Tufting button with plastic collet

A plastic collet for locking fabric around a shell member and with the plastic collet including

• a base portion for insertion into the open end of the shell member for locking fabric around the shell member,
• a hook portion extending from the base portion and with the hook portion including a generally circular eye extending through the hook portion for receiving a string member,
• an elongated lead-in ramp extending from the exterior of the hook to the eye for providing a passageway for a string member,
• the lead-in ramp formed with a flared intrance adjacent the exterior of the hook for providing easy access to an elongated restricted area leading into the eye and with the restricted area formed between the body of the hook portion and a lever section extending from the base portion towards the center portion of said eye terminating at an interior end and with the lever section flexible to move toward the base portion as the string is pulled through the restricted area and with the lever section snapping back to its initial position when the string is pulled into the eye and with the body of the hook portion substantially rigid to resist movement as the string is pulled through the restricted area, and
• the eye of the hook including said interior end of the lever section having a configuration substantially coextensive with said eye and forming a portion thereof, at least a portion of the lever section being relieved thereby forming a reduced portion to increase the flexibility of the lever section.