Button Cover Assembly

Abstract

A button cover assembly provides users with a decorative button cover. The cover assembly includes a disk and a cover construction. The disk is bonded to the cover construction, which cover construction is formed from an elastic material comprising a bonding portion and an aperture-defining portion. The bonding portion includes a series of button-engaging nubs, and the aperture-defining portion includes a non-circular geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration lesser in magnitude than the diameter of a target button. The aperture-defining portion is elastically stressable for altering the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the aperture-defining portion retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior History

This application is a Continuation-in-Part patent application claiming the benefit of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/383,188, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 20 Mar. 2009, the specifications of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a button cover assembly for ornamentally adorning buttons, and method of manufacture for the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art shows a number of button covering devices and the like. Some of the more pertinent prior art disclosures are briefly described hereinafter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,654 ('654 Patent), which issued to Armbruster, discloses a Cuff Button Cover. The '654 Patent describes an ornamental cover for a sewed button plate, an arched top plate extending over said bottom plate, said bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced at its forward edge from the forward edge of the top plate and having a central recess extending to the forward edge thereof, whereby a sewed button may be received within said housing, said top plate having an opening adjacent its front edge, a lock lever hinged to said top plate and having a tongue adapted to extend through said opening when the lock lever is seated on the top plate, and means for releasably securing the lock lever to the top plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,487 ('487 Patent) which issued to T. R. Ryan, discloses Interchangeable Ornaments for Buttons. The '487 Patent describes an interchangeable ornament for buttons or the like comprising an ornamental member having a substantially flat portion, a V-shaped element having a base resilient curved branch portions extending from said base portion, and means for normally keeping said V-shaped element juxtaposed to said ornamental member, the branch portions of said V-shaped member being constructed and arranged for receiving between them threads fastening a button to a piece of fabric and for engaging said button in such a manner as to fasten thereto said ornamental member.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,009 ('009 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Covered Button. The '009 Patent describes a button comprising connected top and bottom sections; wherein the top section has a pair of bendable fingers extending there-from toward said bottom section, said bottom section having a first aperture through which said fingers pass when said sections are assembled and having second and third apertures on opposite sides of said first aperture through which said fingers are bent to extend into said button when said sections are assembled, said top section comprising a shell, a first member received within said shell, integral portions of said first member extending there-from to define said fingers, and a second member secured within said shell beneath said first member by direct engagement with one of said shell and said first member and having an aperture through which said fingers extend. The top section may be covered by material which extends partially over the lower surface thereof above said second and third apertures in said bottom section, said fingers being of a length such as, when bent through said second and third apertures, to engage said material. U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,544 ('544 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Hand-Assembled, Fabric-Covered Button. The '544 Patent describes a button shell and a button back for forming a fabric-faced button, said button shell comprising a body provided with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and inwardly of said body, said button back comprising a body provided with a central opening and with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and outwardly of said back body, said button back body being disposed upwardly and inwardly of its peripheral flange and being formed between its central opening and its said peripheral flange with a series of circular stepped ribs, said shell and back being dimensioned for the back to be telescoped and pressure-fitted into and to rest within the shell with the peripheral flanges of the shell and back interlocking in engagement with fabric material of a facing covering for the button.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,965 ('965 Patent) which issued to S. Wassell, discloses an Ear Muff. The '965 Patent describes an ear muff having a water-repellent material lined with thin insulation sewn into the form of a pocket which fits around the ear of the wearer to protect the ear against cold, wind, snow, or the like without substantially impairing hearing. The ear muff is kept engaged to the ear by means of an elastic loop residing in the hem of the opening of the pocket which contracts around the base of the ear, and in addition, adjacent to the elastic within the hem, a malleable earlobe clasp which the wearer clamps around the earlobe, so that the ear muff can be used by people with attached earlobes as well as by people with unattached earlobes. The lined water-repellent material comprising the pocket plays no part in keeping the ear muff engaged to the ear, and thus is made of flexible material so that it can conform to various shapes of ears. U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,455 ('455 Patent) which issued to D. Joseph, discloses an Ear Cover. The '455 Patent describes an ear cover for protecting the external ear of a wearer. The cover includes a first flexible sheet having an outer layer formed of an absorbent material and an inner layer coextensive therewith formed of an impermeable material. A second flexible sheet is secured to the first flexible sheet adjacent the inner layer to serve as a liner for the cover. An elastic band is secured between the first and second flexible sheets for gathering the respective peripheries thereof around the ear of a wearer.

