Automatic press-button

Abstract

 An automatic press-button, comprising a male component and a female component, defined by disk-like elements (14,22) respectively presenting a protrusion (25) and a receptacle (15) for said protrusion and a plurality of through holes (16,23), the disk-like elements being respectively coupled to a head (10) from which a plurality of pointed stems (13) protrudes, which stems can be introduced in the said holes (16,23), the pointed stems (13) furthermore having a length such that they protrude of a preset amount from the opposite surface of the disk-like elements (14,22) in order to be cold-headed so as to perform the securing of the disk-like element to the head, with a strip of cloth interposed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic press-­button of a perfected type. As is known, by press-­button is meant a two-component cluster, specifically male and female, respectively endowed with a protrusion and with a cavity or opening, in which the protrusion engages and disengages with respect to said cavity by exerting a pressure or a traction on the component bearing the protrusion.

[0002] The two components are normally in metal and are individually fixed by sewing or riveting to cloth edges which are to be mutually buttoned.

[0003] A first problem related to such automatic press-­buttons, and which intervenes especially in case of fixing by sewing, is that said sewing operation entails greater time and labour expense in the industrial production of clothing.

[0004] Another problem related to the known types of automatic press-buttons is that the same must be able to button and unbutton easily, without having to apply a very intense pressure or traction, and at the same time the button must stay buttoned without giving in easily to stresses which would tend to make it open or unbutton spontaneously, such as, for example, when the item of clothing is too "tight" for the wearer.

[0005] A further disadvantage which automatic press-buttons of the known type may present derives from the fact that they are endowed on the outside with a surface which is smooth and suitable for receiving drawings, inscriptions, signs and the like, so that in this case the problem is posed of aligning appropriately the heads relative to a common direction, especially relative to the employment in an automatic machine for the assembly of the male and female components and for their fixing to the cloth.

[0006] It is evident that the decorative effect of the heads themselves would be substantially nullified if, for example, some figures were not aligned homogeneously in adjacent positions along the buttoning line of an item of clothing.

[0007] The main object of this invention is to eliminate such problems and inconveniences, while keeping the functionality of the automatic press-button unchanged. Within the scope of this object, an important object of the invention is to produce an automatic press-button the head of which may be aligned according to a direction shared with the other buttons even by means of modern automatic fitting machines.

[0008] This object, as well as these and other objects, are attained with an automatic press-button, of the kind which comprises a male component endowed with a protrusion an a female component endowed with a receptacle in which said protrusion penetrates in an extractible manner, the latter being elastically compressible transversely or radially, characterized in that said male and female components are formed of disk-like elements, each provided with said protrusion and said cavity or opening, each disk-like element being provided with a plurality of through holes or openings, each of said disk-like elements being coupled to a head or closing element, from which a plurality of pointed stems protrudes, which stems are suitable for being introduced in said through holes of said disk-­like elements, said pointed stems having such a length as to protrude of a preset amount from the opposite surface of said disk-like elements so as to be able to be cold-headed, locking together the disk-like element and the head with interposed an edge of cloth or of any other material to be buttoned, each element of the button being made of a plastic material suitable for molding. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said through holes have a diameter which widens towards the side from which said pointed stems protrude, so as to serve as a containment receptacle of the plastic material resulting from the cold-heading process.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, said receptacle is an opening, surrounded towards the proximate head by a frame protruding towards the head itself, said receptacle being endowed with retention means, such as notches and the like, in order to prevent the respective rotation of the male and of the female component.

[0010] The peculiar aspects and the advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, which is made according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figs. 1,2,3 and 4 are lateral perspective views of the elements which compose the automatic press-button according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the automatic press-­button, in a buttoned condition and fixed to two edges of cloth;

Figs. 6 and 7 are the corresponding bottom views of the elements of the corresponding Figs. 3-4;

Fig. 8 is a top view of Fig.6;

figs. 9 and 10 are top views of another embodiment of the element of Fig.8, and Fig. 11 is a view according to the cross section line XX of Fig.10.

