AN IMPROVED BUCKLE OR FASTENING."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jabez Smith, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford,
Silk Mercer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BUCKLE OR FASTENING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jabez Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st December 1854.
I, JABEZ SMITH, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Silk Mercer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BUCKLE OR
FASTENING" to be as follows:-
The fastening is composed of two parts; one being a buckle or substitute
for a buckle, and the other a tab or strap, or other similar article, punched
with holes at intervals, and furnished with eyelets or not. The buckle consists
of a metal loop. To about the centre of one of the bends or faces of the loop
is fixed a rigid tongue or stud, projecting outward in the case of the tongue
and upward in the case of the stud. The opposite bend or face of the loop
will sometimes have two or more holes made therein, for the purpose of keeping.
it in its position, if necessary, when attached to any article to which it is
required to be fixed or applied.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jabez Smith, Her special licence that I, the said Jabez Smith, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jabez
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED BUCKLE OR
FASTENING;" upon the condition (amongst others). that I, the said Jabez
Smith, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jabez Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed
(that is to say):-
:-
My improved fastening is composed of two parts; one being a buckle or
substitute for a buckle, and the other a tab or strap, punched with holes at
intervals, and furnished with eyelets, or not, as may be desired. The buckle
consists of a metal loop, and to about the centre of one of the bends or faces
of the loop is fixed a rigid tongue or stud, projecting outward in the case of
the tongue and upward in the case of the stud. The opposite bend or face
of the loop will sometimes have two or more holes made therein, for the
purpose of keeping it in its position, if necessary, when attached to any article
to which it is required to be fixed or applied.
In the annexed Drawings I have shewn the manner in which I construct
my improved fastening, and also the manner in which it may be applied to
stays.
Figure 1 represents a full size view of a buckle with a fixed tongue, and
also a view of the tab to be used therewith. Figure 2 is a similar view of a
buckle, fitted with a projecting stud and its tab. Figures 3 and 4 represent
respectively the same buckle fastened with the tabs.
fastened, and Figure 6 a plan, unfastened, of a pair
Figure 5 is a back view,
of stays fitted with my

page_text: improved buckles. A is a tab or strap, to be attached to one side or part of
the garment or article to be fastened; it is provided with eyelet holes a, a.
B is a metal loop, furnished with a fixed tongue b, or stud c. d, d, are per-
forations in the back of the loop, by means of which the loop may be sewn on
to the article to which it is to be applied; or these perforations may be dis-
pensed with, and the buckle may be attached by means of a tape, as shewn at
Figure 7. In order to fasten with my improved fastening, the tab is drawn
into the loop, turned back, and one of the eyelet holes placed over the tongue
or stud. It will be observed that the tongue is slightly bent, in order to allow
of the ring of the eyelet hole fitting nicely against the shoulder. Figures
8 and 9 are full-sized front and sectional elevations of another form of rigid
tongue, stamped up or otherwise formed in the face of the loop or buckle.
Figures 10 and 11 shew friction rollers e, e, applied to the buckle, which
for some purposes may be found advantageous. The buckle shewn at
Figure 11 is also provided with two rigid tongues instead of one.
Although I have shewn my fastening applied to stays, I do not limit myself
to such application, as the improved fastening may be applied to various
articles of wearing apparel, and to most purposes for which straps and buckles
are now used. Where a broad fastening is required, it may be necessary
to provide the face of the loop with more than one fixed tongue or stud.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim the employ-
ment of a strap or tab when used alone, as the same is in use with buckles
of ordinary construction; but that what I claim as my improved buckle or
fastening is,―
First, the metal loop furnished with one or more fixed tongues or studs,
herein-before described and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
And, second, the combination of a strap or tab with a metal loop so
constructed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jabez Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.