Patent

Figure 1 of US Patent 139,121

In order to protect his invention of reinforcing the seams at the edges of pocket-openings by rivets, Jacob W. Davis applied for a patent at the United States Patent Office.

History

The application was filed on August 9, 1872 with the title "Improvement in fastening pocket-openings" and a single figure. Jacob W. Davis was indicated as the inventor, and he assigned the right to the patent to himself and to Levi Strauss & Company. The patent was granted on May 20, 1873, and received the patent number 139,121.

The patent became a basis for the success of Levi Strauss & Co. in the mass production and distribution of trousers with rivet-reinforced pocket openings which later became known as jeans.

After the patent expired in 1890, everyone could make use of the the invention. Among others, H.D. Lee Mercantile Company of Kansas started making its Lee Dungarees and Hudson Overall Company of North Carolina began making its Wrangler blue jeans. Levi Strauss & Co. therefore had to protect their products by other intellectual property rights such as trademarks, which they obtained for example for the brand's name "LEVI'S", the company's two-horse logo, the red tab, or the double arch design on the back pockets.

Complete text

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JACOB W. DAVIS, of Reno, county of Washoe and State of Nevada, have invented an Improvement in Fastening Seams; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing are sutficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment. My invention relates to a fastening for pocket-openings, whereby the sewed seams are prevented from ripping or starting from frequent pressure or strain thereon; and it consists in the employment of a metal rivet or eyelet at each edge of the pocket-opening, to prevent the rippingof the seam at those points. The rivet or eyelet is so fastened in the seam as to bind the two parts of cloth which the seam unites together, so that it shall prevent the strain or pressure from coming upon the thread with which the seam is sewed. In order to more fully illustrate and explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which my invention is represented as applied to the pockets of a pair of pants. Figure 1 is a view of my invention as applied to pants. A is the side seam in a pair of pants, drawers, or other article of wearing apparel, which terminates at the pockets; and b b represent the rivets at each edge of the pocket opening. The seams are usually ripped or started by the placing of the hands in the pockets and

the consequent pressure or strain upon them. To strengthen this part I employ a rivet, eyelet, or other equivalent metal stud, b, which I pass through a hole at the end of the seam, so as to bind the two parts of cloth together, and then head it down upon both sides so as to firmly unite the two parts. When rivets which already have one head are used, it is only necessary to head the opposite end, and a washer can be interposed, if desired, in the usual way. By this means I avoid a large amount of trouble in mending portions of seams which are subjected to constant strain. I am aware that rivets have been used for securing seams in shoes, as shown in the patents to Geo. Houghton, No. 64,0l5, April 23, 1867, and to L. K. Washburn, No. 123,313, January 30, 1872; and hence I do not claim, broadly, fastening of seams by means of rivets. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letter patent, is: As a new article of manufacture, a pair of pantaloons having the pocket-openings secured at each edge by means of rivets, substantially in the manner described and shown, whereby the seams at the points named are prevented from ripping, as set forth. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal. JACOB W. DAVIS [L. S.] Witnesses: James C. Hagermann, W. Bergmann.

See also

• File:US139121A-1.pdf as a pdf file.

External links

• Bibliographic data: US139121 (A) ― 1873-05-20 at worldwide.espacenet.com
• US139121A at patents.google.com