IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR SECURING BUTTONS, CLASPS, AND BUCH LIKE TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN TOOLS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR APPLYING THE SAME.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mac Millan, of No. 46, Bow Lane,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR SECURING BUTTONS, CLASPS, AND BUCH
LIKE TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN TOOLS TO BE EMPLOYED
FOR APPLYING THE SAME.
"
Sealed the 30th April 1872, and dated the 18th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mac Millan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th November 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MAC MILLAN, of No. 46, Bow Lane, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR SECURING BUTTONS, CLASPS,
AND SUCH LIKE TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN TOOLS TO BE EMPLOYED
FOR APPLYING THE SAME," to be as follows:-

page_text: formed through such neck for a metal fastening to be passed through
to secure them to garments or other articles as herein-after described.
The button may be stamped out of metal or cut or moulded from
bone, horn, or other material. For securing such and other buttons
which have a central hole formed through them to garments and other
articles, I employ a metal fastening, composed of a tube with an
external flange around it at one end and a solid or closed head at the
other end. The tubular stem of the fastening is passed through the
fabric or article and through the central hole of the button, and
the head of the tube is upset or rivetted over by a suitable tool, such
as herein-after described, the stem of the tube being at this time
supported by a small point or stem of steel standing up vertically from
the face of a metal block. The rivetting over tool is formed of a metal
die, with a hollow at its end of the shape to which the head of the
eyelet is to be brought. By thus rivetting over the head of the tube
it is prevented from drawing back through the button, and the flange
around the exterior of the opposite end of the tube prevents the tube
from being drawn through the fabric or other article; or in place of a
tubular fastening, such as above described, a circular and split stem of
metal with a solid head at one end of a size sufficient to prevent the
head passing through the central hole of the button may be employed.
The stem is passed through the button and through the fabric, and the
two parts of the split stem are then opened out one from the other and
bent over so as to lie close to the back of the fabric or other article, or
such a fastening may be used with a metal shell at the back of the
button, so forming a button with a split stem projecting from it at the
centre of the back, or a solid metal stem may be employed with a head
formed at right angles to it thus ; the head is rounded where it is to
come against the fabric so as not to cut into it; the stem is passed
through the fabric and through the button, and is then rivetted over
to form a rivet head upon it to prevent its being again drawn back
through the button. If the stem is of too great a length, a portion of
its end which projects up through the button may be cut off before
rivetting it over, a sufficient length only being left to form the rivet
head. To thus rivet over the head of the stem, a small block of metal
is employed with a nipple or conical projection standing up from its
face to enter the countersink of the button. At the top of the nipple
is a hollow for the head of the stem to bear upon, whilst the back of

page_text: the fastener is forced down with a tap or blow. The button is placed
on to the nipple above mentioned, and the stem of the fastener, after
being passed through the fabric and through the button, rests in the
hollow at the top of the nipple, a tap or blow is given to the back of
the fastener, and the rivet head is then formed and the button secured.
If desired the tools above described for securing the fasteners may
be used with a screw or other press, or with pliers suitably formed for
the purpose. If no central hole be formed through the button, and the
button is formed with a hollow neck at the back, the solid stem of the
fastening, after being passed through the fabric, may be passed into the
neck of the button, which is then closed on to and thereby secured
to it.
In some cases where buttons are formed with a metal shell, I form
them with a single slit radiating out from the central hole which is
formed in them. This radial slit near to the outer edge is carried round
along the edge for a distance, so forming a triangular piece, which is
capable of being sprung back to allow of the stud of a fastener being
inserted, and to allow the head of the fastener to pass easily through
the fabric and into the split of the shell of the button, I form it of the
shape of a spear head thus 4.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Mac Millan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MAC MILLAN, of No. 46, Bow Lane, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Mac Millan, Her
special license that I, the said Alexander Mac Millan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Mac
Millan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENINGS FOR SECURING BUTTONS, CLASPS,
AND SUCH LIKE TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN TOOLS TO BE EMPLOYED
FOR APPLYING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alexander Mac Millan, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said 1
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Mac Millan, do hereby 1
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in buttons, and in
fastenings for securing buttons, clasps, and such like to garments and 20
other articles, and in tools to be employed for applying the same.
In order to secure buttons, clasps, and such like to garments and
other articles, I employ a fastening made of half round wire bent upon
itself and then headed like a pin. This fastening is passed through the
button and through the fabric, and then spread out or opened. Similarly 25
clasps or catches may be fixed upon purses and pouches.
Figures 1 of the annexed Drawings shew a plan and under side view
of a button secured to a fabric in this manner. The button a is counter-
sunk, and has a single hole in the centre for the fastening to pass
through it; Figures 2 shew a side and an end view of the fastening 30
separately. I prefer to make it of soft brass wire of semicircular
section; a metal or leather washer may, if desired, be placed over the
stem of the fastening against the back of the fabric to which the button
is to be fixed before the parts of the stem are spread out or opened.
I employ such fastenings also in connection with covered buttons, 35
such as those known as “Florentine," when the shell of the button is in

page_text: wo parts. Figure 3 is a section of such a button. The fastener is
nserted before the two parts of the shell are closed together, and
annot afterwards be withdrawn, so that it becomes a part of the button.
The shell is formed with a tubular neck c projecting from the centre of
he back, so that the button may stand off suitably from the face of
he fabric
two parts. Figure 3 is a section of such a button. The fastener is
inserted before the two parts of the shell are closed together, and
cannot afterwards be withdrawn, so that it becomes a part of the button.
The shell is formed with a tubular neck c projecting from the centre of
the back, so that the button may stand off suitably from the face of
the fabric
"
Another fastening which I employ for securing buttons, clasps, and
such like to garments and other articles, consists of a tubular stud,
closed at one end, and with a flange at the other.
Figures 4 shew a plan and sectional view of such a fastening, it is
made in metal, such as is commonly used for making eyelets; Figure 5
shews a section of a button attached to a fabric by such a fastening.
Figures 6 shew in section the tools which I employ in fixing the
button, the fastening is placed upon the pin D of the anvil block, the
fabric is then placed over it and then the disc or button; the punch e
is then placed on the top of the stem, and a blow is struck which forms
a head, the end of the punch fills the countersink or cavity in the button
excepting the space in which the head is to be formed, this the fastening
becomes rivetted on, and it then forms the stem of the button. The
clasps and catches of purses and pouches may be similarly fixed.
Another way of rivetting on the stem of a button at the same time
that it is attached to a fabric is by the use of a tool such as is shewn
in section at Figure 7. It is an anvil block with a projection in the
centre, fitting the countersunk cavity of the button, but leaving room
for the head to be formed on the fastening. The fastening (it may in
this case be a solid rivet) is inserted through the fabric to which the
button is to be fixed. The button is placed on the anvil, and the end
of the fastening is inserted into a hole in its centre; a light blow is
now struck with a hammer on the head of the fastening, and it is thus
securely rivetted on.
In some cases I form buttons with tubular necks, and fasten them
to fabrics by means of a headed stem, either solid or hollow, which I
insert through the fabric into the neck, and then by means of nippers,
which enter between the head of the button and the face of the fabric,
I collapse the tubular neck upon the stem, which at the same time is
indented. Figures 8 shew in plan and section a button of this con-

page_text: ALEXR. MAC MILLAN. (L.S.)