IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND STUDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUTTONS AND STUDS." A
communication from abroad by Henri Burtey, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 6th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1877.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUTTONS AND STUDS." [A communication from abroad by Henri Burtey, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.]
The chief object of this Invention is to obviate the inconveniences attendant
upon the modes at present in use for securing buttons to garments and other
articles.
The block, which forms the back of the button, is stamped out of sheet metal,
and it consists of a disc slightly less in diameter than that of the button, required
to be made pierced at its centre to receive the shank, and having at its opposite
sides lugs, which when folded over upon the disc will meet at the centre thereof.
To the back thus prepared, the face piece or shell of the,button, which will be hollow
or dish shaped, is applied by dies and pressure, or attached by other suitable means,
according to the character of the button face intended to be used.
The shank of the button consists of a short pin, having at one end a flat head, and
at the other end a cone-shaped point, the diameter of the base of the cone being
greater than the diameter of the stem of the pin to form a shoulder.
D

page_text: When it is desired to fix the button to the garment, the point of the shank is first
pushed through the material of which the garment is made, and then inserted in the
hole in the back of the button. End pressure being applied to the shank, its point
will, by reason of its conical form, raise and part the lugs of the disc until the cone
shall have passed sufficiently far to allow of the lugs to spring back to their normal
position and behind the shoulder of the cone. The shank will then be held firmly
in its position without risk of being withdrawn.
For uniform and livery buttons, and in order to prevent them from turning round,
a double shank may be used, consisting of either two single shanks or of a staple
having two coned points. In such case two holes in lieu of one coned hole will be
pierced in the back of the button to receive these points.
A small india-rubber washer may be placed between the shank head and the
fabric to prevent the fraying or rubbing of the fabric by the latter.
In the case of a double shank one small washer to each single shank, or one large
washer to both, may be used.
In constructing studs according to this Invention, the shank will be provided
with a cone-shaped point at either end to receive (at either end) a button, such as
that above described.
It may be further remarked that in place of the lugs stamped out in one
piece with the disc, small springs rivetted or otherwise secured to the disc may
be used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
May 1878.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUTTONS AND STUDS." A communication from abroad by Henri Burtey, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.
The chief object of this Invention is to obviate the inconveniences attendant upon
the modes at present in use for securing buttons to garments and other articles, more,
especially when the buttons have been sewn on to the garment, as the thread gives
way after a lapse of time, and leaves either a hole in the garment; or the part to
which the button was attached has become so worn that it is almost impossible to
attach another button in the same place.
In the accompanying Drawing is represented, in the various stages of manu-
facture, a button constructed according to this Invention, with certain modification
thereof.
In carrying out the Invention, the blank, which forms the back of the button, is
stamped out of sheet metal. This blank, shewn at Fig. 1, consists of a disc A,
slightly less in diameter than that of the button required to be made. It is pierced
at its centre D to receive the shank, and it has at its opposite sides lugs B and C,
which are folded over upon the disc A, so as to meet or nearly meet at the centre
thereof, and cover or nearly cover the hole D, as shewn at Fig. 2. These lugs B and
C with thus form springs, and their form, number, and composition may be varied;
for example, in the case of large buttons, small blades may be rivetted or otherwise
secured to the disc A; or two lugs only may be used, as seen in Figures 2 and 5 or
four lugs, as seen in Fig. 6, may be used. To the back thus prepared, the face piece
or shell E of the button, which may be either hollow or dish-shaped or flat (see
Figures 3 and 4) is applied by dies and pressure; or it may be attached by
other suitable means, according to the character of the button face intended to
be used.
The shank of the button, shewn at Fig. 7, is made in one piece, and consists of a
short pin I, having at its outer end a flat head J, and at its inner end a cone-shaped
point K, the diameter of the base of the cone being greater than the diameter of the
pin I, so as to form a shoulder, and so proportioned as to pass freely through the
central hole D in the disc A.
When it is desired to fix the button to the garment, the point of the shank is
first pushed through the material of which the garment is made, and then
inserted in the hole in the back of the button. End pressure being applied to
the shank, its point will, by reason of its conical form, raise and part the elastic
lugs B and C of the disc A, as shewn in Fig. 8, until the cone shall have passed
sufficiently far to allow the lugs to spring back behind the shoulder of the cone, as
seen at Fig. 9; then, by pulling slightly on the buttons, the lugs may be brought to
their normal position, as shewn in Fig. 10. The shank will now be held firmly in
its position without risk of being withdrawn.
The length of the shank will vary according to the form of the button and the
thickness of the fabric, but the shoulder should be developed as much as possible
consistent with strength; the diameter of the part I will determine the distance
that the lugs should be left apart.
For uniform and livery buttons, and in order to prevent them from turning
round, a double shank may be used, consisting either of two single shanks J, J,
Fig. 12, or of a staple P having two coned points, see Fig. 13. In such case, two
holes in lieu of one central hole will be pierced in the button back to receive these
points, as shewn in Fig. 11.
A small india-rubber washer may be placed between the shank head J and
'

page_text: the fabric, to prevent the flaying or rubbing of the fabric by the latter, see Figures
8, 9, and 10.
In the case of a double shank, one small washer to each single shank, see Figures
12 and 13; or one large washer to both (see Fig. 14), may be used.
In constructing studs, such, for instance, as are used in saddlery and like
purposes, according to this Invention, the shank will be provided with a cone-
shaped point at either end to receive (at either end) a button such as that above.
described.
When it is desired to remove a button it is only necessary to nip off the head J
of the shank with a pair of cutting pliers, and allow the rest of the shank to
enter and lodge in the head of the button. This will not interfere with the insertion
of a new shank.
In order to avoid a rattling noise, should one or more of these shanks be contained
in the button head, a small washer of card-paper, leather, or other material pierced
in the centre may be inserted in the button during manufacture.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the Invention applies to the, manu-
facture of buttons from the various hard materials, such as usually employed in such
manufacture.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention of "Improvements in the Con-
struction of Buttons and Studs," as communicated to me by my foreign correspon-
dent, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent; I
claim,―
First. Constructing buttons for the reception of shouldered shanks, as above
described, whereby on the application of endway pressure to the shanks the buttons
may be secured in position for use.
Secondly. Constructing studs in the manner above described.
*In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.