Improvements in Holding Devices for Cleaning Uniform Buttons.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Holding Devices for Cleaning Uniform Buttons.
I, EDMUND ARTHUR JARVIS MEREDITH, of corner of King and Bay
Streets, in the City of Toronto, in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario,
Canada, Builder, 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 a device for holding buttons when being cleaned and
the object of the invention is to provide such a device by which a number of
buttons may be simultaneously polished without any danger of soiling the uniform
or garment to which they are secured and it consists essentially of two metal
strips provided with an equal number of notches situated at corresponding distances
apart, the strips being designed to be brought together one above the other so as
to enclose the shanks of the buttons desired to be cleaned within the opposing ends
of the notches and the whole being arranged and constructed in detail as herein-
after more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my device showing the buttons on a tunic
enclosed in it and in the act of being cleaned, portion of each strip being broken
away to exhibit the manner in which the buttons are held.
Fig. 2, is a perspective view showing the strips placed together ready for packing
or shipping.
Fig. 3, is a detail of the end strips showing the manner in which they are
disconnected.
Fig. 4, is a view of an alternative form of connecting the strips together.
-In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A; A, are two strips which are provided at their outer sides with an upwardly
laterally extending beaded edge, A', and at their inner edge or side with a series
of inwardly tapered notches, a, situated at equal distances apart and correspondingly
cut on each strip, so that when placed together they will be directly above and
opposite to each other. B, is a T-shaped rivet secured in one strip and designed
to be inserted or withdrawn through a slot, b, made in the opposing strip but when
the strips are placed together the T of the rivet crosses the slot thereby holding
the strips from coming apart at this end.
C; is a hook pivoted at one end of the strips and, C', is a slot made close to the
hook, C, on the same strip. c, is a pin secured in the opposing strip and designed
to be passed through the slot, C', of the other strip and to be caught by the hook, C,
of such strip.
In Fig. 1; I show the strips with the buttons placed in the notches, which are
brought together as indicated. It will be noticed that the tunic is wrinkled so
that a great number of buttons may be brought together and polished simultaneously.
It will be seen that no matter on what portion of the garment the buttons may be
situated whether on the sleeve or on the front of the tunic or garment that as
many as my device will hold may be all polished together thus saving a great deal
of time and labor.
It will also be seen that there will be no danger of the uniform becoming dirty.
as is now the case where such a device as mine is not employed.
In Fig. 2, I show the strips placed together with the notches above each other
ready for packing or shipping. The pin, c, extends into the notch, b, of the
opposite end of the other strip while the T-shaped rivet, B, extends through the

page_text: slot, C, at the opposite end of the other strip. The pivoted hook, C, is thrown
aside as shown.
In Fig. 3, will be seen the manner in which the strips are separated and in Fig. 4,
I show hooks, C, extending over the pins, c, made in the opposite strip. These
hooks are made with three catches as indicated, in order that the distance apart
of the inner edge of the notches may be increased or diminished according to the
size of the shank of the button.
From this description it will be seen that I provide a very simple and effective
device by which buttons on uniforms and liveries of all descriptions may be polished.
without any possibility of the uniforms being soiled.
It will of course be understood that the object of providing the upward and
laterally extending edges is to prevent any danger of the whitening or other
powder or cleaning substance from being thrown by the brush upon the cloth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. A holding device for cleaning buttons consisting of two strips provided with
a series of notches made in one edge of each strip, which notches correspond in'
number, size and position on the edges of the strips which are brought together one
above the other to enclose the shanks of the buttons between the inner ends of the
notches as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the strips, A, A, provided with notches made in their
inner edges corresponding in number, size and position and having their outer edges
formed with an upwardly and laterally extending bead, of means for fastening the
notched edges of the strips together one above the other as and for the purpose.
specified.
3. The combination with the strips, A, A, having the notches, a, a, cut in their
inner edges, of the T-shaped rivet, B, secured in the end of one strip and extending
through the slot, b, in the other, so as to form a hinge as and for the purpose
specified.
4. The combination with the strips, A, A, having the notches, a, a, cut in their
inner edges, of the T-shaped rivet, B, secured in the end of one strip and extending
through the slot, b, in the other, so as to form a hinge and the hook, C, designed to
clasp the pins, c, when the strips are brought together as and for the purpose
specified.
5. The combination with the strips, A, A, having the notches, a, a, cut in their
inner edges, of the T-shaped rivet, B, secured in the end of one strip and extending
through the slot, B, in the other so as to form a hinge and the hook, C, pivoted on
one strip and designed to clasp the pins, c, secured to the other strip and projecting
through the slot, C, in the upper strip as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the strips, A, A, provided with notches, a, a, cut in
their inner edges corresponding in number, size and position, of the hooks or
catches, C, pivoted at each end on one strip and designed to clasp the pins, c,
located in the other strip and projecting through slots, C₁, in the upper strip as and
for the purpose specified.
Dated this 26th day of June 1894
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.