GB2321469A

GB2321469A - Quick-fit device for replacing buttons

Info

Publication number: GB2321469A
Application number: GB9701362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Harvey Lebetkin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-23
Filing date: 1997-01-23
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Also published as: GB9701362D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for replacing a button which has been lost from a garment. The device (10) consists of a conventional button (14) to which is attached a coil (11) of resilient material. The free end (13) of the coil (11) is pointed so that it can pierce the fabric of the garment and allow the coil (11) and button(14) to be twisted into place and securely attached to the garment. A flexible cap (15) is also provided for attachment over the end (13) of the coil (11) to protect a wearer of the garment from the pointed end (13).

Description

QUICK-FIT DEVICE FOR REPLACING BUTTONS The present invention relates to a device for quickly and easily replacing a lost button on an item of clothing. The device is intended for use in situations in which the wearer of the garment either does not have a needle and thread to hand in order to sew the button onto the garment or simply does not have the time to do so.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for attaching a button to a garment comprising a button, a coil of resilient material with first and second ends, the first end being attached to or integral with the button and the second end being pointed; and a cap member of resilient material for push fitting over the second end of the coil.

Thus, the invention provides a device which is quick and simple to fit by simply pushing the pointed end of the coil through the fabric, twisting the buttton into place and attaching the cap in order to protect the wearer from the pointed end. The button functions as normal and the device is not unsightly as, for example, a safety pin or other emergency means employed to replace a lost button.

Preferably, the coil is substantially circular and the diameter may increase from the first to the second end.

In a preferred embodiment, the cap comprises a disc with a circumferential lip sized so as to engage over at least one turn of the coil from its second end.

Alternatively, the cap may comprise a substantially cylindrical member which is closed at one end, into which the pointed end of the coil is insertable.

Conveniently, the coil is formed of metal and the cap is formed of plastic.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figure 1 which is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

The device 10 comprises a coil 11 formed of a resilient material, preferably metal. One end of the coil is formed into a hook or loop 12 for attachment to a conventional button 14 either through the holes in the button which are provided for thread in normal circumstances, or through a loop on the back of the button 14. Alternatively, the coil 11 may be integral with a button 14, for example by moulding the coil 11 into the button 14. The other end of the coil 11 is sharpened to form a pointed end 13.

In the preferred embodiment, the coil 11 is substantially circular but increases in diameter from the hook 12 towards the pointed end 13. Preferably, the coil 11 consists of at least one and a half turns in order to hold the button 14 on the garment securely, but any other convenient number may be used.

The device 10 also comprises a cap 15 of flexible material such as plastic or rubber. The cap 15 comprises a disc 16 with a circumferential lip 17 which is engageable over at least one turn of the coil adjacent the pointed end 13 so as to securely retain the cap 15 on the coil 11.

Alternatively, the cap 15 may take the form of a small cylinder, closed at one end, into which the pointed end 13 of the coil 11 can be fitted.

In use, the pointed end 13 of the coil 11 is used to pierce the fabric of the garment and the device 10 is twisted so as to work the rest of the coil 11 through the fabric leaving the button 14 on the exterior ready for use. The cap 15 is snapped into position on the coil 11 on the interior face of the fabric in order to hold the device firm, to protect the wearer from the pointed end 13 and to prevent the coil 11 from working its way out of the fabric again.

The button 14 and cap 15 may be pinched towards one another in order to compress the coil 11 so as to make the device relatively flat and therefore more comfortable for the wearer.

Thus, the present invention provides an improved device for replacing lost buttons which is simple and easy to use and is not unsightly when in position on the garment. The device may be made available in hotel rooms and from dry cleaning outlets and the like to provide a very straightforward means of emergency button replacement.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for attaching a button to a garment comprising a button; a coil of resilient material having first and second ends, the first end being attached to or integral with the button and the second end being pointed; and a cap member of resilient material for push fitting over the second end of the coil.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coil is substantially circular.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the coil increases from the first end to the second end.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap comprises a disc with a circumferential lip sized so as to engage over at least one turn of the coil from its second end.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap comprises a substantially cylindrical member which is closed at one end, into which the pointed end of the coil is insertable.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the coil is made of metal.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cap is made of plastic.

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawing.