US644013A - Prong-button. - Google Patents

Description

No. 644,0l3. Patented Feb. 20, 1900. T. n. HYDE, m. PRONG BUTTON.

(Application filed Apr. -29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

In: N'cmms Incas co. PKOTO-LITHU, wnsnmsrou, n. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEOPHILUS R. HYDE, JR, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PRONG-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,013, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed April 2 9, 1 8 9 9.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEOPHILUS R. HYDE, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Prong-Buttons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a button with its own means of fastening instead of extraneous .meanssuch as thread, tacks, and rivets; and in attaining this object I provide a button-head with a permanentlyattached metallic pronged device the prongs of which are driven or forced through the garment and their points curled up or clenched upon the garment in order to fasten the button to the garment. This object, attained as thus broadly stated, is found illustrated in prior patents, but with specific differences, as I will proceed to point out. For example, a button-head has been made with a depressed center, having its bottom provided with as many holes as there are prongs on the fastening, and then the fastening has been applied in the said center,with its prongs protruding through said holes and its head secured to the button-head, by compressing or constricting the depressed center above said head and flaring or expanding it at such head. This construction is illustrated in the Patent No. 293,531,:dated February 12, 1884; but it requires an accurate assembling of the buttonhead and fastening in order to unite them in the manufacture of the button, which obviously increases the cost of manufacture of the button. Again, the button-head and its fastening have been made from a single blank, as in the Patent No. 486,871, dated November 29, 1892; but this involves a considerable waste of metal and also requires the head to be made of as strong metal as the fastening, further involving expense of manufacture. Again, it has been proposed to make a button in which the head and the fastening are separate and only united in the application thereof to a garment, as in the British patent, No. 15,768 of 1889. In this case thehead is made with so slight a central depression that there is no opportunity to unite the said head and its fastening independently of application to the Serial No. 715,038. (No model.)

garment. This button, however, obviates the manufacturing disadvantage alluded to in the 01d button first described by substituting a single opening in the button for as many holes as there are prongs on the fastening. Still another form of prong-button precedes mine,and in it the back of the button has a very slight depression, is covered by a face-plate, and the fastening member is headed over within the back and between it and the faceplate and is constructed with a shank portion and adjacent prongs, as in Patent No. 283,235, dated August 14, 1883. In this construction the union between the fastening member and the back of the button I believe to be insufficiently strong to resist the strains of use, since such strains are borne very largely by the button-head. In buttons having an opening in the button-head through which the fastening protrudes the edges of the opening are left raw or as they come from the press and beingsharp cut into the garment, as in the British patent mentioned and the Patent No. 47,843, dated May 23, 1865.

Now my invention is designed to avoid the objections stated as existingin prior constructions of prong-buttons and to produce a button that may be economically manufactured and is strong and durable. In my button there is a depressed center from which the bottom is wholly removed, excepting a narrow marginal ledge sufficient to support the fastening, and thus no care is required in assembling the head and fastening, and such assembling may be effected rapidly and economically. The head and fastening are united by simple prick-points, indentations, or depressions in the sides of the depressed center above the head of the fastening or else by applying a face-plate with a central depression bearing upon the fastening, either of these constructions avoiding the necessity for the machinery and care required to constrict and flare the depressed center in the old construction, while affording an equally-stable union of the parts. Since button-heads are required to be made of a variety of metals, hard and soft, not all of which are equally available as fastenings, it is obvious that the one-piece prong-button is of very limited adaptability and usefulness; but where, as in my case, the prong or fastening is produced separately from the button-head it is obvious that the said prong may be made of the best metal for its purposes, while the button-head may be of an unlimited varietyof substances, especially metals. To meet the requirements of the seller and user, it is indispensable that the button-head and its fastening in this class of buttons be permanently united. Again, in my button the fastening has its head formed and finished before it is inserted in the depressed cenier of the button-head, and no manipulation, upsetting, or spreading of the said fastening-head is required, as in the old construction, and in the case of the closed-face button the face-plate holds the fastening in place without the necessity of deforming the fastening. Thus the strength of the button is preserved and, indeed, is increased. Finally, in order to remove the raw edge of the opening in the bottom of the depressed center and so prevent cutting of the garment the said edge is curled up inwardly and a smooth and rounded edge presented for contact with the garment. An additional advantage resulting from the employment of the curled edge in the central opening of the shank is that the button-head may be made of an inferior or thinner metal, for the reason that the curled edge sufficiently reinforces the buttonhead to enable it to withstand the strains of use. If this curled edge were not used, the button-head would have to be made of thicker and more expensive stock, and thus by the use of the curled edge a very considerable economy in first cost is effected and at the same time a perfectly-serviceable button is produced.

