WO1997021365A1

WO1997021365A1 - Button to be fixed onto clothing by pressure

Info

Publication number: WO1997021365A1
Application number: PCT/IT1996/000040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Belotti
Original assignee: Ideal Buttons S.P.A.
Priority date: 1995-12-11
Filing date: 1996-03-01
Publication date: 1997-06-19
Also published as: ITMI952586A0; ITMI952586A1; AU4842596A; IT1277058B1

Abstract

Button (20) for clothing (10) generally composed of a head (21) with a central rear shank (22) made to pass through a hole (11) in the garment, and a base (30) in which there is a central aperture (34) through which the shank of the button head passes, the tip of said shank and the aperture in the base being provided with means for reciprocal spontaneous attachment to fix the button to the garment.

Description

BUTTON TO BE FIXED ONTO CLOTHING BY PRESSURE

The invention concerns buttons for clothing.

Ordinary buttons, whether disc-shaped or rounded, are used for temporarily holding two parts of a garment together by passing the button on the one piece of cloth through a buttonhole in the other piece.

Such buttons may also be used merely as ornaments.

Buttons are generally sewn onto garments with a cotton or similar thread which is passed repeatedly through holes made in the button itself or in its shank, if present.

This is always rather a long and costly operation as the supporting material may be delicate and the button must not only be secure and of practical use but also of an elegant appearance; this is especially so if the buttons are made of light and fragile materials for aesthetic reasons or for a question foe cost.

Further, the thread used for sewing them on is often weak and unable to withstand washing and rough handling so that they frequently come off and have to be sewn on again. Purpose of the invention is to simplify, facilitate and make quicker the process of fixing buttons to clothes but at the same time making it more secure and elegant as will be explained below.

Subject of the invention is a button for clothing generally composed of two parts here respectively denominated head and base.

In its form, size and structure the head is substantially similar to buttons at present known but instead of having holes in it for sewing it on or otherwise attaching it, there is at the back a central axial shank the section of which is substantially constant and which will penetrate through a hole in the cloth of the garment.

The base, substantially plain and flat, has a central aperture of a size such as to permit passage through it of the tip of the above shank and a part of its length.

The tip of the shank and the aperture in the base are so equipped with fixing means that on pushing the tip into said aperture, sa id tip is spontaneously held firm.

It is thus possible to fix the button to the garment by simply pressing the head and base together.

The means for fastening together the tip of the above shank and the aperture in the base of the button consist respectively of an axial cleft of a constant section in the shank, said cleft being extended to a short distance from the tip. and of one or more elastic tongues fixed to the base whose tips cross at the centre of said aperture and whose width is lesser than or equal to the width of the cleft in the shank.

Therefore, by pressing said shank centrally on the aperture in the base, the tongues bend towards the inside of the aperture determining passage through it of the tip of the shank and determining therefore, after the closed end of the cleft in the shank has also passed through, spontaneous return to the original shape of the elastic tongues placed transversally to the cleft in the shank. The head of the button thus remains linked to the base. One tongue can be obtained by shearing off a thin and elastic disc constituting the base or forming a part of it, which also creates an oblong and substantially rectangular aperture.

In the tongue there are two symmetrical cuts that extend from a position close to the aperture to one of its long sides, on one side and on the other of the orthogonal axis of symmetry of said aperture.

The tip of the tongue passes orthogonally through said aperture extending to its opposite long side.

The tongues can similarly be obtained by shearing off a thin and elastic disc constituting the base or forming a part of it, to produce two holes lying on a diameter from one side to the other of the centre of the disc and connected by a cut along said diameter.

Two opposing equal tongues are in this way obtained.

Their tip corresponds to the length of said cut along the diameter while their sides correspond to the arches of the holes that depart from said cut and from any cuts that may extend from said arches for a length corresponding to the elasticity desired for said tongues.

One tongue can also be made from an elastic lamella whose back is fixed to a rigid disc that constitutes the base; or one of its components, at a certain distance from the central aperture. Alternatively the holding means in the aperture made in the base consist of a Seger type elastic ring freely inserted into an annular groove made in the cylindrical wall of the aperture.

The external diameter of said ring is greater than the diameter of the aperture and its internal minimum diameter substantially corresponds to the diameter of the shank in an area situated a short distance from its tip but is less than the maximum width of this latter.

