An Improved Fastening for Boots, Galters, Gloves, and other Articles of Apparel.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Boots, Galters, Gloves, and other
Articles of Apparel.
I, ELKANAH CHURCH, of 72 Bromley Road, Beckenham, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved fastening for boots in particular and
gaiters, gloves and othe articles of apparel that are required to be adjustable to
variations in the size of the part to be fitted within certain limits.
In carrying this invention into practical effect I hinge to one side of the boot or
garment a tubular piece slotted longitudinally at its under side, that is to say, the
side overhanging the other meeting edge of tl.boot or garment. This meeting edge
is provided with a staple or eye which projects from its surface and enters the slot in
the tubular piece described when the same is pressed over it. Within this tubular
piece and immediately behind the slot are arranged two spring racks lying face to face,
that is to say teeth to teeth, and are maintained in such a position that their teeth
meet and slightly overlap, the racks lying in different planes for this purpose. It will
be seen that while the racks are in this position the staple or eye upon the other
edge of the garment cannot be passed into the slot which is closed by the teeth of
the said racks. The ends of the racks are continued at right angles through side
openings in the tubular piece so that pressure may be applied with the thumb or
finger to drive the racks apart and so allow of the insertion of the staple or eye
between them. On the racks being released they immediately close and one pair
of teeth (i.e. one of each rack) enters the eye. On pressure being again applied
to the racks they are separated so that the eye can be withdrawn from the
slot. The length of the slot and racks may be such as will allow of any required
amount of adjustment in the relative position of the two edges of the boot or
garment.
In practice I prefer to make the two racks in one piece bent round a pin or
stud into such a position that they overlie one another as described. When
made of sufficiently elastic material they will return to this position after being
driven apart.
Dated this 24th day of April 1893.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Boots, Gaiters, Gloves, and other
Articles of Apparel.
I, ELKANAH CHURCH, of 72 Bromley Road, Beckenham, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, 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 fastening for boots, gaiters, gloves, and
other articles of apparel that are required to be adjustable to variation in the
size of the part to be fitted within certain limits; and my invention will be
readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 shews a boot with my improved fasteners of the usual size attached.

page_text: Fig. 2 shews an enlarged plan view of one of the fasteners detached.
Fig 3 shews a side view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shews a plan view of the underside of my fastener, and displays the slot 6
which receives the eye or staple f.
Fig. 5 shews a plan view of the two spring racks c c connected at one end, which
form the fastening by engaging with the staple f
Fig. 6 shews a side view of Fig. 5.
a is the hollow casing (Fig. 3); a¹ is a ridge on top of casing a, which
strengthens the fasteuer, and affords space for the staple f to engage with the
spring racks c c. b is the slot in the under side of casing a, by which the staple
enters the casing a and engages with the racks c c.
cc are the spring racks, the bow c¹ of which forms a spring, and which may
be made of one piece of metal, as shewn in Fig. 5, or of two separate pieces of
metal, riveted together at the end, and kept in the overlapping position by a
small spring.
dd are lugs or tips formed on the ends of the racks, to permit of same being
operated by the finger and thumb.
ee are the teeth on racks c c, which pass through the eye or staple f.
f Fig. 7, is the fixed staple.
According to my invention, I hinge or otherwise secure to one side of the
boot or garment a tubular piece of metal slotted longitudinally, as shewn in
Fig. 4 at its underside, that is to say, the side overhanging the other meeting
edge of the boot or garment. This meeting edge is provided with a staple or
eye which projects from its surface and enters the slot in the tubular piece,
when the same is pressed over it. Within this tubular piece, and immediately
within the slot, are arranged two spring racks c lying face to face, that is to
say, teeth to teeth, and which racks c are maintained in such a position that
their teeth meet and slightly overlap each other, the racks lying in different
planes for this purpose.
It will be seen that while the racks are in this position, the staple or eye
upon the other edge of the garment cannot be passed into the slot which is
closed by the teeth of the said racks. One or both ends of the racks are con-
tinued at right angles through side openings in the tubular piece, crossing each
other as shewn in Fig. 5; so that pressure may be applied with the thumb and
finger to drive the racks apart, and thus allow of the insertion of the staple or
eye f between them. On the racks being released, they immediately close, and
one pair of teeth (that is, one tooth of each rack) enter the eye f; and on
pressure being again applied to the racks, they are separated so that the eye
can be withdrawn from the slot. The length of slot and racks may be such as
will allow of any required amount of adjustment in the relative position of the
two edges of the boot or garment.
In practice I prefer to make the two racks in one piece bent round a pin or
stud into such a position that they overlie one another as described and shewn ;
when made of sufficiently elastic material, they will return to this position after
being driven apart; but if desired, the rack or racks may be actuated by a separate
spring or springs.
The fastening devices may be made with eyelet hole attachment to the boot or
other garment, or with flat pieces of metal to be-sewn on.
These fasteners will be found cheap and simple in construction, easy in operation,
and can be readily adjusted so as to tighten or slacken the boot or other article of
apparel.
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:
An improved fastener for boots, gaiters, gloves, and similar purposes, consisting
of the slotted hinged case or enclosure a, the toothed racks c with or without a

page_text: separate spring, the said racks having bent tips d, and engaging with the eye or
staple, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of January 1894.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant