Improvements in or applicable to Button Holes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Button Holes.
I, ANNIE MARIA HEATH, of No. 83, Talbot Road, Bayswater, in the County
of London, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to button holes.
In button holes of the ordinary character the drag of the button for its shank
upon the material at the end of the hole speedily wears through the sewing and
causes the button hole to become abnormally large and ragged and the object (of
the present invention is to so protect or strengthen the button hole that its form is
preserved and the difficulty above pointed out is obviated.
In carrying the invention into effect, the button hole is surrounded by a border
of metal or other suitable material shaped approximately to the form of the button
hole and preferably at one or both ends enlarged or formed with a bar, eye or
projection to assist its attachment to the fabric.
This border is inserted between the folds of the fabric and fastened in [position
by sewing, after which the button hole is worked in the ordinary manner.
In some cases, in lieu of entirely surrounding the button hole with the border,
the latter may be caused to enclose the outer end only of the button hole where
the drag of the button shank takes place, and, in this case, the device may be
furnished with eyes or the like to assist its attachment to the fabric.
The border or device when formed of metal may be readily stamped out of thin
sheet metal and produced at a nominal cost.
By the means herein before described, the button hole will be effectually
reinforced or protected against the wear and strain of the button and its shape
will be effectually preserved.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1894
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Button Holes.
1, ANNIE MARIA HEATH late of No. 83, Talbot Road, but at present of
14 Colville Mansions, Bayswater, in the County of London, Widow, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of button and stud
holes of wearing apparel, whereby they are considerably strengthened without
having any apparent difference to that in common use.
In the ordinary button hole the majority if not all of the strain or friction from
the button or stud falls on one end of the hole and speedily wears through the
border to the material which would instantly tear, while the other end though
quite as strong in construction receives little or none of the strain caused by the
button or stud.

page_text: I am aware that to prevent this wear many people have employed shields at the
wearable part of the hole; but these shields are either cumbersome or require
special means for attaching them to the material, and would not only give extra
labour but cause an inconvenient thickness and so make it totally unsuitable for
the button and stud holes of shirts, collars, etc.
Now in the novelty of this invention I provide a means for strengthening the
ordinary button-hole or stud-hole by a device that need not be held in its place by
any special fastening that would inconveniently thicken the button-hole and it is
carried out in the following manner :-
I provide a thin flexible ring preferably of metal that will readily adjust itself
to the shape of the button or stud hole. This ring is placed between the folds of
the material and the button hole worked in the usual manner, and being of a pliable
non-elastic material will compel the button hole to retain its original size, however
often the button or stud is passed through it. I may construct this ring in many
ways it may be stamped out of thin sheet metal, it may be a single wire or it may
be built up of several very fine threads or wires twisted or woven together, always
aiming to ensure strength, durability, pliability, simplicity, flatness to keep the
hole as flat or thin as possible and cheapness.
When the button hole is in use the strain and friction of the button or its shank
may wear through the ordinary edge but cannot go farther it being reinforced by
the ring, which takes the strain and is prevented from yielding by its pressure
on the unworn end of the hole. The worn portion can then be repaired before
the damage has been allowed to extend beyond the limits of the button or stud
hole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The flexible ring for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing Specification.