U.S. patent number 3,754,304 [Application Number 05/235,552] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-28 for button fastener.
Invention is credited to Henry J. Modrey.
United States Patent |
3,754,304 |
Modrey |
August 28, 1973 |
BUTTON FASTENER
Abstract
A button fastener for attaching an item, for instance a button
to sheet material and particularly to fabric, by placing the button
on one side of the fabric and by looping a flexible filament
secured on one end to an elongate sleeve successively through the
fabric, the holes of the button and again through the fabric. The
filament is then threaded through the sleeve and pulled as tight as
desired. The sleeve wall locks the filament portion now located
within the sleeve in its tightened position, thereby securing the
button flatly to the fabric with the sleeve anchored flatly against
the opposite side of the fabric.
Inventors: |
Modrey; Henry J. (Stamford,
CT) |
Family
ID: |
22885965 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/235,552 |
Filed: |
March 17, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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873039 |
Oct 31, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/114.7;
24/704.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B
1/185 (20130101); Y10T 24/3689 (20150115); Y10T
24/505 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A44B
1/00 (20060101); A44B 1/18 (20060101); A44b
009/00 (); A44b 001/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/9TS,9W,15FP,16PB,3.5P,103,113R ;292/317,320,321,322
;135/15CF |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,288,128 |
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Feb 1962 |
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FR |
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284,545 |
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Dec 1952 |
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CH |
|
Primary Examiner: Griffin; Donald A.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part application based on my
copending application Ser. No. 873,039 filed Oct. 31, 1969 and now
abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fastening device for permanently attaching a button having
button holes to fabric, plastic, leather, foil and other sheet
material, said fastening device comprising:
an open-ended and substantially rigid tubular locking sleeve;
and
a bendable filament of generally circular cross-section made of
plastic material fixedly attached at one end to the sleeve adjacent
to one end thereof and extending from the sleeve at a substantially
right angle therewith, the other end of the sleeve having at its
rim a peripherally elongate lengthwise directed sharpened edge,
said other sleeve end constituting an entry end and said one sleeve
end an exit end for the filament, said filament having a tip
portion fitting the inner peripheral outline of the sleeve along
the length thereof with a loose fit and an elongate portion
extending from said tip portion to the sleeve and fitting the inner
peripheral outline of the sleeve with a tight fit along the length
thereof for engaging the inner sleeve wall with a frictional fit,
the length of the filament being such that upon insertion of the
closely fitting filament portion into the sleeve from the entry end
thereof at least the tip portion of the filament protrudes from
said exit end of the sleeve, placement of the sleeve upon one side
of the sheet material and of a button to be attached upon the other
side of the sheet material in juxtaposition to the sleeve,
sequentially threading the filament through the sheet material,
then through button holes, then again through the sheet material,
and finally lengthwise inserting the filament into the sleeve from
the entry end thereof so that a part of the closely fitting
filament portion is juxtaposed to said cuttin edge and at least the
tip portion protrudes from the exit end of the sleeve, then pulling
the filament further through the sleeve until the button and the
sleeve are held flat against the sheet material, said pulling tight
of the filament causing the sharpened edge at the sleeve to bite
into the juxtaposed filament material whereby the combined action
of frictional engagement of the closely fitting filament portion
with the inner sleeve wall and of the retention of the fialment at
the sharpened edge causes permanent attachment of the button to the
sheet material.
2. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve
has an outer substantially flat transversely enlarged surface
defining an anchoring surface disposed substantially in a plane
including the point of attachment of the filament to the
sleeve.
3. The fastening device according to claim 2 wherein said flat
surface is formed by wings disposed on opposite sides of the
sleeve.
4. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said sharpened
end of the sleeve is slanted toward the point at which the filament
is attached to the sleeve thereby forming said sharpened edge.
5. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said tip
portion is tapered to form a cone terminating in a sharp elongate
point.
