IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS, AND IN THE METHOD OF FIXING BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander MacMillan, of Woodville Grovė,
Mildmay Park, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS, AND IN THE METHOD OF FIXING
BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 1st April 1869, and dated the 8th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander MacMillan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th October 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MACMILLAN, of Woodville Grove, Mildmay Park, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS, AND IN THE METHOD
OF FIXING BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as
follows:-
Metal buttons, such as are usually applied to trousers, I stamp, as
heretofore, from sheet metal, but in place of forming four perforations in
the centre of the button, as is usual when it is to be attached by sewing,

page_text: I form a single central perforation. To attach such a button to the
garment I employ a stud or shank consisting of a stem with a head at
one end. The stud or shank is inserted through the fabric, so that its
head remains at the back. The button is then placed upon the stem
which passes through the perforation as far as a shoulder which it is
preferred to form upon the stem admits, and then by a suitable nipping
tool or by other means the end of the stem is clenched or expanded over
the button, which thus becomes held.
In some cases in place of forming a shoulder on the stem, the stem
is made taper, and the hole in the button is made of a corresponding
form. It is not essential that the button should be of metal, it may be
of bone, horn, or other material.
In some cases in place of rivetting the stud or shank into the button
I form a hook on the stem and an eye on the button, or vice versa.
After the stud or shank has been passed through the fabric the parts are
combined and the hook closed to prevent them again separating.
With military and other similar buttons which are hollow, and consist
of two metal shells combined together, I form the stud or shank with a
screw thread upon it, and I screw it into a thread cut in the lower shell,
or in a piece fixed thereto. Or where it is desired that the stud or shank
should be able to enter nearly its whole length into the hollow button,
as is advantageous when the garments are to be packed in bales, I form
the stud or shank with a T form or other similar end; it is made to
enter a slit formed for it in the under shell of the button, and is
secured by turning in the edges of the slit so as to close it over the end
of the stud or shank.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander MacMillan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACMILLAN, of Woodville Grove, Mildmay Park, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-.
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander MacMillan, Her special licence-
that I, the said Alexander MacMillan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander MacMillan, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time 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 OR FASTENINGS, AND IN THE METHOD OF FIXING BUTTONS OR FASTENINGS
TO GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander MacMillan, 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 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 MacMillan, do hereby
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 :-
Metal buttons, such as are usually applied to trousers, I stamp as
heretofore, from sheet metal, but in place of forming four perforations
in the centre of the button, as is usual, when it is to be attached by
sewing, I form a single central perforation. To attach such a button to
the garment I employ a stud or shank consisting of a stem with a head
at one end. The stud or shank is inserted through the fabric, so that its
head remains at the back. The button is then placed upon the stem.
which passes through the perforation as far as a shoulder which it is pre-
ferred to form upon the stem admits, and then by a suitable nipping
tool or by other means the end of the stem is clenched or expanded over.
the button, which thus becomes held.
In some cases in place of forming a shoulder on the stem, the stem is-
made taper, and the hole in the button is made of a corresponding form..
It is not essential that the button should be of metal, it may be of bone,
horn, or other material.

