IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in
the City of Westminster, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS."-
A communication from abroad by George Rehfuss, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania United States of America. Machinist.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
March 1865.
I, FRANCIS WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the City of West-.
minster, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-.
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS," to.
be as follows:-
The first-part of this Invention consists of an instrument whereby the
shanks of rivets for securing buttons to fabrics may be quickly inserted into.
the latter.
The second part of this Invention consists of an instrument for rivetting
buttons to fabrics, and for imparting a neat and regular finish to the head of.
the rivet.

page_text: Fig. 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an elevation, partly in
section, of the instrument for inserting the shanks of button rivets into fabrics;
Fig. 2, the same with the parts in different positions; Fig. 3, a plan view of
Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detached view drawn to an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, a modifi-
cation; Fig. 6, a sectional elevation of the instrument for rivetting the buttons
to fabrics; Fig. 7, a detached sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale;
Fig. 8, a plan view of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a sectional view showing the button
secured to the fabric; and Fig. 10, a plan view of Fig. 9.
On reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which illustrate the first part of
this Invention, A is a plate to which are secured a short vertical rod a and a
longer vertical rod b, the upper end of the latter being reduced to a sharp
point; on the rod 6 slides a metal sleeve c, which is secured to the upper end
of a plate d', the lower end of the latter being bent outwards, and this bent
end having a hole through which passes the rod a; round the rod b, below the
-sleeve c, is a spiral spring which tends to raise the said sleeve, the upward
motion of the latter however being limited by a head fon the rod a. On the
upper end of the sleeve is a tube d, which is. concentric with the rod b, and
bevelled from the bottom upwards, so. that the upper end of the tube presents
a sharp annular edge; the fabric X to which a button is to be attached is
first brought over the instrument so that the end of the tube d shall be in
contact with the fabric at the point where the button is to be secured; the
fabric is now pressed quickly downwards by the attendant so that the point of
the rod 6 shall penetrate the same, the sleeve c and its tube being depressed to
the position shown in Fig. 2, when the fabric will pass readily from the inclined
point of the rod on to the tube d; the fabric is now released, and the sleeve c
-and its tube are raised by the action of the spring e to the position shown in
Fig. 4 the shank ý of a button Y is now introduced into the upper end of
the tube d, as shown in Fig. 4, and the attendant presses with his thumb
upon the head of the rivet, while at the same time he draws up the cloth over
the tube d until it is brought against the under side of the head of the rivet,
when the cloth with the rivet, the shank of which has been thus inserted, is
removed.
In Fig. 5 is illustrated a modification in which, in place of the tube d
being secured to the sleeve c, two spring plates d', d, are attached to the
same, the ends of the plates when the sleeve is depressed resting against the
rod 6 under a shoulder x, so that the cloth may readily pass from the rod
on to the plates, the operation being the same as in the instrument first
described.
On reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, which illustrate the second part of