Thus, by forcing the head and therefore the shank of the button against the base, the elastic ring has to widen so as to allow the tip of the shank to pass through, but then shrinks back spontaneously on the narrower part of the shank at a short distance from its tip.

The tip of the shank connects with the upper area of a lesser diameter, corresponding to the minimum zone of the elastic ring, by recesses orthogonal to the shank or inclined towards the shank and towards its end in order to prevent the movements being reversed and accidental separation of the head from the base.

Or else said recesses can be inclined towards the shank and towards its internal part so that movements can be reversed and the head separated from the base, by merely exerting pressure in the direction opposite to that which produced former attachment between the two.

The area situated at a short distance from the tip of the shank, where the diameter corresponds to the minimum diameter of the elastic ring, can be a groove in the shank. Maximum width of shank tip can be obtained by projections on the shank itself.

The base may or may not comprise a thin elastic disc, as the case may be, but preferably metal, associated to a cap or having round its edge a U-shaped annular body into

which said edge penetrates.

The aperture in the base can be made in a central lower area projecting from its rear surface to facilitate

entry into said aperture by the shank on the head.

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be

made clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig. 1 Perpsective view of the invented button in one type of execution in which the head has a shank with an axial cleft and a base with an elastic disc, a rectangular aperture with a tongue and with a cap, seen when being fixed to the cloth of a garment. Fig. 2 Perspective of the above with the button fixed.

Fig. 3 Second type of button with elastic disc and double

tongue, with cap, on completion of fixing, view in perspective.

Fig. 4 Third type of button where the base disc has a

lowered central area and a cap, fixing completed, perspective view.

Fig. 5 Button as in Fig. 1, base comprising elastic disc

with raised surrounding edge, fixing comp1eted, view in perspective.

Fig. 6 Button with base formed of a rigid disc and elastic tongue acting on a rectangular slot, on completion of fixing, view in perspective.

Fig. 7 Button as in Fig.3 with one prolonged tongue and

centrifugal cuts.

Fig. 8 Button as in Fig.3 with two tongues prolonged by

centrifugal cuts.

Fig. 9 Button with head having a cylindrical shank containing a groove and with base formed of a rigid disc in which there is an elastic ring with internal teeth, view in perspective showing the button being fixed to a garment.

Fig. 10 As above with the button fixed, perspective view.

Fig. 1 1 Button of the type in Fig.7, head fitted with a cylindrical shank containing a groove and inclined sides to permit reverse movement, rigid discoid base and elastic ring with thread,perspective view of the button being fixed in place.

Fig. 12 Button with head and cylindrical shank on which is a raised ring, and discoid base with an elastic ring and internal teeth, perspective view of the button when being fixed in place.

Fig. 13 Button as in Fig. 10 with inclined sides to the raised ring round the shank, and with discoid base having an elastic ring with thread.

The button 20 consists of a head 21 and base 30 to fix it. On the rear side of the head 21 is a thin flat shank 22 with a tip 23 and an axial cleft 24.

The base 30 comprises a thin metal disc 31 carrying a spherical cap 32 associated to it by the bent rim 33 of the cap. In said disc 31 is a central rectangular dimetral slot 34 and a diametral isosceles-shaped triangular tongue 40, orthogonal to the slot, formed by two converging cuts 41 and 42 extending to one long side 35 of the slot while the apex 43 of the triangle reaches the opposite side 36 of the slot. Thickness of the shank is less than the width of the slot in the disc while maximum width of the tip 43 of the tongue is less than the width of the axial cleft 24 in the shank at the back of the head.

To fix the button 20 to the cloth 10 of the garment all that need be done is to pass the tip 23 of the shank 22 through a hole 1 1 in the cloth and then press it inside the slot 34 in the disc on the base causing the tongue 40 to bend and. passing beyond it. to assume the position in Fig.2.

From this it is clear that the button is then fixed to the garment with nothing further needed as the tip of the tongue presses against the end 23 of the cleft in the shank preventing accidental separation of the base.

Button 50 in Fig.3 differs from button 20 in that it is fixed to the garment by means of two tongues 52 and 53 made in the metal disc 51 of the base 52 by preparing two symmetrical central diametral holes 55 and 56 connected by an intermediate cut 57.

When fixing the button, on tip 23 of the shank 22 penetrating in the cut 57, the tongues 53 and 54 bend to resume their former shape after said tip has passed, lodging their tips inside the cleft 24 in the shank of the head 21 thus fixing the base firmly as seen in the figure.