Having thus stated the principle of my invention, I will proceed now to describe the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle and then will particularly point out and distinctly claim the part, improvement, or combination which I claim as my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of open-face button constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 illustrates the various steps of manufacture of my fastening from blank to finished article. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one form of my prong-button, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a closed-face button. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of a modified form of open-face button, and Fig. 8 is across-section of a closedface button ofanother form. Fig. 9 is a crosssection of my prong-button applied to a piece of fabric.

The button-head may be of any well-known or preferred construction, and in the instance shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 it is of the openface variety, having the face-flange a constructed with the depressed center I), which forms the shank or hub. The bottom of this depressed center is removed,all saving a slight marginal ledge or flange c, and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, this marginal ledge is curled upwardly, so as to present a smooth surface (Z for contact with the cloth, as indicated in Fig. 9, and thus avoid the liability of cutting the cloth or defacing it. Not only is this function obtained by the use of the curled ledge, but the manufacturer is able to make perfectlyserviceable buttons of very much lighter and inexpensive stock.

The fastening comprises a head 6 and de pending prongs f. The preferred form of this pronged fastening is made from a flat radiate blank, Fig. 3, comprising a center 6' and spurs f. This blank is next cupped, as shown in elevation and section at A A, Fig. 3, and then this cupped blank is further pressed so as to throw the spurs f and a portion of the center e toward each other, and thereby leave the body of the center 6 projecting outwardly or overhanging the spurs all around, and the crown is flattened, all as shown at B B, Fig. 3. In this way a pronged fastening is formed having a head which projects beyond the prongs throughout its entire circumference. This headed and pronged fastening is applied to the button-head by passing its prongs through the opening formed in the bottom of the depressed center until its head is arrested by the marginal ledge c of said depressed center, upon which the said headed prong is supported. To secure such a headed-prong fastening in an open-face button so that the two may be marketed as a unit and Without liability of their accidental separation, I may use any suitable means for retaining the fastening within the depressed center, and one very simple and economical expedient for this end is shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 9 and consists of the prick-points, indentations, or depressions g or other suitable disturbances of the sides of the depressed. center above the outer surface of the head of the fastening.

While I prefer to curl up the ledge at the opening in the bottom of the depressed center, as already described, I do not limit my invention to the presence of that feature but, as shown in Fig. 7, the edge of the opening may be left as it comes from the punchthat is, with an uncurled ledge or flange. The curled ledge, however, in addition to affording a smooth bottom serves also to reinforce such bottom and enables the manufacturer to use thinner and less expensive stock and in each of these particulars is a decidedly advantageous feature.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, my invention is equally applicable to closed-face buttons. In Fig. 6 the back h of the button has a do pressed center i, with the ledge at the openingcurled up, as at j. The face-plate has the depressed center Z of su fficient depth to extend to and rest upon the head of the fasteningvand serving to retain said fastening in the button without the use of the disturb- IIO ances 9, although these may be added in the closed-face button as an auxiliary to the faceplate or to retain the fastening, especially While the face-plate is being applied. As shown in Fig. 8, the depressed center of the back of the button may be left with an uncurled ledge m, as in the case of the open-face button of Fig. 7.

I prefer to produce the fastenings from sheet-steel, although other metal may be used,

and the button-head may be made of any kind or grade of metal or other suitable material.

I do not limit my invention to the use of the specific form of pron ged fastening shown and described or to a fastening having four prongs; butIprefer the fasteningillustrated. The head of the fastening device may be variously modified in shape also and may be crowned or rounded up and, if desired, ornamented. My invention is capable of use also with a ring, washer, or reinforce interposed between the inner side of the garment and the prongs and with a cap, which will cause the prongs to curl up within it. These and other modifications of the principle of constru ction constituting my invention may be adopted without departing from my invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the button of the open-face variety may be applied to a gar-.

ment by passing or forcing the prongs through the material onto any suitable die or anvil, which will serve to turn the points inwardly and upwardly into or through the fabric from the opposite side, thus afiording a very firm fastening. The closed-face button is similarly applied.

By my construction described I avoid the objections stated to be inherent in the prior constructions and produce a thoroughly practical and economical button.

What I claim is- 1. A prong-button, having a head provided with a depressed center which forms the shank or hub and is constructed with a marginal ledge at its bottom, the said marginal ledge being curled up inwardly to reinforce it and to present a smooth exterior surface, and a headed pronged fastening inserted in said depressed center, with its prongs projecting through the said opening and its head resting upon and supported by said marginal ledge, and means for permanently securing the headed, pronged fastening in said depressed center against accidental displacement and before the setting of the button on a garment, substantially as described.

3. A prong-button, comprisingahead having a depressed center which forms the shank or hub and is constructed with an open bottom having a marginal ledge, a headed, pronged fastening, the prongs of which protrude through such opening and the head of which is seated upon'said ledge, the button-head and its fastening being permanently united by lateral displacements of the depressed center above such head before the button is set upon a garment, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, A. D. 1899.

THEOPHILUS R. HYDE, JR.

WVitnesses HENRY FEHL, CHARLES FEHL.

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