Improvements in Waist Belts for Gymnasts and others.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Waist Belts for Gymnasts and others.
I, JOSEPH MEE HUBBARD, of 2, Yew Tree Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, Director of Physical Exercises, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in waist belts to be worn principally by
gymnasts, athletes and others, and has for its object, a belt devoid of metallic
fittings and protuberances or outstanding parts which are liable to come in contact
with and injure the apparatus, and also the person by inward pressure, and is an
improvement upon former Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date the
12th day of September 1892 No. 16285.
In constructing an adjustable waist belt according to oue form of my invention,
I make the band or body part up of webbing or other material, and with the same
preferably fitted with an elastic length or lengths, so as to admit of the said band
yielding.
The ends of the band are made preferably of leather, one of which is provided
with a double row of equi-distant and longitudinally directed holes or piercings,
and the other with a T-shaped terminal or a crutch end terminal, whose ends are
adapted to take respectively from the front through one pair of the piercings of
the double row.
Thus, the ends of the cross piece of the one part take through any pair of the
longitudinally directed piercings of the other part by slightly bending the said
Tend to the breadth of the holes, and then passing the ends of the same from the
front through them, when the said inserted ends lie flush at the back of the belt,
hence the adjustable connection.
I propose that the T end should be stiffened, yet without lessening the flexibility,
by inserting a flat steel spring within it or at the back of it, so that the same
shall straighten out after the ends have been inserted through the openings or
piercings.
As a further form of my invention, I make the terminal of the he part alike
unto the head of a letter T with enlarged ends, that is to say, that part of the
head near the shank is gapped in the direction of the band, so that when the cross
piece lies within the holes of the other part, the overhanging ends of the said
T piece come at the back of the material at the ends of the holes, so that the said
end or tongue part is prevented from being drawn out on pressure being applied.
As a still further form of my invention, I provide the one end of the band with
longitudinally directed middle holes disposed in the longer direction of the belt,
and the other end with a bulbous-shaped necked terminal, which is adapted to take
within the longitudinal piercings or holes in the other part, which have preferably
enlargements at one of their ends.
The said bulbous end may be stiffened, if necessary, like the T end as aforesaid
by introducing thin sheet metal or a wire at the back of the bulbous shaped
tongue.
In making the connection of the one part of the belt to the other part, the
bulbous connection at the one end is turned to an angle, and then passed laterally
or edgewise through one or other of the piercings in the other part of the belt,
and then by bringing both end parts lignable, the tongue of the one part lies at
the back of the other part, and with the part of the belt rear of the tongue over-
lapping the fore part of the other part forward of the piercing through which the
neck of the tongue passes.
If necessary, the backs of the piercings may be sunken or forwardly embossed,

page_text: so that the tongue, when at the back, shall lie within the said sinkings and come
flush with the back surface of the belt.
As a further form, I may cut out an enlarged ended tongue from the middle of
one end of the belt and provide the other corresponding end of the belt with neck-
shaped piercings running along the middle of the same adapted to take over the
outstanding tongue and engage with it, hence a simple connection.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Waist Belts for Gymnasts and others.
I, JOSEPH MEE HUBBARD, of 2 Yew Tree Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, Director of Physical Exercises, 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 waist belts to be worn principally by
gymnasts, athletes and others, and has for its object, a belt devoid of metallic
fittings and protuberances or outstanding parts which are liable to come in contact
with and injure the apparatus, and also the person by inward pressure, and is an
improvement upon former Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date the
12th day of September 1892 No. 16285.
In constructing an adjustable waist belt according to one form of my invention,
I make the band or body part up of webbing or other material, and with the same
preferably fitted with an elastic length or lengths, so as to admit of the said band
yielding.
.
The ends of the band are made preferably of leather, one of which is provided
with a row of equi-distant and longitudinally directed holes or piercings, and the
other with a T shaped terminal or a crutch end terminal, whose ends are adapted
to take respectively from the front through one of the piercings of the row.