Button 60 in Fig.4 differs from the preceding buttons in that the metal disc 61 on the base 62 has its central discoid part 64 made lower to keep the head 21 of the button closer to the base 62 and therefore closer to the cloth 10 of the garment to facilitate centering of the shank on the base. Button 70 in Fig.5 differs from the preceding buttons in Figs . 1 and 2 in that the base 72 has no cap 32 but has a circumferential rim 73 with a U-shaped groove 74 into which the edge of the disc 31 fits.

Button 80 in Fig.6 differs from the preceding buttons in that the base 82 is formed of a discoid body 81 of adequate thickness in which there is a slot 84 of substantially the same size as the slot 34 in the base 30 of the button 20.

Above said body is placed the tongue 85 comprising its rear stably-fixed rectangular part 88 and its triangular part which, under pressure from the end 23 of the shank 22, bends at its tip 86 which remains in a central position in the slot 84 close to the opposite edge 87 of said cleft. If said tip 86 goes beyond said edge 87, the head 21 is obviously and irreversibly fixed to the base 82 since the tongue can bend outwards from the base but not inside it, namely towards the button.

Fig.7 illustrates button 50' substantially the same as the button 50 but differing from it in that the tongue 54 is prolonged by the pair of diverging cuts 58, starting from the two holes 55,56 close to the central cut 57.

Fig.8 illustrates button 50" substantially the same as the button 50' but differing from it in that the tongue 53 too is prolonged by the pair of diverging cuts 59 starting from the holes 55 and 56.

Button 90 in Figs. 9 and 10 exhibits a head 91 with cylindrical shank 93 which has a tapered and rounded tip, with a groove 94 in it close to said tip, whose section is a squared C-shape, or else a dove-tail, creating the sides 95.

In the discoid base 92 is a central cylindrical hole 96 in which to place a SEGER type elastic ring 97.

Said ring remains lodged in a U-shaped anular seat 98, from which the fins 99 project, their radial distance from the centre of the ring corrisponding to the radial distance between the base of the groove 94 and the axis of the shank 93 of the head 91.

Clearly therefore the head of the button can be associated stably to the base simply by pressing the shank 98 against the SEGER ring till the fins 99 penetrate inside the groove 94. The button is then firmly held to the cloth 12 as seen in Fig. 10.

The button 100 in Fig. 1 1 exhibits a head 101 with shank 103 in which there is a groove 104 the sides 105 of which, close to the tip, are inclined towards said tip, and also exhibits a base 92 in which is lodged a SEGER elastic ring 106.

This clearly permits reversibility of the association between button and base since it is possible to widen the SEGER ring 106 setting up a force which separates the base from the head.

The Seger ring 106 is of the 'thread' type in which the internal diameter is less than that of the bottom of the groove in the shank on the button head.

The button 1 10 in Fig. 12 exhibits an annular ridge 114 on the shank 113 whose external diameter is greater than the minimum diameter of the Seger ring 97.

Association between head 11 and base 92 takes place as in the types already described and is non-reversible in view of the fact that the side 1 15 of the projection 114 is orthogonal to the shank.

Reversibility can of course be obtained by giving to the projections 124 on the shank 123 the form seen in button 120 (Fig. l3)where the side 125 of the projection 124 is inclined inwards and towards the head 121.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Button ( 20, 50, 50' , 50", 60, 70,80, 90, 100, 110, I 20) for use use on clothing generally ( 10, 12)

characterized in that it is composed of two parts, a first part here called the head (21,91, 101 , 1 1 1, 121) substantially similar in its shape, dimensions and structure to presently known buttons but which, instead of the usual holes in it for sewing it on, or of other fixing means, has a central axial shank (22,23, 103, 1 13, 123) at the rear substantially of a constant cross section, placed to penetrate through a hole ( 1 1) in the cloth of the garments ( 10, 12), and a second part, here called the base (30,52,62,72,82,92) substantially plain and flat having in it a central aperture (34,84, 96) of such a size as to permit introduction and passage of the tip (23) and of part of said shank, the tip of the shank and the aperture in the base being provided with means for reciprocal spontaneous attachment, following forced insertion of said tip of the shank inside said aperture, so that the button can be fixed to the garment by simply pressing down the head on the base.

