US2834235A

US2834235A - Metal button and its method of manufacture

Info

Publication number: US2834235A
Application number: US521934A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sarti Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-07-13
Filing date: 1955-07-13
Publication date: 1958-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1975-05-13

Description

May 13, 1958 J. sARTx 2,834,235

METAL lBUTTON AND ITS METHOD-'0F MANUFAQTURE Filed July 1s, 1955 .I l. la". I

IN VE R. JOSEPH 6,49

METAL BU'I'TGN AND ITS METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Joseph Sarti, New York, N. Y.

Application July 13, 1955, Serial No. 521,934

'7 Claims. (Cl. 79-3) The present invention relates to the manufacture of buttons, and in particular to an improved one-piece button construction and to the method of forming such improved button.

Metal buttons are known which are xed to an article of wearing apparel or the like by a hollow rivet or securement stud which is received wthin a bore or aperture formed in the back side of the button. for these and numerous other applications have been fabricated by the assembly of several pieces or button parts. In a typical construction, one piece is formed in the shape of the body or the head of the button and is provided with a circular opening on the back side thereof which receives an insert made of springy material. The insert in initially formed with an indentation centrally thereof havng a small bore or opening which is substantially complementary to the mounting rivet or stud. The bore or opening is surrounded by springy gripping jaws which are formed by the provision of radial slits in the insert. Conventionally, the insert is secured within the circular opening of the button body or head by curling over the rim portions of the body bounding the opening to clinch the insert within the opening thereby completing the button assembly.

Quite obviously this construction involves the separate fabrication of the body and the insert, the assembly of the insert within the body, and nally the clinching or curling operation. These several steps make the cost of the button rather high, especially when it is recalled that the buttons are small in size and rather difficult to handle.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved button construction and method of manufacture obviating one or more of the aforesaid difculties. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a button which is fabricated entirely from a single blank by several successive metal working and forming operations. Advantageous- 1y, the one-piece button construction eliminates the necessity of handling several parts and contributes materially to decreased cost and simplicity in manufacture.

In an illustrative form of the invention, there is provided a one-piece metallic button including a dome-shaped body merging into a base. The base is formed with radial slits and is bowed inwardly to define gripping jaws which terminate in ends bounding a bore substantially centrally of the body. The bore is adapted to receive an attachment rivet, shank or stud, for mounting the button on an article, such as on a pair of shoes or on wearing apparel. The inwardly bowed arrangement of the gripping jaws serve, in a sense, as a one-way clutch, precluding the withdrawal of the attachment or support-rivet or shank after the assembly is completed.

In accordance with method aspects of the present invention, a multiple-sided blank is initially formed in which the sides meet by pairs at corners. In a rst forming operation, the blank is cupped to provide a substantially semi-spherical body having integral triangular projections each defined by converging half sections Metal buttons 2,834,235 Patented May 13, 1958 of a pair of sides meeting at a corner. In further forming operations, the triangular projections are turned inwardly, until the corners of the blank define an aperture substantially centrally of the body, and simultaneously the projections, which serve as the base for the body, are displaced to offset the aperture inwardly of the rim of the body and to provide curved gripping jaws extending inwardly from the rim of the body toward the aperture. Conveniently, the metal-working operations may be achieved at successive stations of substantially automaticaly operated punch presses and without the need for manual assembly as is incident to button structures embodying two or more separatelyfabricated parts or pieces.

The above brief description, as well as further objects,

features and advantages of the present invention will bev Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical blank employed inl button manufacture according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 in an intermediate stage of cupping the blank;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank when cupped;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view with parts sectioned, showing the cupped blank of Fig. 3 in a typical press preliminary to the further forming of the cup-shaped part;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the completed button after the shaping and indenting operations achieved in the punch or press arrangement shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the completed button;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a typical assembly of a button and attachment rivet according to the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a typical blank 10 for manufacturing one-piece buttons in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrative form of the invention, the b1ank-10 is shown as including four

sides

12, 14, 16 and 18, each substantially equal in length. However, as will appear hereinafter, the invention finds application with blanks of other than substantially square configuration and having either an even number or odd number of sides.

