Improvements in Fastening Devices for Garments and the like
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastening Devices for Garments and the like,
I, OSBORN CONGELTON, of 368, Lenox Avenue, New York, in the County and
State of New York, U.S.A., Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
1. The provision in a single piece of wire, having its ends pointed, of certain
curvatures and formations of said wire, enabling the pointed ends to be engaged
separately in material to form a fastening or connection, and enabling said pointed
ends to hold against pressure or strain arising in usage, together with means having
the two fold object of retaining the portion of material impaled by each pointed
end of the device and at the same time serving to guard the operator's fingers
from injury by pricking.
2. Means in a device of the above description, having its pointed ends separated
by a coil in the wire, situated approximately centrally thereof, whereby one of
said ends is adapted to impale, confine, or engage with a larger bulk of material
than the other end.
3. In a fastening device of the character referred to, the two ends of a piece
of wire extending in opposite directions from a coil, in different planes, said
ends being pointed and turned inwardly, also in different planes, whereby said
pointed ends may impale or be engaged with adjacent substances, from either side
thereof.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and explained in
detail, I have annexed hereto a sheet of drawings, in which five figures are shown,
cach of said figures illustrating structural differences in my improved fastening
device, but each of said figures embodying the main feature of invention viz.: the
means enabling a double pointed pin to engage with and unite adjacent substances
without the danger of accidental disengagement, or of wounding the user.
Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, which illustrates a certain form of my
invention, and comprises a piece of wire formed as seen and pointed at its ends,
« indicates a coil or convolution formed approximately centrally of the device,
and indicate arms which extend in opposite directions, springing from said
central coil a in the manner shown.
The arms bare each curved or corrugated in their outward path to afford
pliability, as c c¹² the curves c c¹ lying approximately in the plane of the upper
portion of coila; the curvature c¹ being continued to a point d approximately
in a plane with the lower portion of coil a, from which point it is extended
inwardly in said plane, to a point adjacent to the curvature cª². As seen in the
drawing (Fig. 1) the lower surface of the curvature and the pointed end of
arm are in juxtaposition, they together in fact forming a narrow neck or
entrance to the enclosure e, said neck being capable of spring expansion for the
forcible admittance of a greater bulk of material impaled upon the pointed end,

page_text: and the shoulder f serving to retain said material within the enclosure e upon
the spring retraction. The shoulder which lies approximately in a vertical
plane with the extreme point of arm b, serves as a check to prevent said point
from entering the flesh of the user should he accidentally touch said point.
Both of the arms bare identical in every respect and their pointed ends lie prefer-
ably in the same plane pointing toward a common centre, the plane of said
pointed ends being preferably a trifle below the lower curvature of the coil a.
In the employment of this device it is common to first engage one pointed end
thereof with (for example) one of the meeting parts of a garment about a person,
and the portion of material having entered the enclosure e, the opposite pointed
end of the device is drawn over to preferably an extremely distant position upon
the other of the meeting parts of said garment, where said pointed end is
inserted, and the material by the tension naturally set up is drawn within its
enclosure e, the device thus forming a perfect fastening. The fastener is as easily
removed as applied, and it is preferably held by the coiled portion « between the
finger and thumb, when being attached or disconnected.
Figure 2 differs from the foregoing in that one of its arms, as h, whilst having
the general outline of the arms bis devoid of the curvatures c, c, c², extending
instead in a preferably straight line from the coil a to its degree of length, then
having the curvature i, and extending inwardly therefrom to its pointed end in
a parallel plane.
The object of this modified construction is to enable one arm of the fastener
to engage with and support a greater bulk of material than the other arm, and
this form of my invention is particularly adapted for use in dressing shop windows
and the like.
Figure 3 illustrates a form of fastener having coil j, from which extend arms kl,
each in different but approximately parallel planes, the arm continuing into a
downward curvature and terminating in a pointed end 2 lying approximately
in the plane of the lower portion of coil j; and the arm continuing into an
upward curvature and terminating in a pointed end 12 lying approximately in
the plane of the upper portion of coil j.
With the employment of the form of my fastener just described and as illus-
trated in Fig. 3, the meeting portions of a garment or different articles to be
united, may be engaged from opposite sides thereof and where such portions or
articles overlap one another the fastening device may become entirely hidden
from view when applied, as will readily be understood."
