IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND FASTENINGS FOR GARMENTS, HARNESS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES, AND IN THE METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley, of the
City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND FASTENINGS FOR GARMENTS, HARNESS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES, AND IN THE METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME."
Sealed the 4th November 1859, and dated the 10th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wilkinson and
Charles Whitley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 10th May 1859.
We, WILLIAM WILKINSON and CHARLES WHITLEY, of the City of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND FASTENINGS FOR GARMENTS, HARNESS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES, AND IN THE METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME," to be
as follows:-
The improvements consist of two or more metallic or other flexible prongs
or pins, flat or round, springing from the centre of the inner part of the
button, and capable after insertion of being bent, for the purpose of fastening
the button to the garment or other article to which it is attached, either with
or without the addition of a washer previous to the prongs or pins being bent.

page_text: The Invention can be used for all the purposes to which buttons, snaps,
studs, &c., are aapted, and can be readily applied to buttons intended to be
removeable or to remain fixed, also to boots, shoes, gloves, &c.
It is evident that this Invention is applicable to harness and other similar
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 9th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
WILKINSON and CHARLES WHITLEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley, Her special licence that we, the said
William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND
FASTENINGS FOR GARMENTS, HARNESS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES, AND IN THE
METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said William Wilkinson and Charles Whitley, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Wilkinson and Charles
Whitley, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
The improvements consist of two or more metallic or other flexible yielding
prongs or pins, flat or round, springing from the centre of the inner part of
the button, and capable, after insertion, of being bent for the purpose of
fastening the button to the garment or other article to which it is attached,
either with or without the addition of a washer previous to the prongs or pins
being bent.
The Invention can be used for all the purposes to which buttons, snaps,
studs, &c., are adapted, and can be readily applied to buttons intended to be
removable or to remain fixed, also to boots, shoes, gloves, &c.
It is evident that the Invention is applicable to harness and other similar
purposes.
a
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2
are side and top views of a button, having two prongs a, a, which form part of
pin springing from the centre, the said prongs being made of such material
and strength, that after they are passed through the garment they can be bent
down, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, either without a washer, or furnished
with one, as seen in Figures 5 and 6, their appearance when attached to part
of a garment or other article resembling the Figures 7 and 8. The prongs
are represented of an enlarged size in Figures 9 and 10, and at Figures 11
and 12 we shew a button having two wires b, b, springing from the centre,
which wires are bent over either with or without a washer, in order to attach
the button to the garment or other article. Although only two wires or
prongs are shewn, any suitable number may be employed. The aforesaid
pins and prongs are intended to be applied to all kinds and sizes of buttons,
snaps, and studs used in all descriptions of garments, boots, shoes, gloves,
harness, and for any other article or material to which they can be applied.
The advantages of this Invention are, that the buttons, snaps, or studs are
self-adjusting, and can be attached without the aid of needle and thread.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be
understood that we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our
knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the
application to buttons, snaps, or studs of two or more metallic or other
flexible yielding prongs, pins, or wires, which pass through the garment or
other article, and are then bent over so that they can be attached without

page_text: needle and thread, as such improvements are herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilkinson, for and on behalf
of myself and the said Charles Whitley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
WILLIAM WILKINSON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named William Wilkinson in
of
WILLIAM WILKINSON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named William Wilkinson in
the presence of
GEO. SEP. HUGHES,
17, Cross Street,
Manchester.