GB2597057A

GB2597057A - Button Cover

Info

Publication number: GB2597057A
Application number: GB2010181.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Palmer Lauren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-02
Filing date: 2020-07-02
Publication date: 2022-01-19
Also published as: GB202010181D0

Abstract

A button cover 10 for clothing (predominantly jeans and trouser) buttons, the button cover comprising an elastic edge protector 11 operable to surround an edge of a button, the edge protector 12 comprising an inner surface 13 operable to grip the edge of the button, the inner surface 13 having a profile of two straight lines meeting at a point. The button cover 10 can grip a large variety of buttons, and is more secure on them.

Description

Button Cover

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to button covers for clothing buttons Specifically, but not exclusively, to trouser button covers.

Background to the Invention

Many trousers have a button as a fastener at the crotch. This button is typically made of a hard material such as metal or a hard plastic, particularly when the trousers in question are jeans, and have well-defined, sharp edges to make it easier to get the button through the button hole. Buttons made of such hard materials and with such well-defined, sharp edges rub on a user's top where it covers the button, especially when the user leans into a kitchen countertop or similar. This rubbing can result in small holes in the top.

To prevent such small holes from being created, a button cover 1 shown in figures 1-3 can be placed over the button The button cover 1 surrounds the edges of the button and its front face, such that a user's top contacts the button cover 1 instead of the button itself Due to the elastic silicone material the button cover 1 is made of and its curved outer surface, the button cover 1 is much less likely to mb against a user's top and generate holes.

The button cover 1 is shaped to fit a button with a particular diameter and thickness. If a button has a different diameter or thickness the button cover 1 will not fit over it as well, resulting in the button cover 1 not being as secure on the button. Clothing buttons can have a variety of different thicknesses and different diameter sizes. As such, to properly fit all clothing buttons (or at least a wide variety of them) various sizes of button cover 1 must be supplied. This results in the manufacture of the button cover 1 being more expensive. Furthermore, it means a user must select the correct size of button cover, or else all the various sizes must be supplied to a user.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or mitigate these or other disadvantages to provide an improved button cover and method of covering clothing buttons.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a button cover for clothing buttons, the button cover comprising an elastic edge protector operable to surround an edge of a button, the edge protector comprising an inner surface operable to grip the edge of the button, the inner surface having a profile of two straight lines meeting at a point.

The distance between two positions on opposite sides of the profile of the inner surface determine the minimum thickness of button of a particular diameter which can be gripped by the edge protector, since the button must contact two positions to be gripped (larger thicknesses can be accommodated by the edge protector stretching due to its elastic nature). The profile being two straight lines meeting at a point narrows the distance between the positions on opposite sides, in comparison to the curved profile of prior art button covers. Accordingly, the button cover can accommodate thinner buttons of a particular diameter. The button cover will also have a better grip on the same thickness of button, since more of the profile will be in contact with the button. As such, the button cover can grip a larger variety of buttons, and is more secure on them.

The inner surface may have a V-shaped profile. The straight lines of the profile may meet to form an acute angle.

The edge protector may comprise an outer surface which, in use, faces away from the button. The outer surface may have a curved profile. In particular, the outer surface may have a U-shaped profile. The edge protector may be circular, to surround the entire edge of the button. The edge protector may be plastic. The edge protector may be silicone The curved profile of the outer surface means there is little on the button cover onto which a top can catch. As such, the curved profile further reduces the chances of a top being damaged by the jeans button.

The button cover may be an ellipsoid. The button cover may be a spheroid. The button cover may be an oblate spheroid. The ellipsoid may be elastic. The ellipsoid may be plastic. The ellipsoid may form the edge protector. The edge protector may be formed on a semi-major axis circumference of the oblate spheroid. The edge protector may be centred on the semi-major axis circumference of the oblate spheroid The ellipsoid may be hollow. The ellipsoid may comprise a central space.

The ellipsoid may comprise an opening in it to the central space. The opening may be formed on a semi-minor axis of the oblate spheroid. The opening may be centred on the semi-minor axis of the oblate spheroid. The opening may be circular. The diameter of the opening may be smaller than a semi-major axis diameter of the central space of the oblate spheroid.

