Piped Buttonhole Construction

Abstract

A piped buttonhole construction comprising upper and lower layers having aligned openings therein and further having intermediate layers sandwiched therebetween, said intermediate layers extending from opposite sides of said openings to a point adjacent the center of said opening and then being reversely bent upon themselves to provide adjacent folded edges extending across said openings, and adhesive means securing opposite sides of said reversely bent intermediate layers to said upper and lower layers in an area adjacent to the periphery of said openings, whereby said finished buttonhole construction is completely devoid of any stitching.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to buttonhole constructions, and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a novel and improved piped buttonhole.

Piped buttonhole constructions are generally known in the art, as illustrated, for example, by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,713,686; 2,767,673; and 3,105,973. Piped buttonhole constructions of this type traditionally comprise an elongated opening, usually rectangular, in a fabric or the like layer, which opening is formed by slitting the fabric layer and then reversely bending the slit tabs along the under surface of the layer. In most cases these reversely bent tabs have to be stitched to be maintained in their reversely bent position and in some cases, the resultant opening forms the buttonhole. In other cases, as in Patent No. 2,713,686, additional fabric layers are provided beneath the aforesaid layer, said additional layers extending from opposite sides of the opening to a point adjacent the center of the opening and then being reversely bent to provide adjacent folded edges extending across the opening, which edges define the buttonhole. In the prior art arrangements of this type, however, it has always been necessary to employ some stitching to maintain the various parts properly assembled, which stitching frequently creates a problem when it is desired to manufacture these buttonholes on automatic machinery.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a pipe buttonhole construction of the character described wherein no stitching whatsoever is required in the manufacture and assembly of the buttonhole.

Another object is the provision of a piped buttonhole construction of the character described which readily lends itself to fabrication and assembly by automatic equipment.

Another object is the provision of a pipe buttonhole construction having an identical appearance and construction on both sides of the fabric having the buttonhole therein.

A further object is the provision of a piped buttonhole construction of the character described that is of pleasing appearance, durable and effective in use, and economically feasible to manufacture.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a piped buttonhole construction embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one of the fabric layers during formation of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a slightly modified form of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a further modification of the present invention during formation of same;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 - 13 sequentially illustrate the manipulative steps involved in making a finished buttonhole from the modified form of FIGS. 5 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, there is shown generally at 10 a piped buttonhole construction comprising an upper layer 12, a lower layer 14, and intermediate layers 16 and 18. The layers 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be of any suitable flexible material, fabric or otherwise, such as cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, or blends thereof. It is also conceivable that said layers could be constructed of non-fabric material, such as leather or the like.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, during the manufacture of the buttonhole 10, the layers 12 and 14 are each provided with aligned slits 20, said slits comprising an elongated straight slit 20a having divergent slits 20b extending from opposite ends thereof. The aforesaid slits define tabs 22, 24, 26 and 28 which, when reversely bent along fold lines 30, define a rectangular opening 32. The outer surfaces of tabs 22, 24, 26, and 28 are coated with a heat and/or pressure sensitive adhesive illustrated by the stippling 34 in FIG. 3. By way of example, such adhesive may comprise an acrylonitrile silicone or a styrene butadiene. Thus, when the aforesaid tabs are reversely bent, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the adhesive is disposed in engagement with the opposite surfaces of the intermediate layers 16 and 18. It will be understood, of course, that bottom layer 14 is slitted, reversely bent, and provided with adhesive in an identical manner to top layer 12. It is important to note that the intermediate layer 16 and 18 extend from opposite sides of openings 32 and are reversely bent upon themselves as at 36, the edges 36 extending longitudinally across opening 32 in close adjacency, it being understood that the edges 36 define the button receiving opening or slit. It will also be understood that the layers 16 and 18 may be of different material and/or color from that of the layers 12 and 14 for asthetic purposes, if desired. Once the aforesaid flaps have been reversely bent and the intermediate layers inserted, as illustrated in FIG. 2, assembly of the parts is quickly and easily effected merely by applying heat and/or pressure to cause the adhesive 34 to fuse the reversely bent tabs to the opposite surfaces of the intermediate layers.

If it should be necessary or desirable to stiffen the intermediate layers 16 and 18, a suitable stiffening agent may be inserted between the folds of said intermediate layers. Such a stiffening agent could be a layer of adhesive or glue, as shown at 37 in FIG. 4 or a facing strip of any suitable material could actually be inserted between these folds.