Fig. 4 combines the features shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the exception that
the pointed end of its arm m is normally almost in contact with the curvature n,
whereby material impaled upon the pointed end, and passed into the enclosure o,
is more securely retained therein. This figure illustrates the employment, with
an engaging, locking arm, as m, of an engaging, open arm, as p, said arms having
oppositely and reversely arranged impaling points.
In Fig. 5 will be seen a pair of arms q, corresponding to the arm m of Fig. 4
said arms however being oppositely and reversely arranged, as seen.
In Figure 6 is seen a slightly different structure wherein a loop r is formed and
continues into the arms s, t, the arms comprising a straight portion shaving
bend which continues to form an inturned pointed end 3 as seen, the curved
continuation being provided with a loop or other bend, said loop serving the
purpose of a check to prevent the further rearward passage of material impaled
upon the pointed end. The arm t extends from loop r in a straight line as seen,
is continued into loop, and extends therefrom in the curvature u¹, terminating
in an inturned pointed end 2 as seen, said pointed end u² lying contiguous to
the lower surface of loop u, which latter forms a guard therefor.
Whilst for convenience I characterize the material of my fastener as a piece of
wire I intend this term to cover any material that can be used, whether it be
in cross section either round, flat, oval, square or otherwise.
I also wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself in this application

page_text: to the employment of any particular material in the constructing of my fastening
devices, although I prefer to use a spring material.
Dated New York this 18th day of November 1897
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
I, OSBORN CONGELTON, of 368, Lenox Avenue, New York, in the County and
State of New York, Gentleman, 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 fastening devices and it belongs more particularly to
the class known as safety pins.
Its features of novelty and utility may be summarized as follows:-
1. The provision in a single piece of wire, having its ends pointed, of certain
curvatures and formations of said wire, enabling the pointed ends to be engaged
separately in material to form a fastening or connection, and enabling said pointed
ends to hold against pressure or strain arising in usage, together with means having
the two fold object of retaining the portion of material impaled by each pointed
end of the device and at the same time serving to guard the operator's fingers
from injury by pricking.
2. Means in a device of the above description, having its pointed ends separated
by a coil in the wire, situated approximately centrally thereof, whereby one of
said ends is adapted to impale, confine, or engage with a larger bulk of material
than the other end.
3. In a fastening device of the character referred to the two ends of a piece
of wire extending in opposite directions, from a coil, in different planes, said
ends being pointed and turned inwardly, also in different planes, whereby said
pointed ends may impale or be engaged with adjacent substances, from either side
thereof.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and explained in
detail, I have lodged with my Provisional Specification a sheet of drawings, in
which six figures are shown, each of said figures illustrating structural differences
in my improved fastening device, but each of said figures embodying the main
feature of invention viz. the means enabling a double pointed pin to engage
with and unite adjacent substances without the danger of accidental disengage-
ment, or of wounding the user.
Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, which illustrates a certain form of my
invention, and comprises a piece of wire formed as seen and pointed at its ends,
a indicates a coil or convolution formed approximately centrally of the device,
and indicate arms which extend in opposite directions, springing from said
central coil a in the manner shown.
The arms bare each curved or corrugated in their outward path to afford
pliability, as e c¹ c², the curves c, c', lying approximately in the plane of the upper
portion of coil a; the curvature being continued to a point d approximately
in a plane with the lower portion of coil a, from which point it is extended
inwardly in said plane, to a point adjacent to the curvature c³. As seen in the
drawing (Fig. 1) the lower surface of the curvature and the pointed end of
arm are in juxtaposition, they together in fact forming a narrow neck or
entrance to the enclosure e, said neck being capable of spring expansion for the

page_text: forcible admittance of a greater bulk of material impaled upon the pointed end,
and the shoulder f serving to retain said material within the enclosure e upon
the spring retraction. The shoulder g which lies approximately in a vertical
plane with the extreme point of arm 6, serves as a check to prevent said point
from entering the flesh of the user should he accidentally touch said point.
Both of the arms bare identical in every respect and their pointed ends lie prefer-
ably in the same plane pointing toward a common centre, the plane of said
pointed ends being preferably a trifle below the lower curvature of the coil a.
