IMPROVE- MENTS IN FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES ON TO GARMENTS AND OTHER THINGS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theophilus Horrex, of South Square, Gray's Inn, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES ON TO GARMENTS
AND OTHER THINGS."
"
Sealed the 21st April 1857, and dated the 23rd October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theophilus Horrex at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd October 1856.
I, THEOPHILUS HORREX, of South Square, Gray's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES ON TO
GARMENTS AND OTHER THINGS," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to means of attachment in substitution of sewing,
and consist in the employment of a double catch capable of piercing the
garment or other thing, and then, by passing into or through parts of the
button, to attach itself thereto to hold it.
The form of double catch which I have found to answer consists of a piece
of wire (steel or otherwise elastic), with two rectangular bends, in such manner
that the ends from the bends lie somewhat parallel to each other, or incline

page_text: somewhat in the same direction, and are pointed so as to facilitate the piercing
of the garment or other thing. Barbs or catches are formed near their ends,
to take hold of suitable parts'formed in the button, by which to hold the same
when connected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Theophilus Horrex in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEOPHILUS
HORREX, of South Square, Gray's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand. eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Theophilus Horrex, Her special licence that I, the said .Theophilus
Horrex, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Theophilus Horrex, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES ON TO GARMENTS AND
OTHER THINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Theophilus
Horrex, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next- and: immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
1
NOW KNOW YE,. that I, the said Theophilus Horrex, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in-what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, that is to say:-
The improvements. relate to means of attachment in substitution of sewing,
and consist in the employment of a double catch capable of piercing the gar-

page_text: ment or other thing, and then, by passing into.or through parts of the button,
to attach itself thereto. to hold it. The form of double catch which I have.
found to answer consists of a piece of wire (steel or otherwise elastic), with two,
rectangular bends, in such manner that the ends from.the.bends: lie.somewhat
parallel to each other, or incline somewhat in the same direction, and are
pointed. so as to facilitate the piercing of the garment or other thing. Barbs.
or catches are formed near their ends, to take hold of suitable parts formed in
the.button, by which to hold the same when connected.
But that the nature of my said Invention; and in. what manner I carry the
same into effect, may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the
Drawing oppoved
Figure 1 snews (upon an enlarged scale) a wire fastening according to my
improvements, suitable as the means of attachment of a button or other similar
article to a garment, and Figure 2 shows a button suitable to be used there-
with. The button shown is one of the kind known as "covered," having a
metal shell, but this may be varied.
The part represented by Figure 1. forms, when applied as represented by
Figure 3, the shank, and it will be seen to be pointed at the ends a, a, to
facilitate its passage through the fabric or material to which the button or
other fastening is to be attached, as well as into the holes or openings in the
button or other similar article. The instrument, Figure 1, has also barbs b, b,
which, when passed through holes.. c, c, in the metal back of the button,
Figure 2, hold thereto. When the button or other similar article used is-
formed of ivory,.horn,.or. other such material, care must be taken to provide
parts to be caught by the barbs.b, b, and. I prefer that such be obtained by the
application of a metal back to such, buttons or other articles, as otherwise the
ivory or material of like character is liable to fracture. The cloth, if of a coat
or other such article of wearing apparel, has by preference, as usual, canvas
applied to it at the back, to take the entire strain of the button off the cloth;
this I do by-sewing the canvas to the cloth a short distance from the button.
The canvas may be one, two, or three thicknesses, according to the strength
desired. The spring pieces, Figure 1, being pointed at each end a, are speedily
and easily forced through the canvas and cloth in the following manner:-Put
the spring:(Figure 1) in the position desired, place the two thumbs.on the:
back of the spring, holding the cloth firmly in each hand, and then press it
through with the thumbs. If two or three thicknesses of canvas are used, it

page_text: will be found easier to put them through that first, and then through the cloth.
Having put the spring through the cloth, the button is put on by first putting
one end a of a spring piece, Figure 1, into one of the holes of the button, and
after placing the other end of the spring over the other hole, force it in with a
knife or other convenient instrument. A slight pull upon the button will then
show if the button is securely fastened on. In case it be necessary to remove
a spring shank from the button or other such article after it has been applied.
thereto, a knife or other instrument must be applied between the parts a, a, to
cause them in part to separate, so as to release the barbs 6 of their hold of the
button or other like article.
The filed Drawing is partly coloured.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means
I am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and described,
so long as the peculiar character of my Invention be retained, as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theophilus Horrex, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
BENJ J. B. MILLS,
73, Chancery Lane.
THEOPHS HORREX. (L.S.)