Improvements in the Manufacture of Buttons.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Buttons.
I, ROBERT ELSDON, of Highlands, Burnt-Ash-Hill, Lee, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture or construction of
that class of metal buttons known as set, spun, or closed buttons which commonly
consist of a crown, face or shell set, spun, or closed over a bottom or back, to which
latter the shank is attached by soldering or otherwise. Or, as described, and
illustrated in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me bearing date
29 January 1884 No. 2346, the said crown, face or shell and the bottom or back
are mounted on a wire frame of S form, the shank forming an integral part of such
wire frame. One great advantage of buttons constructed as last described is that
the shank cannot become loose or be forced out of the bottom or back of the
button.
According to my present invention I form a blank or filling piece, the face of
which fits more or less closely the interior of the crown, face or shell and which is
adapted to receive at its back the bottom or back of the button. This blank or
filling piece may be of wood, vulcanite, horn, celluloid or other suitable or
convenient material and may be turned, cut, moulded, or otherwise formed into the
required shape. A hole is formed through the centre of the bottom or back of
the button and through the said blank or filling piece and a groove or grooves is or
are formed on the face of the said blank or filling piece. The shank of the button
is made from a piece of wire bent or formed into a loop, the two ends thereof being
passed through the central hole in the bottom or back and in the blank or filling
piece, and turned down into the beforementioned groove or grooves formed thereon.
Or, the wire forming the shank may be embedded into or otherwise firmly connected
with the said blank or filling piece. The bottom or back, having the blank or
filling piece and the shank attached thereto, is placed in position in the crown, face,
or shell to which it is connected in the ordinary way by spinning or closing. In
cases where the blank or filling piece is of suitable material for the purpose, the
metal bottom or back may be dispensed with and the crown, face or shell may be
set, spun, closed or otherwise attached thereto direct. In order to avoid the
possibility of damage to the crown, face or shell from pressure exerted on the shank
from the bottom, I sometimes provide a stop in the wire which forms the shank by
swaging or otherwise in such a manner that the ends of the shank are prevented
from coming into contact with the underside of the said crown, face or shell, or the
eye of the shank may itself form such stop.
T11000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Buttons.
I, ROBERT ELSDON, of The Highlands, Burnt-Ash-Hill, Lee, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
45 manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
021

page_text: in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet
of drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture or construction of
that class of metal buttons known as closed and spun buttons which commonly
consist of a crown, face or shell, closed and spun over a bottom or back to which
latter the shank is attached by soldering or otherwise.
According to my present invention, I form a blank or filling piece, the face of
which fits more or less closely the interior of the crown, face or shell and which is
adapted to receive at its back the bottom or back of the button. This blank or
filling piece may be of horn, wood, vulcanite, bone, celluloid or other suitable or
convenient material and may be turned, cnt, moulded, pressed or otherwise formed
into the required shape. A hole is formed through the centre of the bottom or
back of the button and through the said blank or filling piece, and one or more
grooves or recesses is or are formed on the face of the said blank or filling piece.
The shank of the button is made from a piece of wire bent or formed into a loop
the ends thereof being passed through the central hole in the bottom or back and
in the blank or filling piece, and turned down into the beforementioned grooves or
recesses. Or in some cases two or more wires may be employed to form the shank,
and they may be twisted or otherwise held together and their ends bent over
into any suitable number of grooves or recesses in the face of the blank or filling
piece. Or the wire forming the shank may be embedded into or otherwise firmly
connected with the said blank or filling piece. The bottom or back having the
blank or filling piece and the shank attached thereto, is placed in position in the
crown, face or shell to which it is connected in the ordinary way by closing or
spinning.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in section a button constructed
in accordance with my present invention. A is the crown, face or shell, B is the
bottom or back over the edge of which the crown, face or shell A is closed and
spun in the usual way as shown at C. D is the beforementioned blank or filling
piece; E the shank formed of wire as shown, the ends E' of which pass through
the hole in the bottom or back B and in the blank or filling piece D and are turned
down as shown into the groove or recess D' in such a manner as to clinch the
ends E of the wire and effectually prevent the removal of the shank from the
button by ordinary wear and tear.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the button as seen from the front but with the crown,
face or shell A removed.
