US20070157440A1

US20070157440A1 - Kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs

Info

Publication number: US20070157440A1
Application number: US11/327,768
Authority: US
Inventors: Deborah Malkin; Shelby Graham; Robin Hayes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-06
Filing date: 2006-01-06
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

A kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners or other articles, comprising: a housing element which may be Z-shaped: a plurality of fastening elements (the plurality of fastening elements are housed in the housing element); a plurality of ring elements, each of which may be selectively secured to one of the plurality of fastening elements (the plurality of ring elements are housed in the housing element); a plurality of decorative charms, beads, and/or bases each of which may be selectively secured to a ring element of the plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of the plurality of fastening elements as desired (the plurality of decorative charms, beads, and/or bases are housed in the housing element); whereby any combination of decorative charm, bead or base, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a decorative tab for a slide zipper fastener or other article. The kit may further include a plurality of decorative items for use on the tabs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to kits and assemblies for constructing decorative attachments for articles of clothing, zippers, cell phones, lunchboxes and the like, and more particularly for constructing and attaching decorative pull tabs for slide zipper fasteners and other articles.
2. Description of Related Art
Zippers are presently in widespread use with many clothing articles, such as jackets, pants, shorts, shirts, etc., as well as articles such as bathing suits, backpacks, and wetsuits. Prior disclosures have disclosed the use of attaching various objects to zippers, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,232,756 to Marcus and U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,484 to Schwartz. Each of these patents disclose mechanical systems for attaching ornaments, such as a depiction of an animal, or other item, to a zipper.
Such devices required complicated and intricate mechanical systems for attaching the ornaments to the zipper. Accordingly, such devices were costly, cumbersome, and difficult to use. Further such systems were directed to adult use and provide little entertainment value for children or younger adults, which limited their use and appeal.
Another genera of zipper attachment devices is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,546 which discloses a method of moving a figurine by attaching the figurine to a zipper that is attached to a piece of material and translationally moving the zipper along a first direction and converting the translational movement of the zipper into a separate type of movement which causes the figurine to move. The motion of the zipper along the first direction causes a portion the figurine to move, and includes an attachment system for affixing the figurine to the zipper.
Accordingly, the primary objects of the invention are to provide a kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners and other articles, which allows a user to select and create a wide variety of decorative tabs for both practical and entertainment purposes. The decorative tabs assist with the opening and closing of zippers on garments and other items, and help in cold weather and when the user is wearing gloves. The decorative tabs are also helpful to the elderly and infirm who have difficulties grasping and locating the zipper pull tab. Further, the present invention provides a means for creative expression and entertainment by allowing the user to create his or her own decorative tab and affixing it to an item of clothing, backpack, wetsuit, or zipper on other articles, or cell phone, lunchbox, school notebook, hat, or other items, to aid in identification of the user's possessions and for decorative purposes.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners or other articles is disclosed which allows for the simple construction and attachment of various decorative tabs which may be created from an assortment of fasteners, rings, charms, beads, and accessories contained in the kit. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners and other articles includes: a housing element which may be Z-shaped; a plurality of fastening elements (the plurality of fastening elements are housed in the housing element); a plurality of ring elements, each of which may be selectively secured to one of the plurality of fastening elements (the plurality of ring elements are housed in the housing element); a plurality of decorative charms, bead, and/or bases, each of which may be selectively secured to a ring element of the plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of the plurality of fastening elements as desired (the plurality of decorative charms and/or bases are housed in the housing element); whereby any combination of decorative charm, bead, and/or base, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a slide zipper fastener tab or decorative tab for other articles. The kit may further include a plurality of decorative items for use on the tabs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with a general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1, shows a kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners and other articles, including fastening elements, rings, decorative charms, beads, or bases and accessory decorative items, according to the invention.
FIG. 2, shows an example of a decorative tab with a fastener, ring, and decorative charm or base which may be made from the kit, according to the invention.
FIG. 3, shows an example of a decorative tab with a fastener and decorative charm which may be made from the kit, according to the invention.
FIG. 4, shows a Z-shaped container for housing the kit, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners or for other articles which allows for the simple construction of various zipper pull tabs and their attachment to zippers. Various tabs may be created from an assortment of fasteners, rings, charms, beads, bases and accessories contained in the kit. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners and other articles includes a housing element which may be any geometrical configuration or Z-shaped, and includes a plurality of fastening elements. The plurality of fastening elements are housed in the housing element. A plurality of ring elements are included. Each ring element may be selectively secured to one of the plurality of fastening elements. The plurality of ring elements are housed in the housing element. A plurality of decorative charms, beads and/or bases are included, the plurality of decorative charms, beads and/or bases are housed in the housing element and each may be selectively secured to a ring element of the plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of the plurality of fastening elements as desired, whereby any combination of decorative charm or base, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a decorative tab. The kit may further include a plurality of decorative items for use on the tabs.
