A holding device for holding a sewing application, such as a button, during application to a fabric

Field of invention

The invention relates to a holding device for holding a sewing application, such as a button, in place during application in a preselected position relative to the fabric onto which the sewing application is to be sewed.

Background of invention

Most of the population in the world have been put in the situation and gone through the troubles needed in order to manually reattach a button, e.g. a shirt button, which e.g. during use has fallen off the fabric upon which it was attached: Pick up the button, save the button on a known location until such time, when one has the time and energy to reattach it. At that time, retrieve the saved button or a new button of the same size, thickness and colour, get out matching thread, a suitable needle, and thread the needle with a suitable length of thread. Now hold the button at the precise location of attachment, move the needle in one hand, while holding on to the button with the other hand, fix one end of the thread to the fabric, while sewing on the button. Whoops, dropped the shirt and/or the button and needle, must reposition the button, must relocate sewing hole, must sew the button on using the holes or eyes provided therein, refix thread, and cut thread. Inspect the final result: Loops and thread ends may stick out in from and/or back of the fabric and around the rim on the button, which may not be acceptable during use and reduces the visually pleasing appearance of the shirt. 15 to 20 minutes per button may have passed, which e.g. for a mother of four boys may amount to an appreciable time period. Thus, a skilled sewer is often required, for a satisfying result.

However, in particular in developing countries, many hands are also being used in industry for button application in the clothing and textile business world wide. Many suppliers still rely extensively on manual labour for fitting and sewing, including attachment and reattachment of buttons and other substantially flat sewing applications, such as ornaments, patches, jewellery, military insignia, and the like. The same problem applies for these manual labourers as described above.

Even when using a sewing machine for this operation, many of them are not adapted for automatic positioning and holding of buttons and the like. Accordingly, the user must then operate the sewing machine while holding on to both fabric and sewing application on the same time, which may also reduce application accuracy.

Thus, a general problem is then how to decrease the time needed for reattachment or attachment of such sewing applications? If analyzed, a lot of the time spent is used to hold on to the button, while at the same time turning and rotating the fabric in order to enable the needle to enter and exit the button holes or attachment holes in a controlled manner at the location of attachment, and simultaneously preventing the button from slipping, the fabric from rolling, and the thread from becoming entwined. Suggested solutions to this problem have been provided in the art.

In SU 765427 (filed 1975) is described a button holding device comprising a tong like instrument with two ends, one for smaller, and one for larger size buttons. Each tong end is provided with a larger size button surface part, which is put laying face down against the fabric surface, and a smaller size top surface part between which surfaces a button is to be placed during use. The user holds on to the tong by pressing down on the middle of the tong, and with a finger holding the button in position and inside the tong parts resting on the inner side of the button surface during application. The underside of the bottom surface part is provided with a projecting pin for fixing the button holder relative to the fabric during application.

However, there is a risk that during turning and/or rotation of the fabric, needle, button, and/or button holder, that the holder may be rotated and the button may be turned away from the attachment location, and/or the button may fall out of the holder, if the user is not careful. This increases the time spent on reattachment, and results in a less significant time reduction.

The same problem is anticipated with the button holding devices described in US 6,109,489, for providing a clearance shank between button and fabric to ease button manipulation during insertion into a corresponding button hole, and GB 1 1420, for holding the button inside a clips type holder device without fabric fixing means.

In US 2,760,455 is described a complex contraption for holding buttons onto a fabric, comprising a spring operated tong-like utensil, which spring-operated button holder parts are pressed against the fabric by a hand held holder part, which may be moved back and forwards during insertion and extraction of the button into/from the device. One or more projecting pins extend in the plane from the sides of the lower tong part of the contraption in order to fix the device to the fabric during application. The production and assembly costs for the three main parts, i.e. upper tong part, lower tong part and hand held part, and related springs, pins, projecting parts, and holes can be considered be substantial.

Further, when the devices comprise one or more pins for attaching to the fabric, there is an added risk of in particular hand damage to the user.

