IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas F. Nott, of Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS AND
IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR."
"
Sealed the 30th November 1877, and dated the 10th July 187
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas F. Nott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th July 1877.
"
THOMAS F. NOTT, of Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR."
This Invention relates,―
Firstly. To an improved method of manufacturing buttons.
And, Secondly. To various modes of fastening the same, either to articles of dress;
or wherever such means of attachment are applicable. The head of the button
may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, horn, china, bone, or leather.
Where the button is formed of wood or other suitable substance, the head of
the button is perforated vertically, and a recess is formed at the upper part or
top of the button to receive the knot of the loop which forms the shank of
the button. In making these shanks of whipcord or other suitable flexible material,
I prefer to use a particular kind of knot which is a variation of that known as the
"double clove hitch," and I use a small table machine to facilitate the operation of
forming and tying the knot.
The object of this particular kind of knot is that it forms a kind of collar or
flange which fills up the recess in the head of the button. The loop is drawn
through to the under side of the button, and the knot is cemented in the top with
any kind of cement or other material suitable for the purpose. The recess is filled
up by a stud or plug, which may be made to contribute to the ornamental appear-
ance of the button. I do not confine myself to the use of the flexible shank, as in
some cases I prefer to use metal wire to form the shank.
The links by which the buttons are fastened to the fabric or material are formed
in some cases of a piece of metal wire, bent to form a cross piece, that effectually

page_text: prevents the buttou from being withdrawn. The wire is so bent hat it forms a
loop at the central point to receive the shank of the button, the ends being bent
over and clipped to ensure a firm fastening.
In some cases I prefer to use a metal disc or plate in place of the wire link
these plates are suitably perforated or otherwise struck up to receive a cross pin,
which retains the shank of the button. These retaining plates may be varied in
many ways in so far as regards the particular mode of retaining the cross pin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas F. Nott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
December 1877.
THOMAS F. NOTT, of Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTONS AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR."
This Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of buttons and in
fastenings therefor.
In the following description of my Invention, and in the accompanying Drawings,
I particularly specify and ascertain the nature of my said Inventions in reference to
the manufacture of buttons and in the fastenings therefor, by which the said buttons
are rendered more durable and less liable to come off than by any other method of
manufacture or means of appliance.
1. In carrying out my said Invention I proceed as follows:-I take any suitable
material, and in the process of shaping the head of the button I cut or form a hole
from the crown to the base, this hole being larger at the top than at the bottom. I
then insert a shank, either of metal, leather, whipcord, or any other suitable material,
passing the loop of the said shank through the hole provided for it in the head of
the button. The shank being now drawn down into its place, the knot or head of
the shank is made to rest in the bottom of the cavity. The top of the said hole or
cavity being filled up with any suitable material, the button is now complete.
Having described my improvements in buttons and in their manufacture; I now
proceed to describe the means and method of attaching the same.
2. I cut a disc of metal to any suitable size and pierce a hole in the centre, such
disc being formed with tongues branching from its outer edge and being indented
across its centre in a line with the tongues, which are thrown up in such a manner
as to be easily pressed down upon the metal pin, which is made to support the
shank of the button.
3. The next feature of my said Inventions consists of a piece of metal wire being
bent into a suitable shape (or a similar shape may be cut from sheet metal), which
after being thus bent or cut I choose to call a link, the said link being used as a
complete attachment in itself or in connexion with the said disc or plate in lieu of
the said straight pin or bar. The method of using this attachment in
connection with the above or any other kind of button is as follows:-After
passing the shank of the button through the material to which the button
is to be attached, I now put through the shank of the said button the
link described above, and press down the tongue into its placé in a line with
the other extremity of the said link, the two ends being made to butt against
each other gives it additional strength, the button is thus rendered perfectly secure

