WO2011093724A1

WO2011093724A1 - Seamless button for textiles

Info

Publication number: WO2011093724A1
Application number: PCT/NO2011/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik August Harto
Original assignee: Fredrik August Harto
Priority date: 2010-02-01
Filing date: 2011-02-01
Publication date: 2011-08-04

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices and systems and methods for their use for defecting an anaiyte. in particular, the present disclosure provides a disposable assay card in which reaction reagents are stored within the card to facilitate point-of-care application.

Description

Seamless button for textiles

The present invention is in the area for fastening devices for textiles, and especially in the area of buttons, wherein a button can be attached to a fabric without sewing.

Background of the invention

The use of buttons as a means to hold together openings in clothes like shirts, pants, coats, etc. are well known in prior art. It is also well known that the sewing of buttons can be difficult during the production of clothing, but also during the use of clothes where one sometimes can experience losing buttons and then must replace buttons by sewing new replacement buttons. On shirts and other clothing there are sometimes attached spare buttons in addition to the regular buttons so one is able to replace a button if you are unlucky to lose one. Anyway, it is assumed then that in addition to the replacement button one has access to a needle and thread to be able to sew the replacement button. When traveling, it can be difficult to find a needle and thread. If you are unfamiliar with using a needle and thread it can be a challenge to sew a button. If you also are plagued with poor vision it can be a very demanding task. Problems with hands, joints, etc. may also make it difficult to insert the thread in the eye of the needle, sometimes making it into an almost impossible task.

During the production of clothing sewing of buttons typically requires either very inexpensive manual labor or very sophisticated machines that can identify the location for placing buttons onto the garment and the machine must also find the holes in the buttons to get the buttons sewn with sewing thread. The large number of buttons that are commonly used on the garment makes it necessary to be able to sew buttons with high speed to provide a sufficient production volume of garments.

In prior art there are examples of buttons that can be attached without the use of sewing thread. For example, it is common to use a button of metal in jeans. This is possible partly by aesthetic reasons, and partly because of the rough quality of the fabric used in such garments. Such a button of metal is pressed through the » fabric with a through hole casing edge that afterwards is attached to the button head by folding the metal parts of each respective part together. In some cases a hole is first punched in the fabric where the button is to be fastened. However, such a button is unsuitable for use on fine clothing such as a shirt that is designed for formal use. Generally, it is important to use materials in the buttons that are consistent with the design, color and shape of the garment wherein the buttons are to be used.

There is also a new trend in the design of garments designated the term

"intelligent clothing" which include the use of modern microelectronics, for example to create a garment that can be heated, vented for moisture or otherwise contribute to comfort when using the garment. Active reflex is another area in which one or more light sources such as LEDs are integrated into a garment on the outside. Other examples can be flexible solar cells that for example, can provide electricity to charge a mobile phone kept in a pocket in the garment. It is also within the scope of intelligent clothing to have items for professional use such as carpenters, road workers, firefighters, soldiers, etc. In such a context it is often a strict demand on for example the density of the garment. It is therefore important to be able to make penetrations in a garment providing through holes for wires attached to such sensors on the outside of the garment, which can provide power for lights or other electronics attached to the garment's exterior or interior, etc. There is also a need to retrofit different equipment onto the garments after they have been used, for example to convert existing garment into "intelligent garments", or otherwise customize the material in the garment to a particular application.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a button that can function as a single waterproof through hole for various purposes in garments and textiles. It is also within the scope of the present invention to act as a support or carrier for various types of sensors, lights and other electronics or equipment used in smart clothing or in regular clothes.

Furthermore, it is a fact that we carry with us more and more devices that usually fill up the pockets in jackets or coats. According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a button can be mounted so that the head of the button is facing either inward on the inside of the garment or outward on the outside of the garment and can serve as an attachment device, hook or loop for different equipment worn on the outside or the inside of the jacket or coat. Applied on the outside, such a hook or strap may be used to attach tools, such as garden tools for example. Applied on the inside, equipment, tools, instruments, etc. attached to the inside may be protected from the environment by the garment's exterior side.