Since one of the problems in the manufacture of the buttonhole 10 is the fact that when the tabs 22, 24, 26 and 28 are reversely bent as aforedescribed, they have a tendency to spring back, it has been found desirable to coat the inner surfaces of the tabs with an adhesive 38, preferably pressure sensitive, whereby when the tabs are reversely bent, said adhesive will function to maintain the tabs in engagement with the inner surface of their respective layer 12 or 14, as shown in FIG. 4. By the same token, the presence of a stiffening layer of glue 37 between the folds of the intermediate layers 16 and 18 will also function to facilitate handling of said layers.

Another approach toward overcoming the tendency of the aforesaid tabs to spring back is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 13. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that a self-supporting adhesive film 40 is sealed to the outer surfaces of the layers 12 and 14 in overlying relation to the slits 20 and fold lines 30. More specifically, the adhesive film 40 is actually sealed or bonded to the outer surface of the tabs 22, 24, 26, and 28 and the film 40 is provided with slits 42 in registry with the slits in the fabric layers 12 and 14. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 5, the film 40 extends outwardly from fold line 30 a substantial distance in all directions, it being understood that this outwardly disposed portion of film 40 is not secured or sealed to the surface of the layers 12 and 14 located outside of fold lines 30. When the tabs are reversely bent, as aforedescribed, the film 40 is physically pushed through the openings 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12 until the parts assume the position illustrated in FIG. 12, in which position the plastic film 40 is reversely bent upon itself and is located between the reversely bent tabs and the intermediate layers 16 and 18. The application of heat and/or pressure to the parts as illustrated in FIG. 12 causes fusion or bonding of the layers 12 and 14 to the intermediate layers 16 and 18 as illustrated in FIG. 12. It will be understood that for purposes of illustration the film 40, as well as the various layers, have been illustrated in somewhat magnified proportion, it being understood, for example, that the thickness of the film 40 is actually somewhat in the neighborhood of two mils. It is important to note, however, that when the self-supporting films 40 have been forced through the openings 36 to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 12, the film will have a tendency to maintain the position illustrated in FIG. 12, thus facilitating assembly of the intermediate layers 16 and 18 between the layers 12 and 14 and at the same time expediting the securement of the layers to each other as aforedescribed, since the film 40 will effect the adhesive bond pursuant to the application of suitable heat and/or pressure. It will be understood, however, that the finished buttonhole construction 10 will be basically the same whether the adhesive film 40 is used or whether the buttonhole is constructed pursuant to FIGS. 1 through 4. It will further be obvious that the finished buttonhole 10 has the identical appearance from either side, requires absolutely no stitching, and otherwise achieves the aforedescribed objectives of this invention.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A piped buttonhole construction comprising superimposed upper and lower layers, aligned openings in said layers, a pair of intermediate layers sandwiched between said upper and lower layers, said intermediate layers extending from opposite sides of said openings to a point adjacent the center of said opening and then being reversely bent to provide adjacent folded edges extending across said openings, said edges defining a button-receiving slit, and adhesive means securing said upper and lower layers to said intermediate layers in an area adjacent to the periphery of said openings, whereby said buttonhole construction is completely devoid of any stitching.

2. The buttonhole of claim 1 further characterized in that a stiffening agent is positioned between the reversely bent portions of said intermediate layers.

3. In the buttonhole of claim 1, means securing said reversely bent portions to said intermediate layers.

4. The buttonhole of claim 1 further characterized in that said upper and lower layers are slitted to define flaps, said flaps being reversely bent along the inside surfaces of their respective layers to define the aforesaid openings.

5. The buttonhole of claim 4 further characterized in that said flaps are coated with adhesive on both their inner and outer surfaces, the adhesive on said inner surfaces maintaining said flaps in their said reversely bent positions, and the adhesive on said outer surfaces comprising the aforesaid means.

6. In the buttonhole of claim 4, a self-supporting adhesive film sealed to the outer surfaces of said flaps on said upper and lower layers, each of said films having slits in alignment with the slits in said upper and lower layers, said films extending substantially beyond the fold lines of said reversely bent flaps in unsecured overlying relation to the surrounding area of said layers, whereby when said flaps are reversely bent, said films are forced through said openings so as to extend outwardly from each opening along the inner surface of their respective layer in reversely bent relation to said flaps, thus maintaining said flaps in their reversely bent position, said films comprising the aforesaid securing means.

7. In the buttonhole of claim 4, said slits comprising an elongated straight slit having divergent smaller slits extending from opposite ends thereof, thus defining four flaps on each layer, which when reversely bent, define a substantially rectangular opening.