GB2492811A

GB2492811A - Device and method for sewing button

Info

Publication number: GB2492811A
Application number: GB1112014.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen George Busby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-13
Filing date: 2011-07-13
Publication date: 2013-01-16
Also published as: GB201112014D0

Abstract

A device for sewing a button to a garment comprises first and second needles 2, 3 joined by at least one thread 4. The needles 11, 12 may be formed from a fusible, biodegradable thermoplastic and the thread fused to the ends of the needles. The needles may be made of a contrasting colour to thread or fabric with which they are used such that they are visible through the fabric. Typical colours for the needle may be black or fluorescent. The device may be provided along with a button as a kit. In use each needle may be passed through respective holes of a button and then through a fabric, and the thread tied in a knot and the needles cut from the thread. One needle may be passed back through the fabric and a further hole of the button and then through another hole of the button and through the fabric again before tying the knot.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEWING A BUTTON

This invention relates to a device and method for sewing a button to a garment, and to a kit comprising such a device.

Buttons have been used as a means of fastening garments for centuries. A particularly popular application of buttons is on shirts and blouses, where they are almost ubiquitous. Most modern shirts and blouses make use of two or four-hole buttons (as do many other garments). These types of button have either two or four holes passing through the button from one face to the other and are sewn to the garment with a thread passed through the holes in the button and through the garment to hold the button and garment securely together.

It is a common occurrence, however, that the thread holding a button to a garment yields, resulting in the button becoming detached from the garment.

This may be because the thread breaks or simply because the sewn thread has come loose with continued wear. The repair is straightforward for those able to sew. However, many people do not possess this skill, or, even if they do, it is very common for the button to become detached when they do not have access to a needle and thread to make the repair.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for sewing a button to a garment, the device comprising first and second needles joined by at least one thread.

By way of this device, the invention enables those with no sewing skill to fasten a button to a garment by passing each needle through a respective hole in the button and the garment and tying a knot on the inner side of the garment. The needles may then be cut off the thread joining them and disposed of. This technique can be achieved by anyone capable of tying a knot and is easily carried out even when a conventional needle and thread are not available. The device is very cheap to manufacture, and it is therefore envisaged that it could be made available at many different types of shop (for example, clothes shops, newsagents etc.) and in many types of location (for example, on the high street, in airports, hotels etc.) to enhance its availability.

Typically, the first and second needles are joined to respective ends of the at least one thread.

The at least one thread may comprise a single thread.

However, the at least one thread preferably comprises a plurality of threads.

Thus, the passage of the first and second needles through the holes in the button and through the garment results in a plurality of threads being used to hold the button in place with a single action, which ensures that the button is securely held. This obviates the requirement to make multiple loops of thread as with conventional sewing of a button.

The or each thread is normally formed from a plurality of strands.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second needles are formed from a fusible material and are joined to the at least one thread by fusing them onto the thread. This results in a device that is particularly cheap to manufacture as there is no requirement to pass the at least one thread through the eyes of the needles and fasten them in place, which is a labour-intensive procedure.

Typically, the fusible material is a plastic, preferably a thermoplastic.

The first and second needles will preferably be biodegradable.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first and second needles are of a different colour to the at least one thread. This is useful because the thread colour will usually be chosen to match the garment fabric and therefore if the needles are of a different colour, they are more likely to be visible through the garment fabric, thereby reducing the likelihood of the user pricking a finger with the needles. A typical example would involve white thread with black first and second needles. What is important is that the first and second needles are visible through the fabric of the garment. This may be achieved by choosing a colour for the first and second needles that contrasts sufficiently with the fabric of the garment. Typically, the first and second needles will be darker in colour than the fabric.

In another embodiment that achieves this purpose, the first and second needles are fluorescent. The fluorescent needles are of course extremely easy to see, especially through white fabric.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for sewing a button to a garment, the kit comprising a device according to the first aspect of the invention and a button.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for sewing a button to a garment using a device according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising: (i) passing each of the first and second needles in a first direction through respective first and second holes in the button and then through the garment, thereby drawing the button against an outer side of the garment; and (H) tying a knot in the at least one thread against an inner side of the garment to fasten the button to the garment.

