US20040226145A1

US20040226145A1 - Button cover

Info

Publication number: US20040226145A1
Application number: US10/435,534
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Ouellette; Kenneth Snow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-09
Filing date: 2003-05-12
Publication date: 2004-11-18
Also published as: CA2428362C; CA2428362A1

Abstract

A button cover for removable placement onto a button of a garment comprises a front wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom, and a back wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom. A peripheral wall portion connects the front wall portion and the back wall portion one to the other, in spaced-apart fixed relation, so as to form a button-receiving cavity between the front wall portion and the back wall portion. A thread-receiving slot is disposed in the back wall portion, and has an open end and a closed end. A button-receiving opening is disposed between the bottom of the front wall portion and the bottom of the back wall portion for permitting a button to enter the button-receiving cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to button covers, and more particularly to button covers without biasing means to help hold them in place on a button.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Button covers that are used as ornamental or functional covers over buttons on clothing have been known for many years and exist in many forms. Most commonly, they are merely ornamental, but may also have functional purposes, such as having a removable portion that acts as a marker, or the like.

Generally, button covers consist of a main body and an attachment mechanism for attaching the button cover to a button. Some button covers consist of a front wall portion that is disposed in front of a button when in use, and an annular peripheral wall portion that surrounds the edge of the button. Either a clip or a back cover is connected to the front wall portion or the annular peripheral wall portion so as to be disposed, in use, between a button and the button's garment, and also to accommodate the thread or other attachment means that secures the button to the garment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285 to Jerjian, issued Nov. 10, 1992, discloses a Button Cover that is constructed to include a number of safety features to prevent inadvertent loss during use. This button cover has a main cap comprising a cylindrical side wall and a front wall, and an open back that provides access to the hollow interior. The closure plate is constructed a generally flat circular disk dimensioned to be received within the open back of the cap. The closure plate has a “T”-shaped projection that is received in co-operating bore holes disposed in a notch in a portion of the cylindrical side wall of the cap. The closure plate also has an elongate slot to receive the thread of a button therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,951, issued Apr. 22, 1997 to Gould, discloses a Device for Covering and Concealing Buttons. This device is similar to the button cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285 as discussed above, but has a living hinge that connects the back plate to the main body. Further, the back plate has two prongs that are received in frictional engagement in co-operating recesses in the main body to keep the button cover closed, and thus in place on a button.

The two above discussed button covers have some fundamental disadvantages associated with them. Firstly, the back portion is openable and closable with respect to the main body of the button cover in order to permit placement of the button cover onto a button. Accordingly, there is a distinct possibility that the back portion could separate from the main body of the button cover, which is highly undesirable. Secondly, during use, the button cover could open, thus allowing it to fall off the button it has been placed on. Also, the above discussed button covers require complicated molds and are more expensive to manufacture.

