An Improved Fastening for Securing the end parts of the Laces or Cords of Boots, Shoes, and other Articles of Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1898

page_text: .
Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
An Improved Fastening for Securing the end parts of the Laces or
Cords of Boots, Shoes, and other Articles of Wearing Apparel.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (as communicated to me from abroad by William Whyte Cabena, of
Nos. 405 and 407, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Whole-
sale Boot Manufacturer), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has been devised in order to provide a simple and inexpensive
fastening which will effectually secure the end parts of the laces or cords of boots,
shoes and other articles of wearing apparel thus dispensing with the necessity for
tying the free ends of such cords or laces together by bows or knots.
The improved fastening consists essentially of a disc and a stem for such disc,
the stem being for the purpose of connecting the disc to the article to which it is
to be attached, and for enabling the cord or lace to be wound upon it; and the
disc being for the purpose of pressing the cord or lace with its edge against the
boot or other article to which it is to be attached, and so prevent its unintentional
unwinding.
The disc may be of metal or other suitable material and preferably of a circular
form adapted to be secured at or near its centre to the leather or other material of
which the boot, shoe, or other article of wearing apparel is constructed. By
preference it is attached to such material by an ordinary hollow rivet such as
are used for eyelets although other kinds of rivets may be used if preferred, or
the disc can be made with a stem which can be passed through the material and
be riveted over, or such stem can be screw threaded and provided with a nut.
The disc may be flat or it may be made slightly dome-shaped, and it may be
provided with flanges projecting from its periphery and either bent upwards or
outwards at its lower edge or left plain.
Various modifications in shape and construction of the improved fastening may
be made without departing from the nature of the invention. This will be readily
understood on reference to the accompanying drawings in which as far as practic-
able, the same letters of reference indicate the same or similar parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boot illustrating the application thereto of one
of the improved fastenings above referred to.
Figure 2 is a plan of the form of disc preferred and.
Figure 3 is a central vertical section on lines 3–3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section, and
Figure 5 a plan of an ordinary hollow rivet such as is preferably used for
attaching the fastening to the leather or other material of which the boot shoe or
other article of wearing apparel is constructed.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section of the fastening as secured in position.
Figures 7 to 36 are various views showing different modifications of the
invention as hereinafter described.
A represents the discs, which by preference are constructed of the shape illus-

page_text: trated in Figures 2, 3, and 6, that is slightly dome-shaped with their outer edges B
curved outwards slightly so as to facilitate the passing of a lace or cord C under
them, as illustrated in Figure 1. They are provided at or about the centre with
a hole D through which may be passed a rivet E of any convenient or suitable
type such for instance as the hollow rivets used in the construction of eyelets for
boots shoes and the like.
The fastening constructed as above described may be placed in any convenient
position upon the boot or shoe, as for instance near its upper end as illustrated in
Figure 1, and when in such position it serves to grip the end parts of a lace or
laces as illustrated in said figure said end part or parts being simply wound once
or twice around the rivet E and its free end allowed to project under the edge B
of the disc A. If preferred one end of the laces may be knotted or otherwise
secured at the lower end of the row of holes through which it is laced and its
upper end may be secured by means of this fastening or, if preferred, the boot
may be laced in the ordinary way and the two end parts of the laces, which are
ordinarily secured together by a bow, may each be passed around and under the
fastening and be secured thereby.
The precise section of the disc A can be varied indefinitely, for instance as
illustrated in section and plan in Figures 7 and 8 respectively, it may be flat with
a projecting flange F turned outwards around its lower end as illustrated at B
with a hole 1) in the centre for the rivet, or, if preferred, this hole instead of being
central might be made slightly to one side as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.
The modification shewn in Figures 11 and 12 illustrates a flange F' around one
half of the disc turned downwardly and a flange G around the other half turned
upwardly, the hole D for the rivet being formed in the bottom of a recess H in
the centre of the disc A.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a disc with simply a deep flange F all around it,
the former figure also indicating that the rivet might be passed through the
leather from the back instead of from the front, whilst
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a similar construction but with the lower part of
the flange curved or bent so as not to present a sharp edge to the laces. These
flanges instead of being at right angles with the disc might flare outwardly as
illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, or they might be inclined inwardly as illustrated
in Figure 19.
Figure 20 is a vertical central section of one form of the fastening showing the
application thereto of a pronged rivet in lieu of the ordinary hollow one, the prongs
on the lower end of said rivet being passed through the leather cloth or other
material of which the garment is made and then bent outwards.
Figure 21 is a plan of such arrangement.
Figure 22 illustrates the disc A fitted with a screw threaded stud E having a
flange I adapted to be sewn to the garment.
Figures 23 and 24 illustrate a somewhat similar construction of disc to that
shown in Figures 11 and 12, the flange F around one half being turned down-
wards and the flange G around the other half turned upwards a hole D being
formed in the centre of the disc A for the reception of the rivet.
Instead of securing the discs by means of separate rivets they might be provided
with stems E as illustrated in Figures 25 and 26 which can be made integral with
said discs A and can be screw threaded for a portion of their, length as illustrated
at J in Figure 25 to receive a nut K bearing against the under side of the leather
or other material to which the disc is to be secured, or, as illustrated in Figure 27,
the lower end of this stem might, as shown at L, be rivetted over a washer M. If
preferred a small set screw N might be passed through the material into the
stem E as illustrated in Figures 28 and 29, or said stem might be split as shown
in Figures 30 and 31 so that the two parts thereof might be passed through the
material and be bent back under a washer M placed beneath the leather or other
material to which the fastener is to be secured.
It is obvious that the stem instead of being solid might be made hollow as

