Improvements in Buttons and Button Fasteners.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buttons and Button Fasteners.
JOSEPH WALKER DAVIS, The Cedars Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton,
Estate Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The metallic or other buttons may be manufactured in the usual way, but instead
of the holes therein provided for sewing to the desired article, fabric, or other
suitable material, a hole, or holes, are provided through which the metallic or
other shank is to be mechanically, or otherwise fixed, such hole, or holes, may he
stamped, drilled, or otherwise made of such a shape, or shapes, and in such a
position in the button as to suit this invention; or the button may be made without
hole or holes if desired.
(.) The shank may be solid, or hollow and be made of any length or desired
metal, alloy, or other suitable substance.
(1.) If solid, round metal is preferable of a desired diameter and cut off to
required lengths, which of course can be done in the usual way.
Upon each end of such pieces of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance, a flat,
or flats, or other shape, or shapes, as desired may be made by pressing, stamping,
machining, or otherwise, so far up and from either end of each piece of metal,
alloy, or other suitable substance, as to allow of the button, and bottom portion of
the shank (to be hereafter described and shown at A in the drawing belonging to
this Specification) to be mechanically, or otherwise fastened such for instance as
soldered, brazed, each end of the aforesaid portion of the shank may by these or
other means be made square if required, and the hole, or holes, in the button, and,
bottom portion of the shank and marked A. 1. in the drawing hereinafter mentioned,
to be made of such a shape, or shapes, size, or sizes, as to suit themselves to the
shape, or shapes, produced on the other part of the shank, and marked B. 1., as to
allow of riveting, or otherwise being mechanically, secured thereto.
If the aforesaid portion of the shank be made as above described and shewn at B,
a small piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance of the shape shewn at A,
is made by pressing, stamping, or other mechanical means, from sheet metal, alloy
or other suitable substance; and has a hole or holes of suitable shape or shapes,
drilled, stamped, or pierced to allow one end of the part of the shank shewn at B. 1.,
to be fixed therein, by riveting, soldering, brazing or other mechanical means, or
processes, as required.
It may be found desirable instead of fixing the small piece of metal, alloy, or
other suitable substance shewn at A, to the other portion of shank as shewn when.
complete at C, and instead of making a flat, or flats, on the one end of the same to
make a slit in D. 1., at the one end and turn up the remaining parts as shewn at D. 2.,
by pressing, stamping, or other mechanical means, thus forming a shank in one piece
of the same shape as shewn at C.
(2.) It may further be found desirable to make the shank hollow, in which case
a piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable, substance, is taken in sheets of desired
thickness and therefrom small portions of the metal, alloy, or other suitable
substance, are stamped, pressed, or otherwise produced of the shape approximately
shewn at E, these are then treated in such a manner or manners, as to form them
into small tubes, and, the lugs thereon shewn at E. 1., are turned up at right angles
as shewn in E. 2., forming a hollow shank. These are then mechanically, or
otherwise fixed or fastened to the button by riveting, (in which case another
projecting lug, or lugs are left on the shank as shewn at E. 3.,) soldering or
-

page_text: otherwise, in either and all of such cases the hole or holes in the buttons are made
so as to facilitate the easy fixing of the aforesaid sbanks.
The aforesaid describes how a button with a fixed metallic or other shank is to
be manufactured, and, the purposes for which it is thus constructed will be
hereafter seen.
(c.) A piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance (hereinafter called the
washer) is then produced from sheet metal, alloy, or other suitable substance, of
suitable thickness, by stamping, or other mechanical means, or processes, either
round, oval, or other desired shape, such washer is then countersunk in a circle and
near and about its centre from its surface by any suitable method as for instance by
stamping, pressing, or other means as shewn in section at F, to a depth which is a
little more than the thickness of the projections on either the solid, or hollow,
shanks as shewn at C. 1., and E. 1. The said washer then has a round hole pierced,
or otherwise made in its centre part of the countersunk portion of the washer (of
less diameter than that of the aforesaid countersunk portion,) and of such a
diameter as to allow the shank of the button shewn at C. 2. to pass therethrough if
desired. And a special feature of this invention consists in cutting the aforesaid
washer, by any approved means in such a manner, or manners, as to form a tongue,
or tongues, as shewn at G, and H, such tongue, or tongues, are then mechanically,
or otherwise treated in such a manner, or manners, as to make it, or them, overlap
a portion or portions of the back of the washer, (on the countersunk side), such
overlapping may be produced by making the tongue, or tongues, after they have
been produced, a little longer by such means for instance as hammering, or
pressing them.
