GB2252030A

GB2252030A - Detachable button cover

Info

Publication number: GB2252030A
Application number: GB9101406A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Mccarthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-22
Filing date: 1991-01-22
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-22
Also published as: GB9101406D0; GB2252030B

Abstract

A button cover primarily intended for application to a shirt or blouse button for decorative purposes, comprises a cap (1) shaped to extend over the front face of a button and retention means (2) which co-operates with the button to retain the cap detachably to the button. The retention means (2) is formed from a length of spring wire bent to provide a pair of prongs (6) which are located in the back of the cap and engage behind the button. The button cover may be applied to a button at a shirt cuff to give the appearance of a cuff link. <IMAGE>

Description

BUTTON COVER This invention relates to a button cover, primarily, though not exclusively, intended for application to buttons of clothing, more particularly shirt or blouse buttons, for decorative purposes.

According to the present invention a button cover is provided comprising a cap which is shaped to extend over the front face of a button and has retention means adapted to co-operate with the button to retain the cap detachably on the button.

The cap may be shaped, coloured or otherwise formed, treated or embellished to give it a decorative appearance. It may be made of metal, precious or non-precious, plastics or other material, as desired.

Location of the cap on a button may be provided by a rearward peripheral flange or lip of the cap which overlaps the peripheral edge of the button. Spaced lugs or other rearward protrusions or projections on the cap may overlap the edge of a button to locate the cap on the button, and/or they may engage in the usual holes in a button at which the button is sewn into place.

The retention means may be adapted to engage, preferably resiliently, behind a button to draw the cap onto, and hold it securely on, the button. There may be one or more spring wire prongs, for example, anchored to the cap which provide the retention. In another form, where the cap has a rearward peripheral flange or lip, or spaced lugs or other rearward protrusions or projections, as mentioned which overlap the edge of a button, the overlapping part or parts of the cap may have resilient gripping engagement with the edge of the button to retain the cap on the button, or the part or parts may resiliently engage, possibly with a snap-action, the rear of the button.

In one form the button cover may be adapted to be applied to a button at a shirt cuff to give the appearance of a cuff link. A matching pair of the button covers may be provided for that purpose.

It will be appreciated that the cap may take a variety of forms, as desired, or according to the intended use. It may be plain, perhaps to be engraved as the purchaser wishes, or be shaped and/or decorated, for example, to present a sporting emblem or motif, to display an initial or initials, birth sign, company logo, or to depict a place, thing or creature. There are many possibilities.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is an underneath perspective view of a button cover in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the button cover fitted to a button for use.

In this embodiment the button cover comprises a stamped and pressed metal cap 1, and a spring wire retainer 2.

The cap is of shallow cylindrical drum shape having a front wall 3 and a rearward circumferential flange 4 which has its rear edge turned over to form an internal lip 5. It is of larger diameter and deeper than the thickness of a button to which it is intended to be fitted for use.

For the retainer 2 a length of spring wire is bent at its central region into a generally M-shape to present two parallel U-shaped prongs 6 joined by a central web 7, and opposite end portions 8 of the wire are bent out of the plain of the M-shape to extend over and parallel to the outer legs of the M-shape, ie. the outer limbs of the U-shaped prongs 6. The end portions 8 extend away from the legs of the M-shape at bends 9 and are longer than those legs. Extremities 10 of the end portion 8 are bent parallel to one another through almost a right-angle away from the prongs 6.

The retainer 2 is sprung into the back of the cap 1 with the prongs 6 adjacent to and protruding (being slightly bent to assist the protrusion) with a shallow slope rearwardly from the lip 5 of the cap.

Central web 7 and the bends 9 engage under the lip at one side of the cap and the extremities 10 of the end portions 8 engage under the lip at the opposite side of the cap. Inner parts of the end portion adjacent to the bends 9 bear against the back of the front wall 4, as do the ends of the extremities 9. In consequence the retainer is firmly and securely held in the back of the cap.

To fit the button cover for use it is pushed side-ways on to a button, the edge of the button entering between the rear of the flange 4 and the free ends of the prongs. The button cover is pushed on until the front wall 3 is lying fully over the button and the flange is surrounding the edge of the button.

The prongs 6 straddle the thread by which the button is sewn in place and bear on the back of the button in opposition to the end portions 8 which bear on the front of the button. Thus the button cover is held securely in position on the button. It is a relatively easy matter to push the button cover back off the button to remove it.

Claims

1. A button cover comprising a cap which is shaped to extend over the front face of a button and has retention means adapted to co-operate with the button to retain the cap detachably on the button.

2. A button cover according to Claim 1 wherein the cap has a rearward peripheral flange or lip which is adapted to overlap the peripheral edge of the button.

3. A button cover according to Claim 1 wherein the cap has spaced rearward protrusions or projections which are adapted to overlap the peripheral edge of the button to locate the cap on the button.

4. A button cover according to any preceding claim wherein the cap has rearward protrusions or projections which are adapted to engage in holes of the button by which the button is sewn into place, the engagement of the protrusions or projections in the holes assisting in location of the cap on the button.

5. A button cover according to any preceding claim wherein the retention means is adapted to engage the rear of the button to draw the cap onto, and hold it on, the button.

6. A button cover according to Claim 5 wherein the retention means is adapted to have resilient engagement with the rear of the button.

7. A button cover according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the retention means comprises one or more spring wire prongs anchored to the cap.

8. A button cover according to Claim 7 wherein the retention means comprises a length of spring wire bent at a central region to present two co-planar parallel U-shaped prongs joined by a web, and having end portions bent out of the plane of the prongs and presenting extremities remote from the web, the web and the extremities engaging under an internal lip of the cap at opposite parts of the cap to retain the retention means to the cap, and the two prongs being adapted to engage the rear of the button over which the cap is fitted in use of the button cover and straddle thread by which the button is sewn in place.

9. A button cover according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the retention means comprises the rearward flange, lip, protrusions or projections which is or are adapted to have resilient gripping engagement with the overlapped edge of the button to which the cap is fitted in use of the button cover to retain the cap on the button.

10. A button cover according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the retention means comprises the rearward flange, lip, protrusions or projections which is or are adapted to have resilient engagement with the rear of the button to which the cap is fitted in use of the button cover to retain the cap on the button.

11. A button cover substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A pair of button covers adapted to be applied to buttons at the cuffs of a shirt, each of the button covers being in accordance with the button cover as claimed in any preceding claim.