CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ADJUSTERS, APPLICABLE FOR ADJUSTING BRACES, GARTERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING CURTAINS OR OTHER DRAPERY."
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Arthur Harrison, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Jeweller, and Charles Priestland, also of
Birmingham aforesaid, Manager of Works, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ADJUSTERS, APPLICABLE FOR ADJUSTING
BRACES, GARTERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING CURTAINS OR OTHER DRAPERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Arthur
Harrison and Charles Priestland at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st April 1870.
We, FREDERIC ARTHUR HARRISON, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Jeweller, and CHARLES PRIESTLAND, also of Birmingham
aforesaid, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ADJUSTERS, APPLICABLE
FOR ADJUSTING BRACES, GARTERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS, AND WHICH SAID
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING CURTAINS OR OTHER
DRAPERY," to be as follows (that is to say):
:-
We will describe our Invention as applied more particularly to the
adjusting of the front parts of braces, and which consists in forming a

page_text: rectangular slot in a small metal plate, and which slotted plate is passed
at right angles through a front metal plate sufficiently to allow the web
to pass down at the back of the plate through the slot. Between the
face of the front plate and the slotted plate a wedge is placed formed
by a piece of metal, which when elevated frees the web, but when
drawn down causes the slotted plate to be pulled forward, thereby
impinging the web between the slotted plate and against the back of the
front plate. At the top of the wedge or curved piece of metal a slight
projection is formed, which drops into a corresponding recess in the front
plate when the wedge is pulled down, which prevents all looseness of
the parts. The lower extremity of the wedge plate may be fashioned
into a hook or otherwise for receiving the part connected with the
buttoning straps, so as to complete the arrangement, but which part
would require modifying when applying our Invention to garters.
In applying the wedge principle above described for suspending
curtains and other drapery, the attachment is effected by the projection
before referred to at the end of the wedge, gripping the fabric and
pressing it into a recess on the other or counter plate, instead of passing
it through the rectangular slot before mentioned as applied to brace
fronts, while the ends of the wedge plate and counter plate may be
formed into a spring hook for connecting it with the rings on the curtain
rod or pole or other means of suspension.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederic Arthur Harrison and Charles Priestland
in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 1st October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, FREDERIC
ARTHUR HARRISON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and CHARLES PRIESTLAND, also of Birmingham afore-
said, Manager of Works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison and Charles Priest-
land, Her special license that we, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison

page_text: and Charles Priestland, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison and Charles Priest-
land, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ADJUSTERS, APPLICABLE FOR ADJUSTING BRACES,
GARTERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OP DRESS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING CURTAINS OR OTHFR DRAPERY," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison
and Charles Priestland, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison and
Charles Priestland, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to
say) :-
:-
We will describe our Invention as applied more particularly to the
adjusting of the front parts of braces, and which consists in forming a
rectangular slot in a small metal plate, and which slotted plate is passed
at right angles through a front metal plate sufficiently to allow the web
to pass down at the back of the front plate through the slot, or an
additional slot formed in the same. Between the face or in a slot of the
front plate and the slotted plate a wedge or eccentric is placed, formed by
a bent or curved piece of metal, which when elevated frees the web,
but when drawn down causes the slotted plate or eccentric part to be
pulled [forward or downward, thereby impinging the web between the
slotted plate or against the back of the front plate. At the top or other
part of the wedge or curved piece of metal a slight projection is formed
which drops into a corresponding recess in or through the front plate
when the wedge or eccentric is pulled down, which prevents all looseness
of the parts. The lower extremity of the wedge plate may be fashioned
into a hook or otherwise for receiving the part connected with the

page_text: buttoning straps so as to complete the arrangement, but which part
would require modifying when applying our Invention to garters and
other articles of dress.
In applying the wedge principle above described for suspending
curtains and other drapery, the attachment is effected by the projection
before referred to at the end of the wedge gripping the fabric and
pressing it into a recess on the other or counter plate, instead of passing
it through the rectangular slot before mentioned as applied to brace
fronts, while the ends of the wedge plate and counter plate may be
formed into a spring hook for connecting it with the rings on the curtain
rod or pole or other means of suspension.
But as a description of our Invention will be better understood if
described in connection with the Drawings hereunto annexed, we will
proceed to refer thereto (that is to say) :-
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a front and edge view of as much of the web
of a brace front necessary to show the means of applying and adjusting
our improved metallic adjuster there exhibited.
A is the web; B, a metal plate also in the flat marked with the
same letter at Fig. 3. In the opening or slot A an angular bent plate,
shown also detached in a front and top view at Figs. 4 and 5, is applied,
the front portion being marked C, and might be extended down as
exhibited in dotted lines at Figure 4, and shaped in any suitable way.
Behind the plate B and through the slot b, b, in the angle plates,
Figures 4 and 5, the web is passed down and held in position, in this case
by the plate D being pulled down, until a slight projection on its top
edge snaps into the slot c, c, best seen at Figure 3; the curvature of the
plate D gives to it the quality of a lever wedge that tends to hold it in
position, as shown at Figure 2, pulling the back edge of the angle part C
in tight contact with the web, so as to bring it forward and fill up the
slot a in the plate B before mentioned, but which curved lever wedge D
has only to be pressed inward at its lower end to permit the upper end
to pass out of the slot c, c, when it may be freely elevated, relieving the
web, and permit the adjustment or moving of the metallic part as
desired. The straps for connection with the buttons of the trousers may
be connected with a ring or loop, and passed over or within the hook E.
We have shown the plate D detached in a front and edge view at Fig. 6;
but as a preferable plan, we purpose making the angle or bent plate C
in the form as exhibited in dotted lines at Figure 4, thus rendering the