This method demonstrates the ease with which a button may be attached to a garment using the device of the first aspect. As stated above, it is particularly suited for two-hole buttons, but may be used with four-hole buttons as well.

An improved attachment of four-hole buttons may be made if the method further comprises, between performing steps (i) and (ii), passing the first needle in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, through the garment and a third hole in the button; and then passing the first needle in the first direction through a fourth hole in the button and the garment.

The method may further comprise cutting the first and second needles from the at least one thread immediately prior to step (H).

Typically, however, the method further comprises cutting the first and second needles from the at least one thread subsequent to step (ii).

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4, 5a and 5b show a first embodiment of a device according to the invention and illustrate how it is used to attach a two-hole button to a garment; Figures 6 to 10, ha and hib show the first embodiment of the device and illustrate how it is used to attach a two-hole button to a garment; Figure 12 shows a second embodiment with fusible needles; and Figure 13 shows a third embodiment with multiple threads joining the two needles.

In Figures 1 to 5, a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention comprises a first needle 2 and a second needle 3 joined by a thread 4, which is attached to the first and second needles 2,3 at respective ends. The attachment between the first and second needles 2, 3 and the thread are made by looping the thread 4 through the eyes 5, 6 of first and second needles 2, 3 and tying a knot in the ends of the thread 4. The thread 4 will typically be a nylon or cotton thread as is conventionally used for sewing.

As can be seen in Figure 1, in order to attach a button 7 to a garment 8 (such as a shirt), the button 7 is held against an outer side of the garment 8 and the first and second needles 2, 3 are then pushed in the direction indicated by the arrows through respective first and second holes 9a, 9b in the button 7 and through the fabric of the garment 8. They can be clearly seen emerging through the inner side of the garment 8 in Figure 2.

The first and second needles 2, 3 are then pulled in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 2 to pull each end of the thread 4 through the garment 8, and the button 7 is then drawn against the outer side of the garment 8 as shown in Figure 3.

The first needle 2 is then crossed over the second needle 3 as shown in Figure 4 for the purpose of tying a knot 10 in the thread against the inner side of the garment 8. The first and second needles 2, 3 are then cut off the thread 4 and discarded after the knot 10 has been tied. The completed knot 10 is shown in Figure 5 after the first and second needles 2, 3 have been cut off the thread 4.

The knot 10 can be of various types as determined by the user, although typically a binding knot (such as a reef knot or granny knot) will be used.

Although, the first and second needles 2, 3 are cut off the thread 4 after the knot 10 has been tied, it is of course also possible to cut them off the thread 4 before tying the knot 10.

Figures 2, 4 and 5a show the garment 8 and button 7 during the procedure of fastening the button 7 from the inner side of garment 8. The garment 8 is shown in dashed lines and the button 7 rendered visible in these figures. It should be realised that in reality the button 7 will not be visible, being on the outer side of garment 8. Figure Sb shows another view from the inner side of garment 8, in which the button 7 is rendered invisible (i.e. in dashed lines).

is In Figures 6 to 11, the device I is shown being used to fasten a four-hole button to a garment 8. The device 1 is identical to that described above with reference to Figures 1 to S. As can be seen in Figure 6, the button 7 is held against an outer side of the garment 8 and the first and second needles 2, 3 are pushed in the direction of the arrows through first and second holes 9a, 9b in the button 7 and then through the garment 8. They are seen emerging from the inner side of the garment 8 in Figure 7, when they are pulled in the direction of the arrows to draw them completely through the garment 8.

The first and second needles 2, 3 are then pulled so as to draw the button 7 against the outer side of the garment 8 as shown in Figure 8. The first needle 2 is then pushed in the opposite direction, as shown by the arrow in Figure 8, through the garment 8 and through a third hole 9c in the button 7. The needle can be clearly seen passing through the garment and emerging from the third hole 9c in Figure 9.

It is then pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 9 and again so reversed to follow the path of the arrows shown in Figure 10 back through the fourth hole 9d and the garment 8. Thus, the thread 4 passes through all four holes 9a-9d in button 7.

