IMPROVEMENTS IN CATCHES OR FASTENINGS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Percy Wells, of Notting Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CATCHES OR FASTENINGS
LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Percy Wells, of Notting Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CATCHES OR FASTENINGS
FOR BRACELETS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Percy. Wells at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1881.
EDMUND PERCY WELLS, of Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CATCHES OR FASTENINGS FOR BRACELETS, ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in catches or fastenings for bracelets or
necklets, whereby such articles are properly secured when closed and their liability
to become accidentally unfastened or opened entirely avoided. The improved
catches or fastenings are also applicable to boxes or trunks, portmanteaus, desks, or
other purposes where security is required.
My Invention consists in the application and use to one end of a bracelet or
necklet of a fixed round headed T shaped stud or catch, whilst in the other end of
the bracelet or necklet are pivoted two levers formed at one of their ends with
hooks for engaging in the T shaped catch and at their other ends with pins,
studs, or knobs, extending slightly beyond the rim or edge of the bracelet on each
side.
Between these arms is arranged a spring, which normally tends to throw the
hooked arms of the levers inwards towards each other.
To lock the bracelet or necklet, on closing its ends the convex head of the
T catch forces the hooked ends of the levers apart against the pressure of the
spring until the hooks passing over the convex head are brought together again by
the spring and caught by the T catch. The bracelet or necklet is thereby securely
fastened.
To unfasten the bracelet or necklet, the the projecting pins or knobs of the
levers are pressed inwards by the thumb and fingers, which causes the levers to

page_text: compress the spring and withdraw the hooks from the catch when the ends of the
bracelet or necklet can be pulled apart or opened.
By this Invention it is impossible to open the bracelet without both knobs being
pressed inwards at the same time, thereby preventing the bracelet from becoming
unfastened by any accidental pressure on the clasp or fastening, which often occurs
with those in ordinary use.
The device is also extremely simple and not liable to get out of order.
The same arrangement, with slight modification, can be applied to boxes or
trunks, portmanteaus, desks, windows, and other opening and closing appliances.
In these cases the knobs, studs, or pins of the levers in lieu of being pressed
inwards are moved in curved slots, the levers being locked (or not) in the closed
or fastened position by a bar, which can be moved by a key, so as to extend
between and keep the levers apart, thereby preventing them from being opened by
pressing the knobs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Percy Wells in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd January 1882.
EDMUND PERCY WELLS, of Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CATCHES OR FASTENINGS FOR BRACELETS, ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in catches or fastenings for bracelets or
necklets, whereby such articles are properly secured when closed, and their liability
to become accidentally unfastened or opened entirely avoided. The improved
catches or fastenings are also applicable to boxes or trunks, portmanteaus, desks,
or other purposes where security is required.
My Invention consists in the application and use to one end of a bracelet or
necklet of a fixed round headed T shaped stud or catch, 'whilst in the other end
of the bracelet or necklet are pivoted two levers formed at one of their ends with
hooks for engaging in the T shaped catch, and at their other ends with pins, studs,
or knobs extending slightly beyond the rim or edge of the bracelet on each side.
Between these arms is arranged a spring which normally tends to throw the hooked
arms of the levers inwards towards each other.
And in order that my said Invention may be well understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, like letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in the respective figures.
Figure 1 is a front view of a bracelet fitted with my improved catch or
fastening.
Figure 2 an edge view, and Figure 3 a sectional view thereof shewing the
construction of the catch or fastening.
At one end a of the bracelet is fitted a curved T headed stud or catch b (Figures 3
and 4), and in the other end c are pivoted two levers d formed at one end with
hooks e for engaging with the T headed stud or catch b, and at their other ends
on the opposite side of the pivots or fulcrums with studs or pins f which project.
from the levers d'in the same plane therewith, and terminate in knobs g projecting.
slightly beyond the rim or edge of the bracelet on each side, as shewn. Between
these ends and arms of the levers d is arranged a spring which normally tends
to throw the hooked ends e of the levers d inwards towards each other.
To lock the bracelet, its ends a and c being brought together or closed, the convex
head of the T stud or catch b forces the hooked ends e of the levers d apart
against the pressure of the spring h until the hooks e passing over the head of the
catch bare brought together again by the spring hand caught by the T catch b,
thereby securely fastening the bracelet.
To unfasten the bracelet the projecting knobs g of the levers d are pressed
inwards by the thumb and fingers, which causes the levers d to compress the
spring hand withdraw the hooks from the T catch b, when the ends a and c of
the bracelet become free and can be pulled apart or opened.
By this Invention it is impossible to open the bracelet without both knobs g
being pressed inwards simultaneously, thereby preventing the bracelet from
becoming unfastened by any accidental pressure on the clasp or fastening, which
often occurs with those of ordinary construction. The device is also extremely
simple and not liable to get out of order.
Figure 5 shews the application of my Invention to a narrow bracelet, in which
case a single lever d' is used, its hooked end e' engaging in a curved semi T or L
headed catch fixed in the end a' and side of the bracelet. The spring h' is attached

page_text: to the end c¹ and side of the bracelet, and takes against the lever as shewn, its
action in fastening or unfastening the bracelet being similar to that described in
Figures 1 to 4; Figures 6 and 7 shew similar adaptations of the catch or fastening
to the closures of broad and narrow necklets respectively.
Figures 8 to 12 shew my Invention arranged as a fastening for window sashes
in lieu of the ordinary fastenings. For fastening a top sash (Figure 8) the levers d²
are enclosed in a box or casing (similar to that of a box lock) secured to the
sash, the hooks of the levers d en gaging in the T headed catch m carried by a
plate n, which is secured to the upper framework of the window. The projecting
studs or pins f at the ends of the levers d, in lieu of terminating in knobs as
before described, are projected downwards through straight slots in the lower edge
of the box or casing ', and formed outside the latter with eyes o, o¹, to one of
which o the end of a cord p is attached (Figures S and 9), and passes through the
other eye o¹ over a pulley at the side of the window, and down within reach of a
person's hands (as seen in Figure 10). On pulling the cord the ends of the
levers are drawn towards each other so as to compress the spring h² and
release the hooks from the catch m in a similar manner to that already
explained.
*
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the same arrangement used as a bottom sash
fastener, with this difference, that in lieu of the studs or pins f' projecting from the
levers in the sanie plane therewith, they project at right angles thereto, and
passing through curved slots in the front of the box or casing & terminate in knobs
or handles g¹.
Figures 13 and 14 shew the improved catch or fastening applied to boxes or
trunks, portmanteaus, desks, and other analogous opening and closing appliances.
In such cases the springs h³ are arranged respectively between each lever and
the side of the box or casing 2. The opening and closing knobs or handles g² of
the levers are formed and operate with the latter, as described in Figures 11
and 12. Inside the box or casing, between the levers d', is pivoted a bar q,
which may be used (or not) and operated by a key r so as to be extended between,
and thereby lock the levers d in their closed or fastened position, or moved away
from and release them as required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe. in conclusion that what J_consider-novel and original,
_and_therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. In catches or fastenings the combination of a curved T headed stud or catch
with pivoted levers and spring or springs, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated on the Drawings.
2. In catches or fastenings the combination of a curved semi T or L headed
etud or catch with a pivoted lever and spring, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Percy Wells, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.