US521830A - Charles w - Google Patents

Description

(No :Model.)

0. W. STIMSON. I CLASP FOR GARMENT SUPPORTERS.

No. 521,830. Patented June 26, 1894.

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INVENTDR":

WITNESsEs:

' UNITE STATES f P TENT OFFICE. 1

. I, oHA-RL sw. STIMSON-,,OF NEw'YoRK, N. .Y.

*c As' FO R. eARM E'NT-SU P'PORTERS'.

srncrmcn'rrolv forming part of Letters Patent No. 52 1,830,datedJ une 26, 1894.

' Application filed August '7, 1823. Serial No. 482,522. (Nomodell) I Supporters, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to clasps, and particularly to clasps used in connection with garment supporting devices; andmy invention consists in the novel forms and arrangement of the parts of the clasp,'in the novel means employed for insuring the thorough locking of the clasp, and in the means provided for facilitating the opening of the clasp when it is desired to release it from thegarment.

The objects of my invention are, first, to

devise a clasp which shall be simple and strong, easy and cheap ofconstruction, and not subject to derangement; second, to devise more efficient means than any now existing I for securely locking the clasp when closed, thereby making it impossible for the garment to slip out of the clasp; and third, to provide ready means for opening the clasp. These objects are attained in the claspherein described and illustrated in the drawings which accompany and form a part, of this applica-n tion, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my preferred form of clasp, the clasp being shown closed. Fig. 2 is a sideielevation of the clasp, showing more particularly the method of securing the webbing to the clasp. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the spring loop or front plate shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3'is a top plan view of a similar clasp,-in which aplain loop is used. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of this latter. clasp, which is shown open. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a longitudinal and a transverse section of a modified form of clasp, in which is shown a construction. whereby the use of the spiral springs of the clasps shown in Figs. 1 and 3'is'dispensed with; Figs. 7 and 8 are 7 respectively a plan view and an elevation of another form of clasp,in which a modified and simplified form of back'plate is used. Figs. 9 andlO are respectively a top plan of clasp in which the necessity of a spring is avoided. Fig. 11 shows another construction whereby the spring may be dispensed with.

Fig. 12 is a detailelevation ofthe sliding b utton used in the clasps illustrated in Figs. 1,

3, 5, 9, and 11, and Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of the button used in the clasp shown'in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and most particularly to Figsfl, 2, 2, 3, 4, and 12, 1 is a back plate,-and 2 a front plate or. loop, which together form the body of the clasp. They are hinged together-atv a point 3. The back plate 1 is slotted longitudinally, and in this slotworks a button 4, having an'enlar'ged head 5, and abase or guide plate 6, which latter is behind the back plate 1', and is provided with two projecting ears 7, 7, which embrace the back plate and hold the guide plate of the button closely against the back plate,

while leaving the button perfectly freeto slide back and. forth in the slot of the back plate 1. The opening in the front plateor loop is, as shown in'the'drawings, of variable width. At theupper'end, that 'is, the-end nearest the hinge 3, the width of the opening is sufficient to permit the headof the button A to pass through freely; While at the lower end of the loop, the opening is so narrow that the loop embraces closely the shank of the button; and when the button is at the lower U end of the plate 1, with its head projecting through thelopening'in the-loop, the loop is held'and prevented from swinging outward, since the width of the head of the button is greater than the width of the opening in the loop at this point. r v I 8 isaspiral spring inclosing the axis of the hinge 3,'and tends to cause the front plateor loop 2 to swing outward and to open the clasp. The two parts-of the clasp being hingedtogether, the clasp opens very widely, the frontv plate or loop swinging so far away from the back plate that it is very; easy to place the edge of the garment within the'clasp and over the head of the button. In former spring clasps the front plate and back plate havev been'fastened together rigidly, so that of ne- IOO cessity the range'of movement of the front 1 plate, and so the degree of opening, is very view anda side elevation ofamodified form such clasps to introduce the edge of the garwent into the clasp and to place the same over the head of the button, for the space between the front plate and the head of the button being limited, it requires special care and attention to so place the edge of the garment that the clasp may hold the same. "When the 1 ing. The pressure caused by this spring is under most circumstances sufficient to prevent any accidental opening of the clasp; but as an additional precaution, I may use, instead of a plain loop, such as that shown in Fig. 3, a spring loop,such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form of loop, the sides 9, 9, while joined at the top of the loop, are not joined across the bottom, but are separated by a slight gap, which gap is covered and protected, however, by a curved shield 10 attached to one of the sides of the loop, and extending across the gap between the ends of these sides 9 9. This construction permits the sides to spring somewhat when force is applied to push them apart. The form of the opening in the loop is somewhat peculiar, being contracted, at a point between the two ends of the loop, to a neck somewhat narrower than the width of -"the shank of the button, and then widening out at the lower end of the loop. When, therefore, the clasp is closed and the button 4 pulled downward to lock the clasp, as the shank of the button passes through the contracted portion of the openand when the button reaches the small end of the loop these sides spring together again. The button is thus held firmly at the end of the loop, and cannot be pushed back by any accidental cause, but must have force directly applied to force it upward for the purpose of openingthe clasp. I do not claim this spring loop per se, since it is not of my invention, nor do I confine myself to the use of any particular form of spring loop, but may avail myself of any form of loop having spring jaws adapted to grasp and hold the button in substantially the manner described. I merely show this particular loop as forming a particular example of various spring loops which may be employed.

