An Improved Fastening for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
An Improved Fastening for Boots and Shoes.
I, AUGUSTUS GROSS of 68 Pitt Street Sydney, in the Colony of New South
Wales, Engineer, 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 a novel device for attaching to the tongue of lace boots
or shoes for the purpose of securing the tongue (when the boots or shoes are being
worn) in the proper position and also to lock or secure the lace after being tied
and prevent it becoming loosened or undone except when desired by the wearer.
Hitherto great annoyance and inconvenience has been experienced by persons
who wear laced boots or shoes, by the laces frequently becoming loosened or
untied, caused very often by the constant friction of the wearers garments and the
laces, or by the action of the feet while walking or running. The tongue of the
boot or shoe instead of remaining in its proper position in the centre of the boot or
the shoe almost invariably, wher. in use, slips down between the foot and the side
of the boot or shoe.
Now this invention has been especially designed to overcome these deficiencies
in the construction of boots or shoes and is by its simple construction inexpensive
and capable at any moment of locking the tongue of the boot or shoe in its proper
position, also of clasping the lace after being tied in a bow and preventing it
becoming untied or loosened except at the will of the wearer.
But in order that this invention may be more fully understood reference will now
be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which.-
Figure 1 is a view of a shoe with this invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the tongue and lace lock.
Figure 3 is a view of the under part of the lock before being pressed into shape
to receive the top.
Figure 4 shows the spring.
Figure 5 is a side view of the lace and tongue lock open.
In all figures similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A is a piece of suitable metal stamped or shaped as shewn in Figure 3, the
toothed sides B are bent up at about right angles to the centre part of the metal,
the tapered ends C are bent in the opposite direction to B; D is a piece of curved
spring steel of the required length with the dovetailed end E, this spring is laid
on A in the space between the upward turned sides B, the lugs F are then bent
right over so as to secure the spring in position, the dovetailed end of the spring
allows the lugs to so press against it as to keep it secure. The clamp or lock G is
placed over the spring. D, and a pin passes through G at G¹ and through the
holes H in A securing the clamp or lock to the lower portion of the device. The
wings of the clamp or lock G are shaped so as to follow the curve of the foot
and are provided on the inside with short teeth along the outer edges J, these
teeth, when the clamp or lock is closed grasp and hold the lace K and prevent it
becoming untied, the toothed edges of B also assist in holding the lace secure.
When the clamp or lock G is opened as shewn in Figure 5 there is no pressure
on the spring D, but as the clamp or lock is closed the fulcrum L compresses the
spring D, when the clamp or lock G has been fully closed, the fulcruin assumes
such a position that the end E' of the spring D will press against the fulcrum L

page_text: its full force and thus keep the clamp or lock closed, thereby causing it to firmly
grip the lace K and securing the tongue of the boot or shoe in its correct place.
In Figure 1 the clamp or lock is shewn closed keeping the tongue of the shoe in
the correct position, and securing the lace.
I do not claim any particular design for the clamp or lock as it will be obvious
that many modifications may be made, but in all, the small inward teeth on the
outward edges will be provided. The construction of the clamp or lock may be of
any suitable metal, may be made ornamental by the insertion of precious stones or
in any other way.
I am aware that other devices have been on the market for the prevention of
laces becoming untied but these have been of a very weak construction and were
not intended to secure the tongue as well as the lace, and were not permanently
attached to the boot or shoe.
My invention is intended to form a part of the construction of the boot or shoe
it being secured to the tongue of the boot or shoe by passing the tapered ends C
of A through the tongue and clasping them round against the inside, a piece of
some soft leather or other suitable material may be sewn or secured over the ends C
so as to prevent them pressing directly against the foot. The device may be
secured to the tongue of the boot or shoe in any other suitable manner, but in all
cases it must be placed in the centre of the tongue, and about level with the top
eyelet or lace hole of the boot or shoe so that the tying of the lace may be done
across the device when the clamp or lock is raised as shewn in Figure 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. In the construction of all classes of lace boots or shoes a clamp or lock
secured in any suitable manner to the tongue, for the purpose of keeping sai
tongue in the centre of the front of the boot, or shoe, and for clasping the lace
after being tied and preventing it becoming untied except when require.
substantially as herein described explained, and illustrated, in the drawings.
2nd. In the construction of all classes of lace boots and shoes a tongue and lac
lock such as G provided with teeth on the inside of the extended sides, a spring
such as D, a frame or casing such as A secured to the tongue of the boot or shoe
substantially as herein described, explained and illustrated, in the drawings.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein describeu,
explained and illustrated, all together forming the improvements in boots and shoes
substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 10th to
1000
Witness-
AUGUSTUS GROSS.
PERCY S. DAWSON,
Solicitor, Sydney.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.