U.S. patent application number 14/100608 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for button cover assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jennifer D. Clark. Invention is credited to Jennifer D. Clark.
Application Number | 20140101897 14/100608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50474054 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140101897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clark; Jennifer D. |
April 17, 2014 |
Button Cover Assembly
Abstract
A button cover assembly provides users with a decorative button
cover. The cover assembly includes a disk and a cover construction.
The disk is bonded to the cover construction, which cover
construction is formed from an elastic material comprising a
bonding portion and an aperture-defining portion. The bonding
portion includes a series of button-engaging nubs, and the
aperture-defining portion includes a non-circular geometric
aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration lesser in
magnitude than the diameter of a target button. The
aperture-defining portion is elastically stressable for altering
the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture
configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is
donned, the aperture-defining portion retains the button cover
assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.
Inventors: |
Clark; Jennifer D.; (Lake
Villa, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Clark; Jennifer D. |
Lake Villa |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50474054 |
Appl. No.: |
14/100608 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12383188 |
Mar 20, 2009 |
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14100608 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/113R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 1/14 20130101; A44B
1/04 20130101; Y10T 24/367 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/113.R |
International
Class: |
A44B 1/14 20060101
A44B001/14 |
Claims
1. A button cover assembly, the button cover assembly comprising,
in combination: a button; a disk, the disk having an upper disk
surface, a lower disk surface, and a disk diameter; and a cover
construction, the circular cover construction being formed from an
elastic polymeric material and comprising an upper bonding portion,
a lower aperture-defining portion, and a cover diameter, the disk
being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond
interface, the aperture-defining portion being integrally formed
with the bonding portion and defining a geometric aperture, the
geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration, the
relaxed aperture configuration having a maximum aperture dimension
lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric
material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter
the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture
configuration for receiving the button, the received button having
a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter and greater
in magnitude than the maximum aperture dimension, the geometric
aperture being configured for retaining the button cover assembly
adorned upon the received button.
2. The button cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper bonding
portion comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the
button-engaging nubs extending toward and resiliently engaging the
button forcing the button against the aperture-defining portion for
enhancing retention of the cover construction upon the received
button.
3. The button cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the geometric
aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular
geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled
intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the
user's ability to don the cover construction upon the button.
4. The button cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the
aperture-defining portion comprises an arrow marking, the arrow
marking pointing in the same direction as the select direction for
enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon the
button.
5. The button cover assembly of claim 4 wherein the non-circular
geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides
equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned
relative to the sides.
6. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer disk
surface comprises ornamental markings, the ornamental markings for
ornamentally adorning the received button.
7. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the cover
construction is opaque, the opaque cover construction for
concealing the received button.
8. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the cover
construction is translucent, the translucent cover construction for
enabling a passerby to view the button through the cover
construction.
9. A button cover assembly for adorning a button, the button cover
assembly comprising: a disk, the disk having an upper disk surface,
a lower disk surface, and a disk diameter; and a cover
construction, the circular cover construction being formed from an
elastic polymeric material and comprising an upper bonding portion,
a lower aperture-defining portion, and a cover diameter, the disk
being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond
interface, the aperture-defining portion being integrally formed
with the bonding portion and defining a geometric aperture, the
geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration, the
relaxed aperture configuration having a maximum aperture dimension
lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric
material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter
the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture
configuration for receiving a button received by the cover
construction button, said button having a diameter lesser in
magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the
maximum aperture dimension, the geometric aperture being configured
for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon said
button.
10. The button cover assembly of claim 9 wherein the cover
construction comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the
button-engaging nubs for resiliently engaging said button received
by the cover construction and thus for forcing said button against
the aperture-defining portion for enhancing retention of the cover
construction upon said button.
11. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the geometric
aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular
geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled
intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the
user's ability to don the cover construction upon a button received
by the cover construction.
12. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the
aperture-defining portion comprises an arrow marking, the arrow
marking pointing in the same direction as the select direction for
enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon the
button.
13. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the non-circular
geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides
equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned
relative to the sides.
14. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the outer disk
surface comprises ornamental markings, the ornamental markings for
ornamentally adorning the received button.
15. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the cover
construction is opaque, the opaque cover construction for
concealing the received button.
16. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the cover
construction is translucent, the translucent cover construction for
enabling a passerby to view the button through the cover
construction.
17. A button cover assembly for adorning a button, the button cover
assembly comprising: a cover construction, the circular cover
construction being formed from an elastic polymeric material and
comprising an upper bonding portion, a lower aperture-defining
portion, and a cover diameter, the disk being bonded to the cover
construction at a disk-to-cover bond interface, the
aperture-defining portion being integrally formed with the bonding
portion and defining a geometric aperture, the geometric aperture
having a relaxed aperture configuration, the relaxed aperture
configuration having a maximum aperture dimension lesser in
magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric material
being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter the
relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture
configuration for receiving a button received by the cover
construction button, said button having a diameter lesser in
magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the
maximum aperture dimension, the geometric aperture being configured
for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon said
button.
18. The button cover assembly of claim 17 wherein the cover
construction comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the
button-engaging nubs for resiliently engaging said button received
by the cover construction and thus for forcing said button against
the aperture-defining portion for enhancing retention of the cover
construction upon said button.
19. The button cover assembly of claim 18 wherein the geometric
aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular
geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled
intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the
user's ability to don the cover construction upon a button received
by the cover construction.
20. The button cover assembly of claim 19 wherein the non-circular
geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides
equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned
relative to the sides.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Prior History
[0002] This application is a Continuation-in-Part patent
application claiming the benefit of pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/383,188, filed in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office on 20 Mar. 2009, the specifications of which are
hereby incorporated by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a button cover
assembly for ornamentally adorning buttons, and method of
manufacture for the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0004] The prior art shows a number of button covering devices and
the like. Some of the more pertinent prior art disclosures are
briefly described hereinafter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,654
('654 Patent), which issued to Armbruster, discloses a Cuff Button
Cover. The '654 Patent describes an ornamental cover for a sewed
button plate, an arched top plate extending over said bottom plate,
said bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced at its forward
edge from the forward edge of the top plate and having a central
recess extending to the forward edge thereof, whereby a sewed
button may be received within said housing, said top plate having
an opening adjacent its front edge, a lock lever hinged to said top
plate and having a tongue adapted to extend through said opening
when the lock lever is seated on the top plate, and means for
releasably securing the lock lever to the top plate.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,487 ('487 Patent) which issued to T. R.
Ryan, discloses Interchangeable Ornaments for Buttons. The '487
Patent describes an interchangeable ornament for buttons or the
like comprising an ornamental member having a substantially flat
portion, a V-shaped element having a base resilient curved branch
portions extending from said base portion, and means for normally
keeping said V-shaped element juxtaposed to said ornamental member,
the branch portions of said V-shaped member being constructed and
arranged for receiving between them threads fastening a button to a
piece of fabric and for engaging said button in such a manner as to
fasten thereto said ornamental member.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,009 ('009 Patent) which issued to A.
Dritz, discloses a Covered Button. The '009 Patent describes a
button comprising connected top and bottom sections; wherein the
top section has a pair of bendable fingers extending there-from
toward said bottom section, said bottom section having a first
aperture through which said fingers pass when said sections are
assembled and having second and third apertures on opposite sides
of said first aperture through which said fingers are bent to
extend into said button when said sections are assembled, said top
section comprising a shell, a first member received within said
shell, integral portions of said first member extending there-from
to define said fingers, and a second member secured within said
shell beneath said first member by direct engagement with one of
said shell and said first member and having an aperture through
which said fingers extend. The top section may be covered by
material which extends partially over the lower surface thereof
above said second and third apertures in said bottom section, said
fingers being of a length such as, when bent through said second
and third apertures, to engage said material. U.S. Pat. No.
