IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOE AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOE AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS
▲ communication to him from abroad by Henry J. Dieler, of St Paul,
Minnesota, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1882.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHOE AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS," a communication to me from abroad by
Henry J. Dieler, of St Paul, Minnesota, United States of America,
The object of this invention is to provide a device adapted to be rigidly secured
in position, and so constructed that the shoo can be easily and quickly buttoned
without the aid of a button hook.
The invention consists in a fastening device consisting of two leaves hinged or
otherwise loosely connected, ono of which is adapted to be secured to the shoe,
glove or similar article, while the other is provided with means for its removable
attachment to the over lapping piece of the shoe, glove or similar article and
means for locking the two leaves in close contact for instance a hooked catch.
Also in the combination, with a leaf adapted to be rigidly secured to the
shoc, glove or similar article a second leaf loosely hinged or secured to the first
leaf and provided with a button adapted to pass through an eyelet or button hole
in the shoo, glove, or similar article, and means for holding the two leaves in close
contact when the shoo or glove is buttoned.
Also in the combination, with a leaf provided with prongs by means of which
it is secured in position, a hooked catch and an oblong loop, of a leaf provided
with a button, a slot for the passage of the catch and an open slot provided with
a pintle.
Also in a tool for securing the fastening dovices in position consisting of two
levers and jaws, one of said jaws being provided with a recess for the reception of

page_text: the body of the leaves, an open slot for the catch and button shank, a recess or
cavity for the button, and a spring for holding the device in position therein,
while the other jaw is provided with one or more gutters or slots for the purpose
of bending the prongs of the fastening device when the two jaws are brought
together.
Also in a tool for securing the fastening devices in position, consisting essentially
of two levers and jaws, and a spring for separating the said levers and jaws, one of
the said jaws being provided with a recess for the reception of the body of the
fastener, a slot communicating therewith for the reception of the hooked catch and
button shank, a recess for the reception of the button, and a flat spring adapted
to bear on the said button and hold the fastening device in proper position, while
the opposite jaw is provided with one or more curved gutters or slots for the
purpose of bending the prongs of the fastening device when the two jaws are
brought together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in-pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st December 1882.
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of Kensington, Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHOE AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS," a communication to me from abroad by
Henry J..Dieler, of St Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
This invention relates to an improvement in shoe and other similar fasteners.
Heretofore shoe buttons have been rigidly secured in position by sewing them in
the ordinary manner, or by the metallic fasteners now so commonly used, but these
methods are objectionable for the reason that it is practically impossible to button
the shoe without the aid of a buttoner, which latter is not always conveniently at
hand when needed. Another objection to the use of button shoes, wherein a buttoner
is necessary, is that the buttoner besides tearing and enlarging the button hole or
eyelet by constant usage, also twists.the over lapping piece of the shoe and draws
it with a side wrench or curve, so that the line of direction of applied force is angular
to that which obtains when the shoe is buttoned and actually in use, and thereby
causes the over lapping pioco to become distorted in shape.
The object of this invention is to provide a device adapted to be rigidly secured
in position, and so constructed that the shoe can be easily and quickly buttoned
without the aid of a button hook,.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device that will combine
simplicity and cheapness of construction with durability and efficiency in use, and
with these ends in view this invention consists in the parts and combination of
parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a-perspective view of a shoe, provided
with this improved dovico, partly buttoned, Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view
of ono of the fasteners in open adjustment.. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viow
of the same in a closed and locked adjustment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the
device for securing the fasteners in position, and Fig. 5 is a view of the jaw H
with the fastening device in position therein. A represents the shoe, B the
fastening devices, and C.the eyelets or the button hole. These fastening devices B
are made of metal, preferably brass, and are composed of the two parts or leaves a, a¹,
the leaf a being provided with any suitable number of projections or prongs b
formed integral with the said leaves, by means of which the devices are rigidly
secured in position by passing the prongs through the shoes and then clamping or
clinching them on the inner face of it.