J
In cases where the blank or filling piece of suitable material for the purpose,
the metal bottom or back may be dispensed with, and the crown, face or shell may
be set, spun or closed, or otherwise attached thereto direct.
Figure 3 illustrates a section of a button so constructed, the back of the blank
or filling piece D receiving the name of the maker or other desired device usually
carried by the bottom or back.
Figure 4 illustrates the application of this invention to the manufacture of what
are known as "drop-shank " buttons. In this figure the shank is shown to consist
of a triangular frame E and the recess D' is of a corresponding shape, so that the
shank is free to fall back therein, but cannot be altogether withdrawn therefrom.
If preferred, instead of forming an elongated hole for the reception of the wire
of the shank E as shown in Figure 2 for example, two separate holes may be
formed through the bottom or back and the blank or filling piece as shown in
Figure 5. By these means the holes may be easily formed by drilling, the wires
may be made to effectually fill the holes, and the portion of the blank or filling
piece D between the holes is retained for a support to the central portion of the
crown, face or shell A as shewn in the figure.
According to my invention it is not absolutely essential that the blank or filling
piece D should entirely fill the space between the interior surfaces of the crown,
face or shell A and the bottom or back B, but may be situated in the centre only

page_text: and may be circular, square or of other convenient shape as for example as shewn
in Figures 6 and 7, the latter figure being a plan view with the crown, face or shell
removed. Or the blank or filling piece may be formed with or attached to the
bottom or back or to the crown, face or shell; its object being to form a support
for the crown, face or shell, and a means for securely attaching the shank.
In order to avoid the possibility of damage to the crown, face or shell A from
pressure exerted on the shank E from the bottom, I sometimes provide a stop or
shoulder in the wire which forms the shank by swaging or otherwise in such a
manner that the turned over or clinched ends of the wire forming the shank are
prevented from coming into contact with the underside of the said crown, face or
shell. The shank E of the button shown in Figure 8 is provided with such a
specially formed shoulder E' but it is evident that the eye of the shank may itself
form such stop as seen for example in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate in section and plan a flat button made in accordance
with my invention in which the ends E¹ of the wire forming the shank E are
preferably flattened out as shewn in order to permit of the recess D¹ being made
as shallow as possible.
It will be understood that buttons constructed in accordance with my
invention may be made of great strength with comparatively thin metal crowns,
faces or shells, and bottoms or backs, as the blank or filling piece not only
resists any tendency for the crown, face or shell to be damaged by pressure but
also affords a means whereby the shank may be securely fixed and effectually
prevent its removal by ordinary wear and tear. The crown face or shell of an old
button so constructed may also be readily replaced by a new one, the old blank or
filling piece, the shank, and the bottom or back being retained.
I am aware that in some cases the interiors of buttons of this description have
been filled with resin, pitch, cement etcetera, which materials, although forming a
more or less adequate support to the crown, face or shell, do not afford a means of
securing the shank; neither do buttons so filled offer the same facilities for repairs
as those manufactured in accordance with my present invention, and I desire it to
be understood that I make no claim to buttons so filled with resin, pitch, cement,
or other similar material.
Similar letters relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
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 :-
First In the manufacture of closed and spun buttons the employment of a
blank or filling piece interposed between the crown, face or shell and the bottom or
back and adapted to receive and hold the shank substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings and for
the purposes specified.
Second-In the manufacture of closed and spun buttons, the employment of a
blank or filling piece secured behind the crown, face or shell and adapted to
receive and hold the shank substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated
in Figure 3.of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Third-The improved button consisting of the crown, face or shell, the blank or
filling piece and the shank with or without the bottom or back, constructed,
combined, and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of September 1892.