IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF FASTENING WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER ARTICLES WHICH REQUIRE TO BE LACED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Harmer Smith, of Winchmore Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF
FASTENING WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER ARTICLES WHICH REQUIRE TO BE
LACED."
Sealed the 8th April 1879, and dated the 11th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Harmer Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1878.
ERNEST HARMER SMITH, of Winchmore Hill, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF FASTENING WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER
ARTICLES WHICH REQUIRE TO BE LACED."
My Invention relates to improvements in the means of fastening where laces are
or may be employed, and has for object the facilitating of the operation of lacing.
It is applicable to all articles of dress which require lacing, such as boots and shoes,
gloves, leggings, stays, dresses, medical bandages, and the like, and generally to
other purposes where laces are employed to draw together or to. unite the parts or
edges of articles or materials.
"
It consists in the employment, instead of eyelet holes or hooks for the laces to be
passed through, of a series of friction rollers, sheaves, or pullies mounted in suitable
carriages or frames, and the laces being passed round such friction rollers can be
drawn tight at oue operation instead of by tightening at each eyelet hole, hook, or
stud, as at present. The operation is thus much facilitated, and the laces are
subjected to much less wear and tear than in the system heretofore in use.
carriages or frames, with the friction rollers, sheaves, or pullies mounted in them,
may be attached direct to the article it is desired to lace, or to separate strips of
fabric, metal, or other suitable material, which strips may then be attached to the
article by stitching, rivetting, or otherwise.
The

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest Harmer Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
June 1879.
ERNEST HARMER SMITH, of Winchmore Hill, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF FASTENING WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER
ARTICLES WHICH REQUIRE TO BE LACED."
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in the means of fastening
where laces are or may be employed, has for object the facilitating of the operation
of lacing. It is applicable to all articles of dress which require lacing, such as
boots and shoes, gloves, leggings, stays, dresses, medical bandages, and the like, and
generally to other purposes where laces are employed to draw together or to unite
the parts or edges of articles or materials.
It consists in the employment, instead of eyelet holes or hooks for the laces to be
passed through, of a series of friction rollers, sheaves, or pullies mounted in suitable
carriages or frames, and the laces being passed round such friction rollers can be
drawn tight at one operation instead of by tightening at each eyelet hole, hook, or
stud, as at present. The operation is thus much facilitated, and the laces are
subjected to much less wear and tear than in the system heretofore in use. The
carriages or frames, with the friction rollers, sheaves, or pullies mounted in thein,
may be attached direct to the article it is desired to lace, or to separate strips of
fabric, metal, or other suitable material, which strips may then be attached to the
article by stitching, rivetting, or otherwise..
At Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings are shewn in side elevation
and plan respectively two forms of the friction rollers, sheaves, or pullies mounted
in their frames, and constituting together modifications of my said Invention.
The rollers A are carried on spindles having their bearings in the frames or
carriages B, as shewn. These frames or carriages B may be made of a single strip
of metal stamped out to the required shape, as shewn at B1 and B2 respectively, see
Figure 14, and bent into the required form. The said rollers A are free to revolve
in the frames or carriages. The application of these modifications to the fastening
of boots is illustrated at Figures 2 and 3, in which it will be seen that the pullies
or sheaves X are secured to the sides or edges of the boots at such distances apart
as may be desired, the ends of the carriages or frames B (Figure 1) opposite to the
rollers being fixed to the leather of the boots by the fangs B*, see Figures 1 and 14,
being bent up and passed through holes in the leather or otherwise made to grip
therein. The laces C are passed round the pullies preferably in the manner shewn
in the Drawings, whereby when the operation of threading or passing the laces
through the pullies has been completed the sides or edges of the boots are drawn
together at one strain, and the reduced friction involves less wear and tear than
obtains under the system of lacing hitherto employed.
At Figure 3 is shewn the adaptation of my improved method of lacing to a shoe;
Figure 4 illustrates its application to a medical bandage for the knee, and Figure 5
to a corset or stays. Another modification of my said Invention is shewn in
section at Figure 6 at about full size, Figure 64 being an enlarged view of the
same. Under this modification the rollers A are fitted between the double strips or
leaves D of leather or other material forming the edges or sides of the articles desired
to be laced. The rollers A are free to revolve round a tube or short barrel E placed
between the said double strips or leaves D, the "whole being securely held together
by means of the inner tube or eyelet F, which has its extremities turned down
thereon, as shewn, or is otherwise made to grip therein. The general application
of this modification of my said Invention is shewn at Figures 7.and 8, in which
approved methods of lacing are illustrated. The adaptation thereof to boots is
illustrated at Figures 9 and 10, and to an extended glove or gauntlet at Figure 11;

page_text: and Figure 12 represents a legging secured under the same modification around
a leg.
The double strips or leaves D may be made and fitted with rollers apart from
the article to which it is intended to apply the system of lacing, and be afterwards
attached thereto, as seen at Figures 7 and 8, by stitching or any other suitable
means.
In the various modifications of my Invention it will be seen that the interspacing
of the pullies or sheaves X on the different edges or surfaces of the various articles
is so arranged that no obstacle is offered to effecting a close joint when fastened.
For the purpose of ornamentation the outer and visible surfaces of the frames or
carriages of the pullies or sheaves may be grooved, dentated, or otherwise stamped
or decorated.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be. carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim as my Invention is,-
The application of friction rollers, pullies, or sheaves to the lacing of such articles
as are adapted thereto, whereby the laces or strings may be tightened at one
operation and friction lessened, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illus-
trated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Harmer Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our. Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
ERNEST HÄRMER SMITH.
L.S.