IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR GLOVES, BOOTS, CLOAKS, OR OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1883. Communicated to
him from abroad by Edwin Jennison Kruetzer of Boston, Mas-achusetts,
United States of America, Merchant.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR GLOVES,
BOOTS, CLOAKS, OR OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL [A communication
to me from abroad by Edwin Jennison Kraetzer of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Merchant.
This invention relates to that class of fasteners or buttons which are designed
for fastening or buttoning gloves, shoes, cloaks, or similar articles and consists in
a novel construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter more fully set
forth, by which a more effective and desirable article of this character is produced
than is now in ordinary use.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a globe or ball, & shank
or neck, and a plate. The shank is composed of a short wire which is rigidly
attached at its outer end to the globe, and at its inner end to the plate, being
preferably inclined to the plane of said plate at an angle of about fifteen degrees.
I also provide a catch which consists of a plate, globes or balls, and shanks or
necks; the shanks are composed of short elastic wires or springs, their outer ends
being respectively rigidly attached to the globes, and their inuer ends to the plate,
the shanks being preferably inclined to the plane of the plate at an angle of about
sixty degrees. These shanks are also preferably so arranged on their plate as to
cause the globes to press forcibly against each other.
In the use of this invention, for example when applied to a glove, the catch
plate is secured or attached to one flap or side of the glove, and the button plate
to the other, and to button the glove, the ball or globe of the button proper, is
drawn over or past the globes or balls of the catch and pushed down or inwardly,
causing the neck or shank of the button to force these globes apart and pass
between them, the globe of the button being then released and the " spring or
contractile action of the glove drawing it partially under the catch globes, and
against the shanks by which it will be caught and held in a manner which will be
readily obvious without a more explicit description.
"

page_text: It will also be obvious that in buttoning the glove when the centre of the button
ball, has passed a vertical line drawn through the centres of the catch balls, the
convex surfaces of all three balls being in contact, if the button ball is pressed
down or inwardly, it will slide down or in over the sides of the catch balls which
are next to the catch plate, and at the same time draw the button plate, and the
flap or part of the glove to which it is attached, towards the catch plate, and that
when the centre of the button ball as it is pushed down or inwardly has passed a
horizontal line drawn through the centres of the catch balls it will, if released,
cease to traverse towards the plate, and be drawn partially under the balls where
it will engage and be held by the shanks, the neck being prevented from
accidentally escaping from between the balls by the shanks which hold said balls
forcibly together, the shanks yielding to permit the neck to pass in or out between
them in buttoning or unbuttoning the glove.
The plates may be made of any desired style or shape and concealed or covered
in the taps of the glove or other article to which they are applied; or they may
be secured to the outside of the same, as preferred, by means of stitches or rivets
passing through holes, or in any other suitable manner.
It is preferable to construct the balls or globes of metal and perfectly round and
smooth, but other materials may be used if desired, and the balls may be somewhat
angular and still perform the same functions.
A short chain or cord may also be used instead of the wire button neck and
either or both of the plates may be attached to india rubber bands or elastics to
permit them to yield in buttoning the glove, and assist in keeping the parts
interlocked, if desired, although for all ordinary purposes it will be found sufficient
to attach the plates directly to the flaps or contiguous ends or sides of the glove or
other article to be fastened.
It will be evident that my improved fastener obviates the necessity for using
button holes and that it is well adapted for gloves, shoes, belts, garters, braces,
cloaks, and in fact nearly all kinds of garments.
I do not confine myself to so constructing or arranging the spring shanks, that
they will force the catch balls into actual contact, as it will be evident that if they
are kept sufficiently near each other to prevent the accidental escape of the button
neck, it will be all that is required.
Neither do I confine myself strictly to the use of the plates, as the spring shanks
may be made integral or in one piece and enlarged at their outer ends to grasp
the button ball, if desired. The inner end of the neck may also be provided with
an eye or hook for attaching it to the garment instead of the plate, the neck and
ball being made integral if desired, said last named plate being also dispensed with
when a cord or chain is used instead of the neck.