IMPROVEMENTS IN EYELETS FOR BOOTS, STAYS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, TOGETHER WITH A TOOL FOR FIXING THE SAME
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EYELETS FOR BOOTS, STAYS, AND OTHER ARTICLES,
TOGETHER WITH A TOOL FOR FIXING THE SAME."-A communication from
abroad by Jules Barnabé Huet, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 12th November 1872, and dated the 3rd June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd June 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EYELETS FOR BOOTS, STAYS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES, TOGETHER WITH A TOOL FOR FIXING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved eyelet, and tool for fixing the
same, and consists in forming a head on the base of the eyelet, by which
it is attached to the boot, corset, or other article, instead of being riveted

page_text: as usual, the eyelet proper simply serving to receive the lace or cord.
These improved eyelets project from the surface of the article to which
they are applied, the lacing being in this manner greatly facilitated, and
the lace does not require threading over and under the edge of the article
as usual.
I am aware that hooks have before been used with a similar mode of
lacing, but the improved eyelet of this Invention differs entirely there-
from, inasmuch as the lace is in the present case always retained in the
eyelet, both when tightened and slackened.
a, Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, shows one form of eyelet applied
to a boot front, the eyelets projecting thereon to receive the laces b. The
laces are first knotted at the ends c, c, and threaded in the eyelets a,
when by pulling the ends d the edges of the article are drawn together,
the laces being then tied.
These improved eyelets are preferably made of a single piece of metal,
and one method of manufacture consists in stamping out a metal blank
of the form shown in Figure 2, having two semicircular ends f united
by a web g, which when bent up assumes the form shown in Figures 3,
4, and 5, the two ends f, f, when brought together forming a flat head,
while the bent part 9 forms the eyelet proper, the edges being turned
over slightly to facilitate the insertion of the lace.
A cheaper kind of article may be made of wire, which is first cut up
into short lengths, the ends of which are bent or curled, as shown at i, i,
Figure 6. The middle portion is then bent up into a circular form, as
shown at h in Figures 7, 8, and 9, to form the eyelet proper. The
heads i, i, are afterwards reduced in thickness by the aid of pressure.
Instead of making the eyelets in one piece as before, I may to ensure
greater strength make them in two parts, viz., the eyelet and the back
or head, which are united when the eyelet is fixed in place by means
of tongues on the eyelet received in slits in the head and turned
thereon. For this purpose I first stamp out a metal blank of the form
shown at a, Figure 10, having two tongues b, b. The edges c are first
turned up at right angles, see Figure 11, and then folded down on the
body a, as seen in Figure 12. In this manner the body a being formed
of a double thickness of metal the necessary strength is obtained to resist
the strain on the lace. The part a is then by the aid of a mandril,

page_text: formed as shown in Figure 13, in readiness to receive the head, Figure 14,
which consists of a disc d stamped out of metal, and having two slits
or apertures f, f, to receive the tongues 6 of the eyelet, which are slightly
recessed into the head at g, g, to assist in securing the same and prevent
the tongues projecting above the surface.
Figure 15 shows a view of the eyelet in place, and also an under side
view of the back or head.
This improved eyelet may also be made from short lengths of flattened
wire, such as shown at a, Figures 16, 17, and 18, the ends being flattened
out as at b, b, Figure 19. The wire a is then bent up of the eyelet form
shown in Figures 20, 21, and 22, of which the ends 6 are thinner than
the eyelet a.
Figures 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 show details of a tool for fixing the
improved eyelets in leather or other material. The device consists of an
ordinary pincers, the lower jaw a of which is slightly concaved at d to
receive the back of the eyelet. The upper jaw e, b, jointed at c, carries
a corresponding convex part i, having a vertical hole j in which the
eyelet is received. The sides of the lower jaw are recessed at e, e, to
receive the cheeks f, f, of a spring plate g fixed at h, Figure 26, and
projecting above the edges of the lower jaw, with the object of pre-
venting any lateral displacement of the eyelet when held in the tool.
In order to fix an eyelet a hole is first made in the leather or fabric by
means of an ordinary punch, in which hole the eyelet is inserted. The
eyelet is then placed in the tool and the jaws closed so as to bring the
convex and concave surfaces together, at same time slightly pressing the
back of the eyelet into the leather or material.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN EYELETS FOR BOOTS, STAYS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, TOGETHER WITH A TOOL FOR
FIXING THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Jules Barnabé
Huet, of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom.
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improved eyelet and tool for fixing the
same, and consists in forming a button back on the eyelet, by which it is
attached to the boot, corset, or other article, instead of being fixed in
the thickness of the material as usual, the eyelet proper simply serving
to receive the lace or cord. These improved eyelets project from the
surface of the article to which they are applied, whereby the lacing is
greatly facilitated as the lace does not require threading alternately over
and under the edge of the article as usual.
I am aware that hooks have before been used with a similar mode of
lacing, but the improved eyelet of this Invention differs entirely there-
from, inasmuch as the lace is in the present case always retained in the
eyelet both when tightened and slackened.

page_text: a, Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, shows one form of eyelet
applied to a boot upper; b, b, are the laces passed through the eyelets
which project from the surface to which they are applied. The laces
are knotted at the ends c, c, and threaded in the eyelets a, as shown, so
that by pulling the ends d the edges of the article may be drawn together.
These improved eyelets are preferably made of a single piece of metal,
and one method of manufacture consists in stamping out of thin sheet
metal (iron or copper) a blank of the form shown in Figure 2, having
two semicircular ends f united by a narrower part g, which is stamped
up to the form shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the two ends f,ƒ, when
brought together forming a kind of flat back or button-by which the
eyelet is fixed, while the part g is bent into the form of an eye, the edges
being turned over slightly to facilitate the insertion of the lace.
A cheaper kind of article may be made of wire cut up into short
lengths, the ends of which are first bent or curled, as shown at i, i,
Figure 6. The middle portion is then bent up into a circular form as
at h, in Figures 7, 8, and 9, to form the eyelet proper.
are then reduced in thickness by the aid of pressure.
The ends i, i,
Instead of making the eyelets in one piece as before I may to ensure
) greater strength make them in two parts, viz., the eyelet and the back,
which are united when the eyelet is fixed in place by means of prongs
on the eyelet received in slits in the back and turned down thereon. As
will be seen this modification relates only to a detail of construction and
does not affect the main feature of the Invention. I stamp out a metal
blank of the form shown at a, Figure 10, having two tongues b, b. The
edges c are first turned up at right angles, see Figure 11, and then folded
down on the part a, as seen in Figure 12, the edges being at same time
bent or turned over to facilitate the entry of the lace through the eyelet.
The body a being formed of a double thickness of metal affords the
necessary strength to resist the strain. The part a is then by the aid of
a mandrel bent to the form shown in Figure 13, in readiness to receive
the back, shown in face and edge view, Figure 14, which consists of a
disc d stamped out of metal, and having two slits or apertures f, f, to
receive the tongues 6 of the eyelet, which when bent down are slightly
recessed into the back at g, g, to assist in securing the same and prevent
the tongues projecting from the surface.

