WO2003092427A1

WO2003092427A1 - Mount for securing a pin badge

Info

Publication number: WO2003092427A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robin Lauchlan John Sanderson
Original assignee: Robin Lauchlan John Sanderson
Priority date: 2002-05-03
Filing date: 2003-02-19
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: GB0302505D0; AU2003264902A1; GB2388010A; GB2388010B

Abstract

A mount (3) for securing a pin badge (1) is disclosed. The mount (3) is of a rigid construction and of a size suitable to be inserted into a pocket of an article of clothing, such as a suit jacket pocket. A slotted tube on the top edge of the mount receives and encloses the pin of the pin badge such that the badge may be held securely in place in front of the pocket.

Description

MOUNT FOR SECURING A PIN BADGE

The invention relates to an identi ication mount which will fix to existing identification badges that are backed by a clasp pin.

At present, identification badges used by organisations, groups or individuals either clip or pin onto a shirt or jacket often causing holes or damage. They are also inconvenient to use in breast pockets. An existing alternative available in the marketplace is a small flexible piece of flimsy plastic that the badge pin closes over and which is inserted inside the pocket with the badge outside.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mount for securing a pin badge comprising: a rigid member sized to be received by a pocket in an article of clothing, the rigid member having a tubular member defining a throughbore adapted to receive a pin of a pin badge, the tubular member having a slot in a wall of the tubular member extending the length of the tubular member and in communication with the throughbore, the slot permitting passage of the pin into the throughbore. Embodiments of the present invention have the advantages that:

(a) the badge is held securely in place in the front of the packet; and

(b) the rigid pocket support is hinged in place on the pin so that it will not fall off it and encloses the pin so the two when connected can be removed or put in place in the pocket without the badge detaching.

Preferably, the support is made of plastic (with or without a metal or plastic pin through the support top) , but it may be made of wood or any combination of materials . Preferred embodiments of the mount and of a method of joining the mount to the badge pin will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a rear elevation of a first embodiment of the mount fixed to the pin of the identification badge;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the badge in position in a jacket breast or shirt pocket, with the top of the pocket support visible at the sides;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the pocket support attached to the badge pin; Figure 5 shows the pocket support with an enlarged middle section and a visible slot cut in the tube;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the middle section that clips over the badge pin; Figure 7 shows a rear view of the badge;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the mount, where a modified pocket support is mounted to the same badge with a third piece;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the above mentioned third piece with the joining pin;

Figure 10 shows how the joining pin fits through the pocket support;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the pocket support; Figure 12 shows a side view of a third embodiment of the mount;

Figure 13 shows a front view of the embodiment of Figure 12;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 12;

Figure 15 shows a rear perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 12, with a pin badge attached; Figure 16 shows a front perspective view of a mount embodying the present invention with a pin badge attached;

Figure 17 shows the mount and pin badge in position in a pocket with the pin badge rising up at an angle;

Figure 18 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the mount having a locking tab and positioned in a pocket of an article of clothing; Figure 19 shows the mount and pin badge in position in a pocket with the pin badge in the desired vertical position;

Figure 20 shows a bottom plan view of a pin badge of a type suitable for use with mounts embodying the present invention;

Figure 21 shows a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the mount;

Figure 22 shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the mount; Figure 23 shows the embodiment of figure 22 being hooked onto a pin badge; and

Figure 24 shows the embodiment of figure 22 with a pin badge in place on the mount.

First Embodiment

As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the middle section 4 of pocket support 3a clips over the pin 6 held by heads 2a and 2b. The side supports 5 of the support 3a prevent the badge 1 moving laterally. The badge is pivotable. As shown in Figure 3, the badge pin and the pocket support are inserted into the pocket with the badge hanging outside. Once clipped over the badge pin, the tight fit and narrow slot (cut in the centre tube)- ensures the support can pivot without separating from the badge.

The support 3a is clipped over the badge pin when the pin is closed. Second Embodiment

As shown in Figures 8 to 11, a piece 9 (which is permanently connected to support 3b by a connector pin 8) is fitted to the pin 6 of the badge 1 by slotting middle section 10 through the pin when the pin is in the open position. Middle section 10 is positioned on the hinged side of the pin so that the other end of the pin will bend and flex to fit the slot of the head 2b of the pin badge 1. In a mount embodying the present invention, middle section 10 is provided with a slot permitting passage of the pin 6 of the pin badge 1 when the pin is closed, as in the first embodiment described above. The side pieces 11a and lib hold the piece 9 in a central position over the pin and prevent the badge from moving sideways. They can have either a curved or a square top.

The distance between side piece 11a and the left side of pin support 2a can be increased or decreased in manufacture to enable fitting of the badge into piece 9 easily, depending on the size of the gap needed for ease of operation and snugness of fitting of the pin 6 and the piece 9 together.

Connector pin 8 locates through side pieces 7 in a tight fit and loosely through a slightly larger hole in tube 12 to facilitate the hinging operation (N.B. tube 12 has no slot cut in it) .

Third Embodiment

Figures 12-16 show the side supports 5b (numbered 5 in Figures 1, 2 and 5) relocated from the sides of the brooch (as described in relation to the first embodiment) to a position below the brooch as an alternative method of preventing the I.D. from moving excessively when the mount 3c is in situ in the pocket.

