IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BUTTONS AND IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL communicated
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BUTTONS AND IN APPARATUS FOR
SECURING THE SAME IN LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL communicated to
him from abroad by Samuel L. Pratt of Hingham, Massachusetts, United
States of America,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1883.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BUTTONS
AND IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL
[A communication to him from abroad by Samuel L. Pratt of Hingham,
Massachusetts, United States of America,]
.
This invention relates to the construction of button fasteners for attaching
buttons to boots, shoes, and other articles of apparel, and to an instrument or
apparatus for securing or setting the same.
The object of one part of the said invention is to produce a fastener easily
manipulated having a plate or table on the opposite side to that on which the
button is situated the said plate presenting a smooth and finished surface to protect
the wearing apparel underneath; and having a hook which holds the button so
situated that the outward pulling on the button exerts an equal force on every part
of the plate to ensure a smooth bearing of the latter.
The object of another part of the said invention is to produce a setting instrument
adapted to set or secure the said button fasteners upon the articles of apparel, and
it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set
forth.
According to one part of the said invention the fastener consists of a plate and
a hook, the latter being provided with a point. The blank is made by machinery
by a process similar to that of making a rivet and is then punched to form a hook,
and afterward finished by swaging or other suitable means.
The said hook is curved sufficiently towards the plate so that when any pressure
is brought to bear upon the point it will take a particular direction down to and
upon the said plate.
The hook of the fastener is pointed in order to allow the same to pass easily

page_text: through the material to which the button is to be attached, making the hole at the
same time with its passage.
After the hook is passed through the material, the eye or shank of the button is
placed over the hook and the latter is then bent by pressure, exerted on the point,
down to the material, and at the same time the said point is flattened by this
pressure. The plate, after this operation, rests snugly against the underside of the
fabric, and the hook is curled or bent down to the upper side of the said fabric
securely holding the button.
I preferably make the fastener out of steel; but the same can be made of brass,
or any suitable material
The shape of the fastener is such that the instrument with which it is attached
does not require to have any clinching surface, as is the case where the shank of
the nail is perfectly straight and must be curled over to hold the button, pressure
alone upon the point on the convex side of the shank of the fastener being required
to attach the button.
The advantage of the said improved fastener over others is its extreme simplicity
and the fact that the button is held firmly in place by a fastening which does not
tend to break the leather, and which gives a finished and ornamental look to the
underside of the leather or other fabric.
According to another part of the said invention I provide an instrument which
comprises an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and handles operated by the hand. The said
upper jaw is provided with a spring which holds the button; it is likewise provided
at its end with a recess for the purpose hereinafter described, and with, a,slot into
which the point of the hook of the fasteuer enters and strikes, and by which it is
bent when the jaws are closed.
The said slot is enlarged at its base next to the spring forming a channel for the
shank of the button, and into which the said spring presses the shank, and thus
holds the button.
The lower jaw is provided with a seat which has a grooved overhanging edge
which holds the fastener in place during the operation of attaching the button
In a modified construction the lower jaw is provided with a spring and a pin,
the said pin, when the fastener is in place in the seat, exerts a pressure on the under-
side of the fastener plate, and holds it firmly in place.
Instead of the pin and spring, a plunger or spiral spring may be used to effect
the same purpose.
The opening in the spring through which the hook of the fastener enters the
slot is of peculiar shape to hold the shank of the button and to allow the leather
to enter, to some extent this opening when the jaws are shut, and so prevent the
end of the hook from entering the material to which the button is being attached.
The operation of the instrument is as follows that is to say-The fastener is
inserted into the bed of the instrument with the hook towards the handles, then
the shank of the button is inserted into the channel in the lower part of the slot
between the upper jaw and the spring, where it is held firmly in place by the said
channel and spring. The material to which the button is to be attached is then
inserted between the jaws, which are then closed. The point of the fastener passes
through the material and through the shank of the button, and strikes against
the upper part of the slot. At the same instant that the point of the fastener
enters the material, the lower side of the button comes in contact with the
material, and is pressed inward into the said recess, and allows this motion of the
button which motion draws the shank of the said button into the hook of the
fastener and holds the shank firmly against the inner side of the hook while
the same is being pressed down into place. The jaws are then opened and the
material removed with the button attached.
The advantages of this improved instrument are its simplicity and durability.
and its ready adaptation for the purpose intended.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th December 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BUTTONS,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL.
