Improvements in Button Attachments and in Apparatus for Attaching Buttons.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Attachments and in Apparatus for
Attaching Buttons.
I, HORACE WILLIAM PETHERICK, of Maple Lodge, Addiscombe, in the County of
Surrey, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in button
attachments, and which invention has for its object to render buttons of ordinary
construction, and as at present commonly used, capable of being easily, quickly and
securely attached to wearing apparel in such a manner that the said buttons cannot
possibly become detached by wear; and it further consists in certain novel and
useful improvements in the construction of apparatus for attaching said buttons to
the cloth.
My invention may be described as follows:-
A small piece of sheet metal is stamped out into a shape approximating to that of a
star with two, three four or more points which are suitably bent upwards to form
claws.
In order to attach an ordinary button to wearing apparel with the aforesaid star-
shaped piece of metal, it is placed beneath the cloth at the place at which the button
is to be attached, and the claws of said star-shaped piece of metal are pressed
through the cloth and the holes in the well of the button, into which the aforesaid
claws may be bent over and clenched by the use of any round ended instrument.
At times, however, it may be found convenient to hide the claws clenched as
aforedescribed, in which case 1 provide a metal cap of about the same diameter as the
well of the button, and which cap is preferably stamped out of sheet metal, and
formed with a flange which projects inwards.
In order to properly secure the aforesaid cap in the well of the button, a special tool
is required, which consists of a punch having a convex end, and over which punch a
cylindrical punch having a concave end, is adapted to pazs.

page_text: To affix the metal cap aforesaid, the central punch having the convex end is brought
to hear upon the points of the claws of the aforesaid star-shaped piece of metal and
which claws are thus bent slightly outward.
The aforesaid cap is now placed over the outwardly turned points of the claws, in
such a manner that the said outwardly turned points fit over the inwardly turned
flange of the said cap. By a stroke of a hammer, the punch with the concave end is
brought to bear upon the edges of the aforesaid cap, and the whole is thus firmly
clenched together.
The aforesaid star-shaped piece of metal may be formed with two claws only,
in which case it is applicable to buttons other than well-buttons, but in this case it is
necessary to employ the aforesaid metal cap, which is affixed precisely in the
manner herein before described.
In large establishments where buttons are attached in large quantities, it is found
convenient to employ stamping presses, having compound or double dies in every way
similar in construction to the punching-tool hereinbefore described, but which dies
are brought to bear upon the button attachment by mechanism commonly used in
connection with stamping-presses of like description.
The lower die of said stamping machines is constructed so as to form a cavity for
the insertion of the star-shaped piece of metal, but the bottom of which cavity is
adapted to come flush with the surface of the said lower die during the operation of
stamping, thus allowing for the attachments to readily pass over the die during
the feed of the cloth.
The machines may be constructed in such a manner that the buttons are
automatically fed to the dies at intervals, thus effecting a great saving of time.
Dated this 29th day of December 18$7.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Button Attachments and in Apparatus for
Attaching Buttons.
I, HORACE WILLIAM PETHERICK, Maple Lodge, Addiscombe, in the County of
Surrey, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be peformed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in button
attachments, and which invention has for its object to render buttons of ordinary
construction, and as at present commonly used, capable of being easily, quickly, and
securely attached to wearing apparel in such a manner that the said buttons cannot
possibly become detached by wear; and it further consists in certain novel and useful
improvements in the construction of apparatus for attaching said buttons to the cloth.
My invention may be described as follows,-reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and the figures and letters of reference marked thereon similar letters
indicating like parts throughout.
Fig. is a perspective view of my invention; Fig. 2. is a sectional elevation
on line of Fig. 4, showing the first operation in affixing a button. Fig. 3,
is a section taken through the button and the cloth showing a button affixed with
my invention Fig. 4, is a front view of a button affixed as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5,
is a sectional elevation of a button showing the first operation of affixing it with a cap.
Fig. 6, is a sectional elevation of the button, cap, and fastener showing the button
affixed to the cloth. Fig. 7, is a front view of the cap, and Fig. 8, is a sectional side
elevation of same. A small piece of sheet metal is stamped out into the shape
shown in Fig. 1, and having two three or more points which are bent upwards to
form claws A. In order to attach an ordinary button to wearing apparel with the
fastener thus shaped, it is placed beneath the cloth at the place at which the button is
to be attached and the claws A are pressed through the cloth, B, and the holes C, in
the well of the button D, as shown in Fig. 2, into which the aforesaid claws may be
bent over, as shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and clenched by the use of any round ended
instrument. At times however it may be found convenient to hide the claws clenched
as aforedescribed, in which case I provide a metal cap E, of about the same diameter
as the well of the button, and which cap is preferably stamped out of sheet metal and
formed with a flange which projects inwards.
In order to properly secure the aforesaid cap in the well of the button a special tool
is required, which consists of a punch having a convex end and over which punch a
cylindrical punch having a concave end is adapted to pass.
To affix the metal cap aforesaid the central punch having the convex end
is brought to bear upon the points of the claws A, and which are thus bent
slightly outward.
The cap E is now placed over the outwardly turned points of the claws A, as shown
in Fig. 5, in such a manner that the said outwardly turned points fit over the

page_text: inwardly turned flange F of the cap. By a stroke of a hammer, the punch with the
concave end is brought to bear upon the edges of the aforesaid cap and the whole is
thus firmly clenched together, as shown in Fig 6.
The fastener, Fig. 1. may be formed with two claws only, in which case it is
applicable to buttons other than well-buttons, but in this case it is necessary to employ
the aforesaid metal cap which is affixed precisely in the manner hereinbefore
described.
In large establishments where buttons are attached in large quantities it is found
convenient to employ stamping presses, having compound or double dies in every way
similar in construction to the punching tool hereinbefore described, but which are
brought to bear upon the button attachment by mechanism commonly used in
connection with stamping presses of like description.
The lower die of said stamping machine should be constructed so as to form a cavity
for the insertion of the fastener, the bottom of which cavity being adapted to come
flush with the surface of the said lower die during the operation of stamping, thus
allowing for the attachments to readily pass over the die during the feed of the
cloth, which may be automatically fed by the machine, thus effecting a great saving
of time.
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 :-
1st. A button attachment consisting of a piece of flat metal, stamped or otherwise shaped
with upwardly turned claws; said claws being adapted to pass through the cloth and
the holes in the well of the button into which they may be bent over, all substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
2nd. The combination with a button attachment consisting of a flat piece of metal
or other suitable substance stamped with or otherwise shaped with upwardly turned
claws adapted to be pressed through the cloth and the holes of an ordinary button, of
the cap, stamped or otherwise made out of sheet metal or other suitable substance and
having inwardly projecting flanges around its periphery, over which the claws of the
fastener may be clenched all substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and shown in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3rd. The combination, with the button attachment as herein before described and
claimed, of a tool consisting of a double punch or die applicable for use either with or
without a stamping machine; said punch or die having concave and convex edges, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1888.
HORN & SON,
Agents on behalf of Applicant.