GB2342276A

GB2342276A - Fastening for a badge

Info

Publication number: GB2342276A
Application number: GB9819791A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Henry
Original assignee: ALAN SALTER Ltd
Current assignee: ALAN SALTER Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-11
Filing date: 1998-09-11
Publication date: 2000-04-12
Also published as: GB9819791D0

Abstract

A fastening for a badge which fastening comprises a pin 1, having a head 2, a shaft 3 and a tip 4, and cap means 12, which cap means 12 is adapted to receive the tip 4 and a portion of the pin shaft 3. The pin shaft 3 is provided with at least one substantially annular protrusion 5,6,7 in the region of the pin head 2, which protrusions are adapted to engage a display portion 10, thereby holding the display portion 10 in a substantially fixed position on the pin shaft 3.

Description

Fastening for a badge The invention relates to a fastening for a badge which fastening comprises a pin and cap means, which cap means is adapted to receive the pin.

The simplest fastenings for a badge comprise a pin, which is connected to the display portion, which pin is, in use, passed typically several times through a layer of fabric on an article of clothing to fix the badge in position. Often safety pins are used to avoid injury.

However, such fastening are difficult to fix to clothing as the pin has to pass through the cloth more than once substantially parallel to the surface plane of the cloth, so other fastening have been developed which comprise a pin and cap means, which cap means is adapted to receive the pin. The pin is typically passed substantially perpendicularly through the display portion and the badge stored with the cap means over the tip of the pin.

In use the pin is passed through the article of clothing, and cap means are placed over the tip of the pin on the side of the clothing remote from the display portion to hold the badge in position and also to prevent injury. A small washer can be placed between the display portion and the cap means and in use this washer sits on the outer surface of the clothing.

This type of fastening suffers from the drawback that the display portion and/or washer have a tendency to slide on the pin, so that when the pin is pushed into the cap means, the pin head must be held in position as otherwise the pin can slide out of the display portion, which can lead to damage of the display portion, is aesthetically unattractive and can also make the cap means, and hence badge, harder to remove. According to the invention there is provided a fastening for a badge which fastening comprises a pin, having a head, a shaft and a tip, and cap means, which cap means is adapted to receive the tip and a portion of the pin shaft, wherein the pin shaft is provided with at least one substantially annular protrusion in the region of the pin head adapted to engage a display portion, thereby holding the display portion in a substantially fixed position on the pin shaft.

Such a fastening is advantageous over the prior art fastenings in that the display portion is held rigidly in position on the pin shaft without the tendency to slip of the prior art fastenings.

Preferably, a washer is provided between the display portion and the cap means, which washer may be integral with the display portion. Preferably the pin shaft is provided with a plurality of annular protrusions, some of which protrusions may be tapered so as to facilitate entry into the cap means. Preferably the protrusions are adapted to hold the washer adjacent to the display portion on the shaft.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a pin; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of an assembled badge.

Figure 1 shows a pin 1 having a head 2, shaft 3, and tip 4. In the region of the head 2, the pin shaft 2 is provided with a first annular protrusion 5, a second annular protrusion 6 and a third annular protrusion 7, which third annular protrusion is tapered towards the pin tip 4. The first and second annular protrusions 5,6 have a curved surface. The third protrusion 7 has a substantially flat bearing surface on the side facing the pin head 2.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of an assemble badge having a display portion 10, a washer 11 and a cap 12 having a blind hole 13 adapted to receive the pin tip and shaft. The pin 1 passes substantially perpendicularly through the display portion 10 and washer 11 and is received in the blind hole 13.

The first annular protrusion 5 sits substantially in the hole in the display portion through which the pin 1 passes.

The second annular protrusion 6 sits substantially in the washer 11. The third tapered protrusion 7 sits substantially between the washer and the blind hole 13 of the cap 12. The opening of the blind hole 13 has a profile corresponding substantially to the profile of the tapered protrusion 7.

To assemble the badge, the pin 1 is passed through the display portion 10, where the first protrusion 5 resiliently holds the display potion 10 on the shaft 3 adjacent to the pin head 2. The washer 11 is threaded onto the pin shaft 3 and is in turn resiliently held by the second protrusion 6 on the shaft adjacent to the display portion 10. The cap 12 is then placed over the pin tip 4 and shaft 3. To fasten the badge to clothing, the cap is removed from the pin, the pin is inserted through an article of clothing and the cap is replaced.

Although the embodiment described above has three protrusions, fewer would be possible, in particular if the washer were integral with the display portion. A higher number of protrusions would also be possible.

The pin, washer and cap are preferably made of a suitable plastic material, such as polybutylene, so that the colour of the pin can be matched to the design of the display portion.

Although, the fastening has been described as being suitable for fastening a badge to clothing, it is also of wider application and could be used for other ornamental fastenings.

Claims

Claims 1. A fastening for a badge which fastening comprises a pin, having a head, a shaft and a tip, and cap means, which cap means is adapted to receive the tip and a portion of the pin shaft, wherein the pin shaft is provided with at least one substantially annular protrusion in the region of the pin head adapted to engage a display portion, thereby holding the display portion in a substantially fixed position on the pin shaft.
2.-A fastening according to Claim 1, wherein a washer is provided between the display portion and the cap means.
3. A fastening according to Claim 2, wherein the washer is integral with the display portion.
4. A fastening according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the pin shaft is provided with a plurality of annular protrusions.
5. A fastening according to Claim 4, wherein at least some of which protrusions are tapered so as to facilitate entry into the cap means.
6. A fastening according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the protrusions are adapted to hold the washer adjacent to the display portion on the shaft.
7. A fastening according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the surface of the protrusion nearest the pin tip is provided with a flat bearing surface on the side facing the pin head.
8. A fastening substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.