BUTTON FOR CLOTHES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a button for clothes which is attached to clothes or the like and is used.

BACKGROUND ART

A button for clothes which is provided with a leg portion projecting in a ring shape downward to the bottom of the button body is used conventionally. The button for clothes which has such a shape is called a shank button or the like, and has the leg portion formed integral with a plate-like button body by drawing and molding a metal plate.

This button 6 for clothes is attached to clothes 7 by twining a thread 63 in a leg portion 62 projecting from the bottom surface of a button body 61, as shown in, for example FIG. 12(a). Generally, in twining the thread 63, the thread 63 is put through a button hole 64 formed in the leg portion 62 two to three times, wind thread shank (winding down) is carried out, and finally root fastening is performed to form a knot.

In case of attaching the button for clothes to the clothes manually, the button can be pulled firmly and closely by power of a worker at the root fastening stage, which advantageously provides firmly connection of the button and the clothing fabric, but the productivity is low, attachment time becomes longer, the manufacturing cost increases, and the yield eventually becomes worse. This brings about a problem of obtaining substantially only about 20% of yield as compared with the case of mechanical attachment. Since attachment of a button and root fastening differs among workers, bringing about a problem that it is difficult to control the quality of a product itself uniformly.

For the reason, especially in recent years, it is common to perform the attachment of a button to clothes using machinery, such as a sewing machine. The method of attaching a button by machinery can improve the productivity, shorten the working hours, reduce a difference in product quality and achieve uniform product quality at a low cost, and can also improve the yield.

[Patent Document 1: microfilm in Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 56-91938 (Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Sho 57-203811)]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, at the time of carrying out mechanical attachment of a button, there is no pulling by a worker at the stage of the root fastening, so that particularly, a leg portion and a knot of a thread cannot be firmly fixed. Therefore, in the explanation of an example shown in FIG. 12, even if a button 6 for clothes is attached to clothes 7, a knot of the thread 63 slides on a leg portion 62, and a button body 61 tilts aslant as shown in, for example, FIG. 12(b). Because of the loose knot, even if attachment is carried out at the time of mechanical attachment in such a way that the knot is located in the center of the leg portion 62, the knot will gradually shift from the center of the leg portion 62 to an end portion by subsequent uses of the button, and the button body 61 will tilt aslant eventually. This brings about a problem that the details of the buttons 6 in the general diagram of the clothes 7 as shown in, for example, FIG. 13(a), is such that the tilted buttons 6 for clothes become notable as shown in FIGS. 13(b) and 13(c), making the appearance very poor. In case of forming a so-called ornament button having an ornament, such as a shape or pattern, made thereto, in particular, the button body 61 becomes heavy, and tilts immediately, so that the expected effect of the ornament cannot be obtained, disadvantageously.

There is a problem that when a knot 66 of the thread 63 is shifted from the center of the leg portion 62 to an end portion, the thread 63 is worn against the leg portion 62 by friction, so that it is likely that eventually, the thread 63 is snapped and the button 6 for clothes comes off the clothes 7 as shown in FIG. 12(c). Further, while the button for clothes stands upright immediately after it is fixed to the clothes, the uprightness may be gradually spoiled through multiple use of the button. In this respect, recently, there is a growing demand for clothes to which buttons that can maintain uprightness for a long period of time are fixed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a button for clothes and clothes, which can keep the uprightness of the button for clothes for a long period of time.

Means for Solving the Problems

To solve the foregoing problems, the present inventor has invented a button for clothes and clothes which has a groove formed in a leg portion and has the button attached to the clothes by twining a thread in the groove, thus preventing a knot portion from jumping out of the groove.

Namely, a button for clothes to which the invention is adapted is characterized by having a button body, and a leg portion projecting in a ring shape downward to a bottom surface of the button body, the leg portion having a groove formed therein for twining a thread to be attached to clothes, the groove having inclined surfaces formed thereon an interval between which becomes narrower toward at least a tip.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the button for clothes to which the invention is adapted, the groove for twining a thread to be attached to clothes is formed in the leg portion projecting in a ring shape downward to the bottom surface of the button body.

Attaching the thus structured button for clothes to the clothes by twining a thread to the groove can prevent a knot portion of the thread from jumping out of the groove and further can prevent the knot portion of the thread from sliding on the leg portion to the end portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the button body of the button for clothes from tilting aslant, so that the button can be fixed upright to the clothing fabric of the clothes.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A button for clothes which is attached to clothes or the like to be used as the best mode for carrying out the invention will be explained in detail below referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1(
a) shows a rear view of a button 1 for clothes to which the invention is adapted, FIG. 1(b) shows a side view of the button 1 for clothes, and FIG. 1(c) shows a perspective view of the button 1 for clothes.