The washers may be preferably made of thin sheet steel, or springy brass, and,
for
are then treated in such a manner, or manners, as to produce all portions of the
washer as smooth as possible, and, the part, or parts, where the tongue, or tongues,
overlap any portion, or portions of the other metal, are again pressed or otherwise
treated to ensure as uniform a surface at this part, or parts, as possible.
The washers thus produced may have (if thought desirable) a back fixed on
their countersunk side, made either of a separate piece of metal, alloy, or other
suitable substance, and, fastened and fixed thereto by their edges being caused to
overlap and then being treated in such a manner, or manners, as to firmly fix the
same to the washer, or may be made by stamping, pressing, or other mechanical,
means in one piece, with the washer as shewn at K, and be turned over the counter-
sunk side of the said washer and then riveted soldered, brazed or otherwise
fastened thereto.
It will now be seen that in order to fasten this button to any desired cloth,
fabric, or other suitable material, all that has to be done is to make a small hole in
the cloth, fabric, or other suitable material at the point where the button is desired
to be fixed, to push the shank through the small hole in the said cloth, (so that the
button is left on the right side) and the other end of the shank on the other side;
the centre of the washer is then placed against the end of the shank (projecting
through the cloth), and, the button twisted round when it will be found that the
projections on the shank will work their way through the washer on to the counter-
sunk side of the same and there fasten themselves in such a manner that they
cannot again work out of the aforesaid washer, and, thereby forming a very
flexible button and fixing the same firmly in the cloth, fabric, or other suitable
material.
In the case where only one tongue is made in the washer, the method of fixing
the button to the cloth, or other suitable material is performed as aforedescribed
by piercing a small hole through the cloth, or other suitable material, placing the
shank of the button through such hole, then hooking one of the small projections
on the shank through the hole in the washer, and, twisting the other projection
through the aperture formed by the tongue, such projection will then be fastened
as in the former case on the countersunk side of the said washer and the button
firmly fixed to the required article as before.

page_text: The metallic or other shanks of the aforesaid buttons may be made of such
lengths as to be suitable to any thickness of cloth, fabric, or other material to
which they may be required to be fixed.
Dated the 27th day of Fabo 1002
CUMI LEID DT EUITIVATION.
Improvements in Buttons and Button Fasteners.
JOSEPH WALKER DAVIS The Cedars Tettenhall Road Wolverhampton,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
(a.) The metallic or other buttons may be manufactured in the usual way, but
instead of the holes therein provided for sewing to the desired article, fabric or
other suitable material, a hole or holes are provided through which the metallic or
other shank is to be mechanically, chemically or otherwise fixed, such hole or holes
may be stamped, drilled or otherwise made of such a shape or shapes and in such a
position in the button as to suit this invention; or the button may be made without
hole or holes if desired.
(b.) The shank may be solid or hollow—and be made of any length or desired
metal, alloy or other suitable substance.
(1.) If solid, round metal is preferable of a desired diameter, and, cut off to
required lengths, which of course can be done in the usual way. Upon each end of
such pieces of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance, a flat, or flats, or other shape
or shapes as desired may be made by pressing, stamping, machining, or otherwise,
so far up and from either end of each piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable
substance as to allow of the button and bottom portion of the shank (to be hereafter
described and shewn at A in the drawing belonging to and left with the Provisional
Specification of this application and all further references also will be made to the
aforesaid drawing of the Provisional Specification) to be mechanically, chemically
(such for instance as soldered or brazed) or otherwise fastened, each end of the
aforesaid portion of the shank may by these or other means be made square
if required, and the hole, or holes, in the button, and, bottom portion of the shank
and marked A. 1. in the drawing above mentioned, to be made of such a shape, or
shapes, size or sizes, as to suit themselves to the shape or shapes produced on the
other part of the shank and marked B. 1., as to allow of rivetting or otherwise being
mechanically, or chemically, (such for instance as soldered or brazed) and secured
thereto. If the aforesaid portion of the shank be made as above described and
shewn at B. a small piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance of the shape
shewn at A, is made by pressing, stamping, or other mechanical means, from sheet
metal, alloy, or other suitable substance, and has a hole or holes of suitable shape,
or shapes, drilled, stamped, or pierced therein to allow one end of the part of the
shank shewn at B. 1. to he fixed therein by rivetting soldering, brazing or other
mechanical means or processes, as required.
It may be found desirable instead of fixing the small piece of metal, alloy, or
other suitable substance shewn at A. to the other portion of the shank as shewn
when complete at C. and instead of making a flat or flats on the one end of the same to
make a slit in D. 1. at the one end and turn up the remaining parts as shewn at D. 2.
by pressing, stamping, or other mechanical means, thus forming a shank in one piece
of the same shape as shewn at C.
