Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887.
I ALFRED JOHN WHEELER of No. 121, Green Lanes, Islington in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of hook couplings or
fastenings suitable for attaching traces to carriages, braces to trousers, for gloves and
wrist bands, and for boots, the object being to make the coupling secure against
automatic disengagement, while at the same it is capable of being disconnected
instantly.
The hook fastening is capable of various modifications, while preserving the peculiar
characteristics which give to it the merit of security and easy disengagement. This
fastening is intended to be used in connection with a metal eyelet. In its simplest
construction, it is made from a blank of sheet metal of a taper form, and ending at the
narrowest part in a laterally projecting spur, which is to form the hook of the
fastening, and immediately above which is a sudden lateral enlargement of the blank,
for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. An opening is made in the broad end of the
blank to provide for the attachment of the same to the brace, strap, or other article to
which it is to be applied, and at its opposite end the blank is rounded to provide a
proper shape for the hook (when the end of the blank is bent up) to enter the metal
eyelet, and as readily be withdrawn therefrom. In bending up the hook, I so shape
the bend that it will fit the contour of the inner periphery of the eyelet, and the stem
of the hook I make sufficiently broad to prevent lateral motion of the hook in the
eyelet, while the lateral enlargement at this part of the blank prevents the fastening
from sliding endwise in the eyelet. The lateral spur of the blank, when bent up to
form the hook, will require to be inserted in the eyelet endwise, and when the hook
is in place, the spur will effectually prevent the fastening becoming disengaged
accidentally, as the spur of the blank will overlie the metal of the eyelet. For
uncoupling, it will be necessary first to tip one or other of the coupled parts, and
then to withdraw the hook by a lateral movement.

page_text: In some cases I make the metal hook to fill the eyelet, giving solidity to the neck
of the hook for that purpose. Or instead of a filling piece being a part of the neck of
the hook, it may consist of a stud underlying the hook and projecting from an
extension of the blank, which is bent back upon itself for the purpose of carrying this
stud, and forms a spring. The back or spring piece of the blank, in this modification,
will conveniently carry a second stud, which protruding through the front part of the
blank, will serve to receive the pressure of the finger for forcing back the stud from
the eyelet when it is desired to disengage the fastening.
The spring fastening may be modified by hingeing the back and front parts
together, and inserting a spring between them."
The size of the fastening will depend upon the work it is intended to perform;
thus, when used as a glove coupling, it will take the size of an ordinary metallic catchi
for gloves. When applied to braces, the fastening will be proportionately strong,
and measure from some one inch or more in length. For coupling traces to carriages,
the size and strength of the coupling will be proportioned to the strain it is required
to resist. An important advantage of the fastening, when applied to this purpose, is,
that it will admit of the disengagement of the trace while the trice is taut, it being at
present necessary to slacken the trace before disengaging it from its holdfast.
Dated this 31st day of May 1886.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Hook Fastenings.
ALFRED JOHN WHEELER of No. 121 Green Lanes, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 improvements in the construction of hook couplings, or
fastenings suitable for attaching traces to carriages, braces to trousers, for gloves and
wrist bands, and for wearing apparel generally, the object being to make the couplings
secure against automatic disengagement, while at the same time it is capable of being
disconnected. instantly. The hook fastening is capable of various modifications while
preserving the peculiar characteristic which gives to it the merit of security and easy
disengagement. This fastening is intended to be used in connection with a metal
eyelet, ring or ordinary button hole, and may be made from sheet metal, or from
wire.