It is therefore a need in the prior art for a new type of button that can be attached easily on fabrics of different quality, thickness and application area, and which can be performed with low cost for production of clothing, which can be attached by people with visual impairment and / or who have problems with movements of hands and that these buttons can be manufactured in a large variety of different types of materials and / or combinations of materials, which can be used in different contexts in smart clothes or regular clothes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to prior art.

In particular, it can be seen as an object of the present invention to arrange a button that comprises at least two separate parts, one part that has a first functioning part resembling a needle that can penetrate fabric without tearing or otherwise damage fibers in the fabric, and a second functional part that resembles a button head that can be attached to the first functioning part after the first function part has been guided through the fabric.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a button in any suitable material, which alternatively can also act as a through hole channel, for example for signal conductors and / or power lines, or a button head can serve as a platform or carrier for devices, tools, etc. used in regular clothes and / or intelligent clothing, or portable devices that is to be used by the wearer of the garment. A further object of the present invention is to provide a releasable fastening together of the at least two parts constituting a button.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fixed fastening together of the at least two parts constituting a button.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a button that can be used in a method for attaching buttons to textiles that require a minimum number of steps to achieve a secure and water proof fastening of the button. SUMMARY OF INVENTIONS

Thus, the above-described object of the present invention and several other objects can be fulfilled in a first aspect of the present invention by arranging a button comprising at least two parts, a first part of the button of the at least two parts comprises a bottom part arranged with at least one sharpened protruding part on a side face of the bottom part that can be guided through a textile such that fibers in the fabric are pushed aside without being damaged or cut, and wherein a second part of the button of the at least two parts comprises a button head designed in a desired shape and material, and which is supported by a neck with a side face that can be turned against the at least one sharpened protruding part on the side face of the bottom part, wherein the neck supporting the button head is provided for in a length adapted to the length of the at least one sharpened protruding part on the side face of the bottom part, and where the at least one protruding part on the side face of the bottom part can be guided into the neck supporting the button head, wherein a locking device in the button is providing a locking of the at least two parts to each other when the neck and the at least one protruding part on the side face of the bottom part is brought together, wherein the fabric will be located in between the respective side of the neck facing the first section and the side of the bottom facing the button head.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention the function of the locking device is provided for by a shape of the surfaces of the sharpened protruding part that is locking into opposite located shaped surfaces of a cavity in the neck of the button head, wherein the locking is achieved when the respective parts are pressed together so that the respective surfaces are at least partially engaged to each the other.

According to another example of embodiment of the present invention a bottom side face of the neck of the head of the button or the side face of the bottom part having the protruding part has arranged an adhesive that is released when the neck of the head of the button and the bottom part is pressed together leaving the tissue in between the two parts and the adhesive.

According to another example of embodiment of the present invention the at least one protruding part of the bottom part is arranged with a hollow channel providing a through hole in the assembled button. In an example of embodiment the sharpened edge of the protruding part may be broken off in the sharpened end thereby exposing an opening of the through hole inside the protruding part. According to another example of embodiment of the present invention, the head of the button is designed to carry at least one sensor.

According to another example of embodiment of the present invention, the button head is arranged with a lamp.

According to another example of embodiment of the present invention, the head of the button is designed as a fastening device for equipment such as tools or similar devices. According to another example embodiment of the present invention a plurality of button heads are designed as active or passive reflectors attached to a garment.

According to another example embodiment of the present invention, the at least two parts constituting a button is releasable attached to each other and can be released from a garment after use.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. The figures illustrate an example of embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting other possible embodiments that fall within the scope of the attached claims. Figure Caption

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the example depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a bottom part used in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an example of a button head used in Figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross section view of the example depicted in Figure 1 Figure 6a illustrates an example of embodiment of a bottom part according to the present invention.

