An Improved Fastening for Gloves, Shoes, Leggings, Gaiters, and the like..
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1895-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fastening for Gloves, Shoes, Leggings, Gaiters, and
the like..
I, ABIEL GIFFORD HOWLAND. of Victoria Street, Christchurch, Canterbury,
in the Colony of New Zealand, Coach-builder, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an exceedingly simple and effective means of fastening
gloves, shoes, leggings, gaiters, and the like, and consists essentially of a pair of
members formed of ball-headed curved shanks attached to base plates by which
they are affixed to the article, the shank projecting from the opposing edges to be
united and presenting their oppositely and outwardly curved ball-headed portions
in such relative positions that they are adapted to be sprung into interlocking
engagement with each other in such manner as to resist the strain tending, to
separate the edges of the article the ball heads by interlocking with each other
effectually preventing the disengagement of the two members by a direct pull, or
otherwise than by a twisting motion whereby the one ball is caused to pass round
the other the. ball heads projecting from the face of the article in convenient
position to be so operated by the thumb and forefinger, the motion in fastening and
unfastening being of course in opposite directions. Any required number of pairs
of such members may be applied to fasten a glove or other article.
The advantages of this fastening are speed in fastening, durability and saving
of wear and tear, and there being no parts which, in the case of gloves, would
catch, cut, or wear the glove on the hand used in fastening or unfastening the other
glove.
My invention will be easily understood by reference to the annexed sheet of
drawings wherein
Figure 1 represents a glove secured by four of the improved fastenings;
Figure 2 represents a pair of ball-headed hooked members separately and
Figure 3 represents the same as fastened together;
Figures 4 and 5 represent a side and end view respectively of one of the
members;
Figure 6 represents, on an enlarged scale, a view similar to that shewn in
Figure 3, the ball beads being removed and indicated by dotted lines.
A is the shank having a curvature in the lateral, direction as shewn in Figures 2
and 5 and a curvature in the outward direction as shewn in Figure 4 and
terminating at the top or outer end in a ball knob B. The shank projects from
the end of an elongated plate c to which it is attached by its bottom or inner end
said plate being provided with (preferably) three holes a a a for the purpose of
attachment by sewing or rivetting preferably to the inner side of the glove or
other article. This plate should be made thin at the middle of its length so that
it may be sufficiently clastic to conform to the curvature of the wrist and prevent
the rear end of the plate pressing the material outwards when the strain is put on
it in fastening.
It will be observed that the plates of the pair of members constituting a
fastener are not attached to the opposite portions of the glove or other article in
direct line with each other but so that the knob B of the one member comes
Dearly in line with the plate of the other member and conversely and that the act of
fastening is performed by causing each knob to pass the other on the side towards

page_text: which its shank is directed and then to pass round each behind the other to the
opposite side thus effecting an interlocking engagement as shewn in Figures 1
and 3.
The members of the fastening may be made of different sizes according to the
particular article for which they may be required and may be of various metals
such as silver, brass, white metal, oroid, steel, or even gold, or of any other suitable
material. The shank, ball, and plate can be formed preferably of one piece by
being made in tools or machines for the purpose, or cast, the hook being completed
at one operation thus enabling it to be produced at a very small cost.
Although the glove is shewn in the drawing as having four pairs of fasteners,
any required number may be attached. The fasteners may be applied to numerous
articles of wearing apparel besides others of a different nature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A fastening for gloves, shoes, leggings, gaiters, and the like, consisting of a
pair of members having oppositely and outwardly curved shanks such as A each
terminating in a ball B and springing from a base or attachment plate C the
members being adapted to be so presented to each other as to form a mutual or
interlocking engagement substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
annexed drawings.
Dated this 25th day of June 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.