IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FASTENING BUTTONS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FASTENING
BUTTONS" 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 that class of implements designed to fasten buttons to
shoes and other articles by means of metallic fasteners, and the invention consists
in certain combinations of mechanical devices as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation with a portion of the upper jaw in section.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the working parts of the upper jaw.
Figure 3 is a front elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the lower jaw when
the fastening is completed.
Figure 4 is a vertical section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the working parts
of the lower jaw and a fastening pin and washer inserted.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the button latch and operating devices.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the working parts of the upper jaw.
Figure 7 is a view drawn to an enlarged scale of a detail of the upsetting tool.
Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the two heads of the implement showing
the position of all the parts at the moment the fastening is completed, the button,
pin and washer being in elevation and the fabric in section.
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a button secured to the fabric, the fabric being
in section.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a button secured to the fabric, the fabric and
washer being in section.
Figure 11 is an enlarged plan of the washer.
Figure 12 is an enlarged view, the pin being in elevation and the washer in
section, showing how the fastening pin may be rocked or tipped when their is
strain on the button,

page_text: In the said drawings A and A¹ are the working jaws of the implement and on
the end of each is a harrel D, D¹, preferably cast integral with the said jaws.
Within the barrel D is fitted a spring bolt B, having a stem 3 passing through
the upper contracted end of barrel D and in which it plays freely. Within
barrel D and around stem 3 is a coiled spring 4 the lower end of which rests on
the shoulder 5, of bolt B and the upper end of which rests against the interior of
the top of barrel D. This spring 4 keeps the bolt B normally protruding from the
lower end of barrel D and said bolt can only be forced into the barrel by over-
coming the spring 4. In a rear central longitudinal line the bolt B is slotted as
seen at 7 and in the slot rests an upsetting tool C, its lower end having a curved
face 8, secured rigidly to the jaw A, as seen at 10, and into this slot 7 protrudes
the fastening pin during the fastening operation as will be hereafter described.
The lower end of spring bolt B is provided with a head E arranged at right
angles to the line of the operating jaws and longitudinally provided in its lower
surface with a squared groove or recess a. The rear of the head is provided with
a vertical slot through which the upsetting tool moves.
Between the groove or recess a and its front side, or the side on which the button
is inserted, the head E is cut away slightly on its lower surface as seen at b, leaving
that portion of the head in rear of groove a projecting a little below the portion b
for a purpose hereinafter described.
At one end of the head E is a cylindrical opening d through which passes a
pin F bearing on its lower end a button holding latch e and on its upper end
a head f, between which and the upper surface of head E lies a coiled spring g
so that, normally the spring keeps latch e drawn into groove a.
When the pin F
is thrust down the latch e passes out of groove a and the turning of pin F throws
latch e around as seen in Figure 5 and in dotted lines in Figure 1 for the insertion
or removal of a button the wire of the eye of which rests in the recesses ii in the
top of button latch e.
In the bottom of barrel or tube D¹ is inserted a screw-plug G from the centre of
which rises a cylindrical anvil k having a socket on its upper end to receive and
sustain the head of the fastening pin whilst it is being curled or upset. The
stationary anvil passes through the centre of a reciprocating sleeve H having such
diameter as to singly fit the interior of barrel D¹. Near its lower end sleeve H is
provided with an annular shoulder which engages with an annular shoulder m on
the interior of the barrel D¹ and prevents the escape of the sleeve upwardly from
said barrel.
Between the shoulder on the sleeve and the inner end of screw plug G is a
coiled spring I which keeps sleeve H normally projected out of barrel D' as seen in
Figures 1 and 4. The upper end of sleeve H is provided with a cup shaped
receptacle n to receive and hold the washer P whilst the pin R rests in the central
opening of the sleeve H with its head resting on the end of anvil k. The com-
parative lengths of anvil k and sleeve H is such that when sleeve H is depressed
until its lower end brings up against screw plug G the upper edge of sleeve H lies
in a plane slightly above the plane in which lies the upper end of the anvil k so
that the lower face of the head E, when the jaws are closed rests on the end of
sleeve H and does not touch the anvil k.
The fastening device I propose to use with my improved implement is illustrated,
on an enlarged scale, by Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the drawing. The washer P
is struck of a square bit of sheet metal which has its corners turned as seen at p p,
preferably in the operation of cutting the washer, to form spurs which will engage
with the fabric when the button is set and thus prevent the washer from turning.
At the centre of the washer is a perforation p¹ through which to pass the shank
of the fastening pin R. This opening is somewhat larger or of greater diameter
than the shank of the pin R whilst it is sufficiently small to prevent the head t of
the fastening pin from drawing through it, though a portion of the enlargement
near the base of the shank does enter perforation p¹. The construction of the washer
and pin is such that the pin can tip to one side, or has a rocking motion within the