6. The fastening device according to claim 5 wherein a hard metal
wire is lengthwise embedded in said tip portion, said wire having
an end protruding from the tip portion.
7. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said closely
fitting filament portion includes lengthwise striations increasing
the friction coefficient of the filament surface with the inner
surface of the sleeve thereby strengthening the retention of the
filament within the sleeve and also simulating the appearance of
thread.
8. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said closely
fitting filament portion includes a plurality of circumferentially
protruding beads.
9. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said closely
fitting filament portion includes a row of teeth, the gap between
any two of the teeth in said row engaging the sharpened edge of the
sleeve at said entry end thereof upon tightening of the filament
thereby causing said biting of the sharpened edge into the filament
material. row
10. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve
has a crosswise elongate cross-sectional outline, the inner long
axis of said outline being such as to accommodate therein two
sections of the closely fitting filament portion in side-by-side
relationship thereby retaining the filament within the sleeve.
11. In combination, a button having two holes and the fastening
device as defined in claim 1 wherein upon sequentially threading
the filament through the sheet material, one of the button holes,
the other button hole, again through the sheet material and then
lengthwise through the sleeve from the entry end thereof, the
filament forms a closed loop and upon tightening the filament by
pulling the same from said exit sleeve end the filament in
conjunction with the sleeve defines an approximately rectangular
closed outline two opposite sides of which hold the button and the
sleeve flat against the sheet material on opposite sides
thereof.
12. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the effective
length of the sleeve between the point of attachment of the
filament and the sharpened edge at the entry end of the sleeve
approximately matches the spacing of the button holes thereby
forcing the filament into substantially right angles with respect
to the sleeve at the attachment end of the filament and at the
entry end for the filament into the sleeve.
13. The fastening device according to claim 1 and further
comprising an auxiliary tool removably attachable to the tip
portion of said filament to facilitate threading of the filament
and piercing of the sheet material.
14. The fastening device according to claim 13 wherein said
auxiliary tool comprises a strip of hard springy metal having
adjacent to one end a slot for extending therethrough the end
portion of the filament, and a curved tongue extending from the
strip toward the slot and terminating in a sharp edge for clamping
and cutting said filament portion between said edge and wall
portions of the slot.
15. The fastening device according to claim 14 wherein said tongue
is lanced out of the material of the strip at one end of the
slot.
16. The fastening device according to claim 13 wherein said
auxiliary tool is in the form of a threading needle comprising
gripping means engageable with said end portion for releasably
gripping the same.
17. The fastening device according to claim 16 wherein said
threading needle is tubular for threading the tip portion of the
filament therethrough from one end of the needle, the other end of
the needle being slanted and pointed.
Description
The invention relates to a fastening device for attaching buttons,
tags or similar items to sheet material such as fabric, plastic,
leather, foil, etc., and also for joining two or more layers of
sheet material such as fabric.
Various attempts have been made to find a substitute for sewing on
buttons or similar items, but all substitutes as heretofore known
are clumsy and slow in operation and unattractive in appearance.
Moreover, button fastening devices as heretofore known require
skillful handling of rather intricate insertion tools, and the use
of special buttons or the reaming of the holes provided in
conventional buttons. They also require insertion of one fastener
for each hole in the button, and selection of fastener elements
which have precisely the required length.
THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved
device for attaching buttons of all types or similar items to
fabric or other sheet material which produces a strong tie between
the button and the fabric and also for joining two or more layers
of sheet material and which can be easily and rapidly operated
without requiring special skill.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
device for attaching buttons or similar items in which a filament
used for tying the button or similar item to the fabric or other
sheet material is strongly and automatically held in its tightened
position thereby securing the button or other item safely and
permanently to the fabric or other sheet material.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved device for attaching buttons or similar items to fabric or
other sheet material, the filament of which has a tip portion that
can easily pierce the fabric or other sheet material and also be
easily pushed into and through a locking sleeve, thus forming a
closed loop, and a locking or retention portion that when pulled
into the sleeve locks therein with a strong and powerful grip. The
frictional locking force between sleeve and filament is
substantially enlarged by the configuration of the sleeve which
results in one edge of the sleeve bore biting into the filament
when the filament loop by which the button is attached, is
tightened. As a result, the retention force produced by the
fastening device is far higher than the force required to tighten
it. Tests have shown that pulling of the locking or retention
portion of the filament into the sleeve by gripping the tip portion
protruding from the sleeve produces a retention or locking force
which is a multiple of the threading pull force. It has been
experimentally established that a 2 kilogram threading pull may
produce more than 20 kilogram force of retention at the button. The
button fastener therefore combines easy locking operation with
strong retention.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved device for attaching buttons or similar items to fabric or
other sheet material in which the tip portion of the filament is
needle-like pointed and/or stiffened so that it is capable of
readily piercing even comparatively heavy material. Advantageously,
stiffening and pointing of the tip are effected by embedding
therein a length of stiff wire, thus providing the filament in
effect with a built-in needle. If the wire consists of steel, this
has the additional advantage that the fasteners can be readily
counted, oriented and packaged by automatic devices known under the
trademark PINTREX and using magnetic means for feeding, orientation
and placement. Feeding and inserting devices of this kind are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,346,942 and 3,444,894 of the
applicant. Comparable operational handling advantages can be
obtained without use of an embedded wire, if the fastener is made
from a magnetically permeable molding compound such as described in
British Patents Nos. 1,070,902 and 844,610.
In the event that the sheet material is particularly difficult to
penetrate such as thick leather, plastic or heavy canvas, or if it
is undesirable or impractical to provide the tip portion of the
filament with an inserted needle, the invention provides a separate
threading needle which is temporarily attachable to the tip
portion.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and
improved fastening device such that one single size of the device
suffices for all thicknesses of fabric or other sheet material, as
the device adjusts itself to the thickness of the material to which
the button or other item is to be attached, as well as to various
thicknesses of buttons.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved fastening device which fills two of the holes in a button
by means of one single fastener and which therefore is both
time-saving and inconspicuous in that it simulates the visual
appearance of a button sewn on by thread.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved fastening device with supporting or anchoring surfaces
which strongly resist pulling of the button away from the fabric,
said surfaces being on the back or rear side of the fabric so that
they are invisible on the side to which the button or other item is
attached.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved fastening device which effectively prevents pulling of the
locking sleeve on the backside of the fabric and tearing a hole
through the same, by distributing the applied force upon a
comparatively large area of the material.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved fastening device which permits interposition of a spacer
between the button and the sheet material as is desirable or
necessary when the button is to be fastened by a stem to a heavy
material such as coat fabric.
A further object of the invention is to proivde an auxiliary tool
which facilitates the tightening of the fastener, and after
tightening of the fastener the cutting off the excess length of its
filament, and which in addition can be used to pierce holes into
dense fabrics or materials.
A still further object the the invention is to provide a novel and
improved fastening device which fits all types, configurations and
sizes of buttons, tags, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforepointed out objects, features and advantages, and other
objects, features and advantages which will be pointed out
hereinafter are obtained by providing an elongate locking sleeve
made, for instance, of a plastic thermosetting or thermoplastic
material, and attaching to the outside of the sleeve one end of a
pliable filament also made of a suitable plastic. This filament has
a preferably pointed and/or stiffened slim tip portion and a
thicker retention or locking portion. The tip portion due to its
slimness can be easily inserted into and pushed through the
fastener sleeve. The cross-sectional configuration of the retention
or locking portion of the filament is such that it will abut
tightly against the inner surface of the sleeve with a strong
frictional grip. According to the invention, the frictional
retention can be further strengthened by providing a roughened,
beaded or serrated surface on the retention or locking portion of
the filament.
