US2199148A

US2199148A - Fastening device

Info

Publication number: US2199148A
Application number: US306013A
Authority: US
Inventors: Blair Farnham
Original assignee: BENTON W BLAIR; JOHN C BLAIR
Current assignee: BENTON W BLAIR; JOHN C BLAIR
Priority date: 1939-11-24
Filing date: 1939-11-24
Publication date: 1940-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1957-04-30

Description

April 30,1940. F. BLAIR 2,199,148

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Novl 24, 19:59

INVENTOR ankam Blau ATTRNEYs Patented YApr. 1940 ras'rnmxc nr-:vlcr: nmmm'nwr. washington, n. c.. mim of twenty-five per cent to John CnBlair, New

York, N. Y., and twenty-'five per cent to Benton vW. Blair, Fleetwood, N. Y.

, application November g4, lass, serial No. :sans

' 17 Claim. (CLM-110) This invention relates to a fastening ,device or the like. Y

Qne .of the objects of this invention isto provide a simple, inexpensivgg.and` practical fasten- 5 ing device well adapted "to meet varying conditions of use. Another object is to provide a fastening device of the above character the use of which will be simple and which may be quickly and easily operated by the user. Another obiect l is to provide a fastening device of the above character which will be neat and attractive in appearance, and yet be of such sturdyconstruction as to withstand hard usage. Another object is to provide a fastening device of the above character l which may be manufactured from'light and inexpensive materials. Other objectswill be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly. consists in the features of-construction, combinations of elements,

2o and arrangements of parts, as will -be exemplified l in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims.' a

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown several of the variousy possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of oneembodiment of my fastening device;

Flgureil isa top plan View of the fastening device shown in Figure i; f

. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the fastening device shown in Figure 1, with the top flexed inwardly, positioned on a piece of. material;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the fas-- tening device shown `in Figure 1 with the topv flexed outwardly. thedevice being attached to a piece of material;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fasteningl device forming another embodiment of my invention:

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Figure 5 with the top flexed inwardly;

Figure 10 'is a sectional elevationof the device v shown in Figure 8 with the top flexed inwardly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the 'draws ing.

Referring now to Figures l, 2, 3, ,nd 4. the'body of the fastening device isla snap'fact'ing disc lo. Around the periphery of disc Il are a pluralityof wedge-shaped projectionsv I l'. preferably integral withdisc i0. AsmaybeseeninFigure 3,thesel 5 projections extend inwardly from the periphery f of il at an acute angle to the bottom of said 4disk.

Referring. to Figure 3, when the snap-acting disc Il is flexed inwardly (upwardly as shown in l0y Figure 3), it causes the points of projections Il to move outwardly or away fromthe center of the disc. With the'projections vin thisposition, the disc is placed adjacent a piece of material I2 so that the points ofthe projections rest against 15 the material. Whenthe disc is snapped in the other direction or outwardly (downwardly as viewed in Figure 4) the'points of projections Il move toward each other or toward the center of said disk and drive into material l2, as shown in 20 Figure 4, securely fastening the device thereto.

' As seen in Figure 2, the face of dlsc'ill may carry a design I3 which may be formed upon or affixed to the surface of the disc. y However. it should be'understoodthat there are a plurality 25 of different waysand methods by which designs are placed on buttons, many of which are applicable to this type of device.

Thus, I have provided a fastening device which may be inexpensively made and by which a button or the like may be securely and quickly fastened to a piece of material or the like. When it is desired to remove the device, the-user presses inwardly upon the center of the disc, causing it to flex inwardly. This causes the projections to 35 snap outwardly and free themselves from the material.