In the first forming operation, the blank 10 is pulled or drawn into the cup-shaped configuration of Fig. 3,`

either in a one-shot operation, or by successive punch operations in which the blank is brought to the intermediate conliguration of Fig. 2. The requirements for the cupping of the blank will depend upon the type of material used in fabricating the Vblank and/or the gauge of the material. For example, with cold rolled steel, experience indicates that the blank may be formed into the cup-shaped configuration of Fig. 3 in a one-punch or shot operation. By progressively inspecting Figs. l to 3 inclusive, it will be appreciated that the hub or central portion of the blank is cupped ,into a substan-v at the corner24V define the convergent sides of the tri-v angular` projection 34; and, the half sections 18b, 12b meeting at the corner 26 define the converging sides of 3. the triangular projection 36. As will ybe appreciated hereinafter, the triangular projections or

parts

30, 32, 34 and 36 are, in their elemental form of Fig. 3, the gripping jaws of the completed button, illustrated in Figs. to 8 inclusive. In this form of the invention, the four sides of the blank 18 are divided by halves, such that the respective half sections meeting: at the corners of the button each define a gripping jaw. For a five-sided blank, there will be five pairs of half sections meeting at five corners and the respective pairs of half sections at the corners will define five elemental parts for gripping jaws. By extension, with a six-sided blank there will be six elemental parts for the gripping jaws. Thus, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure finds broader applicationV than the use of the simple four-sided blank of Fig. l. Preferably, the corners of the blank 2li, 22, 24, 26 are chamfered, as designated generally by the reference numeral 38 for a purpose which will subsequently become apparent.

Following the cupping operation, the tri-angular projections or

parts

30, 32, 34, 36 are turned inwardly toward each other until the half sections of the respective sides by pairs are substantially coextensive and the projections define a base 40 integral with a dome-shaped body 46. Simultaneously, the

projections

30, 32, 34 and 36 are indented to bring the chamfered corners 38 of the blank into a plane spaced inwardly of the general plane of the base 40, wherein the corners define a bore or seating aperture 42 for receiving a mounting shank, stud or rivet for the button. The

projections

30, 32, 34 and 36 provide gripping jaws 48 which extend from the periphery of the base 40 inwardly at a gradual curve toward the bore 42. The depressions in the blank symmetrically of the bore 42 with the radially extending and converging jaws 4S are like a one-way clutching mechanism, in which the gripping jaws 48 resist withdrawal of an attachment shank or rivet from the bore 42.

Upon inspecting Figs. 5 and 7, it will be appreciated that the half sections of the

respective sides

12a, 12b, 14a, 14h, 16a, 16b and 18a, 18b define slits 44 which extend radially of the base 40. The slits 44 terminate inwardly of the periphery of the base 49, such that the slits are not visible when viewing the button from its front face or from its sides. The hidden arrangement of the slits results from the flowing and forming of the metal inwardly during the simultaneous turning and indenting operation, for example by apparatus such as illustrated in Fig. 4. Conventionally, such apparatus, which is also useful for the cupping operation, includes a female die part 50, a male die part S2, a follower part 54 and a biasing spring 56. The action of the spring 56 is to keep the follower part 54 in the upward position as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the follower part 54 and the female die part 50 cooperate to define a die cavity 58 substantially complementary to I the cup-shaped blank shown in Fig. 3. The leading surfaces of the male die part 52 are formed with appropriate `cavities 60 such that upon downward motion of the male die part 52 (as indicated by the directional arrow 62) through a predetermined thrust, the projections are turned to the dot-dash line positions of Fig. 4, shown by the full lines in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive.

After the forming operations are completed, and starting with a blank 10 of cold rolled steel, the formed buttons are passed through an appropriate heat treatment cycle to case harden at least the gripping

jaws

30, 32, 34 and 36.

In Fig. 8, there is shown a typical rivet and button assembly in accordance with the present invention as mounted on a multiple ply wearing apparel assembly 70. The one-piece button is seen to include the dome-shaped body 46 having the base 40 which includes the gripping jaws 48 separated by the radial slots 44 with the ends of the gripping jaws defining and bounding the bore 42 disposed centrallyof the body 46 and in a plane offset .4 inwardly from the general plane of the base 40. The bore 42 receives Ia hollow mounting stud or rivet 76, and when assembled as shown in Fig. 8, the jaws 48 resist withdrawal of the mounting `or attachment stud 74 from the bore or opening 42.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that buttons constructed according to the present invention may be fabricated from a single piece of metal in several simple and direct forming operations, and without the need of manual assembly operations. The resulting button is functionally the same as those fabricated of several parts, but obviously is cheaper, in some instances more durable, and usually of better appearance in that the one piece construction does not have regions which are crimped or deformed (i. e. the curled edge of a two piece button)..