In its simplest construction, it is made from a blank of sheet metal of a taper form,
and ending, at the narrowest part in a laterally projecting spur, which is to form the
hook of the fastening, and immediately above which, may be a sudden lateral enlarge-
ment of the blank for the purpose herein after mentioned. An opening is made in the
broad end of the blank, to provide for the attachment of the same, to the brace strap
or other article to which it is to be applied, and at its opposite end the blank is more
or less rounded or otherwise shaped to provide for the hook (when the end of the blank
is bent up) properly entering the metal eyelet, and as readily being withdrawn there-
from. In bending up the hook, I so shape the bend that it will fit the contour of the
inner periphery of the eyelet, and the stem of the hook I make sufficiently broad to
prevent lateral motion of the hook in the eyelet, while the lateral enlargement at this
part of the blank prevents the fastening from sliding endwise in the eyelet. The
lateral spur of the blank, when bent up to form the hook, will require to be inserted
in the eyelet endwise, and when the hook is in place, the spur will effectually prevent
the fastening becoming disengaged accidentally, as the spur of the blank will overlie
the metal of the eyelet. For uncoupling, it will be necessary first to tip one or other
of the coupled parts, and then to withdraw the hook by a lateral movement.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown various modifications in the form of
my improved hook fastenings. Fig. 1 is a blank cut or stamped from sheet metal,
Fig. 2 being the formed hook. The blank a, it will be seen tapers to one end, and at
its narrowest part has a lateral spur or projection b which when turned up forms the
hook. At the point e the blank is slightly enlarged to prevent the shank of the hook
passing into the eyelet. d is an opening or slot to provide for the attachment to the
brace or trace. The neck of the hook it will be seen at Fig. 2, is shaped to fit the
contour of the inner periphery of the eyelet or ring which gives the hook a broad
bearing surface, renders it very strong, and causes it to wear equally. The broad
neck also prevents the laterall motion of the hook when in the eyelet and also

page_text: assists to prevent the hook from turning. Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig. 4 an end
view. To effect the fastening the hook will be passed through the eyelet endwise, and
will then turn and spring into its place, the spur or hook overlieing the buttonhole,
eye, eyelet or ring, so that the hook will be prevented from disengaging accidentally.
For uncoupling it will be necessary to slacken and twist one or other of the coupled
parts. Fig. 5 is a blank and Fig. 6 the hook of a slight modifyed form, being
Somewhat Hattened at the point e this will allow the hook to turn more easily when
coming out of the eyelet, and requires very little slackening, which in some cases is an
advantage. In Figs. 7 and 8 the spur comes partly below the neck as shown by the
line in this form the slackening required is hardly noticeable, and the portion of the
spur below the neck has the advantage that if (as applied to braces) the ends should
be slackened suddenly by the stooping of the wearer, this portion of the spur would
still cling to the sides of the eyelet, and prevent it falling out.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a blank and a hook having a character similar to Figs. 7 and 8,
but slightly different in form the spur being pointed at the part a instead of rounded,
this has the advantage of allowing the ring to partly turn while at the same time
the point will more effectually prevent its slipping out.
Figs. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16 though having the same modifications, differ from the
proceeding forms esentially, in that the extremity of the spur is ellongated below the
neck of the hook and is larger at the point than the eye or eyelet used in connection
therewith. This necessitates another action or motion of the hook or eyelet, before
the fastening can be effected, or uncoupled, this action is performed almost naturally,
for instance when the hook is fixed to the shaft of a vehicle, and the eye or ring to
the end of a trace, all that would be necessary to release the trace would be to twist
the end, and give it a slight upward motion at the same time, this would be done
almost mechanically. Similarly in connecting a brace hook with the eyelet in the
trousers, one naturally in searching for the eyelet to place the hook therein, turns it
slightly outwards, this is all in addition to the twisting that is necessary, to connect or
to release the hook.
Figs. 17. 18. 19. 20 are similar in principal to those just referred to, the difference
being that the action after twisting is in the reverse direction.
The hook shown with reference to Figs. 21. 22. 23 differs from those previously
described and shown in that it has a second spur 61, which is turned towards the spur b
as in Fig. 23, but is distanced from it sufficiently to allow the edge of the eyelet to pass
in flat, when the eyelet is in, it has to be turned completely over, in this form the eyelet
cannot possibly come out again unless it be completely turned over in the reverse
direction: In some cases, I make the metal hook to fill the cyclet, giving solidity to
the neck of the hook for that purpose, Or instead of a filling piece being a part of the
neck of the hook, it may consist of a stud underlying the hook and projecting from
an extension of the blank, which is bent back upon itself for the purpose of carying
this stud, and forms a spring. The back or spring piece of the blank, in this modifi-
cation will conveniently carry a second stud, which protruding through the front part
of the blank, will serve to receive the pressure of the finger for forcing back the stud
from the eyelet, when it is desired to disengage the fastening.