The upper edge of the sleeve bore at the point where the filament
enters the locking sleeve, serves as a brake which digs into the
filament when the fastener is tightened. In tightening the loop
formed by the sleeve and the filament inserted therein, the
filament portion which projects from the sleeve bore and forms part
of said loop is increasingly pulled into a position approximating a
right angle to the sleeve axis. As a result, the inserted part of
the looped filament is forced to make a steep upwards turn around
the upper edge of the sleeve bore. As the tightening action
increases, the turn of the filament becomes still steeper and the
upper edge of the sleeve digs into the filament with considerable
force. The resulting retention force is further increased by pull
at the button, so that the tensile resistance of the fastened
button increases in approximate proportion to the applied load.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a substantially
positive locking of the filament within the sleeve can be effected
by dimensioning the cross-section of the sleeve so that two lengths
of the filament can be threaded through the sleeve in side-by-side
position. These two lengths will automatically engage each other
and also press against the inner wall surface of the sleeve.
Primarily, however, it is the double loop of the filament which
results in a positive lock, even in the absence of effective
frictional locking means.
To affix a button to fabric by fasteners according to the
invention, the button is placed upon one side of the fabric and the
filament is then threaded from the other side of the fabric through
the same, then through two holes of the button, again back through
the fabric, and finally inserted into the sleeve. The filament is
now tightened by pulling it through the sleeve until both the
button and the sleeve rest flush against the fabric on opposite
sides thereof and the filament is at a substantially right angle
relative to the sleeve, when the aforedescribed braking action of
the upper edge of the sleeve becomes effective, thus locking the
filament in position and securing the button to the material. As
the length of the fastened sleeve now rests flat and flush against
the fabric, an anchoring surface is provided by the sleeve which
prevents pulling of the sleeve through the fabric by tearing it.
This anchoring surface can be enlarged by providing lateral wings
on the sleeve, thereby increasing the area of engagement between
the sleeve and the fabric and thus distributing the pulling force
over a large area of fabric. This is of importance if the button is
attached to a light or loosely woven fabric .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the accompanying drawing several embodiments of the invention
are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational side view of a fastening device
according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are modifications of the fastening device shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a modification of the filament applicable to any one of
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 shows an initial stage of the attachment of a button to
fabric by the fastening device according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3
modified according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view of a more advanced stage of the fastening of the
button;
FIG. 7 shows the completed fastening operation;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a locking sleeve for the fastening
device as shown in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, the filament being
shown tightened;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a locking sleeve for the fastening
device as shown in FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a button fastened to the fabric by
the fastening device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing use of the
device for fastening a shank-type button;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 10 and 11, showing
fastening of a button to the fabric, spaced apart therefrom by a
spacer;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the fastened button according to FIG.
10;
FIG. 14 are plan views of fastened standard two and four-hole
buttons, respectively;
FIG. 15 is an elevational perspective view of a further
modification of the fastening device;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the fastening of a button to
fabric by means of the fastening device according to FIG. 15,
forming a double loop;
FIG. 17 is a plan view of an auxiliary tool intended to facilitate
pulling of the fastener filament;
FIG. 18 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 17 on an enlarged
scale;
FIG. 19 is an auxiliary threading needle attachable to the filament
of the fastening device for facilitating threading of the filament
through heavy fabrics or other materials; and
FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the use of the threading needle
according to FIG. 19 for fastening a button to fabric by the
fastening device according to the invention.
Referring now to the figures more in detail, the fastening device
according to the invention as exemplified in the figures comprises
basically an elongate sleeve or tube 1 made of a material which
preferably has some flexibility or pliability, but is sufficiently
stiff to maintain its form when subjected to a comparatively
substantial pulling force. Various plastics suitable for the
purpose are readily available in the market; it is generally
advantageous to select a plastic which has a high coefficient of
friction and a certain stiffness, and to which a roughened surface
can be readily applied, for a purpose which will become apparent
from the subsequent description. A filament 3 made of plastic
material is secured to or integral with sleeve 1 at point 1a
thereof. This point is preferably located fairly close to one end
of the sleeve though spaced therefrom. The filament extends from
the sleeve substantially normal thereto. FIG. 1 shows the filament
at a right angle and in FIG. 8 the filament is very slightly
outwardly slanted for a purpose which will be explained
hereinafter.