The button cover may be transparent or translucent. Alternatively, the button cover may be opaque.

The button cover may be for a trouser button. The button cover may be for a jean button.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of covering a clothing button, comprising the steps of providing a button cover according to the first aspect and covering the clothing button with the button cover.

The method may be for covering a trouser button. The method may be for covering a jean button The button cover of the second aspect may comprise any or all of the optional features of the first aspect, as desired or appropriate.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a prior art button cover on a clothing button; Figure 2 shows a prior art button cover on an item of clothing; Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a prior art button cover; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a first embodiment of a button cover.

As shown in figure 4, the button cover 10 is a hollow oblate spheroid, with a central space 14 The hollow oblate spheroid is formed of an elastic silicone plastic The hollow oblate spheroid forms an edge protector 11, centred on the semi-major axis circumference of the oblate spheroid.

The oblate spheroid has an opening 12 in it to its central space 14. The opening 12 is circular and centred on a semi-minor axis of the oblate spheroid, and its diameter is smaller than the semi-major axis diameter of the central space 14.

The inner surface 13 of the edge protector 11 has a profile of two straight lines meeting at a point, forming a V-shaped profile.

In use the button cover 10 is stretched over a button such that the button is received through the opening 12 into the central space 14. The edge protector 11 surrounds the edge of the button, and the inner surface 13 grips the edge of the button.

At each point along the length of the profile of the inner surface 13 a different thickness and diameter of button can be accommodated, the minimum thickness of button accommodated dictated by the distance between the contact positions on the straight lines at that position along the length of the profile and the minimum diameter of button accommodated dictated by the distance between the contact positions opposite each other across the circumference of the inner surface 13. The button cover 10 can accommodate larger thicknesses and diameters of button at each point along the length of the profile, given the button cover 10 is elastic and so can stretch to accommodate.

The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

I. A button cover for clothing buttons, the button cover comprising an elastic edge protector operable to surround an edge of a button, the edge protector comprising an inner surface operable to grip the edge of the button, the inner surface having a profile of two straight lines meeting at a point 2. A button cover according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface has a V-shaped profile.
3. A button cover according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the straight lines of the profile meet to form an acute angle.
4. A button cover according to any preceding claim wherein the edge protector comprises an outer surface which, in use, faces away from the button, the outer surface having a curved profile.
5. A button cover according to claim 4 wherein the outer surface has a U-shaped profile.
IS 6. A button cover according to any preceding claim wherein the edge protector is circular, to surround the entire edge of the button.
7. A button cover according to any preceding claim, which is an ellipsoid.
8. A button cover according to claim 7, which is a spheroid.
9. A button cover according to claim 8, which is an oblate spheroid.
10 A button cover according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the ellipsoid is formed from an elastic plastic.
11 A button cover according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the ellipsoid forms the edge protector.
12 A button cover according to claim 11, when dependent upon claim 9, wherein the edge protector is formed on a semi-major axis circumference of the oblate spheroid.
13 A button cover according to claim 12, wherein the edge protector is centred on the semi-major axis circumference of the oblate spheroid.
14 A button cover according to any of claims 7 to 13, wherein the ellipsoid is hollow.
A button cover according to claim 14, wherein the ellipsoid comprises a central space.
16 A button cover according to claim 15, wherein the ellipsoid comprises an opening in it to the central space 17 A button cover according to claim 16, when dependent upon claim 9 wherein the opening is formed on a semi-minor axis of the oblate spheroid.18 A button cover according to claim 17, wherein the opening is centred on the semi-minor axis of the oblate spheroid.19 A button cover according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the opening is circular.A button cover according to claim 19, when dependent on claim 9, wherein the diameter of the opening is smaller than a semi-major axis diameter of the central space of the oblate spheroid.21 A button cover according to any preceding claim which is transparent or translucent.22 A button cover according to any of claims 1 to 20 which is opaque 23 A method of covering a clothing button, comprising the steps of providing a button cover according to any of claims 1 to 22 and covering the clothing button with the button cover.