The spring fastening may be modifyed by linging the back and front parts together,
and inserting a spring between them."
I have shown in Figs. 24 to 29 my improved hooks as constructed according to the
above named modifications. In the simplest form which is shown in front and edge
view Fig. 24. 25, a is the shank and b the spur or hook as before, the two parts being
secured to the opposite ends of a stud or filling piece forming a solid neck or stem
to the hook.
Figs. 26. 27 represent front and edge views of a modification in which the shank a
is prolonged, the prolongation a¹ being folded or turned back on the part a. To the
lower end of the part a', which also acts as a spring, the stud or filling piece is
secured. To unfasten the hook it will be necessary to press on the button h, which
being connected therewith, will press back the part a' and withdraw the stud g.from-
the eyelet, when the look can be twisted out as before explained:

page_text: Figs. 28. 29 represent a front and edge view of a further modification. The back
is formed in two parts a' and a². The part a¹ acts as a spring as before, and the
part a which carries the study is hinged or pivotted to the part a at the point h.
The hook having passed through the eyelet the stud springs into the space, and
completely prevents the hook from becoming disengaged, for unless the stud be first
withdrawn, the hook cannot possibly be turned. To liberate the study all that is
required is to apply pressure with the first finger and thumb, back and front at or
about the part marked a.
Figs. 30 to 33 show modifications of the hook, when it is required to be fixed, to
material or to solid articles, and is formed as shown with holes for securing the
same.
Figs. 32 and 33 are similar views showing a blank and a formed hook, having a
more modifyed form, in that a shorter spur or hook portion, and a more rounded neck,
and is intended to be used in connection with a button-hole, the neck being much
narrower and therefore more suitable for the purpose. I also form the blank as shown
in the drawing Fig. 30 to 33 in a rounded form, and ending with two ears or lugs a¹,
these ears or lugs give regidity to the fastening, and prevent it turning over or canting
when being fastened, as for instance when applied to gloves, the fastening will very.
often imbed itself in the flesh of the wearer, and prevent the securing of same, the ears
or lugs being beyond the neck of the hook give more extended surface, and help very
much to prevent it. When applying this form to gloves, I make a small hole or cut,
in the kid of the glove and pass only the hook and neck portion through, this gives it
a very neat apperance. I also arrange that the ears or lugs shall rest against the
edge of the glove which helps to take the strain off the upper portion of the kid of
the glove.
The size of the fastenings will depend upon the work they are intended to perform,
thus when used as a glove coupling, they will take the size of an ordinary metallic
catch for gloves, when applied to braces the fastening will be proportionately strong
and measure from some one inch or more in length. In coupling traces to carriages
the size and strength of the coupling will be proportioned to the strain it is required
to resist. An important advantage of the fastening is that it will admit of the trace
being disengaged while it is tant, it being at present necessary to slacken the trace
considerably before it can be disengaged from its holdfast.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) The improvements in hook fastenings substantially as described and shown
with reference to the accompanying drawing, whereby great security in the fastening
is obtained, without preventing the easy disengagement of the hook.
(2) A hook fastening having a broad rounded neck and a lateral projecting hook
portion, having a rounded or more or less curved upper or lower edge and an enlarged
head substantially as described and shown with reference to the drawings, and for the
purpose set forth.
(3) A hook fastening having a broad rounded neck and a lateral projecting hooked
portion in combination with a seperate stud or filling piece substantialy as shown and
described, with reference to Figs. 26. 27. 28. 29 of the drawings, for the purpose
set forth.
(4) The hook fastening of the forms substantialy as described and shown with
reference to Figs. 30. 31. 32. 33 of the accompanying drawings.