US383021A - John ril tenhouse stephens - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. R. STEPHENS.

BUTTON HOLE OPENER. No. 383,021. Patented May 15, 1888.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcs.

BUTTON-=HOLE OPENER.

$PECIPICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,021, dated May 15, 1888 Application filed May 14, 1887. Serial No.238,257. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN RITTnNHoUsE STEPHENS, of Portland, in the county of Molt nomah and State of Oregon, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Hole Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in button-hole openers, and is more particularly adapted for opening the button-holes of freshly-laundered collars and cuffs.

When collars and cuffs are returned from the laundry, there is a great difficulty experienced in opening the button-holes of same with the ordinary collar-button,while the separable or hinged button is equally as difficult to manage on account of the stiffness of the button-hole from starching.

The object of my prescntinvcntion is to obviate this difficulty by providing a device for opening button-holes that will be simple,durable, and effective in use, be cheap, and capable of attachment to a wall or any article of furniture.

A further object is to provide a device that will fit button holes of different sizes, and one that can be carried around in'the pocket; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my device provided with the double head adapted to fit button- Fig. 2 is a modificaat its opposite end in screw-threads b, which are adapted to engage the wall or any article of furniture and hold the punch securely against displacement.

The wire A is bent at its middle portion in such a manner that a bearing or handle, B, for the fingers will be formed, thereby allowing the device to be readily applied to a wall or article of furniture.

The punch as thus described is double acting--that is, when the buttonhole of the collar or cuff is forced over the head a the flaps of said button-hole are bent in one direction, while the reverse movement, or the operation of forcing or pulling it off, bends the flaps in the other direction. This operation has the effect of quickly and thoroughly breaking up the stiffness produced by the starch and renders the application to a collarbutton easy.

In the modification, Fig. 2, employ apiece of stout wire, A, having the conicalshaped head a formed on one end and terminating at its opposite end in a loop, I), by means of which the finger can be inserted and the device operated. This latter construction is especially adapted to be carried around in the pocket.

It will be readily seen what advantages this device possesses, inasmuch as it successfully opens button-holes made stiff by starching,and thereby saves great trouble and time in buttoning, which, taken in connection with the cheapness and durability of the device, makes it a staple article.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described. For instance, the heads may be elliptical, or any other form of head might be employed and other changes resorted to which would properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the ex act construction herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, the button-hole opener having a pointed conical head rounded at its base, and a shank or handle, substantially as shown and described.

2. A device for opening button-holes, consisting, essentially, of a rod having tapering heads of different sizes at one end thereof, and a handle, substantially as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a device I In testimony whereof I have signed this to for opening button holes, consisting, essenspeeificationin the presence of two subscribing tially, of a rod having an oval-shaped head at Witnesses. one end and screw-threaded at its opposite end, the screw-threaded end and head being in a JOHN RITTENHOUSE STEPHENS. plane passing longitudinally through the rod, the said rod being bent at apoint between the l Witnesses: head and screw to form a handle, substantially THEODORE WYGANT, as set forth. 0. A. FREEMAN.

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