Removable Securable Interchangeable Clothing Button Jeweled System

Abstract

A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system, including, in combination: an object such as a jewel the visibility of which is desired, means for functionally supporting said object in a viewable position, means for holding said supporting means to a clothing button, releasable locking means adapted to be connected to the clothing at a position spaced from the object, and means for connecting said supporting means to said releasable locking means, said supporting means and locking means capable of alternatively attached to and detached from the clothing.

Description

The application claims the benefit or priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from a U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Application No. 61/331,088 filed May 4, 2010, and from a U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Application No. 61/379,612 filed Sep. 2, 2010.

The present invention relates generally to ornamental jewelry, or the like, for use on and with clothing, and more particularly to a jeweled system capable of being interchangeably secured to a clothing button, such as the waistline button on jeans and pants. My use of the term “jeweled” and “jewelry” within this specification contemplates precious, costume, and/or semi-precious jewelry, as well as other ornamental objects, and is not meant to be limited to the specific type of jewelry disclosed herein.

Males and females alike are always looking for ways to distinguish their appearance and to present themselves in interesting and attractive ways. Peoples' approaches in seeking to be perceived as different, “cool”, interesting and/or attractive will vary considerably—from the use of tattoos, to skin piercings, to the use of clothing-related accessories. It is believed that women of varying ages are always on the lookout for attractive accessories to be worn with and/or in conjunction with their clothing.

By way of example, and without limiting the proper scope of the present invention, common or fancy jeans and pants most often include a waistline front button or rivet that secures the front thereof immediately above the zippered or buttoned “fly” area. Additionally, such jeans and pants usually include a plurality of integral belt loops spaced at intervals about the waistline, for accommodating belts of a variety of types. For purposes of this specification, I am adopting the term “central button” to mean and include the button located vertically beneath the naval.

Conventional button covers have been known for quite some time and have taken on a variety of constructions and configurations. These known button covers are generally formed from two elements, namely, a cover having an open side for receiving the button and a closure plate for retaining the cover in secured relationship to the button while being worn. Button covers of this type are known from Jerjian U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285 and the prior art therein; Goodwin, U.S. Pat. No. 581,111; Armbruster, U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,654; Ryan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,601; Darvie, U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,230; Levine, U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,231; Shubart, U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,349; Hocq, U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,313; Torrini, U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,731; and Szedzinski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,356.

Button covers of the aforementioned type have had traditional application as a decorative accessory for male shirts that when applied over the cuff buttons, simulate the presence of cuff links. The advantage of these button covers, with respect to a traditional cuff link, resides in that they can be used in conjunction with any kind of shirt, without requiring the characteristic pair of button holes necessary when using cuff links. Moreover, these button covers may be used on women's blouse cuffs, as well as other locations for buttons when desired to produce an aesthetically attractive effect.

There is known from Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,336, a button cover of the aforementioned type also constructed from a cap and a closure plate. The closure plate is provided with a large central hole communicating with a V-shaped opening forming a pair of projecting legs. In use, the closure plate is slid between the button and shirt cuff so as to receive the button fastening threads within the central hole after they pass through the V-shaped opening. At this time, the cover is closed over the button by hinge action in the direction of placement of the closure plate. That is, the cover is movable between its opened and closed position in the direction of insertion of the closure plate. As a consequence, in the event of inadvertent opening of the cover, the weight of the cover has the tendency to act in the direction of removal of the closure plate from about the button fastening threads, thereby resulting in loss of the button cover. In addition, as the V-shaped opening is relatively large in comparison to the button fastening threads, there is nothing to hold the closure plate in position should the cover open during use. These disadvantages inherent in the button cover of Anderson, are also inherent in the button covers of the aforementioned patents.

There is also known from Hardin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,791 a button guard for protecting clothing buttons during cleaning operations. The button guard is constructed as a cylindrical canister closed at one end and having a removable cap at the other. The side wall of the canister is provided with a longitudinal slot communicating with a peripheral V-shaped opening to allow the button guard to slide over the button fastening threads such that the button is completely enclosed within the cylinder upon placement of the cap. The button guard of Hardin, unlike those previously discussed, has no ornamental value and is strictly used to protect the button during the cleaning operation.

It should be observed that none of the aforementioned button covers include what I will call a distinct and separate system for ensuring against the loss of the button cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a removable securable interchangeable clothing button jeweled system.