The button 1 for clothes has a button body 11, a leg portion 12 projecting in a ring shape downward to a bottom surface 11a of the button body 11.

The button body 11 and leg portion 12 may be formed integrally by drawing and molding a metal plate, or may be formed of a resin integrally. They may be formed of any other materials than a metal and resin.

The leg portion 12 may be formed in any shape as long as it is a ring shape, or may be made into a polygonal shape which has any number of corners, or may be made into a semi-elliptical or semicircular shape. It may be formed into a U shape. That is, as long as a ring for forming a hole in which a thread is inserted is formed, the leg portion 12 may be made in any shape.

That is, the leg portion 12 may have a corner portion bent by approximately 90° or may not have the corner portion and may be gradually bent with a curvature. In case of bending the leg portion 12 with a curvature, the curvature may have any radius of curvature.

Both the end portions of the leg portion 12 are shaped to enter the bottom surface 11a of the button body 11 from the bottom side. On the other hand, a center portion 21 of the leg portion 12 extends approximately in the horizontal direction. If the leg portion 12 is formed into a semi-elliptical or semicircular shape, the center portion 21 likewise has a bent shape of projecting downward. Although the leg portion 12 has the shape of a flat plate bent in a ring shape, which is not restrictive, and it may be formed to have any sectional shape.

There is a button hole 14 inside the leg portion 12. The button hole 14 may be formed to have any shape or a polygonal shape having any number of corners, or may have a semi-elliptical or semicircular shape. The size of the button hole 14 is determined based on the standard in mechanical attachment by a sewing machine or the like, and is desirable to be set to have φ of 1.5 mm or greater. The center portion 21 of the leg portion 12 is surrounded by a bottom surface 12a, a top surface 12b, a side surface 12c, and a side surface 12d, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b).

In the button 1 for clothes to which the invention is adapted, the groove 17 is formed in at least one of the bottom surface 12a, the top surface 12b, the side surface 12c, and the side surface 12d.

In the example of FIG. 1, the groove 17 is formed in both side surfaces (side surface 12c, side surface 12d) at the center portion 21 of the leg portion 12. FIG. 2 is an enlarged structural diagram of the groove 17. The groove 17 has inclined surfaces 31 formed thereon an interval between which becomes narrower toward at least a tip 32. The inclined surface 31 may have a flat surface as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), which is not restrictive, and may have a curved surface which has a slight curvature as shown in FIGS. 2(c) and 2(d). The tip 32 of the groove 17 may be rounded as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c), or may be sharpened as shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(d).

That is, the groove 17 may be formed to have any shape as long as the shape of the groove 17 has the inclined surfaces 31 which are indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 2 and an interval between which becomes narrower toward at least the tip.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the groove 17 is formed to have an approximately pentagonal sectional shape sharpened in the depth direction. Since the groove 17 having the approximately pentagonal sectional shape also has the inclined surfaces 31, it is included in the category of the aforementioned technical concept.

In this connection, the groove 17 may be formed into an approximately n polygonal sectional shape as long as it has the inclined surfaces 31 an interval between which becomes narrower toward at least the tip (n being an integer of 3 or greater).

FIG. 4 shows the case where the button 1 for clothes which has the foregoing structure is attached to clothes 2. The button 1 for clothes is actually attached to the clothes 2 by twining the thread 23 around the grooves 17. Generally, in twining the thread 23, the thread 23 is put through the button hole 14 formed in the leg portion 12 two to three times or more. At this time, in the button 1 for clothes to which the invention is adapted, the groove 17 is formed in the center portion 21 of the leg portion 12 beforehand, the thread 23 can be twined around the grooves 17 by inserting the thread 23 in the button hole 14. As a result, after the thread 23 is wound in the grooves 17, wind thread shank (winding down) is carried out, and finally root fastening is performed.

The button 1 for clothes attached to the clothes 2 this way has the thread 23 wound around the grooves 17. In other words, the knot portion of the thread 23 is located in the grooves 17. This prevents the knot portion of the thread 23 from jumping out of the grooves 17, and further prevents the knot portion of the thread 23 from sliding on the leg portion 62 to that end portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the button body 11 of the button 1 for clothes from tilting aslant, so that the button can be fixed upright to the clothing fabric of the clothes 2.