2. Button (20, 50, 50' , 50", 70) for clothes ( 10) in general as in claim 1

characterized in that the means of attachment on the tip (23) of the shank (22) on the head (21) and in the aperture (34,84) in the base (30,52,62,72,82) of the button (20,50, 60,70,80) consist respectively of an axial cleft (24) of constant section in the shank extended down to a short way from its tip, and of one or more elastic tongues (40,53,54, 53' , 54' , 85) fixed to the base, whose tips cross centrally in said aperture and whose width is less than or equal to the width of the cleft in the shank so that by pressing said shank into the middle of the aperture in the base, the tongues become pressed towards the inside of the aperture allowing the tip of the shank to pass through, then followed by the closed end (23) of the cleft in the shank after which the elastic tongues spontaneously resume their original form lying transversally to the cleft in the shank so as to hold the head of the button to its base.

3. Button (20,60,70) for clothes generally as m claim 2 characterized in that one tongue (40) is obtained by shearing a thin elastic disc (31,61) constituting the base (30, 62,72) or forming part of said base, so as to create an oblong substantially rectangular aperture (34), said tongue being formed by two symmetrical cuts (41,42) that extend from a point close to the aperture to its longer side (35), on either side of the orthogonal axis of symmetry of said aperture, the tip (43) of the tongue extending as far as the opposite long side (36) of said aperture which is therefore almost entirely crossed by said tip.

4. Button (50, 50' , 50") for clothes generally as in claim 2 characterized in that the tongues (53,54) are obtained by shearing a thin elastic disc (51) forming the base (52) or constituting a part of said base, said shearing cut comprising an oblong aperture formed by two holes (55,56) on a diameter placed on either side of the centre of the disc, connected by a cut (57) on said diameter, thus creating two opposing equal tongues, their tips corresponding to the length of said cut and their sides to the arches of the holes that depart from said cut and from any cuts (58, 59) extending from said arches for a length corresponding to the elasticity said tongues are required to possess.

5. Button (80) for clothing generally as in claim 2 characterized in that one tongue (85) is obtained from an elastic lamella whose rear side (88) is fixed to a rigid disc (81) that constitutes the base (82) or one of its components, at a certain distance from the central aperture (84).

6. Button (90, 100, 110, 120) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim 1

characterized in that the means of attachment on the aperture (96) in the base (92) consist of a Seger type elastic ring (97, 106), freely inserted in an annualar groove (98) on the cylindrical wall of the aperture, the external diameter of said ring being greater than the diameter of the aperture and its minimum internal diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the shank (93, 103, 113,

123) on the head (91, 101, 11 1 , 121) in an area (94, 104, 114,

124) situated a short distance from the tip of said shank, and lesser than the maximum width of said tip so that by pressing the head and therefore its shank against the aperture in the base, the elastic ring is compelled to widen to allow passage of the tip of the shank after which it spontaneously tightens on the part of the shank of lesser diameter at a short distance from the tip.

7. Button ( 90, 100? 1 10, 120) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim 6

characterized in that the tip of the shank (93, 103, 113, 123) connects with the upper area (94, 104) of a smaller diameter corresponding to the minimum one of the elastic ring (97, 106) with recesses (95, 115) orthogonal to the shank or inclined towards the shank and towards its end so as to prevent reversibility of movements and therefore accidental detachment of the head (91 , 1 11) from the base (92), or else with recesses ( 105, 125) inclined towards the shank and towards its internal side so as to permit reversibility of movements and thus detachment of the head ( 101, 121) from the base (92) by simply applying pressure in the direction opposite to that used for connection.

8. Button (90, 100) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim 6 characterized in that the area situated at a short distance from the tip of the shank (93, 103) with a diameter corres^¬ ponding to the minimum diameter of the elastic ring (97, 106), is a groove (94, 104) in the shank.

9. Button ( 110, 120) for clothing ( 12)generally as in claim 6 characterized in that the maximum width of the tip of the shank ( 1 13, 123) is obtained by projections ( 1 14, 124) on said shank.

10. Button ( 20, 50, 50' , 50,", 60) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim 1

characterized in that the base comprises a thin elastic disc (31, 51, 51 ' , 51") perferably of metal, associated to a cap (32).

1 1. Button (70) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim I characterized in that the base (72) comprises a thin elas^¬ tic disc (31) preferably of metal, around whose edge there is a U-shaped annular channel (73) in which said edge fits.

12. Button (60) for clothing ( 12) generally as in claim 1 characterized in that the aperture (34) in the base is made in a central lowered area (64) that projects from the back surface to assist the shank (22) on the head (21) to enter said aperture.