Neither of the disclosed devices is suitable in connection with machine application of a button, because the fabric in the area around the attachment location needs to be relatively planar and any protruding parts such as tong ends or pins may come in the way for the automatic sewing on of the button.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a button holding device, which solves the above problem, while it at the same time alleviates the problems of the known art, by decreasing production costs, reducing application time, and lowering the risk of bodily harm and stressing experience to the user, either during manual or machine application.

Summary of invention

On the above background, the object is attained by providing a holding device for holding a sewing application, such as a button, ornament, patch or the like, to a fabric during application thereto, said device comprising a) means adapted for holding said sewing application relative to said device during application, and b) means adapted for fixing said fabric relative to said device during application, wherein said holding means and said fixating means are provided integrally by one and the same holding and fixating means, which is adapted for during use providing said fabric with a well defined attachment location, such as a face, line or point, being stretched out and available relative to said sewing application.

Accordingly, a holding device is provided, which in a simple manner holds and fixes both the sewing application and the fabric relative to the device and thus provides an eased application. By providing holding and fixing means providing such a well defined attachment location for the sewing application, many types of sewing applications may be attached, not only buttons. The fabric may be stretched out by the device for forming a plane, e.g. by providing three or more fabric fixation positions, pointwise or lengthwise, forming a triangular, quadratic, or other polygonal area of fabric for application of the button or other sewing application. The fabric may alternatively be stretched out to form a line, e.g. using two fabric fixation pointwise positions, forming a line, either planar or bent, whereto the button may be sewn. Further, the fabric may be held onto for defining substantially a point, around or whereto the sewing application may be sewn.

By providing said holding means and said fixating means integrally, the production process is alleviated, which results in a less costly device, and permits large scale production, e.g. in a plastic material for easy combination with a sewing kit in hotels, or provided on or with a shirt with buttons in matching size.

It may be said, that the holding and fixating means, which holds the button against the fabric, is in fact the combination of at least one abutment surface upon a device part, and the surface of fabric itself, against which the device is clamped, since the fabric has been stretched out and been fixated by the device. By the term "stretched out" is meant providing the fabric without creases or folds at the application location at least around the part of the button, where the application holes of the button is provided. The stretching out need not be a planar stretch, but may also be a curved or bent stretch, depending on device abutment surface and use.

When using the device being provided with holding and fixating means, the user may accurately sew on a button, because the holding force or pressure exerted by the fingers or hand through the device is sufficient to stretch out and fix the fabric relative to the button providing the well defined attachment location in such a way, that the possible turning, translating and tilting movements given by the user to the fabric and device during sewing does not result in any dislocation of the button relative to the fabric. Thus, application time is substantially reduced.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means is provided with at least one pair of corresponding fabric abutment lengths, each length in a pair adapted for operation on opposite sides of said fabric for stretching out said fabric relative to said sewing application. Thus, the fabric is held fixated along the entire resulting outstretched plane, and thus is providing the background for sewing on the button on a well defined fabric part or area. Depending on fabric material type and fabric thickness, this embodiment provides an increased hold on the fabric. Each length may be of any shape, such as circular, triangular, square, starshaped, providing a non-interrupted length for abutment against the fabric. More pairs may be provided, e.g. two pairs, oppositely and parallel positioned, providing a hold on the outstretched fabric on two lengths thereof. One embodiment comprises that the abutment lengths on one device part comprises the edge or edges of an aperture for receiving the button during application.

In one embodiment of the device said well defined face or line is substantially planar or straight. Thus, the lengths of fabric abutment lengths are straight, and provide a substantially planar fabric surface for easy sewing on of a button or the like. Also, alternatives may be conceived, e.g. using a suction force for providing a curved line or the like.

In one embodiment of the device, said holding and fixating means comprises a first device part and a second device part adapted for operation on opposite sides of said fabric, which when applied to the fabric provides said at least two opposite fabric abutment lengths. When applied to both sides of a fabric, the risk of slippage of the device relative to the fabric is reduced. Further, the user is able to provide a holding force against the two device parts, e.g. using two fingers on the same hand, and thus provide a fixation of the device against the fabric, which may ease the transfer to another hand during the sewing on of the button or the like.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means are made of a plastic, metal, e.g. aluminium, steel, gold, and/or wood material. In order to reduce the production costs, a suitable form of plastic material is preferred, but in other applications, such as gifts or using the device as an ornament, gold or silver may also be used. In fact, any suitable material, which provides a suitable choice in relation to production cost, visual appearance, application, and user preferences may be used,

while sustaining e.g. a substantially fixated position and also said abovementioned fixed holding function of the device.

