NZ328732A - Badge including an insignia device secured to a backing element with one or more studs which penetrate the backing element - Google Patents

Description

# New Zealand No. International No. 328732 PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 12.09.1997 Complete Specification Filed: 12.09.1997 Classification:^) A44C3/00// A47G1/12 Publication date: 29 April 1999 Journal No.: 1439 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Badge and method of making it Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: THE BADGE GOMPANY (PROPRiETARV) LIMITED, Corner Reactor and Isotope Street, Stikland Triangle, Bellville 7530, Republic of South Africa * 6 32 8732 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION BADGE AND METHOD OF MAKING IT We, BADGE COMPANY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED, of Corner Reactor and Isotope Street, Stikland Triangle, Bellville 7530, Republic of South Africa, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be'particularly described in and by the following statement: (followed by page - la-) 326 -1* THIS INVENTION relates to a badge and more particularly a badge of the type used by military, para-military, police, or other law enforcement services to indicate the name, rank, and/or affiliation 5 of a person. It also relates to a method of making such a badge.

According to the invention there is provided a badge which comprises a backing element of flexible sheet material having a front face and a rear face and 10 is cut to define the outline of the badge, and an insignia device of moulded plastics material on said front face, the insignia device including one or more integrally formed, rearwardly extending studs and being affixed to the backing element by the (or each) stud 15 penetrating the backing element and being secured against withdrawal from the backing element.

The insignia device may be an injection moulded component of thermoplastics material, the (or each) stud having had its rear end melted back to form 2 0 a thickened portion, thereby securing the stud against withdrawal from the backing element. <1 Cf 11 I. 9 MAR 1999 32 8y? ■2- Further according to the invention there is provided a method of making a badge of the type comprising a backing element of flexible sheet material having a front face and a rear face, and an insignia device on said front face, wherein the insignia device is provided as an injection moulded component of thermoplastic material which includes one and more integrally formed rearwardly extending studs, wherein the (or each) stud is caused to penetrate the backing element, and wherein :;he rear end of the (or each) stud is then melted back so as to form the stud with a thickened portion thereby securing the stud against withdrawal from the backing element.

Where the badge is provided with a fixing 15 element on the rear face of the backing element, the (or each) stud may be caused to pass also through a close-fitting opening in the fixing element before being melted back, the thickened portion in this event securing the stud against withdrawal from the opening 2 0 in the fixing element.

The badge may further comprise a fixing element on the rear face of the backing element, the (or each) stud also passing through a close-fitting opening in the fixing element, whereby the thickened 25 portion secures the stud against withdrawal from the opening in the fixing element. 0 ;ii.i : v -.1 " 9 MAR 1399 RECEIVED 328 The fixing element may comprise a base plate lying face-to-face on the backing element, and a clip arm for clipping the badge to a belt or garment pocket, the clip arm being formed integrally with the base 5 plate.

The clip arm may be provided with rearwardly protruding means for positively affixing the badge to a garment. Said means may be in the form of a button formation.

The button formation may be provided at or : near the free end of the clip arm.

In one form of the invention the insignia device may in the form of a name plate, the name plate comprising a backing plate, an insignia strip applied to a front face of the backing plate, the edges of the insignia strip being set back from the edges of the backing plate, and a covering of hardened epoxy resin covering the insignia strip and edge portions of the backing plate peripherally of the insignia strip.

The resin may form a convex meniscus. • 11---'.1.. v. ii i 'J;: r. ; UrjJ - 9 MAR 1S99 RECEIVED J287J The backing plate may have a peripherally extending rim, the insignia strip being a close fit within the confines of the rim.

The invention will now be described in more 5 detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a badge in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view in the direction of II-II in Figure 1, showing the badge during a first stage of its manufacture; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the badge during a second stage of its 15 manufacture; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, but showing the badge in its completed form; L'•" ! I. - 9 MAR 1399 RECEIVED 3287 Figure 5 is a rear view of the badge in its completed form; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing an alternative construction; Figure 7 is a front view of a base plate for use in making a name plate forming part of the badge; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the base plate, in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in Figure 7; i 'Jr 9 MAR 1399 RECEIVED 32873 the direction of cu'yowa- VIII-VIII in Figure 7; I**' Figure 9 is a section on IX-IX in Figure 7, showing the name plate during a first stage of its manufacture; Figure 10 is an enlargement of part of Figure 9, showing the name plate during a second stage of its manufacture; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but showing the name plate in its completed form; 10 Figure 12 is a rear view of a badge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the badge including a fixing element which is provided with a clip arm; Figure 13 is a view in the direction of arrows 15 XIII-XIII in Figure 12, of the upper part of the badge, drawn to a larger scale and showing the parts thereof prior to assembly; Figure 14 is a view in the direction of XIV-XIV in Figure 15, showing the badge of,Figure 12 in position 20 in a pocket; Figure 15 is a rear view of the badge, showing it in position in a different type of pocket; Figure 16 is a plan view of a badge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Figure 17 is a view in the direction of arrows XVII-XVII in Figure 16, showing the parts of the badge prior to assembly; and Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, but showing the parts in their assembled condition.