Filament 3 has a locking or retention portion 3a and a tip or
threading portion 3b. As it is clearly shown in all figures (except
FIG. 15), the cross-section of portion 3a is enlarged over the
cross-section of tip portion 3b. There are no fixed dimensions for
the thickness of either portion 3a or portion 3b; the thickness of
the tip portion should be selected so that it can be easily pushed
through the bore of the fastener sleeve, and the thickness of
portion 3a is correlated with the inner diameter of sleeve 1, so
that it can be pulled through only under as much friction as is
compatible with operational requirements. Portion 3a is shown as
extending from its attachment point 1a to the tip portion 3b, but
may start spaced apart from point 1a so as to prevent the
friction-increasing striations, beads or teeth of the filament from
sawing into the fabric when the button is in use as a garment
closure.
Sleeve 1 is preferably slanted at its end 2, for instance with a
slant of approximately 45.degree.. This slant is helpful in
threading the tip of the filament into the sleeve because it
provides a sectionally enlarged opening. However, the sleeve may
also be straight at both ends as is shown in FIG. 2. The upper edge
2a of the sleeve bore which produces the filament-braking action
above referred to when the fastener loop as formed by the filament
is tightened, is preferably left sharp whilst all other edges and
corners of the sleeve are generally rounded and smoothed, for the
comfort of the wearer of the garment to which the buttons are
attached.
Intermediate of attachment point 1a and end 2 of the sleeve, two
substantially flat wings 1b and 1c extend from the sleeve. These
wings constitute a flat support surface for the sleeve, as will
become more evident from the subsequent description. Their root
section 2b also serves as a reinforcement of the critical edge
portion 2a of the sleeve. Of course, the flat support surface may
be differently shaped. The support wings and the portion of the
sleeve on the far side of filament root 1a also serve to prevent
the sleeve being drawn backwards through the fabric and into one of
the holes of the button.
Referring to FIG. 1, the retention or locking portion 3a of the
filament thereof includes in its surface striations or shallow
lengthwise grooves 10. These striations or grooves serve a double
purpose, namely, to increase the friction action of filament
portion 3a and also to simulate the appearance of thread. The
required friction can also be produced by other means, such as the
roughening of the surface of filament portion 3a, or the provision
of enlarged beads 11 on the filament as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3
shows a filament with saw teeth 12 which coact with the sharp upper
edge 2a of the sleeve in the manner of a ratchet and pawl, as
described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 9.
The tip portion 3b of FIG. 1 is sharply pointed at its end as it is
indicated at 13. The ends of tip portions 3b of FIGS. 2 and 3 are
similarly pointed.
The tip portion of FIG. 4 is stiffened by molding into the tip
portion a length of a stiff wire 14, the end 14a of which protrudes
from the end of the top portion. The protruding wire end
facilitates the piercing of fabric and other materials, and forms
in fact a built-in needle. In addition, insert wire 14 facilitates
gripping of the filament for the purpose of tightening the same, as
will be more fully described hereinafter. The locking or retention
portion 3a (not shown) of FIG. 4 may be shaped in the same manner
as portion 3a of FIGS. 1, 2 or 3.
Referring now to FIG. 5, this figure shows flush attachment of a
two-hole button 6 to a fabric 7. To attach the button the same is
placed flat upon the top side of the fabric and the sharply pointed
end of filament 3 of the fastening device shown in FIG. 4 is looped
from the other side, first through the fabric, then through one
hole 6a from the bottom side of the button, then from the top side
of the button through the other hole 6a, and again back through the
fabric. Finally, the tip portion is threaded into and through
sleeve 1 from the slanted end 2 thereof until filament portion 3b
protrudes from the other end of the sleeve. As it is evident from
the previous description, the slimness of tip portion 3b in
relation to the sleeve bore facilitates the aforedescribed
threading of the tip portion of the filament which passes easily
through the sleeve.
