IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING DEVICES FOR BUTTONS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of WP 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 FASTENING DEVICES FOR
BUTTONS AND THE LIKE communicated to him from abroad by Jacob
Weidenmann and Charles de Quillfeldt both of the City and State of New
York United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1882.
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. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FASTENING DEVICES FOR BUTTONS AND THE LIKE" [A communication to him
from abroad by Jacob Weidenmann and Charles de Quillfeldt both of the City
and State of New York United States of America.]
This invention relates to improvements in self fastening buttons, and its objects
are to provide a cheap, easily adjustable and secure fastening for buttons and
analogous articles, such as badges &c
The button may be made of metal, bone, horn, celluloid, or other suitable
substance, and may be covered with a textile fabric, or not, as may be desired.
The face or body of the button may have, some ornamental device on it, and
when this is the case, one part of the ornamental figure is mounted upon a lever
hinged to the button and lying flat upon the surface of the same. Attached to the
under side of the lever and passing through a hole in the button is a curved spur
or tooth which is preferably long enough to take a firm hold of the cloth, and for
its point to come in contact with the under surface of the button, thus removing
danger of pricking the fingers and securing a firmer attachment. When the lever.
is raised, the point of the spur is elevated, and the button is then placed in position
Price 6d1

page_text: upon the cloth, the lever is depressed, the spur passing through the cloth and when
the lever is flat upon the surface of the button, the spur fastens the latter to the
cloth. This form of fastening is sufficiently secure for buttons or other attachments
which have only a slight strain to bear. A stronger form of the device has in
addition to the levers and spurs just described, a stationary spur on the opposite
side of the button. When the lever and movable spur are raised, the stationary
spur is passed through the cloth and the lever is then depressed, the movable spur
locking the button securely in place.
One two or more stationary spurs and corresponding movable spurs mounted on
hinged levers may be provided according to the strength of fastening required.
It is evident that the stationary and movable spurs may cross each other at right
angles, thus making the fastening very secure-All these are obvious modifications
of this form of the device, and the adoption of either form will depend upon the
strength of fastening required
A modification of this invention is as follows, In a circular disc having two
concentric, annular depressions are laid two circular springs one in each depression.
The outer of these springs bas one end bent at right angles and this bent end
serves as a belt. A curved shank is hinged to the second spring and passes
through a hole in the bottom disc of the button. The point of the curved shank
passes through another hole in the bottom disc and has an eye near its point
into which the bolt.slides, thus locking the shank, The fastening is on the principle
of the ordinary spring padlock. The cap of the button is secured upon the bottom
disc in the ordinary manner-
-To unlock the button a pin, or other pointed
instrument is inserted through a hole in the bottom of the button and thereby
the outer spring which carries the bolt is pushed back. The shank is thus
released and can be withdrawn from the fabric to which the button is secured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th May 1883.
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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FASTENING DEVICES FOR BUTTONS AND THE LIKE A communication to me
from abroad by Jacob Weidenmann and Charles de Quillfeldt both of the city
and state of New York, United States of America
"
This Invention relates to improvements in self fastening buttons and its objects
are to provide a cheap easily adjustable and secure fastening for buttons and
analogous articles, such as badges &c.
These objects are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which the different figures show different forms of the invention.
The button may be made of metal, bone, horn, celluloid, or other suitable
substance and may be covered with a textile fabric or not as may be desired.