page_text: Figures of the annexed Drawing show in plan an edge view a
metal disc suitable for the head or top of such a button or fastening;
Figure 2 is a side view of the stud or shank for the same; Figure 3 is a
section of the completed button or fastening in its place in the fabric,
and Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
A small perforation being made in the fabric the stem of the stud or
shank is placed through it, and then the head or top of the button.
or fastening is placed upon it, so as to rest upon the shoulder formed as
the Drawings show upon the stem. The smaller part of the stem then
projects through the head or top of the button or fastening, and the
parts are secured by rivetting over the end of the stem. This is most
conveniently done by means of a pair of nippers so made as to press:
the two ends of the stud or shank without coming in contact with the
head or top, and the jaw of the nippers which acts on the small end of
the stem may be made with a blunt edge to notch the metal, as is clearly
shown at Figure 3. The head or top of the button or fastening need
not be of metal; it may be of bone or other material.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the method of fixing
buttons or fastenings to garments and other articles by inserting a
stud or shank into a small perforation in the garment or other article,
then placing a head or top on the stud or shank, and rivetting-over the
end of the stuck or shank so as securely to hold the parts together, as
herein described.
In some cases in place of rivetting the stud or shank into the button,
I form a hook on the stem and an eye on the button, or vice versa.
After the stud or shank has been passed through the fabric the parts
are combined and the hook closed to prevent them again separating:
Figures 5 and 6 are two side views of such a button or fastening as it
appears when in its place in the fabric. a is the head or top of the button
with an eye a¹ formed on or attached to it. This part may be of metal,
bone, or other material. 6 is the stud or shank; its stem is of a hook-
like form, and it has a head at the other end. The hooked end of the
stem is inserted through the fabric or article.
When the hook is open
the head or top is then put on, and the hook
pinched close. The eye of the head or top may be left open and serve
as a hook, and be pinched close after the parts are put together, but the
arrangement shewn in the Drawings is preferred.
of the stud or shank is
Figure 7 is a side view of another fastening similar to that just

page_text: described, but of a somewhat different form. Figure 8 shows its stud or
shank separately; it is adapted for being sewn to the fabric.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the method of fixing
buttons or fastenings to garments and other articles by inserting into a
small perforation in the garment or other article a stud or shank with a
hook-formed stem, to which the head or top of the button or fastening,
which has a suitable eye, is then applied and secured by closing the
hook.
With military and other similar buttons which are hollow, and consist
of two metal shells combined together, I form the stud or shank with a
screw thread upon it, and I screw it into a thread cut in the lower shell
or in a piece fixed thereto.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of such a button or fastening thus
constructed; it consists of two shells shut together in the ordinary way
of making hollow metal buttons, and the under shell has a small hole
made in the centre of it, around which an internal burr is thrown up,
in which a screw thread is cut, and the stud or shank screws into it.
Or a piece of metal may be soldered within the inner shell to receive
the screw.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the constructing buttons
or fastenings which are hollow, and consist of two metal shells com-
bined together, with a stud or shank screwing into the lower shell, as
above described. Where it is desired that the stud or shank should be
able to enter nearly its whole length into the hollow button, as is
advantageous when the garments are to be packed in bales, I form
the stud or shank with a T form or other similar end; it is made
to enter a slit formed for it in the under shell of the button, and is
secured by turning in the edges of the slit, so as to close it over the end
of the stud or shank.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of a button or fastening thus con-
structed, and Figure 11 is an under side view of the same without the
stud or shank, which as is shown at Figure 10 has a T formed head.
The stud or shank having been inserted into a small hole in the garment
or other article the head or top of the button or fastening is placed upon
5 it and secured by turning in the edges of the slit formed in the under
shell of the button. The under side view, Figure 11, shows the edges of
the slit, which in the first instance are turned outwards, so closed in
to secure the stud or shank, which in this Figure is shown in section.

page_text: Figure 12 shews a section of a button or fastening in which the stud
or shank is made with a disc-like head, and is entered into the button
or fastening by springing back a part of the under shell, which is
rendered capable of yielding by cutting in the shell two radial slits.
These buttons or fastenings are secured to the garment or other article
by passing their stems through small holes formed therein, and then at
the back of the fabric a small piece of sheet vulcanized india-rubber
with a puncture in it is drawn over the outer or enlarged end or foot of
the stud or shank.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the constructing buttons
or fastenings which are hollow, and consist of two metal shells com-
bined together, with a stud or shank with a T form or other similar end
entering a slit formed for it in the under shell of the button, so that the
stem may be free to recedo into the head of the button or fastening
when the garment or other article is parted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander MacMillan, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ALEXANDER MACMILLAN. (L.S.)