To complete the attachment of the button, the thicker portion 3a of
the filament is forcibly pulled through the lseeve until a tight
loop is formed, holding the button on the fabric. If a
wire-reinforced filament is used, the stiffened end 14 of the tip
portion affords a better grip for pulling by being deformed into
what is in effect a handle (see FIG. 6).
As it is shown in FIG. 8, the pull applied to the protruding
filament portion 3b essentially forces the filament to enter sleeve
end 2 at substantially a right angle to the sleeve axis. As a
result, the upper edge 2a of the sleeve bore digs into the filament
thus producing a strong braking or detention action.
FIG. 8 further shows that the filament when tightened in
conjunction with the sleeve defines a closed approximately
rectangular outline. Such outline has the advantage that when the
fastener is used to secure a button to fabric both the button and
the sleeve are held flat against the fabric thereby securing the
button in the correct position and preventing tilting of the
sleeve. Tilting of the sleeve may cause damage to the fabric due to
the sharp edge of the sleeve and sliding of the sleeve through the
fabric and even through a button hole. Any tilting tendency of the
sleeve is further counteracted by a sleeve extension 2c thereby
correspondingly enlarging the support area of the sleeve. The
approximately rectangular outline of the filament loop is
automatically formed by the aforedescribed substantially right
angle entry of the sleeve into sleeve end 2 when and while the
filament is tightened and is assisted by the slight outward slant
of the filament as shown in the figure. When the fastener is used
to join two or more layers of fabric or other sheet material, the
sleeve in conjunction with the respective substantially parallel
side of the filament holds the fabric layers flat against each
other without danger of the sleeve slipping through the layers and
damaging of the fabric and without puckering of the fabric.
If the serrated or toothed filament of FIG. 3 is used, one of the
teeth will be caught by the upper edge 2a of the sleeve as is shown
in FIG. 9, thereby creating a positive lock in which the teeth
constitute a ratchet and sleeve edge 2a the coacting pawl. This
arrangement avoids damage to the filament by the digging action of
the sleeve edge, but it has the disadvantage that the serrations or
teeth reduce the effective cross-section of the filament which in
practice is much thinner than shown. It has the additional
limitation that the fastener cannot be tightened and locked in any
position of the filament, but only at every tooth of the toothed
filament portion. However, as the serrations or teeth in practice
are minute and close together, this limitation is not of great
practical importance. Tightening of the filament will again produce
the aforedescribed approximately rectangular outline of the
filament loop.
Forcible tightening of the sleeve is continued until the support
surface of the sleeve as formed by wings 1b and 1c rest flat
against the bottom side of fabric 7 and the loop in the filament is
tightened against the top side of the button, so that the button is
now held against the fabric in the same manner as a sewn
button.
FIG. 6 shows the filament partly tightened and FIG. 7 shows the
completed operation; the superfluous end of the filament can now be
cut off for neatness.
It should be pointed out that no specific length of the filament is
required. Its length should be such that in the operational stage
shown in FIG. 6, the protruding length of tip portion 3b does
permit a convenient gripping of the filament.
The different configurations of the fastener filament 3a which are
shown herein, are but variations of the concept of creating
friction between filament portion 3a and the inside of sleeve 2.
Regardless of the configuration given to the filament surface, it
is essentially the dimensional fit between the sleeve bore and the
filament and the coefficient of friction of the plastic material
which control the frictional hold between filament and sleeve. This
frictional hold is essentially equal in both directions, and it
must be kept at a comparatively low level so that the tightening
pull does not become uncomfortable for the user of the device. The
substantial increase in locking action in the direction opposite to
the tightening pull, viz. the tensile resistance at the button, is
derived from the interaction between the sharply bent filament and
the entry edge 2a of the sleeve.
