FR2693635A1 - Double button for fastening double shirt cuff - is fixed together by thread passing through holes and tube between buttons being narrowed to hold ends of thread - Google Patents

Abstract

The buttons have an outer button (10) which is joined to a smaller button (16) by a thread (22) that passes through holes (12,14) in each button. The thread also passes through a tube (24) which has one end fixed to the back surface of the outer button and is along its axis. The tube is narrowed (32) by pliers, for a metal tube, or by heat, for a tube made in plastics material, to hold the ends of the thread. Two half shells, surrounding the tube, are longer than the tube but shorter than the distance between the buttons. USE - Buttons for fastening double cuff of shirt sleeves.

Description

BUTTON DEVICE
The present invention relates to a button device. Shirts known as musketeer cuffs are known in which each open end of the wrist is provided with a slot or buttonhole to allow the introduction of buttons called cufflinks. The cufflinks, as is well known, consist of a button proper on which is fixed a rod perpendicular to the button, the rod being able to be introduced into the different buttonholes of the wrist. At the second end of the rod, a small pivoting lever is mounted which can be brought into the retracted position to allow the button to be inserted into the buttonhole and which can be folded down later to maintain the button on the buttonholes.

 On the one hand, the musketeer buttons are relatively expensive to manufacture. On the other hand, these buttons look like jewelry. However, there are a certain number of users who, while wishing to wear shirts with musketeer cuffs, do not wish to have to match them with buttons perceived as jewelry.

 To overcome these drawbacks, an object of the invention is to provide a button device consisting of two buttons linked together so that the general presentation of the assembly is very appreciable and which allows the device to be put in place. buttons in the buttonholes of the cuffs and its removal as easily as with cufflinks.

To achieve this object, according to the invention, the button device is characterized in that it comprises:
a first button provided with at least one hole for the passage of a wire;
a second button of smaller dimensions provided with at least one hole for the passage of the wire;
a wire passing through the holes of the buttons to connect them together;
a holding tube axially traversed by the strands of said wire, said tube having a first end pressed against said first button and being arranged along the axis of symmetry of said button, said tube being crimped on the strands of said wire to produce, by intermediate wire, holding the tube against the first button and immobilizing the ends of the wire; and
two half-shells surrounding said tube and crossed by said wire, provided with mutual securing means, the length of the half-shells being greater than that of said tube but less than the distance between the two buttons defined by said wire.

 We understand that thanks to this arrangement, the second button, or small button, can pivot freely around the assembly constituted by the wire and the half-shells while the first button is held firmly by the immobile holding tube against the two half-shells thanks to the crimping of the retaining tube on the connecting wire.

 On the other hand, the entire device, once placed in the buttonholes of a musketeer wrist, has exactly the appearance of a normal button.

 The invention also relates to the method for producing the button device defined above, which is characterized in that, to achieve the rigid holding of the tube on the first button, a pull is exerted on the ends of the wire exiting between the first end of the tube and said first button, while carrying out a crimping of at least the second end of the tube on the strands of the wire.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of several embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples.

The description refers to the appended figures in which:
Figures 1 to 3 are views in longitudinal section showing the manufacture of a button device from two buttons with two through holes;
Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3 in the case where one of the buttons is of the "tailed" type
FIGS. 6a to 6c are views respectively from the front, from the side and in longitudinal section along the line CC of an embodiment of the male half-shell;
Figure 6d is a side view of the female half-shell; and
Figures 7, 8 and 9 schematically show the support of the half-shells on the rear face of the large button depending on the nature thereof.

 Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, we will describe a first embodiment of the button device in the case where it is constituted by two buttons with through holes.

 The button device is constituted by a large button 10 comprising, in the example considered, two holes 12 and 14 and by a small button 16 also comprising two fixing holes 18 and 20. By way of example, the large button has a diameter of 10 to 16 mm and the small button, a diameter between 8 and 9 mm. The two buttons are connected together by a wire 22. One end of the wire 26 is made integral with the large button by several passages in the holes 12 and 14 of the large button. The different strands of the wire pass through the fixing holes 12, 14, 18, 20 and also through a small crimping tube 24 which is crossed axially by the strands of the wire 22. The crimping tube 24 can be of the tube type metal end piece used for electrical connections. The final distance between the two buttons is of course defined by the length of the different strands of the wire 22. The two ends 28 and 26 are arranged between the first end 30 of the tube 24 and the face posterior 10a of the large button 10. This distance can be of the order of 10 to 12 mm.

 In a second step, at least the second end 32 of the tube 24 is crimped around all of the strands of the wire 22. Simultaneously with this crimping, traction is exerted on the ends 28 and 26 of the wire. This operation is carried out using a crimping tool. This gives a plating of the end 30 of the tube 24 on the rear face 10a of the button thanks to the traction exerted on the wire. A rigid connection is thus obtained between the button 10 and the tube 24 by tensioning the wire. On the other hand, between the second end 32 of the tube and the small button 16, there is a free length of wire. The wire should have adequate strength and flexibility.

