Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[00011 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
[00021 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.
[0003] 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.
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[0004] United States Patent 5,161,285 to Jerjian, issued
November 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 hoilow 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.
[0005] United States Patent 5,621,951, issued April 22, 1997 to
Gould, discloses a Device for Covering and Concealing Buttons.
This device is similar to the button cover disclosed in United
States Patent 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.
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[0006] 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.
[0007] United States Design Patent 396,202 issued July 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] It is an object of the present inveration to provide a
button cover, wherein, during use, the button cover cannot open.
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[00010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
button cover that is inexpensive to manufacture.
[00011] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a button cover that is easy to attach onto button.
[00012] 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.
[00013] 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.
SU1OIARY OF THE INVENTION
[00014] 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
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to connect the front wall portion and the back -caall portion one to
the other, in spaced-apart fixed relation, so as to form a button-
receiving cavity between the front wall portiorl and the back wall
portion. A thread-receivirig 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.
[00015] 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, wi.ll 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
[00016] 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,
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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:
[00017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention;
[00018] Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 1;
[00019] Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the button cover of
Figure 1;
[00020] Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 1;
j00021] Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 1;
[00022] Figure 6 is a top plan view of the button cover of Figure
1;
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[00023] Figure 7 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational view
similar to Figure 4, but with the button, cover in place over a
button on a garment;
[00024] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view
similar to Figure 7, taken along section line 8-8 in Figure 2, but
with the button cover about to be put in place on the button;
[00025] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second preferred
embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention;
[00026] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the third preferred
embodiment of the button cover according to the present invention;
[00027] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth
preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present
invention;
[00028] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the button cover of
Figure 11;
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[00029] Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 11, with the disk member in place on the front wall
portion;
[00030] Figure 14 is a side elevational view similar to Figure
13, with the disk member being removed from the front wall portion;
[00031] Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth
preferred embodiment of the button cover according to the present
invention;
[00032] Figure 16 is a perspective view of the button cover of
Figure 15;
[00033] Figure 17 is a side elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 15, with the disk member in place on the front wall
portion;
[00034] Figure 18 is a side elevational view similar to Figure
17, with the disk member being removed from the front wall portion.
[00035] Figure 19 is an exploded perspect:ive view from the front
of the sixth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to
the present invention;
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[00036] Figure 20 is a perspective view of the button cover of
Figure 19, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member;
[00037] Figure 21 is a perspective view from the back of the
button cover of Figure 19, with a disc member in place on the front
wall portion;
[00038] Figure 22 is a side eleva.tional view of the button cover
of Figure 19, with the disc member in place on the front wall
portion;
[00033] Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view from the front
of the seventh preferred embodiment of the button cover according
to the present invention;
[00040] Figure 24 is a perspective view of the button cover of
Figure 23, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member;
[00041] Figure 25 is a perspective view from the back of the
button cover of Figure 23, with a disc member in place on the front
wall portion;
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[00042] Figure 26 is a side elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 23, with the disc member in place on the front wall
portion;
[00043] Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view from the front
of the eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover according to
the present invention;
[00044] Figure 28 is a perspective view of the button cover of
Figure 27, from an opposite angle, and not showing the disc member;
[00045] Figure 29 is a perspective view from the back of the
button cover of Figure 27, with a disc member in place on the front
wall portion; and,
[00046] Figure 30 is a side elevational view of the button cover
of Figure 27, with the disc member in place on the front wall
portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI TS
[00047] Referring to Figures 1 through 30 of the drawings, it
will be noted that Figures 1 through 8 illustrate a first preferred
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embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, Figure 9
illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the button cover of
the present invention, Figure 10 illustrates a third preferred
embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, Figures 11
through 14 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment of the button
cover of the present invention, Figures 15 through 18 illustrate a
fifth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present
invention, Figures 19 through 22 illustrate a sixth preferred
embodiment of the button cover of the present invention, Figures 23
through 26 illustrate a seventh preferred embodiment of the button
cover of the present invention, and Figures 27 through 30
illustrate a eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the
present invention.
[00048] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 8, which
show a first preferred embodiment of the button cover of the
present invention, as indicated by 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
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portion 30 and below the mid-point between the top 36 and the
bottom 38 of the front wall portion 30.
[00049] There is also means to connect the 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.
[00050] As can be best seen in Figure 1, the peripheral wall
portion 50 is discontinuous adjacent the bottom 38 of the front
wall portion 30, and extends between left and right bottom edges
51452r. 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 51452r of the peripheral wall portion
50. As can be best seen in Figure 7, the button.-receiving opening
53 permits a button 22 to enter the button-receiving cavity 52.
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[00051] As can be best seen in Figure 4, the bottom 48 of the
back wall portion 40 is disposed below the left and right bottom
edges 51i,52r 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 51L,52r 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 51t,52r of the peripheral wall portion 50. By virtue
of the back wall portion 40 extending dowriwardly 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.
[00052] There is also a thread-receiving slot 60 disposed in the
back wall portion 40. As can be best seen in Figure 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 Figure 7. There is
also a wider portion 68 disposed adjacent t:he closed end 64. The
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SUBSTITUTED SHEET
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.
[0001] Reference will now be made to Figure 9, which shows a
second preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present
invention, as indicated by 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.
[0002] Reference will now be made to Figure 10, which shows a
third preferred embodiment of the button cover of the present
invention, as indicated by 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.
[0003] Reference will now be made to Figures 11 through 14,
which show a fourth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the
present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 420.
The fourth preferred embodiment button cover 420 is similar to the
first preferred embodiment button cover 20, except that the fourth
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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.
[000561 Reference will now be made to Figures 15 through 18,
which shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the
present invention as indicated by general reference numeral 520.
The fifth preferred embodiment button cover 520 is similar to the
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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.
[00057] Reference will now be made to Figures 19 through 22,
which shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the button cover of the
present invention, as indicated by 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
690a,690b. The disk member 670 is removed in the same manner as
the disk member 470 discussed above. The gap 691 between the tabs
690a,690b 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.
[00058] Reference will now be made to Figures 23 through 26,
which shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the button cover of
the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral
720. The seventh preferred embodiment button cover 720 is similar
to the sixth preferred embodiment button cover 620, except that the
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reduced step portion is not present. Instead, the front-facing
surface 732 is substantially flat.
[00059] Reference will now be made to Figures 27 through 30,
which shows a eighth preferred embodiment of the button cover of
the present invention, as indicated by 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 890a,890b 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 890a,890b of a height about
the same as the thickness of the disk member 870 and about 1.2 mm
in length. Of course, tabs 890a,890b of other suitable dimensions
may also be used.
[000601 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
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detachable front portion can be used for various purposes, such as
a golf marker, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.
[00061] 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 th.e spirit and scope
of the accompanying claims.
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