GB2322788A

GB2322788A - Two-part button

Info

Publication number: GB2322788A
Application number: GB9704841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Howitt Beardall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-08
Filing date: 1997-03-08
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Also published as: GB9704841D0

Abstract

A two-part button has a rear portion (4) with a conical barb (8) for pushing through material 16 to which the button is to be mounted, and a front portion 2 having an aperture in which the barb engages. The front may have a portion 14 of reduced diameter so that the face 18 stands proud of the material. The face may be separate part (see Fig 4) to allow alternative faces to be fitted.

Description

Button Fastening The present invention relates to an arrangement for affixing buttons to garments.

For many centuries, garments have been provided with buttons comprising small discs or knobs to fasten the garment by inserting them into corresponding slits or buttonholes.

Traditionally, buttons have been formed with two or more apertures through which a length of thread may be passed and through the garment material to form a loop, thereby securing the button in place.

However, this process of affixing buttons is extremely time-consuming and, where garments are to be manufactured by hand, requires a considerable degree of manual dexterity.

Where garments are to be manufactured automatically, complex threading machinery is typically required.

I have now devised an alternative button arrangement which overcomes the above-mentioned problems of affixing a button to a garment.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a button arrangement comprising a first and a second part, the first part comprising a barbed projection for locating within a corresponding aperture formed within the second part.

Thus, no threading of the button is required as the arrangement may be affixed to a garment by passing the barbed projection through the garment material prior to its location within the aperture.

Preferably the barb comprises a conical head portion, the base of the conical head portion being of a greater diameter than its adjacent stem portion. The conical profile of the head portion serves primarily to assist the passage of the barb through the garment material when affixing the button arrangement to a garment.

Preferably the aperture of the second part comprises an annular flange about its entrance, such that the aperture entrance is of a lesser diameter than that of the base of the conical portion, the base of the conical portion and/or the annular flange being radially, elastically deformable so that the head portion may be inserted into the aperture, but not subsequently withdrawn.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the stem adjacent the base of the conical head portion is of a lesser diameter than that of the remainder of the stem, such that a circumferential channel is formed in the stem into which the annular flange may locate to fix the distance between the opposed faces of the first and second parts.

In a second preferred embodiment, the second part comprises a portion of reduced diameter, the aperture preferably being formed therein. Preferably, when the two parts are connected, a small gap is formed between the end of the reduced diameter portion and the opposed head of the first part so that, when affixed to a garment, the garment material is compressed in the gap. Thus, the reduced diameter portion, in addition to accommodating the barbed projection, also serves to fix the arrangement in place and to provide the necessary clearance between the head of the second part and the garment material for accommodating the buttonhole material. The reduced diameter portion may be formed integrally or may comprise a separate part to which a face portion of the second part may be attached. It will be appreciated that, in the latter case, a garment manufacturer may choose any one of a range of alternative face designs or colours.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for affixing a button to a garment, the method comprising the steps of providing, either side of the garment material, a first and a second button part such that a projecting barbed portion on the first part is aligned with a corresponding aperture in the second part, and driving the first part towards the second part so that the barbed portion passes through the garment material and locates within the aperture of the second part.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 3 illustrates how the arrangement of Figure 2 is attached to a garment; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a button arrangement is shown comprising a circular front part 2, which forms a button for inserting into a corresponding buttonhole to fasten a garment, and a circular rear part 4 for affixing the arrangement to the garment.

The rear part 4 of the arrangement comprises a projecting portion at its centre which portion comprises a stem 6, having a conical head portion 8. A portion of the stem 6, immediately adjacent the base of the conical portion 8, is of a lesser diameter than that of the base of the head portion 8 and that of the remainder of the stem, and thus forms a circumferential channel 10.

The front part of the arrangement comprises an aperture 12 into which the head portion 8 of the rear part 4 may be located. The aperture 12 has a diameter less than that of the base of the head portion 8 of the stem 6. The aperture 12 and/or the head portion 8 of the stem 6 are radially, elastically deformable so that, as the head portion 8 is introduced into the aperture, the inner surface of the aperture locates within the channel 10.

In the preferred embodiment of Figure 2, the front part 2 of the button arrangement has a reduced diameter portion 14 formed upon its rearward surface into which the head portion 8 of the projecting portion locates to compress the material 16 of the garment between the front and rear parts as shown.

The rear part 4 of the arrangement is thus held flush against the rear surface of the material whilst the face portion 18 of the front part stands proud of the material so that the buttonhole material may be accommodated therebetween.

The arrangement of Figure 2 is affixed to the garment material 16 as illustrated in Figure 3. Firstly, the head portion 8 and the aperture 12 of parts 4 and 2 respectively are aligned either side of the material. The rear part 4 is then driven towards the front part 2 so that the conical head portion 8 passes through the material and into the aperture 12.

It will be appreciated that, whilst in Figures 2 and 3 the reduced diameter portion 14 forms an integral part of the front part 2, the front part may instead comprise a pair of interconnecting parts, for example the parts 20 and 22 shown in Figure 4, so that the garment manufacturer may choose any one of a range of alternative face designs or colours. In the preferred embodiment of Figure 4, the face portion 20 is attached to the reduced diameter portion 22 by means of four studs 24-30 which locate in corresponding apertures 31-34.

The various arrangements thus described each provide a more efficient and cost effective means for affixing a button to a garment than a traditional threading process.

Claims

1) A button arrangement comprising a first and a second part, said first part comprising a barbed projection for locating within a corresponding aperture formed within said second part.

2) A button arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said barb comprises a conical head portion, the base of said conical head portion being of a greater diameter than its adjacent stem portion.

3) A button arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said aperture comprises an annular flange about its entrance, such that said entrance is of a lesser diameter than that of the base of said conical portion, the base of said conical portion and/or said annular flange being radially, elastically deformable so that said head portion may be inserted into said aperture, but not subsequently withdrawn.

4) A button arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a portion of said stem adjacent the base of said conical head portion is of a lesser diameter than that of the remainder of said stem, such that a circumferential channel is formed in said stem into which said annular flange may locate to fix the distance between the opposed faces of said first and second parts.

5) A button arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said second part comprises a portion of reduced diameter in which said aperture is formed.

6) A button arrangement as claimed in Claim 5, arranged such that when the two parts are connected, a small gap is formed between the end of the reduced diameter portion and the opposed head of the first part so that, when affixed to a garment, the garment material is compressed in said gap.

7) A button arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said reduced diameter portion comprises a separate part to which a face portion of said second part may be attached.

8) A button arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, Figures 2 and 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9) A method for affixing a button to a garment, the method comprising the steps of providing, either side of the garment material, a first and a second button part such that a projecting barbed portion on said first part is aligned with a corresponding aperture in said second part, and driving said first part towards said second part so that said barbed portion passes through the garment material and locates within said aperture.

10) A method for affixing a button to a garment, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, Figures 2 and 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.