Each leaf a is provided on its outer surface with the hooked catch c, adapted to
engage the hinged leaf a' as will be hereinafter described, and securely hold tho
fastener in a closed position when the shoe is buttoned. Each lower leaf a is also
provided on its inner end with an oblong loop d, which latter is restricted in width
and is formed by bending the end of the leaf. over on to the body or main portion...
of the said leaf. This end portion of the loop d is so bent that: the loop formed
thereby will lie parallel to the outer surface of the leaf so as to enable.the pintle d
of the leaf a to freely move in the said oblong loop while the two leaves are in
close contact.
The upper or outer hinged leaves a are slightly longer than the lower leaves and
each one is provided near its outer end-with a suitable button E, made of metal and
formed integral with or separate froin the said leaf, or an ordinary shoe button can
be secured thereon-in any convenient manner.
Each leaf a¹ is also provided with an oblong slot e through which the hooked

page_text: catch b projects when the two leaves are brought into close contact, and by means
of which they are held in close contact after the shoe is buttoned.
The inner end of the leaf a¹ is provided centrally with an open slot f which is
exactly the size of the restricted end of the leaf a, which latter fits therein.
The sides of the slot f, are of the same thickness as the restricted portion of the
leaf a and they are also formed by doubling or bending over the outer arms
forming the sides of the slot.
A pintle g is secured in any suitable manner near the ends of the leaf a' and
extends across the open slot f and moves in the loop e.
This pintleg is sufficiently small to enable the leaf a' free longitudinal movement,
by means of which latter the said leaf is locked with and unlocked from the leaf a.
Now when the shoe is unbuttoned the weight of the button and leaf al are
sufficient to hold the pintle g at or near the outer side of the loop d which
consequently frees the hooked catch a from the leaf a' and simply rests in the slot
without interfering with the free movement of the said leaf.
When it is desired to button the shoe, the outor end of the leaf a¹ is moved
upward and held by a finger or thumb bearing on the under surface thereof.
The over lapping piece of the shoe is then brought over into position and held with
one hand, while the button E is pressed upward through the proper eyelet by the
finger before mentioned. This finger is then removed, and the over lapping piece
is moved downward until the two leaves are brought into close contact, when by
releasing the shoe altogether, the strain or tension of the over lapping pieco moves.
the leaf a¹ towards the centre of the shoe until it is stopped by the hooked end of
the catch c engaging with the body of the leaf a¹.
When the fastening devices are set in their proper position on the shoe, there is
always a sufficient strain to keep the parts in locked position.
The shoes can be unbuttoned in the ordinary manner, without disengaging the
leaves a a', or the said leaves can be unlocked, and the shoe unbuttoned; when the
shoe is buttoned, the fastening devices are all covered, and the shoe presents an
ordinary appearance.
The fasteners are secured in position by the tool F, the construction of which will
be hereinafter described, and they can either be secured while at the manufactory or
at the retail dealers store by any person, as no special skill is needed for the purpose.
As no button hook is necessary to button the shoe the eyelets or buttons C can be
made considerably smaller than at present constructed, as it is only necessary to be
of size sufficient to freely admit of the passage of the button E.
I have described the improvement in connection with shoes, but I do not limit
its use to shoes alone, as it is equally well applicable to gloves, bolts and wearing
apparel of any kind. I have also described the particular construction of fasteners,
but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to that particular
construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to use any and all
constructions that fall within the spirit and scopo of this invention.
The tool F for securing the fastening devices in position consists of the two
levers G G¹, and the two jaws HH', the latter being inerely coutinuations of the
levers.
A spring I is interposod between the two levers G G¹, just back of the joint for
the purpose of holding the jaws in an open position. This upper jaw H is provided
on its inner face with a recess for the reception of the fastening device B, which
recess is of such shape that the device will accurately fit therein without any
movement. . An open slot i is formed in the outer end of the jaw H' for the passage
of the button shank, and the hooked catch c, and a recess or cavity g, on the outer
face of the jaw H immediately over the slot i is formed for the reception of the
button E.
