GB2337917A

GB2337917A - Interchangeable display system

Info

Publication number: GB2337917A
Application number: GB9908403A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Norman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-14
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: GB9807995D0; GB9908403D0

Abstract

Display elements 2 each having a rearward projection 6 (Fig 4) are interchangeably mounted in a body 1 which has a front portion for engaging the elements. The projections pass through holes 5 in the body into an elongate transverse recess 4 which contains a spring clip 3 for detachably engaging the projections. The body may be formed as a badge with a pin on its rear surface or may be embodied in jewellery, other items of personal ware or tableware.

Description

2337917 AN WIER-CHANGEABLE BADGE, BROOCH OR MEDAL-RIBBON BAR SYSTEM.

This invention relates to a badge, brooch and medal-ribbon bar system which has inter-changeable elements.

Badges and brooches are often worn to demonstrate the wearer's affiliation to a country, a region, a club or an organisation. Often the wearer wishes to demonstrate an affiliation or bond between him/herself and more than one country, region, club or organisation. In many situations such demonstration enables the wearer to make a declaration of courtesy and/or friendship towards the host or guest.

At present, there are so many possible combinations of countries, regions, clubs and organisations needing to be demonstrated that individual twinned badges are unlikely to be economic. For the same reason dresswear, cutlery, tableware, medals are also likely to be uneconomic with individual twinned badges.

This invention also enables inter-changeable decorative elements to be incorporated into men's dresswear (cuff-links, tie-clips), ladies' dresswear (necklaces, bracelets, earrings), commemorative medals, cutlery and tableware (menu-holders, place-cards, serviette rings, cruets) and lapel name badges.

The present invention provides for a range of holders manufactured from silver or any other suitable material. Each holder can be attached to clothing by a safety pin or any other acceptable fastening. The holders can receive two, or more, plaques which clip into the holder with a fixing to create a particular badge, brooch or medal-ribbon bar. Incorporating the invention a method of fixing of two plaques can be extended to accept more plaques and can be applied to badges, brooches, dressware, cutlery, tableware and medal bars.

According to the present invention there is provided a construction for holding and presenting for display, an emblem or adornment device on a utility or support article, said construction comprising: a holder having a body portion with a front, display side, formation and an opposite rear, retaining side, formation, the front, display side, formation having engagement means for engaging an emblem or adornment device and the body portion having at least one through hole or slot extending from the display side to the retaining side; the rear, retaining side, formation having an aperture or housing into which each said through hole or slot extends with the said aperture or housing extending transversely to that of the or each through hole, the said aperture or housing being formed so as to be able to retain a spring clip for releasable locking engagement with a projection on the emblem or adornment article passing through the or each said through hole.

Preferably: the rear retaining side formation has an aperture or housing in the form of an elongate aperture or channel respectively for retaining an elongate spring clip; the aperture or housing is in the form of a recess or box for retaining a sinuous or curved spring clip; the elongate aperture or channel of the rear formation is a substantially rectangular, laterally extending through hole for a retaining spring clip and is in the form of an open ended box 1 adjacent to a rearwardly directed face of the body portion; the construction is generally rectangular or is generally sinuous in front plan; the engagement means for each emblem or adornment article includes one or more flanges or other means for inhibiting relative rotation between the body portion and the or each emblem or adornment article, this may be in the form of one or more recesses in the said front formation; the or each recess is of non circular cross section in a plane parallel to that of the front face.

Further preferably: the or each recess is of sinuous, generally rectangular cross-section in a plane parallel to that of the front face; at least one spring clip is contained or containable within said aperture or housing of said rear side formation.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a construction of the first aspect of the invention with, at least one spring clip contained or containable within said aperture or housing of said rear side formation. Further, there is additionally combined one or more emblem or adornment devices constructed and adapted to releasably inter-engage with said engagement means, the or each emblem or adornment device having at least one projection adapted to be inserted into the or each associated through hole or through slot associated with the respective engagement means or recess therein. Further in this respect: the or each through hole or through slot is eccentric of its associated recess.

Specific embodiments of the invention wffi now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a basic badge, brooch or medal-ribbon bar made up of a holder with two decorated plaques in position.

