IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND IN THE METHOD OF FASTENING THE SAME, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO SCREW RIVETS USED FOR FASTENING STRAPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Knight Proctor, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND
IN THE METHOD OF FASTENING THE SAME, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO SCREW RIVETS USED FOR FASTENING STRAPS AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 17th November 1876, and dated the 7th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Knight Proctor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1876.
KNIGHT PROCTOR, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND IN THE METHOD OF FASTENING THE SAME,
PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO SCREW RIVETS USED FOR
FASTENING STRAPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
In the first place I make a metal button with a solid shank or stem cast in one
piece. The stem is made cylindrical in form, and has at the end furthest from the
button a head rather larger than the stem. At the centre of the stem or shank is
formed a neck of rather smaller diameter than the body of the shank. To fix this
button to the garment I have a flat plate or disc (by preference circular in form) in
the centre of which is formed a hole of the diameter of the body of the shank of the
button, but not large enough for the head or knob to pass through. From this hole
to the outside is a straight open slot of the width for the neck to pass through, but not
wide enough for the body of the shank. In fixing the button I first pass the shank
through a hole previously formed in the garment, and then compress the material
until the neck in the middle of the shank appears at the back. I then immediately
slip the straight slot of the plate over this neck at the back of the material, and
upon releasing the latter the back pressure or resilience of the material will force
the plate on to the thick part of the shank between the neck and the head, and the
button and plate will be firmly fixed together and cannot be released without
compressing the material
Another improvement consists in casting the button in one piece with a shank as
before, but making the latter of a larger diameter than in the former case, so that it,
can be drilled out and tapped, forming a screwed socket.
The back plate is furnished with a screw which screws into this socket and so
holds the button firmly in the material, but the principal novel feature in this
[Price Gd.]

page_text: button and its fastening is that the button is not drilled through and that the screw
is as long as the depth of the holo, and the consequence is that when screwed home
all the air is driven out of the hole, and the atmospheric pressure prevents the screw
from becoming loose, as owing to this pressure it is found to require about twice as
much power to commence withdrawing the screw as it is required to drive it t
home.
This part of my Invention is also applicable to screws, rivets, employed for
fastening the ends of driving straps, and for other purposes which rivets hitherto
have always been drilled through and were liable to work loose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 1
the said Knight Proctor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th March
1877.
KNIGHT PROCTOR, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND IN THE METHOD OF FASTENING THE SAME,
PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO SCREW RIVETS USED FOR 1
FASTENING STRAPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
In the first place I make a metal button a, a, see enlarged view, Fig. 1, in the
annexed Drawing, with a solid shank or stem b, b, cast in one piece. The stem is
made cylindrical in form, and has at the end furthest from the button a knob or
head c, o, rather larger than the stem At the centre of the stem or shank is formed 2
a neck d, d, of rather smaller diameter than the body of the shank. To fix this
button to the garment I have a flat plate or disc e, e, (by preference circular in form)
in the centre of which is formed a hole ƒ of the diameter of the body of the
shank b, b, of the button, but not large enough for the head or knob c to pass
through. From this hole to the outside is a straight open slot g of the width for 2
the neck to pass through, but not wide enough for the body of the shank b, b. In
fixing the button I first pass the shank b through a hole previously formed in the
garment, and then compress the material until the neck d in the middle of the
shank appears at the back of the material I then immediately slip the straight
slot of the plate e over this neck dat the back of the material, as shown at Fig. 2, 3
and upon releasing the latter the back pressure or resilience of the material will
force the plate e, o, on to the thick part of the shank b, b, between the neck and
the head c, and the button a, a, and plate e, e, will be firmly fixed together and
cannot be released without compressing the material.
In some cases instead of making the neck d, d, of the shank of the button 3
cylindrical, I form it by filing or cutting a flat groove or notch on each side of the
shank, either at right angles thereto, as shown at Fig. 3, or diagonally, as shown at
Fig. 4.
Another improvement consists in casting the button in one piece with a shank as
before (see Fig. 5), but making the latter of a larger diameter than in the former 4
case, so that it can be drilled out and tapped, forming a screwed socket (see section.
Fig. 6).
The back plate e, e, has no slot, but is furnished with a screw g which screws
into this socket, and so holds the button a, a, firmly in the material, but the principal
novel feature of this button and its fastening is that the button is not drilled 4
through (see Fig. 6), and that the screw g is as long as the depth of the hole, and
the consequence is that when screwed home (see Fig. 7), all the air is driven out of
the hole, and the atmospheric pressure prevents the screw g from becoming loose, as.
owing to this pressure it is found to require about twice as much power to
commence withdrawing the screw as it required to drive it home.
5
This part of the Invention is also applicable to screw rivets employed for,

page_text: fastening the ends of driving straps and for other purposes, which rivets hitherto
have always been drilled through, and were liable to work loose.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,-
First The combination of the button a, shank b, head c, neck or groove d, and
slotted plate e, e, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed.
And, Secondly. I claim the improvement in screw buttons or rivets consisting in
drilling the screwed socket only partly through the button or rivet, and providing
the back plate with a screw, which when screwed home exactly fits the screwed
socket, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before particularly
set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Knight Proctor, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
KNIGHT PROCTOR. (LS)