IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, STUDS, LINKS, AND OTHER LIKE FASTENERS FOR DRESS AND OTHER PURPOSES,
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah Harrington, of Berkswell Lodge, 66, Water Lane,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BUTTONS, STUDS, LINKS, AND OTHER LIKE FASTENERS FOR DRESS AND
OTHER PURPOSES,”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah Harrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1881.
JOSIAH HARRINGTON, of Berkswell Lodge, 66, Water Lane, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, STUDS, LINKS, AND OTHER
LIKE FASTENERS FOR DRESS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The chief object of my Invention is to facilitate by simple means the buttoning
or fastening of stiff or starched wearing apparel, such as wristbands, cuffs, collars,
and shirt fronts, also gloves, pocket books, and other articles, and thereby to
increase their durability.
Instead of making the top of my improved button, stud, or fastening in one
pieco, I form it by joining a movable piece of metal or other suitable material
(having a certain amount of elasticity) to a fixed part thereof by means of a pin,
pins, or otherwiso.
Before beginning the process of buttoning, the said movable piece should be
turned back over the other part of the top to which it is attached, in which
position the two parts present somewhat the appearance of a semi-circle, or only
one side or half of a button top, when they both pass with great ease through the
button hole or holes, but covering only one side thereof.
To complete the buttoning or fastening, press the movable piece over to the other
side of the hole, which falling into grooves (made in the sides of the fixed or of the
movable part of the top) becomes sufficiently locked for the purpose of keeping
the parts of the wearing apparel or other article together.
In order to unfasten, turn the movable part again over the other, so as to form
the semi circular shape and draw them out of the hole or holes.
The parts are locked or retained in position when opened out and also when
closed together, and present an even front surface in both positions, the grooves
and projections being arranged on the sides of the two parts which act in relation
to each other on a similar principle to that of a button book or closing cork screw
acting in a moved steel frame, which, being elastic, expands and contracts, and is
locked both when open and closed.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a side view of a stud, button, or other like 1
fastening, showing the position of the parts when unfastened; Figures 3 and 4, show
the position of the parts when used to fasten a shirt front, waistcoat, or other
purpose.
Instead of making the top or front part a (or it may be the back) of my
improved button, stud, or fastening in one piece, I form it by joining a moveable
piece of metal or other suitable material (having a certain amount of elasticity)
to a stem or fixed part ax thereof by means of a pin, pins, or otherwise at a².
Before beginning the process of buttoning, the said moveable piece a² should he
turned back over the other or fixed part a of the top to which it is attached, as
represented in Figures 1 and 2, in which position the two parts present somewhat
the appearance of a semi-circle or only one side or half of a button top, when they
both pass with great ease through the button holo or holes, but covering only one
side thereof.
To complete the buttoning or fastening, the user inust press the moveable piece a¹
over (to the other side of the holo or holes), the inner edges of which falling into
grooves (made in the sides of the fixed or of the moveable part of the top) becomes
sufficiently locked for the purpose of keeping the parts of the wearing apparel or
other article together as represented in Figures 3 and 4.
In order to unfasten the article, the user must turn the moveable part back
again over the other, so as to form the semi-circular shape and draw them out of
the hole or holes made in the article to which the fastening is applied.
The parts are locked or retained in position when opened out and also when
closed together, and present an oven front surface in both positions, the grooves
and projections being arranged on the sides or inner edges of the two parts, which
act in relation to each other on a similar principle to that of the well known
folding button hook or closing corkscrew, acting in a curved steel frame, which
being elastic, expands and contracts, and is locked both when open and closed;
Figure 4* shows the parts where they spring and lock together at a³ on a larger
scale.
Either the back or the front part of this improved locking stud, button, or
fastening may be ornamented in various ways to suit the purpose to which it is
applied.
Figure 5 shows my improved stud or fastening applied to a purse, the parts
being open or unfastened, and Figure 6 shows the purse closed and the flap fastened
by the stud. Corresponding parts are marked with similar letters of reference to
those previously described.

page_text: I would remark that I do not claim any of the parts separately which are well
known and in common use,
But what I claim is, the arrangement and application of side spring locking
contrivances to secure a moveable part, such as a' (applied to buttons, studs,
solitaires, and such other like fasteners) in position, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Josiah Harrington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.