In one embodiment of the device at least said lengths are provided with friction enhancing means, such as a rubber cover. Thus, the risk of a fabric slippage relative to the device is reduced, and the function of the fabric abutment lengths is enhanced.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means, such as said first and/or second device part, comprises at least one aperture portion for allowing needle and thread entry to and exit from the sewing application at least during application.

Said aperture may be a substantially circular opening in e.g. a substantially flat plastic basic body, where said circular opening may be provided entirely within said body or may proceed outwards and beyond the side of said body. Any other suitable shape than circular may of course be utilized, such as triangular, square, polygonal, and more than one aperture may be provided on one device part, e.g. with different diameters in order to fit buttons of different sizes. Further, at least one aperture is provided in the first device part for allowing the needle to pass, in such a case a bent needle may be useful, and the second device part is provided with a groove or the like to guide the needle around and back through a further hole in the button being sewed on. Preferably, two corresponding apertures are provided, one in the first device part and a corresponding, oppositely provided aperture in the second device part, in order to allow for needle and thread passage there through. Further, a throughgoing aperture positioned on either side of a device part can also be anticipated.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means, such as said first and second device part, comprises at least one frame part defining one side of said at least two pairs of corresponding fabric abutment lengths, and potentially said aperture portion. The term a "frame" covers at least a closed or potentially opened material form, of any suitable shape. The frame part or parts, which may be provided integrally fixed along at least one part thereof and two frame parts extending along each side of the fabric, or it may be provided in two other embodiments, as shown below, in a pivotable or turnable variant. The production process is eased using one or more frame parts. Further, any suitable variant of shape, size i.e. thickness and diameter; and material may be utilized in the device.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means is adapted for positioning, holding, and/or supporting said sewing application by providing at least one abutment surface for said sewing application at least during application. An abutment surface provides a hold on the button, while the user holds the device and sews on the button. It may simply be a surface parallel to the fabric surface, where the distance between the top surface of the button and the bottom surface or abutment surface is substantially equal to the height of the button for providing a hold therebetween. It may be a surface, which is of the same height and diameter as the button, which is being sewn on, in order to hold the button on the side edge thereof or it may be a surface, which is adapted for holding buttons or the like of different diameters and/or heights, such as a sticky surface of a larger area than most buttons. Other types of abutment surfaces are conceivable.

When applying one button to a fabric, only one abutment surface is needed with such sewing application, however, in some cases an abutment surface is needed on both sides of the fabric, e.g. an example is sewing on a very large button on one side simultaneously as sewing on a small button on the other side, e.g. on large-thread fabrics, such as knit ware or leather.

In one embodiment of the device said abutment surface is made of a plastic, metal, and/or wood material, is solid or meshed, provides a relatively high friction, and/or is flexible or hard. The surface may be made from the same or another material as the remainder of the device, depending on application and desired visual appearance. Thus, there is provided room for different design features enabling a fixed or flexible temporary button attachment to the device, such that the abutment surface provides a hold on the button, while the user holds the device and sews on the button.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means further comprises sewing application fixating means, such as a friction enhancing cover, reusable adhesive means, such as double sided adhesive tape and/or Sticky Tack, mechanical means such as springs, tongs, and/or latches; magnets and/or any combination thereof for holding said sewing application fixed relative to said abutment surface. Thus, during use, the first and/second device part may be lifted, e.g. for a repositioning of the device, with a reduced risk of the button falling out from the device. This reduces

application time further. Further, said fixating means ensures an eased insertion and detachment of the button before and after application to the fabric.