The base plate 6 of the button 4 has in it a slot 11 to which is attached the end of the webbing of the garment supporter. The webbing, after being attached to the base plate 6, passes behind the back plate 1, is doubled upon itself at 12, and is then passed through a slot in an upward extension of the body of the clasp, though whether this upward exten sion is formed on the back plate or on the front plate is a matter of indilference. All three folds of the webbing are brought together at the point 12 and sewed or otherwise The friction secured at this point. The webbing is therefore so placed as to prevent any possible contact of the metal parts of the clasp with the flesh of the wearer, while the weight of the garment supported is all transferred from the clasp to the webbing at the top of the clasp, there being no strain on the webbing behind the back plate or on the button, and therefore no danger that the button may be pulled upward accidentally. Moreover, the webbing when attached to the button as thus described forms a very convenient device for raising the button and opening the clasp. Were the webbing not attached to the button, the clasp might be somewhat difficult to open, for the head of the button when in use is covered by the garment, so that it is not easy to move the button by the head, and the bottom of the button is inaccessible, being between the back plate and the webbing, so that the button cannot be grasped at the side readily. When the webbing is attached to the button, however, it is very easy to open the clasp, for the webbing below the hinge is loose and is easily grasped, and an upward pull upon it draws up the button, thus permitting the 1 front plate to fly outward and so to open the clasp.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a clasp in which the back plate used is somewhat more simple than that shown in the other figures.

In this construction, the back plate is not slotted, but is a solid bar which passes through a slot in the shank of the button, the end of h the back plate being turned upward to serve as a stop for the button, thus preventing it from sliding otf from the back plate. 3 button is shown in detail in Fig. 13.

ing in the loop it forces the sides 9, 9 apart, i

The

In Fig. 8 there is likewise shown a device whereby the use of the spiral spring 8, shown in Figs. 1 to at inclusive, is dispensed with. 3 This device consists of an outwardly projecting lug, 13, formed on the back plate, which projects far enough to come in contact with 5 the front plate or loop 2, and hold the same in an angular position to the back plate 1 when the clasp is open. The front plate or loop 2 is made of thin springy metal, as hard sheet brass, and when the clasp is to be closed the end of the loop is pressed in toward the back plate 1, and the button 4 pulled downward until it engages the loop and holdsitin that position.

Somewhat similar devices for dispensing with the spiral spring 8 are shown in Figs. 5', 6, 9,10, and 11. In Figs. 5 and 6 both the back plate and the front plate or loop are provided with projectinglugs 14 and 15,which engage and tend to prevent the clasp from closing; and when it is desired to close the clasp the front plate is sprung inward and the button drawn down to hold it there. In

Fig. 11 the front plate or loop is provided with a projecting lug 16 which engages with the back plate, while in Figs. 9 and 10 the top plate itself is bent so as to form a boss which comes in contact with the back plate ITO and makes it necessary to spring the front plate in in order to close the clasp. 3

The method of use of all of my forms of claspis. substantially the same. The clasp being open, with the front plate or loop widely separated from the'back plate, the button 4 is pushed upward to the rear end of the slot in the back plate, and a portion of the fabric of the garment to be supported is placed over the head of the button. The top plate or loop is then pressed down, until the head of the button ,covered by the fabric,projects through the opening in said loop. The button is then drawn down into the contracted portion of the loop, until the fabric iswedged firmly in between, the button and the sides of the loop. If

' the clasp is provided with the spring loop shown in Fig. 1,the sides of theloop will open somewhat to admit the button to the extreme end of the loop, and will thenclose together, holdingthebutton firmly in place. In all forms of the clasp, also, the pressure of the front plate against the head of the button, due to the spring 8 or to tension produced by the bending of the front plate itself in those clasps in which no spiral spring8 is used, and

' the friction produced by this pressure,will

hold the button and prevent it from slipping upward and thus permitting the'clasp to open,

the spring loop being only an additional means of affording security against the accidental opening of the clasp.

' To open the clasp, the button 4 is moved upward, either by holding the body of the clasp and applyingforce to the button, by holding the garment itself and pushing the body of the clasp downward or by pulling upward upon the webbing attached to the button. In any" case the button moves'along the groove in the back plate 1 until the head of the button has reached a'point where the opening in the top plate or loop is sufliciently wide to permit the head of the button to pass through the same. When the button has reached such a point,'the spring 8, or, if there is no such spring, the tension produced by the bending of the front plate or loop, will cause the loop to open outwardly, swinging about the hinge 3, and releasing the fabric from the clasp.

Having thus completely described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p .In a clasp for garment supporters, the combination, with a back plate and a headed button sliding thereon, of a front plate hinged to said back plate and having an aperture therein enlarged at one end to permit of the pas sage of the head of the button and contracted at the other end to cause said front plate to engage and retain the head of the button, a

spring for causing said front and back plates to swing widely apart when the button is moved opposite the enlarged portion of the aperture in said 'front plate, and a strip of fabric secured to the sliding button and to the body of the clasp, and forming a means for drawing back and retracting said button, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. STIMSON. Witnesses:

W. O. LITTLE, WARREN HIGLEY.

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