U.S. Design Pat. No. 396,202 issued Jul. 21, 1998 to Lindsay, discloses a Button Protector that is someone less complicated than the above discussed prior art, but is difficult to place onto a button.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a button cover, wherein the back portion cannot separate from the main body of the button cover.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a button cover, wherein, during use, the button cover cannot open.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a button cover that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a button cover that is easy to attach onto button.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a button cover that is easy to attach onto many sizes and shapes of buttons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a button cover that can accommodate a detachable front portion, which detachable front portion can be used for various purposes, such as a golf marker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel button cover for removable placement onto a button of a garment. The button cover comprises a front wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom, and a back wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom. There is means to connect the front wall portion and the back wall portion one to the other, in spaced-apart fixed relation, so as to form a button-receiving cavity between the front wall portion and the back wall portion. A thread-receiving slot is disposed in the back wall portion, and has an open end and a closed end. A button-receiving opening is disposed between the bottom of the front wall portion and the bottom of the back wall portion for permitting a button to enter the button-receiving cavity.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the button cover according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings: [0016]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0017]
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 1; [0018]
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the button cover of FIG. 1; [0019]
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 1; [0020]
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 1; [0021]
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the button cover of FIG. 1; [0022]
FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but with the button cover in place over a button on a garment; [0023]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 7, taken along section line [0024] 8-8 in FIG. 2, but with the button cover about to be put in place on the button;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0025]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0026]
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0027]
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the button cover of FIG. 11; [0028]
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 11, with the disk member in place on the front wall portion; [0029]
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 13, with the disk member being removed from the front wall portion; [0030]
FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0031]
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the button cover of FIG. 15; [0032]
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 15, with the disk member in place on the front wall portion; [0033]
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 17, with the disk member being removed from the front wall portion. [0034]
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view from the front of the sixth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0035]
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the button cover of FIG. 19, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member; [0036]
FIG. 21 is a perspective view from the back of the button cover of FIG. 19, with a disc member in place on the front wall portion; [0037]
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 19, with the disc member in place on the front wall portion; [0038]
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view from the front of the seventh preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0039]
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the button cover of FIG. 23, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member; [0040]
FIG. 25 is a perspective view from the back of the button cover of FIG. 23, with a disc member in place on the front wall portion; [0041]
FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 23, with the disc member in place on the front wall portion; [0042]
FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view from the front of the eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention; [0043]
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the button cover of FIG. 27, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member; [0044]
FIG. 29 is a perspective view from the back of the button cover of FIG. 27, with a disc member in place on the front wall portion; and, [0045]
FIG. 30 is a side elevational view of the button cover of FIG. 27, with the disc member in place on the front wall portion.[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 30 of the drawings, it will be noted that FIGS. 1 through 8 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIG. 9 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIG. 10 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIGS. 11 through 14 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIGS. 15 through 18 illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIGS. 19 through 22 illustrate a sixth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, FIGS. 23 through 26 illustrate a seventh preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, and FIGS. 27 through 30 illustrate a eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention. [0047]
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 8, which show a first preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0048] general reference numeral 20. The button cover 20 is for removable placement onto a button 22 of a garment 24. The button cover 20 comprises a front wall portion 30 having a front-facing surface 32, a back-facing surface 34, a top 36 and a bottom 38. A back wall portion 40 also has a front-facing surface 42, a back-facing surface 44, a top 46 and a bottom 48. As can be seen in the drawings, the bottom 48 of the back wall portion 40 is disposed above the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30 and below the mid-point between the top 36 and the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30.
There is also means to connect the [0049] front wall portion 30 and the back wall portion 40 one to the other, in spaced apart fixed relation, so as to form a button-receiving cavity 52 between the front wall portion 30 and the back wall portion 40. In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the means to connect the front wall portion 30 and the back wall portion 40 one to the other comprises a peripheral wall portion 50. The front wall portion 30, the back wall portion 40, and the peripheral wall portion 50 together form a unitary structure that is preferably made from either a plastic material or a metal material.
As can be best seen in FIG. 1, the [0050] peripheral wall portion 50 is discontinuous adjacent the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30, and extends between left and right bottom edges 51/,52 r. The peripheral wall portion 50 defines a button-receiving opening 53 disposed between the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30 and the bottom 48 of the back wall portion 40 and between the left and right bottom edges 51/,52 r of the peripheral wall portion 50. As can be best seen in FIG. 7, the button-receiving opening 53 permits a button 22 to enter the button-receiving cavity 52.
As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the bottom [0051] 48 of the back wall portion 40 is disposed below the left and right bottom edges 51/,52 r of the peripheral wall portion 50. Further, the bottom 48 of the back wall portion 40 is disposed above the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30 and below the left and right bottom edges 51/,52 r of the peripheral wall portion 50. Preferably, the bottom 48 of the back wall portion 40 is disposed above the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30, about one-half of the way between the bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30 and the left and right bottom edges 51/,52 r of the peripheral wall portion 50. By virtue of the back wall portion 40 extending downwardly to this extent, the bottom portion of the button 22 disposed within the button cover 20 is precluded from starting to egress in a rearward direction out of the button-receiving cavity 52, thus helping to hold the button cover 20 in place on the button 22.
There is also a thread-receiving [0052] slot 60 disposed in the back wall portion 40. As can be best seen in FIG. 2, the thread-receiving slot 60 has an open end 62 and a closed end 64. There is a narrow throat portion 66 disposed adjacent the open end 62 to help preclude the thread 23 of the button 22 from slipping out of the button cover 20 and thus helping to retain the button cover 20 in place on the button, as can be best seen in FIG. 7. There is also a wider portion 68 disposed adjacent the closed end 64. The wider portion 68 receives the thread 23 of the button 22 when the button cover 20 is in place on the button 22. Preferably, but not necessarily, the thread-receiving slot 60 is open to the bottom 48 of the back wall portion 40.
Reference will now be made to FIG. 9, which shows a second preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0053] general reference numeral 220. The third preferred embodiment button cover 220 is similar to the first preferred embodiment button cover 20, except that the front wall portion 230 is square.
Reference will now be made to FIG. 10, which shows a third preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0054] general reference numeral 320. The fourth preferred embodiment button cover 320 is similar to the first preferred embodiment button cover 20, except that front wall portion 330 is enlarged.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 11 through 14, which show a fourth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0055] general reference numeral 420. The fifth preferred embodiment button cover 420 is similar to the first preferred embodiment button cover 20, except that the fourth preferred embodiment button cover 420 further comprises a disk member 470 removably mountable on the front-facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430 by means of a magnet 472 disposed in the front wall portion 430. There is also a reduced step portion 480 disposed in the periphery of the front facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430, adjacent the top 436 of the front wall portion 430. The reduced step portion 480 provides a gap 482 between a portion of the disk member 470 and a portion of the front-facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430. In order to remove the disk member 470 from the front-facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430, a user pinches together the disk member 470 and the front wall portion 430, at the reduced step portion 480. The disk member 470 is, in effect, levered off the front-facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430, against the pull of the magnet 472. A peripheral ridge 490 is present to keep the disk member 470 centered on the front-facing surface 432 of the front wall portion 430. The disk member 470 can be used for many purposes such as a golf ball marker, a scratcher for tickets and other promotional latex products, and so on.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 15 through 18, which shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0056] general reference numeral 520. The fifth preferred embodiment button cover 520 is similar to the fourth preferred embodiment button cover 420, except that the reduced step portion 580 is disposed adjacent to bottom 538 of the front wall portion 530. The disk member 570 is removed in the same manner as the disk member 470 discussed above.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 19 through 22, which shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0057] general reference numeral 620. The sixth preferred embodiment button cover 620 is similar to the fifth preferred embodiment button cover 520, except that the disk member 670 is kept centered on the front-facing surface 632 of the front wall portion 630 by a pair of generally opposed tabs 690 a,690 b. The disk member 670 is removed in the same manner as the disk member 470 discussed above. The gap 691 between the tabs 690 a,690 b and opposite the reduced step portion 680, permits easy access to the portion of the disk member 670 that is raised when a user pinches together the disk member 670 and the front wall portion 630, at the reduced step portion 680.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 23 through 26, which shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0058] general reference numeral 720. The seventh preferred embodiment button cover 720 is similar to the sixth preferred embodiment button cover 620, except that the reduced step portion is not present. Instead, the front-facing surface 732 is substantially flat.
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 27 through 30, which shows a eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, as indicated by [0059] general reference numeral 820. The seventh preferred embodiment button cover 820 is similar to the seventh preferred embodiment button cover 720, except that the tabs 890 a,890 b are disposed adjacent to bottom 838 of the front wall portion 830. In this manner, it has been found that, in use, the disk member 870 is precluded from sliding downwardly along the front-facing surface 832 of the wall portion 830. In one instance, it has been found useful to have tabs 890 a,890 b of a height about the same as the thickness of the disk member 870 and about 1.2 mm in length. Of course, tabs 890 a,890 b of other suitable dimensions may also be used.
As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a button cover, wherein the back portion cannot separate from the main body of the button cover, wherein, during use, the button cover cannot open, that is inexpensive to manufacture, that is easy to attach onto button, that is easy to attach onto many sizes and shapes of buttons, that can accommodate a detachable front portion, which detachable front portion can be used for various purposes, such as a golf marker, all of which features are unknown in the prior art. [0060]
Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the button cover of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims. [0061]

