This invention relates to a method for mounting a simplified press-stud, and to a relative simplified press-stud.
The male part of metal press-studs usually consists of a male portion and a male backing portion which are connected together and fixed onto the fabric by directly riveting them. Such a press-stud is known from EP-A-0 600 653.
In those cases where the fabric is frayable and/or of small thickness, this type of fixing requires a reinforcement element to be interposed between the male portion and the male backing portion of the press-stud and the fabric onto which they are fixed in order to improve positioning, ensure their stability and prevent fraying of the fabric.
Generally this reinforcement element is a washer, normally of plastics material, which is inserted manually between the male portion and male backing portion of the press-stud before riveting.
This operation increases the time required to fix the press-stud to the fabric and is susceptible to human error as the washer is inserted completely manually.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for mounting a simplified press-stud, and specifically a press-stud having a simplified male part, which overcomes the drawbacks deriving from the manual positioning of the washer, by if possible completely eliminating this manual operation.
A further object is to provide a press-stud which can be used in automatic or semi-automatic machines for its application to fabric or to articles of clothing.
These objects are attained according to the present invention by a method for mounting a simplified press-stud of the type comprising a male portion, a male backing portion and a washer joinable together by riveting or clinching about fabric or the like, characterised in that, in a step preceding their positioning on said fabric, said male backing portion and said washer are joined together by clinching portions thereof.
Furthermore according to the invention a simplified press-stud is provided comprising a male portion, a male backing portion and a washer joinable together by riveting or clinching about fabric or the like, characterised in that said male backing portion and said washer are joined together by clinching portions thereof.
The characteristics and advantages of a simplified press-stud according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description thereof given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
The figures show the male part of a simplified press-stud according to the present invention, both as a mounted assembly and in its component parts.
A press-stud, indicated overall by 11, comprises a male portion 12, a male backing portion 13 and a washer 14, these being positioned about a partially illustrated piece of fabric indicated by 15.
The male backing portion 13, of metal construction, comprises an annular base region 16, from the centre of which there extends a tubular region 17 coaxial with the hole in the annular base region. In part of the base region 16 there are provided drawn portions 18 in the shape of a circumferential arc, which in the example are facing upwards, ie in the direction in which the tubular region 17 extends. The drawn portions 18 extend through circumferential arc portions of different radii so as to be uniformly distributed over the base region 16. Alternatively the drawn portions can consist of inscriptions or designs provided they project to a certain extent from the surface of the base region.
The washer 14, constructed for example of polyethylene, is of inverted cup shape provided centrally with a hole 19 through which the tubular region 17 of the male backing portion 13 can be inserted. In a flat region 20 thereof, the washer 14 also comprises drawn portions 21 of circumferential arc shape, these also facing upwards in this example and consisting of circumferential arc portions of different radii so as to be uniformly distributed over the flat region 20. Likewise, the drawn portions can consist of inscriptions or designs provided they project to a certain extent from the surface of the flat region.
From the flat region 20 there extends a perimetral rim 22 defining a cup-shaped cavity able to receive the base region 16 of the male backing portion 13.
In the mounting method of the present invention, the washer 14 is firstly mounted directly on the male backing portion 13, the perimetral rim 22 then being deformed so that it embraces and locks the base region to form a single piece. It should be noted that by this operation, not only is a single piece obtained, but in addition the resultant male backing portion plus washer has essentially the same size as a standard male backing portion without the washer. This similarity between the two male backing portions enables both the male backing portion with the incorporated washer and the standard male backing portion to be handled by usual automatic and semi-automatic machines.
The press-stud portion comprising the washer 14 and the male backing portion 13, fixed together as in Figure 3 to form a single piece, is then locked onto the fabric 15 with the aid of the male portion 12.
This operation is done by automatic or semi-automatic riveting to achieve the mounted arrangement shown in Figure 1.
A press-stud male member simplified in accordance with the present invention hence achieves a series of important advantages.
Firstly, only two pieces have to be handled for mounting onto the desired fabric or article of clothing by riveting.
Secondly, that manual intervention which was previously necessary for inserting the washer between the male portion and male backing portion for mounting purposes is eliminated, with time and cost saving.
Finally a three channel machine can be used for applying the press-stud, enabling normal press-studs not requiring the reinforcement washer to be positioned, and press-studs with an incorporated reinforcement washer according to the present invention to be applied. This facility is particularly useful in the application of press-studs to fabric of different thicknesses.