Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan.. 1888
Specification Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
1 HENRY GITTUS, of Reddish, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to that class of metallic fastener for joining or connecting
the ends of straps, belts, or bands for transmitting motion in driving machinery in
which the strap ends are hammered on to a series of teeth or spikes carried by a
plate. Hitherto such fasteners have been made of malleable cast iron and are con-
sequently clumsy and heavy, and do not take a good grip of the strap, being very
liable to be knocked off should they come in contact with a strap fork or guide.
This invention is designed to obviate these objections and to provide a fastener light
in structure that will take a good grip of the strap to which it is attached and which
will also be applicable for use with belting (such as cotton and canvas) other than
leather.
It consists essentially of a fastener formed from sheet metal of suitable texture; the
teeth or pins being stamped or punched out and bent at an angle to the surface
of the plate leaving the spaces or holes out of which some or all the teeth have
been cut.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of improved fastener showing the teeth or spikes and
side which comes in contact with the belt.
Fig. 2. sectional elevation of fastener.
Fig. 3. perspective view of fastener in position forming joint of belt.
Fig. 4. sectional elevation of same and of belt ends to which it is attached:
This fastener is in shape very similar to those at present made of cast iron with a
back or plate A and teeth or spikes B projecting from one side thereof. It is stamped
or punched out of a sheet or flat bar of steel or other suitable metal such as wrought.
iron or brass if required for light work but I prefer steel as in practice it will be found
better on account of its lightness and durability. The fasteners may be formed with
one two or more rows of teeth B but two rows as shown are preferred for inost
ordinary work.
The fastener may be first stamped from the sheet or plate and the
teeth at a second operation be turned over until they project from the plate nearly at

page_text: right angles. Or if found more convenient in the course of manufacture one operation
of stamping and bending may be employed or the work may be divided into three or
more operations.
It will be seen from the drawing that the inner row of teeth B are punched out of
the body of the fastener leaving holes or spaces C, corresponding to them in the
plate A. Thus while providing the material for the teeth the fastener is rendered
lighter than were teeth affixed to or cast on. The outer row of teeth B are stamped
out of the piece and turned over at the edge. If desired this row of teeth also might
be punched out of the plate a.
The back A of the fastener is somewhat curved to facilitate its passing over pulleys
and the two sets of teeth are slightly inclined towards each other to give them a better
grip in the strap. The teeth or preferably one row of each set are made sufficiently
long to project through the belt end and are turned over or revitted at the end 6 to
secure the fastener more firmly to the strap.
It is obvious that such fasteners as have in addition to the teeth, clamping spikes
or fingers, may also be formed stamped out of steel in the manner described.
In use these improved fasteners will be found lighter, more durable and less liable
to be displaced than the cast iron ones while at the same time they will be found
applicable for cotton, canvas or other similar belting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature
of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim broadly a strap fastener with teeth to enter or be
forced into the strap as such are well known but I declare that what I claim is
A strap fastener formed from sheet steel or other suitable metal having the teeth
stamped or punched out of the solid and bent over into a plane approximately at right
angles to the back of the fastener substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd das of 1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.