These figures also show an alternative embodiment where the slot in middle section 4 is reversed as compared to Figure 4 (ie facing away from the brooch) to enable the badge to be more securely situated in the pocket. There are thus two methods available of fitting the I.D. holder onto the brooch pin: (a) with the curved end of the mount down, the holder is simply clipped in place.

(b) with the design with the slot reversed, the holder is fitted to the brooch by laying the holder with the curved end upwards and above the brooch (see arrows 24 in Figure 23, for example) , clipping it in place on the pin and swinging the whole holder over (pivoting on the pin) and downwards (see Figure 24).

Fourth Embodiment Depending on the relative sizes of the mount 3 and the pocket, and on the weight of the pin badge 1, the badge may undesirably rise up by an angle of 30° to 45° from the vertical when the mount 3 is in use. This undesirable situation is depicted in Figure 17. Figure 18 shows one method of preventing the badge 1 from rising up by using an additional support member or tab 13 described in detail below. A pin badge 1 in the preferred vertical orientation is shown in Figure 19. A bottom plan view of a common design of pin badge 1 is shown in Figure 20. The pin 6 of the pin badge 1 is secured to a first head 2b of the pin badge 1 and is received by a slot 14 provided in a second head 2a of the pin badge 1. Commonly, an indentation or hole 15 is provided in either or both of the heads 2a, 2b of the pin badge 1, or may be drilled into the heads 2a, 2b if desired.

A fourth embodiment of the mount 3d includes a tab 13 secured to the front of the mount 3d and to the side of the slotted middle section 4 which receives the pin 6 of the pin badge 1. The tab 13 is secured to or forms part of a raised portion 16 on the front face of the mount 3d and rises a short distance upwardly from the raised portion 16 adjacent the slotted middle section 4. As shown best in Figure 18, when the pin 6 of the pin badge 1 is inserted into the slotted middle section 4 and then rotated in a downward direction, as indicated by arrow 18, tab 13 fits into the slot 14 of the pin badge 1 to better secure the pin badge 1 in the vertical position.

Alternatively, or in addition, a small stud 17 is provided on a top surface of either or both of the side supports 5b positioned to the sides of the slotted middle section 4. The stud or studs 17 engage with the indentations 15 in the pin badge heads 2a, 2b to further secure the pin badge 1 in the desired position.

Fifth Embodiment

Figures 22 to 24 depict a fifth embodiment of the mount 3e. This fifth embodiment includes a raised portion 20 on the front surface of the slotted middle section 4. Preferably, the raised portion 20 extends l-2mm from the surface of the slotted middle section 4. As shown in figure 24, when the pin badge is in position on the mount 3e, the raised portion 20 presses against a back surface 22 of the pin badge 1. This pressure deforms the pin 6 of the pin badge 1 slightly such that the pin 6 acts as a spring, resisting rotational movement of the badge 1. The pin badge 1 is therefore secured in the desired vertical position. Preferably, at least a top edge 23 of the raised portion 20 is bevelled to ensure that the pin 6 is deformed gradually and easily as the pin badge 1 is rotated into the locked position.

Although the different embodiments of the present invention have been described separately, it will be immediately apparent that the characteristic features of each embodiment may be combined in various arrangements to provide a pin badge holder suitable for use with any desired pin badge.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A mount for securing a pin badge comprising: a rigid member sized to be received by a pocket in an article of clothing, the rigid member having a tubular member defining a throughbore adapted to receive a pin of a pin badge, the tubular member having a slot in a wall of the tubular member extending the length of the tubular member and in communication with the throughbore, the slot permitting passage of the pin into the throughbore.

2. A mount as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mount is formed as a single rigid piece.

3. A mount as claimed in either of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mount is formed from plastics.

. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a pair of supports positioned to either side of the tubular member for reducing movement of the pin badge relative to the mount when the pin badge is secured in the mount.

5. A mount as claimed in claim 4 wherein the supports are positioned such that, in use, the supports are located to the side of pin supporting heads of the pin badge to prevent lateral movement of the pin badge relative to the mount when the pin badge is secured in the mount.

6. A mount as claimed in claim 4 wherein the supports are positioned such that, in use, the supports are located below pin supporting heads of the pin badge when the pin badge is secured in the mount.

7. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a lower edge of the rigid member describes a semicircular arc.

8. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pin badge is rotatable about the pin relative to the mount when the pin badge is secured to the mount.

9. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a circular hole located centrally in the rigid member.

10. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a tab adapted to engage with a slot in the pin badge when the pin badge is secured to the mount.

11. A mount as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tab is positioned adjacent the tubular member.

12. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a stud adapted to engage with an indentation in the pin badge when the pin badge is secured to the mount.

13. A mount as claimed in claim 12 wherein said stud is positioned adjacent the tubular member.

14. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a raised portion adapted to press against a back surface of the pin badge when the pin badge is secured to the mount.

15. A mount as claimed in claim 14 wherein said raised portion has a bevelled edge.

16. A mount as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein said raised portion is provided on the tubular member.

17. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a pin badge.