Referring first to Figures l to 5, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a badge which comprises a backing element 12 of flexible sheet material having a front face 14 and a rear face 16, a first insignia device in the form of a name plate 18 on the front 35 face, and a second insignia device in the form of an embossment 20 also on the front face 14. 3287 Each of the insignia devices 18 and 20 are formed as an element which has a plurality of rearwardly extending thermoplastic studs 22.

In manufacturing the badge 10, the insignia 5 devices 18 and 20 are affixed to the backing element 12 by causing the studs 22 to penetrate the backing element, until they are in the position illustrated in Figure 3. The badge is then placed in a press having hot plungers or ultrasonic welding horns which are 10 pressed down on the protruding ends of the studs 22.

This causes the studs 22 to be melted back to form them into rounded, button-like portions 24 on the rear face 16, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The button-like formations 24 will prevent the studs 22 from being 15 withdrawn from the backing element 12.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 6, a washer-like element 25 is slid onto each of the studs 22 before the stud is melted back. The element 25 can have a flared opening therein so that the studs 22 can 2 0 be melted back until their ends are flush with the rear face of the elements 25, as indicated at 24.1.

The method by which the name plate 18 is manufactured will now be described with reference, to Figures 7 to 11.

The name plate 18 comprises an injection moulded base plate 30 of thermoplastics material, the studs 22 extending from, and forming an integral part of, the base pla^e. The base plate 3 0 has, on the front face there6f, a peripherally extending rim 32 30 which forms a rectangular well 34. During manufacture of the name plate 18 an insignia strip 36 comprising a piece of printed foil or other material of rectangular outline is placed into the well 34 (Figures 9 and 10). 3287 A number of the insignia strips 36 will be manufactured in large sheets which have, for example, been screen-printed and die-cut, to provide a number of the insignia strips 36 as peel-off strips which have an 5 adhesive backing. Thus, when the insignia strip 36 is pressed down into the well 34, it will adhesively attach itself to the bottom of the well. There is a little clearance between the periphery of the insignia strip 3 6 and the rim 32, the clearance being typically 10 a fraction of a millimetre. This will enable -lie insignia strip to be placed in position relatively accurately, without skewing.

Once the insignia strip 3 6 has been placed in position, a clear epoxy resin which has had a hardener 15 added thereto is poxired onto the base plate 30, so as to cover the insignia strip 36. A sufficient quantity of resin is applied to the base plate to fill the well 34, overflow onto the rim 32, and form a convex meniscus as shown at 38 in Figure 11.

The embossment 20 is an injection moulded component of thermoplastics material, the studs 22 forming an integral part of the moulding. The plastics material may be the material known as ABS, and may be metallised by, for example, having gold plating applied 25 thereto.

The backing element 12 may be of the material that is conventionally used for this purpose in the badge making industry. This consists of a laminate of two layers of knitted fabric having, for example, a PVC 30 layer sandwiched between them.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 15, there is shown a badge 40 which, in some respects is similar to the badge 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the same 328732 reference numerals being used to indicate the same or similar parts. The badge 40 differs from the badge 10 in that it is, in addition, provided with a fixing element 42. The fixing element 42 is an injection 5 moulded component comprising a base plate 44 and a clip arm 46 formed integrally with the base plate.

The method of manufacturing the badge 40 is similar to that described with reference to Figures 2 to 5, except that the studs 22 not only penetrate the 10 backing element 12, but also pass through close-fitting oper.iiigs 48 in the base plate 44, before the rear ends thereof are melted back.

The free end of the clip arm 46 is provided with a rearwardly protruding button formation 86. The 15 button formation 86 may be formed integrally with the clip arm 46. Alternatively, the button formation may be moulded separately, and then fixed to the clip arm by ultrasonic welding or some other method of fixing. In another alternative form the free end of the clip 20 arm 46 may have a screw-threaded nut incorporated therein, in which event the button formation may have a screw-threaded stem whereby the button formation can be screwed into the screw-threaded nut.

A shirt, jacket, or other garment with which 25 the badge 40 is to be used can be provided with a pocket made especially for receiving the clip arm 46.

One form of such pocket is shown in Figure 14, the pocket b^ing formed by a piece of material 64 which is sewn along the sides and bottom to a main 30 panel 66 of the garment. A button-hole is formed in the main panel 66, behind the piece of material 64. This enables the badge 40 to be located positively in the pocket, by engagement of the button formation 86 3287 with the button-hole. In an alternative arrangement, where the clip arm 46 has a screw-threaded nut incorporated therein and the button formation a screw-threaded stem, the button-hole may be omitted. In this 5 event, provided the button stem has a reasonably sharp end, the stem may simply be pressed through the main panel 66, piercing the material of the main panel, and then screwed into the screw-threaded nut. As the hole made by such piercing is behind the piece of material 10 64, it will not be visible from the outside of the garment and will therefore not detract from the appearance of the garment.