(2.) It may further be found desirable to make the shank hollow, in which case a
piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance is taken in sheets of desired
thickness and therefrom small portions of the metal, alloy, or other suitable substance

page_text: are stamped, pressed, or otherwise produced of the shape approximately shewn at E,
these are then treated in such a manner or níanners as to form them into small tubes
and the lugs thereon shewn at E. 1. are turned up at right angles as shewn at E. 2.
forming a hollow shank. These are then mechanically or otherwise fixed or
fastened to the button by rivetting, (in which case another projecting lug, or lugs,
are left on the shank as shewn at E. 3.) soldering or otherwise, in either and all of
such cases the hole or holes in the buttons are made so as to facilitate the easy fixing
of the aforesaid shanks. The aforesaid describes how a button with a fixed metallic
or other shank is to be manufactured and the purposes for which it is thus
constructed will be hereafter seen.
(c.) A piece of metal, alloy, or other suitable substance (hereinafter called the
washer) is then produced from sheet metal, alloy, or other suitable substance of suit-
able thickness, by stamping or other mechanical means or processes, either round, oval,
or other desired shape, such washer is then countersunk in a circle from and near
and about its centre from its surface by any suitable method as for instance by
stamping pressing or other means as shewn in section at F. to.a depth which is a
little more than the thickness of the projections on either the solid, or hollow, shanks
as shewn at C. 1. and E. 1. The said washer then has a round hole pierced or
otherwise made in its centre part of the countersunk portion of the washer, (of less
diameter than that of the aforesaid countersunk portion) and of such a diameter as
to allow the shank of the button shewn at C. 2. to pass therethrough if desired.
And a special feature of this invention consists in cutting the aforesaid washer, by
any approved means in such a manner or manners as to form a tongue or tongues as
shewn at G and H, such tongue or tongues are then mechanically or otherwise
treated in such a manner or manners, as to make it or them overlap a portion
or portions of the back of the washer (on the countersunk side), such overlapping
may be produced by making the tongue or tongues after they have been produced
a little longer by such means for instance as hammering or pressing them.
These washers may be preferably made of thin sheet metal as steel or springy
brass, and, are then treated in such a manner or manners as to produce all portions
of the washer as smooth as possible and the part or parts where the tongue or
tongues overlap any portion or portions of the other metal are again pressed or
otherwise treated to ensure as uniform a surface at this part or parts as possible.
These washers thus produced may have (if thought desirable) a back fixed on
their countersunk side, made either of a separate piece of metal, alloy, or other
suitable substance and fastened and fixed thereto by their edges being caused to
overlap and then being treated in such a manner or manners as to firmly fix the
same to the washer, or may be made by stamping pressing or other mechanical
means in one piece with the washer as shewn at K, and be turned over the counter-
sunk side of the said washer and then rivetted, soldered, brazed, or otherwise
fastened thereto. It will now be seen that in order to fasten this button to any
desired cloth, fabric, or other suitable material all that has to be done is to make a
small hole in the cloth, fabric, or other suitable material at the point where the button
is desired to be fixed, to push the shank through the small hole in the said cloth (so
that the button is left on the right side) and the other end of the shauk on the
other side, the centre of the washer is then placed against the end of the shank
(projecting through the cloth) and the button twisted round when it will be found
that the projections on the shank will work their way through the washer on to the
countersunk side of the same and there fasten themselves in such a manner that they
cannot again work out of the aforesaid washer and thereby forming a very flexible
button and fixing the same firmly in the cloth, fabric, or other suitable material.
In the case where only one tongue is made in the washer, the method of fixing
the button to the clothes or other suitable material is performed as before described
by piercing a small hole through the cloth or other suitable material, placing the
shank of the button through such hole, then hooking one of the small projections
on the shank through the hole in the washer and twisting the other projection
through the aperture formed by the tongue, such projection will then be fastened

page_text: as in the former case on the countersunk side of the said washer and the button
firmly fixed to the required article as before.
The metallic or other shanks of the aforesaid buttons may be made of such lengths
as to be suitable to any thickness of cloth, fabric, or other material to which they
may be required to be fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) Metallic or other shanks for buttons having a projection or projections
as above described for securing the shank and button to the aforesaid washer in
the manner or manners before set forth in this Specification.
(2.) Washers having a tongue or tongues by means of which and made in such a
way as to allow the projection or projections on the shanks to pass there through
from one side of the washer and then become secured when through on the other
side of the said washer and thereby securing the button to the article required in
the manner or manners before described.
D
11
AT
1000
JOSEPH W. DAVIS.