"
A communication to me from abroad by Samuel. L. Pratt of Hingham,
Massachusetts, United States of America,
This invention relates to button fasteners for attaching buttons to boots, shoes,
and other articles of apparel and to instruments or apparatus for securing or
setting the same.
The object of one part of the said invention is to produce a fastener easily
manipulated, having a plate or table on the opposite side to that on which the
button is, the said plate presenting a smooth and finished surface to protect the
wearing apparel underneath; and having a hook, which holds the button, so
situated that the outward pulling on the button exerts an equal force on every
part of the plate to ensure a smooth bearing of the latter
The object of another part of the said invention is to produce a setting
instrument adapted to set or secure the said button fasteners upon articles of
apparel and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts, as
hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the metal blank out of which the improved
fastener is formed.
Figure 2, is an elevation of the same showing in dotted lines how the hook of
the fastener is punched out
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fastener, showing the plate and the hook
ready to be finished.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the improved fastener pointed and
finished ready for use.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the same showing the point of the hook.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of apparatus for securing the said buttons in
place and showing a button-fastener or hook inserted in the lower jaw.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the same showing the means employed for holding
the button, the jaws being open.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the same showing the button secured in place,
the jaws being shut
Figure 9 is a plan view of the upper spring.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified form of the device showing a spring
and pin in the lower jaw
Figure 11 is a perspective view showing another modification of the said
invention.
Figure 12, is an end view of the same with the jaws open.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of the same with the jaws closed.
Figure 14 is a plan view of the under jaw detached
Figure 15, is a plan view of the under side of the upper jaw, showing the
mechanism for holding the button by means of its shank.
The improved fastener consists of the plate a and the hook b, the latter being
provided with a point c.
The blank from which the fastener is made is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is
formed by ináchinery by'a process, similar to that of making a rivet, the said blank

page_text: is then punched to form a hook as shown in Figure 3 and is afterwards_finished
by swaging or by other suitable means; the finished fastener is shown in Figure 4.
The book b is curved sufficiently towards the plate a so that when any pressure
is brought to bear upon the point c, it will take a particular direction down to, and
upon, the said plate a
The hook of the fastener is pointed at c in order to allow the same to pass easily
through the material to which the button is to be attached, making the hole at the
same time in its passage.
After the hook is passed through the material, the eye or shank of the button is
placed over the hook, and the latter is then bent by pressure, exerted on the
point c down to the material, and at the same time the said point is flattened by
this pressure
The plate a after this operation rests snugly against the under side of the fabric,
and the hook b is curled or bent down to the upper side of the said fabric,
securely holding the button.
I preferably make the fastener of steel; but the same can be made of brass, or
any suitable material.
The shape of the fastener is such that the instrument with which it is attached
does not require to have any clinching surface, as is the case where the shank of
the nail is perfectly straight and must be curled over to hold the button, pressure
alone upon the point on the convex side of the shank of the fastener being required
to attach the button.
The advantage of the improved fastener over others is its extreme simplicity,
and the fact that the button is held firmly in place by a fastening which does not
tend to break the leather, and which gives a finished and ornamental look to the
under side of the leather or other fabric.
Referring to Figures 7 to 10 which illustrate the apparatus for attaching the
said fasteners to the material, a indicates the upper jaw and b the lower jaw of
the said apparatus or setting instrument, the said jaws being operated by the hand
by means of handles as shown
The upper jaw a is provided with a spring c which holds the button i; it is
likewise provided at its end with a recess e for a purpose hereinafter described and
with a slot into which the point of the hook of the fastener enters and strikes,
and by which it is bent when the jaws are closed as shown in Figure 8.
The slot is enlarged at its base, next to the spring c to form a channel for the
shank of the button, into which channel the spring c presses the shank, and thus
holds the button.
The lower jaw b is provided with a seat d having a grooved overhanging edge
which holds the fastener fin place during the operation of attaching the button as
shown in Figure 6.
A modified form of the lower jaw is shown in Figure 10, the jaw b being here
provided with a spring ħ and a pin g. The said pin when the fastener is in place
in the seat d, exerts a pressure on the under side of the fastener plate, and holds it
firmly in place.
