Improved Means for Fastening the Laces of Boots.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK CHALLICE CONSTABLE, of Kurrachee, India,
Gentleman.]
Improved Means for Fastening the Laces of Boots.
I, HENRY HARRIs Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means for fastening the laces of boots.
My said invention is designed to obviate the inconvenience ofter experienced in
fastening the extremities of boot laces in the ordinary manner, and comprises various
improvements hereinafter set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a suitable number of buttons,
studs, hooks or the like and attach the same in any convenient manner at suitable
intervals round the top of the upper of the boot. The boot lace being properly
tightened, the extremities of the same are passed alternately round any required
number of the said buttons, studs, hooks or the like. To render the fastening more
secure the extremities of the said lace may be passed backwards in a similar manner
round one or more of the said buttons, studs, hooks or the like and the tag secured
between the same, thus obviating any chance of the fastening becoming accidentially
undone.
I sometimes moreover provide loops upon the extremities of the lace or laces
adapted to be fastened upon such of the buttons, studs, hooks or the like that are in
the proper position to secure the said lace or laces tightly.
When the fastening is intended for application to boots for shooting, or other hard
work, the said lace fastening may be made more secure, by twining the lace round
every button, stud, hook or the like or round buttons, studs, hooks or the like situated
at any convenient intervals apart.
Moreover by means of this device for fastening laces of boots a single lace may
be employed, that is to say, a boot Ince so arranged as to have but one free end or
extremity.
By this invention very advantageous means are provided for fastening or securing
the laces of boots and the like, quicker, easier, and presenting a more pleasing
appearance than the ordinary methods of securing or fastening the said laces by
tying, or knotting, and which moreover affords exactly the same support to the foot
or ancle. The said invention can be applied easily and expeditiously to boots already
made, as well as to boots in the course of manufacture, and is inexpensive and will
therefore add little to the first cost.
Although I have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify
the said device without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 16th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45. Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Fastening the Laces of Boots.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following stateinent :-
My invention relates to improved means for fastening the laces of boots.

page_text: Bly said invention is designed to obviate the delay and inconvenience frequently
experienced in fastening and unfastening the extremities of boot laces in the ordinary
manner.
According to my said invention I provide round the top of the boot-upper, a suitable
number of studs, so arranged at convenient intervals that the boot-lace may be securely
fastened as hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the upper part of a boot with my improve-
ments applied thereto.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the boot. B is the lace thereof.
a, a are studs firmly secured round or partially round the top of the upper of the
boot A (as shown more clearly in Figure 1 in which view the boot lace B is removed).
When the laco B is provided with a tag the said laco is fastened or secured as shown
in Figure 2 by passing the lace successively under and over three or any other con-
venient number of the said studs and then returning and inserting the tag under the
lace and between two of the said studs.
I sometimes moreover provide upon each extremity of the lace B in the place of a
straight tag a loop or book or tag bent in the shape of a hook capable of passing
through the eyelet holes of the boot, or otherwise and adapted to be fastened upon
such one of the said studs as is in the proper position to secure the said laco tightly in
position.
Moreover my said invention permits a single lace to be employed that is to say, a
lace so arranged as to have but one free end or extremity.
My said invention is of especial value in the case of boots intended for shooting
or other hard wear, and can be appliod easily and at a small cost to boots already
made as well as to boots in the course of manufacture.
Although I have herein before described' a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice by means of studs placed round the boot
upper, it is obvious that I can employ buttons, books or the like in the place of the
said studs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :—
The improved means substantially as hereinbefore described for fastening the laces
of boots.
6th day of August 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.