If the button 1 for clothes is mechanically attached, even when the knot strength of the thread is looser than that in the case of manual attachment, the existence of the grooves 17 can prevent the knot portion of the thread 23 from jumping out of the grooves 17.

After attaching the button 1 for clothes, load of the tensile force and the torque will be applied to the button 1 for clothes by the subsequent uses of the button. However, even with such force being applied, the knot portion of the thread 23 can be prevented from jumping out of the grooves 17 by twining the thread 23 around the grooves 17 and fixing it in the present invention. That is, in the present invention, once attached to the clothes 2, the button does not tilt slant even through the subsequent uses thereof, and can always be set upright to the clothing fabric of the clothes 2.

When the clothes 2 entirely has the buttons 1 for clothes to which the invention is adapted, the buttons 1 for clothes which are upright even for the entire clothes 2 can overcome the problem of making the appearance poorer. In particular, in a case where the buttons 1 for clothes is formed as a so-called ornament button having an ornament, such as a shape or pattern, made thereto, even when the button body 11 becomes heavy, the button can be prevented from tilting aslant, so that the expected effect of the ornament can be obtained.

Further, in the buttons 1 for clothes to which the invention is adapted, a knot of the thread 23 does not shift from the center of the leg portion 12 to the end portion, so that the thread 23 is not worn against the leg portion 12 by friction. This can prevent the thread 23 from being snapped so that the button 6 for clothes does not come off the clothes 2. Therefore, the present invention can prevent the buttons 1 for clothes from coming off the clothes 2 even through their long usage and keep the firmly attached state.

Particularly, the present invention requires that the groove 17 should have the inclined surfaces 31 an interval between which becomes narrower toward at least the tip 32. At the time of twining the thread to such a groove 17, the thread 23 is guided toward the tips of the groove 17 via the inclined surfaces 31. As a result, the force of fastening to the groove 17 by the thread 23 can be centralized concentrated at the tip of the groove 17, thus preventing an increase in slacking of the thread 23 caused by the temporal use of the button, and eventually, lack of the uprightness. It is possible to improve the prevention of the thread 23 from coming off the groove 17 by employing the structure where a sharp tip portion is formed at the groove 17 to ensure spreading sideways through the inclined surfaces 31.

In the groove 17, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(d), by sharpening the tip of the groove 17, the fastening force of the thread 23 guided via the inclined surfaces 31 to the tip can be concentrated on the tip portion, making it possible to stably demonstrate the uprightness of the button for a longer period of time.

The present invention demonstrates a significant effect when a button is attached to the clothes 2 by mechanical attachment. By attaching a button by mechanical attachment, it is possible to improve the productivity, shorten the working hours, reduce a difference in product quality and achieve uniform product quality at a low cost, and also improve the yield. In addition, the present invention can overcome the problem of tilting of a button at the time of carrying out mechanical attachment, and can keep the upright state. This makes it possible to set a button firmly upright as done in the case of manual attachment, thus providing a better appearance, while improving the yield, so that a significant effect is brought about synergistically.

In order to hold a button in the upright state, the number of turns of the thread 23 to the grooves 17 is determined based on the sectional shape, the width and the thickness of the leg portion 12, and the shape and size of the grooves 17. Conversely, the shape and size of the grooves 17 may be adjusted beforehand based on a predetermined number of turns of the thread 23.

FIGS. 4(
a), 4(b), and 4(c) show a button 1′ for clothes as other structural examples of the button 1 for clothes. As the same reference numerals are given to the same components and members of the button 1′ for clothes as those of the structural example of FIG. 1, the foregoing description is given by reference and will be omitted hereinbelow.

In the button 1′ for clothes, the groove 17 is formed in the top surface 12b at the center portion 21 of the leg portion 12. That is, the groove 17 is formed in three surfaces, the top surface 12b in addition to both side surfaces 12c and 12d of the center portion 21. As a result, since the thread 23 can be wound about in the grooves 17 formed in the three surfaces at the time of twining the thread 23, the knot portion of the thread 23 can be fixed more stably and jumping of the knot portion of the thread 23 off the grooves 17 can be prevented more firmly as compared with the case of the button 1 for clothes in which the thread 23 is wound about in the grooves 17 formed in the two surfaces. As a result, the button 1′ for clothes can be set upright to the clothes 2 in a more stable state.

