Improvements in and connected with Eyelets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31s Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Eyelets.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM ROWE of 284 Oxford Street Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to eyelets such as are employed for lacing boots and
shoes.
The metallic colour and lustre of the eyelets as generally constructed is
objectionable especially in boots and shoes of the better qualities, and attempts
have been made to overcome this objection by japanning enamelling and other-
wise coating the eyelets, but these coatings have been of no real service as they
very quickly wear off when in use.
The object of my invention is to avoid the hereinbefore described objection
and for this purpose my improvements consist in constructing the eyelets of a
material which is capable of being moulded or compressed; and in moulding,
partly moulding, or compressing, the eyelet in the hole which it is to occupy.
Suitable materials to be used for the purpose of my invention are ebonite, a
compound of resins and powders, celluloid, and others of similar nature. The
material is preferably cast moulded or otherwise formed to the shape of an
ordinary eyelet, that is to say, of a short tube with a flange at one end, and
this eyelet is compressed or moulded in the eyelet hole by the aid of heat, as
for example by means of a warmed tool. This moulding or compression produces
the second flange and completes the eyelet. Alternatively, the eyelets may be
formed of short lengths of tube or of short plugs of the material which are
inserted in the holes and are moulded or compressed therein with a suitable tool
to form the eyelet.
Dated this 28th day of March A D 1891
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Eyelets.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM ROWE of 284 Oxford Street Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical 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 eyelets, such as are employed in laced boots and
shoes.
The metallic colour and lustre of the eyelets as generally constructed is
objectionable especially in boots and shoes of the better qualities, and attempts
have been made to overcome this objection by japanning enamelling and otherwise
coating the eyelets, but these coatings have been of no real service as they very
quickly wear off when in use.
The object of my invention is to avoid the hereinbefore described objection
and for this purpose my improvements consist in constructing the eyelets of a
suitable non-metallic material of uniform composition and colour which is capable
of being moulded or compressed; and in moulding, partly moulding, compressing,
or partly moulding and partly compressing the eyelet in the hole which it is to
occupy.

page_text: Suitable materials to be used for the purpose of my invention are ebonite, a
compound of resins and powders, celluloid, and others of similar nature. These
compounds may if desired be varied in colour to match or harmonise with the
colour of the leather or other material into which the eyelets are to be inserted;
for example for ordinary boots and shoes the material is coloured black; whilst
brown or other coloured boots would have eyelets of a corresponding or harmonising
shade.
The material employed is preferably ebonite which is cast, moulded, or otherwise
formed to the shape of an ordinary eyelet, that is to say, of a short tube with a
Hange at one end, and this eyelet is moulded or compressed in the eyelet hole by
the aid of heat. The ordinary hand rivetter may be employed for clinching the
cyclets in place one or both of the jaws of the tool being suitably heated. If the
eyeletting is done by means of a machine, the eyelets may be raised to the desired
temperature during their passage to the rivetters.
In all cases it is preferred although it is not necessary to employ means for
cooling the eyelet immediately it has been moulded or compressed into place, and
this may conveniently be accomplished either by means of an additional pair of
rivetters the jaws of which are kept cold and between which the warm eyelet is
gripped and cooled, or by the application of some liquid such as water.
As an alternative method of manufacture, instead of moulding the eyelets with a
flange at one end they may be cut from tubes of ebonite or other similar or suitable
material and be moulded or compressed into place by suitably formed rivetters as
hereinbefore described.
"
If it is desired to employ a resinous mixture instead of ebonite as is hereinbefore
described, a suitable material may be obtained by melting a resinous substance
such as shellac and whilst in the molten condition stirring into or mixing with it as
much of a suitable powdered pigment such as "royal black" or vermillionette or
a mixture of them as will only just leave the molten mixture plastic. Additional
weight may be given to the mixture if desired by mixing barytes with the pigment
powder. The plastic warm compound may be moulded in practically the same
manner as is ebonite during vulcanisation and is fit for use when cold.
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 eyelet such as is employed for lacing boots and shoes, formed of a non-
metallic material such as ebonite celluloid or compounds of resins with powders,
and capable of being moulded or compressed into place by the aid of heat, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th day of December A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.