US2041575A - Garment buttonhole accessory - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1936. Y. J. w; STEELE 2,041,575 GARMENT BUTTONHOLE ACCESSORY Filed Dec. 24, 1954 INVENTOR:. J W. .Sfee/e,

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1936 I p v 2,041,575

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAR E T BUTTONHOLE ACCESSORY James W. Steele, Kansas City, Mo. Application December 24, 1934, Serial No. 758,993

' 5 Claims. (01. 24-40) This invention relates to garment accessories, with particular reference to devices for, use in connection with the buttons and buttonholesof garments for holding them in th-eirproper relation at these points but at the same time leaving them in an unbuttoned or an only-partly buttoned state. V

For this purpose I provide means adapted to be conveniently engaged with the button and buttonhole, or with registered buttonholes, for holding the parts in the desired relation, while eliminating any complete buttoning operation of ,the garment, and also the. use of pins and the like during such operationsas are required in shirt factories and laundries; and which furthermore will enable the garment to be delivered in a condition which will require no removal of pins or any unbuttoning of the garment by the customer, and otherwise promote the delivery of the garment to the customer in a more acceptable and satisfactory condition.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will accordingly be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating suitable forms of embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features of novelty deemed to be patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a shirt having devices embodying the invention applied in operative position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the device;

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

The purpose of the invention is to provide improved devices of a character similar to those illustrated in my Patent No. 1,989,534 issued under date of January 29, 1935, and comprising means for convenient attachment to the garment for holding the button and buttonhole strips in properly alined relation and in either unbuttoned or only partly buttoned relation, such as a device which can be conveniently inserted through the buttonhole into detachable engagement with the corresponding button, together with provision for at the same time maintaining suitable engagement with the buttonhole for preserving the button and buttonhole alinement while still in unbuttoned relation, or with the buttons extending only part-way through the buttonholes.

The devices comprise spring clamping means for accomplishing the desired functions; for example, the formof the device shown in Figures 2 and 3 and in relation to the upper buttonholes in Figure 1 comprises a pair of clamping members 30, 3|, having upturned handle portions 32 and connected by a spring element 33; the member 3| is formed with a forked terminal 34 for insertion underneath the buttonhole strip 21 (instead of through the buttonhole 20) into engagement beneath the button 22, while the other member 30 operates to hold the device in place by engagement with the buttonhole strip itself, as by means of a downturned terminal 35 for projection through the buttonhole opposite the closed end of the fork 34, thereby also maintaining the buttonhole in proper registered relation with the corresponding button, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

The other form of the device shown in Figures 1 and 4 is of one-piece construction with the same essential operative features, and comprising the clamping members 30' and 3| integrally connected by a spring loop 33' acting as a combination spring and handle, with the part 30' projecting through an aperture 36 in said loop 33', and said members 30' and 3| having the corresponding fork 34 and down-turned terminal 35, similar to the other clamping attachment previously described. Either form of attachment acts in the same manner to frictionally grip the button and also engage the buttonhole for holding the parts in the desired relation, but without drawing of the button into the buttonhole as do the previously described forms of the device.

The manner of using the improved devices will be readily apparent from the foregoing, and it may be pointed out that with each of the forms illustrated the principal operation required on the part of the user of the device is merely to hook the forked portion of the device under the button, thereafter leaving the device in position, whereby the parts of the garment are correctly maintained in proper position as regards alinement of the button and buttonhole strips, since the device engages one or both ends of the buttonhole for this alining function. There is the further advantage in connection with the collar as shown in Figure 1 that the use of an attaching button is eliminated where the garment is not provided with a button at the collar,the temporary button inserted by the factory or laundry having always proved to be a nuisance and extremely annoying to the customer.

It will also be understood that the described devices are simply temporarily attached in the positions illustrated for alining purposes in the finishing of the garment at the factory or laundry.

It will therefore be apparent that I have devised practical and efficient means for the carrying out of the desired objects of the invention, and while I have shown and described means that have proved entirely satisfactory for the purposes in view I desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly be deemed?v to fall; within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l': claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In combination with the button and buttonhole of a garment, a device for holding said button and buttonhole in matched and unbuttoned relation comprising yieldingly connected" means insertable into position at opposite sides; above and below, the buttonhole strip and having means for making forked engagement with the button, and also means for projecting into the buttonhole for positively holding the same in registered relation with the button. 7

2. In combination with the button and buttonhole of a garment,a device for holding said button and buttonhole. in matched and unbuttoned relation comprising yieldingly connected means insertable into position at opposite sides, above and below, the buttonhole strip and having means for making forked engagement'with the button, and also means operating by engagement with the: buttonhole strip from the outer'side' thereof: for

positively holding the buttonhole in registered relation with the button.

3. An accessory device for the buttons and buttonholes of garments comprising, a clamp element terminating in a fork for engaging the button, and a second clamp element yieldingly connected with the first clamp element and operating by engagement with the buttonhole strip from the outer side thereof for positively holding the corresponding buttonhole in registered relation with said button.

4. An accessory device for the buttons and butjtcnholes of garments comprising, a combination spring and handle loop having a pair of clamping elements integrally connected therewith, one of saiduclamp-elements terminating in a fork for engaging the button and the other clamping element projecting through one end of said loop sertable into position at opposite sides,.ab'ove. and

below, the buttonhole strip and including ant'el'ement making detachable retaining engagement with thevbutton andi alsoan element operating'byengagement' with. the buttonhole strip: from the outer side thereof for positively holding theibutitonhole ins registered relation with thebutton. JAMES W. STEELE.

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