In one embodiment of the device said holding and fixating means, such as said first and second device part, is mutually connected by connection means for providing a fixation at least around said attachment location of said fabric relative to said sewing application at least during application. Thus, a connection in between the device means is provided, which allows for easy positioning of the device by the user and for holding on to the device parts during application. Embodiments of the device describes different types of connection means, such as a tilt axis or a pivot point, but other alternatives are conceivable, such as an integrally provided fixed connection point, as mentioned above, e.g. using integrally moulding, integrated seams, adhesive or mechanical means, such as nails, screws, Velcro and/or any other type of joining means. In that case, substantially flexible first and second device part may be an advantage in order to provide an easy positioning of the device and button around the fabric.

In one embodiment of the device said connection means comprises a hinge and/or latch means along a part of one side edge of said first and second device part forming a tilt axis along thereof, enabling a tiltable mutual movement around said tilt axis. Thus, a simple production is enabled, which reduces the device production costs. Further, an easy positioning of the device around the fabric is enabled. The tilt axis may preferably be aligned parallel to the plane of the fabric, in the same plane or offset relative thereto. A folding device provides for the possibility of using a variable holding force, i.e. decreased or increased hold, depending on type and thickness of fabric.

In another embodiment said connection means comprises a pivot axis point forming a pivot axis, which is perpendicular to the plane of the abutment surface, enabling a rotatable mutual movement around said pivot axis. The alternative embodiment provides for a substantially fixed fabric holding force, when applied, which may be useful when the fabric thickness at hand for more work is relatively constant e.g. during labor force dealing with the same type of textile. Further, the pivot point provides for an eased turning around and positioning upon e.g. thicker textiles, such as rugs, furs, knit ware and the like.

In one embodiment of the device said connection means comprises mutual bonding means, such as click means provided on a side part of each device part for mutual connection by a click-in connection, and/or magnetic means provided on at least part of each device part for mutual connection by a magnetic connection and/or adhesive means provided on at least part of each device part for mutual connection by a adhesive connection, or the like. Thus, apart from the fact that the button and the fabric is fixed by the device, the device itself may now be attached to the fabric in a fixed position. Accordingly, the application position is fixed, e.g. even in a case where the fabric, device, thread, and needle is dropped by the user during application, and provides for a substantially decreased total application time period needed.

By the term "click means" is meant permanent or temporary mutual bonding means such as spline/groove connections, handle/hook connections, Velcro-like connections, and the like. In one embodiment at least a part of the device parts extends beyond the fabric, when the device is applied to the fabric, which extension part is provided with said bonding means in such a way, that the first and second device part, when applied to the fabric, may be bonded together by letting the click means enter into contact with each other. Thus, the device may be positioned along an edge of the fabric, e.g. for application of a button to a shirt.

The device may also be positioned further in on the fabric in an embodiment using magnetic means, which may be relatively strong, positive and negative magnets, respectively on each side of the fabric. This is in particular an advantage when sewing onto thin fabrics, such as silk, polyester, plastics or the like. Alternatively, any magnet type known to the skilled person may be applied, such as ceramic or plastic north/south magnet on one side and corresponding magnetizable material, such as a metal plate on the other side.

When the device may be permanently affixed together with the sewed on application, an adhesive may be used as bonding means, and the device used at any position upon the fabric. However, reusable adhesives, such as Sticky Tack on a device extension part, may also come into play.

In one embodiment of the device it further comprises measurement means, such as length indication lines along at least one outer surface thereof. Indication lines, e.g. in

mm or in tenths of inches, on one or two perpendicular exterior surfaces of the device will help the user in positioning the button precisely in relation to the application location on the fabric, e.g. the former position of the button.

In one embodiment of the device it further comprises distance means for providing a clearance between the resulting sewing application and the fabric. Thus, a shank on the button is provided during application, which alleviates the shirt user when inserting the button into the button hole on the other side of the shirt.

In one embodiment of the device it further comprises device part positioning means, such as corresponding notch and groove, or mutual attractive magnet means for mutual exact positioning of a distal end of each of the device parts. This is in particular an advantage, when the device consists of relatively large device parts or long frames, which may be held and fixed relative to each other by such positioning means, during use. Thus, the two frame parts are aided in staying in place relative to each other and not risk twisting or turning in a plane parallel to the fabric, when the device is closed around a fabric. Said positioning means may be provided integrally with said bonding means and/or said frame parts, and vice versa.

