EP0525276B1

EP0525276B1 - Button with integrated seal

Info

Publication number: EP0525276B1
Application number: EP91830343A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Riccardo Candotti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-01
Filing date: 1991-08-01
Publication date: 1997-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-01
Also published as: DE69128281D1; ATE160488T1; DE69128281T2; EP0525276A1; ES2111558T3

Abstract

It is foreseen a button formable for initial setting out, on the hollow bottom of a boasting face (1) of a thermoplastic seal with central separator part (2), with upward balanced curvature, for obstructing the opening (3) of the same bottom. Said seal comes out from said opening (3) with pressing notckes system (4) determining a surface radial pattern (5) on the same plane, insisting on cloth to protect it from driving effect in fabrication phase and to permit the button permanent junction, centrally forming the centring structure (6) to direct the nail penetration. Said seal is held on bottom from its superior bucket part (7) with radial holding on the initial wall part. On the upper part the toothed form (8) of the alloy core base (9) determines an overall constraint seat making by channel (10), with initial conversion hollow to act as guide for nail penetration, and by terminal (11), with spherical sector in introduction wider than said channel, to permit during the nail sharp hollow part (12) deformation the bloxking realization by its incorporation being impossible the interchange for unthreading. The button completion is attainable by cap (13) application. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a button with integrated fitting.
Buttons usually made of metal and constituted by a hollow mushroom-shaped body inside which a nail is inserted and anchored are currently known and in widespread use in large amounts (see, for example, EP-A-0 123 246).
The fabric to which the button is ultimately anchored is interposed between the hollow body and the nail before driving said nail in with a blow.
In order to provide a product that has good functional and economic characteristics, a button of the type with integrated fitting has been conceived and is the subject of the industrial invention patent application, in the name of the same Applicant, filed in Bologna on July 31, 1990, no. 3623 A/90 and entitled "Fabric-protecting fitting for nail-type buttons". This document does not, however, form prior art under Art 54(2) or (3) EPC.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a button which protects the fabric during assembly and produces a firm anchoring therewith.
In relation to the aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a button that allows considerable savings in relation to its production times.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a button that allows to reduce production costs with the same quality of the finished product.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a button the anchoring system of which does not substantially affect its overall configuration, which can adapt to the aesthetic requirements of the specific applications.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a button that can be manufactured with known technologies and does not entail the use of special equipment with respect to current productions.
This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a button according to the invention and having the features set forth in claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a partially sectional orthographic projection of a button according to the invention, in a first embodiment;
figure 2 is a partially sectional orthographic projection of the button of figure 1, in assembly configuration;
figure 3 is a partially sectional orthographic projection of a button according to the invention, in a second embodiment thereof;
figure 4 is a partially sectional orthographic projection of the button of figure 3 during assembly.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, a button according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 20 in a first embodiment.
The button 20 is metallic and comprises a hollow body that is generally designated by the reference numeral 21.
The mushroom-shaped hollow body 21 is constituted, in this case, by a stem 1 that has a flanged end 22; a lid 13 is fixed to the perimetric edge of said end.
A metal nail, generally designated by the reference numeral 12, is inserted and anchored inside the stem 1, as described hereinafter.
The stem 1 also has an opening 3 at the end that lies opposite to the end 22.
The button 20 comprises a fitting 108 that is accommodated within the stem 1 adjacent to the opening 3, is retained by locking means 23, also described in detail hereinafter, is made of thermoplastic material, and has, at the fade that is directed outwards, an axial centering hollow 6 the bottom of which is closed by a wall 2, in which the surface 24 that is directed towards the inside of the hollow body 21 is shaped so as to form an axially symmetrical curved convex portion.
The fitting 108 extends so as to form, in an outward region, beyond the lower edge of the stem 1, a plurality of radially extending fixing notches 4 defining a lower planar surface pattern 5 and which are adapted to ensure stable anchoring to the fabric when the button 20 is fixed to the fabric, designated here by the reference numeral 14, and also to ensure, during assembly, protection of said fabric 14 from the stress due to the impact of the nail 12.
The fitting 108 is shaped, at its end that lies inside the body 21 after assembly, so as to form a cup 7 that pushes radially against the inside wall of the stem 1.