Claims

I claim:

1. A button cover for removable placement onto a button of a garment, said button cover comprising:

a front wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom;

a back wall portion having a front-facing surface, a back-facing surface, a top and a bottom;

means to connect said front wall portion and said back wall portion one to the other, in spaced-apart fixed relation, so as to form a button-receiving cavity between said front wall portion and said back wall portion; and,

a thread-receiving slot disposed in said back wall portion, and having an open end and a closed end;

a button-receiving opening disposed between the bottom of said front wall portion and the bottom of said back wall portion for permitting a button to enter said button-receiving cavity.

2. The button cover of claim 1, wherein said front wall portion, said back wall portion, and said means to connect said front wall portion and said back wall portion one to the other, together comprise a unitary structure.

3. The button cover of claim 1, wherein said thread-receiving slot has a narrow throat portion disposed adjacent said open end and a wider portion disposed adjacent said closed end.

4. The button cover of claim 3, wherein said thread-receiving slot is open to the bottom of said back wall portion.

5. The button cover of claim 1, wherein said means to connect said front wall portion and said back wall portion one to the other comprises a peripheral wall portion,

6. The button cover of claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall portion is discontinuous adjacent the bottom of said front wall portion, and said peripheral wall portion defines said button-receiving opening.

7. The button cover of claim 6, wherein said peripheral wall portion extends between left and right bottom edges.

8. The button cover of claim 7, wherein said bottom of said back wall portion is disposed below said left and right bottom edges of said peripheral wall portion.

9. The button cover of claim 1, wherein the bottom of said back wall portion is disposed above the bottom of said front wall portion and below the left and right bottom edges of said peripheral wall portion.

10. The button cover of claim 9, wherein the bottom of said back wall portion is disposed above the bottom of said front wall portion, about one-half of the way between the bottom of said front wall portion and said left and right bottom edges of said peripheral wall portion.

11. The button cover of claim 1, further comprising a disk member removably mountable on said front wall portion.

12. The button cover of claim 11, wherein said disk member is removably mountable on said front wall portion by means of a magnet.

13. The button cover of claim 12, wherein said magnet is disposed in said front wall portion.

14. The button cover of claim 13, further comprising a reduced step portion disposed in the periphery of the front facing surface of said front wall portion.

15. The button cover of claim 14, wherein said reduced step portion is disposed adjacent the top of said front wall portion.

16. The button cover of claim 15, wherein said reduced step portion is disposed adjacent to bottom of said front wall portion.