page_text: The drawings show these devices applied to uncovered buttons-Figures 1, 2,
and 3, show one form of the fastening and slight modifications thereof. Figures 4, 5,
and 6 illustrate another form of fastening.
Figure 1 shews the simplest form of the first of the devices, Figure 2 a stronger
form, and Figure 3 the under side of a button provided with this form of fastening
Figure 1 shows a top view and two side views of a button with this device and
similar letters indicate similar parts throughout Figures 1, 2 and 3
A, Figure 1 represents the face or body of the button which has, or may have,
some ornamental device on its face and when this is the case one part of the
ornamental figure is mounted upon the lever / hinged to the button at h and lying
flat upon the surface of the button. Attached to the side of the lever and passing
through a hole in the button is the curved spur or tooth t This spur or tooth is
curved in form and should be long enough to take a firm hold of the cloth, and for
its point to come in contact with the under surface of the button, thus removing
danger of pricking the fingers, and securing a firmer attachment. When the lever
is raised, the point of the spur t is elevated, and the button is then placed in
position upon the cloth, the lever is depressed, the spur passing through the
cloth and when the lever is flat upon the surface of the button the spur fastens
the latter to the cloth. This form of fastening is sufficiently secure for buttons or
other attachments which have only a slight strain to bear.
Figure 2 illustrates a button which has a stronger form of the device shewn in
Figure 1 having in addition to the lever and spurt just described a stationary
spur on the opposite side of the button. When the lever and the movable spur
are raised the stationary spur is passed through the cloth and the lever is then
depressed the movable spur locking the button securely in place.
Figure 3 shows the underside of buttons provided with one two or more
stationary spurs and corresponding movable spurs mounted on hinged levers
according to the strength of fastening required. It is evident that the stationary
and movable spurs may cross each other at right angles thus making the
fastening very secure. All these are obvious modifications of this form of the
device and the adoption of either form will depend upon the strength of fastening
required.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate another device which forms a part of the said
invention
Similar letters indicate like parts throughout these several figures.
A. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the complete button, and B Figure 4
shows a perspective view.
A. Figure 5 shews an inside view of the button disc in which are contained the
springs hereafter referred to.
B. Figure 5 shews a washer which is placed upon the button disc to keep the
springs in place but may be dispensed with in flat buttons if desired C-Figure 5
is the cup of the button shewn in plan view.
A. Figure 6 shews the spring carrying the bolt hereafter referred to. B. Figure 6
shews the curved shank which serves as the fastening, hinged to the button by the
spring 8. C-Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the bottom of the button
The button is constructed in the following manner.
In a circular disc having two concentric annular depressions are laid to circular
springs one in each depression. The outer of these springs has one end bent at right
angles and this bent end serves as the bolt b. The curved shank is hinged to the
second spring 8 and passes through the hole in the bottom disc of the button Figure 4.
The point of the curved shank t passes through another hole in the bottom disc
and has an eye near its point into which the bolt b slides thus locking the shank.
The fastening is on the principle of the ordinary spring padlock. The cap of the
button is secured upon the bottom disc in the ordinary manner. To unlock the
button, a pin or other pointed instrument is inserted through a hole e Figure 6, in
the bottom of the button and pushes back the spring o which carries the bolt b.
The shank t is thus released and can be withdrawn from the fabric to which the

page_text: .button is secured The button is attached by passing the shank through the fabric
"and inserting the point in the hole prepared for it until the bolt of the spring
engages in the eye of the shank.
Having thus described the different forms of this invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents and the method of performing the same what I
claim is
1. A button provided with a fastening device consisting of one or more curved
teeth attached to one or more levers the levers being operated from the upper side
of the button and the teeth passing through holes in the button and adapted to
pass into and through the fabric to which the button is secured and secure the
button thereto, substantially as described
2. The combination in a button fastening device, of one or more hinged levers
having one or more curved teeth passing through holes in the button and one or
more stationary teeth the whole being adapted to secure the button to the fabric,
-substantially as described
L
3. A button provided with a hook shank hinged within the bottom plate
adapted to hook into the material for attachment, the pointed end of the hook
being detachably.secured within the bottom plate all substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in a button fastening of a hinged shank which passes
through the fabric to which the button is to be secured and a spring which.
secures the point of the shank to the button substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination, in a button fastening of a hinged shank which passes
through the fabric to which the button is secured, and a spring carrying a bolt
which passes into an eye in the point of the shank and secures the fastening,
substantially as shewn and described.
6. The combination, in a button fastening, of the hinged shank t having an eye
in it, the springs 8 and o bolt b and hole e, all combined with the cap and bottom
disc of the button, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my
band and seal this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.