page_text: this Invention, A is the frame of the instrument, which consists of the base A¹
and the overhanging arm B; on the front end of the latter are two projec-
tions a and b, through which passes the rod c, a coiled spring • surrounds
the rod c, and tends to maintain the upper end of the latter against the cam-
shaped end of a lever G hung to a pin passing through two lugs f on the
upper side of the arm B; on the front of the projection a is a lug g, through
which passes a set screw h; at the lower end of the rod c is a cylindrical
orifice for receiving a die i, on the end of which are cutting edges arranged in
the form of a cross, the die being secured in its place by a set screw j, and on
the end of the rod C, around the orifice containing the die i, is an annular pro-
jection m; to a pin passing through lugs k on the base A is hung an arm E,
on the front edge of which is a block or die G, and on the upper side of the
latter is a depression adapted for the reception of the end of the rod C, and
on the lower side an annular projection n, which is concave for a purpose'
described hereafter; a spring o is secured to both arms B and E, and tends
to maintain the latter in an elevated position. After the stem of a rivet has
been introduced into the fabric as described in relation to the first part of this
Specification, the rod c is elevated, and the fabric is brought beneath the
same, so that the head of the rivet will rest on the base A¹ directly below the
end of the rod C; on the upper end of the rivet is placed a button, in the
centre of which is a concave depression corresponding with the annular ridge
m on the end of the rod C, the end of the rivet projecting slightly into an
opening in the centre of the button. The arm G is now removed so as to
depress the rod C, which is thus brought against the button, the projection m
fitting into the depression on the face of the same, so that the centre of the
die and the centre of the rivet will coincide with each other; the rod C is
then further depressed, and the button will be forced down tight on to the
rivet, and the cruciform end of the die will be brought against the end of the
same, indenting it in the manner shown in Fig. 10, and firmly securing the
button to the fabric; the rod C is then again raised, and the lever E is
depressed until the die G rests upon the button, and the end of the rod is
brought against the upper side of the die so as to force the projection n against
the newly formed head of the rivet, the concave surface of the lug mimparting
to the same a neat and regular finish. By adjusting the set screw h the
movement of the arm G may be so regulated as to determine the exact
amount of pressure to be applied to the head of the rivet. If desired the
rod C may be used independently of the frame A; in this case the rod is held
by the operator, its lower end being applied to the rivet, while the upper
end is struck with a heavy instrument. It will be apparent that dies with

page_text: cutting edges differing in shape from that described may be used, and that
the projection m may be made of any shape corresponding with that of the
depression in the button. It will be apparent that two or more dies may be
used in the one rod C when it is desirable to fasten a button by means of a
rivet having two or more stems each adapted to an opening in the button.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WISE, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the City of Westminster, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Francis Wise, Her special licence that I, the said Francis
Wise, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Francis Wise, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by George Rehfuss, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Machinist, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Francis Wise, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that J, the said Francis Wise, 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:-
The first part of this Invention consists of an instrument whereby the

page_text: shanks of rivets for securing buttons to fabrics may be quickly inserted into
the latter.
The second part of this Invention consists of an instrument for rivetting
buttons to fabrics, and for imparting a neat and regular finish to the head of
the rivet.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an elevation, partly in
section, of the instrument for inserting the shanks of button rivets into
fabrics; Fig. 2, the same with the parts in different positions; Fig. 3, a plan
view of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detached view drawn to an enlarged scale; Fig. 5,
a modification; Fig. 6, a sectional elevation of the instrument for rivetting
the buttons to fabrics; Fig. 7, a detached sectional view drawn to an enlarged
scale; Fig. 8, a plan view of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a sectional view showing the
buttons secured to the fabric; and Fig. 10, a plan view of Fig. 9.
On reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which illustrate the first part of this
Invention, A is a plate to which are secured a short vertical rod a and a longer
vertical rod b, the upper end of the latter being reduced to a sharp point; on
the rod 6 slides a metal sleeve c, which is secured to the upper end of a plate
d', the lower end of the latter being bent outwards, and this bent end having a
hole through which passes the rod a; round the rod b, below the sleeve c, is
a spiral spring which tends to. raise the said sleeve, the upward motion of the
latter however being limited by a head fon the rod a. On the upper end of
the sleeve is a tube d, which is concentric with the rod b, and bevelled from
the bottom upwards so that the upper end of the tube presents a sharp annular
edge; the fabric X, to which a button is to be attached, is first brought over
the instrument so that the end of the tube d shall be in contact with the
fabric at the point where the button is to be secured; the fabric is now
pressed quickly downwards by the attendant so that the point of the rod b
shall penetrate the same, the sleeve c and its tube being depressed to the
position shown in Fig. 2, when the fabric will pass readily from the inclined
point of the rod on to the tube d; the fabric is now released, and the sleeve ċ
and its tube are raised by the action of the spring e to the position shown in
Fig. 4; the shank y of a button Y is now introduced into the upper end of
the tube d, as shown in Fig. 4, and the attendant presses with his thumb upon
the head of the rivet, while at the same time he draws up the cloth over the
5 tube d until it is brought against the under side of the head of the rivet,
when the cloth with the rivet, the shank of which has been thus inserted, is
removed.
:
In Fig. 5 is illustrated a modification in which; in place of the tube d
being secured to the sleeve c, two spring plates d', d, are attached to the

