IMPROVEMENTS IN GLOVES, GAUNT- A MODE OR LETS, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE HAND, AND IN METHOD OF FASTENING OR CLOSING THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Austin, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GLOVES, GAUNT-
A MODE OR
LETS, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE HAND, AND IN
METHOD OF FASTENING OR CLOSING THE SAME."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 3rd July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Austin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1877.
ALFRED AUSTIN, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GLOVES, GAUNTLETS, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE
HAND, AND IN A MODE OR METHOD OF FASTENING OR CLOSING THE SAME.'
"
This Invention has for its object the affording facility for putting on and taking
off gloves and gauntlets and other like coverings for the hand without any unneces-
sary stretching of the same, and has also for its object a more simple, elegant, and
efficient mode of fastening or closing such articles after they have been fitted on to
the hand.
My improved make of glove or gauntlet consists in opening the same down the
back as far or nearly as far as the knuckles, whereby the said glove can be opened
out completely before being tried on, and the hand inserted therein with ease.
In order to close or fasten the glove I prefer to employ an ornamental lace or
cord, which is passed to and fro through eyelet holes made along each side of the
said opening, and retained by a slide, runner, catch, or other like ornamental
fastening. The eyelet holes may be either simply stitched or fitted with ornamental
or other metal eyelets.. The cord or lacing imparts a highly ornamental appearance
to the back of the glove, and whilst greatly facilitating the tightening and fitting of
the same over the hand admits of the adaptation to the pendent or loose ends of
such cord or lace of tassels or other ornaments, or of hooked or other holders for
holding various articles, such as a handkerchief, fan, scent bottle, ball card, and the
like. This peculiar mode of closing or fastening a glove from the top to the
knuckles by lacing may also be applied to the fronts or other parts of such
gloves.

page_text: Although I prefer to employ the mode of fastening herein-before described I do
not confine or restrict myself thereto, provided the glove or gauntlet be made to
open down the back of the hand or outside the arm, as buttons or other known
glove fastenings may be applied to such extended opening, if desired, which opening
may or may not be provided with a tongue or loose flap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Austin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1877.
ALFRED AUSTIN, of Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Merchant.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GLOVES, GAUNTLETS, AND OTHER LIKE COVERINGS FOR THE
HAND, AND IN A MODE OR METHOD OF FASTENING OR CLOSING THE SAME."
My said Invention has for its object the affording facility for putting on and
securing gloves, gauntlets, and other like coverings for the hands without any
unnecessary stretching of such articles, whilst at the same time I obtain a more
simple, elegant, and efficient mode of fastening or securing the same when
adjusted.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the Figures
on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters of refer-
ence indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a back elevation (full size) of my improved
glove or gauntlet, shown open, and with my improved mode of securing the same
applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the open mouth of the glove.
..
In constructing gloves; gauntlets, and other like coverings for the hands according
to my Invention, I cut or fashion the said articles by making in lieu of the usual
opening in the front a slit or opening, say, from a, a, to b, down the back of the
same as far or nearly as far as the knuckles, in order to allow the article to be
opened out fully, as shown in my Drawings, before being tried on, and permitting
of the introduction of the hand therein with ease, and with a minimum amount of
stretching of the glove.
I prefer to make the back and front of my improved glove out of one piece of
material, without any seam or stitching down the sides, for which purpose I continue
the slit or opening a, a, b, downwards to the knuckles at c, the two edges from 6 to
c being then brought together and united by the usual stitching.
I do not confine or restrict myself however to this mode of cutting gloves, as my
Invention may be applied to gloves of the ordinary cut, save and excepting the
opening in the front, which I dispense with entirely.
In order to close the slit or opening a, a, b, and thereby fasten or secure the glove
or gauntlet upon the hand, I employ any required number of buttons or other
suitable glove fastenings provided down each side of the said back opening, but I
prefer, for the facility of fastening and as presenting a more elegant and ornamental
appearance to the glove, to employ a lacing of ornamental cords & passed through
small metal eyelets in each side of the opening, as shown clearly in Figure 1 of my
P

page_text: Drawings, the said cords being retained when drawn up to close the opening by a
slide e, which may be more or less ornamented, according to taste, or a runner, catch,
or other fastening may be employed for the same purpose.
If desired the metal eyelets may be dispensed with, and stitched eyelet holes
alone be employed.
The pendent ends of the lacing cords may be furnished with ornamental tassels
of any kind, as shown at f, f, in Figure 1, and may also be utilized for holding a
handkerchief, fan, scent bottle, ball card, or other such article by being provided
with a convenient catch or holder of any suitable construction.
g represents an inner flap, tongue, or gusset piece (shown partly in dotted lines)
made in one piece or otherwise with the glove, and situate behind the lacing for the
purpose of concealing or protecting the back of the hand in case the sides of the slit
or opening should not be completely closed throughout. If preferred this tongue or
flap may be omitted.
In the case of long gloves constructed according to my said Invention the back
opening a, a, b, with its lacing or fastenings, extends up the front of the arm in a
line with the back of the band.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The manufacture of gloves, gauntlets, and other like coverings for the hands
with a slit or opening down the back from the top, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Second. The application and use of lacing cords or other means of closing or
securing gloves, gauntlets, and other like coverings for the hands in conjunction or
not with an inner flap, tongue, or gusset piece when made to open down the back of
the hand, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Austin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 19th day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ALF. AUSTIN. (L.S.)