US3815798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Button fastener
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-21
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A button is secured to a fabric or other material using a resilient plastic stringer inserted by the inventive button fastening tool. The fastening tool is of simplified design to achieve both minimum cost and optimum ease of use. The tool housing includes a depending finger rest, a contoured grip and a push button slidingly mounted atop the housing. Placement of the forefinger against the finger rest limits forward movement of the fastening tool as the push button is thumb-advanced for stringer insertion. This cooperation enables one hand operation. Simplified assembly of the fastening tool is accomplished without screws or rivets, using a two piece molded plastic housing including recesses for receiving a unitary needle, and a push rod-push button assembly of unique configuration. The housing also includes storage for a protective needle cap.
Inventors
- 👤 B Morry
- 👤 B Lavitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:14
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41H; A41H37/00; A41H37/005; A41H37/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
412 words
A button fastening tool for attaching a button using a stringer of the type having a filament, a transverse bar at one end of the filament and a button-retaining element at the other end of the filament, said fastening tool comprising: a. a housing including a finger rest depending from the bottom of the housing, a push button slidably mounted at the top of said housing, said housing being configured to be hand held with the forefinger engaging the forward side of said finger rest, and a contoured grip along the bottom of the housing rearwardly of the finger rest for the user''s other fingers, b. a unitary, metal needle projecting forwardly from the front end of said housing, said needle including a forward portion incompletely curled coaxially forming a cylindrical passageway for the transverse bar of a stringer and an upwardly opening slot extending the entire length of said forward portion, an uncurled central portion including laterally extending flat ears, the length of said central portion being adapted to be slightly longer than the length of a transverse bar, and a rearward portion curled coaxially to form a guideway for a push rod, c. said housing including interior lateral recesses receiving the ears of said needle, an upwardly opening stringer loading slot aligned with the central portion of said needle for insertion of a stringer transverse bar into coaxial alignment with said needle cylindrical passageway, and an upwardly opening slot extending from said loading slot to the front end of said housing in alignment with the upwardly opening slot of said needle for passage of a filament, and d. a push rod reciprocally, longitudinally disposed within said housing, the front end of said rod being disposed within the guideway formed by said curled rearward portion of said needle, the rear end of said rod being attached to said push button for reciprocation therewith, and a spring surrounding said push rod to bias said rod rearwardly of said housing front end to a rest position in which the rod front end is disposed within said needle guideway rearwardly of said central portion to provide clearance for insertion of a stringer transverse bar, forward motion of said push button by a user''s thumb moving said push rod forwardly to urge a transverse bar of a stringer through said needle forward section for securing a button while the rearward pressure of said forefinger against said finger rest limits forward movement of said fastening tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
412 words
A button fastening tool for attaching a button using a stringer of the type having a filament, a transverse bar at one end of the filament and a button-retaining element at the other end of the filament, said fastening tool comprising: a. a housing including a finger rest depending from the bottom of the housing, a push button slidably mounted at the top of said housing, said housing being configured to be hand held with the forefinger engaging the forward side of said finger rest, and a contoured grip along the bottom of the housing rearwardly of the finger rest for the user''s other fingers, b. a unitary, metal needle projecting forwardly from the front end of said housing, said needle including a forward portion incompletely curled coaxially forming a cylindrical passageway for the transverse bar of a stringer and an upwardly opening slot extending the entire length of said forward portion, an uncurled central portion including laterally extending flat ears, the length of said central portion being adapted to be slightly longer than the length of a transverse bar, and a rearward portion curled coaxially to form a guideway for a push rod, c. said housing including interior lateral recesses receiving the ears of said needle, an upwardly opening stringer loading slot aligned with the central portion of said needle for insertion of a stringer transverse bar into coaxial alignment with said needle cylindrical passageway, and an upwardly opening slot extending from said loading slot to the front end of said housing in alignment with the upwardly opening slot of said needle for passage of a filament, and d. a push rod reciprocally, longitudinally disposed within said housing, the front end of said rod being disposed within the guideway formed by said curled rearward portion of said needle, the rear end of said rod being attached to said push button for reciprocation therewith, and a spring surrounding said push rod to bias said rod rearwardly of said housing front end to a rest position in which the rod front end is disposed within said needle guideway rearwardly of said central portion to provide clearance for insertion of a stringer transverse bar, forward motion of said push button by a user''s thumb moving said push rod forwardly to urge a transverse bar of a stringer through said needle forward section for securing a button while the rearward pressure of said forefinger against said finger rest limits forward movement of said fastening tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
A button fastening tool according to claim 1 further comprising a needle cap for protecting the pointed forward portion of said needle when said tool is not in use, said needle cap comprising a cylinder closed at one end, and having an inner diameter dimensioned for snug mating engagement with said needle forward portion, said needle cap other end having a laterally extending peripheral flange forming a finger grip and a rib member extending a short distance from said flange toward said cap one end exteriorly of said cap cylinder, and wherein said housing includes an interior hollow chamber the rear end of said housing having a needle cap storage hole opening to said chamber and having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said needle cap, so as to receive said needle cap snuggly therewithin to permit storage of said needle cap while said fastening tool is in use, said rib member limiting the extent of insertion of said cap into said hole so that said flange is sufficiently spaced from said housing rear end to permit easy finger grip removal of said cap from said storage hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A button fastening tool according to claim 2 wherein said housing is formed of two molded pieces separated along the longitudinal axis of said housing, said members including complementary alignment pins and holes, each section also includiNg one of said needle ear-receiving recesses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
A button fastening tool according to claim 1 wherein said push button includes a neck slidingly engaging a longitudinal slot in said housing and a depending flange extending into another interior chamber in said housing, there being a conical hole through said depending flange, the diameter of said hole increasing toward the forward surface of said depending flange, and a bore extending upwardly into said push button rearwardly of said depending flange, said push rod being disposed within said other interior chamber, the rear end of said push rod being bent at a right angle, the relative positions of said flange and said bore and the dimension of said conical hole permitting insertion of said push rod bent end through said conical hole and into said bore to retain said push rod attached to said push button without additional fastening hardware.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A button fastening tool according to claim 1 further comprising a stringer guideway in the upper portion of said housing front end, said stringer guideway accepting the aligned transverse bars of a plurality of stringers and guiding said transverse bars downwardly into said needle central portion, said guideway including an upwardly opening slot joining said housing slot to permit unimpeded passage of the filaments of the stringers being guided to said needle central portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A button fastening tool according to claim 5 wherein the transverse bars of adjacent guided stringers are web-attached, the forward end of said push rod severing the web of the stringers being inserted during forward motion of said rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |