US2947049A

US2947049A - Covered button

Info

Publication number: US2947049A
Application number: US716956A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mishkin Sidney
Original assignee: BAC A BRAND PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: BAC A BRAND PRODUCTS Inc; BAC-A-BRAND PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1958-02-24
Filing date: 1958-02-24
Publication date: 1960-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-02

Description

s. MlsHKlN 2,947,049

COVERED BUTTON Aug. 2, 1960 Filed Feb. 24, 1958 INVENTOR. .S//VEY M/S//K/A/ 1m MQ v .1. l

:l Tclm. Arroz/VHS raft; and

COVERED BUTTON Sidney Mishkin, New York, N.Y., assignor to Bac-A- Brand Products, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 716,956 4 claims. (ci. z41o4) yThis invention relates to buttons, and more particularly to covered buttons.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve covered buttons, particularly button structures adapted to receive and hold a fabric covering. A more particular object is to devise such a button structure lnited States ljatent particularly intended for use in the home by those makstruction is that the button structure may be reused withY a different fabric `on a` diiferent or newly made dress.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and'other more specific objects' which will hereinafter appear, my

invention `resides in the come-apart button elements, and l their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through the outer part of a button embodying features -of myinvention, with the rim in Vcontracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but shows the top depressed and the rim expanded; l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer part Aof the button in expanded condition; i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how fabric may be wrapped around theouter part and tied;

Fig. 5 is a section similar 4to Fig. l, but showing the outer and inner parts of the button assembled, with the fabric covering in place; Fig. 6 is a section through a modied inner part;

Fig. 7 is a section through a modified inner part molded out of a plastics material;

Y Fig. 8 is a section through `still another inner part molded out of a plastics material; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a diiferent'inner part,

madeout of sheet metal;

'Fig. l0 is a section showing how a button using the in- AAner part of Fig. 9 may be secured to a garment by means Aof a short nail-like fastener;` t

Fig, 10a is a plan view showing armodication of the inner part of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section through a modified form of outer Fig. 12 is `top `depressed to expand the rim.

Referring," `to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig 5, I there show a come-apart button comprising anouter `part 12 around which fabric 14 is wrapped' and tied, as

f shown at 16. The procedure Vis better shown in Fig. 4, 1in which the fabric 14 has been tied at 16, but has not a'fviewsimilar'to Fig. 1l, but showing the with@ ice yet been pushed upward by the inner part of the button. l

Reverting to Fig. 5, the outer part 12 receives an inner part 20 which is held within theouter part, and which itself serves to hold the fabric covering in position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the outer part 12 has a convex circular top 22 and a rim 24 which is turned inward at its bottom edge 26. The rim and bottom edge are slit with multiple slits 28. The rim may be expanded by depression of the convex top, and referngto Fig. 2, it will be seen'that the top 22 has been depressed with consequent spread or expansion of the bottom edge `26.

In the particular case here shown, the circularv top 22 is a flat spring disc which moves abruptly to either side of a hat position. In other words, the metal is so contoured, dimensioned and treated that it is unstable in the center or flat position. Thus, when the top is pushed from the convex condition shown in Fig. l to the concave condition shown in Fig. 2, the edge 26 expands and remains in expanded condition. However, if the rim 24 is pressed inward, the top 22 is changed abruptly from the concave condition of Fig. 2 to the convex condition of Fig. l, whereupon the bottom edge'26 remains in the contracted condition shown in Figs. l and 5.

The inner part 20 (Fig, 5) Vof the button is dimensioned to pass freely through the bottom edge when the rim is expanded as `shown in Fig. 2, but it is heldwithirl-the bottom'edge 26 when the rirn'is 'contracted as shown in Fig. 5. It will be understood that `the fabric 14 is stretched taut by the inner part 2 0 when the latter is pushed intothe outer part, and indeed, this tensioning of the fabric may' itself, serve to pull the rim 24 inward, and so to return the concave top to its convex condition. A

The button has fastening means to fastenit on a gar ment. In Fig. 5, the bottom of the part 29 has parallel slits near the center and the intermediate stiip of metal is bent downward as shown at 30.

