An Improved Pocket Closer and Protector.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, zzna Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1895-Accepted, 1st June. 1895
Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1895-Accepted, 1st June. 1895
An Improved Pocket Closer and Protector.
I, ELIZABETH WINNIFRED STEVENS, of 4 York Terrace, Albert Road,
Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved pocket closer and protector, whereby the
pockets of dresses, coats, and other garments, shall always remain closed instead of
gaping as at present, while, at the same time, allowing the wearer to have ready
access to the pocket.
For this purpose, the improved pocket closer and protector consists of two narrow
strips or blades of steel, or other suitable flexible material, each secured along one
side of the mouth of the pocket and in the hem thereof. These strips or blades
are connected together at their ends in such a manner that they tend to keep
together and so retain the mouth of the pocket normally closed. When the
wearer desires to use the pocket, the said blades or strips yield readily to the hand,
and permit the mouth of the pocket to open, but in case of attempted theft, they
offer sufficient resistance to warn the wearer that the pocket is being tampered
with, and to thus prevent the abstraction of articles therefrom. The said strips or
blades are formed near each end with a short outward bend or swell to cause them
to press closely together along their central portion.
In one arrangement these strips or blades are eyeletted together at one end, the
other ends being left free till the said strips or blades have been inserted in the
hem of the pocket. The free ends may then be secured together by means of a
turn button or piece on one of them engaging in a slot in the other.
In another arrangement, the two strips may be eyeletted together at each end
prior to being inserted in the hem.
In either case, the strips are afterwards secured in position by stitches passed
through the eyelets, or through holes specially provided in their ends.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1804
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
I, ELIZABETH WINNIFRED STEVENS, of 4 York Terrace, Albert Road,
Battersea, County of London, 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 an improved pocket closer and protector, whereby the
pockets of dresses, coats, and other garments, shall always remain closed instead of
gaping as at present, while at the same time allowing the wearer to have ready
access to the pocket.

page_text: For this purpose, the improved pocket closer and protector consists of two narrow
strips or blades of steel, or other suitable flexible material, each secured along one
side of the mouth of the pocket and in the hem thereof. These strips or blades are
connected together at their ends in such a manner that they tend to keep together
and so retain the mouth of the pocket normally closed. The said strips or blades
are formed near each end with a short outward bend or swell to cause them to
press closely together along their central portion.
When the wearer desires to use the pocket, the said blades or strips yield
readily to the hand and permit the mouth of the pocket to open but in case of
attempted theft, they offer sufficient resistance to warn the wearer that the pocket
is being tampered with, and to thus prevent the abstraction of articles therefrom.
In one arrangement, these strips or blades are eyeletted together at one end, the
other ends being left free till the said strips or blades have been inserted in the
hem of the pocket. The free ends may then be secured together by means of a
turning button or piece on one of them engaging in a slot in the other.
In another arrangement, the two strips may be eyeletted together at each end
prior to being inserted in the hem.
In either case, the strips are afterwards secured in position by stitches passed
through the eyelets or through holes especially provided in their ends.
My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 represents a couple of strips A, B, in perspective and with the ends
affixed to each other by a cap C and an eyelet D and by a turn stud E respectively
as illustrating two methods of connection. The strips are provided with out-
wardly shaped bends F, F, near the ends which from their contour compel the
central parts to press to each other and maintain the security of closure, so that
difficulty would be experienced in passing a hand into the crevice between the
strips on account of the self closing springy action of the strips.
Figure 2 shows a couple of such strips united at both ends by eyelets which is
preferable by reason of the caps having plain rounded ends produced by a punching
process giving a smooth exterior which prevents abrasion of the fabric when the
strips are sewn into a garment, such as is indicated at Figure 3 where H represents
a pocket in section.
Figure 4 shows to what extent such a pair of strips can be opened out without
destroying the flexibility and usefulness of the strips supposing a bulky article be
placed in a pocket provided with such safety strips, the strips re-closing to their
normal condition when such article is removed.
I have shown at Figure 3 the pocket arranged for a vertical down thrust of a
hand such as for a coat, a jacket, or a hip pocket but the appliance can be fitted in
the mouth of a pocket to be set at an angle or a straight up and down one such as
in a lady's dress, or like garment.
The strips may be of tempered steel, of shaped whalebone, French horn, celluloid,
or any equivalent flexible material prepared with the bends or swellings, as before
explained.
For gentlemen's pockets such as the watch, the fob, or other exposed pockets in
which valuables are often carried, it would be next to an impossibility for the
wearer not to become aware that the pocket is being tampered with.
The eyelet at each end forms the main support for the attachment to a fabric, at
which part of the pocket slit a "stay" is always placed for the purpose, the overlap
along the strips or the binding giving a slight support as well as a finish to
that part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of strips of flexible material with outwardly formed bends
near the ends, the extreme ends of such strips being rigidly united in pairs as and

page_text: in the manner represented for the purpose of closing and protecting pockets of
garments, as described.
2. Providing the mouths of garment pockets with self closing springy clipping
strips united in pairs at their ends as and in the manner set forth and substantially
of the shapes represented.
The let dow of M... 1905
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Elizabeth Winnifred Stevens.