page_text: washer so as to allow the pin to yield and slightly change direction when the button
is pulled, see Figure 12. The pin head t bearing only against the edge of the per-
foration of the washer (see Figure 10.) the frictional contact is reduced to a minimum
in the turning or swivelling of the button when the button is subjected to the action
of the button-hook in the act of buttoning. Cutting the washer square prevents
the waste of stock heretofore occurring in making circular countersunk washers
with a serrated edge.
The operation of the implement is as follows, a button being inserted in latch e
and a pin and washer in sleeve H. The shoe upper x is placed beneath the head E
on the end of bolt B. The jaws are then closed, the material being sustained by
spring 4 against the thrust of the pin R until said pin has its shank passed entirely
through the goods, the pin passing into the slot in the head and bolt B. By this
time the protruding spring devices in the two barrels D, D¹ have closed against the
opposite sides of the material x. Continued pressure forces the sleeve H to descend
until it is in the position seen in Figure 3 so the head of the pin lies close beneath
the material. Meantime the bolt B recedes into barrel D and the descending
upsetting tool C strikes the point of the fastening pin curling the shank backward
and downward around the button eye as seen in Figures 8, 9 and 10. The jaws
are then opened the button latch e depressed and the button disengaged from the
implement securely fastened to the material.
From the construction as hereinbefore described it will be seen that the rear
portion of head E projects slightly below the bottom of latch e so that when the
jaws are closed to the fastening position the rear of the head E, resting on sleeve H
has a limited downward independent movement. This construction leaves the
button eye as high as possible and held in place through the medium of spring g,
whereby the point of the pin surely enters the button eye and whilst the machine
is deflecting the pin and said pin comes down near to and settles on the fabric the
pressure of the upsetting tool on the button eye will overcome spring g and push
the bight of the button eye down and cause it to lie closer to the fabric thus making
a closer loop or fastening coil.
The portion b of the lower face of head E being cut away as shown results in the
latch having to travel a minimum distance downward before turning outwardly to
release the button after the fastening is completed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a button securing implement the jaw A¹ provided with a barrel D¹ and
a concentric sleeve H adapted to project above the point of the fastening pin when
in place and protect said point from contact with the fabric, substantially as set
forth.
Second. In a button securing implement the jaw A¹ in combination with a
centrally arranged continuous cylindrical receptacle to receive the fastening pin
and adapted to support and centre it throughout its length for the purpose
described.
Third. In a button securing implement the spring upsetting bolt B in combination
with and carrying a button holding device for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In a button securing implement the spring upsetting bolt provided with
a slot 7 in combination with a spring button-holding latch provided with recesses i, i,
to receive the wire of the button eye substantially as described.
Fifth. In a button securing implement the spring bolt B having the head E with
a groove e and recess q to receive the button eye for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The jaw A¹ and barrel D¹ in combination with the central fixed anvil k
sleeve H having on its upper end the washer receptacle n and the spring I, all con-
structed arranged and operated as set forth.
Seventh. The spring sleeve H and fixed anvil k combined with such comparative
length as described, that when the sleeve is at its lowest point of depression, its

page_text: upper end will be in a plane slightly above the upper end of the anvil k as set
forth.
Eighth. In a button securing implement the spring bolt B in combination with a
button holding latch having both a vertical and horizontal movement as described.
Ninth. In a button securing implement a button-holding latch having a limited
independent yielding movement as the jaws are closed to finish the upsetting of the
fastening pin as described.
Tenth. In a button securing implement the spring-bolt B and bead E having its
lower face cut away at 6 and a groove or recess a in combination with latch e
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. In a button securing implement the spring-bolt B having the head E
provided with the rear portion of its lower face projecting below the latch e in its
normal condition in combination with said button-holding latch e substantially as
described.
Twelfth. In a button securing implement the spring bolt B provided with the
head E having a cylindrical opening d at one side in combination with pin F,
having head fat one end and latch e at the other and spiral spring g all constructed
and arranged substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. A button fastener consisting of pin R in combination with a square
perforated washer P having its corners turned at p p as described.
.
Fourteenth. In a button securing device a perforated washer P having a per-
foration p¹ larger than the diameter of the shank and smaller than the head of the
pin in combination with pin R as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.