Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
A communication from LA SOCIÉTÉ EDOUARD CANDEL ET CIE., Manufacturers,
of 42 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved button or similar article which may be of
any desired shape and may have any suitable external covering or head of cloth
metal or other material and is mainly characterised by a device enabling said
button to be fastened or secured without the aid of tools or sewing.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shows separately in vertical sectional elevation the separate parts con-
stituting a button according to the present invention, viz., the shell or head A, the
back B, cap C, spring F and the grip D.
The principal feature of this invention consists in the arrangement of the caps C
and grips D and their combination with a neck E on the button which as will be
hereinafter explained, effects the fastening together of the whole device.
As will be seen from Fig. 2 the button itself is formed by the combination in
the usual manner of the head A with the neck: B, the cap C being placed centrally
in the interior of these two parts. There is left between this cap and the inner
walls of the neck E sufficient space for the passage of the branches or prongs of
the grip D the number of which brauches may be as desired.
It is essential to point out that the cap C is of a conical shape, that is to
say that the part nearest to the head A is wider than the opposite part. The
object of the cap C is to spread the prongs of the grip D apart when they are
forced over the cap, so that when the button is put in place and as long as the
cap C is not pressed back against the head A the grip D cannot become disengaged
in consequence of the spreading out from the neck E of the prongs the diameter
of said neck being less than the diameter of the branches of the grip when
spread.
The function of the spring F is to prevent the possibility of the button becoming
disengaged from the grip D by which it is secured which otherwise might happen
in consequence of shocks violent movement or strains. For this purpose the
spring Farranged between the interior of the cap C and the head A act so as to
hold said cap always pushed out towards the grip D, and so preventing said grip
from becoming disengaged.
According to the form and purpose of the button, the arrangement and shape of
the spring F may vary, and even its material may vary, that is to say it may be
made either of steel or of any other suitable elastic material, for instance instead
of being placed between the head and the cap, may extend between the cap and
the grip D with a constant tendency to draw the cap into the grip.
By way of example the spring F for the button illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawing, the back A of which button is of a curved formation,
is a helical spring whereas the spring for buttons having flat backs (Fig. 4) the
spring F is preferably simply a spring blade. It is evident that any construction
answering the same purpose inay be adopted:

page_text: "
The manner of fastening the button above described is easily understood and
is as follows:-
All the parts being put together as desired it is only necessary to force the
prongs of the grip D into the cloth as indicated in Fig. 2 to place them in the
hollow of the neck E round the cap and to press firmly until the prongs
penetrate completely and come into the position shown in Fig. 3 when the button
will be securely fastened.
In order to remove the button thus fastened, it is only necessary to press the
cap C inwards through the hole D¹ provided in the bottom of the grip D, where-
upon said cap enters further into the head A and its conical part becomes
sufficiently disengaged from the prongs of the grip D and enables them when
the grip D and the cloth are pulled, to be completely removed through the
neck E of the back B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner the
. same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a button or similar article the combination of a hollow head portion
having a neck of reduced diameter and provided with a cap in the forin of a
truncated cone, and a spring, with a prong grip portion, the prongs of which are
adapted to be passed through the material to which the button is to be secured
and to enter between the flanged neck and the conical cap, substantially as
.. described.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a complete button or
similar article, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 or in
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.
Dandhi 50th def Januar 1907