FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES, BOOTS AND SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Frederick Spittle, of Birmingham, in the County
IMPROVEMENTS IN
of Warwick, Manager of Works, for the Invention of
FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES, BOOTS AND SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 5th December 1879, and dated the 19th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Frederick Spittle at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1879.
WILLIAM FREDERICK SPITTLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manager of Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES, BOOTS AND
SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention has reference principally to spring fastenings for gloves, the said
spring fastenings consisting of two nearly flat strips or pieces of steel or other
elastic metal jointed together and secured to the opposite edges of the mouth of the
glove, the said strips when separated holding the glove open, and when brought
parallel to one another closing and holding the mouth of the glove firmly upon the
wrist..
My improvements may also be applied to spring fastenings for boots and shoes,
purses, bags, and other like articles.
For convenience of description I will describe this part of my Invention 'as
applied to a glove fastening.
The head of each of the strips of steel of which the fastening is composed consista
of a nearly circular disc, which discs turn upon a common centre, their opposed
faces working closely together. I joint the nearly circular heads of the strips
together by means of an eyelet or by a headed stud having a tubular stem or
shank. By means of the ordinary eyeletting process the shank or stem of the
eyelet or stud is expanded or eyeletted, and the heads of the two strips are thereby
jointed together. The hole in the joint pin or eyelet serves to attach the head of
the fastening to the material of the glove. I do not limit myself to the hollow
stud or eyelet described, as a rivetted stud with a solid shank may be used for
jointing the heads of the strips together. I make near the edge of the circular
head of the top strip a spring tooth or corrugation. The said tooth or corrugation
is made by slitting a portion of the head near its edge and separating it at one
part from the head, and depressing the free end of the slit part out of the plane of
the other part of the fastening. The said free end of the slit part or tooth is

page_text: bulged or has a convex figure given to it. In the edge of the circular head of the
other or under strip I make two notches or cut away parts or indentations of a size
proper for the spring tooth or corrugation on the upper head to engage with or
snap into. These notches or indentations are situated at such a distance apart and
have such a position on the circular head of the strip that when the two strips are
separated to their full extent for opening the glove the spring tooth or corrugation
snaps into one of the said notches and firmly retains the glove in its open position;
and when the two strips are brought parallel to one another for closing the glove
the said spring tooth or corrugation snaps into the other of the two notches, and
holds or binds the glove in its closed position and firmly retains it on the wrist.
The spring tooth or corrugation described in passing from one to the other of the
two notches presses upon the under head of the fastening and forms a tight joint.
When the glove is opened or closed the pressure put upon the strips causes the
spring tooth or corrugation to rise out of the notch in which it was engaged and
travel upon the face of the under head, that edge of the notch at which the spring
tooth enters and from which it is raised being inclined to facilitate the releasing of
the fastening. Instead of making a spring tooth or corrugation on one head and
notches or indentations on the other head of the fastening I divide a portion of the
head and shank of one of the strips by a slit or incision so as to form a spring arm
to the said strip, the said spring arm being bent out of the plane of the other part
of the strip. The head of the other strip has a flat shoulder for the end of the
spring arm described to bear upon. When the glove is closed the head of the strip
with the flat shoulder bears against the spring arm and forces it into the same
plane as the other part of the strip, and by the pressure of the said spring arm the
glove is retained in its closed position. When the glove is opened the flat shoulder
of the head is removed from off the free end of the spring arm, and when the said
flat shoulder has been brought opposite the free end of the spring arm the latter
rises by its elasticity into its normal position and bears upon the said flat shoulder
of the other head and retains the glove in its open position.
