Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
I, ANNA DORMITZER, of 26 Cooper Union, in the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Lady, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to he
as follows:-
The object of this invention is to supply a neat secure safety pocket for a lady's
watch which will admit of being readily yet very securely fastened to the dress, or
detached therefrom, and in which the watch will be securely held so as to prevent
its being slipped out by a pickpocket without detection.
It consists in the combination with a suitable supporting plate having any neat
and desirable configuration and designed to carry a suitable pocket for a watch, first,
of a series of parallel sharp-pointed pins projecting in a plane parallel with the rear-
face of the plate from a transverse bar secured to said plate near its upper end, and
second, of a spiral sharp-pointed pin projecting beyond said rear face of the plate
from a rotating stem extending transversely through the plate near its lower end.
Also in the combination with said spiral pin, of a thin slotted guard-plate attached
to the rear-face of the pocket plate to cover and shield the sharp point of the pin
by resting thereon and thereby prevent it from catching in the hand or dress of the
person using the pocket, the pin being passed through the slot in the plate for
engagement when needed."
It consists furthermore in the combination with the upper end of the pocket-
plate and pocket, of a hinged clasp to close the top of the pocket over the watch-
plate therein, said clasp being provided. with a catch by which it may be firmly
secured when closed, and formed with a slot therein through which the watch chain
may pass outwardly from the pocket.
This improved, detachable pocket, obviates the necessity-so objectional to ladies,-
of opening the front of the dress to reach an inner pocket as is commonly done; it
also ensures safety for the watch and it may be made highly ornamental.
In the use of the pocket it is readily secured to the dress of the wearer at any
desired point by slipping the upper series of pins down into the fabric of the dress
until arrested by the transverse head-bar, and then screwing the spiral-pin into the

page_text: dress by turning the head of its stem in the proper direction, the point of the pin
being guarded by the guard-plate resting upon its point so as not to catch into the
dress when the series of straight pins are being inserted. In turning the spiral pin,
the point is brought during its revolution into register with the slot in said guard-
plate which permits it to pass through the plate so as to project therefrom and
engage the dress.
A reverse rotation of the pin will operate not only to withdraw
its point from the dress but also to draw it back under the imperforate portion of the
plate so that it will become guarded thereby.
The engagement of the spiral-pin effectually prevents a withdrawal of the straight
retaining pins and consequently prevents the pocket from being suddenly snatched
or detached from the dress without tearing it.
The hinged clasp, secured when closed by means of the catch, fastens the watch
within the pocket and prevents it from being suddenly, violently or accidentally with-
drawn therefrom, the watch-chain being left free to depend from the pocket through
the slot in the top of the clasp.
The pocket may be made of pleasing form and rich materials so as to constitute an
ornamental attachment to the dress.
Dated this Thirty first day of December 1887

