Improvements in and relating to Pockets for Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1889:
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pockets for Wearing Apparel.
I, BEDFORD WOODSFORD of 118 Kings Road, Chelsea, in the county of Middlesex,
Tailor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follwos :—
My invention relates 1st to an improvement safety pocket and 2nd to improvements
in fasteners for securing the mouths or openings of ladies pockets, and has for its
object the better protection of articles carried in the said pockets, being further
improvements on my invention as set forth in my Specification for Letters Patent
No. 2624 of 1889.
My improved safety pocket is made of any suitable material, such as that which is
at present in use, it has then a number of small steel or other metal rings sewn
closely together all over the outside of the pocket, so as to prevent the pocket being
cut out.
a small
The fastener consists of a band of spring steel or other suitable material of
sufficient size to fit the mouth of the pocket. For convenience in attaching the same
in the pocket I prefer to make the band in two parts which may be joined together
The
at one end by means of a hinge and at the other in any convenient manner.
back part carries a small spring bolt or slide, (which slides horizontally with the
frame on its outer side) which is connected to a spring slide, having
projection or knob to allow the same to be easily withdrawn, on the waist band of
the dress of the wearer; by means of a coiled wire encased in a tube of india rubber
or similar material. The spring bolt or slide engages with an eye which is fixed to
the inner side of a small plate of spring steel or other analogous material, whose ends
are free to slide in slots in the front part of the band. This eye passes through slots
in the front and back parts of the band respectively to allow it to engage with the
spring bolt or slide herinbefore mentioned. When the fastener is open the small
plate on the front part is made to assume a bellied form by means of a small spring
being interposed between the plate and the front part.
It will thus be seen that the opening or mouth of the pocket is preferably clear
when the same is open.
To shut my improved fastener, the small plate on the front part is pressed till the
eye on its inner side engages with the spring bolt slide on the outer side of the back
part and to open the same, the small projection or knob on the waist band of the
dress is withdrawn till the spring bolt or slide is also withdrawn (by means of the
coiled wired herin before described) from engaging with the eye on the back part,
when the pocket can then be opened.
The fastener may be used with or without my improved safety pocket and may
be attached to the mouth or opening of the pocket in any convenient and suitable
manner.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pockets for Wearing Apparel.
I, BEDFORD WOODSFORD of 118 Kings Road, Chelsea, in the county of Middlesex,
Tailor, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved safety pocket for the use of ladies and it has
for its object the better protection of articles carried in the said pocket, and it consists
in the application to suspension pockets of my improved pocket fastener as set forth
in my prior Patents No. 2624 and No. 10703 both of 1889.
My improved pocket is made of any suitable size and material, and has a small
steel chain, or a number of small steel or other metal rings, sewn closely together
round the edge or edges of the pocket, so as to prevent the pocket being cut open.
The orifice of the pocket is fitted with a fastener which consists of a band of spring
steel or other suitable material of sufficient size to fit the orifice of the pocket. On
to the back part of the spring band is mounted, longitudinally therewith, a light
frame carrying a bolt or slide adapted to engage with an eye carried on the inner
side of a small plate of spring steel mounted on the front part of the band. This
eye passes through slots in the front and back parts of the band respectively to allow
it to engage with the spring bolt or slide hereinbefore mentioned. To keep the
spring plate carrying the eye, apart from the front part of the spring band, a small
coiled spring is inserted between them. The slide or bolt is provided with an
operating knob, and the frame carrying it is of such a length that it can be
conveniently fixed to the waistband of a dress or to a band adapted solely to carry
the pocket.
To shut my improved pocket, the small plate on the front part of the fastener is
pressed till the eye on its inner side engages with the spring bolt or slide in the
frame on the back part, and to open the same the small projection or knob is with-
drawn till the spring bolt or slide is disengaged from the eye on the plate on the
front part of the spring band, when the fastener then springs open.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a
view in side elevation of my improved pocket with fastener attached, showing the
same closed, Figures 2 and 3 are views in side and front elevation respectively-on
an enlarged scale-of the fastener.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
My improved pocket X is made of any suitable size and material, and it has small
steel or other metal chains a etc. or a series of rings sewn on to the edges of the
pocket which are not protected by the spring band of the fastener, these chains may
either be sewn on the outside of the pocket or on the inside thereof. The fastener
consists of a band A, A' of spring steel or any other suitable material bent into the
form of an ellipse and of sufficient size to fit the orifice of the pocket X. It will be
understood that the band need not necessarily be made from one piece of metal, as it
may be made from two pieces as described and shown in my prior Patents. On the
outer side A¹ of the spring band is formed or fixed a spring plate A². This plate may
either be formed in one with the spring band, as illustrated, or it may be made of a
separate piece and fixed thereto. On to the inner side of the plate A² a catch C is
fixed in any convenient manner, this catch is preferably in the form of a tongue,
having near its free end an eye or hole as illustrated.
On to the back A of the spring band is mounted or fixed, longitudinally therewith,
a light tubular frame D (preferably of the shape shown in the accompanying
drawing) carrying a bolt or slide E which is fitted at its upper end with a spring e
the function of which is is to keep the said bolt or slide E closed. A knob e¹ is fixed
to the bolt or slide E somewhere near its upper end for operating the said bolt or
slide E. Holes or slots a and a¹ are cut in the parts A, A' of the band to allow the

page_text: catch or eye C to pass through them, and engage with the bolt or slide E when the
two parts of the spring band are pressed together.
Between the part of the band A' and the spring plate A2, and encircling the catch
or eye C, is placed a coil spring B the function of which is to preserve the space
between the plate A2 and the part A¹ of the spring band, and to prevent the end of
the catch or eye C protruding through the part A¹ of the spring band when the
fastener is open, thus keeping the orifice or mouth of the pocket clear. Fixed on
or near the top of the back part of the frame D is a small plate F of metal or other
suitable material free to revolve on its centre. This plate is sewn or otherwise fixed
in any convenient manner to the waist band of the dress or to a band adapted solely
to carry the pocket.
To close my improved pocket the plate A² is pressed till the catch C, which it
carries passes through the slots a and a¹ in the parts A and A' of the spring band
respectively, and engages with the spring slide or bolt E carried by the frame D on
the back part A of the band. To open the pocket, the knob e' on the spring slide or
bolt E carried in the frame D is pulled upwards until the bolt E liberates the eyo or
catch (carried by the plate A2, when the pocket will fly open.
I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but hold myself at liberty to mako
such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and 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. The improvements in pockets for wearing apparel substantially as set forth.
2. In a pocket, the combination with the chain or series of rings arranged around
the edges of the pockets, of the fastener in the mouth of the pocket, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a suspension pocket, of a fastener adapted to close the
mouth or orifice of the pocket and be operated from or near the point of suspension of
the said pocket, as set forth.
4. In a pocket fastener, the combination with the spring band A, A¹, of the spring
plate A2 carrying a catch C, of the tubular frame D fixed longitudinally to the back
part A of the spring band, and carrying the slide or bolt E which is adapted to
engage with the catch C on the plate A2, of the plate F mounted on the free end of
the tubular frame D, and of the operating knob el on the slide or bolt E, all combined
arranged and operating as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th dor of Doaamber 1989.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.