I apply the spring fastenings described to the fastening of boots and shoes,
purses, bags, and other like articles, substantially as described with respect to a
glove.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in fastenings for
such gloves as extend a considerable distance up the arm of the wearer. For
gloves of this kind I give to one of the steel or metallic strips about three times
the length of the other strip, the said strips being jointed together by an ordinary
joint pin or by a tubular joint pin or eyelet, as before described, and provided or
not with the spring action herein before described for retaining the glove in its
open or closed position. On the longer strip I place a series of equidistant studs,
and I secure to that edge of the material of the glove opposite the longer strip of
the fastening a series of equi distant hollow or tubular buttons, eyelets, or loops, or
other like fastenings for engaging with the studs on the longer strip, so as thereby
to fasten the two edges of the glove together. Or both the jointed strips may be
made of the same length, one of the said strips being provided with studs and the
other strip with hollow or tubular buttons, eyelets, or loops, or other like fastenings
for engaging with the studs on the opposite strip.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Frederick Spittle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
December 1879.
WILLIAM FREDERICK SPITTLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manager of Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENINGS FOR GLOVES, BOOTS AND
SHOES, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention has reference principally to spring fastenings for gloves, the said
spring fastenings consisting of two nearly flat strips or pieces of steel or other
elastic metal jointed together and secured to the opposite edges of the mouth of the
glove, the said strips when separated holding the glove open, and when brought
parallel to one another closing and holding the mouth of the glove firmly upon the
wrist.
My improvements may also be applied to spring fastenings for boots and shoes,
purses, bags, and other like articles.
For convenience of description I will describe this part of my Invention as
applied to a glove fastening.
The head of each of the strips of steel of which the fastening is composed consists
of a nearly circular disc, which discs turn upon a common centre, their opposed
faces working tightly together. I joint the nearly circular heads of the strips
together by means of an eyelet or by a headed stud having a tubular stem or
shank. By means of the ordinary eyeletting process the shank or stem of the
eyelet or stud is expanded or eyeletted, and the heads of the strips are thereby
jointed together. The hole in the joint pin or eyelet serves to attach the head of
the fastening to the material of the glove. I do not limit myself to the hollow
stud or eyelet described, as a rivetted stud with a solid shank may be used for
jointing the heads of the strips together. I make near the edge of the circular
head of the top strip a spring tooth or corrugation. The said tooth or corrugation
is made by slitting a portion of the head near its edge and separating it at one
part from the head, and depressing the free end of the slit part out of the plane of
the other part of the fastening. The said free end of the slit part or tooth is
bulged or has a convex figure given to it. In the edge of the circular head of the
other or under strip I make two notches or cut away parts or indentations of a size
proper for the spring tooth on the upper head to engage with or snap into. These
notches or indentations are situated at such a distance apart and have such a
position on the circular head of the strip that when the two strips are separated to
their full extent for opening the glove the spring tooth or corrugation snaps into
one of the said notches and firmly retains the glove in its open position; and when
the two strips are brought parallel to one another for closing the glove the said
spring tooth or corrugation snaps into the other of the two notches and holds or
binds the glove in its closed position and firmly retains it on the wrist. The spring
tooth or corrugation described in passing from one to the other of the two notches
presses upon the under head of the fastening and forms a tight joint. When the
glove is opened or closed the pressure put upon the strips causes the spring tooth or
corrugation to rise out of the notch in which it was engaged and travel upon the
face of the underhead, that edge of the notch at which the spring tooth enters and
from which it is raised from being curved or inclined to facilitate the releasing of
the fastening.