In one embodiment of the device, at least one of said abutment lengths is provided by at least one edge of one of said apertures. Accordingly, the production process is alleviated, reducing production costs. In another there is provided a height difference between at least one of said abutment lengths and one of said apertures in at least one device part. Thus, there is a possibility of providing a clearance between button and fabric for providing a shank on the resulting sewed on button upon the shirt.

Description of Drawings

In the following the invention is described with reference to some embodiments shown in the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a substantially perspective view of a holding device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a holding device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the holding device of fig. 1 being applied to a button and a fabric;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the inside of the device of fig. 1 in an opened position, being provided with frame bonding means;

Fig. 5 shows a top view of a holding device according to a third embodiment of the invention, comprising distance means and frame positioning means;

Fig. 6 shows a section view along line A-A on the device of fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a section view perpendicular to the line A-A, when the device of fig. 5 is in a closed position; and Fig. 8 shows a section view along the line A-A, when the device of fig. 5 is in a closed position.

Detailed description of the invention

Below some exemplary embodiments of the present holding device are disclosed, which should be viewed as non-limiting examples.

In fig. 1 is shown a handheld holding device according to a first embodiment of the invention, generally of a clamp type, comprising a first device part 1 OA and a second device part 1 OB, which parts are made of substantially planar rectangular plastic pieces of substantially the same width and height. A circular aperture 12A, 12B is provided in the centre of each part, and the parts are connected tiltably by a latch joint on a side edge of each part thereof, so that the parts can open and close, forming an angle v with each other during use. The material of the device 1 , i.e. at least the holding and fixating means may be selected from a wide range of materials, e.g. a plastic, metal, e.g. aluminium, steel, gold, and/or wood material, or any other type or combination of suitable material, as desired, for providing a pleasing visual appearance and manual handling feel, a low cost device, and/or an ornament in itself. The sizes, i.e. length, width, height, of the device parts 10A, 10B and the design thereof, such as colour, shape, adapted for finger or hand operation, and/or in manual cooperation with a sewing machine may be selected as desired, depending on use and user desires. As an example, figs. 5 to 8 are showing a device in substantially the dimensions 1 :2, i.e. a device having half the dimensions of the drawings, e.g. 2 cm x 1 ,5 cm, and a height from top to buttom surface in a closed position around 0.5 mm to 2 cm, depending on fabric thickness. Further, depending on whether the device is intended to be finger held

or be handheld, the device sizes, both in area and height, may vary, according to intended use.

In fig. 2 is shown a holding device according to a second embodiment of the invention, comprising a first device part 10A and a second device part 10B, which parts are made of substantially planar flat rectangular plastic pieces of substantially the same width and height. A semi-circular aperture 12C is provided off-centre in the first device part 10B, and the parts are connected by a pivot joint, which may be provided in any suitable manner known to the skilled person, on a side corner of each part thereof, so that the parts can slidably turn against each other, forming an turning angle α with each other during use. The pivot turns around a pivot axis A _p , which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the upper surfaces of the device parts 10A, 10B.

In an alternative (not shown), the two device parts may be otherwise connected, such as permanently fixed relative to each other, or by any other suitable mutually moveable means.

In fig. 3 is shown a device 1 of a type as shown in fig. 1 being applied during use holding a button 2 against a fabric 3. The devices shown in fig. 1 and 2 are both holding onto the fabric by a pair of opposite abutment lengths provided as the inner device surfaces outside the apertures, i.e. along the inner, lower edge of the circular aperture upon the first and second device part 10A, 10B. As shown, the abutment lengths may, when the device is in a closed position (v or α = 0) be directly abutting each other, i.e. having substantially zero height distance in order to provide a tight fit and hold onto the fabric, but may alternatively be provided with a height distance, i.e. not abutting each other, in order to allow a certain fabric thickness to be entered in between the two parts of the device.

