GB2061870A

GB2061870A - Method of making a badge

Info

Publication number: GB2061870A
Application number: GB8031777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-10-02
Filing date: 1980-10-02
Publication date: 1981-05-20

Abstract

To form a polygonal badge a metal sheet is bent along its edges to provide flanges (4) and a display sheet is then inserted between the flanges (4) which are then bent down onto the display sheet. To provide a smooth edge to the badge the sides are then bent rearwards to form further inclined flanges (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of making a badge The present invention relates to badges and, more particularly, to a method of making badges comprising a sheet material support to which means may be attached for fastening the badge, and a second sheet of material for forming a display surface of the badge, the second sheet of material being supported on the first sheet.

Badges for attachment to clothing are known which comprise a circular support sheet having a generally C-shaped cross section formed by an in-turned lip running around the edge of the sheet, the sheet carrying the display material being laid over the surface of the first support sheet and being bent over the in-turned lip and secured by means of an annular element insertable as a snap or push fit within the in-turned lip to hold the display sheet thereagainst. A pin formed integrally with a part annular element can thereafter be disposed within the confines of the annular element for enabling the badge to be attached to clothing or the like. It will be appreciated that to construct a similar badge of a polygonal shape in a similar way would be difficult, due primarily to the problem of the bending of the in-turned lip at the corners of the badge.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a method of making a polygonal badge comprises the steps of bending a first polygonal sheet of material along at least two opposed sides so as to form an upstanding flange on each of those sides, positioning a second sheet of material for forming the display surface of the badge between the flanges and over the surface of the first sheet, bending the flanges further to hold the second sheet fast between the surface of the first sheet and the flanges, and thereafter bending over the sides of the assembled sheets in the direction opposite to the first bends.

Preferably, the final bending of the sides is carried out through an angle greater than 90 so that the front, display surface of the badge has a smooth appearance which is uninterrupted at the sides, the sides also having a generally curved appearance rather than being sharp.

Preferably, each of the sides of the first sheet is bent to form an upstanding flange in which case, material is removed from each of the corners of the first sheet prior to bending in order to avoid interference between the sides during bending. The sheet forming the display surface can then be grasped along all the sides of the bade.

In order to provide for mounting of the badge on a garment or the like, a safety pin may be used, the pin being mounted in the depression formed in the front face of the first sheet and having a pair of apertures at each end of the depression through which extend the ends of the safety pin so that the pin can be mounted with its free limb supported recessed from the surface of the first sheet.

The invention also includes a badge formed by the method according to the invention.

One example of a badge constructed in accordance with the method of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show four stages during the manufactaare of the badge.

Figure 1 shows metal blank from which the badge is formed; Figure 2 shows the rear of the badge after a first bending operation; Figure 3 shows the front of the badge after a second bending operation; Figure 4 shows the rear of the badge after a final bending operation; and, Figure 5 shows a side view of the finished badge.

Fig. 1 shows a generally square blank of thin sheet metal 1 which has its corners cut away as shown at 2. The sheet of metal has a pair of aligned slots 3 generally central positioned.

The first step comprises a bending operation in which side portions of the sheet 1 are bent up substantially at 90 to the plane of the sheet to form upstanding flanges 4 (as shown in Fig. 2 bent away from the reader towards the front of the badge). Concurrently therewith, or in a separate stage, a longitudinal depression 5 is formed in alignment with and between the slots 3.

Thereafter, a sheet or sheets 6 which are to provide the display surface of the badge are positioned over the front surface of the sheet 1 between the outstanding flanges 4. The display may be provided by a first sheet with printed material thereon and a second transparent cover sheet of, for example, a plastics material to protect the printed sheet Prior to or after insertion of the sheets 6 a safety pin 7 may be inserted through the apertures 3 from the reverse surface of the sheet 1, (shown in Fig. 4, but not in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity.). The flanges 4 are then further bent over as shown in Fig. 3 so as to firmly grip the display sheets 6 and hold them fast against movement. The corners 8 of the sheet or sheets 6 can then be folded over in the opposite direction to improve the neatness of the finished badge.

Finally, the sides of the badge are bent in the opposite direction towards the rear of the badge into the positions shown in Figure when the side portions of the badge form angled portions 9 on the reverse side of the badge. The display sheet or sheets (6) are thereby folded over the edges of the badge to produce smooth edges which are neat in appearance.

Fig. 5 illustrates in side elevation the badge as shown in Fig. 4.

The various bending operations can be carried out using conventional techniques, with shaped dies and formers.

Claims

1. A method of making a polygonal badge, which method comprises the steps of bending a first polygonal sheet of material along at least two opposed sides so as to form an upstanding flange on each of those sides, positioning a second sheet of a material for forming the display surface of the badge between the flanges and over the surface of the first sheet, bending the flanges further to hold the second sheet fast between the surface of the first sheet and the flanges, and thereafter bending over the sides of the assembled sheets in the direction opposite to the first bends.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which each side of the sheet of material is bent to form a flange, each corner of the sheet being cut to remove material therefrom, prior to the bending operation.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the display surface is formed by a pair of sheets, one of which is transparent and covers the second which carries printing thereon.

4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the final bending of the sides is carried out through an angle greater than 90 so that the front, display surface of the badge has a smooth appearance which is uninterrupted at the sides.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the first sheet is metal.

6. A method according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A badge formed by a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.