Instead of making a spring tooth or corrugation on one head and notches or
indentations on the other head of the fastening I divide a portion of the head and
shank of one of the strips by a slit or incision, so as to form a spring arm to the
said strip, or attach a spring arm to the strip, the said spring arm being bent out
of the plane of the other part of the strip. The head of the other strip has a flat
shoulder for the end of the spring arm described to bear upon,

page_text: I apply the spring fastenings described to the fastening of boots and shoes, purses,
bags, and other like articles, substantially as described with respect to a glove.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in fastenings for
such gloves as extend up the arm of the wearer. For gloves of this kind I give
to one of the steel or metallic strips about three times the length of the other strip,
the said strips being jointed together by an ordinary joint pin or by a tubular joint
pin or eyelet as before described, and provided or not with the spring action herein
before described for retaining the glove in its open or closed position. On the
longer strip I place a series of equi-distant studs, and I secure to that edge of the
material of the glove opposite the longer strip of the fastening a series of equi-distant 1
hollow or tubular buttons, eyelets, or loops, or other like fastenings for engaging with
the studs on the longer strip, so as thereby to fasten the two edges of the glove
together. Or both the jointed strips may be made of the same length, one of the
said strips being provided with studs and the other strip with hollow or tubular
buttons, eyelets, or loops, or other like fastenings for engaging with the studs on
the opposite strip.
I will now describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner
in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, Figure 2 in side elevation, and Figure 3
in edge view a spring fastening for a glove made according to one part of my
Invention, the fastening being represented in its closed position; Figure 5 repre-
sents one of the parts of the fastenings detached; and Figure 6 represents the other
part detached. The several Figures of the Drawings are drawn to a scale double
the real size.
a, b, are the two steel or metallic strips; and a³, 6ª, are the nearly circular discs
or heads of the same, the said discs or heads a, b, turning on a common joint pin
or centro c. The joint pin or centre c consists of an eyelet, or pin, or stud having
a tubular stem or shank (see Figure 2). By means of an eyeletting process, or by
rivetting, the eyelet or tubular pin or stud is expanded or rivetted, and the beads
of the two strips are thereby jointed together, as seen in Figure 2. The holed in the
joint pin e serves to attach by sewing the head of the fastening to the materials of
the glove, the ends of the strips a, b, being sewn to the glove at the perforations
eef is a spring tooth or corrugation at the edge of the upper disc or head a³;
and g is a similar spring tooth or corrugation at the edge of the under disc or
head Ench tooth or corrugation is formed by making a curved incision or slit
in the head or disc and bending the free end of the slit part out of the plane of the
other part of the head or disc (see the edge views of Figures 5 and 6). The free
acting end of each tooth or corrugation has a bulged or convex figure. In each of
the discs or heads of the fastening two notches or cut away parts or indentations
are made. The notches in the head a³ are marked h, i, and those in the head b
are marked k, l. These notches have a size proper for the free bulged or convex
ends of the spring teeth or corrugations f, g, to snap into.
When the fastening is
in the closed position represented in Figures 1 and 2 the spring tooth or corru-
gation on the upper head a³ is brought over and snaps into the middle notch k in
the under head 6, and similarly the spring tooth or corrugation g on the under
head b is brought under and snaps into the middle notch h in the upper head a³, as
best seen in Figure 3. The glove to which the spring fastening is attached is thus
held very firmly in its closed position upon the wrist. When the strips a, b, are
first separated from one another for opening the glove the two spring teeth f, g, rise
out of their respective notches k, h, and when the glove has been fully opened the
spring tooth f of the upper head as is brought over and snaps into the end notch?
of the under head 63, and the spring tooth g is at the same time brought under and
made to snap into the end notch i of the upper head a², and the glove is thereby
firmly retained in its open position. Each of the spring teeth or corrugations f, g,
in passing from one to the other of the two notches presses firmly upon the disc
against which it bears, and thereby forms a tight joint. The edges m and n of the

page_text: notches, are curved or inclined for facilitating the passing of the spring teeth
into and out of them.
Figure 7 represents a modification of the fastening last described; Figure 8
represents one part, and Figure 9 the other part of the fastening detached. In this
arrangement the end notches i, 4, in the two heads a, b, of the fastening are
omitted, but the edge of the notch or recess h in the head a³ is turned down,
and the edge of the notch or recess in the head b' is turned up. When the
fastening is closed, as represented in Figure 7, the spring teeth or corrugations f, g,
engage with their respective notches k, h, as before described; but when the strips
ab, are separated to their full extent for opening the glove the turned down edge 7³
of the notch or recess h in the head a bears against the turned up edge of the
notch or recess in the head b³, which parts h³, ³, acting as stops prevent the
further outward motion of the strips.