A flat steel or other suitable spring is secured on the outer face of the jaw H, and
bears on the button E and holds the fastening device securely in position while
the latter is being secured to the shoe.
When a fastener is placed in this tool F the two leaves a a¹, are held in locked

page_text: adjustment and are prevented from separating until the fastener has been detached
from the said tool. The inner face of the jaw H, is provided with as many
transverse or curved guttera or slots & as there are series or sets of the prongs b, and
these slots or gutters are so situated as to register with the prongs b when the jaws
are brought together.
b
The ends of the rear prongs 6 rest on the inner edge of the inner slot or gutter k
while the ends of the outer prongs b or those nearer to the outer ends of the jaws H',
rests on the outer edge of the outer gutter K, and when the two jaws are forced
together the ends of the prongs in the two sets shown in the drawings, are curved
towards each other and thereby firmly clamp the fastener to the shoe.
When it is desired to secure the fastening devices in position they are placed
one at a time in the tool and secured in the manner before described.
This form of tool is specially adapted for the style of fasteners shown in the
drawings but I would have it understood that I consider myself at liberty to
make such changes therein as will enable it to accommodate the different style of
fastening devices which can be constructed without departing from the spirit of
this Invention
Having fully described this invention what I claim, is :—
1. As a new article of manufacture, a fastening device consisting of two leaves
hinged or otherwise loosely connected, one of which is adapted to be secured to the
shoe, glove or similar article, while the other is provided with means for its
removable attachment to the over-lapping piece of the shoe, glove or similar article
and means for locking the two leaves in close contact.
2. A shoo, glove or other similar fastening device, consisting of two leaves
hinged or otherwise loosely connected together, one of which is adapted to be
secured to the shoe, glove or similar article, while the other is provided with means
for its removable attachment to the overlapping piece of the shoe, and a hooked
catch for holding the two leaves'in close contact, when the shoe, glove or similar
article is buttoned.
3. In a shoe, glove or other similar fastening device, the combination, with a lenf
adapted to be rigidly secured to the shoe, glove or similar article of a second leaf
loosely hinged or secured to the first leaf and provided with a button adapted to
pass through an eyelet or button hole in the shoo, glove or similar article
and means for holding the two leaves in close contact when the shoe or glove is
buttoned.
4. In a shoe, glove or other similar fastening device, the combination; with a leaf
provided with prongs by means of which it is secured in position, a hooked catch
and oblong loop of a leaf provided with a button, a slot for the passage of tho
catch and an open slot provided with a pintle, the two parts or leaves being
connected and adapted to operate as described.
5. The combination with the lower leaf a constructed as described, of the outer
leaf a', loosely hinged to the leaf a, and adapted to operate in connection therewith,
substantially in the manner described.
6. The tool for securing the fastening devices in position consisting of two
levers and jaws, one of said jaws being provided with a recess for the reception of
the body of the leaves, an open slot for the catch and button shank, a recess or
cavity for the button, and a spring for holding the device in position therein,
while the other jaw is provided with one or more gutters or slots for the purpose
of bending the prongs of the fastening device when the two jaws are brought
together.
7. The tool for securing the fastening devices in position, consisting essentially of
two levers and jaws, and a spring for separating the said levers and jaws, one of
the said jaws being provided with a recess for the reception of the body of the
fastener, a slot communicating therewith for the reception of the hooked catch
and button shank, a recess for the reception of the button E, and a flat spring
adapted to bear on the said button and hold the fastening device in proper position
while the opposite jaw is provided with one or more curved gutters or slots for the

page_text: purpose of bonding the prongs of the fastening devico when the two jaws are
brought together.
8. The combination with the tool F constructed substantially as described of
the fastening device B also constructed as described and adapted to be held in one
jaw, of the tool F and be secured in position thereby on a shoe, glove or similar
article when the two jaws of the tool F are forced together, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have horeunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-first day of December AD 1882.