page_text: use of the plate D unnecessary, as by extending the part B first described
downwards the hook may be formed in like manner. This modification
we have exhibited in front and edge views at Figs. 7 and S, representing
the front plate F in a separate detached view at Fig. 9, as also the
lever wedge G in a separate back and edge view at Fig. 10. The
curved part is divided as here shown, the parts d, d, being used for com-
pressing or wedging the web of the brace into the recess or slot e, e, of
Figure 9, whilst the middle part clips the bar g, g, Figure 9, forming
the axis or fulcrum of the lever wedge G, which being removed slightly
from the working or holding parts k, l, gives a snap or closing pressure
to the lever G, similar to a pocket-knife blade action. When it is
desirable to adjust this metallic connector to the web of the brace front
for lengthening or shortening, the lower end of the lever plate G has
only to be clevated, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 8, when the web
will be so free in the slot e, e, or over the bar h, h, as to permit the
adjustment to be made as desired, when the plate G may be again
restored to the position shown, carrying the web back over the top edge
of the bar h, Figure 9, and underneath the edges of the curved lever
marked, k, Figure 10, when the web will be tightly held in position
as shown at Figure 10.
Fig. 11 simply represents a modification of Figure 9, showing that
the plate F may be fashioned to receive a hook, as represented, or formed
into a loop for receiving straps for connecting the brace to the trouser
buttons; in fact, the form of the plate F may be variously formed with-
out affecting the principle and advantages derivable from a ready and
secure adjustment by the action of the front curved plate or lever wedge.
As evidence of this we have exhibited a simple modification as applied
to a brace front in front and edge views at Figs. 12 and 13, and
detached in front and sectional edge views at Fig. 14, the lever wedge H
in the edge view being represented elevated to free the web represented
in dotted lines at m, m. In this example the end of the web is intended
to fall over the hook, loop, or other form the lower end of the plate F
may assume for connecting the straps by which braces are usually
attached to the trousers; but when using this adjuster for belt, garter,
glove, or other purposes, such means are not required, and which will be
seen by referring to Figs. 15 and 16, which represent our improved
adjuster arranged and adapted as a belt clasp, the expanding and con-
tracting of which is effected in the simplest and readiest manner by
placing the part K in the position shown in dotted lines, when the belt.

page_text: or ribbon may be adjusted as desired, and held by the replacement of
the lever K, as shown. The only difference this modification requires
to the parts F and B before described as applicable to or for gentlemen's
braces is simply the addition of a slot for attaching the part L to the
waist band, and which part we have exhibited detached at Fig. 17
representing the slot as marked n, n. The metal removed in the form
of an oval is simply done for lightness, and which, of course, may be
otherwise formed; and Fig. 18 represents detached front, back, and
edge views of the lever wedge K, and, as described at Figure 10, the
part p is intended to encompass the bar r,, which forms the axis or
fulcrum on which it works; the front or lever part of the wedge plate K
admits of any general mode of ornamentation, either by engraving,
stamping, embossing, enamelling, or setting with precious stones, or
otherwise, as desired.
Fig. 19 is almost a repeat of Figure 15, but simply drawn to represent
our mode of adapting our improved adjuster as a garter fastening; the
metal parts detached being shown in a front and end view at Fig. 20,
the free end of the web being passed in from the back through the
openings, and retained in position by the edge of the curved part
marked t, bringing it in close contact with the edge of the bar by the
finger and thumb applied to the lever front M, whilst the fixed end of
the web is secured to the bar u, u, or the web may be connected to a
metal clip for engaging the bar u, u; or this part of the plate P may be
lengthened, and a hook formed in it as at E, Figure 1, or otherwise, as
preferred.
This same principle by a proportionate reduction of size makes an
admirable glove fastening. The part that we have in other views
designated as B, F, and L is attached to the glove as shown at Fig. 21,
the said part being exhibited in a detached view at Fig. 22, the strap
being passed through the slot marked v, whilst the lever wedge shown
detached in a front and edge view at Fig. 23 is united to the plate by a
middle portion of the curved part engaging the bar w. The strap has
only to be passed through as described, and fastened in
any suitable way
to the wrist part of the glove, and the lever part being held frees the
strap or web x, permitting the open parts of the glove to be pulled
together, when the mere pressing down of the lever y will securely hold
the strap in position, making a simple and efficient adjustment requiring
no manipulation but what the wearer may command with the greates

page_text: case, and thereby adaptable as well for ladies' wear as for rougher use,
such as for gentlemen's riding or driving gloves.
At Fig. 21 we have exhibited a simple arrangement of a plate and
curved wedge adapted as a portable attachment for suspending personal
and other draperies. In this case the action is similar to the metal parts
described separately and combined at Figures 1 and 2, the upper end of
the curved wedge marked forming the loop, or for a curtain ring or
other attachment, while the drapery is held in a slot formed in the
plate N opposite the end of the curved wedge marked o, the parts being
held together by the loop 9, which in effect is identical with the part C
in Figures 4 and 5.
Having thus generally described our Invention, as also various modes
of application and means of giving effect to the same, we will observe
that we do not propose limiting ourselves to any shape, proportion,
design, or ornamentation, nor any extension of the application of our
Invention for other objects of dress than here shown, provided the spirit
of our Invention is preserved; but what we claim and wish protected
by these our in part recited Letters Patent is, the position and action of
the front curved lever in connection with the back or main plate of
adjustable fastenings, as herein described and exhibited.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Frederic Arthur Harrison and
Charles Priestland, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord, Onc
thousand cight hundred and seventy.
FREDERIC ARTHUR HARRISON. (L.S.)
CHARLES PRIESTLAND.
. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.