Figure 6b illustrates another example of embodiment of a bottom part according to the present invention.

Figure 6c illustrates an example of a button head according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention in no way is limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is as stated in the attached claims. In this context the term "include" do not exclude other elements, steps, etc. Designations that are described as "a" or "an" should not exclude possible plural forms. Use of reference numbers with reference to the attached figures should not limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, individual features that are mentioned in the individual claims may favorably be combined with each other and that these features are not mentioned in different claims should not rule out that such a combination is possible and / or advantageous.

Figure 1 illustrates an example of embodiment of a button according to the present invention. Figure 1 illustrates that embodiments of buttons in accordance with the present invention can be provided for to look like traditional buttons. In other words, the use of a button according to the present invention does not necessarily lead to a change of design and appearance of garments such as known in prior art. The principle of the invention is the fastening of buttons without sewing. This simplification facilitates not only the fastening of buttons during the manufacturing of garments, but also makes it easier to replace the buttons that are lost during the use of clothing.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that the simplified method of attaching a button provides opportunities to use the buttons differently from what is known in prior art, for example, designing a button head to function like a kind of hook for fastening tools for example on the outside of working clothes.

Obviously, these buttons can also be attached as a hook or loop on the inside of a garment, providing protection towards environmental impact on tools or instruments that are attached to such hooks or loops on the inside a coat or jacket. Generally, it is within the scope of the present invention that respective embodiments of the present invention can be used in connection with

microelectronics, sensors, light sources, through holes in textiles for signal cables, power supply etc., as used in smart clothing or in regular clothing or in other contexts where textiles are used (sails for sailboats, blinds, sunshades, etc.), and are within the scope of the attached claims.

Figure 2 depicts a side view of a button according to the present invention as shown in Figure .1 A bottom part 10 has a surface side 11 facing towards a neck 12 attached to a button head 13. Located on the base 10 there is a protruding sharpened part 14 that in shape, size and function are adapted to fit in a cavity 15 provided for in the neck 12. Located on a bottom side of the neck 12 there is a surface 16 facing towards the flat side 11 of the bottom part 10.

Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of an example of embodiment of a bottom part 10 in accordance with the present invention. As the illustration details, the protruding part 14 is centered on the surface 11 of bottom part 10 and is cone- shaped. As shown in Figure 4 and 5 there is arranged a corresponding shaped cavity 15 in size and shape of the protruding part 14 inside the body of the neck 12 of button head 13. As depicted in Figure 4, the neck 12 is arranged with two opposite located splits in the side walls of the cavity 15. When the protruding part 14 is pressed into the cavity from below at the surface 16 of the neck this will cause the side walls of the neck to bend outwards and the protruding part 14 is guided in its full length into the cavity 15. When the protruding part 14 is pushed far enough into the cavity, corresponding opposite arranged surfaces on a lower bottom side face (edge) of the cavity 15 will glide under the bottom surfaces 16 of the conical shaped part 14 Thus, the two parts in this example of embodiment of the present invention will be locked to each other. Depending on an angle of inclination of these opposite engaging surfaces the locking may be provided permanent or be arranged releasable. This feature is described in more detail below. When fastening a button on a piece of fabric, such as a shirt, the bottom part will be led through the fabric from underneath while the button head is positioned above the protruding part on the front side of the shirt and then the respective parts are pushed together and a locking is achieved as described above. The fabric will be left positioned between the surface 11 of bottom part 10 and the surface 16 of the bottom surface of the neck 12. It is also easy to understand that if the split in the neck 12 is pushed from one another, for example, by turning a screwdriver around, the two parts of this button can be taken apart from each other again and removed from a textile or garment it has been used on. If the buttons are designed to be decorative, this form of embodiment may be used to change a decoration on a garment in a simple manner.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention to have arranged at least one reservoir comprising an adhesive (glue) in the neck 12 that burst when a protruding part 14 is inserted into the cavity located inside the neck 12. In other examples of embodiment it could be a two-component adhesive that is arranged in two respective reservoirs. Such a reservoir may be provided for as a body made out of thin plastic film as known to a person skilled in the art. According to another example of the embodiment of the present invention, a surface 11 of bottom section 10 may be coated with a suitable adhesive for textiles. When the bottom part 10 is guided through a fabric, the surface of the bottom section 11 will be glued to the fabric. In this manner the bottom part will be glued to the fabric achieving two purposes. The first purpose is to provide a stable positioning of the bottom part on the textile before for example inserting the textile into a machine that adds the bottom head. Another purpose is to avoid that the fabric is split during use of the garment. The guiding through of the protruding part in the fabric may lead to a splitting or weakening of the textile at this point. The gluing will prevent this from happening.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to arrange small pads with adhesive on both the surface 11 of bottom section 10 and / or surface 16 of the neck 12 For example, with reference to Figure 3, it can be arranged a cushion of a plastic film with an adhesive agent around the base 17 of a cone-shaped protruding part 14. When the protruding part 14 is guided through a textile and is being engaged with a button head these small pads will burst thereby releasing the adhesive in between the two respective parts of the button leaving the fabric glued in between the two respective parts of the button. In this manner T two effects may be achieved, 1) the fabric is prevented from splitting, and 2) the opening in the fabric becomes closed, which is important if the fabric should be waterproof or be sealed against, dangerous gases or other environmental hazards.

