US3500506A

US3500506A - Upholstery button

Info

Publication number: US3500506A
Application number: US663822A
Authority: US
Inventors: David B Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-08-28
Filing date: 1967-08-28
Publication date: 1970-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-17

Description

March 17, 1970 D. B. MITCHELL uPHoLs'ERY BUTTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug 28, 1967 rNvENToR David B. Mitchell BY @KMA ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 n D. B. MITCHELL v 3,500,506

UPHOLSTERY BUTTON Filed Aug 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V INVENTOR David B. Mitchell F|g..|9

BY @if ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent O 3,500,506 UPHOLSTERY BUTTON David B. Mitchell, 2905 Walnut, Garland, Tex. 75040 Filed Aug. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 663,822 Int. Cl. A44b 1/12, 1/14 U.S. Cl. 24-113 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for forming tufts in padded material, such apparatus including a stem with a penetrating point at one end and a head at the opposite end. The head is adapted to be covered by a fabric material and means is provided for locking the fabric material to the head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in covered buttons for upholstery.

The invention specifically relates to buttons having especially designed mountings, preferably formed of plastic materials, and covered with fabric. The mountings are provided with stems capable of penetrating a thickness of padding materials and secured by suitable means to form a pattern of tufts in the padded materials used in various types of upholstery as applied to furniture, cushioned seats in vehicles, and the like.

PRIOR ART Covered buttons have had extensive use in upholstering for many years but those employed are generally of the so called eyelet types formed with a loop or eyelet to which is attached a cord for tying the button to a supporting frame or a spring assembly, or having an elongated pronged stem which penetrates the padded material and has a washer at its inner end held in place by separating and bending the prongs in opposite directions.

The eyelet type buttons are not normally used in upholstering heavy padded -furniture but may be used for forming shallow tufts in relatively light padding. The invention is designed to provide a more desirable means of forming both deep and shallow tufts in all types of upholstery and afford a more substantial tying means.

OBJECTS AND PURPOSES An object of the invention is that of providing an economical and practical button assembly for forming tufts in padded upholstery for furniture, vehicle seats, and the like, and affording a button assembly which includes a mounting member having a stem adapted to penetrate varying thicknesses of padding and formed with a series of circumferential V-shaped grooves which provide spaced ledges or seats for retaining a flexible washer against the tension of the compressed padding materials in forming the tufts.

Anotherv object resides in the provision of a base element for a covered button or head having a stem portion which is formed integrally of the base element and providing a button which, when covered with fabric, can be flexed over the base element in such a manner as to secure the fabric covering.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a tufting button for cushioned furniture which is simple in design and easily applied and secured, affording means for maintaining the compressed padding under suitable compression at all times to insure a uniform arrangement of tufts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the foregoing objects are paramount other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description pro- Patented Mar. 17, 1970 ceeds when considered in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a button or head embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational sectional illustration, on lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of one form of a base element embodying the invention over which the button is applied.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational sectional illustration, on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view showing the base element shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a button being covered and applied thereto and shown in trans` verse section, a tie cord being fragmentarily shown attached to the stem.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a modified form of button having a central aperture therein.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the button shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional View, on line 8-8 of FIGURE 6, of the modified button.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a washer for retaining the fabric cover in the button shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of the washer, ou line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is an end view of a detachable stem element for the button shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational-sectional view of the stern element, on lines 12-12 of FIGURE 1l.

FIGURE 13 illustrates, partially in section, an assembly of the button, washer and stem element shown in FIG- URES 6 to 12.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged View of another modification of the button shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 13.

FIGURE 15 is aside elevational-sectional view, on lines 15-15 of FIGURE 14, of the button.

FIGURE 16 is an end view of another form of detachable stem element for the buttons `shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15.

FIGURE 17 is an elevational-sectional view of the modied stem element, on lines 17-17 of FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged plan view of a fabric retaining washer for the buttons shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view of the washer, taken on line 19-19 of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is an enlarged sectional view of an assembly embodying the button, stem element and washer shown in FIGURES 14 through 19, to form a tuft, the

padding being fragmentarily shown, and

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged sectional view of an assembly similar to that shown in FIGURE 5, but having a modified stem, the padding being fragmentarily shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 5 and '21, the separate parts of which are illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, and primarily comprises a circular base element 10 having an integral stem 11, as best shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 2l. The base element 10 is bevelled or chamfered about its upper surface and has a truncated conical protuberance 12 centrally thereof defining an annular plane 13. The base element 10 with its stem 11 is preferably formed of a plastic material.

