IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS AND IN " MECHANISM THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS AND IN
"
MECHANISM THEREFOR communicated to him from abroad by Franklin.
A. Smith J of Providence Rhode Island United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1883.
"
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ATTACHING 'BUTTONS TO FABRICS AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR [communicated
to him from abroad by Franklin A. Smith Jr of Providence Rhode Island United
States of America]
This invention has for its object improvements in attaching buttons to fabrics
and in mechanism therefor.
Referring to the drawings hereunto annexed A and B are respectively the two
members of an instrument for attaching buttons to fabrics.
The member A Figure 1 is provided at its front end with a spring A¹ which
constitutes the holding mechanism for a button as fully shown in Figure 4.
The opposite member B Figure 1 contains at its front end a groove or
indentation b running crosswise into which the fabric is creased by the pressure of
the button eye during the operation of compressing the two members.
:
At right angles to the groove b is a slot or channel 6 for the reception of the
fastener f. A supplemental lever D is also attached to the member B pivoted at d
and operated by the cam lug a' attached to the member A see Figure 3.
The operation of the insertion of a fastener is as follows. A button is first
placed in the spring jaw A¹ of member A see Figure 4 with its eye or shank on a
line with the handles of the instrument. A fastener is next placed in the slot or
channel 6 as shown in Figure 2 an arrow shaped fastener f is here represented.
The fabric is then placed between the depending button eye and the fastener and
on top of the latter when by compressing the handles of the instrument to the
position shewn by dotted lines N° 1 Figure 1 the eye of the button is caused to
force or crease the fabric into the groove b as shown in Figure 7 at C. The
:

page_text: button eye and fabric then assume the position relative to each other shown in
Figure 16. By a further compression of the handles to N° 2 Figure 1 the end of
the supplemental lever D is forced against the cam lug a¹ which forces the opposite
end d of the supplemental lever D against the fastener ƒ causing it to shoot or
pass through the creased fabric and button eye assuming the position shewn at
Figure 12. The handles being reopened the button is withdrawn from the spring a
and the button will be securely attached to the fabric thus completing (after the
fabric has been straightened out) the operation with the instrument.
In order to make a more speedy attachment of buttons to fabric I use the
reservoir or magazine shown in Figure 7-E. It is attached to the lower member
of the instrument and consists of a chamber of the size and form of the fastener
desired to be used. This chamber is filled with fasteners and the springs e³ on
either side being opened to allow the chamber to be so filled. The plate Figure 10
is fastened directly over the fasteners so as to cover the outer edge of the reservoir
at b¹ Figure 6 and prevents the pressure of the springs from pushing the fasteners
up out of the chamber.
The operation is as before described the end of the supplemental lever D is
pressed against the top fastener fit passes under the plate forcing the fastener
through the fabric and button eye and on returning to its normal position another
fastener is forced up from the chamber ready for insertion.
In place of the springs e Figure 7-I may force the fasteners up by means of a
cord and pulley and weight as fully shown in Figure 9 which answers the same
purpose as the springs or I may use a lever and weight which would serve as an
equivalent for either, the object sought being to feed a fastener into position ready
for insertion into the fabric and button eye.
The fastener shown at Figure 11 I preferably use, it consists of an arrow shaped
piece of metal having intermediate prongs or spurs f which serve to retain the
fastener more securely after passing through the fabric and button eye. The prongs
or spurs become imbedded in the fabric when the latter is straightened out after
inserting the fastener as shown in Figure 13.
Figure 14 is a modified form of fastener the ends being both broad and flat
instead of one end being sharpened as Figure 11 in both cases the spurs serve the
same purpose.
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18 show the several positions of the fabric, button eye and
fastener during the operation of attaching buttons by my improved mode. In
place of employing the instrument above mentioned the material may be creased
or folded by hand around the button shank Figure 16 and a fastener inserted by
hand through the fabric and button eye Figure 17.
When the fabric is straightened out it will assume the position shown at
Figure 18 and the button will be securely attached to the fabric.
In place of employing fasteners ready made as shown I contemplate by the use
of suitable mechanism attaching the buttons to fabric in the same manner as herein
described but taking the fastener from a coil of wire and inserting it straight
through the fabric and button eye as shown in Figure 17. Afterwards the wire
is cut off to the proper length and the eye or loop formed while in the fabric and
button eye as shown at f³ Figure 18.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sydney Pitt in the Patent Office on the 16th April 1884.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ATTACHING BUTTONS TO FABRICS AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR "
A communi-
cation to me from abroad by Franklin A Smith Jr of Providence Rhode Island
United States of America
This Invention has for its object improvements in attaching buttons to fabrics
and in mechanism therefor.
Referring to the Drawings hereunto annexed A and B are respectively the two
members of an instrument for attaching buttons to fabrics.
The member A Figure 1 is provided at its front end with a spring A¹ which
constitutes the holding mechanism for a button as fully shown in Figure 4.