The illustrated examples of embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various manners. It is easy to understand that the button head in accordance with the present invention can be arranged with a light emitting diode, or a plurality of LEDs. It is also easy to understand that it is also possible to arrange a through hole channel through the head, the neck 12, the protruding part 14 and bottom section 10 enabling wires for example to be guided through from the bottom of the button to the top of the button. When the bottom part is led through a textile it can be possible to break the tip off the conical shaped part 14 and the channel will be open from the bottom of the bottom section 10, through the fabric and up through the broken tip. The neck of the button head can be attached as described above, but in addition there may be arranged an opening through the button head to the surface on the front of the button. Through this opening, for example, wires may be routed to the inside of a jacket for example, and be connected to a battery that is worn in a pocket on the inside of the jacket. On the button's front face there may then be attached for example LEDs. The diodes can be integrated into the body of the button head or be glued onto the surface of the button head.

It is easy to understand that such a solution as described above can also be used to attach various types of sensors and other electronics that can be used in conjunction with intelligent clothing of varying design and purpose.

The use of LEDs can be useful for making an active reflector for ordinary pedestrians. It is also easy to understand that the button head may also be applied to a passive reflective layer. The buttons with LEDs can be retrofitted on any garment, and can be attached to shape any pattern, may be part of letters and words or be an artistic expression. For rescue workers, firefighters, police this can be a safety benefit. For example, the word POLICE in LED can be on the jacket of a policeman. In the same manner, paramedics and firefighters and similar personnel may have arranged corresponding LEDs indication their function. Distribution of power to various LEDs, instruments etc. may be provided for in many different ways as known to a person skilled in the art. For example by routing copper wires in a serial manner, i.e. the wires are connected from one position to the next. It is also within the scope of the present invention that electric conductors may be part of the at least two parts constituting a button according to the present invention. For example, the bottom part 10 may be arranged with electrically conducting pads for soldering of connecting wires. In the bottom part 10 it may further be integrated electric conductors that can be in electric contact with corresponding electric conductors in the button head when these at least two parts are locked to each other as described above. In light of the sprit of the invention, it is easy to understand that such applications may be achieved not only by the original manufacture of the product of such clothes, but also be done for retrofitting. Such retrofitting can be done without the clothing loses its feature as being waterproof, being safe towards gases or other environmental challenges. If people have to move in environments wherein such conditions may be a risk factor, examples of embodiments of the present invention may support various types of sensors mounted in the button heads that dramatically increases the security of these people. Sensors attached to the button heads can provide warning signals over wires led through the fabric as described above. Such signal lines can then be brought to a measuring device, a microprocessor, etc. as known to a person skilled in the art. Where appropriate, it may also be a button mounted on the inside of a jacket according to the present invention that has an instrument attached to it.

