GB2291035A

GB2291035A - Badge with pin fastening

Info

Publication number: GB2291035A
Application number: GB9513359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Fletcher; Peter Stanfield
Original assignee: Baynham & Stanfield Badge Comp; WHITECROFT LYDNEY Ltd
Current assignee: Baynham & Stanfield Badge Comp; WHITECROFT LYDNEY Ltd
Priority date: 1994-07-04
Filing date: 1995-06-30
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-30
Also published as: GB2291035B; GB9513359D0

Abstract

A badge is provided with an attaching safety pin (14) held in a base (4) which has an integrally formed retaining portion (6) for the head of the safety pin in which the pin tip is held. The retaining portion has a passage (20) to one side of it through which the pin tip is movable for unfastening and refastening the badge. The path length of the pin tip through the passage (20) is not substantially less than the height of the passage (20) above the surface of the badge body (4) adjoining the passage so that a deliberate sideways movement is required to detach the badge in addition to a movement against the resilient bias holding the pin tip engaged in the head of the pin. The possibility of inadvertent release of the pin is thereby reduced. The passage (20) may be augmented by a hollow (22) below the adjoining body surface. <IMAGE>

Description

BADGE This invention relates to badges and more particularly to badges intended to be held in place by pins.

Badges provided with pins as a way of attaching them to clothing are well known. It is usual to shield the tip of the pin in some way when the badge is worn, but the risk of injury should it come loose is a reason why this type of badge is sometimes not used, for example or badges intended particularly for young children.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a badge having a pin fastening that has means to make inadvertent release of the pin less likely.

According to the present invention, there is provided a badge comprising an attaching pin mounted on a plate-like body or base comprising an integrally formed retaining portion in which the tip of the pin can be located when the badge is worn, the tip being displaceable against a resilient bias to register it with a passage in the side of the retaining portion through which it is movable for fastening and unfastening the badge, said passage forming a path for said tip portion that has a dimension in the direction of said movement that is not substantially less than the height of the passage above the surface of the body adjoining the passage.

In a preferred feature, said passage has a height above said adjoining surface of the main body part that is not substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the pin tip region moving through said passage.

Conveniently, the overall height of the passage is augmented by forming a hollow or aperture in the body within the extent of said opening to continue the passage to below said adjoining surface of the body.

By using a safety pin as the attaching pin, the tip of the pin is retained in an engaged position by a resilient biasing formed. Because the tip must move through a passage of significant length in order to be released, however, it is possible to ensure that the pin will not be opened simply by pressing the tip portion against the resilient bias. A deliberate force must also be applied laterally of the pin while it is so depressed in order to displace it sufficiently to move it through the passage provided in the retaining portion. Limiting the passage height as referred to above further reduces the possibility that the lateral movement to release the pin can occur unintentionally.

The pin in the form of a safety pin can be held captive in the body part, said retaining portion forming means or part of means which prevents the pin flopping- about. In this instance, the keeper can conveniently-be provided by the cap of the safety pin itself. It is, however, possible to employ other types of pin and the keeper can be moulded integrally with the retaining portion.

By way of example, one embodiment of badge according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a rear view of the badge body, Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a larger scale detail sectional view on the line B-B with the pin omitted, and Fig. 4 is a further detail sectional view on the line C-C in Fig. 2.

The drawings illustrate only the body of a button badge which will have its hidden front face covered by a facing member bearing some decorative or informative legend. The body is formed as a single plate-like moulding with a thickened rim 2 bounding a flat main disc 4 from which diametrically opposed upstands 6,8 project, substantially to the height of the rim 2. Two coaxial, oblong slots 10,12 are formed through the upstands on the disc to hold a safety pin 14 captive in the body, supporting it loosely in the upright position shown.

In that upstand 6 containing the cap end of the safety pin 14, the lower side of the upstand to one side of the slot 10 is cut away to form a lateral passage 20 through which the tip end of the pin can be passed when opening and closing the safety pin. To open the pin the tip end must be depressed against the resilient bias of the coiled opposite end of the pin, in well known manner, and then displaced laterally away from the pin cap.

Whereas with a conventional badge bearing a safety pin a minimal lateral deflection of the tip end will allow it to spring open, in the present case a substantially greater lateral movement must be made to move the tip in out of the passage. There is therefore no risk that the pin will become inadvertently open simply by the user depressing the tip end against the bias.

The height of the passage 20 above the surface of the disc 4 is substantially equal to the height of the inclined portion of the tip end that must pass through the passage to release the pin, thus making it even less likely that the pin is inadvertently released. It can even be arranged that the body moulding offers some degree of interference as the pin tip leaves the passage.

The slot 10 through the body has a continuation 22 over the extent of the passage, however so that the pin tip can be depressed below the level of the disc rear face to make it easier for the pin to be fastened and unfastened in the intended manner.

As a further step to making it difficult for the pin to become detached accidentally, a projection 24 may be provided at the open end of the slot 10 in the cap-end upstand 6 so that the slot is offset laterally from the central plane of the safety pin. The projection 24 requires that even the initial depression of the pin tip against the resilient bias can only be effected with some lateral movement also. This feature, or an offsetting of the guard 26 in the cap of the pin, or both, can bar any attempt to move the pin tip out of the cap to the side opposite the passage.

Claims

1. A badge comprising an attaching pin mounted on a plate-like body or base having an integrally formed retaining portion in which the tip of the pin can be located when the badge is worn, the tip being displaceable against a resilient bias to register it with a passage in the side of the retaining portion to be movable through said passage for unfastening and refastening the badge, said passage forming a path for said tip portion that has a dimension in the direction of said movement that is not substantially less than the height of the passage above the surface of the body adjoining the passage.

2. A badge according to claim 1 wherein said height of the passage is less than the length of said path.

3. A badge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said passage has a height above said adjoining surface of the main body part that is not substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the pin tip moving through said passage.

4. A badge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the overall height of the passage is augmented by forming a hollow or aperture in the body within the extent of said opening to continue the passage to below said adjoining surface of the body.

5. A badge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a safety pin held captive in the body provides said attaching pin and the pin tip is arranged to be engaged in a head of the pin by a resilient bias when it is located in said retaining portion.

6. A badge according to claim 5 wherein said retaining portion of the badge body and/or a further portion of the badge body spaced therefrom constrains the safety pin to an upright position relative to the body.

7. A badge according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the safety pin has a cap which confines the unfastening and refastening movements of the pin tip to one side of the safety pin.

8. A badge constructed and arranged for use substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.