Improvements in or relating to Buttons and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug.. 1892
Complete Specification Left. 12th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Buttons and the like.
I, ROBERT WILKIE, of 17 Belmont Villas, High Road, Leyton, in the County
of Essex, Land Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
The object of this invention is to provide a form of button that may be readily
secured to a garment without the aid of a needle and thread, or other implement.
A button constructed according to this invention consists of two parts, a shank
secured to and projecting from one side of a disc and a cylindrical, conical, or
otherwise shaped head-piece or button-head.
The herein before described shank is formed with a sharp point so that it may be
readily pushed through the material of the garment to which the device is to be
attached. The pointed end or head of this shank is of rather larger diameter than
that portion lying nearest the disc to which it is secured. This smaller portion or
neck is of triangular or other suitable wedge-shaped section, so that it may act as a
wedge when pressed between two spring lugs, driving these two lugs apart to make
a clear passage for itself. If preferred, the corners of this triangular shank may
be rounded without interfering with its action.
The cylindrical, conical, or otherwise shaped head is preferably made hollow, its
lower side or base being formed of a sheet of thin elastic material, such as hard
rolled brass, or the like. In the centre of this plate is formed a triangular or other
shaped opening corresponding in form with that of the wedge-shaped neck of the
hereinbefore mentioned shank. The wider end of this opening communicates by a
slit or narrow channel with a larger opening placed somewhat to the side of the
under part or base of the cylindrical head. This larger opening is of circular form
and large enough to admit the entire circular pointed end or head of the shank
already referred to.
The parts of the elastic plate lying on each side of the slit connecting the two
openings form two lugs which are bent slightly out of the plane of the elastic
plate so that they may the more readily yield to the passage of the wedge-shaped
shank.
In use, the disc and shank portion of the device is placed on the back of the
material of the garment to which it is required to secure the button and pressed so
that the pointed shank of the same is driven through the material. The other part
of the device is then brought over the said shank which is made to enter the larger
or outer of the two openings in the under plate of the same so that the knife edge
or apex of its triangular part or neck lies against the slit connecting the two
openings in the said spring plate. The cylindrical part of the device is then moved
sideways so as to force the said knife edge or apex between the two spring lugs or
projections lying one on each side of the slit and permit of the passage of the shank
into the central triangular opening. The spring-like action of the said two pro-
jections insures their return to their normal position thereby locking the shank
within the central opening. Owing to one of the flat sides of the triangular portion
of the shank now lying against these spring projections, it is impossible to drive
them apart by the return movement of the shank which is therefore effectually
locked in position.
Owing to the form of the opening in the spring plate corresponding to that of

page_text: the section of the neck of the shank, it is impossible for the latter to be rotated to
bring the apex of its triangular portion against the spring projections.
Dated this 12th day of August 1892.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Buttons and the like.
I, ROBERT WILKIE, of 201 Stanhope Street, Regents Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Land Agent, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a form of button that may be readily
secured to a garment substance or for other like purposes without the aid of a
needle and thread, or other implement.
A button constructed according to this invention consists of two parts, a sharp
pointed shank secured to and projecting from one side of a disc and a cylindrical,
conical or otherwise shaped front piece or button-head.
The hereinbefore described shauk is formed with a sharp pointed head which
'may be made of any suitable length so that it may readily be pushed through the
garment or other substance to which the device is to be attached. The lower part
of the pointed end or head of this shank is of rather larger diameter than that
portion lying nearest the disc to which it is secured. This smaller portion or stem
is of triangular oval or other suitable section, and it acts as a wedge when pressed
between two lugs, driving these two lugs apart to make a clear passage for itself.
The front piece or button head is preferably made hollow, and in the centre of
its lower side or back an opening is provided corresponding in form with that of
the stem of the herein before mentioned shank. One side of this central opening
communicates with a larger opening which may be of circular or other convenient
form and large enough to admit the entire sharp pointed end or head of the shank
already referred to and which is made at one side of the said opening in the centre
of the said lower side or back of the front piece or button head.
The lower side or back of said front piece or button head is made of such a
material that when the projecting lugs situated between the two openings therein
are forced apart by the passage of the shank they return to their original position
sufficiently to retain said shank in its permanent position.
And in order that this invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings illustrative of my said invention of which
Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of buttons constructed according to my
invention but with different shaped front pieces or button heads.
Fig. 3 is an under side view of the front or button head piece, and Fig 4 is a
section through the head of Fig. 1 showing the shank in position.
Fig. 5 is a detached view of the shank, and Fig. 6 is a modified form of Fig. 5.
As shown in the drawings the buttons consists of two parts, a shank a attached
to and projecting from one side of a disc band a cylindrical, conical, or otherwise
shaped head piece or button head c. The said shank is provided with a sharp
pointed head d so that it may be readily pushed through the garment or other
substance to which the device is to be attached. The pointed head d is at its base
of larger diameter than the stem of the shank a which may be of triangular or other
suitable section. The head c is preferably made hollow its lower side or back e is
provided with an opening at its centre, corresponding in form with the section of
the shank a.
This opening communicates with a larger opening placed somewhat
to the side of the first mentioned opening and large enough to admit the entire

page_text: pointed end d of the shank a. The parts of the plate e lying between the two
openings form two lugs which owing to the nature of the material of which the
plate e is made return to their original position sufficiently to grip the stem of the
shank a after having been forced from the larger to the smaller opening.
The point or head of the shank may be elongated as shown in Fig. 6 to such an
extent that when the shank is forced through the lower side or back of the front
piece or button head, said point would be bent over by coming in contact with the
front or top part of said front piece or button head or the said elongated point may
be constructed already bent.
In use the disc and shank portion of the device is placed on the back of the
material of the garment or other substance to which it is required to secure the
button and pressed so that the pointed head of the same is driven through
the material or other substance. The other part of the device is then brought over
the said shank which is made to enter the larger or outer of the two openings in the
under plate of the same so that the stem of said shank lies against the said pro-
jecting lugs between the two openings in the said plate. Part c of the device is
then moved sideways so as to force the said stem of said shank between the two
projecting lugs lying one on each side of the entrance between the said two openings
and thus permit of the passage of the shank into the central opening. The spring-
like action of the said two projecting lugs locks the shank within the central
opening.
Owing to the form of the central opening in the underside of said front-piece or
button head corresponding to that of the section of the thin part or stem of the
shank it is held firmly in its permanent position.
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 consisting of a triangular or other suitable section shank attached
to a disc or base piece and having a barbed point which may be passed through an
opening in the button head and sprung between two projecting lugs into an opening
of similar form to the section of the shank substantially as hereinbefore described
and set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The said combination and the methods of application of the before mentioned
parts of the said button attachment substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before mentioned and for other purposes.
101 1
1000
"
CASTLE SMITH,
" Invention Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.