Although the foregoing description of the invention has been given of the case where the grooves 17 are provided in the center portion 21 of the leg portion 12, it is not restrictive, and a projection may be provided in place of the groove 17. That is, if at least two projections are provided in the center portion 21 of the leg portion 12, a thread can be wound about between the projections in a twined manner, so that an effect substantially the same as that in the case of providing the grooves 17 can be expected.

The individual shapes of the button for clothes were classified into A-1 to A-4, B-1 to B-5, C-1 to C-3, and D-1 to D-4 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9.

In the figures shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), FIG. 8(a), and FIG. 9(a), the dotted lines show portions specified in A-1 to D-4. FIG. 6(c), FIG. 7(d), FIG. 8(b), and FIG. 9(b) enumerate the shapes of individual parts of the button.

A-1 corresponding to FIG. 6(a) enumerates examples of the shapes of the button hole 14. A-2 to A-4 corresponding to FIG. 6(b) enumerate examples of the groove 17 or projection formed at the top surface 12b. B-1 corresponding to FIG. 7(a) enumerates examples of the outer shape of the leg portion 12. B-2 to B-4 corresponding to FIG. 7(b) enumerate examples of the groove 17 or projection formed at the bottom surface 12a. B-5 corresponding to FIG. 7(c) enumerates shapes of the groove 17 or projection formed at the bottom surface 12a or the top surface 12b as seen from the front side. C-1 to C-4 corresponding to FIG. 8(a) enumerate examples of the groove 17 or the projection formed at the side surface 12c. D-1 to D-4 corresponding to FIG. 9(a) enumerate examples of the groove 17 or projection formed at the side surface 12d.

Since the shape of the leg portion 12 is made by A-1 and B-1, it is essential to select any one structure from A-1 and B-1. In addition, according to the present invention, any one structure or more are selected from A-2 to A-4, B-2 to B-4, C-1 to C-4, and D-1 to D-4. In other words, it is possible to employ a structure in which the groove 17 or projection should be provided in all of the bottom surface 12a, the top surface 12b, and the side surfaces 12c, 12d of the leg portion 12 by employing one structure from any of A-2 to A-4, B-2 to B-4, C-1 to C-4, and D-1 to D-4.

A-4, B-4, C-4, and D-4 are examples in which a projection is provided at both sides of the groove 17. If the knot portion of the thread 23 is twined in the groove 17, sliding of the knot portion of the thread 23 can be prevented by the projections in addition to the groove 17, thus making it possible to further enhance the effect of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

In order to check the effect mentioned above, empirical studies to be explained below were made. The button 1 for clothes to which the invention was adapted was attached to the clothing fabric based on the above-described process. As comparative examples, a conventional button which had the same button body 11 as the button 1 for clothes and was not provided with the groove 17 was attached to a clothing fabric mechanically and manually.

Next, a reversal torsion test and an up-and-down vertical tensile test were performed on these buttons. In the reversal torsion test, the button was twisted by 180° at a speed of about 200 times per minute while pulling the clothing fabric with a load of 60 gf applied to the forward and behind the clothing fabric having the button attached thereto. The reversal torsion test was conducted 10000 times per button. In the up-and-down vertical tensile test, an upward hook was put on the arched leg portion with a load of 120 gf applied to the arched leg portion, and was pulled upward until a load of 400 gf was applied. This up-and-down vertical tensile test was conducted 100 times per button.

As a result, even through the reversal torsion test, and through an up-and-down vertical tensile test, the direction of the button 1 for clothes to which the invention was adapted was stably upright before and after the test, and the button appeared nice.

By way of comparison, the directions of the buttons of the comparative examples of the mechanical attachment and the manual attachment were tilted through the reversal torsion test, and through the up-and-down vertical tensile test.

EXAMPLE 2

Next, these buttons were pressed from above. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10(a), a peak 11b of the button body 11 which faced substantially in the vertical direction at the beginning was tilted by about 40°.

Next, with this state being 0°, the pressure was released. As a result, the button body 11 was returned to the original position, and the return angle θ (°) was measured. That is, the return angle θ is based on the state (0°) where the end portion of the button body 11 is in contact with the clothing fabric. The measurement was carried out in two patterns: the case where pressure was applied to cause inclination in the A direction and the case where pressure was applied to cause inclination in the B direction as shown in FIG. 10(b). The A direction indicates a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the leg portion 12, and the B direction indicates a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the leg portion 12. The measurement was carried out 8 times for each of different samples, and an average of the measurements was taken finally.