FIG. 10 shows a substantially flat button similar to the type shown
in FIG. 5, attached to fabric 7. FIG. 10 further shows that the
effective length of the sleeve, that is, the distance between the
root 1a of the filament and sleeve edge 10 preferably approximately
matches the spacing of the button holes. Such correlation also
contributes to the aforedescribed formation of the advantageous
rectangular outline of the filament loop. It should be pointed out
in this connection that in practice the spacing between the button
holes varies much less than the dimensions of buttons so that at
least an approximation of a rectangular outline is automatically
obtained for most applications.
FIG. 11 shows a button 6b of the shank type, similarly attached.
Buttons of this type are widely used.
FIG. 12 shows a button 6 secured to fabric 7, spaced apart
therefrom by interposing a spacer ring or bead 15 between the
button and the fabric while threading the fastener. Interposition
of such spacer is used when the layer of sheet material to be held
by the coat button is particularly heavy. Its use corresponds to
that of stemsewn buttons in garments.
FIGS. 11 and 12 also show the aforedescribed characteristic and
important approximately rectangular outline of the filament
loop.
FIG. 13 shows a top view of a fastened button. As may be noted, all
that is visible is a short length of the filament, resembling sewn
thread.
FIG. 14 which shows top views of two fastened buttons illustrates
that conventional two-hole buttons or four-hole buttons may be
fastened with the device according to the invention in the same
manner, each fastener filling two holes in the button.
While in all previously described embodiments of the invention only
one length of two-hole filament is inserted into the sleeve, FIGS.
15 and 16 show a fastening device the sleeve of which accommodates
two lengths of the filament side-by-side.
For this purpose, fastener sleeve 8 has an elongate cross-section
such as a generally rectangular or ovaloid configuration. As a
result, the respective outer surface of the sleeve presents a more
or less flat support surface, thereby making unnecessary the
provision of wings 1b and 1c. The width of the sleeve of FIG. 15
effectively prevents pulling of the sleeve back through the fabric
or the holes in the button.
The inner long axis of the sleeve is so dimensioned that it is
capable of accommodating two lengths of filament 3 in side-by-side
arrangement. The filament is dissimilar to the filament of FIG. 1
in that the locking or retention portion 3a may have the same
diameter as the tip portion 3b. This type of fastener can be made
without the friction-increasing features described with reference
to FIG. 1, 2 and 3. The double loop formed inside sleeve 8 and
opposed by the filament is pull-resisting by itself. Only a bare
minimum of friction is required to prevent involuntary displacement
of the cut end of the inserted filament. A partial rim 2b has been
added to the sleeve as a reinforcement for the functionally
important braking edge 2a.
The double loop form of the button fastener has the advantage that
very little force or effort is required to tighten the fastener but
forming the double loop obviously takes more time than forming a
single loop. The button fastener of FIG. 15 has, however,
operational advantages if made in larger dimensions than those of
garment button fasteners which are restricted by the diameter of
the holes in standard buttons as herebefore mentioned. It is useful
primarily for fastening operations connected with tents, heavy
tarpaulins and sails, quite especially since in these fields it can
be used not only for the attachment of buttons and other parts but
as a means for stitching several layers of fabric to one another.
If the excess length of filament which projects from the fastener
sleeve after tightening, is not cut as described with reference to
the fasteners of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the filament can be pushed back
into the sleeve, due to the absence of strong friction, so that the
fastener can be opened and reused. This fastener therefore, can be
used either as a permanent fastener or a temporary closure.
Attachment of a button 6 to a layer of fabric (not shown in FIG.
16) by means of a double-loop fastener is generally the same as
previously described, except that the filament is pulled twice
through the sleeve and once around the same, as it is clearly shown
in FIG. 16.
FIGS. 17 and 18 show an optional auxiliary tool 20 to be used if
the operator should find it difficult to apply sufficient pull to
the protruding filament portion, for instance when the material to
be pierced is dense or heavy.
