Button fastening

Abstract

A method for fastening a button to a panel of fabric includes the steps of looping a thread having at least a thermo-fusible element between the button and the fabric panel to create at least two runs of thread between the panel and the button; gathering thread from the runs into mutual contact and applying heat to the shank to melt the thermo-fusible element of the runs of thread.

1 . A method for fastening a button to a panel of fabric comprising the steps of looping a thread having at least a thermo-fusible element between the button and the fabric panel to create at least two runs of thread between the panel and the button thereby to define a shank, gathering thread from the runs into mutual contact and applying heat to the shank to melt the thermo-fusible element of the runs of thread. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein thread of the runs is gathered into mutual contact by twisting the button about an axis extending between the button and the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the thermo-fusible thread includes an element which is not thermo-fusible and an element which is thermo-fusible. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the button has a plurality of apertures and the number of runs of thread between the button and the fabric panel is equal to the number of apertures in the button. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the thread is heated to a temperature which is sufficiently high to melt the thermo-fusible element but insufficiently high to damage fabric in the panel or the button. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the thread is heated using a heating device having a temperature of between 120 and 180 Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . A garment having button attached to a fabric panel by a plurality of thread runs, wherein the thread runs are held in mutual contact to provide a shank as a result of thermal deformation of the thread. 
     
     
         8 . A garment according to  claim 7  wherein the thread runs are twisted around each other. 
     
     
         9 . A garment according to  claim 7  wherein the number of thread runs is equal to the number of apertures in the button.