It is also easy to understand that the materials chosen for the button can be of various types. It is easy to understand that the button head may be designed in materials, shapes and sizes to suit specific types of clothing, design and specific requirements for appearance and / or function.

It is also easy to understand that an embodiment of the present invention provides buttons that are suitable for installation with a machine. Such a machine would be a clear simplification of the machines that are known in prior art and which are used to sew buttons on textiles.

In the illustrated examples of the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom part surface 11 is illustrated as a plain surface. In other examples of embodiments, the surface finish can be rifled for example. The neck 16 is also illustrated as being flat and small. In other examples of this surface finish can be rifled. It is within the scope of the present invention that any kind of surface, adhesive, etc., including both chemical or mechanical and a combination of chemical and mechanical features that is providing a locking of the at least two parts

constituting embodiments of the present invention, and are covered by the attached claims.

Figure 6a illustrates an example of embodiment of a bottom part according to the present invention. The conical shaped protruding part has a side face in its lower part that has an inclination in the side face towards a supporting body attached to the bottom part. The angle of this inclined lower located side face is such that insertion of this bottom part into a neck of a button head is facilitated. However, this inclination is still of such a magnitude that the locking provided for in the button head as described above still is firm and secure with respect to ordinary use of for example a shirt with such buttons attached. However, the inclination is also selected to provide a possibility to draw the at least two parts (bottom part and head) of a button from each other just by using ones fingers and without tools. Figure 6a indicates some practical dimensions that achieve this technical effect for a button to be used on a shirt. However, it is within the scope to scale the size of such a button preserving the relative dimensions of all the construction elements of the protruding part, wherein the scaling can be done as known to a person skilled in the art.

Figure 6b illustrates another example of embodiment wherein the lower side face of the protruding part of the bottom part of a button according to the present invention is provided with an inclination making a sharp edge in its lower part. As readily understood, this sharp edge will provide a permanent locking of the bottom part to the head of a button. As in the example depicted in figure 6a, the indicated dimensions can be scaled relatively to each other. Therefore, just by changing the inclination of this lower side face of the conical shaped protruding part of the bottom part it is possible to provide a releasable locking or a permanent locking of a button to a garment.

Figure 6c illustrates a button head according to the present invention. This example of embodiment may be used together with the examples illustrated in figure 6a and 6b. This example of embodiment may be scaled as disclosed above for the embodiments in fig. 6a and 6b.

Claims

Claims:

1. A button for attachment to textiles, wherein the button comprises at least one bottom part (10) comprising a surface (11) with a protruding part

(14), a button head (13) supported by a neck (12) comprising a cavity (15) adapted to receive the protruding part (14) of the bottom part (10) when the neck (12) of the button head (13) is engaged is with the protruding part (12), wherein the textile the button is to be attached to is left in between the surface (11) of the bottom part (10) and a lower surface of the neck (12) facing towards the textile surface, characterized in that an inclination angle of a surface at a lower bottom end of the protruding part (14) relative to a direction of the protruding part (14) is arranged to provide a releasable locking between the bottom part (10) and the button head (13) when they are engaged, or a fixed locking when they are engaged.

2. The button according to claim 1, wherein the releasable locking of the

button head (13) and the bottom part (10) is provided for when the inclination angle of the lower end surface of the protruding part (14) is more than 0° but substantially less than 90°.

3. The button according to claim 1, wherein the fixed locking of the button head (13) and the bottom part (10) is provided for when the inclination angle of the lower end surface of the protruding part (14) is more less than 0° but substantially less than minus 180° .