Referring now .to'Fig 6, this shows a modified inner part 32. It resembles that previouslyl described in being formed out `of sheet metalpdrawn to shallow cup shape. It differs only in respect tothe fastening means 34, which in this case is a wire loop or eye, the ends of which are passed through small apertures in the bottom and are bent outward to hold the same in position as shown at '36. This provides a rounded surface to receive the sewing threads.

' If desired, the inner part may be molded out of a suitable plastics material instead of being stamped out of 'sheet metal. Fig. 7 shows an inner part 40 which has `been molded out of a plastics material. It is preferably ways than by sewing, and in-Fig. 8, 4I show an innerl part 50 which is Secured to a garment, schematically represented at 512, by means of a headed pin 54. The pin 5'4 has an enlarged or undercut head 56, as well as a ilat base 58. Such a pin type fastening has already `been used in solid uncovered buttons. The parts are assembled by pushing the pin through the fabric and into the button until the parts are received with aV snapt.. This is made ofyieldable material.

fastening is not intended to come apart again. The Apin r Another variant fastening meanabestsuited, fQII` lise with a sheet metal inner part, is illustrated in F 1`gs. ,9` and 10 0f. ,the @ravine In this C ase, the drawasllst maal inner part J60 has crossed slits, shown at 62 and 64. The pin 66 has a relatively large flat base 68 somewhat like the head of a thumb tack. The pin is pushed through the garment material V7 0 ,and .into a tiny hole formed at the intersection of the slits 62, 6,4, The sheet metal bends inward somewhat with passage lo f the pin, as shown at '72, and the four corners grip the pin and hold it against escape.

if desired, the shank of the pin may be roughened to improve the grip. it may also be threaded if it be desired to make the button removable, for Vin such case rotation of the pin will Afree the button.

In lieu of four corners .to -grip the pin, `as shown in Fig. 9, the inner part `may be slit in the -form ,of an H, thereby providing two opposed tongues to grip the pin. Such a modification is shown in Fig. 10a of the drawing.

It will be .understood that any of the different inner .parts may be lused with the outer part 12 described above The inner part may be made of a metal or plastics material, or any other desired material, and the inner part, or the button as a whole, may be secured to lthe garment in any desiredmanner. The important thing here is that the inner part is dimensioned to pass readily into the outer part when the rim is expanded, and to beheld by the vouter part when the rim is contracted. The Vrim is provided with multiple slits to facilitate expansion and contraction, .and is so associated with a convextop that depression `of the top serves to expand the rim.

.it isnot essential that the top have an over-the-center vor lflat spring action. A modification which illustrates this is shown in Figs. l1 and 12 of the drawing. Referringto Fig. 1l, the outer part S0 has a convex top 82 and a rim `84 which is turned inward at its bottom edge 86. The -rim and bottom edge are slit with multiple slits SS. When the top `SZis depressed to the somewhat flatter condition shown at 82' in Fig. l2, the rim 84 and bottom edge86 expand as shown at 84', 86.

The innerrpart of the button may be constructed like any of those shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10a of the drawing. The inner part is not Vshown in Figs. 11 and 12, but its dimension has been indicated in dot-dash outline in order to better show the expansion of the outer part. Thus, in Fig. 12, the dot-dash rectangle 90fwill readily pass the .expanded bottom edge 86', but when pressure on the convex top S2 is relieved, permitting the top .to assume its original convexity, as shown at S2 in Fig. 1l, the bottom edge moves inward as shown at S6. It will then hold the inner part, as' is schematically indicated by the dotted rectangle 91'), which is confined within the contracted bottom edge 86.

It will be understood that the outer part shown in Fig. 1l differs substantially from that shown in Fig. 1, because the circular top :is not an over-the-center or flat spring. 1t remains convex, but the degree `of convexity is changed, and this concomitantly expands the bottom edge. When the bottom edge is expanded, it does not remain stably in expanded condition. -It must be kept expanded oy `continued pressure. The structure isthere- 4fore not as convenient to use as that shown in Fig. 5.