page_text: illustrated in Figure 32 and be rivetted over at its lower end so as to clamp the
material against the under side of a collar or shoulder with which said stem is
provided.
The discs A, although by preference made circular, need not be of that shape
and they can, if thought desirable, be constructed as illustrated in Figure 33 with
a section P cut away to facilitate the passing of the cord or laces under them.
The arrangement illustrated in Figures 34 and 35 is somewhat similar to that
shown in Figures 30 and 31 except that the stem E has a flange 0 on its lower
end provided with four prongs or spikes Q adapted to be passed through the
leather or other material and then be bent inwards as shewn, or these prongs
might be arranged closer together and be bent outwardly as illustrated in
Figure 36.
It is to be distinctly understood that the various modifications above described
are merely given by way of example to illustrate different shapes in which this
improved fastening can be made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
1. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots, shoes,
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting essentially of a disc of metal or
other material provided with a stem for securing it to the material of which the
boot, shoe, or other article of wearing apparel is constructed and upon which the
cord or lace is to be wound substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots, shoes,
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc (such as A) having a
hole at or about its centre in combination with a hollow rivet (such as E) passing
through said hole substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting essentially of a disc having a hole
in the centre and a projecting flange (such as F) turned outwardly at its lower
end as at B, in combination with a stem. substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying drawings.
4. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc with a hole (such as D)
formed eccentrically through it in combination with a stem, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 9
and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc with a flange (such as F)
bent downwards for one half the circumference of said disc and upwards as at G
for the other half, in combination with a stem, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12
of the accompanying drawings.
6. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc having a flange (such
as F) projecting at right angles therefrom in combination with a stem. substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of hoots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel a dise having a flange curved or bent
upwardly at its lower end in combination with a stem substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 15
and 16 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 8. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting essentially of a disc having a
slightly inclined flange around its circumference the lower end of which is bent
outwardly, the centre of said flange being recessed and formed with a hole in
combination with a stem, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 of the accompanying
drawings.
9. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc having a downwardly
and inwardly inclined flange around its circumference in combination with a stem
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.
10. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots. shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc combined with a pronged
hollow rivet substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained
and as illustrated in Figures 20 and 21 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc (such as A) screwed on
to a stem (such as E) having a flange provided with holes (such as I) or otherwise
adapted to be sewn to the boot or other garment substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 22 of the
accompanying drawings.
12. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting essentially of a disc having one
part of its circumference curved or bent downwardly at at F and the other half
curved or bent upwardly as at G in combination with a stem substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 23
and 24 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc and screw threaded
stem adapted to be secured in position by a nut (such as K) substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 25
and 26 of the accompanying drawings.
14. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc and a stem passed
through and rivetted over a washer (such as M) substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 27 of the
accompanying drawings.
15. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc fitted with a stem
secured to the boot or other article by a set screw (such as N) substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 28
and 29 of the accompanying drawings.
16. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc fitted with a split stem
the two sides or ends of which are adapted to be passed through the leather or
other material of which the boot or other article is constructed and then bent over
a washer (such as M) substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 30 and 31 of the accompanying drawings.
17. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc formed with a hollow
stem having a collar (such as O) and adapted to be rivetted over at its end sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figure 32 of the accompanying drawings.
18. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc having a segment cut
away as at P, in combination with a stem substantially as and for the purposes

page_text: herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 33 of the accom-
panying drawings.
19. A fastening for securing the end parts of the laces or cords of boots shoes
and other articles of wearing apparel consisting of a disc fitted with a stem pro-
vided with projecting prongs (such as Q) adapted to be passed through leather
or other material and turned over so as to secure the fastening thereon substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figures 34 and 35 or 36 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of November One thousand eight hundred
and ninety-eight.
ABEL & IMRAY
Agents for the Applicant.