Although the invention has been illustrated starting with a substantially square blank, it should be further appreciated that the techniques described are equally applicable to blanks having an increased number of sides. Numerous modifications are intended within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, and accordingly the appended claims should be construed broadly; in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. What I claim is:

l. In the manufacture of a metal button, the steps including forming a blank having four sides meeting by pairs at corners, cupping said blank to form a body having integral triangular projections, each of said projections being defined by converging half-sections of a pair of sides meeting at a corner, and turning said triangular projections inwardly until the corners of said blank dene an aperture substantially centrally of said body and simultaneously indenting said projections to displace said aperture into a plane offset inwardly from the rim of said body and to form curved gripping jaws surrounding said aperture.

2. The method of manufacturing a one piece metallic button from a multi-sided blank including the steps of drawing said blank into cup-shaped configuration with each side of said blank being folded approximately in half and defining opposite sides of substantially triangular projections integral with the cup-shaped part of said blank, and turning said projections inwardly and toward each other until the half sections of the respective sides are substantially coextensive and with the corners of the blank defining a pin-receiving bore.

3. The method of manufacturing a one piece metallic button from a multi-sided blank of steel including the steps of drawing said blank into a cup-shaped part with each side of said blank being folded approximately in half and defining opposite sides of substantially triangular projections integral with said cup-shaped part and extending from the perimeter thereof, forming said blank to provide a dome-shaped body and to turn said projections inwardly and toward each other until the half sections of the respective sides are substantially coextensive and said projections define a base integral with said body, and simultaneously indenting said projections to bring the corners of said blank into a plane spaced inwardly of said base wherein said corners dene a bore for receiving a mounting shank for said button and said projections provide gripping jaws converging toward said bore, and heat treating said button to harden at least said gripping jaws.

4. The method of manufacturing aone piece metallic button from a multi-sided blank including the steps of drawing said blank into a cup-shaped part with each side of said blank being folded approximately in half and defining opposite sides of substantially triangular projections integral Vwith said cup-shaped part and extending from the perimeter thereof, forming said blank to provide a dome-shaped body and to turn said projections inwardly and toward each other until the half sections of the rcspective sides are substantially coextensive and said projections dene a base integral with said body, and simultaneously indenting said projections to bring the corners of said blank into a plane spaced inwardly of said base wherein said corners define a bore for receiving a mounting shank for said button and said projections provide gripping jaws converging toward said bore.

5. In combination, a mounting stud adapted to be extended through a support, and a one piece metallic button for assembly with said mounting stud comprising a domeshaped body having an integral base, said base including gripping jaws having ends converging to define a bore substantially centrally of said -body and offset inwardly from said base, said bore being of a size to snugly receive said mounting stud, said gripping jaws being so constructed and arranged as to provide a one-way clutching action on said mounting stud at said bore whereby said mounting stud may be inserted within said bore to mount said button on a support and is held by said gripping jaws against withdrawal from said bore.

6. In combination, a circular mounting stud adapted to be extended through a support, and a one piece metallic button for assembly with said mounting stud comprising a dome-shaped body having an integral base, said base including gripping jaws extending radially and inwardly of said body and having ends converging to dene a bore substantially centrally of said body and offset inwardly from said base, said bore being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said mounting stud, said gripping jaws being so constructed and arranged as to provide a one-way clutching action on said mounting stud whereby said mounting stud may be inserted within said bore to mount said button on a support and is held by said gripping jaws against withdrawal from said bore.

7. In combination, a mounting stud adapted to be extended through a support, and a one piece metallic button for assembly with said mounting stud and comprising a dome-shaped body having an integral base, said base including heat hardened gripping jaws having ends converging to define a bore substantially centrally of Vsaid body and offset inwardly from said base, said bore being of a size to conformably receive said mounting stud, said gripping jaws being curved inwardly and arranged to provide a one-way clutch said one-way clutch being arranged to allow said mounting stud to be inserted within said bore to mount said button on a support and to preclude withdrawal of said mounting stud from said bore.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 313,017 Noyes Feb. 24, 1885 1,048,776 Williams Dec. 3l, 1912 1,257,731 Nuberth Feb. 26, 1918 1,870,051 Johnson Aug. 2, 1932 2,267,667 Purinton Dec. 23, 1941 2,288,710 Hotchkin July 7, 1942 2,339,664 Tinnerman Jan. 18, 1944 2,754,717 Becker July 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,830 Austria Mar. ll, 1907 570,916 Great Britain July 27, 1945