The outer part shown in Figs. 1l and l2 isformed out of .sheet metal. However, it `will be understood that a similar structure may be molded Aout of a suitable plastics material, although in such case, Athe wall thickness is preferably increased, compared to the wall thickness whenusing sheet metal. v i

It is believed that the Vconstruction and method of use, of my improvedrovered buttonas well asthe Vadvantages thereof, will beappa'rent from -theforegoing detailed description. Thepiece o f ,fabric used to cover the button .need not be .dimensined .and .patterned in any particular way.A `It is simplydrawnraroundthe. outer part and tied by winding a bit ofthread thereahout; .The

.excess fabricis then',c utfoifby asingle scissor Astroke. Assembly of `thejbutton is completed'by merely inserting the inner part. Because of the substantial expansion and contraction of the slotted rim, the button is characterized by large tolerance in respect to the thickness of the fabric. The button may be disassembled as well as assembled, and that fact is of convenience, as when cleaning or changing the fabric, Vor reusing the button structure on a different garment.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described my invention in several different forms, changes may be made in the structures shown without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought Vto -be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A come-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like, said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabric may be wrapped, and an inner part adapted to be received and held within the outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, said outer part having a convex circular top `and a slit rim which is turned inward at its bottom edge, Vsaid inner part being dimensioned to pass through Vthe bottom edge when the rim :is expanded, and to be held within the bottom edge when the rim is contracted, said rim being expanded by depression .of the convex top, and said ,button having fastening means to fasten the assembled button on a garment, the convex circular .top of the outer part being a -at spring disc which .moves abruptly to either side of a flat position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the top is pushed from convex to concave condition, and the top is returned from concave to convex condition when the slit rim is pressed Vinward to contract itvafter assembly with the cloth and inner part.

2. A come-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like, said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabric may be wrapped, and an inner part adapted to be received and held lwithin the outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, said outer part having a convex circular top and a rim which is turned inward at its bottom edge, said rim and bottom edge being slit with multiple slits, said inner part being dimensioned to pass through the bottom edge when the rim is expanded, and to be held within the bottom edge when the rim is contracted, said rim being expanded by depression of the convex top, and ,said button having fastening means to fasten the assembled button on a garment, the convex circular top of theouter part being a dat spring disc which moves abruptly to either side of a dat position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the top is pushed from convex to concave condition, and the top is returned from concaveto convex condition when the slit rim is pressed inward ,to contract it after assembly with the cloth and inner part.

3. A corne-apart button adapted to be covered with fabric or the like, said button comprising an outer part directly around which the fabric may be wrapped,'and an inner part adapted to be received and held within the outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, said outer part having a convex circular top nand a rim which is turned inward at its 'bottom edge, said rim and bottom edge being slit with multiple slits, said inner part being dimensioned to passvflthrou'gh the bottom edge when the rim is expanded, and tonbe held within, the bottom edge when the rim is contracted, saidrim being expanded by depression of the convex tgp, and said inner parthaving fastening means therebeneathdo fasten the assembled button on a garment, the convexy circular top of theouter part being a iiat springdsc whichlmoves abruptly to either side of a flat position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the. top is pushed from, convex to concave condition, and thetop is'returnedrfrom concave to convex Vcondition when the slitfrim 4ispressed inwardto4 contract it after assemblywith Ythe cl'th and innerpart. I Y

4. A corne-apart button adapted to be covered .with

fabric orthe like, said button comprising an outerpart directly around which the fabric may be wrapped, and

an inner part adapted to be received and held within the outer part in order to hold the fabric covering in position, said outer part having a convex circular top and a rim which is turned inward at its bottom edge, said rim and bottom edge being slit `with multiple slits, said inner part being dimensioned to pass through the bottom edge when the rim is expanded and to be held within the bot tom edge when the rim is contracted, said rim being expanded by depression of the convex top, said convex top being a flat spring disc which moves abruptly to either side of -a at position, whereby the slit rim remains expanded when the top is pushed from convex to concave condition, and the top is returned from concave to convex condition when the slit rim is pressed inward to contract it after assembly with the cloth and inner part, said l5 inner part having fastening means to fasten the assembled button to a garment, and said fastening means including a pin having a head, a shank, and a base, with said pin adapted to be passed head first through a gar- 5 ment into a mating part of the button with a snap t.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lo 2,068,832. Watts Ian. 26, 1937 2,816,340 Domenech Dec. 17, 1957 2,832,117 Duell Apr. 29, 1958 e FOREIGN PATENTS 859,939 France 7. 1940