page_text: -see Figure 3, on one side, to permit of the passage of a watch-chain through it
from a watch enclosed thereby.
E, represents a pocket of leather or other suitable material neatly secured to the
pocket-plate A and to the lower margin of the clasp B, by stitching, as at i, i, or
otherwise, as may be found convenient and 'desirable.
The rear face of the pocket-plate A is armed with a row of sharp pins F, F, F,
fixed, parallel to each other, in a plane parallel with the rear-face of the plate, to
a cross-bar G, which may be either rigidly secured to the plate near is upper end
as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or be hinged to the plate at the same point, by
means of a hinge K, at each end thereof, as shown in Figure 4.
The lower end of the plate may be secured to the dress of the wearer by means
of a rotating stem H,-see Figures 2, 3, and 4-mounted in a bearing at the lower
end of the pocket-plate to extend transversely through said plate from front to rear.
The inner end of this stem terminates in a spiral, sharp-pointed pin L adapted by
its revolution to screw into the material against which it may be held. The outer
end of the stem is fitted with a milled head M, by which it may be turned.
To guard the sharp point of the spiral L and prevent it from catching in the
hand or dress of the person using the pocket, a thin, extended, metallic plate N'
is fitted over it and made fast at one end only to the pocket-plate. This guard-
plate N is slotted, as shown at o, Figure 2, with a curved slot through which the point
of the spiral may be passed when desired for use, the point being otherwise turned
back under the imperforated portion of the plate when not in use, as shown in
Figure 3 and by dotted lines in Figure 2, the elasticity of the plate allowing it to.
spring outward to permit the point to pass under it.
Instead of the spiral pin L, and as an equivalent device for fastening the lower end
of the plate, a straight pin P, see Figure 5,-may be mounted to slide lengthwise
in a suitable way R formed for it on the under side of the plate. The upper or
inner end of this pin P, is provided with a button P', by which it may be moved
so as to cause its point to project beyond the lower end of the plate far enough
to engage the dress to which the pocket is attached.
Or, again, in place of a pin P attached to the plate, I contemplate forming an eye U,
on the under side of an offset T projecting from the lower edge of the plate A,
as shown in Figure 6, said eye being adapted to receive the body of a straight
pin W, made to pass through it as well as through the fabric of the dress on each side
of the eye, as shown in Figure 6, the point of the pin being fitted with a detachable
cap V, to guard the same.
The catch for securing the clasp or frame B may consist of a simple plate or lever C,
see Figure 5, pivoted in the upper end of the frame B transversely thereto, so
that the front edge of the lever may rest upon the upper edge of the pocket-plate A,
when the clasp is closed. This front edge of the catch-lever is notched as at r, Figure 5,
to engage the pocket-plate when it rests thereon, and its engagement is automatically
secured and maintained by means of a spring S.
The upper, rear edge of the pivoted lever or catch-plate C, projects up through the
upper portion of the clasp so that it may be pressed upon from without, and being so
pressed upon, the catch will turn upon its pivot far enough to be released from the
pocket-plate.
The device constructed as described, is readily secured to the dress of the wearer at
any desired point, by slipping the upper series of pins F, F, down into the fabric of
the dress until arrested by the transverse head-bar, and then screwing the spiral-
pin L into the dress by turning the head of its stem in the proper direction, the
point of the pin being guarded by the guard-plate N, resting upon its point so as
not to catch into the dress when the series of straight pins are being inserted. In
turning the spiral pin, the point is brought during its revolution, into register with
the slot in said guard-plate which permits it to pass through the plate so as to
project therefrom and engage the dress. A reverse rotation of the pin will operate,
not only to withdraw its point from the dress, but also to draw it back under the
imperforate portion of the plate so that it will become guarded thereby.

page_text: The engagement of the spiral-pin L effectually prevents a withdrawal of the straight
retaining-pins F, F, and consequently prevents the pocket from being suddenly snatched
or detached from the dress without tearing it.
As an equivalent for the spiral-pin the straight pins P, or W, may be used, in
manner as described.
The hinged clasp, secured when closed by means of the catch, C, fastens the watch
within the pocket and prevents it from being suddenly, violently or accidentally with-
drawn therefrom, the watch-chain being left free to depend from the pocket through
the slot in the top of the clasp.
The pocket may be made of pleasing form and rich materials so as to constitute an
ornamental attachment to the dress.
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 :-.
1. In combination with the supporting-plate of a watch-pocket, a series of parallel
retaining-pins projecting from a transverse bar attached to the under-side of the plate
at one end thereof, and a spiral pin projecting on the same side and at the opposite
end of the plate from a rotating stem passing transversely through the plate, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination with the supporting-plate of a watch-pocket, and with a spiral
pin projecting on one side of said plate from a rotating stem passing transversely
through the plate, of an extended, elastic guard-plate made fast at one end to said sup-
porting-plate to rest at its opposite end upon the point of the pin, and slotted to permit
of the passage of the pin point through it, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination in a detachable watch-pocket, of a supporting-plate, devices
substantially as described for securing the plate to the dress of the wearer, a pocket
secured to the front face of the plate, and a hinged clasp closing the upper end or
mouth of the pocket, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1888.
ANNA DORMITZER.