Improvements in Studs, Buttons, Cuff-holders, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Studs, Buttons, Cuff-holders, and the like.
I, JAMES ARMSTRONG FLOMERFELT, of 1 and 3, Union Square, New York, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturing Jeweller, 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:-
My invention relates to studs, buttons, cuff-holders and similar fastening devices,
and more particularly to the means for holding said studs, buttons, or cuff-holders
firmly in place and to permit easy insertion and withdrawal of the same from the
button hole or eyelet of the garment to which the same may be attached and put on
and taken off from the front of the shirt.
Heretofore shirt studs have usually been provided either with spiral fastenings
which were screwed into the eyelet holes of a shirt bosom, or been of the separable
kind which require attachment after insertion in the eyelet holes.
Both of these
varieties of fastening means have become unpopular owing to the trouble in adjusting
same and their unreliability, and their extreme liability to become detached and
lost.
The trade has long desired a device of this kind to obviate the annoyance of using
one hand or the other under the shirt after the same is on.
My invention contemplates the use on studs, buttons or like devices of a spring
shank underneath of novel form which will hold the button or stud in place by spring
pressure in a manner which will render it impossible to become accidentally detached,
while at the same time will permit easy withdrawal by taking hold of the head of the
button or stud and withdraw or detach from the outside of the bosom.
It will be obvious that such a shank may be used on many styles of fastening
devices which require attachment to eyelet holes or button holes, and that its simplicity
of construction and operation, and its slight cost to manufacture, render it a very
desirable feature in this class of devices.
I attain the object of my invention by means of the construction shown in the
accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, and in which :
Fig. 1 is a view representing a stud or button provided with my spring shank or
fastener with the end of the shank inserted into the eyelet hole of a shirt front, and
showing in dotted lines the position it assumes when fully inserted.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stud or button.
Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the spring shank in use as a part of a cuff holder, and
showing the same in place, the cuff being shown in section, and the dotted line
position which the device assumes when it is being withdrawn from the button
holes.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of end of a cuff holder made in accordance with my
invention, and showing in dotted lines the position which the parts may assume when
the shank is hinged to the button head.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the cuff holder when made of a single piece of wire and
inserted in the button hole of a cuff, the latter being shown in section.

page_text: In carrying my invention into effect I attach to any suitable button head, stud, or
mounted gem, 1, a spring shank, 2, in any convenient or desirable manner.
This spring shank may be made of wire or sheet metal or gold of the proper gage
and resiliency.
As shown in the drawing, this shank consists of a straight portion 3, suitably
secured at the back of the stud or button and extending therefrom for a short distance
where it is bent, as at 4, to one side and continued for a sufficient distance to form
the member 5. At 6, the shank is bent upon itself to form an entering point for the
shank. This point may be formed in various ways; namely: round, flat, or pointed,
made of one piece or two; the inside tongue may be riveted at the end or soldered,
but one piece is considered the most practical as it cannot swing around. By being
round, flat or pointed it can easily make its way into an eyelet hole or button hole of
a stiffly starched shirt or cuff.
A spring tongue 7, extends from the point 6 toward and past the outer edge of the
stud or button head, where its terminal end may lie with a slight pressure against
the under surface of said head. The end of the spring shank may be bent at right
angles to lie parallel with the straight portion 3, if desired.
→
Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that when the entering
point 6 is inserted in the eyelet or button hole, the spring tongue 7 is flexed until it
lies nearly parallel with the member or portion 5. A slight additional pressure upon
the button head carries it up against the shirt front, and it assumes the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this condition the spring tongue 7 presses against
the inner surface of the bosom, and holds the button or stud firmly in place.
To remove the button or stud, the head may be taken between the thumb and
finger and by a slight outward pull it will again assume the position shown in full
lines in said figure, from which position it may be easily withdrawn.
A cuff holder provided with my spring shank is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In
Figs. 3 and 4 an ordinary button head is provided with my spring shank, and a wire
rod 8 is connected thereto in any desirable way. A clasp 9 is pivoted on the rod and
may be adjusted thereon by sliding the same on said rod.
In using this cuff holder, the rod 8 is taken in the hand and the entering point 6
is inserted either in one or both button holes, and by a slight movement the button
is reliably attached, and the clasp 9 is connected to the edge of the wrist opening.
When it is desired to remove the holder, it is merely carried outward, as shown in
dotted lines, Fig. 3.
The spring shank 2 may be connected to the button head by a hinge joint if
desired, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 4.
In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modification in which the button head is omitted, and
the cuff holder rod and the spring shank fasteners are formed of a single piece, or
may be riveted at the extreme end but one piece is considered most practical. One
edge of the button hole is held within the bend 10 and the other edge is held by the
spring tongue 7. However, a straight portion like 3 may be formed on the wire.
It will be obvious to those familiar with this class of devices that I form a very
reliable fastener for buttons, studs, cuff holders and the like, which is very simple in
construction and can be cheaply manufactured. Flattened or half round spring wire
or spring sheet metal may be used, or a portion of the shank may be flat and the
other part round, as shown in Fig. 2.
Without limiting myself to the exact construction shown, I consider myself entitled
to such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
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:
1. A button or stud provided with a shank having a spring tongue designed to
press against the inner surface of the material or garment to hold the button or stud
firmly in place, substantially as described.
2. A button or stud provided with a spring shank bent at one side of the

page_text: button head, an entering point formed by doubling the shank, and a spring
tongue extending from the shank, substantially as described.
3. A button or stud having a spring wire secured at one of its ends to the button
head back and extending outward therefrom, and bent at an angle thereto and
doubled to form an entering point, and a spring tongue extending from the entering
point, the terminal end of said tongue lying underneath the button head.
4. A fastener for buttons and the like comprising a looped entering point, a spring
tongue extending therefrom, a shank also extending from the point upward and out-
ward to pass through the button hole.
5. A cuff holder consisting of a spring wire fastener designed to be inserted in the
button hole of a cuff, and provided with a spring tongue, a rod extending from the
fastener and provided with a clasp, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of March 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.