Button collet and method and apparatus for making the same
AssigneeUniversal Fasteners Inc.
InventorTimothy H. Sparrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A domed cap button collet and the method and apparatus for the manufacture of same by deforming a flat domed button collet having an elastic body including: a shank; a radially extending plate-like flange located one end of the shank; and, a cap formed of malleable material overlying the outer surface of the flange and crimped to the peripheral portion of the flange. Pressure is simultaneously applied to bend the flange and cap member into a substantially convex dome shape. Upon removal of the pressure, the cap member retains its dome shape and the flange member reverts to its original plate-like configuration.
Claims16
A button collet comprising:
- an elastic body that includes a shank member and a plate-like flange member located at one end of said shank member;
- and
- a cap member, overlying the upper surface of said flange member and secured to the peripheral edge portion of said flange member, said cap member being deformable by temporary application of pressure to simultaneously bend said cap member and said flange member into a substantially convex dome shape, said cap member retaining the dome shape configuration and said flange member reverting to its original configuration upon the removal of said pressure.
A method of forming a domed cap on a button collet comprising the steps of:
- retaining in a given position an elastic collet body that includes a shank member having a central axis and a plate-like flange member located at one end of said shank member, and a cap member that overlies the surface of said flange member and is secured to the peripheral edge portion of said flange member;
- moving a punch member having a concave surface along said central axis toward said collet body to engage said cap member;
- simultaneously bending said cap member and said flange member into a substantially convex dome shape;
- and,
- disengaging said punch member from said cap member whereby said cap member retains a dome shape and said flange member reverts to the original plate-like configuration.
A method of forming a domed cap button during attachment to a sheet of compliant material of:
- a button collet, formed of elastic material, that has a shank with a central opening in one end thereof, a plate-like flange member on said shank opposite to said opening, and a cap member of malleable material overlying said flange member and secured to the peripheral edge portion of said flange member;
- and, a tack member having a head and a pronged member adapted to enter said opening, comprising the steps of:
- locating said sheet of compliant material in given plane intermediate said collet and said tack member
- positioning said button collet on one side of said material beneath a punch member having a concave surface to engage said cap;
- positioning said tack member over a moveable ram member on the opposite side of said material with said pronged member in coaxial alignment with said opening in said collet body;
- moving said punch member and said ram member toward each other wherein said pronged member pierced said material, enters and is seated within said opening to capture said material between said shank of said collet and said head of said tack;
- simultaneously bending said cap member and said flange into a substantially convex dome shape as said punch member drives said elastic button collet into engagement with said prong member;
- retracting said punch member and said ram member out of contact with said collet and said tack, respectively;
- whereby said cap member retains a dome shape and said flange member reverts to its original plate-like configuration.
An apparatus for forming a domed cap on a button collet having an elastic body that includes a shank and a radially extending flange at one end of said shank, a cap member formed of malleable material overlying and crimped to the peripheral edge portion of said flange, comprising:
- means supporting said button collet along a longitudinal axis,
- a punch member with a centrally disposed concave surface for moving along said longitudinal axis and engaging the cap member on said flange of said collet,
- means for actuating said punch member in a reciprocal movement to simultaneously bend under pressure said cap and said flange member into a convex some shape,
- whereby upon removal of said pressure, said cap member retains the dome shaped configuration and said flange member reverts to its original configuration.
An apparatus for forming a domed cap on a button during attachment of a button collet and a tack member to a sheet of fabric wherein:
- the button collet has an elastic body that includes a shank, a central opening having a longitudinal axis in one end of said shank and a radially extending flange at the other end, and a cap member formed of a malleable material overlying and crimped to the peripheral edge portion of said flange;
- and said tack member has a head and a pronged member adapted to enter said central opening, comprising;
- reciprocable punch means for supporting said button collet on the longitudinal axis of said central opening,
- a concave surface on said punch means for engaging said cap member when moving said collet,
- reciprocable ram means for supporting said tack member on the longitudinal axis,
- means for actuating said punch means and said ram means to move toward each other wherein said prong member first pierces said fabric and enters and seats in said central opening of said collet,
- said concave surface simultaneously bending both said cap member and said flange into a substantially convex dome shape as said punch member drives said elastic button collet into engagement with said prong member of said tack member,
- whereby said cap member retains a dome shape and said flange member reverts to its original plate-like configuration upon the reverse reciprocable movement of both said punch means and said ram means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.