Boutonniere holding assembly

Abstract

A boutonniere holding assembly includes a looped adjustable material, a releasable locking mechanism to lock the looped material in any of a plurality of desired locations thereby allowing for a variety of size loops, and an attaching mechanism for attaching to fabric such as a pin. In a preferred embodiment, the looped material includes an inner ridged surface to increase the holding strength on the assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 60/834,214, filed Jul. 29, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a boutonniere. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved boutonniere holding assembly for the affixing of flowers or other objects to clothing or other puncturable supporting fabric.

In the past, single-prong and two-prong pins have been used to affix boutonnieres and other objects to clothing, floral displays and other puncturable supporting surfaces, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,554,527 (R. B. Saalfrink), U.S. Pat. No. 1,708,005 (C. P. Wilson) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,145,531 (S. Shuko). These devices differed primarily in the curvature or shape adjoining means, or supporting member, between the two prongs. In general, the joining means acted as the holder of the boutonniere or other object. Under various circumstances, the supporting member-to-boutonniere connection become loose or insecure, and permitted the boutonniere or other object to move or slip with respect to the supporting surface.

Prior-art pins were intended to accommodate a specific size of stem, or a narrow range of stem or other object sizes. Thus, a selection of pin sizes was required to be kept in stock so as to accommodate differing stem or object thicknesses.

The retentive force of prior art single or two-prong pins was limited by the length of engagement between the prongs and the puncturable support surface, with a greater length of prong giving greater security.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a means for attaching to fabric a boutonniere holder that can more easily accommodate a variety of flower arrangement sizes.

It is also an advantage of the present invention to provide a boutonniere that can be re-used several times with different size flower arrangements.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a boutonniere holding assembly comprises a looped adjustable material, a releasable locking mechanism to lock the looped material in a plurality of desired locations thereby allowing for a variety of size loops, and an attaching mechanism for attaching the assembly to fabric such as a pin. In a preferred embodiment, the looped material includes an inner ridged surface to increase the holding strength to the boutonniere.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing constitutes a part of this specification and includes an exemplary embodiment to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectioned view of a boutonniere holding assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Various aspects of the invention may be inverted, or changed in reference to specific part shape and detail, part location, or part composition. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a boutonniere holding assembly 10. Boutonniere holding assembly 10 includes, in the illustrated embodiment, a pin 13 designed to puncture fabric on which a boutonniere is to be displayed. Pin 13 includes a portion 15 intended to be behind the fabric and not seen by those that can see the boutonniere, and a portion 17 to be on the other side of the fabric to which the boutonniere is to be attached. It will be appreciated that though the word boutonniere is used throughout this application, it is meant to encompass such things as flower arrangements, mums, corsages and the like to be displayed on a garment.

Attached to pin 13 is looped material 21. Looped material 21 may be similar to electrical zip ties in that it is intended to be flexible and adjustable. In addition, looped material 21 is adapted by width size to be attached to pin portion 17 in a fixedly engaging manner. It will be understood that pin 13 and looped material 21 may be fixedly engaged by a variety of means such as glue, manufactured as a single unit, or otherwise.

Continuing with attention to looped material 21, looped material 21 includes in the illustrated embodiment inner ridged section 24 so as to increase the connection and holding ability of the boutonniere assembly to a flower assembly or other boutonniere. It will be appreciated that the degree of coarseness or fineness of ridged section 24 may be varied as applicable to the intended flower arrangement.

In accordance with an important feature on the present invention, boutonniere holding assembly 10 includes a release mechanism 27 so that the flower arrangement can be removed easily and so that boutonniere holding assembly 10 can be thereafter removed from the fabric and used again, if desired. In the illustrated embodiment, release mechanism 21 includes adjustable outside notches 29 that mesh with stops 32 on release mechanism 27. Release clip 35 is rigid, but may be pulled away by a user that puts pressure at the top of release clip 35 at end 27.

In operation, a user would attach boutonniere holding assembly 10 to a fabric such as a lapel by pin 13. Thereafter, a boutonniere would be placed through looped material 21. Once the flower arrangement is in the desired position, looped material 21 encloses tightly the flower arrangement by tightening looped material 21 and is secured by mating adjustable notches 29 to stops 32 on release clip 35. When the flower arrangement is intended to be removed from the fabric, release clip 35 is pulled away by putting pressure at end 27 of clip 35 thereby separating adjustable notches 29 from stops 32 so that looped material 21 is loosened.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A boutonniere holding assembly comprises:

a looped adjustable material;

a releasable locking mechanism to lock the looped material in a plurality of desired locations thereby allowing for a variety of size loops; and

an attaching mechanism for attaching the assembly to fabric such as a pin.

2. A boutonniere holding assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the looped material includes a ridged inner portion.