button hole, their shanks (or one of them) are turned down into
the position represented in Figures 2 and 3, in which they are retained by the
pressure of spring plates against the edges 66, (see Figure 3) of the crutch ends,
when the lateral rigidity of the extended shank bars relative to their respective
heads in conjunction with the freedom of movement which the said heads have
with respect to one another due to the flexible coupling between the rigid
shanks, greatly simplifies and facilitates the threading operation.
We do not confine ourselves to the particular form of joint for the rocking
shank arms, as any suitable construction which will provide for the necessary lateral
rigidity may be employed as desired, whilst instead of making the shanks in
the crutch ended bar form as previously described, it is obvious that they may
be made as represented in Figure 9 in the form of loops or links with the
return end against which the spring retaining plate impinges being made of
a square, angular or flattened section. The flexible coupling between the shanks
may be made up of any number of links. Further, instead of employing spring
retaining plates, tongue springs to bear against the flattened parts of the inner
ends of the shanks may be used or springs may be dispensed with altogether,
and the shanks may be retained in the one position or the other by the stiffness
of the joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
First Sleeve, cuff and like links, comprising a pair of heads or buttons,
cach having a hinged or jointed and extended arm or shank, constrained to
turn or swing only in one direction across the back of the said head and flexibly
coupled together through the medium of a loose ring, fetter or equivalent con-
nection, substantially as and for the purpose as herein described, and also as
set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Secondly-Sleeve, cuff and like links, comprising a pair of heads or buttons,
each having a hinged or jointed and extended arm or shank constrained to turn
or swing only in one direction across the back of the said head, the said shanks
being flexibly coupled together through the medium of a loose ring, fetter or
equivalent connection and retained in one or other of two positions by a spring
plate or tongue bearing against the inner end of the jointed shank, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described, and also as set forth in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of February 1900.