3,242,544 ('544 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a
Hand-Assembled, Fabric-Covered Button. The '544 Patent describes a
button shell and a button back for forming a fabric-faced button,
said button shell comprising a body provided with a peripheral
flange disposed upwardly and inwardly of said body, said button
back comprising a body provided with a central opening and with a
peripheral flange disposed upwardly and outwardly of said back
body, said button back body being disposed upwardly and inwardly of
its peripheral flange and being formed between its central opening
and its said peripheral flange with a series of circular stepped
ribs, said shell and back being dimensioned for the back to be
telescoped and pressure-fitted into and to rest within the shell
with the peripheral flanges of the shell and back interlocking in
engagement with fabric material of a facing covering for the
button.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,965 ('965 Patent) which issued to S.
Wassell, discloses an Ear Muff. The '965 Patent describes an ear
muff having a water-repellent material lined with thin insulation
sewn into the form of a pocket which fits around the ear of the
wearer to protect the ear against cold, wind, snow, or the like
without substantially impairing hearing. The ear muff is kept
engaged to the ear by means of an elastic loop residing in the hem
of the opening of the pocket which contracts around the base of the
ear, and in addition, adjacent to the elastic within the hem, a
malleable earlobe clasp which the wearer clamps around the earlobe,
so that the ear muff can be used by people with attached earlobes
as well as by people with unattached earlobes. The lined
water-repellent material comprising the pocket plays no part in
keeping the ear muff engaged to the ear, and thus is made of
flexible material so that it can conform to various shapes of ears.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,455 ('455 Patent) which issued to D. Joseph,
discloses an Ear Cover. The '455 Patent describes an ear cover for
protecting the external ear of a wearer. The cover includes a first
flexible sheet having an outer layer formed of an absorbent
material and an inner layer coextensive therewith formed of an
impermeable material. A second flexible sheet is secured to the
first flexible sheet adjacent the inner layer to serve as a liner
for the cover. An elastic band is secured between the first and
second flexible sheets for gathering the respective peripheries
thereof around the ear of a wearer.
[0008] It will be seen from a review of the foregoing that the
prior art is silent on a button cover assembly comprising a disk
and an elastic cover construction bonded to the disk at a
non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover bond interface, which uneven
bond interface functions to increase the bond contact surface area
as a means to enhance bond strength. Accordingly, the prior art
perceives a need for such and button cover assembly and method for
manufacturing the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention thus attempts to structurally address
the foregoing features in particular and provides a button cover
assembly and method of manufacture for the same, which button cover
assembly ornamentally adorns a button when outfitted thereupon. The
button cover assembly may preferably comprise a circular,
embroidered disk and a cover construction. The embroidered disk has
an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter. The
inner disk surface comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape
having peaks and valleys strewn across the disk landscape, which
peaks and valleys are reflective of the embroidery.
[0010] The cover construction is preferably formed from a pliable,
elastic, polymeric material comprising a bonding portion, an
annulus, and a cover diameter. The bonding portion has a cover
landscape complementary to the disk landscape since the bonding
interface is formed by filling the disk landscape with the
polymeric material while in a liquid form. The uneven volumetric
space above the disk landscape is thus filled with the liquid
material, which when solid, complements the disk landscape and
enhances bond strength via increase bond contact surface area. In
other words, the disk is bonded to the cover construction at the
non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover interface.
[0011] The elastic annulus is integrally formed with the bonding
portion and comprises a button-receiving cover aperture defined by
the inner annular diameter, which may be reinforced or
non-reinforced according the application requirements. The cover
aperture has a relaxed aperture or inner annular diameter lesser in
magnitude than the cover diameter but greater in magnitude than the
diameter of a target button. The pliable, elastic material is
elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed
aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for
receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the annulus
retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or
enveloped button.
