IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND BUTTON FASTENERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Wright, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS AND BUTTON
FASTENERS."
Sealed the 7th June 1878, and dated the 16th April 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edmund Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April 1878.
"
EDMUND WRIGHT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BUTTONS AND BUTTON FASTENERS."
My Invention relates to the manufacture of buttons, solitaires, studs, and the
like, with double headed rivet-shaped shanks, and to double plate spring fasteners
therefor, applicable also for use with other buttons and similar fastenings having a
shank terminating in a head to engage with the fastener as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will describe it
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which,
Figures 1 and 2 represent two forms of shank, the former adapted for papier
maché or composite buttons, and the latter for metal buttons.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, represent elevations and sections of a papier maché and of
a metal button respectively.
In buttons the heads of which are made in two parts or having an upper and
lower shell, the bottom part a is pierced and recessed for the reception of the shank,
as shown in Figures 5 and 6; and in certain classes of buttons the upper part a¹
may also be recessed for the reception of the shank head.
In making papier maché or composite buttons, Figures 3 and 5, the upper and
lower parts are glued together as shown, and pressed to shape in dies in the
ordinary manner after the introduction of the shank b,. which is inserted from the
top side of the lower part a. By this means the rivet-shaped head c of the shank
is firmly embedded in the button and the shank is held very securely, a result
hitherto unattained with the ordinary wire shanks of buttons of this description.

page_text: Figures 4 and 6 represent another form of button generally made of metal, and
suitable for trousers, &c. Here the shank b is inserted in the lower shell in the
same manner, the upper shell bearing on the shank head and retaining it in position
as shown.
Linen, "Florentine," and pearl buttons may also be constructed in a similar
manner.
In any case the lower end of the shank terminates in a rivet-shaped head e,
which engages with a double plate spring fastener constructed as hereafter
described,
Figures 7 and 8 show respectively a front and back view, and Figure 9 a cross
section of one form of double plate spring fastener, and Figure 10 shows the upper
plate separately, whilst Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 show similar views of a
modification of the fastener.
Referring to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, fis the front plate consisting of a small steel
or metal disc with a radial slot g, extending to the centre of the disc, the slot
being enlarged at its outer end for the passage of the head e, the remainder of the
slot being only the width of the narrowest part of the shank as shown. This disc
f is covered on the under side by a second plate h of thin metal, having two cavities
or indentations i, i', for the reception of the small head e on the shank when the
latter is inserted in the slot g, one of such cavities being opposite the one end, and
the other opposite the other end of a slot g. These cavities are separated by a
sort of bridge at the joint j, over which the head e must pass in order to enter the
cavity, and by which it is securely retained therein.
In Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 the slot g is of the same width throughout, and is
carried out to the extreme edge of the disc f, and instead of the cavities i, i, a
sloping recess or indentation k is formed for the passage of the head e, and a hole
is made at the centre of the covering plate h for the reception of said head e as
shown.
:
The sectional views show the manner of binding or connecting the spring disc
and covering plate together, which is effected by turning the edges of the cover
over those of the disc in an ordinary press.
In this case the
Figure 15 is a back view of another modification of the fastener.
slot g in the front plate is like that in Figure 10, and the hole in the back plate
like that in Figure 12, but instead of the cavities i, or the incline k, a tongue m is
'formed by slotting the covering plate h to act as a spring where greater elasticity
is required.
The button and fastening are shown connected in Figure 16, the action of the
fastening being as follows:-The shank head e having been passed through a hole
in the material or article, is inserted at the outer end of the slot g, and slid along it
to the other end, thereby springing the two inner plates f and h apart while
passing the bridge or highest point j, after which the head e falls into the cavity i'
or hole, as the case may be, and the two plates close again, thus preventing the
withdrawal of the head e, except by reversing the operation just described. It will
be obvious therefore that in ordinary use the button will be securely held.
The great advantage of these fasteners, besides their security, is their slight
thickness and the absence of sharp projections on the under side, which would hurt
the foot when the fastener is applied inside a boot.
These fasteners may be covered with linen or other woven fabric in the ordinary
manner of covering linen and other buttons.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
1st. The manufacture of papier maché or composite buttons with double headed
rivet-shaped shanks, substantially as shown and described for the purposes
specified.
2nd. A button fastener composed of two spring or flexible plates combined and
respectively slotted, and recessed or pierced to receive and engage the head of the
"

page_text: button shank, the plates being sprung apart to admit the head, and closing together
after it is inserted, substantially as shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the buttons constructed with double headed shanks as
herein shown and described, with fasteners constructed as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Th WDICTIM
WDL
RIGHT
TATמחזי
(L.S.)