Year: 1886

page_text: Ꭵ
I, GEORGE W. PRENTICE of Providence City and County, State of Rhode Island,
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 metallic Button Fasteners for securing eye-shank
buttons to fabric, of that class composed of a table having parallel prongs, one of
which engages the eye of the button, and all of the prongs being passed through
the fabric and subsequently clinched-to secure the button thereto.
Heretofore in fasteners of the class mentioned, the flattened prongs have been
produced by the fastener being made from stock previously prepared for the
purpose, being angled at its edges, and others have been thinned at the points or
ends of the prongs, to penetrate material in attaching the button.
My present invention has for its object an improvement in said fasteners, and
consists essentially in swaging or shaving the depending prongs of a button
fastener their entire length, the single or button holding prong being swaged or
shaved from the inner portion of the eye or loop of said prong, to its outer end, all
substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which my improved fastener is formed.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the fastener.
Fig. 3 is a like view of the fastener with button as attached.
In carrying out my improvement the blank A in the present instance is cut from
sheet metal, substantially in the form shown in Fig. 1 consisting of the table 1
having prongs 3 3 at one side, and the single prong 2 at the opposite side of said
table, the prong 2 being bent at its junction with the table to form the eye or
loop 4, to engage the eye of a button, and all the prongs being bent at right angles
to said table.
During the operation of bending the blank A to form the fastener, the prongs
are swaged or shaved to a gradual taper, their entire length, the prongs 3 3 from
the under side of the table 1 and the prong 2 from the under side of the eye or
loop to the ends of the prongs, as fully shown in Fig. 2 the object being to cause
the prongs of the fastener after passing through the material, the button being
engaged with the eye or loop 4 to be clinched to said material, as shown in Fig. 3
with a firmer hold than with the usual form of prongs sharpened as previously

page_text: described, as the prongs being gradually tapered their entire length, on coming in
contact with the clinching mechanism devised for attaching, are caused to bend
gradually in a long curve, after passing through the material and thus embrace a
much larger surface of said material, than with the short, quick bend or curve,
incidental to the usual form of prongs.
The button holding prong, by being tapered to the under side of the bend of the
eye or loop, is drawn inward toward the table, on being clinched instead of bulging
outward, as in the prongs flattened in the usual way. The operation of swaging
the entire length of the prongs, renders them more rigid, so that while they are
sufficiently malleable to be upset, they are less liable to bend while being set, or
until the prongs have passed through the material. The prongs also being thinner,
leave less projections on the underside, to hurt the foot.
I have shown and described my improvement as applicable to a cut blank
fastener as shown, the saine form of fastener embodying my invention, may be
made from wire, the single prong being made from the doubled portion of the wire,
the double prongs made from the free ends of said wire, the prongs being swaged
or shaved their entire length as previously described.
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
1st A button fastener consisting of a table having penetrating prongs bent at
right angles to the table, one of said prongs being bent to form a loop or eye for
the reception of the eye of a button said prong being swaged or shaved its entire
length, from the inner portion of said loop or eye, the remaining prong or prongs
being swaged or shaved from the under side of the table, to their ends, substantially
as set forth.
2nd A button fastener comprising a table, having penetrating prongs at right
angles to said table, one of said prongs adapted to engage the eye of a button, and
all of the prongs being swaged or shaved their entire length from said table to
their ends, substantially as specified.
3d The fastener A, comprising the table 1 having prongs 2 and 3, 3, bent at right
angles to the table, the prongs 3, 3, being swaged or shaved their entire length from
the under side of said table to their ends, and the prong 2 being bent to form the
"loop or eye 4 and swaged or shaved from the inner portion of said loop or eye, to
its end, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
1 1
FT