Improvements in Fastenings for Wearing Apparel, Bandages,' and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application; 31st July, 1896 Accepted, 5th Sept.; 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Wearing Apparel, Bandages,'
and the like.*
We, GABRIEL SCHRÖDER Modeller, of 17 Winkelsfelder Strasse and SIMON
COHEN, Merchant of 17 Schadowstrasse, both of Düsseldorf in the German
Empire, 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:-...
The ordinary devices for fastening garments, boots, gloves and the like have the
great disadvantage of requiring a considerable amount of time in their use. The
object of this invention is to remedy this inconvenience while securing the advan-
tage of greater simplicity and more certain action compared with other similar
fastenings.
The improved fastening consists essentially of a number of rigid' or elastic clamps
fixed upon a band, cord, chain or their equivalent, which with their hook shaped
ends embrace or grip beadings or ledges formed or arranged at the edges of the
opening to be closed. The said .clamps are advantageously so attached to the
band, cord chain or the like that they can be brought into any position thereon
independently of each other, whereby the invention is rendered specially applicable
for bandages for orthopedic and. surgical purposes, as at particularly painful.
places, such as boils or swellings, where a one-sided pressure is to be avoided, the
clamps can be so shifted that they do not touch these places.
On the drawing appended hereunto the subject, of, this. invention is represented
in several modified forms of execution..
Figs. 1 and 2, show one form of the improved fastening with opened and closeda
edges of the article to be fastened,
Fig. 3, a section of the same along line of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and
Fig. 4, a perspective view of the fastening;
Fig. 5, represents a special form of the clamp in perspective view.
Fig. 6, represents the fastening with the clamps arranged so that they can be
shifted on the band or its equivalent carrying the same:
Figs. 7, and Figs. 8 and 9, show two modified arrangements of the improved
fastening.
As seen from Fig. 3; the ends of the 'clamp a are formed ras hooks a¹ which
embrace or grip the beadings or ledges 6 on the edges to be fastened together.
In the fastening represented by Figs. 1, 2 and 4, these clamps a are fixed upon a
chain c or its equivalent at certain distances from each other. At the point where
the closing of the opening commences one end of the chain or its equivalent
is attached to the article. In the opened position the clamps as shewn by Fig. 1,
are pushed together, so that the edges below them can be opened out.
When the
free end d of the fastening is pulled, the clamps a slide along the beadings or ledges
and draw the edges together, the intermediate lengths of chain being successively
stretched thereby as shewn by Fig. 2. To unfasten the article the clamp next to
the free end-d of the chain cis pushed in the opposite direction and takes the s
other clamps successively along and pushes them together into the positions
shown by Fig. 1, whereby the edges of the opening are unfastened.
The clamps a are preferably provided with tightening springs on their inside,
as shewn by Fig. 5, which may be fixed to any convenient. part on the underside
of the clamps and effect a secure "gripping and pressing of the edges of the

page_text: opening. It is immaterial where these springs are attached, as an instance, they
are shewn fixed to the middle part of the clamp a.
In order to permit the shifting of the clamps independently of each other, as has
been found necessary in the case of bandages even when the fastening is to close
the opening completely, they may be arranged for instance as shewn by Fig. 6.
The middle bar of the clamp a is in this case made with two slits gl corresponding
to the width of a band g, which is drawn through them. When the entire fastening
is operated by pulling the band, the frictional braking produced by the slits upon
the band drawn through them is sufficient to cause the clamps to follow the pull
of the band and slide on the edges of the article and finally remain at rest at their
predetermined distances. If now in the case of bandages for example the pressure
of the clamps is to be avoided at certain places, the respective clamp or clamps is
or are shifted singly to another part of the edges, as can readily be done, so that
these places remain free from clamps..
Another modification of our improved fastening is shewn by Fig. 7, which is
intended to open the fastening self-actingly. In this case the band, chain or cord
is replaced by a helical spring h, upon which the clamps are fixed at such points
that when the spring is in its unstretched state, the clamps are close together
similarly as shewn by Fig. 1. In using the fastening, by separating the clamps,
the spring his stretched, and its free end fastened to a button or the like on the
article, and as soon as this end is released, the spring draws the clamps together
again and opens the fastening.
The same effect is obtained by the modified arrangement represented by Figs. 8
and 9, in which the clamps are arranged on the levers i, of a lazy-tongs, the pins
connecting the ends of the levers moving in slots of the clamps, and the tongs being
drawn together by means of springs. These springs may be torsion springs
arranged at the central pivots k. It is evident that this, fastening when released
will self-actingly draw the clamps a together along the ledges b-into the position
shewn on Fig. 9, and liberate the edges of the opening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangement of fastenings for wearing apparel, bandages
and the like consisting of rigid or elastic clamps sliding on and embracing ledges
or beadings on the edges of the opening to be closed and attached to a band, cord,
chain or their equivalent at permanent or variable distances from each other,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The combination of raised headings or ledges formed at the edges of an
opening in wearing apparel, bandages and the like and clamps fixed to a band,
cord, chain or their equivalent, which by pulling said band, cord, chain or equivalent,
are caused to slide on said beadings or ledges, substantially as, described and
illustrated by the drawings.
3. In fastenings for wearing apparel, bandages and the like consisting of con-
nected clamps sliding on ledges on the edges of the opening to be closed, making
the clamps adjustable on the band or equivalent connection independently of each
other, substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 6 of the
drawings..
4. In fastenings for wearing apparel, bandages and the like, as specified in the
first claim, the arrangement of the clamps so that under the action of a spring or
equivalent elastic device the clamps self-actingly slide into the opening position
when the fastening is released substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
5. In fastenings for wearing apparel, bandages and the like as specified in the
first claim, the arrangement of the clamps on a helical spring attached at one end
to said articles substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 7, of
the drawings.

page_text: 6. In fastenings for wearing apparel bandages and the like as specified in the
first claim the arrangement of the clamps on the levers of a lazy-tongs subject to-
the action of springs substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8-
and 9, of the drawings.
7. In fastenings for wearing apparel, bandages and the like with sliding clamps,..
the arrangement of tightening springs in the clamps, substantially as hereinbefore-
described with reference to Fig. 5.
DL20th day of Avant 1896
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,.
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent..