US582572A - Metal-button-cleaning shield - Google Patents

Description

(Nuo Modll) v `T. H. AMBROSE. METAL BUTTON CLEANING SHIELD.

No. 582,572. Patented May 11, 1897. ii-5f.. l-

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THOMAS H. AMBROSE, OF WINOHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

METAL-BUTTQN-CLEANING SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,572, dated May 11, 1897.

Application iiletl February l2, 1897. Serial No. 623,137. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. AMBROSE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Vinchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Button- Cleaning Shields, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view of my improved cleaningshield, illustrating the manner in which it is applied to a metal button on a coat to protect the cloth While cleaning or polishing the button. Fig. 2 is a plan of the shield with the .two members closed together in the position which they occupy when the shield is in use. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the shield open to permit of its being slipped over the neck of the button. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and '7 are plans of the two members or halves of the shield detached from each other.

My invention has for it-s object to improve the construction of shields for protecting uniforms while cleaning or polishing the metal buttons thereof; and to this endmy invention consists in a shield composed of two segmental members pivoted together at or near the center of the shield and provided with handles whereby they may be partially rotated in opposite directions against the resistance of a spring to form a radial opening through which the neck of the button can pass to an opening at the center of the shield, the two members being afterward tightly closed together by the spring to prevent the powder or cleaning material used in polishing or cleaning the button from coming into contact with the cloth beneath, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the said drawings, Arepresents my improved shield,which is composed of two parts or members b c, preferably of segmental or approximately semicircular form, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These two members are each provided at the bottom with a handle d and at a point near the center of the inner edge with a lug or projection e, having an aperture lO, through which passes a pin f, Figs. 2 and 3, by means of which the two members are pivoted together so that they can be partially rotated in opposite directions by pressing the handles d d together with the thumb and finger against the resistance of a light spiral spring g, placed between them, said spring g serving to normally hold the two members closely together, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The members b care each provided with a notch located near the lug e, said notches forming a central opening l5 for the reception of the neck of a metal button 20 when the shield is placed around the same, as shown in Fig. l.

Each of the members b c is preferably oomposed of an inner plate h and two outer plates i t, soldered or otherwise suitably secured together, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The inner plate t of the member b projects beyond the edges of the outer plates t' e' on one side, forming a narrow tongue 7e above the pivot f and a sector-shaped tongue m below said pivot. These tongues fit within corresponding spaces p q between the outer plates of the opposite member c, the inner plate t being cut away for this purpose and the space q being sufciently large to permit the tongue m to move freely therein when the two members are oscillated on their pivot, and in this manner perfectly tight joints are formed which effectually prevent the polishing powder or paste used in cleaning the button from passing through the shield into contact with and soiling or injuring the cloth beneath.

In placing the shield around a button it is held by the handles d d between the thumb and finger. Pressure is then applied to force the two handles toward each other against the resistance of the spring g, as shown in Fig. 3, which oscillates the two members b c, separating them above the pivot f and forming a radial opening r, as shown in Fig. 3, when the shield can be slipped over the button-neck until the latter enters the central opening l5.

The handles d are then released, when the ICO by pressure on the handles d d and removed from the button to be again used on another button in the same manner as before.

That I Claim as my invention, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is*- 1. A metal-button-eleanin g shield composed of two members connected by a pivot located at or near the Center of the shield and normally closed together by a spring, said members being provided with handles by which they may be partially rotated in opposite directions on said pivot to open a radial spaee between them from the periphery of the shield to an opening at its center for the passage of the neel; of the button to said eentral opening, substantially as described.

2. In a metal-button-eleaning shield, the combination of the two segmental members pivoted together at or near the center of the shield and each provided with a handle and 2o having a notch, forming when said members are elosed together, a central opening for the reception of the neel; of the button, said members being normally closed by a spring and being eaeh Composed of an inner plate and two outer plates, the inner plate of one member projecting beyond its outer plates on one side, forming tongues iitting corresponding spaces between the outer plates ol' the other member to form tight joints when said members are closed together around the neek of the button, substantially as described.

\Vitness my han d this 10th day ol' February, A. D. lSW.

THOMAS Il. AMBROSE. In presence of- I. E. 'l`EsoHmIAenER, B. L. HARDEN.

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