Improvements in a Fastening for Buttons and other Uses.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Fastening for Buttons and other Uses.
A communication by THE MCKENNEY BUTTON FASTENING COMPANY, of
Detroit, in the County of Wayne and State of Michigan, United States of
America, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manuer the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved fastening for a variety of uses, as for
fastening buttons, for example, upon various articles, although it is not limited
solely to a button fastener, as any and all uses to which the device may be found
adapted are contemplated as coming within the scope of this invention.
To these ends this invention consists in the construction hereinafter specified and
claimed and illustrated in the drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows a piece of wire from which this improved fastening is made.
Figure 2 shows the wire at the next step in the process of construction, the wire
having been pointed at both ends.
Figure 3 shows the next step wherein the ends of the wire have been bent to
form attaching prongs.
Figure 4 shows the body of the wire intermediate the prongs bent in the process
of forming the head of the fastening.
.
Figure 5 is a view in perspective, showing the head laterally compressed more
compactly together.
Figure 6 is
view in perspective, showing the under side of the head swaged to
form a flat seating flange about the base of the prongs.
Figure 7 is a plan view looking toward the prongs of the fastening.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate modifications in certain features of the invention.
The aim of this invention is to provide a fastening of superior utility, and which
shall yet be of simple and economical construction.
This invention is carried out as follows:-
The fastening is made of a single integral piece of wire, indicated in Figure 1,
cut from a coil of wire of suitable length in the process of construction, which
integral piece is next pointed at both ends, as indicated in Figure 2, to form the
points of the attaching prongs of the completed device. The wire is then bent
toward each end essentially at right angles to the main portion A of the
piece of wire, as indicated in Figure 3, to form attaching prongs a a.
The main
portion of the wire intermediate the bases of the prongs is then curved in the
process of forming the head of the fastening, the main body of the wire intermediate
the prongs being bent into arc or crescent shape, as shown in Figure 4, while the
portions of the body a¹ a¹ adjacent to the bases of the prongs are also bent one
toward the other and inward within the crescent outline of the main portion of the
body of the wire, said portions of the wire adjacent to the base of the prongs
being also diverged after being bent inward within the arc shaped outline of the
head, the base of the prongs being thereby spread apart in opposite directions

page_text: within the main portion of the head toward or in contact with the adjacent edges
of the body A of the wire or head, as shown.
At the next step of the process, as iudicated in Figure 5, a lateral compression
is applied to set the inwardly projecting portions of the head closely together,
making the head more compact and firm and closing up the passage way between
the parts a¹ a indicated in Figure 4, setting the inwardly projecting portions of
the head snugly in contact with each other. The under face of the body A of the
head, together with the portions al al thereof, are then swaged to form a flat
seating flange, whereby the head of the fastening may be seated snugly against
the article to which the fastening is applied, at the same time giving to the head
a larger surface of contact against the article to which the fastening is applied
and reducing the thickness of the head so that it shall not be bunchy. It will be
observed that a marginal seating fange is thus formed entirely around the base of
the prongs. The divergence of the bases of the prongs is a very important
feature in order that as much of the leather, cloth or other material to which the
fastening is applied may be included between the bases of the prongs to insure
firmness and strength in the union of the fastening thereto, to effectually resist
any strain upon the head and prevent the tearing out of the said material.
It is preferred also, in the operation of swaging the head to indent the base of
the prongs slightly thereinto, at the adjacent edge of the head, as shown at a² a²,
whereby greater rigidity and firmness are given to the structure. This construction
gives such strength to the head as to permit the convolution of the prongs in the
act of setting them upon a button, the head efficiently holding the pressure.
While in Figures 2-7 the attaching prongs have been shown made tapering
from the head toward the point, the invention is not limited to such a construction.
In Figure 8 the shanks are shown bevelled on the inner sides toward the points, as
indicated at a. When the shanks are so constructed the prongs are milled off
toward their extremities after the head is formed, compressed and swaged, the
extremities of the wire being left unpointed until this stage in the process of
construction. To make the points set, however, in proper manner about the
attaching portion of the button, the extremities of the shanks are then set inward
so that the extreme points shall be in line with the vertical centre of the shanks,
said. vertical line being indicated in dotted lines Figure 9. This invention,
however, contemplates either the pin points indicated in Figures 2-7, or the
points of the shanks as indicated in Figures 8 and 9. The object of setting the
points inward as above described is to bring the points in the same position relative
to the base as where the prongs are made pin pointed, and so that in applying the
fastening the pressure of the setting die will come centrally of the base.
Having now particularly described and. ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A fastening constructed of a single integral piece of wire, the main portion A
of which is formed into a substantially crescent shaped outline, and having
portions a¹ a bent toward each other and inward into the concavity of the crescent
outline of the head, said portions alongside each, other on the same plane and
diverging toward the adjacent portions of the head, the ends of the wire being bent
at substantially right angles to said diverging portions to form attaching prongs,
for the purpose set forth.
2. A fastening constructed of a single integral piece of wire, the body of which
is formed into a substantially crescent shaped head and having the ends of the
wire bent to form attaching prongs, portions a' a¹ of said head adjacent to the bases
of the prongs being curved toward each other and inwardly into the crescent
outline of the head the one alongside and on the same plane with the other and
diverging within the crescent outline of the head to spread the bases of the prongs,
the head forming a marginal seating flange round about the bases of the prongs,
for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. A fastening constructed of a single integral piece of wire, the body of which
is formed into a substantially crescent shaped head, and having the ends of the
wire bent to form attaching prongs, portions a' a¹ of said head adjacent to the bases
of the prongs being curved toward each other and inwardly into the crescent
outline of the head, the one alongside and on the same plane with the other and
diverging within the crescent outline of the head to spread the bases of the prongs,
the head forming a marginal seating flange round about the bases of the prongs,
the surface of the head being swaged to form a flat seating flange, for the purpose
set forth.
4. A fastening constructed of a single integral piece of wire, the body of which
is formed into a substantially crescent shaped head, and having the ends of the
wire bent to form attaching prongs, portions a' a' of the head adjacent to the bases
of the prongs being curved toward each other and inwardly into the crescent
outline of the head, the one alongside and on the same plane with the other and
diverging within the crescent outline of the head to spread the bases of the prongs,
the head adjacent to the prongs forming a marginal seating flange round about the
bases of the prongs, the surface of the head toward the prongs being swaged to
form a flat seating Hange, and the base of the prongs being indented into the
adjacent edges of the head, substantially as set forth.
5. A fastening formed of a single integral piece of wire bent intermediate the
ends to form a head of crescent shaped outline, and attaching prongs, said head
formed with portions a' a¹ bent toward one another and inwardly within the
crescent shaped outline and divergently there-within, said prongs bevelled on
their inner faces toward their extremities and having their points set inward,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of August 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.