Instead of making a spring tooth or corrugation in each of the heads or discs of
the fastening, a spring tooth or corrugation may be made in one only of the said
heads, as represented in front elevation in Figure 10; Figure 10ª is a cross section
of Figure 10 taken through the joint. In this arrangement the spring tooth pis
made on the inner head 6 of the fastening, and when the glove is closed the said
spring tooth snaps into the recess g in the upper head a, the stop arrangement
described and represented in Figures 7, 8, and 9 being used for limiting the
outward motion of the strips of the fastening on opening the glove.
In place of connecting the head of the fastening to the glove by sewing through
be
the tubular joint pin or eyelet c, a headed stud a, Figures 10 and 10ª may
fastened in the tubular joint pin o, the said stud being passed through a hole or
eyelet so as to fasten the head of the fastening to the glove by a buttoning action.
The stem of the stud may be screwed or otherwise secured in the tubular joint
pin o after the heads a, b, have been jointed together. Or the stud may serve
as an ornament, which in this case is situated external to the material of the
glove.
Or instead of making a spring tooth from the edge of the head or disc of the strip
by slitting the edge and corrugating it, a flat spring tooth having a rounded stud
on its free end may be used, as illustrated in front elevation and back elevation in
Figure 11, and side elevation of one part in Figure 12. In this arrangement r is
the spring tooth made by slitting the metal of the head 6 in the manner
represented in Figure 11, and s is the rounded stud at the free end of the said
spring tooth r. In the front head or disc a³, two holes t and u are made. When
the fastening is closed, the stud a snaps into the hole t and fixes the fastening in its
closed position, and when the parts of the fastening are separated for opening the
glove, the studs snaps into the other hole u and fixes the glove in its open
position.
Figure 13 represents my arrangement in which a spring arm is used instead of a
spring tooth or corrugation; and Figure 14 represents an inside elevation; and
Figure 15, an edge view of one half of the fastening. Both parts of this fastening
On the head of
are alike; a, b, are the two strips, and a³, 6ª, are the spring arms.
each strip is a flat angular shoulder c, and at the angle of each shoulder is an anti-
friction roller a, b. Against these shoulders and rollers the free ends of the spring
arms a, b, respectively bear, that is, the spring arm on one part of the fastening
bears against the shoulder and roller on the other part of the fastening. When the
strips a, b, are closed, as represented in Figure 13, the spring arms a³, b³, bear upon
the sides o³, c³, of the angular shoulders, and by the pressure they exert upon the
Baid shoulders preserve the strips in their closed positions. When the strips a, b,
are turned on their joint for opening the glove, the free end of each spring arm
travels upon the roller on which it bears, and snaps upon the other side o³ of the
angular shoulder. The strips are thereby retained very firmly in their open
5. position. As the ends of the spring arms travel upon the rollers during the
opening and closing of the glove, the opening or closing is effected with great ease.
⚫ Figure 16 represents one. of my spring actions applied to the frame of a purse,

page_text: bag, or other like article. In this arrangement the arms or side pieces a, b, at each
end of the frame have circular heads or discs, which are provided with the spring
action described and represented with respect to the glove fastening Figures 7, 8,
and 9, but the several arrangements of spring actions which I have described as
applied to glove fastenings are also applicable to purse, bag, and other like frames
for holding them in the open or closed position.