It is contemplated that, while the base element 10 -may assume the same general shape and contour, the stem 11 may be of any `desired length depending upon the thickness of the padding material 14 through which it is applied, and upon the means by which the stem 11 is secured. In FIGURES 4 and 5 the stem 11 is shown relatively short, being pointed at its extremity 15 and having a transverse bore 16 therethrough to receive a cord 17, or other tying means, as shown fragmentarily in FIGURE 5. The stem 11 shown in FIGURE 21 is longer than that shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 and has a series of circumferential teeth 18 the bodies 19 of which taper inwardly toward the end of the stem 11 to provide spaced seats for a retaining vwasher 20 applied to the stem 11 in the manner shown in FIGURE 21.

The button element or head 21, shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 21 is substantially parabolical in section, having a peripheral internally extending flange 22 which is flexed on the end of said stem remote from said penetrating over and engages the under surface of the base element v 10 when a fabric cover 23 is applied, as shown in FIG- URE 5. The protuberance 12 on the base element 10 will resist any inward pressure on the head A21 tending toward deformation thereof causing its detachment from the base element 10.

As applied to a thickness of padding material 14, such as foam rubber, or other suitable product, as shown in FIGURE 21, and which has a covering material 24 thereon, the stern 11 penetrates the padding material 14 and the cover 24 and is depressed to provide the desired depth of tuft whereupon the pointed end of the stem 11 is anchored as by the cord 17, as shown in FIGURE 5, which is tiedto a frame or spring base (not shown), or by the washer 20, shown in FIGURE 21,'and a cord or wire 25 which may be continuous from one stem 11 to another and wound about the latter, as also shown in FIGURE 21, or by both of said securing devices.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 through 20, in which modificationsof the invention `are illustrated, the button or head 26, which is also parabolical in section, has a central aperture 27 formed in an annular recess 28, as best illustrated in FIGURES 8, 13 and 15. The head 26 is applied to a stem 29 having a circumferential groove 30 formed ,about and `near one end, as best shown in FIGURES 12, 13, 17 and 20,A by pressing the grooved end of the stem 29 through the aperture 27, in the manner shown in FIGURES 13 and 20.

The stem 29 is intended to be modified as to form, as depicted in FIGURES 12, 13, 17 and,20, the primary difference being evidenced in FIGURE 17 which shows a series of circumferential tables 31 formed about the stem 29 similar to the teeth 18 shown on the stem 11 in FIGURE 21. These elements may be utilized to provide a seat for a washer, such as shownin FIGURE 21, or as an anchoring vdevice in the cushioning or padding material 14, in the manner shown in FIGURE 20, to-

gether with the cord 17. v

In the application of the assembly shown in FIGURES 13 and 20, the button 26 having been secured to the stem 29 in the manner just described, the fabric covering 32 is applied to the head 26 and a flexible washer 33 is arranged about the stem and pressed into the head 26 so that its perimeter is ilexed past the internally extending flange 22 and is seated thereon against the inturned edge of the fabric covering 32 to secure it over the head 26. The washer 33 is shown in detail in FIGURES 9,

- open end, a base element disposed about said stem and adapted to be forced over said flange and into said head, said protuberance being dimensioned to extend toward the hollow head a suiicient distance to resist inward pressure on the head tending toward deformation thereof and subsequent detachment of said head from said base element, whereby a fabric can be applied to the exterior surface of said head'with the free edges of the fabric extending inwardly over said ange so that when the base element is applied it will lock the fabric onto said head.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said central protuberance is connected to said head.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said central protuberance is spaced slightly from said head.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said base element is an integral portion of said stem.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said base element is a flexible washer means.

6. The structure of claim 1 including means for securing said stem to upholstery.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 19,007 12/ 1857 Van Gieson. 1,374,210 4/ 1921 Langrock 24--113 1,984,743 12/ 1934 Holmes 24-113 3,408,105 10/ 1968 Portell 24-113 XR 1,867,041 7/ 1932 Walters 24-152 X 2,223,594 12/ 1940 Bednarek 5-351 2,602,975 7 /1952 Wolfe 24-113 3,268,964 8/ 1966 Forsyth 24-113 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,126,177 3/ 1962 Germany.

735,240 5 1943 Germany.

850,474 9/ 1952 Germany.

885,493 8/ 1953 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner Us. C1. XR. 24- 102