page_text: Figure 15 shows an elevation and under side view on a larger scale of
the eyelet in place.
I may also make the eyelet of iron, copper, or other wire, reduced by
rolling to about half its diameter, leaving its edges rounded, as seen in
side view and transverse section in Figures 16 and 17, and then cut it
up in lengths proportioned to the size of the eyelet (see Figure 18).
The lengths are next stamped and bent to a U form, as shown at a in
elevation and plan, Figure 19, the ends being flattened out to an edge
and slightly bent, as at b, b.
In proceeding to give the definitive form to the eyelet, shown in :
Figure 20 in plan and elevation, the lengths of metal wire are first
heated and then shaped by means of a tool, of which Figure 21 shows
a front view with the plunger raised, and Figure 22 a similar view with
the plunger brought down on the eyelet. Figure 23 shows a transverse
section and Figure 24 a plan of the tool. The reference letters apply
to all four Figures.
The
a, a, are two semicircular steel jaws contained in a circular cavity in a
bed b. The jaws a, a, are each formed with a cavity c at their upper
part, and are held apart by springs d. f, finger, which is protruded at
the desired moment into the cavity c at right angles to the jaws a.
finger fis fixed to a slide g provided with friction rollers h and sliding in
guides i, i, fixed to bed b. j, plate fixed to bed 6 by screws k to hold
jaws a in place. A socket 7 is provided on the inside of platej to receive
the end of finger f. m, head fixed to a press or other machine and
carrying a plungern of the concave form shown, which when the head m
is brought down also causes the two jaws a to close together, as shown
in Figure 22. o, tail piece, fixed obliquely on part m and entering
between the friction rollers h of slide 9 which operates the finger f.
The parts being arranged as described the action of the tool is as
follows:-The lengths of wire bent up, of the form shown in Figure 19,
are inserted one at a time in the cavity c of jaws a, as indicated in
Figure 21; the plunger n is then brought down, by which means the
tail piece o moves slide 9 forward and causes finger f to enter the loop of
bent wire which is to form the eyelet at same time that the jaws a of
the vice are closed by the pressure of plunger n, and give the eyelet the
finished form shown in Figure 22; the plunger n is then raised, which
allows the jaws a to separate by the action of springs d, and at the same

page_text: time the tail piece o draws back slide 9 and finger f to the position shown
in Figure 23, the eyelet on being released from the finger falling out of
the apparatus through a vertical channel
•
p.
The eyelets so made are then (according to the kind of metal of which
they are composed) japanned, polished, or gilded in readiness for fixing
to the articles.
The form of eyelet illustrated in Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, is
considered the best, as owing to its peculiar form it may be very securely
attached, the ends 6 being sharpened so that when it is fixed in place by
the tool herein-after described the said ends are slightly bent and become
embedded in the leather or fabric so as not to leave any sharp projecting
edges.
To facilitate the fixing of these improved eyelets in leather or other
material I employ a device, by the assistance of which they may be
readily inserted into holes of suitable diameter previously made for their
reception.
Figures 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, show detail views of the improved
device, which consists of nippers resembling a pair of ordinary hand
pliers, the lower jaw being slightly hollowed to receive the prongs of the`
eyelet, while the upper jaw has a corresponding convex part through
which a vertical aperture is made to receive the eyelet proper. To keep
the eyelet in place when it is in the tool two small pins project from the
lower jaw on either side which are mounted on a spring plate fixed to
said jaw to enable them to withdraw when the nippers are closed.
Figure 25 shows a side view of the improved device; Figure 26 a part
longitudinal section of same; Figure 27 a side view and plan of the
lower jaw; Figure 28 detail views of the pins and spring plate above
mentioned; and Figure 29 a section of the device with an eyelet in
position. The reference letters apply to all these latter Figures.
q, r, lower and upper jaws of the tool, jointed together at 8; t, con-
cavity in jaw q to receive the prongs of the eyelet; u, u, Figure 27, holes
made in jaw q in which the guide pins v, v, are fitted. These pins are
riveted to a spring plate x, Figure 28, fixed at y. 2, convex surface of
upper jaw r, in which is made a through aperture to receive the eyelet,
as at a', Figure 29, where it is shown secured to a piece of leather c¹.
In order to fix the eyelet it is first introduced into the cavity in the

page_text: tool between the pins v, v, and the leather then inserted, the hole
which has been previously made therein being brought opposite to the
eyelet. The jaws are then closed together which fixes the eyelet in place.
In closing the jaws the upper one presses down the pins v, v, attached to
the spring for holding the eyelet in place.
Owing to the elasticity of the curved prongs b, and their being
sharpened at the ends, the secure attachment of the eyelet to the leather
or fabric is ensured.
Figure 30 shows another tool for fixing the eyelets, which will be
readily understood by a simple inspection of the Drawing. a is the tool
of bent or curved form having a slot 6 to receive the eye of the eyelet ;
c represents the leather or fabric; and d the eyelet. Any other arrange-
ment of nipper or tool answering the same purpose may however be
used.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the Invention
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
improved eyelet, constructed and applied as described and shown in
Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, for outside lacing; as also the tool herein
described in reference to Figures 25 to 29 for fixing such eyelets, con-
structed substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-