It will be seen from a review of the foregoing that the prior art is silent on a button cover assembly comprising a disk and an elastic cover construction bonded to the disk at a non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover bond interface, which uneven bond interface functions to increase the bond contact surface area as a means to enhance bond strength. Accordingly, the prior art perceives a need for such and button cover assembly and method for manufacturing the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus attempts to structurally address the foregoing features in particular and provides a button cover assembly and method of manufacture for the same, which button cover assembly ornamentally adorns a button when outfitted thereupon. The button cover assembly may preferably comprise a circular, embroidered disk and a cover construction. The embroidered disk has an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter. The inner disk surface comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape having peaks and valleys strewn across the disk landscape, which peaks and valleys are reflective of the embroidery.

The cover construction is preferably formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material comprising a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter. The bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape since the bonding interface is formed by filling the disk landscape with the polymeric material while in a liquid form. The uneven volumetric space above the disk landscape is thus filled with the liquid material, which when solid, complements the disk landscape and enhances bond strength via increase bond contact surface area. In other words, the disk is bonded to the cover construction at the non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover interface.

The elastic annulus is integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprises a button-receiving cover aperture defined by the inner annular diameter, which may be reinforced or non-reinforced according the application requirements. The cover aperture has a relaxed aperture or inner annular diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter but greater in magnitude than the diameter of a target button. The pliable, elastic material is elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.

Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is an anterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a posterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an anterior or front plan view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention showing an ornamental marking upon the disk.

FIG. 4 is a first posterior or rear plan view of the button cover assembly showing a relaxed geometric aperture of the cover construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 3 for comparison purposes.

FIG. 5 is a second posterior or rear plan view of the button cover assembly with parts of the cover construction broken away to show internal button-engaging nubs otherwise hidden from view.

FIG. 6 is a posterior or rear perspective view of the button cover assembly with parts of the cover construction broken away to show internal button-engaging nubs otherwise hidden from view.

FIG. 7 is a third posterior or rear plan view of the button cover assembly showing a relaxed geometric aperture of the cover construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 8 for comparison purposes.

FIG. 8 is a fourth posterior or rear plan view of the button cover assembly showing an acutated geometric aperture of the cover construction juxtaposed adjacent FIG. 7 for comparison purposes.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view type depiction of the button cover assembly donned upon a button as attached to a fragmentary button support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a button cover assembly 10 for adorning a button 11 as attached to an underlying button support structure 19, such as a coat, a shoe, a handbag, a headband or a belt. In this last regard, it will be noted that buttons 11 are typically stitched to underlying support structure(s) 19 via thread or some other similar fastening means as at 18.

At the stitch site, a certain space is formed or defined intermediate the button 11 and underlying support structure 19. In other words, the button-outfitted structure (such as coat, shoe, handbag, headband or belt) is attached to the button 11 at a button-to-structure junction, which button-to-structure junction defines an annulus-receiving gap or space as at 17. This space or gap 17 provides opportunity for a device to be inserted therein so as to cover or envelope the button 11.

The present invention or button cover assembly 10 preferably comprises a circular, embroidered disk as at 20 and a cover construction as at 21. It is contemplated that the embroidered disk 20 may be fashioned according to state of the art embroidery construction practices and comprises a lower disk surface 22, an upper disk surface 23, and a disk diameter as at 24. The lower disk surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven or non-uniform embroidered disk landscape.

The cover construction 21 is preferably being formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material, and comprises an upper bonding surface or portion as at 26, a lower aperture-defining portion as at 27 and a cover diameter as at 38. The bonding portion 26 has a second profile or cover landscape, which second profile or cover landscape is complementary to the first profile or disk landscape.

In other words, the cover landscape, having been formed from a liquid medium poured into the disk landscape and solidified, becomes a negative or a complement to the disk landscape for increasing the surface area of the bond, and enhancing bonding strength. The landscape interfacing between the cover and disk landscapes are generically depicted at the boundary layer 29 in FIG. 9.

The disk 20 is thus preferably bonded to the cover construction 21 at the first and second profiles at a disk-to-cover interface or boundary layer 29, at which interface the cover landscape is the complement of the disk landscape for enhancing bond strength. This bond is formed by filling the disk landscape with the polymeric material while in liquid form, the fluid material having no independent shape, but a definite volume for filling volumetric space. The liquid medium thereafter solidifies and effectively bonds the cover construction 21 to the disk 20.

