Improvements in Garment Clasps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Garment Clasps.
I, JESSE HODGES, of 1423, Carr Street, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
of America, 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:-
My invention has relation to improvements in garment clasps; and it consists
in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fully set forth in the
specification and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a lady's skirt and shirt-waist
having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan of the clasp shown in
connection with a skirt and shirt-waist; Fig. 3 is a similar view with, however,
the belt passed over the clasp, the hooked ends of the latter embracing the upper
edge of the belt by which the clasp is supported; Fig. 4 is a section on line 44
of Fig. 2, taken through the male and female members of the clasp showing the
locking stud in its engaging position; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the
locking stud in its disengaged position; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line 6-6
of Fig. 4 showing the under side of the slotted wall of the pocket or housing,
within which the serrated tongue or male member operates; and Fig. 7 is a section
on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, showing the manner of gripping the shirt-waist, and
holding the same in position within the belt.
The object of my invention is to construct a clasp for garments generally, which
shall be simple, reliable, cheap, durable, and positive in action, the present device
being, by reason of its detailed construction, specially applicable for the support
of a lady's skirt, at the same time serving as a shirt-waist holder, and being,
furthermore, adapted to be supported by the belt carried about the waist of the
wearer. In detail, the device may be described as follows:
.
Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a serrated or toothed tongue, carried by
a securing-plate 2 which can be secured directly to the upper band 3 of a skirt 4
on one side of the placquet or split 5 formed in the skirt, the manner of fastening
said plate 2 being preferably by stitches 6 passed through the openings 7 formed
in the plate. The tongue 1 constitutes the male member of the clasp, the female
member being the securing plate the base of which carries a pocket for the
reception of the tongue as presently to be seen. The plate is secured to the
skirt by stitches 6 on the opposite side of the split 5, the clasp serving, when its
respective parts are coupled, to support the skirt and at the same time keep the
placquet or split 5 closed. Carried by the plate 11 is a pocket 8, having an outer
slotted wall 9, inclined to the surface of the plate, the rear of the pocket terminat-
ing in a reduced extension 81 separated from the pocket proper by an offset 10.
Formed at the juncture of the lower edge of the wall 9, with the plate 1 is a
transverse slit 11, which aligns with a corresponding slit 12 formed at the juncture
of the plate 1 and the pocket-extension 8', the slits 11 and 12 being designed to
receive the serrated tongue 1 or male member of the clasp. Operating in the
longitudinal slot of the wall 9 is the shank of a locking-stud 13, the base of
the shank being provided with a wedge-shaped block 14, overlapping the sides

page_text: of the slot along the under surface of the wall 9 (see Fig. 6), the base or back of
the wedge when shifted to its lowest position along the wall 9, being adapted
to be engaged by one of the serrations of the tongue 1, and the greater the
tension or pull of the tongue, the more firmly will the block 14 be wedged
between the wall 9 and tongue 1, and the more effectively will the parts be
clasped (see Fig. 4). Upon shifting the stud to its highest position on the wall 9,
(see Fig. 5) to disengagement with the tongue (which shifting may be done either
by seizing the stud and shifting it up the inclined wall, or by forcing the tongue
inward, which would have the effect of disengaging it from the block, and at the
same time shoving the latter up the incline), the latter can readily be withdrawn
and the respective sections of the device unclasped.
The parts so far described may be applicable to any form of wearing apparel or
garment, such as shoes, gloves, corsets, mackintoshes, and the like; but I have
qualified the construction in the present case so as to make the device serve as a
shirt-waist holder and a belt-guide or holder. Each plate 2, 11 is provided with
an outwardly turned hook or end 15 adapted to embrace the upper edge of the
belt 16, thus preventing the latter not only from working up, but causing it
to support the skirt secured by the clasp. The plate 1' has punched therefrom a
series of prongs or teeth 17 bent rearwardly in such a manner as to grip the
bottom of the shirt-waist 18 interposed or tucked in between the clasp and skirt
(see Fig. 7). It is of course apparent that the present device may be altered in
many details without departing from the spirit of my invention.
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
T claim is
-
1. A clasp comprising a male and female member, a serrated tongue forming
a part of the male member, a pocket formed in the female member having an outer
inclined slotted wall, a locking stud having a shank operating in the slot of the
inclined wall, a wedge-shaped block at the base of the shank within the pocket,
spanning the slot of the inclined wall, a reduced extension forming a part of said
pocket, transverse slits formed at the base of the inclined wall, and the outer
edge of the extension for the reception of the tongue, a securing plate for each
member of the clasp, and hooks at the free ends of the plates for the guiding of
the belt encircling the waist, substantially as set forth.
2. A clasp comprising a male and female member, a tongue forming a part of
the male member, a pocket formed in the female member and having an outer
inclined slotted wall, a locking-stud, having a shank operating in the slot of the
inclined wall, slits leading to and from the pocket for the reception of the tongue,
the clasp being provided with outwardly bent hooks for the guiding of a belt,
and rearwardly deflected prongs for holding a shirt-waist, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1899.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.