In the employment of this device it is common to first engage one pointed end
thereof with (for example) one of the meeting parts of a garment about a person,
and the portion of material having entered the enclosure c, the opposite pointed
end of the device is drawn over to preferably an extremely distant position upon
the other of the meeting parts of said garment where said pointed end is
inserted, and the material by the tension naturally set up is drawn within its
enclosure e, the device thus forming a perfect fastening. The fastener is as easily
removed as applied, and it is preferably held by the coiled portion a between the
finger and thumb, when being attached or disconnected.
Figure 2 differs from the foregoing in that one of its arms, as h, whilst having
the general outline of the arms bis devoid of the curvatures c, c', c³, extending
instead in a preferably straight line from the coil a to its degree of length, then
having the curvature i, and extending inwardly therefrom to its pointed end in
a parallel plane.
The object of this modified construction is to enable one arm of the fastener
to engage with and support a greater bulk of material than the other arm, and
this form of my invention is particularly adapted for use in dressing shop windows
and the like since the arm being devoid of curvatures and open, may more
easily be placed over a supporting rod or the like.
Figure 3 illustrates a form of fastener having coil j, from which extend arms kl,
each in different but approximately parallel planes, the arm k continuing into a
downward curvature and terminating in a pointed end lying approximately
in the plane of the lower portion of coil j; and the arm / continuing into an
upward curvature and terminating in a pointed end lying approximately in
the plane of the upper portion of coil j.
With the employment of the form of my fastener just described and as illus-
trated in Fig. 3, the meeting portions of a garment or different articles to be
united, may be engaged from opposite s thereof, and where such portions or
become entirely hidden
articles overlap one another the fastening
from view when applied, as will readily be unu
Fig. 4 combines the features shown in Figs. 2 and, with the exception that
the pointed end of its arm m is normally almost in conta t with the curvature n,
whereby material impaled upon the pointed end, and passed into the enclosure »,
is more securely retained therein. This figure illustrates the employment, with
an engaging locking arm, as m, of an engaging, open arm, as o, said arms having
oppositely and reversely arranged impaling points.
In Fig. 5 will be seen a pair of arms q, corresponding to the arm m of Fig. 4,
said arm q however being oppositely and reversely arranged, as seen.
In Fig. 6 is seen a slightly different structure wherein a loop r is formed and
continues into the arms s, t, the arm s comprising a straight portion shaving
bend 2 which continues to form an inturned pointed end 33 as seen, the curved
continuation being provided with a loop v or other bend, said loop serving the
purpose of a check to prevent the further rearward passage of material impaled
upon the pointed end. The arm t extends from loop r in a straight line as seen,
is continued into loop u, and extends therefrom in the curvature ¹, terminating
in an inturned pointed end u², as seen, said pointed end u² lying contiguous to
the lower surface of loop u, which latter forms a guard therefor.
Whilst for convenience I characterize the material of my fastener as a piece of

page_text: wire I intend this term to cover any material that can be used, whether it be
in cross section either round, flat, oval, square or otherwise.
I also wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself in this application
to the employment of any particular material in the construction of my fastening
device, although I prefer to use a spring material; nor do I limit myself to the
exact details of construction herein shown and described, realizing fully that
various other modifications may be utilized all within the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A fastening device comprising an elongated member formed into a coil with
extending arms, which arms are inwardly turned and terminate in pointed ends.
2. A fastening device comprising an elongated member formed into a coil with
extending arms, which arms are inwardly turned and terminate in pointed ends,
together with means limiting the attacking power of said pointed ends.
3. A fastening device comprising an elongated member, formed into a coil with
extending arms, said arms being bent and inwardly turned, and terminating in
inwardly turned pointed ends in approximately a like plane, a bend and a pointed
end being contiguous to each other for the purposes substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in an elongated member, of a coil a having arms b, b with
curvatures cc 2 and inwardly turned pointed ends, and the shoulders f and g
substantially as set forth.
5. A fastening device comprising an elongated member formed into a coil with
arms extending oppositely therefrom in different planes, said arms_terminating
in inturned pointed ends also lying in different planes relative to each other.
6. A fastening device comprising an elongated member having a coil and extend-
ing therefrom in opposite directions to form inturned engaging points, together
with a check upon one of said ends to limit the passage of material impaled
thereon.
1
1000