Improvements in Sleeve Links.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Sleeve Links.
I, JOHN STEVENTON RHODES, of 105, Durham Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
It consists of making certain improvements in sleeve links, whereby they may
be easily inserted in the cuff and is performed as follows;―
The word sleeve link as used herein means the double button arrangement
joined together by a connecting bar link or chain.
As at present manufactured these two buttons are loosely connected to the
connecting bar, one to each end, in precisely the same manner, thus giving
them free play and rendering it difficult to insert in the cuff.
I propose therefore to overcome this difficulty by fastening one of the buttons
securely to the connecting rod in such a manner that it will be either perfectly
rigid or have only a slight lateral movement just sufficient to allow it to take up
a natural position when inserted in the cuff. Of course in the event of the con-
necting rod being rigidly fastened to the button, it should be slightly out of
the perpendicular inclining a little to one side to allow it to fall into its natural
position when inserted in the cuff. The button and connecting rod together
having the appearance of a button with an elongated shank but slightly inclined
to one side. The remaining button is loosely jointed or linked on to the other
end of the connecting rod in such a manner that part of it can be doubled flat
on to part of the connecting bar as in an ordinary link. To insert the link in
the cuff, all that it is necessary to do is to double the loose button on to the
connecting bar, both the button and connecting link will then be at nearly right
angles with the other button and being nearly if not quite rigid
a little pres-
sure on the fixed button will cause the other button if it be inserted edgeways
in the cuff to go through the button holes until it is stopped by the button at
the base when it assumes its natural position. If a small ball be used for the
loose button instead of the usual disc or oval it would not be necessary to be
loosely jointed to the connecting bar but could be fixed rigidly as the object of
having the one button loose is to allow of easy insertion in the cuff, which the
small ball will readily do. Of course if an oval or round disc be used at the
other end, the same lateral movement of the connecting bar or fixing slightly
out of the perpendicular as in the case of the double buttons as before described
would be necessary.
Dated this the 24th day of April 1899.

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The invention consists in certain improvements in sleeve links whereby they
may be easily inserted in the cuff, and is performed as follows:-
As at present manufactured, sleeve. links usually consist of two buttons, con-
nected together by a connecting bar, link or chain, and in cases like this great
difficulty is experienced in putting the link into the cuff on account of the lack
of rigidity of the connecting bar and links which allow the buttons to twist
about. On the other hand, where the connecting bar has been rigidly fastened
to one of the buttons it prevents the fixed button adjusting itself to the angle
of the cuffs.
I propose therefore to overcome this difficulty by fastening one of the buttons
(A, Fig. 1) to the connecting bar B in such a manner that while the two con-
nected parts are sufficiently rigid to enable the link to be pushed into the cuff
it has just enough lateral play to allow the button A to form an angle with the
connecting bar B which would be equal to that formed by the cuff' and con-
necting bar when the link is inserted. Figure 1 represents a section of the com-
plete link.
The dotted lines show the slight lateral movement of the connecting
bar Bas fastened to the button A, although this motion is obtained in this
instance by pivotting the two together it is possible to obtain a similar action by
the two parts being loosely rivetted together. The button C at the opposite
end is joined to the connecting bar in such a manner that it can be doubled flat
on to the connecting bar as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure II but in
addition to this movement is has just sufficient play to allow it to adjust itself
to the angle of the cuff the same as the lateral motion allows to A, as shown in
Figure 11I.
:
+
If however the button at C instead of being flat, is made ball shaped, the
necessity for a loose joint is done away with for this end of the link, as the
object of having the button at C to double on to the connecting bar, is to make
it easy of insertion, a ball button would push through easier if fixed rigidly than
loose as in Figure V. Of course the lateral motion at A is the same as that used
The method of insertion of the link (Fig. 1) is as follows.
for the loose button.
The top button C is doubled flat on to the connecting bar and partly inserted in
the cuff button hole when a little pressure applied to the base A. will force the
top button right through the button holes until it is prevented going further
by the semifixed button at the base A, when if the button C has a free movement
it will fall into position in the cuff and both buttons will adjust themselves to
the angle of the cuff as in Figure IV.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;
I. A link with one button and the connecting bar joined together at, or nearly
at, right angles which while forming a fairly rigid joint allows sufficient lateral
play for the button to adjust itself to the angle of the cuff when inserted, com-
bined with the other button being attached in such a manner that it will double
flat on to the connecting bar.
II: A link with one button fastened to the connecting bar, at or nearly at,
right angles which while forming a fairly rigid joint allows sufficient lateral
play for the button to adjust itself to the angle of the cuff when inserted, com-
bined with a fixed button at the other end substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 1st day of September 1899.