One advantage of the device 1 is thus that it comprises holding means and fixating means, that are provided integrally by one and the same holding and fixating means 10A, 10B, which is adapted for during use providing said fabric 3 with a well defined attachment location, here defining a face or area, (not shown as it is lying directly beneath the button 2) that has been stretched out and is available relative to said sewing application 2, for easing the sewing operation, such that the fabric 3 and the sewing application 2 is held by one and the same holding and fixation means, namely

the two device parts 1 OA and 1 OB. Other conceivable geometries of the fabric, when the device is applied, are a line or a point, and the face or line may be plane or straight, or alternatively curved. As an example see fig. 2, where the device, in a closed position, is applying a pair of opposing abutment lengths, i.e. two point-shaped abutment pins (not shown) (forming first length in pair) on the inside surface of the first device part 1 OA pressing against the inner surface on the second device part 1 OB defining the abutment length along the edge of the semi-circular aperture 12C in the first device part 1 OA (forming second length in pair). The device 1 is, during use, thus forming a well-defined application location, i.e. the fabric is being stretched out by the device or at least point-wise available for sewing on the button 2.

In order to aid in holding the fabric fixed to the device 1 , a friction enhancing layer (not shown) may be provided on at least a part of said abutment lengths, where said layer may be any type known to the skilled person, such as rubber cover, rubber dots, a relatively soft plastic material being selected for said lengths, or the like.

The device is suitable with a fabric of any type of sewable material, such as cotton, wool, synthetic, silk, leather, fur, web, press or knit-ware, or even plastic sheet, which are able to be held stretched out by said device.

The device is suitable for use with any type of sewing application, either substantially flat, such as flat buttons, patches or other fabric material, or having a height, such as ornaments, insignia, round objects like pearl buttons, and the like, all having an outer button surface that can be held by said device. The device may then be suitably designed for providing at least one abutment surface adapted generally or specifically for holding many types or a specific type of application or button, respectively securely against the fabric. An abutment surface S _A is defined in the device 1 as shown in fig. 1 and 3 by an inclined edge of the inside of said aperture 12A, provided in the device part wall thickness, housing generally flat buttons of a given thickness and height.

During use, the device 1 is opened as shown in fig. 1 and, e.g. using two fingers and the button 2 to be applied is inserted inside an aperture 12A as shown in fig. 3 while being attached to the fabric 3. The first device part 10A is placed against the upper surface of the fabric 3 and the second device part 10B is placed underneath, against the lower surface of the fabric. By pressing the two device parts 10A, 10B together

between the two fingers, the button 2 and the device 1 is being held fixed against the fabric 3, which allows the device user the liberty to insert and sew the button 2 on with needle and thread, either manually or using a sewing machine.

As indicated, the device 1 of fig. 1 and 3 is provided with an aperture 12A in the first device part 1 OA, and a corresponding aperture 12B in the second device part 1 OB allowing easy entry and exit of a needle and thread (not shown). One advantage of the device 1 having apertures on both sides of the fabric is that inspection by the device user of the quality of sewing at the sewing location is eased on both sides of the fabric 3.

In fig. 3, the connection means 14A between the two device parts 1 OA, 1 OB is a latch or turning means, connecting the two parts along one side edge thereof. Different types of connection means are conceivable, but other alternatives are conceivable, such as an integrally provided fixed connection point, as mentioned above, e.g. using integrally moulding, integrated seams, adhesive or mechanical means, such as nails, screws, Velcro and/or any other type of permanent or temporary joining means. In that case, substantially flexible first and second device part may be an advantage in order to provide an easy positioning of the device and button around the fabric.

The device 1 may further be provided with length indication lines, so that e.g. a mm indication may provide a more accurate positioning of the device 1 against the fabric 3 above the application location. Further, an exterior surface or side the device may be provided with (not shown) markings, advertisements, ornaments, such as jewellery, descriptions, instruction for use and/or the like, as desired.

As shown in fig. 4, in an advantageous embodiment, the device 1 further comprises device bonding means 15A, 15B for bonding together the two device parts 10A, 10B during use such that the device 1 is attachable to the fabric. Thus, the device does not fall off from the fabric 3, if the device user should happen to drop the device 1 and/or the fabric 3. Thus, the application location is held on to by the device 1 , and the use may quickly resume his/her work of sewing. This significantly reduces application time. In an advantageous embodiment, the bonding means 15 are comprised of the connection means 14, which are adapted for temporary or permanent closure into the closed position of the device 1.

