Improvements in Brace, Suspender, and Belt Buckles, and in Belt Runners.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brace, Suspender, and Belt Buckles, and in
Belt Runners.
I, THOMAS WALKER, of Brook Street Works, St. Pauls Square, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to brace and belt buckles, and in runners for belts, as
hereinafter described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a bracë or
suspender buckle, constructed or made up according to my said invention:
The said buckle, which is of the lever type, is made primarily of wire, bent or
fashioned into an open-sided or U-shaped frame, which is closed by a turned-up
and sheet-metal part, forming the top bar.
The prong bar, which extends longitudinally across the inside middle of the
frame, is supported at its ends, by inwardly outstanding bearings, which are con-
nected to the frame, by the closing of winged portions of the sides over parts
of them.
Figure 2 represents a back elevation of the said buckle Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same, and
Figure 4 is a cross section upon the dotted lines A B Figure 2, looking from
right to left.
Figure 5 is the primary frame, without the top bar.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of Figure 5, showing the winged clips, which close
upon the tubular prong bar bearings.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section upon the dotted lines C D Figure 5 looking
downwards.
Figure 8 represents the semi-open frame Figure 5, with the winged clips turned'
inwardly to the plane of the sides of the ends of the said frame, and thereby
forming boxes or recesses, wherein the inner ends of the pivot hearings of the
tubular prong bar, are disposed and permanently secured.
The said prong-bar bearings are shown at a short distance from the entrances' to
the recesses.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section on the dotted lines E F Figure 8, showing the
boxed seats or recesses, wherein the cross heads or foot ends of the said
bearings take.
Figure 10 is the said semi-open frame, with the returned ends reduced in breadth,
and the bearings of the prong bar, shown secured in their respective relative
positions.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section on the dotted lines G H, Figure 10, while
Figure 12 is a top side view of the frame Figure 10, showing the reduced parts
of the returned ends, which are made for the purpose of forming supports and
connections to the top bar.
Figure 13 is one end of the frame, showing how the inner edge of the metal of
the top bar, overlaps, when closed, the ears, which take within the spaces left
between the return parts as aforesaid.
Figure 14 an edge view and front elevation of the sheet metal blank of the
top bar, while Figure 15 is the same turned up before being closed upon the return
ends of the frame as aforesaid.
Figure 16 is an elevation of the tubular prong bar.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 16.
a is a semi-open frame made from a length of wire. having its ends turned

page_text: .
inwardly and hookwise, and with portions of the sides of the said frame, spread
outwardly into wings, which are employed for forming both recesses and closing
means for the prong bar bearings.
The returned ends of the said frame, are marked b, and the metal portions of
them separated by spaces 2, wherein projections or ears of the prong bar
blank, take, when the said prong bar, is secured in position between the said
return ends.
care attachable prong bar bearings, secured to the opposite insides of the frame,
by closing the wings or flaps d, first to the plane of the said sides, as shown in
Figures 8 and 9, thereby forming boxed recesses 2, wherein the foot ends c², of the
said bearings c, take, and are subsequently affixed, by gathering the metal of the
extreme front parts or flaps, over the foot ends of them, as represented in
Figures 10 and 11.
The prong bar f, Figure 16,
then sprung upon the pivot or shank ends c³, of
the said bearings, as represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The buckle frame is next completed, and the top bar of the same formed, by
taking a sheet metal blank e, with projections or cars e³, and then by shaping tools,
giving to the said blank Figure 14, the turned-up or troughed figure, as represented
in Figure 14.
The affixing of the said bar in position between the said return ends b, of the
frame a,
is performed by first placing the projections or ears e, Figure 15, within
the recesses, and then closing the opposite side or edge e³, over and around the
ends b, and with the said edge e', overlapping the said projections or ears e³, as
represented in Figures 2 and 4, and hence the completion and formation of a broad
top bar, with the sides of the buckle frame, tied or united together by it.
Figure 17 represents a waist belt buckle, constructed according to a further form
of my invention.
a, is a buckle frame, provided at its inside top and bottom parts, with bearings c,
upon which the ends of the tubular prong bar f, take.
The said bearings are secured in their respective positions, by means and in the
way as already described in respect to a brace or suspender buckle.
Figure 18 represents a runner loop for a belt or the like, constructed in manner
alike unto the buckle Figure 17, other than that the bar directed up the middle of
the frame, is prongless.
Figure 19 is a section of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a plain frame, before the insertion or connection of the middle
bar, and
Figure 21 is a front and side elevation of the middle bar.
In making the said runner, a length of wire is bent into an elongated curved
ended figure (Figure 20), with outstanding flaps or wings d, directed from the
inside portions of it, and which flaps or wings are turned inwardly into box
recesses, wherein the squared or flattened ends, of the middle bar, take, and
are there affixed, by the gathering-in of the metal of the said flaps, hence the
affixing of the middle bar, as in Figures 18 and 19.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
First In brace or suspender prong bar buckles, carrying or mounting the
prong bar of the same, upon attached or fitted bearings d, secured within, or to
the sides of the frame of the buckle, by means, and in the way, substantially as
described and set forth.
Secondly-In brace or suspender buckles, made from wire or strip metal,
affixing and closing a sheet metal bar upon and around the returned ends b, of a
buckle frame, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-In brace or suspender buckles, forming the top or bottom bar, from a
turned up sheet metal blank, which ties in, and secures the terminal ends of the

page_text: metal constituting the primary framing, by means, and in the way, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 1 to 15.
Fourthly-The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts
of brace or suspender buckles, as described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4.
Fifthly In dress belt or like buckles, and runners for the same, securing the
prong bar, or the middle bar of the said articles, to their framings, by means, and
in the way, as described and set forth in Figures 17 to 21.
Dated this 16th day of autombo 1801
THOMAS WALKER,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.