IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER ARTICLES ON WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF GOODS OR MANUFACTURES
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JAMES BARSHAM, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,.by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing. date- at
Westminster, the Fifth day of April, in the fourth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
James Barsham, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William James Barsham, my exors, admors, and assigns;
or such others as I, the said William James Barsham, my exors, adiñors;
or assigns, should at any time"agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales; and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FASTENING BUTTONS AND OTHER ARTICLES ON WEARING APPAREL AND OTHER
DESCRIPTIONS OF GOODS OR MANUFACTURES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said William James Barsham, shall cause
a particular description of the 'nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in .Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery: within six calendar months next and immediately'
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear. .

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William James Barsham, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates, first, to the mode of fastening buttons by means of
a spring catch; and,
Secondly, my Invention relates to a mode of constructing brace buttons
in order to their being more securely fastened by sewing.
The
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to explain the Drawing hereunto annexed, in
the various Figures of which the same letters are used to indicate similar
parts. Figure 1 shews a front view of a portion of cloth, having a button
fastened according to my Invention. Figure 2 shews a back view of the same
piece of cloth. Figure 3 shows a section of the piece of cloth, and also of the
button attached thereto. Figure 4 shews a plan and section of the button.
Figure 5 shews a plan and edge view of a spring catch; and Figure 6 shews a
plan and side view of the eye or shank used with the spring catch in fastening
the button. a is the button which has a recess sunk in the face as shown,
in order to receive the spring catch 6, and edges of the recess are under-
cut in order that when the spring catch 6 is sprung or pressed into the
recess, it will be retained from coming out by any action which may take
place, at the same time it may readily be removed when desired.
button may be of horn or other suitable material. c is an eye or shank by
which the button is attached, this eye or shank is similar to a small button, as
is shewn at Figures 2, 3, and 6; but the construction may be varied, as will
be seen by examining Figures 7, 8, and 9. Thus Figure 7 shews a side view
and plan of a suitable shank made by coiling wire, as is shewn; and there is
an advantage in this arrangement, that the part c' acts as a spiral spring at
the back of the cloth, having at all times a tendency to draw the button
towards the cloth, yet giving way on any sudden pull on the button.
Figure 8 shews another arrangement of eye or shank made by bending wire
into the figure or shape indicated by the side view and plan of Figure 8; and
Figure 9 shews another construction of shank, which is produced by cutting
or stamping a portion of metal plate into the shape shewn at (1) and
bending it into the shape shewn in plan and side view (2), (3), as shewn
at Figure 9. In some cases I use the parts a, b, as a means of fastening
other buttons, as is shewn at Figure 10, where d is an ordinary button,

page_text: 20,-and-21, shew a front view, a back view, and a section of a portion of cloth
with a button affixed thereto; and Figure 22-is, a plan, and, side view. of a
hollow stem to be used-therewith. In this case, in-place-of-the holes through
the button; itself being used to sustain the thread at, the point e¹ there is a
plate.b, such as before described, employed; or the plate b; in place, of having
a spring tongue, as-shewn, may be a complete ring, with a bar bacross from
side to side; or the plate 6 may simply have holes formed therein, for the
passage of the thread and needle. Figures 23,124, and 25, shew, a front view,
a-back view, and a section of a portion of cloth with another. button affixed
thereto; according to this part of my Invention, but varying from those-before
described, but still having the peculiar character of the thread being
sustained at a point at the. end: of. the-hollow stèm farthest from the .garment.
In this case the button is placed on the stem, but cannot be drawn off,'or, the
stem-may be fastened to the button..
Having thus described the nature of my: Invention, I would have it under-
stood, that I do not confine myself to the precise, detail shewn, provided the
peculiar characters of my Invention. be retained; but what I claim-is,-.
First, the mode of employing a spring catch b, with a button a; and suitable
eye or shank as above described; and
Secondly, I claim, the mode of applying hollow stems in affixing buttons as
above described..
In witness whereof, I, the said William James Barsham, have: hereunto
set my hand and.seal, this Fourth day of October; in the year of our