Pinless clothing attachable image holder button

• US 5,655,271 A
• Filed: 05/07/1996
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen R. Trumble, Susan Maxwell-Trumble
• Original Assignee: Allen R. Trumble, Susan Maxwell-Trumble
• Inventors: Maxwell-Trumble, Susan, Trumble, Allen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/649,853
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 24/72.5, 24/455, 24/588, 24/92, 24/104, 24/114.4, 24/114.12, 24/114.9, 24/113 R, 24/113 MP, 24/459, 38/102.2, 40/1.5, 40/603, 40/707, 40/732, 40/797
• US Class Current: 24/459
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 3/001 Badges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/13 Article holder attachable to apparel or body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3672 Metal or plastic caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44034 Dissociable gripping members

Abstract

A clothing accessory includes a molded plastic plate and a molded plastic ring. The periphery of the plate is provided with a first engagement surface and the interior of the ring is provided with a second engagement surface. The relative dimensions of the plate and the ring are chosen such that the fabric of an article of clothing can be engaged between the first and second engagement surfaces. More specifically, when the ring is placed on one side of a fabric and the plate is placed on the other side of a fabric, the plate and ring may be pressed together so that the plate is frictionally engaged inside the ring by the fabric of the clothing. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the engagement surfaces are V-shaped. I.e. one of the surfaces is a concave V-shaped groove and the other is a convex V-shaped edge. Other preferred aspects of the invention include providing a peripheral lip on the plate which extends substantially orthogonal to one side surface of the plate to define an image receiving area. According to the invention, a photograph, hologram or other decorative indicia is attached to the plate by providing the indicia on a material which is attached to the plate with an adhesive. Preferably, the material is a self-adhesive, peel and stick material. A kit according to the invention, includes a plate, a ring, and a plurality of self-adhesive labels, each bearing different decorative indicia.

Claims

1. A pinless clothing attachable image holder button attachable to the fabric of an article of clothing, said pinless button comprising:

a) a plate member having a substantially planar front surface and an outermost peripheral surface, said plate member being positionable on a front side of the fabric of an article of clothing;

b) a ring member having an innermost peripheral surface dimensioned to provide a clearance between said outermost peripheral surface and said innermost peripheral surface, said ring member being positionable on a rear side of the fabric of the article of clothing, wherein

said plate member and said ring member are dimensioned relative to each other such that when said plate member and said ring member are aligned on opposite sides of the fabric of the article of clothing and pressed together, the fabric of the article of clothing is securely captured between said outermost and innermost peripheral surfaces.

2. A pinless button according to claim 1, wherein:

said plate member is a circular disk and said ring member is a circular ring.

3. A pinless button according to claim 2, wherein:

said circular disk has an outer diameter and said circular ring has an inner diameter, and

said outer diameter is approximately one sixteenth of an inch smaller than said inner diameter.

4. A pinless button according to claim 1, wherein:

said peripheral surface has a generally V-shaped profile.

5. A pinless button according to claim 4, wherein:

said inner peripheral surface has a generally V-shaped profile.

6. A pinless button according to claim 5, wherein:

said peripheral surface is convex-like and said inner peripheral surface is concave-like.

7. A pinless button according to claim 5, wherein:

said peripheral surface is concave-like and said inner peripheral surface is convex.

8. A pinless button according to claim 1, wherein said button is attachable to the fabric of the article of clothing with said front surface of said plate member being substantially flush with the front side of the fabric of the article of clothing.

9. A pinless button according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) at least one self-adhesive member bearing decorative indicia, said at least one self-adhesive member being dimensioned to substantially cover said substantially planar surface.

10. A pinless button according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least one self-adhesive member includes a plurality of self-adhesive members, each bearing different decorative indicia.

11. A pinless button according to claim 9, wherein:

said decorative indicia is a photograph.

12. A pinless button according to claim 9, wherein:

said decorative indicia is a hologram.

13. A pinless button according to claim 1, wherein:

said plate member and said ring member are each made of molded thermoplastic.

14. A clothing accessory according to claim 1, wherein:

said substantially planar surface bears decorative indicia.