AN IMPROVED BUTTON AND NOVEL PROCESS OF BUTTON FASTENING
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED BUTTON AND NOVEL PROCESS OF BUTTON
FASTENING."-A communication from abroad by Louis Ignace Gras,
of No. 9, Rue des Couteliers, Moulins (Allier), France, Merchant
Tailor.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd December 1873.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BUTTON AND. NOVEL PROCESS OF
BUTTON FASTENING," a communication to me from abroad by Louis Ignace
Gras, of No. 9, Rue des Couteliers, Moulins (Allier), France, Merchant
Tailor, to be as follows:-
•
This novel system of button differs entirely from those hitherto used.

page_text: !
By the simplicity of its application and its strength it recommends itself
not only for the garments of civilians but also for army use.
As will be readily seen upon reference to the annexed Sheet of
Drawing the back face of this improved button carries in the centre a
metal stem A of a flat or of a cylindrical form, or preferably in form
of a truncated cone. The summit of this cone is surmounted by two
metal pieces or prongs forming fastening nippers a, a', placed and fixed
in the centre of the said truncated cone A; these two pieces acting as
fastening nippers or cramps cause this button to adhere perfectly to the
cloth or material upon which it is to be placed.
A metal counter-plate B of optional shape and size, and pierced with a
variable number of holes, is sewn on to the reverse or inner or lower
face of the garment or other article upon which the button is to be
placed.
In order to pass the fastening nippers through the cloth press the
points against the outer face of the said cloth or other object, and
immediately above the opening C in the counter plate B; then by
simple pressure of the thumb on the head of the button the stem A of
this latter following the fastening nippers a and a¹ will sink into the
thickness of the stuff.
The counter-plate B carries transversely and in its axis a groove or
recess d, in the centre of which is made a rectangular opening C intended
to give passage to the prongs or fastening nippers of the button properly
so called, which fastenings having thus traversed the cloth and the
counter-plate B in their thickness are easily bent back with the hand,
each to its own side in the groove d of the counter-plate. Thus, if the
button were to break from any cause, the counter-plate remaining always
sewn upon the garment or other object upon which it has been fixed, it
is only necessary to replace it by a spare button, fitting this latter to the
garment as above set forth by the aid of the fastening nippers or cramps
secured in the recess or groove of the counter-plate. The result is the
complete suppression of the use of needle and thread in fixing this novel
button, a great advantage generally, but particularly to soldiers and
travellers.
It will be understood that this novel button, termed "bouton attache,"
is applicable to every kind of garment, whether for male, female, or
child, as well as to every kind of fastening made by means of a button.

page_text: this Invention consisting not in a button for coat or other garment, but
for any article requiring a button of any kind to close it.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Fig. 1 is a section of improved
button, first form; Fig. 2, front face of same.
Fig. 3, button fixed on the countre-plate B.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her
special licence that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Gedge, 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 "AN IMPROVED BUTTON AND NOVEL PROCESS OF BUTTON FASTENING," a
communication to me from abroad by Louis Ignace Gras, of No. 9, Rue
des Couteliers, Moulins (Allier), France, Merchant Tailor, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument 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
4

page_text: Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
4
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of
reference marked thereon:-
This novel system of button differs entirely from those hitherto used.
By the simplicity of its application and its strength it recommends itself
not only for the garments of civilians but also for army use.
Upon reference to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive of the accompanying Sheet
of Drawing it will be seen that in the centre of the back of this improved
button there is a metal stem A (which may be flat sided), of a cylindrical
form, or preferably in form of a truncated cone, as shewn. The summit
of this cone is surmounted by two metal pieces forming fastening nippers
or prongs a, a¹, placed and fixed in the centre of the said truncated
cone A; these two pieces acting as fastenings, nippers, or cramps cause
the button to adhere perfectly to the cloth or material upon which it has
to be placed.
A metal counter-plate B of optional shape and size, and pierced with a
variable number of holes, is sewn on to the reverse or inner or lower
face of the garment or other article upon which the button is to be
placed.
In order to pass the fastening nippers through the cloth press the
points against the outer face of the said cloth or other object, and immc-
diately above the opening C in the counter-plate B; then by simple
pressure of the thumb on the head of the button the stem A. of this latter
following the fastening nippers a and a¹ will sink into the thickness of
the stuff.
The counter-plate B carries transversely and on its axis a groove or
recess d, in the centre of which is made a rectangular opening C intended
to give passage to the prongs or fastening nippers of the button properly
so called, which fastenings having thus traversed the cloth and the
counter-plate B in their thickness are easily bent. back with the hand,
each to its own side in the groove d of the. counter-plate. Thus, if the

page_text: 1°. Total breakage is rendered almost impossible.
2°. Should it happen, substitution is very easy, and can be made at
once.
The cotter itself has two branches, which are bent over on to the cone
which they have passed through.
The holes for sewing in the counter-plate are also dispensed with,
practice having proved that the use of the new form of nippers properly
applied in the groove is sufficient to completely ensure the strength of the
fastenings and dispense with the use of needle and thread, which is the
precise object sought to be obtained by this Invention; and this construc-
tion is illustrated in and by Figures 8 to 13 inclusive of the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing, Figs. 8 and 9 showing a complete button in elevation
and section; Fig. 10, top plan view of the button; Fig. 11, plan and
side view of counter-plate; Fig. 12, nipper fastening; and Fig. 13, cotter
or key. Therefore I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, the use of a button provided with a hollow cone
and nippers with several leaves or layers passing through the stuff, and
bending over on to a grooved counter-plate so as to fix the button, as
well as the arrangement first above described and illustrated, Figs. 1
to 7 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year