It mighthere be pointed out that this device -eliminates the pin usually found on the back of buttons. These pins, as is well known, are liable 4o tobe driven into the user either. when'the pin is being placed on the user or while it is being worn.

rAs may beseen from the above description, my

*construction* eliminates this objectionable feaextendingupwardly therefrom. The tips lic and 55 IIc of these projections have saw-toothed edges (Figure 5). As the claws are secured to the ilexing portion of the disc, they move as the disc is flexed. Thus,l when the disc is flexed inwardly,

upwardly as seen in Figure 6, the points are,

moved apart or. outwardly in directions away from the center of said disk, and when the disc is flexed in the opposite direction or outwardly (downwardly as seen in Figure 7), tips llc and llc nearly meet, as seen in Figure 7. A e

`When it is desired to secure this embodiment to a piece of material, the disc is ilexeoiirinwardly.l

This separate tips isc and I'Ic, which are then placed in contact with the material. Next, the

disc is flexed outwardly causing tipsi6c and llc to move toward each other and grip the material, securing the device thereto.'- f

In some cases, such as on womens dresses,

buttons effects a change in the appearance of the dress. InFigure 7, I have shown a projection 20 on material i9, vwhich may be made either of -metal or of cord and may be secured to the material in any suitablemanner. This projection provides a definite anchor to which a button of the above type may be attached. Furthermore, when buttons are being changed, this projection marks the spot where the ybutton belongs so that after changes, the buttons are alwaysproperly positioned. Accordingly, a person could buy sets of buttons of different colors or covered with different materials4 and sired.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, I have shown a cover member 22, which may be made out of any flexible material such as Celluloid. The edge 25 of this cover member extends over the edge of the snap-acting disk, securing the cover member in place thereon. This cover may serve as a base on which a design may be placed if it is notdesirable to place the design directly uponl the metal face of disk I 4.

Another embodiment of my device is shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10. This type comprises a center formed of a snap-acting discr 2l having arms 21a, 2lb, 2Ic, and 2id formed thereon. The arms and the disc are preferably integral, being stamped from sheet metal, and the tips of thearms have saw-toothed edges (Figures 9 and 10). These arms extend outwardly from the snapacting disc in contrast to the inwardly extending projections on the typeof device shown in Figlure 1, and thus the mode of operation is the reverse of that of the, embodiment shown in Figure 1.

. In operation, the disc is flexed outwardly (upwardly as viewed in Figure 9), and the yends of the arms are placed upon a piece vof cloth or similar material. Then the center ofthe disc is pressed, which action drives'the tips of the'arms into the material. Then, the disc snaps inwardly (downwardly as viewed' in Figure 10). 'I'his causes the ends of the arms, which at this time extend into the material to which the device is to be attached, to spread outwardly away from it is desirable to change the buttons and other ornaments. In the case of a dress, to change change buttons'.l as de- In use, the disk is rst heated to a temperature y slightly above 100"to ex it,y in`v one direction.

Next, it is heldlon the materialto which itis to be attached. When the disk cools, it ilexes in the opposite direction and securely fastens itself to the material. As the flexing temperature of the disk is above 100, normal temperatures cannot `cause `a device of this type to vrelease itself. In

order to release it from the material, the disk is heated to a temperatureabove its flexing point,

and then it snaps in the opening direction, releasingitshold on the material.

- Thus, Ihave provided a fastening device which is designed to be easily, quickly, and securely attached to a piece of material or the like. Furthermore; I have-provided a fasteningy device which eliminates the usual pin found on the back=of buttons and which thus may be operated and worn by the user with a maximum of safety. I have also provided la fastening device which permits buttons or ornaments on dresses or the liketo beeasily andquickly changed'. Thus, it will now become clear that I have provided a thoroughly practical and durable fastening device in which the several objects .hereinabove mentioned,4 as well as many others, are accomplished..

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and, as many changes vmight be made in the embodimentv above set forth, it is to vbe understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted asillustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

I claim: j 1

1. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of material or the like, incombination, a snap-acting disk, and projections on said disk, ther ends of said projections beingsharp and in juxtaposed relationship, whereby, when said disk is flexed in one direction, the ends of said projections move away from each other, and, when said disk is flexed in the opposite direction, the ends of said projections move toward each other.

2. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, afpair of projections mounted onfsaid disk, and means securing said projections to said disk, said projections extending towardv each other, whereby, when said disk is flexed inwardly, the ends of Asaid projections move outwardly, and whenl said disk is flexed outwardly, the ends of said projections move inwardly.

3. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of material or the like, in combination, a snap-acting disk, a plurality of projections formed substantially on the outer edge of said disk, said projections extending inwardly from the outer edge of said diskl to form acute angles, with one surface of said disk, whereby, when said` disk is flexed outwardly, the endsA of said projections .move inwardly, and, when said .disk is flexed inwardly, the ends of said projections move outwardly.

4. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of material or the like, in combination,

`a snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections having points formed on said disk whereby, when said disk is flexed inV one direction, the points of.

said projections move inwardly and, when said diskl is flexed in the opposite direction, the points of said projections move outwardly.

formed on said disk, said projections having f sharp ends and extending inwardly toward an axis passing through the center of said disk,-

whereby, the ends of said projectionsmove outwardly away from said axis when said disk is flexed inwardly, and move inwardly toward said axis when said disk is flexed outwardly.

7. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and claws secured to one surface of said snap-acting disk, said claws including upwardly extending portions which terminate in tips lying in justapositioned relation, whereby, when said disk is flexed inwardly, said tips move outwardly away from each other, and, when said disk is flexed outwardly, said tips move inwardly toward each other.

8. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and a -plurality of projections on said disk, said projections extending outward 1y away from an axis passing through the center of said disk forming obtuse angles with one surface of said disk, whereby, when said disk is snapped in one direction, the ends of said projections move outwardly away from each other, andwhen said disk is snapped in the other direction, said projections move inwardly toward each other.

9. In a fastening device, in combination, a

snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections formed on the outer edge of said disk extending outwardly therefrom, whereby, when said disk is exed in one direction, the ends of said projections will move outwardly away from each other,`

and, when said disk is flexed in lthe other direction, the ends of said projections will move iny wardly toward each other.

10. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, a plurality of arms formed upon the outer edge of said snap-acting disk having saw-toothed ends, said arms extending outwardly away from the edge of said disk and'forming obtuse angles with one surface of said disk.

whereby, when said disk is flexed inwardly, said edges move outwardlyA away from the center of said disk, and, when said disk is flexed outwardly, said edges move inwardlytoward the center of said disk.

11. In a fastening, device, in combination, a

4piece of material, a snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections on said snap-acting disk. said projections being adapted to secure said disk to said material when said diskis flexed in one direction, and to release said disk from said material when said disk is flexed in the othlca` directlon.

12. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting member, and means extending outwardly from the outer edge of said snap-acting member, 'said means forming an obtuse angle with one surface of said snap-acting member.

' whereby, when said member fiexes in one directiori lthe ends of said means move away from each other,"and, when said member iiexes in the opposite direction, the.ends of said means move toward each other.

13. In a fastening device, in combination, a piece of material, a thermostatic snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections on said snapacting disk, said disk by being subjected to varying temperatures being adapted to be connected to said material.

14. In a fastening device, in combination, a-

snap-acting disk capable of being snapped out of its normal shape but adapted to snap'back to its normal shape when released, a plurality of projections formed on said disk, said projections being so disposed with respect tothe normal shape of said disk that when said disk is snapped out of its normal shape, the ends of said projections move away from the center of said disk, and.

when said disk snaps back to its normal position,

the ends of said projections move toward said center.

15. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of material or the like, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections having sharp ends extending inwardly from the outer edge of said disk'in a direction toward an axis extending through the center of said disk to form acute angles with the bottom surface of said disk, whereby, when said sharp ends arev placed in contact with said material and said disk is flexed outwardly, said sharp ends movetoward each other, driving into said material andV ailixing said disk thereto, and, when said angles with the bottom surface of said whereby, when said projections are placed in contact with said material and said disk is nexed inwardly,'said projections move outwardly away from each other, driving into said material to afiix said disk thereto, and, when said disk is flexed outwardly, said projections move inwardly, releasing said disk from said material.

17. In a fastening device adapted to be secured to a piece of material or the like, a thermostatic snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections having sharp endaextending from the outer edge of said disk, whereby. when said sharp ends are placed in contact with said material, the

flexing occurring when said disk cools drives said sharp ends into said material, and-the flexing occurring when said disk is heated causes said projections to move away from said material.

FARNHAM zum.