[0012] Other objects of the present invention, as well as
particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be
elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and
the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features of my invention will become more evident from
a consideration of the following brief description of patent
drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an anterior perspective view of the button cover
assembly according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a posterior perspective view of the button cover
assembly according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an anterior or front plan view of the button cover
assembly according to the present invention showing an ornamental
marking upon the disk.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a first posterior or rear plan view of the button
cover assembly showing a relaxed geometric aperture of the cover
construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 3 for comparison
purposes.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a second posterior or rear plan view of the button
cover assembly with parts of the cover construction broken away to
show internal button-engaging nubs otherwise hidden from view.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a posterior or rear perspective view of the button
cover assembly with parts of the cover construction broken away to
show internal button-engaging nubs otherwise hidden from view.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a third posterior or rear plan view of the button
cover assembly showing a relaxed geometric aperture of the cover
construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 8 for comparison
purposes.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a fourth posterior or rear plan view of the button
cover assembly showing an acutated geometric aperture of the cover
construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 7 for comparison
purposes.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view type
depiction of the button cover assembly donned upon a button as
attached to a fragmentary button support structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the
preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a button
cover assembly 10 for adorning a button 11 as attached to an
underlying button support structure 19, such as a coat, a shoe, a
handbag, a headband or a belt. In this last regard, it will be
noted that buttons 11 are typically stitched to underlying support
structure(s) 19 via thread or some other similar fastening means as
at 18.
[0024] At the stitch site, a certain space is formed or defined
intermediate the button 11 and underlying support structure 19. In
other words, the button-outfitted structure (such as coat, shoe,
handbag, headband or belt) is attached to the button 11 at a
button-to-structure junction, which button-to-structure junction
defines an annulus-receiving gap or space as at 17. This space or
gap 17 provides opportunity for a device to be inserted therein so
as to cover or envelope the button 11.
[0025] The present invention or button cover assembly 10 preferably
comprises a circular, embroidered disk as at 20 and a cover
construction as at 21. It is contemplated that the embroidered disk
20 may be fashioned according to state of the art embroidery
construction practices and comprises a lower disk surface 22, an
upper disk surface 23, and a disk diameter as at 24. The lower disk
surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven or non-uniform
embroidered disk landscape.
[0026] The cover construction 21 is preferably being formed from a
pliable, elastic, polymeric material, and comprises an upper
bonding surface or portion as at 26, a lower aperture-defining
portion as at 27 and a cover diameter as at 38. The bonding portion
26 has a second profile or cover landscape, which second profile or
cover landscape is complementary to the first profile or disk
landscape.
[0027] In other words, the cover landscape, having been formed from
a liquid medium poured into the disk landscape and solidified,
becomes a negative or a complement to the disk landscape for
increasing the surface area of the bond, and enhancing bonding
strength. The landscape interfacing between the cover and disk
landscapes are generically depicted at the boundary layer 29 in
FIG. 9.
[0028] The disk 20 is thus preferably bonded to the cover
construction 21 at the first and second profiles at a disk-to-cover
interface or boundary layer 29, at which interface the cover
landscape is the complement of the disk landscape for enhancing
bond strength. This bond is formed by filling the disk landscape
with the polymeric material while in liquid form, the fluid
material having no independent shape, but a definite volume for
filling volumetric space. The liquid medium thereafter solidifies
and effectively bonds the cover construction 21 to the disk 20.
[0029] The lower aperture-defining portion 27 is preferably
integrally formed with the bonding portion 26 and defines a
geometrically-shaped, button-receiving cover aperture as at 30. The
geometric aperture 30 has a relaxed aperture configuration as
generally depicted in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, and any number of actuated
aperture configurations. An exemplary actuated configuration is
generically depicted in FIG. 8. The preferred geometric shape of
the geometric aperture 30 is that of a pentagon, although other
shapes are possible as discussed in more detail below.
[0030] In contrast to FIGS. 2, 4, and 7 versus FIG. 8, FIGS. 5 and
6 depict parts broken away from the lower aperture-defining portion
27 of the cover construction 21 so as to show otherwise visually
obscured fingerlike projections or button-engaging nubs 28
depending from the bonding portion 26 and extending toward the
geometric aperture 27.
[0031] As can be seen from a general and comparative inspection of
FIGS. 7 and 8, the relaxed aperture configuration (defining the
preferred geometric shape) comprises a maximum aperture dimension
(as at 100) that is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28.