Instead of the pin and spring shown, a plunger or spiral spring may be used to
effect the same purpose
1, Figure 8, indicates any material to which a button may be attached
o, Figure 9 indicates the opening in the spring c through which the hook of the
fastener enters the slot l. The said slot is preferably of the shape shown (but it
may be of any other desirable shape) to hold the shank of the button, and to allow
the leather to enter, to some extent, this opening when the jaws are shut, and so
prevent the end of the hook from entering the material to which the button is
being attached
The operation of the instrument is as follows, that is to say:-The fastener f is
inserted into the bed d with the hook towards the handles, as shown. Then the
shank of the button is inserted into the channel in the lower part of the slot Z
between the jaw a and the spring cas shown in Figure 7 where it is held firmly.
12'

page_text: The material to which the button is to be attached is then inserted between the
jaws which are then closed. The point of the fastener passes through the material
and through the shank of the button, and strikes against the upper part of the
slot . At the same instant that the point of the fastener enters the material,
the lower side of the button i comes in contact with the material, and is pressed
inward into the recess e, which motion draws the shank of the button into the
hook of the fastener fand holds the said shank firmly against the inner side of
the hook while the same is being pressed down into place as shown in Figure 8.
The jaws are then opened, and the material removed with the button attached.
The point of the fastener is flattened and smoothed by the operation of bending
it down.
According to the modification illustrated in Figures 11 to 15 the head or
plate of the button fastener, instead of being held as hereinbefore described, is
firmly held by a spring which also acts as a gauge upon the lower jaw of the
apparatus; I do not use in this case any seat for the head of the fastening. The
button is held firmly in place by its shank only, by means of the spring. By using
this modification I am enabled to attach any sized button without changing or
adjusting the apparatus.
The spring c is constructed with two arms as shown, at the ends of which are
notched recesses e e. The upper jaw a is provided at or near its end with the plate
or projection d which may or may not be integral therewith. This plate or
projection d is slightly recessed so that it may act either as a clinching surface for
the fastener, or simply to press down the fastener into place in accordance with the
kind of fastener used. On the lower jaw I secure the spring f which is provided
with the arms g g' having flanges which grasp or embrace the forward end of the
jaw b.
These flanges are also provided with the projections o o¹ which act as
gauges in determining the right position of the fastener when its head or plate is
inserted between the flanges of the jaw b while the fastener is being forced through
any material and through the eye of the button as shown in the drawing
The
The operation of this instrument is similar to that hereinbefore described.
fastener is inserted under the flanges of the spring f with the hook towards the
handles as shown. Then the shank of the button is inserted in the notches e e¹ of
the spring c, where it is held firmly in its place by the said spring as shown. The
material to which the button is attached is then inserted between the jaws and the
jaws closed. The point of the fastener or hook passes through the material and
through the shank of the button and strikes against the plate d and is then
pressed down into place as shown. The jaws are then opened and the material
removed with the button attached. The point of the fastener is flattened and
smoothed by the operation of bending it down.
The advantages of this improved instrument are its simplicity and durability, and
its ready adaptation for the purpose intended.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. A button-fastener having the hook a and plate b constructed substantially
as described
Second. In apparatus for fastening buttons in place, the jaw a provided with the
spring c, recess e, and slot l, substantially as described
Third. In apparatus for fastening buttons in place, the jaw b provided with the
seat d, having the grooved and overhanging edges adapted to hold the plate of the
fastener firmly in position substantially as described.
Fourth. The jaw a provided with the spring c, recess e, and slot l, in combination
with the jaw b having the seat for the plate of the hook or fastening and with or
without the spring hand pin g, substantially as described
Fifth. The jaw b provided with the seat d, the spring h, and the ping to bear
against the under side of the plate of the fastening, substantially as described.
Sixth In an instrument or apparatus for attaching buttons, the jaw a provided

page_text: with a spring and a slot, whereby the button is beld firmly in place by its shank
only, while being attached, substantially as described and shown
Seventh. In apparatus for fastening buttons in place, the jaw a provided with
the spring c and the plate or projection d, substantially as described
Eighth. In apparatus for fastening buttons in place, the jaw b provided with a
spring f having the arms g g', the said arms being provided with flanges having
the gauges o o¹ adapted to hold the plate of the fastener firmly in place and to
gauge its position, substantially as described
Ninth. The jaw a provided with the spring c and projection d, in combination
with the jaw b having the spring f, substantially as described.
Tenth. In an instrument or apparatus for attaching buttons, the jaw a provided
with a spring, whereby the button is held firmly in place by its shank only, while
being attached, 'substantially as shown and described.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake; have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Sixth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.