An Improved Clip or Dress Fastener.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
An Improved Clip or Dress Fastener.
I WILLIAM PEARCE, of 52, Hylton Street, Birmingham, Jeweller, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The dress fastener is a clip which consists of two distinct parts, viz. an outside
cover and an inside spring.
The outside cover is of stout metal with a smaller amount of elasticity made in
the shape of an "U."
The edges of the "U" are flanged their entire length.
The inside spring which is nearly the same shape as the cover lies between the
flanged edges of the cover and can be withdrawn by sliding until the bend of the
spring is between the free end of the cover.
It is prevented entirely slipping out by a small piece of the spring being punched
out and stopping against the turned over end of one of the legs of the cover.
To illustrate the method of using the clip as a trouser holder or for other clip,
it is necessary to extend the inner spring with the fingers which when so extended
spreads open ready to enclose a large thickness of material.
One end of the inner spring is provided with a turned over curl which prevents
the material slipping out of the clip.
When the material is in position aforementioned the outside cover is slid along
and the inner spring is thereby compressed and the material is tightly held in
position.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1893
WILLIAM PEARCE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Clip or Dress Fastener.
I WILLIAM PEARCE, of 52 Hylton Street, in the City of Birmingham, Jeweller,
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:—
This invention relates to improvements in dress fasteners and the like, and is
particularly applicable as a trouser clip."
66
The clip consists of two distinct parts viz.-an outside cover and an inside
spring.
The outside cover is of stout metal with a small amount of elasticity, made in
the shape of an “U.” The edges of the "U" are flanged their entire length.
The inside spring which is nearly the same shape as the cover lies between the
flanged edges of the cover and can be withdrawn by sliding until the bend of the
spring is between the free ends of the cover. It is prevented entirely slipping out
by a small piece of the spring being punched out and stopping against the turned
over end of one of the legs of the cover.
To illustrate the method of using the clip as a trouser holder or for other clips,
it is necessary to extend the inner spring with the fingers which when so extended
spreads open ready to enclose a large thickness of material. One end of the inner
spring is provided with a turned over curl, which prevents the material slipping out
of the clip. When the material is in the position aforementioned the outside cover

page_text: is slid along and the inner spring is thereby compressed and the material is tightly
held in position.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention I have appended hereunto an
illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference, the same
numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part.
Figs. 1, 2 & 3, are side, plan, and end views respectively of the outer cover of
this my invention.
Figs. 4 & 5, are edge and side views respectively of the inner spring.
Fig. 6, shows the fastening extended and open ready to receive and be passed on
to the dress.
Fig. 7, shows the fastening as it appears when passed on to the dress.
Fig. 8, shows the complete article when closed up for carrying in the pocket.
9, is the outside cover which is made of stout yet elastic metal, having its
edges 10 flanged as shown. The metal at the extremity of one of the legs is also
turned up as shown at 11.
12, is the inside spring, which is bent and shaped as shown or approximately
thereto. In this spring the metal is slit, and the slitted part 13, is pushed forward
from the level of the spring so as to form a projection or tooth.
Its use will now be readily understood:-Assuming it for instance to be closed
as shown in Fig. 8, by means of the fingers, the inner spring 12 is extended as seen
in Fig. 6, until the tooth 13, comes against the inside of the turned in part 11, and
is arrested thereby. The folded parts of dress, indicated by dotted lines at 14, are
now passed in between the open spring 12; and by pushing forward the outer
cover 9, the dress and the spring are pushed therein until the bow part 15 of the
spring clicks or slips behind the turned up part 11, as seen in Fig. 7, and thus
holding the whole in a firm yet neat and convenient manner.
To release the same, it is only necessary to withdraw the outer cover, which slides
from off the spring until the tooth 13, reaches the part 11, when by that time the
spring has widely opened and may be easily drawn off the dress.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a dress fastening or support, the combination and arrangement of the outer
cover 9, having flanged edges 10 and the turned up end 11, with the spring 12,
having the tooth 13 and the bow 15, all substantially as set forth and shown.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.