The tool is formed of a strip 21 of flexible hard metal such as
tempered steel. The strip has preferably near one end, a cut-out
22. Part of the cut strip material is bent to form a re-entrant
tongue 23 terminating in a sharp or cutting edge 23a. Insertion of
the filament into the slot as shown in FIG. 18 will cause edge 23a
to bite into the filament thereby releasably securing the tool to
the filament. The operator can now pull at the tool which affords a
much better grip than the thin tip of the filament.
After tightening, the tool can be pushed upwards on the filament
until it abuts against the sleeve. A sharp, sudden pull in this
position will cause the sharpened cutting edge 23a to sever the
filament.
To increase further the usefulness of this auxiliary tool the other
end of the strip is formed into a sharp tip 21a which enables the
operator to pre-punch holes into dense and heavy fabrics prior to
threading the filament through the fabric.
The aforegoing operations refer principally to home sewing. In
industrial garment manufacture, the tightening and cutting methods
explained with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 16 are not used. The
most convenient tool for tightening the fastener and cutting the
excess filament is a pair of long-nosed gripping pliers with
side-cutters, of the type generally used in the wiring of
electronic devices.
Finally, FIG. 19 shows another optional auxiliary tool in the form
of threading needle 25 for use of the fastener in especially heavy
and dense materials such as leather, plastic and canvas. Such
needle has a tubular portion 26 into which the end of tip portion
3b can be conveniently pushed. The tip of the needle is sharply
pointed, as indicated at 26a. The needle is made from thin sheet
metal stock. It must be able to pass through standard holes in
buttons, and its inside must accommodate the slim portion 3b of the
fastener filament.
Lanced from its inside is a springy tongue 27 which is displaced
when the filament is pushed into the threading needle. The tongue
holds the filament against displacement in one direction.
The needle acts as an auxiliary sharp tip at the end of the
filament. Due to the spring action of tongue 27, threading can now
be performed as previously described, and as shown in FIG. 20,
without involuntary separation of needle and filament while the
needle is being pushed through the fabric. Upon completion of the
threading operation the needle is easily removed from the filament
which is subsequently pushed through the fastener sleeve and
tightened, as previously described.
The auxiliary insertion needle is not required for ordinary sewing
operations, but is useful for attaching buttons to dense and heavy
material such as leather, plastic and heavy canvas.
The design of the fastener according to this invention is severely
circumscribed by the requirements for its application and use.
These requirements are specific to buttons and garments, and
therefore exclude as practical solution of this fastening problem
any design features which may be pertinent to other applications
but which do not conform to the above requirements. More
specifically, a fastener filament which cannot be threaded through
the standard holes provided in standard buttons, or a
filament-retaining mechanism which occupies more than the absolute
minimum of cross-sectional space at the back of the fabric, cannot
be considered in a practically and commercially acceptable button
fastener.
As aforestated, the diameter of the filament in the fastener
according to the invention is limited by the size of standard holes
in garment buttons. The retaining portion of the fastener is
expected virtually to disappear in the fabric and to be free of
projections or sharp edges and corners which might irritate the
wearer of the garment. The mechanism, although consisting of only
one piece, is however expected to perform a variety of intricate
mechanical functions. It must provide a freely threadable gripping
part; it must allow comparatively easy movement of the filament in
the tightening direction while opposing removal pull in the
opposite direction with considerable force; finally, it must lock
at any point of the (locking section of the) filament. The fastener
according to this invention provides for these various functions
within the smallest configuration by sleeve edge 2a which provides
a unidirectional braking mechanism of high efficiency without
projecting cross-sectionally from the diameter of the sleeve
tube.
The concept of the fastener according to the invention makes it
possible, therefore, to maintain the full permissible diameter for
the filament, with the result that the filament is capable of
sustaining the loads required for heavy coat buttons, and that one
size of fastener can be used for all and any button types and
fabric thicknesses which are customarily used for garments as
different as light shirts and heavy overcoats.
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