The lower aperture-defining portion 27 is preferably integrally formed with the bonding portion 26 and defines a geometrically-shaped, button-receiving cover aperture as at 30. The geometric aperture 30 has a relaxed aperture configuration as generally depicted in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, and any number of actuated aperture configurations. An exemplary actuated configuration is generically depicted in FIG. 8. The preferred geometric shape of the geometric aperture 30 is that of a pentagon, although other shapes are possible as discussed in more detail below.

In contrast to FIGS. 2, 4, and 7 versus FIG. 8, FIGS. 5 and 6 depict parts broken away from the lower aperture-defining portion 27 of the cover construction 21 so as to show otherwise visually obscured fingerlike projections or button-engaging nubs 28 depending from the bonding portion 26 and extending toward the geometric aperture 27.

As can be seen from a general and comparative inspection of FIGS. 7 and 8, the relaxed aperture configuration (defining the preferred geometric shape) comprises a maximum aperture dimension (as at 100) that is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28. The aperture-defining portion 27 is preferably formed so as to be substantially parallel to the bonding portion 26.

In this last regard, it is noted that the button 11, as received within the cavity 101 defined by the aperture-defining portion 27 and the bonding portion 26, comprises a maximal button thickness. The aperture-defining portion 27 and bonding portion 26 preferably comprise a substantially uniform distance therebetween when in a relaxed state for receiving the maximal button thickness such that the downwardly extending nubs 28 engage and resiliently press against the button 11 gently forcing the button against the aperture-defining portion 27 as generally depicted in FIG. 9.

The pliable, elastic material is thus elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter the relaxed aperture configuration to a stressed or actuated aperture configuration for receiving a button 11. Notably, the button 11 as received by the cover construction 21, has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 38, but greater in magnitude than the maximum aperture dimension 100.

The aperture-defining portion 27 thus functions to retain the button cover assembly 10 adorned upon the received button 11. In other words, the aperture-defining portion 27 occupies a portion of the gap 17 when the button cover assembly 10 is donned upon the button 11 thereby enveloping the button 11.

The disk diameter 24 is preferably greater in magnitude than the cover diameter 38 for masking the cover construction 21 from an anterior viewpoint as generally depicted in FIG. 3. The upper disk surface 23 preferably comprises ornamental markings 31 such as a heart as generally depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. The ornamental marking 31 essentially functions to ornament or ornamentally adorn the button 11 as received or enveloped by the cover assembly 10.

It is contemplated that the material used to construct the cover construction 21 may be either opaque or translucent depending on the desired application. It is contemplated that an opaque cover construction 21 may well function to visually conceal the received button 11 or similar other structure, and that a translucent cover construction 21 may well function to visually reveal the received button 11 or similar other structure as otherwise seen from a lateral viewpoint. It is contemplated that the button cover assembly 10 may thus be manufactured by first fashioning an embroidered disk as at 20, which embroidered disk has a lower or outer disk surface as at 22, an upper or inner disk surface as at 23, a disk diameter as at 24, and a certain disk thickness. The cover construction 21 comprises a bonding portion 26, bonded to the lower or outer disk surface 22, and further comprises an aperture-defining portion 27 and a cover diameter as at 38.

The geometric aperture 30 is preferably formed with a geometric shape as exemplified by a regular pentagon having a number of sides as at 40 equal to the number of nubs 28 such that the sides 40 orthogonally oppose positioned placement of the nubs 28 as generally depicted in FIG. 4. In this example, the nubs 28 may be thought of as the five points of a pentagram, the intersecting lines of which define the pentagonal geometric aperture 30.

The preferably non-circular geometric shape of the geometric aperture 30 thus defines an angled or pointed intersection as at 41, which angled or pointed intersection 41 may receive the button threads or similar other fastening means as at 18 such that the cover assembly 10 may be viewed as hanging from the threads or fastening means at the pointed intersection 41.

The pointed or angled intersection 41 preferably points in a certain direction, as exemplified by an “up” direction. This direction may be preferably marked with an arrow as at 42 upon the aperture-defining portion 27 so that the user may more readily orient the cover assembly 10 when donning the same upon a button 11. The intersection 41 is also preferably aligned with the marking 31 so that the either the arrow 42 or marking 31 points in the desired direction as exemplified by the “up” or upright direction. While the foregoing specifications and drawings are set forth in some detail, the specific embodiments described and illustrated thereby are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention(s) to the specific embodiments illustrated and methods supported.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments, it is not intended that the novel arrangements be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures, the appended drawings, and the following claim limitations.