The measurement results of the return angle θ are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Measurement
Average
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Examples of
A direction
30.7
30
40
30
40
25
20
25
35

invention
B direction
28.8
30
20
35
35
35
20
20
35

Prior art
A direction
4.4
0
5
0
10
0
10
10
0

(mechanical
B direction
3.2
0
5
0
10
5
5
0
0

attachment)

Prior art
A direction
6.5
0
5
0
5
2
15
15
10

(manual
B direction
1.9
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
10

attachment)

Note 1)

All units are °.

Note 2)

Rounded off at the second decimal point.

The return ratio calculated from the return angle θ of the button body 11 is shown in the following Table 2. The return ratio shows in percent how many degrees the end portion of the button body 11 returns towards the original position based on the state (0°) where the end portion of the button body 11 is in contact with the clothing fabric. That is, the return ratio can be shown as the return angle θ/40×100(%).

TABLE 2

Measurement
Average
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Examples of
A direction
76.4
75
100
75
100
62
50
62
87

invention
B direction
71.7
75
50
87
87
87
50
50
87

Prior art
A direction
11.0
0
12.5
0
25
0
25
25
0

(mechanical
B direction
7.9
0
12.5
0
25
12.5
12.5
0
0

attachment)

Prior art
A direction
16.3
0
12.5
0
12.5
5
37.5
37.5
25

(manual
B direction
4.7
0
0
0
0
0
12.5
0
25

attachment)

Note 1)

All units are °.

Note 2)

Rounded off at the second decimal point.

The results of the Tables 1 and 2 show that the return angles θ of the button body 11 were larger in the examples of the invention than those in the comparative examples. Likewise, the examples of the invention had a greater return ratio than the comparative examples. That is, it can be said that working of the above-described mechanism in the examples of the invention supports that the force of returning to the original position acts greatly. In other words, in the invention, even with pressure being applied to the button body 11, the upright state can be maintained.

EXAMPLE 3

FIG. 11 shows a structural example of the back of the leg portion 12 of the button 1 for clothes to which the present invention is adapted. In this example, the groove 17 is formed in both side surfaces (side surface 12c, side surface 12d) of the leg portion 12. In the example of FIG. 11, the groove 17 is formed into an approximately pentagonal cross-sectional shape. In the example of FIG. 11, the groove 17 is structured to have a width t₁of about 0.8 mm and a depth t₂of about 0.7 mm, and to be sharpened by about 0.2 mm in depth t₃in the depth direction.

In the example of FIG. 11, the thread 23 is twined at the sharp tip portion of the groove 17 first, and is then twined to spread on both sides of the sharp tip portion as the number of turns is increased. As a result, the fastening force to the groove 17 by the thread 23 can be concentrated on the sharp tip portion, making it possible to prevent slacking of the thread 23 from increasing by the temporal use of the button, and eventually prevent lack of the uprightness. It is possible to improve the prevention of the thread 23 from coming off the groove 17 by employing the structure where a sharp tip portion is formed at the groove 17 to ensure spreading sideways.

It is desirable that in the example of FIG. 11, the angle φ of the illustrated sharpened surface to the level surface should be set to 10 to 70°. This is because if the angle φ is 10° or less, the fastening force of the thread to the groove 17 cannot be demonstrated, whereas if the angle φ exceeds 70°, the sharp tip portion becomes sharper so that the twined thread 23 is worn off. Note that the angle φ is desirably in a range of 30 to 60° from the viewpoint of preventing the wearing off of the thread 23 more firmly and further improving the concentration of the fastening force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A structural diagram of a button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 2 An enlarged structural diagram of a groove in the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 3 An example where a groove in the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted is formed in an approximately pentagonal cross-sectional shape.

FIG. 4 A diagram showing an example where the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted is attached to clothes.

FIG. 5 A diagram showing another structural example of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 6 A first diagram which enumerates the shapes of individual parts of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 7 A second diagram which enumerates the shapes of individual parts of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 8 A third diagram which enumerates the shapes of individual parts of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 9 A fourth diagram which enumerates the shapes of individual parts of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 10 A diagram for explaining an example of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 11 A diagram showing a structural example of the back of a leg portion of the button for clothes to which the present invention is adapted.

FIG. 12 A diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional art.

FIG. 13 Another diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional art.

DESCRIPTION OF NOTATIONS

1 button for clothes

2 clothes

11 button body

12 leg portion

17 groove

21 center portion

23 thread

Number	Date	Country	Kind
2006-231330	Aug 2006	JP	national
2006-307094	Nov 2006	JP	national
2007-110797	Apr 2007	JP	national

BUTTON FOR CLOTHES

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Abstract

Description

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