[0011] With reference to the drawings, it can be seen that Figs. 1 and 4 illustrate two heads which are respectively identical with the exception of the fact that one of them is endowed with a central opening. Said head, which is indicated with reference 10, is composed of a disk 11, provided, if required, with a central opening 12. From the lower surface of the disk 11 four pointed stems 13 protrude, with the subsequently described purpose, which are angularly equidistant.

[0012] The female component of the button, which is formed by the subsequently described coupling of the elements illustrated in figs. 1 and 2, furthermore comprises the disk-like element 14, provided with a central opening 15 and with four through holes 16, said through holes having such a diameter as to receive the pointed stems 13 of the bottom 10.

[0013] More specifically, as is shown in fig. 5, the through holes produced in the disk-like element are provided with an increase in diameter towards the base 17 of the disk-like element, that is to say, towards the surface which is not oriented towards the head 10.

[0014] In this manner, when the part of the pointed stem which protrudes through the base 17 is cold-headed, the excess plastic material finds a location in the section having an enlarged diameter, and contributes to the safe securing of the head 10 to the disk-like element 14.

[0015] Furthermore, from fig.5 it can be seen that the disk-­like element is tapered towards the outer edge, thus making easier the opening operation of the automatic press-button.

[0016] On the surface of the disk-like element which is opposite to the base 17, the opening 15 is surrounded by a frame 18, which has the function of guiding and orientating the button in the coupling and cloth-fixing machine and of aiding in the securing of the female component to the cloth 19 (as illustrated in Fig. 5), which is deflected towards the interior of the remaining cavity, after the coupling and the securing to the cloth, between the head 10 and the disk-like element 14.

[0017] From fig. 5 it can furthermore be seen that the opening 15 made in the disk-like element 14 is provided with an internal ridge 20, which represents the actual press-buttoning neck with the subsequently described male component.

[0018] In opening 15, above the ridge 20, a plurality of notches 21 is provided, radially protruding from the internal surface of the opening itself and angularly equidistant. Said notches are, as an example, in number of six and 60 degrees apart.

[0019] Taking now into account the male component, it again comprises a head 10, this time illustrated with the external part devoid of a central opening, and a disk-­like element 22, which is endowed with a notching similar to that of the disk-like element 14 and provided for the same purpose.

[0020] In the disk-like element 22 the through holes 23 are provided, suitable for receiving the pointed stems 13, in the same manner as already described for the other disk-like element 14 and with the same widening of the through holes 16.

[0021] From the base 24 of the disk-like element 22, the protrusion 25 protrudes, which is axially divided by a cut 26 into two halves, so as to allow for the elastic compression in the radial direction when said protrusion is to pass through opening 15 and in particular through the diameter of the ridge 20 during the buttoning and unbuttoning phase of the button.

[0022] From the opposite side 27 of the disk-like element 22, a frame 28 protrudes, having the same function as the protruding frame 18 of the disk-like element 14.

[0023] It is important to note the fact that, preferably, the two halves 29 and 30 in which the protrusion 25 is divided by cut 26 compose sectors of a circle with non-­coinciding centres, and become part of the same circle only during a radial compression phase.

[0024] This naturally is advantageous for the resistance to the compression, which is repeated thousands of times, and at the same time maintains the elasticity which is required for the already mentioned functional requirements.

[0025] The outer surface 35 of the heads 10 is easily suitable for receiving a figure or an inscription, so that there is the requirement of a common reference point or orientation element, so that in an automatic machine for the fixing of the buttons, said buttons are orientated and then fixed to the edges of the cloth with an appropriate orientation.

[0026] For this purpose, from disk 11, which forms the base of the pointed stems 13, a shaped element 32 protrudes, which can be engaged by a mechanical positioning finger, suitable for rotating the head 10 around its axis so as to always bring it to a preset position of the shaped element 32, and therefore with a preset orientation of the drawing or inscription with which the surface 35 of said head is endowed.

[0027] As is shown in fig. 9, instead of the protruding shaped element 32, a shaped hollow 33 can be provided, having the same function.

[0028] Similarly (figs. 10 and 11), a shallow part 34 can be formed.

[0029] Finally, it must be noted that the shape and dimensions of the shaped elements (32,33 or 34) can be varied without impairing their functionality.

