Button repair kit

Abstract

A button repair kit includes a snap fastener which includes a socket side and a stud or post side and has adhesive on the socket side thereof and a release covering on the adhesive. The adhesive is used to attach the socket side of the snap fastener to a button, and the snap side of the fastener is placed through the material on which a button is to be attached. A clutch element is attached to the post to hold the button in place on the material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of wearing apparel, and to the particular field of fasteners for wearing apparel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buttons are believed to have been initially developed as a convenient means for connecting two pieces of fabric together. As buttons have developed, they have been employed throughout all areas of the textile industry. In fact, today, buttons are so common that they are often employed simply for decorative purposes. However, for almost as long as buttons have been known, they have been snapped, popped, lost and broken from the fabric on which they were connected.

Typically, buttons comprise a disc-like member with one or more holes therethrough for “permanently” stitching the button to a piece of fabric by means of needle and thread. Although the thread stitching a button to fabric is typically doubled over time and again to reinforce the stitch, breaking of that thread and subsequent removal of the button from the fabric is commonplace, especially when the thread is subject to excessive stress or as the thread becomes weakened through extended use.

Broken or lost buttons on garments such as shirts and blouses usually result from mechanical stress of washers and dryers, commercial pressing equipment, and normal wear. The discovery that a button has been broken or lost is often made at an inconvenient time, for example, while dressing, at work, traveling, or when the garment is unpackaged from the laundry. At such times, it may be inconvenient or impossible to repair the button using the tried and trued techniques of needle and thread or sewing machine. Even if a needle and thread or sewing machine is available, many individuals have difficulties manipulating these devices due to poor eyesight, coordination or the like, or are simply disinclined to engage in such activity. This dilemma is particularly troublesome when there is inadequate time to sew or stitch the button back onto the garment. Further, problems of this nature: have become increasingly common as commercial laundries have recently begun using hotter pressing devices that result in breakage of plastic buttons.

The most obvious way to remedy the removal of a button is to sew it back onto the fabric. That process, though, can be a real nuisance due to the time, patience and skill required. Many would rather go without the button than put themselves through the tedious task of replacing it. Furthermore, once a button is replaced, it is still just as susceptible to being popped from the fabric again. Those consequences may be especially acute when an individual is inexperienced or inept with a needle and thread.

There is thus a need in the art for the means of quickly and easily replacing lost buttons to garments, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a lost button.

The inventor has observed that, for centuries, medals, ribbons, brooches and a variety of other ornamental articles have been fastened to fabric by means of sharpened pins that are connected to the back of the article and are used to pierce the fabric. Typically, once the pin has pierced the fabric, it is secured at its tip by some form of locking means to complete the attachment. That form of fastener is advantageous since it can be performed quickly and easily. On the other hand, the sharpened pin of such fasteners almost necessarily risks injury, although minor, to an individual who later wears or otherwise comes in contact with the fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a button repair kit that includes a snap fastener which includes a socket side and a stud or post side and has adhesive on the socket side thereof and a release covering on the adhesive. The adhesive is used to attach the socket side of the snap fastener to a button, and the snap side of the fastener is placed through the material on which a button is to be attached. A clutch element is attached to the post to hold the button in place on the material.

Using the button repair kit embodying the present invention will permit quick and easy replacement of a button on material without requiring sewing or other such process.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a button repair kit embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of a button repair kit embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a button repair kit 10. Kit 10 comprises a button 12 which has a first surface 14 which is an outer surface when the button is in use and a second surface 16 which is a rear surface when the button is in use. The button shown is merely an example of the many types of buttons that can be used and is not intended as a limitation. A plurality of different buttons can be included with kit 10 so the kit can be used to repair a wide variety of wearing apparel articles.

A layer of material 20 has a first surface 22 which is located adjacent to second surface 16 of the button when the layer of material is in use and a second surface 24. A first layer 30 of adhesive material is located on first surface 22. First layer 30 of adhesive material affixes the layer of material to second surface 16 of the button when the layer of material is in use.

A release liner 40 is removably mounted on first layer 30 of adhesive material on first surface 22 of the layer of material, and is removed when the kit is to be used as will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure. A second layer of adhesive material 50 is located on the second surface of the layer of material.

A stud element 60 includes a mounting plate 62 which has a first surface 64 that is located adjacent to second surface 24 of the layer of material and which is adhered to second surface 24 of the layer of material by second layer 50 of adhesive material. Mounting plate 62 further includes a second surface 66.

A post 70 is unitary with mounting plate 62 and extends from second surface 66 of the mounting plate. A clutch element 80 is releasably mounted on post 70 when the clutch element is in use as shown in FIG. 2. Clutch element 80 includes a body 82 which has a hole 84 defined therethrough through which post 70 extends when the clutch element is mounted on the post. A spring-operated clasp 86 is located in the body and engages the post when the post is in the body. Wings 90 are located on the body and are operatively connected to the clasp to move the clasp into an open position to release the post from the body. Operation of the clasp is well known and thus will not be described or claimed in detail.

Use of kit 10 can be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and thus will not be described in detail. To replace a button that has fallen off of an article of wearing apparel, one simply selects a suitable button (or uses the button that has fallen off of the article of wearing apparel if that button can be found and retrieved), removes the release liner and fixes the button to the layer of material which is fixed to the mounting plate of the stud element. The post of the stud element is then forced through the wearing apparel and the clutch element is attached to the post. The post is thus attached to the article of wearing apparel, and the button is located in the position of the lost button. The button is then used in the manner of the button that was lost. The button can be removed in order to sew a permanent button onto the article of wearing apparel.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A button repair kit comprising:

A) a button having a first surface which is an outer surface when the button is in use and a second surface which is a rear surface when the button is in use;

B) a layer of material having (1) a first surface which is located adjacent to the second surface of the button when the layer of material is in use, (2) a second surface, (3) a first layer of adhesive material on the first surface of the layer of material, the first layer of adhesive material affixing the layer of material to the second surface of the button when the layer of material is in use, (4) a release liner removably mounted on the first layer of adhesive material on the first surface of the layer of material, and (5) a second layer of adhesive material on the second surface of the layer of material;

C) a stud element which includes (1) a mounting plate which has a first surface that is located adjacent to the second surface of the layer of material and which is adhered to the second surface of the layer of material by the second layer of adhesive material and a second surface, and (2) a post which is unitary with the mounting plate and extends from the second surface of the mounting plate; and

D) a clutch element which is releasably mounted on the post when the clutch element is in use, the clutch element including (1) a body having a hole defined therethrough through which the post extends when the clutch element is mounted on the post, (2) a spring-operated clasp in the body which engages the post when the post is in the body, and (3) wings on the body which are operatively connected to the clasp to move the clasp into an open position to release the post from the body.

2. A button repair kit comprising:

A) a button having a first surface which is an outer surface when the button is in use and a second surface which is a rear surface when the button is in use;

B) a stud element which includes (1) a mounting plate which has a first surface that is located adjacent to the second surface of the button and which is attached to the second surface of the button, and (2) a post which is unitary with the mounting plate and extends from the second surface of the mounting plate; and

C) a clutch element which is releasably mounted on the post when the clutch element is in use.