page_text: same; the ends of the plates when the sleeve is depressed resting against
the rod 6 under a shoulder x, so that the cloth may readily pass from the rod
on to the plates, the operation being the same as in the instrument first
described.
.
On reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, which illustrate the second part of
this Invention, A' is the frame of the instrument, which consists of the base A'
and the overhanging arm B; on the front end of the latter are two projec-
tions a and b, through which passes the rod c, a coiled spring surrounds the
rod c, and tends to maintain the upper end of the latter against the cam-shaped
end of a lever G, hung to a pin passing through two lugs f on the upper sido
of the arm B; on the front of the projection a is a lug g through which
passes a set screw h; at the lower end of the rod c is a cylindrical orifice for
receiving a die i, on the end of which are cutting edges arranged in the form
of a cross, the die being secured in its place by a set screw j, and on the end of
the rod c around the orifice containing the die i is an annular projection m; to
a pin passing through lugs k on the base A is hung an arm E, on the front end
of which is a block or die G³, and on the upper side of the latter is a depres-
sion adapted for the reception of the end of the rod c, and on the lower side an
'annular projection n which is concave for a purpose described hereafter; a
spring o is secured to both arms B and E, and tends to maintain the latter in
an elevated position; after the stem of a rivet has been introduced into the
fabric, as described in relation to the first part of this Specification, the rod c is
'elevated, and the fabric is brought beneath the same, so that the head of the
rivet will rest on the base A¹; directly below the end of the rod c on the
upper end of the rivet is placed a button, in the centre of which is a concave
depression corresponding with the annular ridge m on the end of the rod c,
the end of the rivet projecting slightly into an opening in the centre of the
button; the arm G is now removed so as to depress the rod c, which is thus
brought against the button, the projection m fitting into the depression on the
face of the same, so that the centre of the die and the centre of the rivet will
coincide with each other; the rod c is then further depressed, and the button
will be forced down tight on to the rivet, and the cruciform end of the die
.will be brought against the end of the same, indenting it in the manner shewn
in Fig. 10, and firmly securing the button to the fabric; the rod c is then
again raised and the lever E is depressed until the die G¹ rests upon the
button and the end of the rod is brought against the upper side of the die so
as to force the projection n against the newly formed head of the rivet, the
concave surface of the lug m imparting to the same a neat and regular finish.
By adjusting the set screw h the movement of the arm G may be so regulated

page_text: as to determine the exact amount of pressure to be applied to the head of the
rivet. If desired the rod c may be used independently of the frame A ; in
this case the rod is held by the operator, its lower end being applied to the
rivet, while the upper end is struck with a heavy instrument. It will be
apparent that dies with cutting edges differing in shape from that described
may be used and that the projection m may be made of any shape correspond-
ing with that of the depression in the button. It will be apparent that two
or more dies may be used in the one rod c when it is desirable to fasten a
button by means of a rivet having two or more stems each adapted to an
opening in the button.
Having now fully described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be conveniently carried into effect, I would have it
understood that what I claim is,―
Firstly, the combination of the pointed rod 6, the moveable sleeve c, with
its bevelled tube d and spring e, or their equivalents, the whole being arranged
and operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
Secondly, the rod c, or its equivalent, with a guiding projection m in combi-
nation with a die having cutting or indenting edges, arranged substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Thirdly, the rod c and its die i, combined with the frame A, its lever G,
and spring e, or its equivalent, substantially as described.
Fourthly, the lever E with its die G¹, in combination with the frame A
and rod c, the whole being arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Fifthly, the set screw h in combination with the lever G and rod c.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Wise, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
W. LLOYD WISE,
Office for Patents,
Chandos Chambers,
Adelphi, W.C.
FRANCIS
L.B. WISE.