Claims

1. A button cover assembly, the button cover assembly comprising, in combination:

a button;

a disk, the disk having an upper disk surface, a lower disk surface, and a disk diameter; and

a cover construction, the circular cover construction being formed from an elastic polymeric material and comprising an upper bonding portion, a lower aperture-defining portion, and a cover diameter, the disk being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond interface, the aperture-defining portion being integrally formed with the bonding portion and defining a geometric aperture, the geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration, the relaxed aperture configuration having a maximum aperture dimension lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture configuration for receiving the button, the received button having a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the maximum aperture dimension, the geometric aperture being configured for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon the received button.

2. The button cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper bonding portion comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the button-engaging nubs extending toward and resiliently engaging the button forcing the button against the aperture-defining portion for enhancing retention of the cover construction upon the received button.

3. The button cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the geometric aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon the button.

4. The button cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the aperture-defining portion comprises an arrow marking, the arrow marking pointing in the same direction as the select direction for enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon the button.

5. The button cover assembly of claim 4 wherein the non-circular geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned relative to the sides.

6. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer disk surface comprises ornamental markings, the ornamental markings for ornamentally adorning the received button.

7. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the cover construction is opaque, the opaque cover construction for concealing the received button.

8. The button cover assembly of claim 5 wherein the cover construction is translucent, the translucent cover construction for enabling a passerby to view the button through the cover construction.

9. A button cover assembly for adorning a button, the button cover assembly comprising:

a disk, the disk having an upper disk surface, a lower disk surface, and a disk diameter; and

a cover construction, the circular cover construction being formed from an elastic polymeric material and comprising an upper bonding portion, a lower aperture-defining portion, and a cover diameter, the disk being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond interface, the aperture-defining portion being integrally formed with the bonding portion and defining a geometric aperture, the geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration, the relaxed aperture configuration having a maximum aperture dimension lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture configuration for receiving a button received by the cover construction button, said button having a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the maximum aperture dimension, the geometric aperture being configured for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon said button.

10. The button cover assembly of claim 9 wherein the cover construction comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the button-engaging nubs for resiliently engaging said button received by the cover construction and thus for forcing said button against the aperture-defining portion for enhancing retention of the cover construction upon said button.

11. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the geometric aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon a button received by the cover construction.

12. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the aperture-defining portion comprises an arrow marking, the arrow marking pointing in the same direction as the select direction for enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon the button.

13. The button cover assembly of claim 11 wherein the non-circular geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned relative to the sides.

14. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the outer disk surface comprises ornamental markings, the ornamental markings for ornamentally adorning the received button.

15. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the cover construction is opaque, the opaque cover construction for concealing the received button.

16. The button cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the cover construction is translucent, the translucent cover construction for enabling a passerby to view the button through the cover construction.

17. A button cover assembly for adorning a button, the button cover assembly comprising:

a cover construction, the circular cover construction being formed from an elastic polymeric material and comprising an upper bonding portion, a lower aperture-defining portion, and a cover diameter, the disk being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond interface, the aperture-defining portion being integrally formed with the bonding portion and defining a geometric aperture, the geometric aperture having a relaxed aperture configuration, the relaxed aperture configuration having a maximum aperture dimension lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic polymeric material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to alter the relaxed aperture configuration to an actuated aperture configuration for receiving a button received by the cover construction button, said button having a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the maximum aperture dimension, the geometric aperture being configured for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon said button.

18. The button cover assembly of claim 17 wherein the cover construction comprises a series of button-engaging nubs, the button-engaging nubs for resiliently engaging said button received by the cover construction and thus for forcing said button against the aperture-defining portion for enhancing retention of the cover construction upon said button.

19. The button cover assembly of claim 18 wherein the geometric aperture comprises a non-circular geometric shape, the non-circular geometric shape comprising an angled intersection, the angled intersection pointing in a select direction for enhancing the user's ability to don the cover construction upon a button received by the cover construction.

20. The button cover assembly of claim 19 wherein the non-circular geometric shape comprises a number of sides, the number of sides equaling the number of nubs, the nubs being orthogonally positioned relative to the sides.