The opposite member B Figure 1 contains at its front end a groove or
indentation 6 running crosswise, into which the fabric is creased by the pressure of
the button eye during the operation of compressing the two members.
At right angles to the groove b is a slot or channel b, for the reception of the
fastener f. A supplemental lever D is also attached to the member B pivotted
at d², and operated by the cam lug a' attached to the member A see Figure 3.
The operation of the insertion of a fastener is as follows. A button is first
placed in the spring jaw A¹ of member A see Figure 4 with its eye or sbank on a
line with the handles of the instrument. A fastener is next placed in the alot or
channel 6 as shown in Figure 2 an arrow shaped fastener f is here represented.
The fabric is then placed between the depending button eye and the fastener and
on top of the latter when by compressing the handles of the instrument to the
position shown by dotted lines N° 1 Figure 1 the eye of the button is caused to
force or crease the fabric into the groove b as shown in Figure 7 at C. The button
eye and fabric then assume the position relative to each other shown in Figure 16.
By a further compression of the handles to N° 2 Figure 1 the end d of the
supplemental lever D is forced against the cam lug a' which forces the opposite
end d' of the supplemental lever D against the fastener f causing it to shoot or
pass through the creased fabric and button eye assuming the position shewn at
Figure 12. The handles being reopened the button is withdrawn from the
spring a. and the button will be securely attached to the fabric thus completing,
(after the fabric has been straightened out) the operation with the instrument.
In order to make a more speedy attachment of buttons to fabric I use the
reservoir or magazine shown in Figure 7-E. It is attached to the lower member
of the instrument, and consists of a chamber of the size and form of the fastener
desired to be used. This chamber is filled with fasteners and the springs e³ on
either side being opened to allow the chamber to be so filled. The plate Figure 10
is fastened directly over the fasteners so as to cover the outer edge of the reservoir
at 61 Figure 6 and prevents the pressure of the springs from pushing the fasteners
up out of the chamber.
The operation is as before described; the end d' of the supplemental lever D is
pressed against the top fastener f; it passes under the plate forcing the fastener
through the fabric and button eye and on returning to its normal position another
fastener is forced up from the chamber ready for insertion.
In place of the springs e Figure 7 I may force the fasteners up by means of a
cord and pulley and weight as fully shown in Figure 9 which answers the same
purpose as the springs or I may use a lever and weight which would serve as an
equivalent for either the object sought being to feed a fastener into position ready
for insertion into the fabric and button eye,

page_text: The fastener shown at Figure 11. I preferably use, it consists of an arrow shaped
piece of metal having ends f' f' a' loop f³ and intermediate prongs or spurs f*
which serve to retain the fastener more securely after passing through the fabric
and button eye. The prongs or spurs become embedded in the fabric when the
latter is straightened out after inserting the fastener, as shown in Figure 13.
Figure 14 is a modified form of fastener the ends being both broad and flat
instead of one end being sharpened as Figure 11 in both cases the spurs serve the
same purpose.
Figures 15. 16, 17-18, show the several positions of the fabric, button eye
and fastener during the operation of attaching buttons by my improved mode. In
place of employing the instrument above mentioned the material may be creased
or folded by hand around the button shank Figure 16 and a fastener inserted
by hand through the fabric and button eye Figure 17.
When the fabric is straightened out it will assume the position shewn at
Figure 18 and the button will be securely attached to the fabric.
In place of employing fasteners ready made as shown, I contemplate by the use
of suitable mechanism attaching the buttons to fabric in the same manner as herein
described but taking the fastener from a coil of wire and inserting it straight
through the fabric and button eye as shown in Figure 17. Afterwards the wire is
cut off to the proper length and the eye or loop formed while in the fabric and
button eye as shown at f Figure 18.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The herein described mode of attaching buttons to fabrics which consists
of creasing or folding the fabric around the eye or shank of a button and then
passing a metallic fastener completely through the creased fabric and button eye
Bubstantially as shown and described.
Second. In an instrument or machine for attaching buttons to fabrics the spring
jaw A¹ constituting the holding mechanism for a button substantially as shown
and described.
Third. In an instrument or machine for attaching buttons to fabrics the
combination with the same of a receiver or magazine adapted to retain the metallic
fasteners or connections therein and adapted to convey them to the setting device of
said instrument substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In an instrument for attaching buttons to fabrics the combination with
the same of the reservoir E the latter adapted to receive the metallic fasteners f
and provided with a follower connected with spring or weight and channel plate 6¹
the whole constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The metallic fastener F having one end arrow shaped the other end broad
and flat each provided with inwardly projecting spurs and an intermediate narrow
and slightly convex strip forming a loop to receive the shank of a button.
Sixth. A button fastener consisting of ends f' and fs having spurs f* and an
intermediate centre loop f³.
Seventh. In an instrument for attaching buttons to fabrics the supplemental
lever D in combination with spring jaw A' table B¹ and handles A. B the said
lever D being adapted to insert a fastener and actuated by the cam lug a' during
the compression of the said handles substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt bave hereunto set my hand and seal
this fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.