Thus, the ends of the cross piece of the one part take through any one of the
longitudinally directed piercings of the other part, by slightly bending the said.
Tend to the breadth of the hole, and then passing the ends of the same from the
front through it, when the said inserted ends lie flush at the back of the belt,
hence the adjustable connection.
I propose that the T end should be stiffened yet without lessening the flexibility,
by inserting a flat steel spring within it or at the back of it, so that the same
shall straighten out after the ends have been inserted through the openings or
piercings.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in front elevation, an athletes
belt, constructed and provided with improvements in accordance with one form of
my invention.
Figure 2 is an inside elevation of the front part of the belt, with the ends
broken away.
Figure 3 represents a back elevation of the end parts of the belt detached.
Figure 4 represents a section of Figure 1 upon the dotted lines x-x, whilst
Figure 5 is a like-section, with the T end or double tongue fastener part folded
upon itself, and in a position which it takes prior to the same being introduced
through one of the holes.
In Figures 1 to 5, a is the band or belt, a' the one end of it and a² the other end.
The end a', which is pointed at its fore part a³, is inserted in a slit a*, of the other
part a², whilst the said fore part a', carries upon its inner side, a laterally directed
flexible cross piece b, which forms a T or double tongue connection.

page_text: c are piercings, wherethrough the said double tongue piece passes, in making the
connection of one end of the band to the other.
The back of the band (not shown) is attached to the body of the band by
elastic insertions d.
In connecting the ends of the belt together, fold the ends of the double tongue
upon themselves as in Figure 5, then pass the same through one or other of the
piercings c, and when released, the tongue piece will, by its resiliency, open itself”
out, as in Figure 4, hence a connection.
As a further form of my invention, I provide the one end of the band with.
longitudinally directed middle holes disposed in the longer direction of the belt,.
and the other end with a bulbous-shaped necked terminal, which is adapted to take
within the longitudinal piercings or holes in the other part which have preferably
enlargements at one of their ends.
The said bulbous end may be stiffened, if necessary, like the T end as aforesaid,.
by introducing thin sheet metal or a wire at the back of the bulbous shaped
tongue.
In making the connection of the one part of the belt to the other part, the
bulbous connection at the one end is turned to an angle, and then passes laterally
or edgewise through one or other of the piercings in the other part of the belt,
and then by bringing both end parts lignable, the tongue of the one part lies at.
the back of the other part, and with the part of the belt rear of the tongue over-
lapping the fore part of the other part forward of the piercing through which the
neck of the tongue passes.
If necessary, the backs of the piercings may be sunken or forwardly embossed,.
so that the tongue, when at the back, shall lie within the said sinkings, and come
flush with the back surface of the belt.
Figure 6 represents a front elevation of a belt constructed according to this last.
described form of my invention.
Figure 7 is a back elevation of the same, with portions of the end parts of the
band broken away.
a is the band, a¹ the one end, and a³ the other end of the same. The end a², is
provided with a bulbous-ended tongue piece b, which takes within holes or
piercings c, in the other part a', as represented.
As a further form, I may cut out an enlarged ended tongue froin the middle of
one end of the belt and provide the other corresponding end of the belt with neck-
shaped piercings running along the middle of the same, adapted to take over the
outstanding tongue and engage with it, hence a simple connection.
Figure 8 represents one end of a belt constructed in accordance with this last
described form of my invention. a is the end of the belt, and b is the tongue
piece, cut out from the middle of the said end of the band.
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 :-
First. In a belt or waist band, fastening the ends of the same together by a
cross or double tongue piece b, located at or coming at the back of the one part,
engaging with one or other of a series of holes or piercings in the other part,
substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8.
Secondly. In a belt or band, fastening the ends of the same together by a
bulbous or T-shaped end of the one part engaging with slits or piercings formed
within the other part, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 6 and 7.
Dated this 1st day of June 1901
JOSEPH MEE HUDDARD,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.