Improvements in Buttons.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFI
Improvements in Buttons.
I, CHARLES RADCLIFFE, of 389 Mulberry Street Newark, County of Essex, and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and hy
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in those buttons having a face and a back-
plate united at their peripheral edges, a centrally arranged perforation in the hub or
back-plate and a separate shoe having a pointed post thereon for forcing the same
through the material and adapted to engage with means in the button for securing
the several parts of the button together.
The invention further consists in providing the hub or back-plate with means thereon
to prevent the spring or cross-bar from turning within the button, thus causing the
latter always to remain in a position directly across the perforation in the back-plate
and thereby allowing the prongs on the post on the shoe to be readily forced between
and over and across the spring-arms of the cross-bar without the danger of displacing
the same and thus securing a button all the parts of which are firmly held together
when in wearing position on the material.
In the drawings herewith accompanying, in which similar letters of reference are
employed to indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a
vertical section of my improved button, showing the post on the shoe in locked
engagement with the spring across the hub or back-plate when the parts have been
put together and are secured to the material. Figure 2 is a plan view of the same
with the face-plate removed, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the post. Figure 4
is a side elevation of a spring used in connection with the parts of the button shown
in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of
construction, in which a straight spring is used and arranged on the top of a plate
within the hub or back-plate. Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5 with the face-plate
removed and Figure 7 is a sectional view of the plate employed in Figure 5.
Figure 8 is still another form of construction in which the spring-bar is placed
between two discs or plates arranged within the button. Figure 9 is a plan view
of the same and Figure 10 is a section through line, Figure 8, showing the
arrangement of the spring within the button.
Figure 11 is a vertical section of my improved button provided with studs or
projections in the back-plate; Figure 12 is a plan view of the same with the face-
plate removed showing one arrangement of studs or projections punctured into the
back-plate to prevent the side movement of the spring cross-bar out of position when
Figure 13 is a view
the post on the shoe is forced between the arms of the same.
similar to Figure 12 showing a different arrangement of the projections or studs.
Figure 14 is a plan view of the back-plate with the spring cross-bar removed and
Figure 15 is a section of the same taken through line a¹, Figure 14. Figure 16
illustrates a shoe provided with a round post and Figure 17 is a plan view of a back-
plate employed in connection with the round post.
As indicated in the above described views, A, represents the button which is
composed of the face-plate or upper shell a, secured to the hub or back-plate b by
the overlapping edges a¹, and having a plate or disc c arranged within the hub or
back-plate by means of which the cross-bar d, which is preferably of spring wire is
held and secured across the perforation a' in the bottom of the back-plate.
Integral with the shoe e, or separate therefrom is desirable, as formed or struck
from a plate f, at a right angle thereto, a post fl, as shown more clearly in
Figures 1,3 etc., which projects up through the perforation 62 in the hub or back-plate
and into the button, said post having a pointed or arrow-shaped head f² provided with

page_text: projections or prongs f³, on each side thereof which pass up between the wires or
arms d', and d², of the spring-hard and engage with said wires or arms thereby firmly
locking with the same and securing the button to the material.
When the buttons are packed ready for use, the spring bar d is arranged within the
hub b' of the back-plate b, across the perforation 62, as indicated in Figure 2, and the
plate c and the face-plate a are clamped down upon the back-plate.
The post and shoe e are separate from the top part of the button.
To secure the above described button to the fabric, the shoe e with the arrow-headed
post thereon, is forced through the material and inserted through the perforation or
slot in the hub b. The button and the shoe are then pressed firmly between the
thumb and the fingers and the head f2 on the post passes between the spring-bar d
and the prongs on the post f¹ are caused to engage with and catch over the arms d
and d² of the spring d, as has been described.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the spring or bar d is secured across the opening 62 in
the hub or back-plate by means of the disc or plate c which is firmly secured between
the upper shell or face-plate and the back-plate and thereby prevents the spring d
from being accidently forced out of its position.
The arrow-head 2 and the prongs f³ on the post f¹ may project through a per-
foration c¹ in the disc c, if desirable, and the spring-bar d arranged across the top of
said disc, as will be understood from Figures 4 and 5. In order to prevent the
spring-bar d from being forced out of place, the disc c may be provided with
projections e², struck up on said plate, which extend up between the wires or arms d', d²,
and thereby hold the spring-bar in position, as clearly illustrated in Figure 6.
In Figures 8, 9 and 10, is shown another form of construction in which the spring
is arranged between the plate c and an upper plate or disc 3 which may be provided
with over-lapping edges e to firmly secure the two plates together and to hold the
spring-bar d in position therebetween.
The plate used in connection with the button shown in Figure 8 is provided with
depressions c³ of any desirable shape and has raised portions e to correspond therewith,
and the spring bar d is also shaped to conform with the depression in order that the
bar may lie therein and across the perforation c¹ in the plate c to enable the prongs f³
to force the wires or armis d' and d apart when the button and shoe are put together
on the material, and to allow the prongs to engage with the wire arms of the spring-
bar and firmly hold the parts of the button together.
In lieu of a flat post, I may employ a post which is round or rectangular in cross-
section, provided with a groove or grooves therein, adapted to engage with the wire-
arms of the spring-bar in the hub or back-plate.
Said post is pointed on the top as in Figure 16 in order that the same may readily
be forced through the material. It will be understood that the shape and size of the
perforation 63 in the back-plate must necessarily conform with the cross-section of
the post.