Another form of pocket is shown at 5 8 in Figure 15. The pocket 58 is provided as a part 15 separate from the garment with which it is to be used. The pocket has front and rear panels and a button-hole 70 in the rear panel. It is sewn to the inside of the garment with which it is to be used, and the garment is provided with a horizontal slit which is aligned with 20 the top or open end of the pocket, so that the clip 46 of the badge can be inserted from the outside of the garment through the slit into the pocket, whereupon the button formation 86 can be inserted through the buttonhole 70 .

Referring now to Figures 16 to 18, reference numeral 100 indicates a badge in the form of a shoulder flash. The shoulder flash 100 comprises a backing element 102 of flexible sheet material which has a slot 104 therein through which the epaulette flap of a 30 garment can pass^ the shoulder flash extending, in use, down the arm of the person wearing it. On the backing element 102 there is fitted an embossment 106 which is similar to the embossment 20 referred to in Figures 1 to 6 . 328732 Behind the backing element 102 there is an injection moulded fixing element 108, the embossment 10 6 having studs 110 which penetrate the backing element 102 and pass through openings in the fixing 5 element 108. The embossment 106 is affixed to the backing element 102 and the fixing element 108 by melting back the studs 110 as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

The fixing element 108 is provided with a 10 button formation 112. The button formation 112 can be used to hold the lower end of the shoulder flash in position so that it does? not flap around. This is done by providing the sleeve of the garment with which the shoulder flash is to be used with a button-hole in the 15 appropriate position. The button formation 112 can then be inserted into the button-hole.

It is to be understood that the button formation 112 may be affixed to the backing element 102 by other means, without departing from the scope of the 20 invention.

The button-hole with which the button formation 112 engages may either be provided in the material of the garment itself or it may be provided in a strip of material which can be sewn to the outside of 25 the garment, either at the point of manufacture of the garment, or by the end user. \ 32 8 7

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A badge which comprises a backing element of flexible sheet material having a front face and a rear face and is cut to define the outline of the badge, and an insignia device of moulded plastics material on said front face, the insignia device including one or more integrally formed, rearwardly extending studs and being affixed to the backing element by the (or each) stud penetrating the backing element and being secured against withdrawal from the backing element.

2. A badge according to claim 1, wherein the insignia device is an injection moulded component of thermoplastics material, the (or each) stud having had its rear end melted back to form a thickened portion, thereby securing the stud against withdrawal from the backing element.

3. A badge according to claim 2, which further comprises a fixing element on the rear face of the backing element, the (or each) stud also passing through a close-fitting opening in the fixing element, whereby the thickened portion secures the stud against withdrawal from the opening in the fixing element.

4. A badge according to claim 3, wherein the fixing element comprises a base plate lying face-to-face on the backing element, and a clip arm for clipping the badge to a belt or garment pocket, ,the j ■ >• ■'■'■' * i <Ji~ I OriJZ. ! , ! "9 MAR 1399 I RECEIVED 32873? * -13- clip arm being formed integrally with the base plate.

5. A badge according to claim 4, wherein the clip arm is provided with rearwardly protruding means for positively affixing the badge to a garment.

6. A badge according to claim 5, wherein said means is in the form of a button formation.

7. A badge according to claim 6, wherein the button formation is provided at or near the free end of the clip arm.

8. A badge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insignia device is in the form of a name plate, the name plate comprising a backing plate, an insignia strip applied to a front face of the backing plate, the edges of the insignia strip being set back from the edges of the backing plate, and a covering of hardened epoxy resin covering the insignia strip and edge portions of the backing plate peripherally of the insignia strip.

9. A badge according to claim 8, wherein the resin forms a convex meniscus.

10. A badge according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the backing plate has a peripherally extending rim, and wherein the insignia strip is a close fit within the confines of the rim. ' 'i«1 LuuCut l/.L : J-'un i i l>> i i1,'* Or lii. " 9 MAR 1S99 RECEIVED 328732 -14-

11. A method of making a badge of the type comprising a backing element of flexible sheet material having a front face and a rear face, and an insignia device on said front face, wherein the insignia device is provided as an injection moulded component of thermoplastics material which includes one or more integrally formed, rearwardly extending studs, wherein the (or each) stud is caused to penetrate the backing element, and wherein the rear end of the (or each) stud is then melted back so as to form the stud with a thickened portion, thereby securing the stud against withdrawal from the backing element.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein a fixing element is provided on the rear face of the backing element, and wherein the (or each) stud is caused to pass also through a close-fitting opening in the fixing element before being melted back, the thickened portion in this event securing the stud against withdrawal from the opening in the fixing element.

13. A badge substantially as herein described and illustrated.

14. A method of making a badge, substantially as herein described and illustrated. END OF CLAIMS G:\IFD\PGJ\DOCS\F12662.CLS lij I ELLlu t Or I-1 ~ 9 MAR 1399 RECEIVED By the author^ AJ FKRK & SON ^ mSuD CP"ty^