In FIG. 1, a kit 10, for constructing and attaching decorative tabs, 12, as seen in FIG. 2, for slide zipper fasteners or other articles such as cell phones, lunchboxes, notebooks, hats and the like, is shown. Preferably, a container 16, houses kit 10. Container 16, may be made in and desired geometric configuration such as rectangular, square, oval round or the like, or may, as seen in FIG. 4, be Z-shaped so the boxes may fit into each other when they are on a shelf and also have the appearance of a zipper. Container 16, may be made of any durable resilient material such as plastic, paper, cardboard, wood, metal, or the like.
A plurality of fastening elements 18, are housed in container 16, and a fastening element can easily be chosen and removed for use in constructing a decorative tab 12, for zippers or other articles as desired. The fastening element maybe made of metal, rope, silk, cord, or any other durable material. A plurality of ring elements 20, each ring element may be selectively secured to one of the fastening elements 18. Ring elements 20 are housed in container 16, and are easily chosen and removed for use in constructing a decorative tab 12.
A plurality of decorative charms or base elements 22, and beads 28, are housed in the container and each may be selectively secured to a ring element 20, or a fastening element 18, as desired. The decorative charm or base 22, is so described as a decorative charm may be used pre-formed or as a base, or a base may be fashioned into a decorative charm or bead 28. This allows a user to choose any combination of decorative charm or base 22, bead 28, ring element 20, and fastening element 18, for combination to create a decorative tab 12. If used as a base element, the decorative charm may be decorated by the user using decorative items 24, provided in kit 10, or decorations from other sources. Preferably an aperture or ring is provided for the decorative charm or base element 22, for attachment to ring elements 20, or fastening elements 18. Fastening element 18, may be used to secure decorative tab 12, to any article, such as zippers, cell phones, lunchboxes, shoes, backpacks, notebooks, hats, or any other article if desired.
As seen in FIG. 1, the kit 10, for constructing and attaching decorative tabs further includes a plurality of decorative items 24, for use on the decorative tabs 12, if desired. For example, decorative items may include but are not limited to, beads 28, non-removable decals 24, cord 32, glue 34, fabric 36, protective coverings 38, such as varnish or lacquer for use on the decorative charm or base elements 22. The decorative charms and bases 22, may include, for example, alphabet, flowers, rainbows, animals such as horses, dogs, cats, trees, trucks, cars, depictions of sports equipment such as footballs, bats, tennis racquets, running shoes, carabineers, skis, snowboards, costume jewelry, ribbons, depictions of designs made from artwork or architecture, geometric designs and patterns, and the like. Bases may be provided in different shapes or the same shape and may be configured, for example, as a circle, square, oval, rectangle, and the like. Some bases may be of other shapes, such as hand design or other designs, and may be made of wood, plastic, rubber, metal, or any resilient material. The user may affix articles and items to the base according to the user's concept of creative expression and desire.
Kit 10, may include any number or combination of fastening element 18, ring elements 20, beads, 28, and decorative charms and bases 22. Typically a kit is provided with from one to three fastening elements 18, one to three rings elements 20, and one to three decorative charms. However, more fastening elements 18, ring elements 20, beads 28, or decorative charms and base elements 22, or various combinations may be provided if desired.
Container 16, may be a box or other housing of any geometric configuration. An example is seen in FIG. 4, where container 16, is a Z-shaped. If this configuration is used it is possible to store, pack, or display multiple boxes of such Z-configurations. Kit 10, housed in container 16, may be supplied with various combinations of fastening elements 18, ring elements 20, beads 28, and decorative charms and bases 22. For example, some kits may be provided with simple fastening elements, while other kits are provided with more elaborate fastening elements that are intricate, ornate, decorative, detailed, sophisticated, crafted or otherwise ornaments. Or for example, different kits may be provided with different assortments of beads 28 or decorative charms and bases 22, to encourage an outcome of unusual and different final product depending upon the particular kit provided.
In operation and use, the user may select any fastening element 18, ring element 20, bead 28, or decorative charm or base 22, and initiate construction of a decorative tab 12. For example, the user may select a bead 28, or a decorative charm or base 22, and either affix it to a ring element 20, or fastening element 18, or begin to creatively work with the decorative charm or base element, by affixing glue if other items are to be attached to the base, or paint, or beads, and the like. Varnish or lacquer may be applied if desired for protection from exposure to weather.
As most zipper have two apertures, 44, 46, one of the holes may be used to attach the decorative tab 12, to the zipper mechanism 45, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Of course, a zipper is used as an example only as the decorative tabs 12 may be used on cell phones, lunchboxes, notebooks, hats, or any other article. The decorative tab 12, that is created from kit 10, is preferably attached through aperture 44, by either a fastening element 18, or a ring element 20. If a fastening element 18, is used, either a ring element 20, or a decorative charm or base 22 is preferably secured thereto. Likewise, for example, many cell phones have an aperture to which a decorative tab. mat be attached, to aid in identification and/or to decorate the article. Further, a decorative tab can easily be attached to the handle of a student lunchbox to aid in identification and decoration of the article.
As is evident from the above description, a wide variety of assemblies may be configured for different applications which utilize the kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for slide zipper fasteners or other articles described herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants' general inventive concept.