The back-plate is formed as has been stated with a deep hub or recess 6¹ having a
centrally arranged perforation or slot 62 therein, and diametrically across the same is
arranged the spring-cross-bar d provided with the arms d¹ and d² which are bent so
as to conform with the back-plate and recess therein, as illustrated in Figures 2, 6,
and 12. Between said arms d¹ and d², as in Figure 13, or on the sides of the arms of
the spring-cross-bar, as in Figure 14, may be formed projections or studs 63 thrown up
on the inner side of the back-plate, which serve to hold the cross-bar in place and
prevent the displacement of the same by a jar or otherwise, and which also act to
guide the workman in placing the bar d in its proper position directly across the slot
or perforation in the hub.
The plate or disc c which may be of paste-board or metal may be arranged within
the back-plate directly across the cross-bar, as in Figure 11, to further help secure the
bar d perinanently within the hub and back-plate, but the said plate may be dispensed
with if desirable, as is evident.
If desirable the post f1 may be struck up on the metal disc f which is firmly secured
to the shoe e by the overlapping edges on the same.
5

page_text: 4. In a button, the combination, with a shoe provided with a disc f struck up
from a blank with a post f¹ thereon having a pointed head f² provided with
prongs f, of a button consisting essentially of a face-plate a secured to a perforated
back-plate by means of over-lapping edges a¹ on the face-plate, projections or
studs struck up on said hack-plate for securing the spring d within said back-plate,
bent as shown, and having arms d' and d² with which the prongs on the head engage,
for the purposes set forth.
5. A button consisting of a perforated back-plate, a face plate secured thereto, a
U-shaped spring bar provided with arms d'and d², arranged within the back-plate
across the opening or perforation therein, projections or studs 63 formed or struck
up on the inner side of the back-plate to prevent the side movement of the spring-
bar, and a shoe provided with a post thereon having a pointed head adapted to
engage with and catch across the arms of the spring-bar, for the purposes set
forth.
6. A button consisting of a perforated back-plate, a face-plate secured thereto, a
spring arranged within the back-plate and across the perforation therein, studs or
projections formed integrally upon the inner side of the back-plate between which
said spring is arranged to prevent the side movement or displacement thereof, and a
shoe provided with a flat post having a pointed head adapted to be forced through
the material and adapted to enter said perforation in the back-plate, and means on
said head which engage with said spring to hold the parts of the button together, for
the purposes set forth.
.قيد
200 1 A-1: 1000
CHARLES RADCLIFFE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: when the spring-bar d is placed in position between the projections b in the back-
plate, the face-plate a is secured to the back-plate and the parts are ready to be
attached to the material.
The shoe is secured to the back of the material by forcing the pointed post f
5 through the same, as stated in the above, which is readily accomplished without first
puncturing the material by means of a needle as has been the custom heretofore, and
the barbed head on the post is inserted through the slot or perforation in the back-
plate, the points f³ on the head f' spreading the spring-arms d' and d² apart and
catching across the same, as is clearly shown in Figure 1, and 11, and thereby firmly
securing the parts of the button together, and all possibility of the button becoming
detached from the garment is avoided.
The great advantage in this button is its simplicity of construction and the result
attained in the manufacture of a metallic button which is strong and durable.
By arranging the projections or studs on the back-plate, as indicated, two
advantages are attained; first, that of preventing the spring-bar from being forced
out of its proper place in the hub in the back-plate, and, second, they serve to guide
the workman in properly placing the bar within the button, as has been stated in the
above.
In lieu of providing the hub in the back-plate with the slot and employing a
flat post, the shoe e may be provided with a round post and employ a back-plate with
a round hole.
I am aware that the form and shape of the spring-bar and the disc c may be varied
and therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the exact form shown herein.
The improved button herein described has this great advantage that the wire-arms
of the spring-bar are constantly pressing against the post fi beneath the prongs upon
the same, and thereby prevent any possibility of the parts of the button from being
pulled apart, no matter how great the strain applied thereon.
By this arrangement of the parts a button of great strength is secured, and also one
that can be readily adjusted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
from
1. In a button the combination, with a shoe e provided with a disc f struck
a blank with a post f¹ thereon having a pointed head f' provided with prongs f³, of a
up
button consisting essentially of a face-plate a secured to a perforated back-plate 6 by
means of over-lapping edges a¹ on the face-plate, a disc arranged within the back-
plate or hub for securing the spring d within said back-plate, bent as shown, and
having arms d and d² with which the prongs on the head of the post f¹ engage, for
the purposes set forth.
2. In a button the combination, with a shoe e provided with a disc f struck up
from a blank with a post thereon having a pointed head " provided with
prongs, of a button consisting essentially of a face-plate a secured to a perforated
back-plate by means of over-lapping edges a¹ on the face-plate, a disc or discs
arranged within said back-plate, for securing the spring d within said back-plate,
said spring having arms d¹ and d³ with which the prongs on the head of the post f¹
engage, and means on said discs, such as projections, for holding the spring-arnis
in position and preventing the displacement thereof, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, the herein described metallic button, consisting
of the face-plate a and the back-plate b provided with a slotted hub or depression, a
cross-bar having spring-arms d' and d² placed in said depression at right angles and
across the slot therein, a disc or plate for securing the cross-bar in position, and a
shoe provided with a flat post having a pointed head adapted to be forced through
the material, and having prongs thereon which engage with the spring-arms, for the
purposes set forth.