page_text: in its place. In connexion with the manufacture of my improved buttons I
prefer using a peculiar shaped shank, as set forth in the accompanying Drawings;
the elongated shank is especially suitable to the carrying out of my Invention.
Another feature in my improved button attachment is as follows:-
4. I cut a disc of metal and provide it with a hole or slot in the centre, the said
disc or plate being cut through a given distance from either side of the hole in the
centre; the metal left on either side the hole between the cuts is so indented as to
allow of a metal pin passing through the slot from the under edge of the plate
through the shank into a similar slot on the opposite of the said disc or plate, the
shank being pressed down (with pliers provided for that purpose) into its place in
such a manner as to crank the metal bar or pin and prevent its coming out.
5. A further extension of my improved button attachments I now proceed to
describe :-I take a similar disc of metal to the foregoing, and cut the same across so as
to form a bar in the centre, which bar being thrown up so as to allow of a button shank
in the shape of a T being passed through the slot which is caused by the bar being
thrown up in the centre; the shank being now turned half round, its horns are
made to rest in the indentations provided for it on each side the bar; the said bar is
now pressed back with pliers into its place; this attachment is then complete.
6. In addition to the already described button attachments, I also sometimes use
another, which consists of the following parts:-I take sheet metal and cut there-
from a disc formed with slots in the outer edge, which slots are intended to receive
the extremities of the crooked wire, which crooked wire is made so as to rest with
its ends therein; this attachment is then complete.
7. In reference to my further improvements, herein about to be described, in the
formation of upholstery and other buttons, I prefer using sole leather, from which I
cut or shape the head of the said button in such a manner as is convenient to receive
a metal shell or cover, as hereafter more particularly described in the accompanying
Drawing, and to answer this end I cover or enclose the head of the buttons with
metal shells, being so applied as to form part of the heads of the said buttons. The
buttons thus described are provided either with ordinary shanks or metal prods
or pins for driving purposes.
In some cases I provide the said buttons with discs, either of metal or any suit-
able material, a hole being made in their centre, through which the shanks are
passed previous to their being applied to their purpose; these discs may be provided
with plain or ornamental rims as in the accompanying Drawings.
I claim the right of selling the said rims, as above described, either as forming
part of the said buttons or separately.
In order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the head of a button with a hole formed from the
crown to the base.
Fig. 2 is a button shank, marked A; Fig. 3 shows the said shank A in its
place.
Fig. 4 shows the sectional view of the head of a button with the whipcord
shank b in its place.
Fig. 5 shows the button completed, with any kind of shank I may choose.
Fig. 6 is a metal disc with its tongues a, a; Fig. 7 is the same disc with the
tongues a, a, thrown up.
Fig. 8 shows the button attached to Fig. 5, with its disc or plate and metal pin
(Fig. 17), partly attached; Fig. 9 shows the said attachment complete.
Fig. 10 is a link of metal wire; Fig. 11 shows the said link through the shank of
a button; Fig. 12 is a similar link cut from sheet metal, the said link being put
through the shank of a button in the same way as Fig. 11, the two horns c, c,
being brought up into a straight line with each other, as in Fig. 13.
Fig. 14 is the link (Fig. 10) complete.

page_text: Fig. 15 is a metal disc with its indentations and slots in the centre; Fig. 16 is the
same disc with the pin (E, Fig. 17) partly in its place.
Fig. 18 shows the attachment complete.
Fig. 19 is a metal disc with the bar F raised up in the centre, the two sides of
the said bar being cut through and indented in such a manner as to receive the
Tshank (Fig. 20); this attachment is complete, as shown in Fig. 21.
Fig. 22 is a fourth feature, and consists of a metal disc, with its two slots G, G,
at the sides, which slots are made to receive the ends of the crooked wire S, S,
which being put into their places G, G, is shewn complete in Fig. 23.
Fig. 24 is a solid leather-headed button.
Fig. 25 is a metal shell made to cover and form part of the said button, which
shell, after being put on the head of the said button, its under edge is closed over
the edge of the button, which is now complete, as in Fig. 26.
Fig. 27 is a solid leather-headed button with a prod or pin for driving purposes
and may be covered with a metal shell (Fig. 28), in a similar manner to Fig. 24.
Fig. 29 is the button complete.
Fig. 30 shows a disc, either of metal or any other suitable material, which is
intended to be under the button, its outer edge projecting out beyond the edge of
the said shell as in Fig. 26; Fig. 31 is a similar disc used in connexion with the
gimp buttons, as shown in Fig. 29.
Fig. 32 shows a button with the link fastener thrown into its proper position
previous to its being applied to its purpose, which arrangement I claim as a special
feature in this Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the means of performing the same, I would have it understood that
what I claim as my Invention are improvements in the manufacture of buttons
and fastenings therefor as set forth in the foregoing Specification, and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas F. Nott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.