IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I FREDERICK DITTERMANN of 61 Aldermanbury in the City of London Merchant
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS
(A communication to me from abroad by Messrs Bennewitz Brothers of Neustadt
near Stolpen in the Kingdom of Saxony, Button Manufacturers) and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The modes of fixing the cloth stuff shanks to buttons made of wood, horn,
vegetable ivory and the like have not hitherto wholly fulfilled their purpose.
When the shanks consist of metal plates either spun over or covered, the sewing of
the buttons on to the article of apparel is rendered very difficult and the covering
of the metal plate is very easily worn through. Again when the shanks are fixed
to the buttons by looped shaped metallic rings a great number of buttons are
broken in the manufacture and the fixing is, by the edges of the ring being bent
over outwardly very inconvenient.
These faults are avoided in the invention hereinafter described and shown in the
accompanying drawing.
Figures 1 to 4 show the button without the shank in cross section with different
forms of recesses.
Figure 5 shows the button in plan.
Figures 6 and 7 are cross section and plan respectively of the shank.
Figures 8 and 9 are cross section and plan of a metallic ring which serves to fix
the shank to the button.
Figure 10 is a cross section of the shank put into the metallic ring.
Figure 11 is cross section of a button with the shank and metallic ring put on.
Figure 12 shows a finished button in cross section.
The principal part A of the button is as usual made by turning or by means of
revolving cutters. In the back surface of the button proper A a groove A¹ is
turned so that a projection A is left in the middle of the button; this groove A¹
may be made in several forms as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and it follows that from
this the central projection A* receives a conical or cylindrical form.

page_text: The second part of the button, the shank Figures 6 and 7 consists of a small
cap B of fabric. In this cap is placed a small half spherical pad or piece C of
felt, cardboard, paper, leather or wool, in order to prevent the cap or shank B from
being pressed wholly over the projection A³ when pressure is applied later on.
When the cap is finished it is placed in the ring D Figures 8 and 9 consisting of
lead, tin or other soft metal, as shown in Figure 10.
The cap B with the metallic ring D is now placed on the projection A³ on the
button proper so that the metallic ring D is over the groove A¹ as shown in
Figure 11 it is then forced in the first place lightly by hand and eventually by a
press firmly into the groove whereby the flange or edges of the cap B are drawn
down into the groove A¹ and the ring is expanded, contracted or squeezed up
according to the form of the groove. By pressure being applied here the fabric C
of the shank is pressed firmly against the middle projection A2 of the button and
the junction of the shank with the button is effected see Figure 12. Or the cap B
may be placed with its bottom part in the groove A¹, a ring D fitting easily in the
groove being then dropped or pushed down over it, and then expanded in the
groove by pressure applied thereto, so as to fill the groove completely and thereby
hold the cap B with its inner pad C.
Instead of the metal ring D for fixing the shank a quickly hardening cement
may be used which is also subjected to pressure so as to fill the groove.
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
First: The mode of connecting the fabric shank or cap B with the button
proper A consisting in placing a ring D of soft metal or other suitable plastic
material over the cap and applying pressure to make the ring fill a groove A¹
in the button proper A, the cap being provided with an inner pad Ĕ of felt,
cardboard or the like substantially as set forth.
Second As an article of manufacture the button with shank as shown on
Figure 12.
Dated this Seventh day of January 1885.