AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR DRIVING BELTS AND BANDS, AND FOR OTHER STRAPS AND BANDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Heap, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Tool Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR
DRIVING BELTS AND BANDS, AND FOR OTHER STRAPS AND BANDS."
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 16th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Heap at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1878.
JOSHUA HEAP, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Tool Maker.
"AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR DRIVING BELTS AND BANDS, AND FOR OTHER
STRAPS AND BANDS."
My Invention relates principally to the fasteners employed in the connecting
together of the ends of strapping and belting in order to form the endless driving
belts and bands used in the transmission of power or of rotatory movement. For
this purpose I employ metal staples preferably formed by bending steel, iron, or
metal wire in the particular form which I have found to have the desired effect.
Each of the said staples is formed with two limbs projecting at right angles from a
central straight or nearly straight part, and about parallel to each other, but instead
of these limbs being straight as is usual, each limb is bent at a short distance from
the central part, so that the end of the limb forms an angle, say, for example, of
sixty to seventy degrees with the short part which is next to the central part; and
this said end is also by preference slightly curved. When used, two holes are
formed in each of the ends of the strapping or belting to be connected together at
a distance apart, about equal to the central distance between the two limbs of the
staple, and the said limbs are passed through the holes in both of the ends to be
connected, until the bent parts of the limbs have been passed entirely through the
[Price 6d1

page_text: holes. The straps will now be connected together by the short lengths of the two
limbs extending between the aforesaid central part and the two bent parts. One,
two, or more fasteners are used as required. Any strain put upon the joint so
formed tends to force the bent ends of the limbs against the surface of the belt, the
result being that the fastening will hold until either the staple or the substance of
the belt breaks. This form of fastener may also be employed in the connecting
together of the ends of straps or bands employed for other purposes than those
herein indicated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joshua Heap in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1879.
JOSHUA HEAP, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Tool Maker.
"AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR DRIVING BELTS AND BANDS, AND FOR OTHER
STRAPS AND BANDS."
My Invention relates principally to the fasteners employed in the connecting
together of the ends of strapping and belting, in order to form the endless driving
belts and bands used in the transmission of power or of rotatory movement. For
this purpose I employ metal staples preferably formed by bending steel, iron, or
metal wire into the particular form which I have found to have the desired effect.
Each of the said staples is formed with two limbs projecting at right angles from a
central straight or nearly straight part, and about parallel to each other; but instead
of these limbs being straight as is usual, each limb is bent at a short distance from
the central part so that the end of the limb forms an angle, say, for example, from
sixty to seventy degrees with the short part which is next to the central part, and
this said end may also be slightly curved. When used, two holes are formed in
each of the ends of the strapping or belting to be connected together at a distance
apart, about equal to the central distance between the two limbs of the staple, and
the said limbs are passed through the holes in both of the ends to be connected,
until the bent parts of the limbs have been passed entirely through the holes. The
straps will now be connected together by the short lengths of the two limbs
extending between the aforesaid central part and the two bent parts.
The
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference. Referring to the
said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of the "pieceing" of a leather
belt, that is to say, of the part where the two ends of the leather strap are connected
together so as to form an endless belt. Fig. 2 represents the improved fastener, and
Figs. 3 and 4 represent plan or face views of the pieceings of two belts of different
widths. In the said Figs. a represents the said fastener, and b the belt.
fastener represented in the Figures is formed of wire of a suitable strength, the
length of wire to form a fastener being bent into the form, substantially as indicated
in the said Figures. Each fastener consists of a straight central part a, and of two
parts a¹, which are at right angles with the said central part or thereabouts. The
part a is by preference flattened or made of a "fish-bellied" form by means of
pressing dies in order to reduce its projection from the strap, for the reason that the
said part comes in contact with the pullies when the belt is in use. The part of a¹
extending from the point to the elbow a in Fig. 1, is either straight or is slightly
curved as may be preferred. When the fastener is applied, the two limbs a' of the
fastener are passed through two holes formed in one end of the strap, the points or
ends of the said fastener inclining towards, and by preference passing beyond the
said end of the strap, as seen in Fig. 1. Two holes in the other end of the strap
are now passed on to the points of the two limbs a¹, and are pushed upwards until
they pass the elbows a². This is readily accomplished by suitably bending the ends
of the straps when held in the hands. When the fastener is in position as indi-
cated in Fig. 1, the pieceing of the belt is completed, and the tightness of the
joint increases with the strain up to the full limits of strength of the fastener or of
the strapping, as any strain imposed upon the joint tends to force the points of the
limbs a¹ against the surface of the belt, and the fastening will hold until either it or
the substance of the belt breaks. The fasteners are made of various sizes, strengths,
and proportions, to suit the varying widths and strengths of the strapping. In
Fig. 3, only one fastener is employed. In Fig. 4, two fasteners are used to suit the
wider belt. As many fasteners are used as are considered to be necessary in each
case. If a stronger joint is required, two or more fasteners are arranged one before

page_text: or behind another in line along the belt. The arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the direction
in which I prefer that the belt should run. Fig. 5 illustrates a modification in the
form of the fastener. In this example the fastener has only one limb a¹ which is
formed with a flattened foot a³. A part of the foot which is not flattened is
bent at right angles and passes into a hole in the belt as clearly indicated in the
Drawing. Two of these fasteners are required in place of one of the double-limbed
fasteners. I have only illustrated this form of fastener to indicate one of the
modifications which may be made in the fastener, but I prefer the form indicated
by the other Figures. The fasteners may be cast in brass, malleable iron, or other
suitable metal or alloy, or be otherwise produced instead of being formed of wire.
The fasteners may also be employed in the connecting together of the parts of
harness or of straps or bands employed for other puposes than those herein in-
dicated.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it to be understood in
conclusion that I claim,―
First. The fasteners formed and applied, substantially as and for the purposes set.
forth and indicated herein-before, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
And, Secondly. Forming strap fasteners by bending wire into the form or forms
substantially as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Heap, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
Signed and sealed by the
said Joshua Heap in
the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JOSHUA HEAP.
(L.S.)