IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC FASTENERS AND SETTING INSTRUMENTS FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS AND THE LIKE TO VARIOUS MATERIALS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P Thompson
& Boult Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn in the
county of Middlesex and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC FASTENERS AND
SETTING INSTRUMENTS FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS AND THE LIKE TO VARIOUS
MATERIALS Communicated to him from abroad by Franklin A. Smith Jr
of Providence Rhode Island United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson and Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, and
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN
METALLIC FASTENERS AND SETTING INSTRUMENTS FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS AND
THE LIKE TO VARIOUS MATERIALS 33
Communicated to me from abroad by Franklin
A Smith Jr. of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in metallic
fasteners and setting-instruments for attaching buttons to fabrics, and the first part
of the invention consists essentially of a metallic fastener having a suitable retaining
base, and provided with one or more prongs for engagement with the shank or head
of a button for connecting the same to fabrics. The second part of the invention
consists of a setting-instrument having an upper and lower jaw whereby the
fastening prongs are held in one of said jaws and the button head in the opposite
jaw, and by the closing of said jaws upon the desired material the fastener and
button head are firmly secured thereto, all as will be hereinafter more fully described
and specifically designated in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a
fastener having a retaining base provided with a single prong formed with or

page_text: without a loop or neck to receive the shank of a button. Fig. 2, represents a side
view of the same as attached to a button and fabric. Fig. 3, represents a perspective
view of a similar device formed from wire. Fig. 4, represents a side elevation of a
single prong fastener provided with a base having spurs arranged around its edge.
Fig. 5, represents a vertical sectional view of the same as connected to the button
head and the fabric. Fig. 6, represents a single prong provided with a retaining
base at its center. Fig. 7, represents a sectional view of the same as applied to a
button head. Fig. 8, represents a side view of the same as applied to a fabric.
Fig. 9, represents detail views of the bottom plate or washer used in connection with
the fastening prongs. Figures 10 and 11 represent a side elevation and a sectional
view, respectively, of a modification. Figures 12 to 14 represents a one-pronged
fastener having a loop or neck to receive the shank of a button, and Figures 15 to
19-represent detail views of setting-instruments for applying said fasteners and
buttons to fabrics.
Referring to the drawings, the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is composed
of a base plate a having a single prong b bent upwards at right angles thereto, as
shown; said prong being formed with or without a loop or neck to receive the shank
of the button as may be deemed most preferable. In the operation of attaching
the button to a fabric, the button A. is placed in one jaw of the setting-instrument
and the fastening prong in the opposite jaw. The fabric to which the same is to be
connected is placed between the two jaws and the jaws shut together, thereby
forcing the point of the fastening prong up through the fabric and through the
The fastener thus con-
shank of the button back upon or into the fabric.
structed may be either formed of sheet metal, or of wire, as may be deemed most
desirable, and when formed of sheet metal, upwardly projecting small spurs may
be provided to enter the under surface of the fabric to prevent the fastener from
turning.
In Fig's 4 and 5, the construction shown therein, consists of a single prong a
provided with a base plate b, which also may have small spurs projecting upward,
as shown said fastener being adapted to pass through a fabric up into the head A
where the point of the prong is deflected in either direction by the die d arranged
within the said head, as shown, and which may be formed of any suitable material.
The construction shown in Fig's 6 to 8 consists of a prong a provided with a central
collar or shoulder b both the lower and upper ends of said prong being pointed, as
shown. This fastener is adapted to be used in connection with a button hicad A
having a hollow neck portion B, formed solidly or separately therewith and composed
of any suitable material; a die d being arranged in said head to receive and clinch
the upper point of the prong a therein, while the lower point projects through the
fabric and is clinched back therein or upon a base plate e, as shown in Fig. 8.
In Fig. 9, is shown the base plate e which may be used in connection with the
fasteners, when desired. In Fig's 10 and 11, is shown a somewhat similar fastener,
the only difference being that the upper part of the prong is formed with an
enlarged head, upon which is cast, molded, or otherwise affixed a button head A
and neck portion B, as shown, and which is attached to a fabric in the same manner
as above described. In Fig. 12, the fastener shown therein consists of a prong a
the upper part of which is bent around so as to form a table b and a loop c to
receive the shank of a button, and which is affixed to a fabric as fully shown in
Fig. 14.
In attaching the various described fasteners and buttons to fabrics or garments, I
provide a setting-instrument having an upper and lower jaw pivoted together and
supplied with handles C, D, as shown. The upper jaw is provided upon its lower
surface with a steel plate f, having an open slot g, terminating in a die h wrought
in the under surface of the same, the button head being adapted to fit within the
said slot and to be held therein by means of the downwardly pressing spring i, as
shown. The lower jaw of the setting-instrument is also provided with a groove to
receive the base plate of the fastening prong which is held in place by the projecting
springs k, k, as shown. In setting the button to a fabric as shown in Fig's 2, and 5,

page_text: the button head is placed in position within the upper jaw of the setting-instrument
with its shank portion projecting downwards, as shown, while the fastener is
adjusted within the lower jaw with its point projecting upward. The material to
which the button is to be attached is then placed between the two jaws which are
closed together upon the same thereby forcing the point of the prong up through
the material into the die h, which curves or deflects the point of the prong through
the eye or shank of the button back upon or into the material to securely connect
the button thereto.
The setting instrument shown in Figures 18 and 19 has a modified construction
of its upper and lower jaws, the upper one being provided with an open slot g and
spring i to receive and hold the button head, while the lower jaw is provided with
a suitable die to curve or deflect the point of the prong back into position on the
under side of the fabric, after passing through the same, to connect. the button
thereto, as fully shown in Figures 8 and 14 of the drawings.
Having now described the said invention and the manner of performing the
same as communicated to me by my foreign Correspondent, I wish it to be understood
that I claim
First. The metallic fastener, consisting of the base plate a, provided with the
single prong b bent upwards at right angles to said base for engagement with
the shank or head of a button to attach the same to fabrics, substantially as
specified.
Second. The fastening device consisting of the double pointed prong, provided
with the central collar or shoulder, for attachment to the button head A, having
a suitable die arranged within its interior, and to the fabric, substantially as
specified.
Third. A fastening device composed of the pointed prong a having its upper
portion formed with a retaining base and a loop or neck to receive the shauk of a
button, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The herein described setting-instrument, the upper jaw of which is
provided with the plate f, having slot g, die h, and spring i, and the lower jaw pro-
vided with a holding mechanism for the fastening device substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a setting-instrument, the plate f, having a suitable recess or slot, a
die, and a spring, constituting the holding mechanism for a button, as also to turn
or deflect the fastening prong through the shank of the same, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a setting-instrument, the counter-bored receptacle or slot having
projecting springs, constituting the holding mechanism for a metallic fastener
previous to its being attached to a button and fabric, substantially as specified.
Seventh. A setting-instrument, the upper jaw of which is provided with an
elongated slot and a holding spring, and the lower jaw of which is provided with
a suitable die for turning or deflecting the prong or prongs of a metallic fastener,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twentieth day of November in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)