Figure 2 shows the holder without the decorated plaques.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the holder, without decorated plaques and without the lapel-fixing pin.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the decorated plaque showing its fixing stud.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a holder according to the invention, without the lapel-fixing pin.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a basic badge, brooch or medalribbon bar made up of a holder with two decorated plaques in position.

Figure 7 shows the rear of the holder of the further embodiment without the backplate.

Figure 8 shows an exploded cross-section of the plaque, holder and backplate of the further embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1 the badge comprises a badge, brooch or medal-ribbon holder(l) made of silver or any other suitable material which has a metal pin or other fixing (not shown) for attachment to the wearer's clothing at the rear and two plaques(2) at the front. The combination of plaques(2) is selected to portray the affiliation required.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4 the holder (1) contains a spring (3) which is entirely contained in a box (4) situated on the back of the holder (1). There is a hole (5) slightly off-centre to the position that each plaque (2) will take up through the front and rear of the holder (1) and its box (4). This off-centre alignment prevents any inadvertent display of any flag in an incorrect manner.

Figure 4 shows the shaped fixing stud (6) on the back of the plaque (2). The hole (5) accepts the fixing stud (6) on the back of the plaque (2). The plaque (2) is attached to the holder (1) by inserting the fixing stud (6) on the back of the plaque (2)7 into the hole (5) in the front of holder (1). Once the rounded head of the fixing stud (6) has passed beyond the spring(3) then the plaque (2) is attached to the holder (1) by the spring (3) closing in on the neck of the fixing stud (6). The fixing stud (6) and the hole (5) are slightly off-centre so that the decorated plaque may not be inadvertently inserted up-side down. The plaque (2) can only be removed from the holder (1) by inserting a finger-nail or some suitable instrument into the hole (5) at the rear of the box (4) of the holder (1) to press on the head of the fixing-stud (6) and thus push out the plaque (2).

Figure 5 is an exploded diagram of the whole assembly, without the lapelfixing pin being shown. At manufacture the spring (3) is inserted into the box (4) at the back of the holder(l). The customer takes the plaques (2) and fits them to the holder (1) by inserting the fixing-studs (6) through the holes (5) in the holder (1). In the drawings the plaques and holders have been shown as rectangular but they may be of any required shape.

In figures 1-5 of the drawings the holder has been shown in its essential, minimal condition but it may be elaborated to provide a wide variety of decorative effects for brooches. Alternatively, the holder mechanism can be built in to medal bars, dresswear, cutlery and tableware so that those items can receive inter-changeable decorative plaques.

In a further more elaborated embodiment Figure 6 shows the decorative item comprising a badge, brooch or medal-ribbon holder(l) made of silver or any other suitable material which has a metal pin or other fixing (not shown) at the rear for attachment to the wearer's clothing, and two plaques(3) at the front. The plaques are modified to present a simulation of a flag in the wind. The combination of plaques(3) is selected to portray the affiliation required.

In figures 7 and 8, the holder(l) contains curved springs(4) which are entirely contained in the back of the holder(l). There is a hole(S), slightly off-centre to the position that each plaque(3) will take up through the front and rear of the holder(l) and the backplate(6). This off-centre alignment prevents any inadvertent display of any flag in an incorrect manner.

Figure 8 shows the shaped fixing stuffl) on the back of the plaque(3). The hole(S) accepts the shaped fixing stuffl) on the back of the plaque(3). The plaque(3) is attached to the 3 holder(l) by inserting the shaped fixing stuffl) on the back of the plaque(3), into the hole(S) in the front of holder(l). Once the rounded head of the shaped fixing stuffl) has passed beyond the spring(4) then the plaque(3) is attached to the holder(l) by the spring(4) closing in on the neck of the shaped flying stuffl). The shaped fixing stuffl) and the hole(S) are slightly off-centre so that the decorated plaque may not be inadvertently inserted up-side down.

The plaque(3) can only be removed from the holder(l) by inserting a finger-nail or some suitable instrument into the hole(S) at the rear of the backplate(6) of the holder(l) to press on the head of the shaped fixing-stuffl) and thus push out the plaque(3).

Figure 8 is an exploded diagram Of the whole assembly, without the lapelfixing pin being shown. At manufacture the spring(4) is inserted into the casting of the back of the holder(l).