The aperture-defining portion 27 is preferably formed so as to be
substantially parallel to the bonding portion 26.
[0032] In this last regard, it is noted that the button 11, as
received within the cavity 101 defined by the aperture-defining
portion 27 and the bonding portion 26, comprises a maximal button
thickness. The aperture-defining portion 27 and bonding portion 26
preferably comprise a substantially uniform distance therebetween
when in a relaxed state for receiving the maximal button thickness
such that the downwardly extending nubs 28 engage and resiliently
press against the button 11 gently forcing the button against the
aperture-defining portion 27 as generally depicted in FIG. 9.
[0033] The pliable, elastic material is thus elastically stressable
for enabling a user to alter the relaxed aperture configuration to
a stressed or actuated aperture configuration for receiving a
button 11. Notably, the button 11 as received by the cover
construction 21, has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover
diameter 38, but greater in magnitude than the maximum aperture
dimension 100.
[0034] The aperture-defining portion 27 thus functions to retain
the button cover assembly 10 adorned upon the received button 11.
In other words, the aperture-defining portion 27 occupies a portion
of the gap 17 when the button cover assembly 10 is donned upon the
button 11 thereby enveloping the button 11.
[0035] The disk diameter 24 is preferably greater in magnitude than
the cover diameter 38 for masking the cover construction 21 from an
anterior viewpoint as generally depicted in FIG. 3. The upper disk
surface 23 preferably comprises ornamental markings 31 such as a
heart as generally depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. The ornamental
marking 31 essentially functions to ornament or ornamentally adorn
the button 11 as received or enveloped by the cover assembly
10.
[0036] It is contemplated that the material used to construct the
cover construction 21 may be either opaque or translucent depending
on the desired application. It is contemplated that an opaque cover
construction 21 may well function to visually conceal the received
button 11 or similar other structure, and that a translucent cover
construction 21 may well function to visually reveal the received
button 11 or similar other structure as otherwise seen from a
lateral viewpoint. It is contemplated that the button cover
assembly 10 may thus be manufactured by first fashioning an
embroidered disk as at 20, which embroidered disk has a lower or
outer disk surface as at 22, an upper or inner disk surface as at
23, a disk diameter as at 24, and a certain disk thickness. The
cover construction 21 comprises a bonding portion 26, bonded to the
lower or outer disk surface 22, and further comprises an
aperture-defining portion 27 and a cover diameter as at 38.
[0037] The geometric aperture 30 is preferably formed with a
geometric shape as exemplified by a regular pentagon having a
number of sides as at 40 equal to the number of nubs 28 such that
the sides 40 orthogonally oppose positioned placement of the nubs
28 as generally depicted in FIG. 4. In this example, the nubs 28
may be thought of as the five points of a pentagram, the
intersecting lines of which define the pentagonal geometric
aperture 30.
[0038] The preferably non-circular geometric shape of the geometric
aperture 30 thus defines an angled or pointed intersection as at
41, which angled or pointed intersection 41 may receive the button
threads or similar other fastening means as at 18 such that the
cover assembly 10 may be viewed as hanging from the threads or
fastening means at the pointed intersection 41.
[0039] The pointed or angled intersection 41 preferably points in a
certain direction, as exemplified by an "up" direction. This
direction may be preferably marked with an arrow as at 42 upon the
aperture-defining portion 27 so that the user may more readily
orient the cover assembly 10 when donning the same upon a button
11. The intersection 41 is also preferably aligned with the marking
31 so that the either the arrow 42 or marking 31 points in the
desired direction as exemplified by the "up" or upright direction.
While the foregoing specifications and drawings are set forth in
some detail, the specific embodiments described and illustrated
thereby are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles
of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention(s) to
the specific embodiments illustrated and methods supported.
[0040] Accordingly, although the invention has been described by
reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments, it is
not intended that the novel arrangements be limited thereby, but
that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling
within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures, the
appended drawings, and the following claim limitations.
* * * * *