Said locking means 23, in this embodiment, comprise a core 9 that is contained in the hollow body 21, is shaped substantially complementarily thereto, and has a toothed part 8 which extends into an end cavity 10 that is directed towards the opening 3, is mushroom-shaped, and forms an undercut surface 11 against which the impact-deformed free end 28 of the nail 12 locks.
With particular reference to figures 3 and 4, a button according to the invention, in a second embodiment, is generally designated by the reference numeral 220.
The button 220 comprises a hollow metal body 221 that is substantially mushroom-shaped.
More specifically, the hollow body 221 is constituted by a stem 1 that has a flanged end 222; a lid 213 is fixed to the perimetric edge of said end.
A metal nail 212 is inserted and anchored, as described hereinafter, inside the hollow body 221 during assembly.
The stem 1 also has an opening 203 at the end that lies opposite to the lid 213.
The button 220 comprises a monolithic fitting 208, made of plastics, which is accommodated inside the hollow body 221, adjacent to the opening 203, and is retained by locking means, which are generally designated by the reference numeral 223 and are described hereinafter.
The fitting 208 has, at its outward face, an axial centering hollow 206 the bottom whereof is closed by a wall 2 in which the surface directed toward the inside of the hollow body 221 is shaped so as to form an axially symmetrical curved convex portion.
The fitting 208 is substantially identical to the fitting 108 of the previous embodiment, to which reference is made for a more precise description.
The locking means 223, in this second embodiment, comprise a cup-shaped metal element 15, which is placed inside the hollow body 221 during assembly, and in the bottom of which there is an axial hole 17 that is folded so as to form a duct 16 that protrudes within the cavity of said element 15.
The duct 16 has a folded free end 18 on which the free end 228 of the nail 212 is fixed by riveting, which can be performed with a tool, not shown in the figures, that can be inserted through an axial through hole 215 that is formed in the lid 213.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention has provided a solution to the intended aim and objects.
In particular, it should be stressed that the components have been reduced, at least as regards the anchoring region, from three to two.
It should also be noted that the button according to the present invention has a substantially simple structure that can be mass-produced with considerable savings in scale as regards costs and production times.
It should also be noted that the button according to the invention, despite ensuring stable anchoring to the fabric, which is also improved by the radial notches formed on the fitting, allows said fabric to be protected from the sudden impulse stresses applied to the nail to insert it in the hollow body during anchoring.
It should also be noted that the step for anchoring the nail to the hollow body is substantially unchanged with respect to the previous kinds of button, and this avoids the use of special equipment to perform this operation.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An arrangement of a button and a fitting (108, 208), said button, comprising a hollow mushroom-shaped body (21; 221) having an opening (3; 203) at the free end of its stem (1) and inside which, during assembly, a metal nail (12; 212) is inserted and anchored, said fitting (108; 208) being provided for being interposed between said stem (1) and a fabric (14) to which the button is fixed, said fitting (108; 208) being made of thermoplastic material and having, at its outward face, an axial centering hollow (6; 206) the bottom of which is closed by a wall (2) and, at said outward face, a plurality of radially extending fixing notches (4) determining a planar surface pattern (5), said notches (4) being adapted, when the button is assembled to the fabric (14), to ensure stable anchoring thereto, and to ensure, during assembly, protection of said fabric (14) from the stresses caused by impact during insertion of said nail (12; 212) inside said hollow body (21; 221), whereby said fitting (108; 208) comprises a cup shaped end (7) being fixed inside said hollow body (21; 221), adjacent to said opening (3, 203), said cup-shaped end pushing radially against the inside wall of said stem (1) and being retained in the body (21; 221) by internal locking means (23; 223), the fitting further extending from said opening (3; 203) so as to form, in an outward region, beyond the lower edge of the stem (1) of said hollow body (21; 221), said fixing notches (4).
Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal locking means (23, 223) comprise a core (9) that is contained in said hollow body (21, 221) and is shaped complementarily thereto, or a cup-shaped metal element (15) in the bottom whereof there is an axial hole (17) that is folded so as to form a duct (16) that extends within the cavity of said element (15).
Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that said core (9) has a mushroom-shaped end cavity (10) that forms an undercut surface (11) inside which the free end (28) of said nail (12), deformed by impact, is locked.
Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that said duct (16) has a free end (18), on which said free end (228) of said nail (212) is fixed by riveting, which can be performed by means of an external tool that can be inserted through an axial through hole (215) formed in said hollow body (221) on the opposite side to the stem (1).
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall (2) of said axial centering hollow (6, 206) comprises a surface (24) that is directed towards the inside of said hollow body (21, 221), said surface being shaped so as to form an axially symmetrical curved convex portion.
Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that said core (9) has a toothed part (8) extending into said cavity (10).