Claims

1. A kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs for attachment to articles, comprising:

a container;

a plurality of fastening elements, said plurality of fastening elements are housed in said container;

a plurality of ring elements, each ring element may be selectively secured to one of said plurality of fastening elements; said plurality of ring elements are housed in said container; and

a plurality of decorative charms or bases, said plurality of decorative charms or bases, are housed in the container and each may be selectively secured to a ring element of said plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of said plurality of fastening elements as desired, whereby any combination of said decorative charm or base, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a decorative tab.

2. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 1, further including a plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs.

3. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include non-removable decals.

4. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include beads.

5. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include paint.

6. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include cords.

7. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include glue.

8. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include fabric.

9. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 2, wherein said plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs include protective coverings.

10. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 1, wherein said container is a Z-shaped box.

11. A kit for constructing and attaching decorative pull tabs, comprising:

a Z-shaped housing;

a plurality of fastening elements, said plurality of fastening elements are housed in said z-shaped housing;

a plurality of ring elements, each ring element may be selectively secured to one of said plurality of fastening elements; said plurality of ring elements are housed in said Z-shaped housing; and

a plurality of decorative charms, said plurality of decorative charms are housed in said z-shaped housing and each may be selectively secured to a ring element of said plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of said plurality of fastening elements as desired, whereby any combination of said decorative charm, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a slide zipper fastener.

12. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 11, further including a plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs.

13. A kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs, comprising:

a housing element;

a plurality of fastening elements, said plurality of fastening elements are housed in said housing element;

a plurality of ring elements, each ring element may be selectively secured to one of said plurality of fastening elements; said plurality of ring elements are housed in said housing element; and

a plurality of decorative charms, beads, or bases, said plurality of decorative charms, beads, or bases, are housed in said housing element and each may be selectively secured to a ring element of said plurality of ring elements or a fastening element of said plurality of fastening elements as desired, whereby any combination of said decorative charm or bases, ring element, and fastening element may be combined to create a decorative tab.

14. The kit for constructing and attaching decorative tabs of claim 13, further including a plurality of decorative items for use on said tabs.