 The tube 24 can also be made of a heat-shrinkable plastic material. The crimping then consists in causing the local retraction of the tube by heat supply.

 In a last step, two half-shells are placed, only one shell 40 is visible in the figure, around the tube 24 and around a portion of the free wire 22. The two half-shells are joined together and joined together on the tube 24, for example stiff with glue. The half-shells are also glued to the rear face of the large button, which further stiffens the assembly. The length L of the half-shells is slightly less than the length L 'between the buttons 10 and 16, this latter length being of course defined by the length of the strands of the wire 22. Preferably, the difference between these lengths is of the order of 1 to 2 mm, and the length L of the half-shells is of the order of 10 mm.

 It is thus understood that the assembly formed by the large button 10 and the two half-shells 40 is perfectly rigid while the small button 16, connected to the first assembly only by the strands of the wire 22 exiting the half-shells, can pivot freely.

 It can be seen that in this way the button device can easily be engaged in the buttonholes of the musketeer wrist thanks to the pivoting possibilities of the button 16. After the device is put in place, the button 10 is immobilized due to the rigid connection and the assembly of the two buttons 10 and 16 is also immobilized by the tension of the buttonholes caused by the wrist.

 Figures 6a to 6c show a preferred embodiment of the half shells. These have the shape of a hollowed and flattened cone trunk as shown in the figures. The small end 54 of the half-shells is intended to be close to the small button 16 while the wide end 56 of the half-shells is intended to be pressed against the rear face of the large button 10. The large width of the half-shells is by example of 7 mm so as to hide the holes on the quarry face 10a of the large button.

 As shown in FIGS. 6b and 6d, the connection between the two half-shells can be carried out by interlocking, giving the edges of the male 60 and female half-shells 62 conjugate shapes. The connection between the two half-shells can be completed with glue or any other suitable means. These half-shells can advantageously be obtained by injection molding of a plastic material such as ABS.

 Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the button device in the case where the large button 10 'is of the "tail" type 60. In this case, the hole for the passage of the wire which is referenced 62 is formed in the tail 60 of the 10 'button. As shown in Figure 4, the crimping tube 64 is supported on the end of the tail 60 of the button. As also shown in FIG. 4, several crimps can be made over the length of the tube 64 for example, at 66 and 68, in order to further improve the connection and immobilization of the wire and, consequently, the rigidity of the connection between the tube and the large 10 'button. It goes without saying that said button 16 could also be of the "tail" type.

 As shown in Figure 5, the half-shells 40 completely hide the tail 60 of the large button 10 '.

In addition, in order to further improve the connection between the half-shells, the tube and the large button, it is possible to provide inside the male half-shell a lug near its wide end, lug intended for penetrate the orifice 62 of the tail 60 of the large button 10 'which increases the connection
mechanical between the big button and the half-shells.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show the support of the widest end of the
half-shells against the posterior side of the large button when it
has four or two through holes or a tail. It is obvious that
the invention is also applicable to the case of "tunnel" buttons, the tunnel
being a kind of flattened tail.

Claims (7)

 1. Button device, characterized in that it comprises:  a first button (10, 10 ') provided with at least one hole (12, 14, 62) for the passage of a wire;  a second button (16) of smaller dimensions provided with at least one hole (18, 20) for the passage of a wire;  a wire (22) passing through the button holes for connecting said buttons;  a holding tube (24, 64) axially traversed by said wire, said tube having a first end pressed against said first button and being arranged along the axis of said button, said tube being crimped (32, 66, 68) on said wire to produce , by means of the wire, maintaining said tube on said first button and immobilizing the ends of said wire; and  two half-shells (40) surrounding said tube and crossed by said wire, provided with securing means, the length of the half-shells being greater than that of said tube but less than the distance between said two buttons defined by said wire.  2. Button device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first button (10) is of the through hole type (12, 14) and in that said first end (30) of the tube (24) is pressed against the rear face (10a) of said first button.  3. Button device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first button (10) is of the shank (50) or tunnel type and in that said first end of the tube (64) is pressed against said tail or said tunnel.  4. Button device according to claim 3, characterized in that one end of the half-shells is applied against the rear face (lova) of said first button (10) and surrounds the tail (50) of said button.  5. Button device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said half-shells widen going from said second button (16) towards said first button (10, 10 ').  6. Button device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that glue secures the two half-shells together and secures the latter to the first button (10).  7. A method of producing a button device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that to achieve the rigid holding of said tube on said first button, a pull is exerted on the ends of the wire (26, 28) exiting between said first end of the tube and said first button while carrying out the crimping of at least the second end of the tube on the strands of the wire.