Improvements in and connected with the "Fly" and Placket Openings of Garments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the "Fly" and Placket
Openings of Garments.
I, JOHN ANTON RUTH, of No. 622 Frederick Avenue, in the City of Baltimore,
State of Maryland, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention 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 an improved construction in fasteners for placket
openings of garments. The object is to provide improved means which will ensure
that the meeting sides or edges of placket-openings when fastened by buttons will
be tightly or closely secured together.
The nature of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
the improvement is shown applied to the fly or placket opening of a pair of
trousers.
Figure 1 is a view showing the upper part of a pair of trousers with the " "fly"
or placket open.
Figure 2 is a detail of the button side of the opening.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of same on the line 3-3.
Figure 4 is a detail of the button-hole side of the opening.
Figure 5 is a top view of the two parts of the garment opening, showing their
interlaced position when secured together.
The button side, A, of the garment placket opening has a number of thin
metal T-shaped plates, one under or at the base of each button, c; these plates
have their cross bars, d, extending vertically and parallel with the edge, e, of the
said side, A, of the opening. Each end of the cross-bar has a small hole, f, for
thread which is stitched through to attach it to the material of the garment; the
horizontal bar has an opening, g, immediately over which the shank-holes, 9', of
the button have position and the thread stitches which are to hold the button
pass through said opening, g, in the plate and into the material of the garment ;
thus the stitches which hold the button also retain the metal plates. A space, h,
on the garment material intervenes between the adjacent ends of two cross
bars, d, and allows of a certain amount of flexibility to the button side, A. These
metal plates form stiff sections for the button side, A, and the cloth between
them forms flexible spaces, thus alternate stiff and flexible spaces are along the
button side, A, and said sections prevent bagging open or sagging open of the
placket when the two sides, A, H, are connected together. Figure 2 shows one
plate wholly exposed to view, and another plate concealed by the cloth or material
covering it, it being understood that these plates are between two thicknesses of
cloth as seen in Figure 3. By making the plates T-shaped and placing them as
shown, the desired stiffness is secured vertically along the edge, e, and at the same
time ample flexibility is secured in the material immediately above and below each
button to enable the said button to be inserted in its hole, i, at the button-hole
side, H.
The button-hole side, H, of the placket opening has the usual button-holes, i,
to take on the buttons, c, of the other side, and also has an inner-lapping flap, j,
which takes under or on the inner surface of the side, A, as shown in Figure 5.
This inner flap, j, and the usual outer button-hole flap, H, comprise a double flap
between which the button side, A, enters, as shown. The inner flap, j, is provided

page_text: with thin metal cross bars, k, which are parallel to each other at intervals; these
serve to keep the flap projected on the inner surface.
This construction will cause the two sides of the fly or placket opening to fit
together in close contact and will prevent the lapped sides from sagging open, and
keep the person warm. Its advantages are evident.
The material of the plates is not limited to metal, as they may be made of
celluloid, bone, hard rubber or other suitable material.
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,-
1. A garment having a fly or placket-opening one side of which is provided
with T-shaped plates, the cross-bars, d, of which extend parallel with the edge, e,
of said side and the other bar of the plates having an opening, 9, and with a button
over each plate secured by thread stitches passed through the shank-holes of the
button and also through the said opening in the plate; and the opposite side of the
fly or placket provided with button-holes to engage with said buttons.
2. A garment having a fly or placket-opening provided at one side with buttons
and a number of thin plates-one under each button-and with flexible spaces
between the said plates; and the other side of the placket opening having button-
holes to engage with said buttons and provided with an inner-lapping flap, j, having
cross-bars parallel with each other and said flap forming with the button-hole
side a double-flap between which the said button side is adapted to enter, as set
forth.
T
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