A knot 10 is then tied in the ends of the thread against the inner side of the garment 8 as was described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The first and second needles 2, 3 are then cut off the thread 4 and discarded after the knot has been tied. The completed knot 10 is shown in Figure 11 after the first and second needles 2, 3 have been cut off the thread 4. The knot 10 can be of various types as determined by the user, although typically a binding knot (such as a reef knot or granny knot) will be used. Although, the first and second needles 2,3 are cut off the thread 4 after the knot 10 has been tied, it is of course also possible to cut them off the thread 4 before tying the knot 10.

Figures 7, 9 and 118 show the garment 8 and button 7 during the procedure of fastening the button 7 from the inner side of garment 8. The garment 8 is shown in dashed lines and the button 7 rendered visible in these figures. It is should be realised that in reality the button 7 will not be visible, being on the outer side of garment 8. Figure 11 b shows another view from the inner side of garment 8, in which the button 7 is rendered invisible (i.e. in dashed lines).

The first and second needles 2, 3 may be made of many materials, for example stainless steel. However, in a preferred embodiment, the needles are made of a fusible material, such as a thermoplastic material. Two such needles 11, 12 are shown in Figure 11. The use of such a material has many advantages. First, itis cheap to manufacture the needles 11, 12. Second, they may be easily joined to the thread 4 by fusing them as shown in Figure 12 over the ends of thread 4. Third, the selected material may be of a type that is biodegradable, which is beneficial as the needles 11, 12 will be normally be discarded with household waste after use.

In addition, the use of thermoplastic materials makes it easy to manufacture the needles 11, 12 in a wide range of colours. This is beneficial as with a suitable selection of colour, the needles 11, 12 will be visible through the fabric of the garment 8, which helps a user to prevent pricking a finger with the needles 11, 12 as they are pushed through the garment 8.

The device 1 may be manufactured with a variety of colours of thread.

Typically, the user will select a device 1 with a thread colour to match the garment 8. By providing needles 11, 12 with a contrasting colour (for example, black needles with white or yellow thread) then the needles will be more easily visible through the garment 8.

Alternatively, the needles 11, 12 may be manufactured from a fluorescent material, which is easily visible through a wide range of fabrics.

Figure 13 shows another embodiment, in which three threads 4a, 4b, 4c are used to join the first and second needles 2, 3 together. Although three threads have been shown, two or more than three threads may be used. The benefit of this is that the strength of the fastening is improved, which may be important when it is considered that the button 7 is fastened with only one pass of the needles 2, 3 through each hole 9a, 9b or 9a-9d in the button 7.

As will be appreciated, it is possible to combine the fusible needles 11, 12 shown in Figure 12 with the multiple threads 4a-4c of Figure 13.

The device may either be supplied on its own or as a kit along with a button.

This may be useful if the user has lost the button on the garment.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A device for sewing a button to a garment, the device comprising first and second needles joined by at least one thread.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second needles are joined to respective ends of the at least one thread.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one thread comprises a single thread.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one thread comprises a plurality of threads.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each thread is formed from a plurality of strands.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second needles are formed from a fusible material and are joined to the at least one thread by fusing them onto the thread.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the fusible material is a plastic, preferably a thermoplastic.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second needles are biodegradable.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second needles are of a different colour to the at least one thread.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second needles are fluorescent.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A kit for sewing a button to a garment, the kit comprising a device according to any of the preceding claims and a button.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A method for sewing a button to a garment using a device according to any of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising: (i) passing each of the first and second needles in a first direction through respective first and second holes in the button and then through the garment, thereby drawing the button against an outer side of the garment; and (ii) tying a knot in the at least one thread against an inner side of the garment to fasten the button to the garment.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising, between performing steps (i) and (ii), passing the first needle in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, through the garment and a third hole in the button; and then passing the first needle in the first direction through a fourth hole in the button and the garment.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising cutting the first and second needles from the at least one thread immediately prior to step (U).</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising cutting the first and second needles from the at least one thread subsequent to step (ii).</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A device for sewing a button to a garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A method for sewing a button to a garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>