[0030] It is understood that the preceding description is given by way of a non-limitative example only, so that conceptually and structurally equivalent variations are possible and foreseeable without leaving the scope thereof. As an example, the number of pointed securing stems and of the corresponding through holes for reception can be varied according to the requirements. The previously described components are all made of a plastic material, so that they are suitable for an industrial manufacture in large quantities at a low cost.

Claims

1. An automatic press-button, of the type comprising a male component endowed with a protrusion and a female component endowed with a receptacle in which said protrusion penetrates in an extractible way, which protrusion being elastically compressible in a transverse or radial direction, characterized in that said male and female components are composed of disk-­like elements (14,22), respectively provided with said protrusion (25) and said receptacle (15), each disk-­like element being provided with a plurality of through holes or openings (16,23), and each of said disk-like elements being coupled to a head or closing element (10, 11), from which a plurality of pointed stems (13) protrudes, which stems are suitable for being introduced in said through holes (16,23) of said disk-­like elements (14,22), said pointed stems having such a length as to protrude of a preset amount from the opposite surface of said disk-like elements (14,22) so that they may undergo cold-heading, thus securing together the disk-like element and the head (10,11) with interposed a piece of cloth or other material to be buttoned, each element of the button being made of a plastic material suitable for moulding.

2. An automatic press-button according to claim 1, characterized in that said through holes (16,23) are provided with a widening diameter towards the side from which said pointed stems (13) protrude, in order to serve as a retention space for the excess plastic material which derives from the cold-heading of the protruding part of said pointed stems (13).

3. An automatic press-button according to claim 1, characterized in that said receptacle (15) is a through opening, endowed with a ridge (20) which protrudes radially towards the interior.

4. An automatic press-button according to claim 3, characterized in that said receptacle (15) is provided with retention notches (21) suitable for engaging in said (25) protrusion (25) in a buttoned condition.

5. An automatic press-button according to claim 1, characterized in that said disk-like elements are provided, on the side facing the head (10), with a protrusion (18) suitable for interfering, when the head and the disk-like element are coupled with an interposition of cloth, with the cloth itself.

6. An automatic press-button according to claim 1, characterized in that said protrusion (25) is divided into two halves by a transverse cut or fissure (26).

7. An automatic press-button according to claim 6, characterized in that said two halves are formed by circular segments having centres which are non-­coincident and suitable for forming a circle in a radial compression phase.

8. An automatic press-button according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the internal surface of said head (10,30) provided for the coupling with the corresponding disk-like element (22,14), a portion in relief (32) or hollowed out (33) is formed, which portion can be engaged by a mechanical locator element.

9. An automatic press-button according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said portion in relief (32) is radially protruding from the disk (11), from which disk said pointed stems protrude.

10. An automatic press-button according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hollowed out portion (33) is provided in the disk (11) from which said pointed stems protrude.

11. An automatic press-button according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hollowed out portion (33) is formed in the thickness of the head (10).

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.

1.- An automatic presso-button comprising a male disk-like element (22) endowed with a protrusion (25) and a female disk-like element (14) endowed with a receptacle (15) in which said protrusion penetrates in an extractible way being elastically compressible in a transverse or radial direction, each disk-like element is provided with a plurality of through holes (16.23), and has a head (10, 11) from which a plurality of pointed stems (13) protrudes, for being introduced in said through holes (16,23) of said disk-like elements (14,22), for securing together the disk-like element and the head (10,11) with interposed a piece of cloth or other material to be buttoned, characterized in that said protrusion (25) is divided into two halves formed by circular segments having centres which are non-coincident and suitable for forming a circle in a radial compression phase and in that the internal surface of said head (10), provided for the coupling with the corresponding disk-like element (22,14) has a portion (32,33,34), which can by engaged by a mechanical locator element.

2.- An automatic press-button according to claim 1, characterized in that said portion is a portion in relief (32) radially protruding from the disk (11), from which disk said pointed stems protude.

3.- An automatic press-button according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said portion is a radially hollowed out portion (33) provided in the disk (11) from which said pointed stems protrude.

4.- An automatic press-button according to one or more of the precedeing claims, characterized in that said portion is a hollowed out portion (34) formed in the thickness of said head (10).

Drawing