Several types of bonding means 15 may be conceived by the skilled person, such as mechanical, permanent or temporary adhesive, magnetic means, any combination hereof and other types. In fig. 4 are shown two advantageous types. Moulded circular protrusions 15Ai , 15A ₃ are provided extending in the inner surface of the first device part 1 OA along a side there of, which side is provided the connection means 14A. The circular plastic protrusions 15A ₁ , 15A ₃ are adapted for engagement with two corresponding circular notches 15A ₂ , 15A ₄ provided in the inner surface of the second device part 1 OB, which protrusions and notches click together in a permanent or temporary bonding, when the device 1 is in a closed position around the fabric 3. Thus, the device 1 may be positioned on the fabric 3 along a side thereof, the extension protruding parallel to the plane of the fabric 3. Further mutual bonding means are shown in fig. 4, comprising rectangular magnets, a positive part 15B ₁ and a negative part 15B ₂ , or vice versa. Thus, the device is bonded to the fabric by a relatively strong magnetic force, which may be suitable on thin fabric. Alternatively, when using magnetic bonding means and no other bonding means, the two separate device parts may be provided one on each side of the thin fabric for a bonding therebetween, thus keeping the button and device in place even at a sewing location further within the fabric than along the side thereof.

As shown in fig. 5, a device 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown, which comprises a first and a second device part 10A, 10B, comprising a first frame part and a second frame part, which cooperate, when the device is in a closed position, see fig. 8, to form a pair of opposing abutment lengths 1 1 A, 1 1 B extending rectangularly around the side of the fabric 3 in order to hold the fabric 3 extended during application of the button 2 at a certain distance to the inside of the application abutment surface S _A . As may be seen from fig. 5, part of the first rectangular frame part is provided with an ascending or elevated area, and part of the second rectangular frame part is provided with a descending or lower area, which ascending and descending areas during closure of the device, will cooperate to enable the device to abut each side of the fabric, while at the same time exerting a stretching power in the lateral direction of the fabric in at least one direction, here two perpendicular directions, were the stretching and holding power is derived from the user holding the device parts substantially closed. Alternatively, one or more pairs of opposing lengths may be provided, either subsequently on a line or in a shape, oppositely each other, possibly

parallel pair-wise or as point shaped extensions, e.g. three or more pin-points in a shape, for extending the fabric between them beneath the button.

The button or sewing application abutment surface S _A is provided in the inside of the first frame part 10A, at the inner lower frame surface at a height, which may accommodate different size buttons 2. Upon the surface S _A is provided button fixation means, such as double sided reusable tape 13, which may fix the button 2 into place, while positioning the device 1 on a fabric. Any suitable type, shape, dimension of temporary adhesive or fixation means may be applied, as may be known to the skilled person, such as levers, hatches, Sticky Tack or Gel, or the like. Said button fixation means increases the accuracy of the resulting sewing location and reduces application time period significantly.

When applying one button to a fabric, only one abutment surface is needed upon the device 1 . However, in some cases an abutment surface is needed on both sides of the fabric, e.g. an example is sewing on a very large button on one side simultaneously as sewing on a small button on the other side, e.g. on heavy duty fabrics, such as knit ware, wool coats or leather. In the latter case, (not shown) a length or area of double sided reusable tape may be provided on the inner frame surface S ₆ upon the second frame part 10B, which surface S ₆ at least abuts part of a surface of the button, in order to accommodate a second button, e.g. having a larger diameter than the first button, allowing a simultaneous application of both buttons. There are multiple ways of providing such further abutment surfaces, indeed more than one abutment surface or length may be provided on each side of the button.

In order to accommodate different types of sewing applications, such as different types of buttons, said abutment surface S may be of any relevant type, shape, size or extension. Further, the abutment surface may be of the same or different type of material as the remainder of the device 1 , and may be made of a material, which in a suitable manner in one or more dimensions accommodates, houses, and fits to said sewing application. Such material may be any type of plastic, metal, and/or wood material, it may be solid or meshed to provide flexibility during entry/exit and/or during application, it may provide a relatively high friction for a better hold, and/or is relatively flexible or hard, depending on specific use, for the type of sewing application being sewed on.