The customer takes the plaques(3) and fits them to the holder(l) by inserting the shaped fixing-studs(7) through the holes(S) in the holder(l). In the Figures 6-8 of the drawings the plaques and holders have been shown as generally rectangular but they may be of any other required shape. In the drawings the holder of the further embodiment has been shown in its essential, minimal condition but it may be elaborated to provide a wide variety of decorative effects for brooches. Alternatively, the holder mechanism of the of the further embodiment can be built in to medal bars, dresswear, cutlery and tableware so that those items can receive inter-changeable decorative plaques.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A construction for holding and presenting for display, an emblem or adornment device on a utility or support article, said construction comprising: a holder having a body portion with a front, display side, formation and an opposite rear, retaining side, formation, the front, display side, formation having engagement means for engaging an emblem or adornment device and the body portion having at least one through hole or slot extending from the display side to the retaining side; the rear, retaining side, formation having an aperture or housing into which each said through hole or slot extends with the said aperture or housing extending transversely to that of the or each through hole, the said aperture or housing being formed so as to be able to retain a spring clip for releasable locking engagement with a projection on the emblem or adornment article passing through the or each said through hole.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein, wherein the rear retaining side formation has an aperture or housing in the form of an elongate aperture or channel respectively for retaining an elongate spring clip.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture or housing is in the form of a recess or box for retaining a sinuous or curved spring clip.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elongate aperture or channel of the rear formation is a substantially rectangular, laterally extending through hole for a retaining spring clip and is in the form of an open ended box adjacent to a rearwardly directed face of the body portion.

5. A construction as claimed in claims 2 or 4, wherein the construction is substantially rectangular in front plan.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the construction is generally rectangular in front plan.

7. A construction as claimed in claim 1-4 or 6, wherein the construction is generally sinuous in front plan.

8. A construction as claimed in claims 1-7 wherein the engagement means for each emblem or adornment article includes\one or more flanges or other means for inhibiting relative rotation between the body portion and the or each emblem or adornment article.

9. A construction as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means comprises one or more recesses in the said front formation.

10. A construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein the or each recess is of non circular cross section in a plane parallel to that of the front face.

11. A construction as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each recess is of sinuous, generally rectangular cross-section in a plane parallel to that of the front face.

12. A construction as claimed in claim 9 wherein the or each recess is generally rectangular form in plan.

13. A construction as claimed in claim 9 wherein the or each recess is rectangular in plan.

14. A combination of a construction as claimed in any of claims P 13 with, at least one spring clip contained or containable within said aperture or housing of said rear side formation.

15. A combination as claimed in claim 14, additionally combined with one or more emblem or adornment device constructed and adapted to releasably inter-engage with said engagement means, the or each emblem or adornment device having at least one projection adapted to be inserted into the or each associated through hole or through slot associated with the respective engagement means or recess therein.

16. A construction as claimed in any of claims P 13 or a combination as claimed in claims 14 or 15 wherein the or each through hole or through slot is eccentric of its associated recess.

17. A construction as claimed in any of claims 1- 13 or 16, or a combination as claimed in any of claims 14-16 wherein the construction is an integral part of a utility or support article as hereinbefore defined.

18 A construction as claimed in any preceding claim wherein either the or each emblem or adornment device and any associated respective recess has parallel contoured sinuous sides extending longitudinally of the said construction.

19. A construction as claimed in any of claims 1-13, or claims 16-18, or a combination as claimed in any of claims 14-17, wherein the construction has a formation able to be engaged by another fastener so as to releasably secure the said device to a garment or other article.

20. A construction as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-14 or claims 16-18, wherein a backing formation or plate is provided covering the said body portion and is secured over the rear retaining side.

21. A construction as claimed in claim 20 wherein the backing formation or plate is secured to the retaining side formation by swaged or rivetted stud heads projecting from the said retaining side formation and passing through said through holes in the said backing formation or plate.

22. A construction as claimed in claim 20 wherein the backing formation or plate is of the same transverse plan as the retaining side formation.

23. A construction or a combination as respectively claimed in claim 19 wherein the other ffistener is: a dress fastener or sa&ty pin; or a body or ear piecing fastener or pin; or a fastener for securement in a button hole.

24. Two constructions as defined in claim 1 interconnected by flexible means so as to form a cuE link.

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25. A construction or combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-5.

26. A construction or combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6-8.

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