Figures 17, 18, and 19 represent a glove fastening constructed according to my
Invention suitable for gloves which extend up the arm of the wearer. Figure 17
represents the fastening open, and Figure 18 the same closed; Figure 19 is a cross
section of Figure 18. e, f, are two strips of steel or other elastic metal jointed
together by an eyelet or tubular joint pin g, which also serves for connecting the
head of the fastening by sowing to the glove. The said strips e, f, are secured to the
opposite edges of the long opening in the glove in any convenient way. On the strip
e is a series of equi-distant hollow or tubular buttons h, h, projecting from the inner
edge of the strip, and on the other strip and opposite the buttons h is a series of
equi-distant studs i, i, fixed on the projecting pieces k, k. When the two strips are
brought parallel to one another for closing the glove, as represented in Figure 18,
the studs i, i, may be engaged with or made to enter the hollow buttons h, h, and
thereby fasten the two edges of the glove together, as seen in Figure 19. By lifting
the strip e, carrying the hollow buttons h, h, from off the studs i, i, on the other
strip, the glove is unfastened, and the strips may be turned on their joint for
opening the glove; or a short strip and a longer strip may be used, as illustrated in
Figure 20. In this arrangement the end of the short strip / has at its end a hollow
button h, with which a stud i on the longer strip m may be engaged. In the edge
of the glove to which the strip is fixed, hollow or tubular buttons are secured for
the studs 1, 3, on the longer strip m to engage with. In using this fastening the
button h is first engaged with the stud i, and afterwards the buttons on the same
edge of the glove as the button h are engaged with the other studs i, i. Instead
of hollow or tubular buttons, holes, eyelets, or loops may be used for engaging with
the studs i, iª.
The eyelet or tubular joint pin described and represented in the several Figures
of the Drawings may be applied to all such glove and other fastenings as consists of
two strips of steel or other elastic metal turning on a common centre.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention of
"Improvements in Fastenings for Gloves, Boots and Shoes, and other Articles,"
First. The construction and combinations of the parts of the spring action of the
said fastenings, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, making at
the edge of each of the eircular heads or discs of the fastening a spring tooth or
corrugation, and also in each head or disc two notches or cut away parts or inden-
tations for the said spring teeth or corrugations to engage with or snap into and fix
the glove or other article either in its open or closed position, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, both inclusive; also the arrangement
described and represented in Figures 7, 8, and 9, in which a single notch or inden-
tation is made in each disc or head for the spring teeth or corrugations to snap into
for fastening the glove in its closed position, and in which the limiting of the out-
ward motion of the fastening for opening the glove is effected by means of stops at
the edges of the said notches or indentations; also the arrangement described and
represented in Figure 10, in which a spring tooth or corrugation is made on one
only of the heads or discs in combination with a notch or indentation in the other
head or discs for fixing the fastening in its closed position, and with stops for
limiting the outward motion of the fastening; also the modification described and
represented in Figures 11 and 12, in which a single spring tooth with a stud on its
free end is made on one disc or head, and two holes in the other disc or head for the
stud of the spring tooth to engage with or snap into.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of the spring action of glove and

page_text: other fastenings, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 15
of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, making on each part of the fastening
a spring arm and an angular shoulder, the spring arm on one part bearing against
the angular shoulder on the other part, in combination with anti-friction rollers
situated at the angles of the angular shoulders.
Thirdly. The construction of fastenings for gloves extending up the arm of the
wearer, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination of the hollow or tubular
button or buttons on one part of the fastening with solid studs on the other part
of the fastening; also the combination of the said solid studs with holes, eyelets, or
loops.
Lastly. Jointing together the heads or discs of the two parts of fastenings turning
on a common centre by means of an eyelet or a headed stud having a tubular stem
or shank, the hole in the eyelet or stud serving to attach the head of the fastening
to the material of the glove, as herein before described and illustrated in the several
Figures of the Drawings; also the combination with the eyeletted or tubular joint
pin of a headed stud or button, the shank of which is screwed or otherwise fixed in
the hole in the eyeletted or tubular joint pin, as described and illustrated in Figures
10 and 10ª.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Frederick Spittle, have hereunto set
me hand and seal this Thirteenth day of December in the men of ART Load
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM FREDERICK SPITTLE, (L.B.)