The first device part 1 OA is provided with a substantially square aperture 12A of a size, which at least accommodates the area, which the holes in the button extend inside. Thus, needle and thread may be entered into and exited from the holes quite easily, during use. Using hinges 14A, the first device part 1 OA is connected to the second device part 1 OB, comprising a rectangular aperture 12B, which is larger in area size than the first aperture 12A in order to in combination accommodate easy entry and exit of needle and thread. Any shape, height and/or size of each aperture 12a, 12B may be conceived, which are suitable to the specific type of use of the device. More than one aperture in each device part may be conceived, e.g. for use with buttons, that require equidistant positioning.

As shown in fig. 5-8, the device may further be provided with a distance means in the form of a lever 18, of a thickness T which is adapted, e.g. by a tiltable joint (angle f, as shown in fig. 6) to keep a distance d which is equal to T between the underside of the button and the fabric in such a way that a resulting shank (of a height d) may be sewed on the button during use, for easing entry of button into corresponding button hole on the shirt. The length of the lever is an appropriate length for fixing the button without risk of falling out. Such distance means may take other forms as known to the skilled person, such as springs, hooks, thick adhesive, or the like, and may be integrated with said above mentioned button fixation means 13.

As shown in fig. 5 and in fig. 8 the frames may comprise frame positioning means comprising to cooperating magnets 19A, 19B in the distal end of each device part 10A, 10B, in order to align or realign the frames above and below the fabric during use, which is an advantage in particular, if there are provided relatively long device parts, extending farther into the fabric. The positioning means may be provided integrally with the bonding means and/or the frame, and vice versa. The frame parts may be designed in such a way, that they enable for a mutual cooperating click-operation or fixation even through a fabric, depending on frame elevation, and on fabric type and thickness.

A fabric position is indicated by two dotted lines in fig. 7 and 8, to indicate a placement of the fabric within the device, when in use. Accordingly, the tolerances and the working distance between the device parts will chosen as to be accommodating the fabric in order for it to exhibit the well defined attachment location.

By the invention the applicant has realized that the holding device according to the invention is excellent in use also with different types of sewing applications. While being excellent of course in sewing on buttons of different sizes (in diameter, thickness, horizontal, vertical section shape), the device is also excellent while sewing on other, substantially flat sewing applications, such as in particular patches, tapes for curtains, duvet covers and the like, and other types of elongated or otherwise shaped bigger or smaller pieces of material. A further advantage when sewing on patches or tapes or the like is that the device and patch may be positioned in such a way relative to the fabric, that the outer edge of the frame of the device is useable as a guide for sewing on the patch, i.e. not only may the aperture in the device be ideal for sewing, the edge of the device may as well. Further, when sewing on buttons, insignia, or the like, it has been realized that the device, when properly designed for accommodating e.g. a larger height, is suitable for sewing applications without one or more throughgoing button holes, e.g. buttons provided with one or more eyes, as long as the eyes are provided such, that the needle may enter and exit these eyes without hinders.

By the invention, it has further been realized, that the device according to the invention in a further embodiment may also be used as a storage device for one or more needles, threads, buttons and the like, e.g. one way may be by providing enough headroom inside the closed device outside the abutment surfaces, another way by providing an externally provided outer case or lid for storing said utensils. Sewing utensil storage devices are known in the art, e.g. in the form of paper storage devices provided in hotels, however such devices require the provision of a paper storage container, which in itself is not relevant to the sewing operation. Thus, the need for and thus extra production costs for such paper devices may be reduced or eliminated.

By the invention, it has been realized that a multitude of embodiments of the present invention may be conceived, all within the scope of the appended claims, such as other types of material, different design, using device decorations, markings, advertisements, or the like, and providing one or more apertures, fabric abutment lengths, frame parts, connection means and the like, and further not shown technical features, such as e.g. electrical or moving parts, or the like.