Another object is to provide such a system which is ornamental in nature and which is readily mountable and demountable to buttons sewn or integral with clothing, such as jeans or pants, or the like.

Yet another object is to provide such a system capable of use with buttons on shirts, blouses and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system which incorporates as a component thereof an ornament for covering a button.

Still a further object is to provide such a system which includes button cover which can be constructed of precious materials such as jewels, gold, silver and any number of attractive objects.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is disclosed a system which includes a jewel support formed with back and front portions thereof. A jewel is mounted to the front portion of the jewel support, while a back plate is secured, such as by welding or other fastening means to the back portion of the jewel support.

The jewel support back portion is formed with an opening capable of accommodating a ring which extends through the opening. An ornamental link chain which is attractive in its own right is secured to said ring, preferably by means of one of its links. The chain may be of a length that facilitates its aesthetic appearance.

The opposite end of the link chain is secured to a loop lock ring which, in turn, is secured to a chain-locking ring. The chain-locking ring is formed with a spring biased release pin which, upon finger pressure, will cause the locking ring to open, thereby permitting attachment of the locking ring to and around a jeans or pants belt loop.

According to the present invention, the back plate is either fixed to or preferably hingedly attached to a button gripping subassembly, with a hinge axis of rotation between the back plate and the button-gripping subassembly extending. A yoke portion is integral with one or more fingers which extend in a direction substantially away from said back plate and hinge axis. In the case of a pair of fingers illustrated herein, there is a U-shaped opening that separates the two fingers and is of a depth which is capable of receiving a pants button. The thickness of the material forming the pair of fingers is thin enough to enter the space between the back of the pants button and the pants, thereby permitting frictional engagement of the fingers with the back of the button.

The hinge optionally incorporates as part of its assembly a spring-loading feature which is biased such that the fingers are urged toward the back plate in a closed position. The fingers may be rotated away from that closed position toward and to an open position, thereby permitting mounting of the fingers behind and to the pants button, and thereupon the fingers may be moved to the closed position, thereby securing the jewel support to the button.

A precious jewel may be mounted integral with the front portion of the jewel support. In the illustrations provided in the drawings of this patent application, a pearl-like jewel is shown. It is contemplated by the present invention to provide the user with the ability to interchange his or her jewels to the front of the jewel support, such that the user may own a number of jewels which are capable of being interchangeably fixed to the front of the jewel support. It is also contemplated that the entire inventive assembly may be sold with the jewel (or other ornament) permanently secured to the front of the jewel support.

The present invention contemplates the use of metal materials which may be either welded or detachably fastened together. This invention is suitable for use by males and females. The removable securing feature ensures safety against loss of valuable jewels used with the present invention.

The present invention contemplates either a hinged or a non-hinged back, as shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as finger lengths which are predetermined at the time of manufacture. Thus, where desired, longer or shorter back finger lengths will accommodate different button sizes, and the space between the fingers may be predetermined at the time of manufacture. In this way, the present invention contemplates either a single product to be marketed, or a “family” of products which are related by their intended functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following drawings, in the form of photographs taken of two preferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a front view of the invention removably secured to a pants button, with its accompanying chain extending to the chain-locking ring which, in turn, is removably secured to a pants belt loop;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of two preferred embodiments of the present invention sitting atop a cloth surface meant to provide contrast;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the present invention in the open position, with its fingers inserted behind a pants button;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the present invention in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the present invention in side elevation view illustrating the fingers extended away from the jewel support back in the open position;

FIG. 6 is a relative close-up photograph of the jewel support back of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the present invention illustrating the jewel, chain and links;

FIG. 8 is a close-up photograph of the present invention illustrating the chain locking ring and its associated release pin;

FIG. 9 is a photograph of the present invention illustrating the button-gripping subassembly and jewel support in the open position;

FIG. 10 is a photograph of the present invention further illustrating the button-gripping subassembly; and

FIG. 11 is a photograph of the present invention, illustrating a commercial embodiment of my invention—in particular the non-hinged embodiment of the back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in the form of photographs of the present invention, reference character 10 in FIG. 1 denotes the assembly or system according to the present invention. System 10 is secured to an article of clothing, such as jeans or pants 12 which typically will have a front fly button 14 (hidden in FIG. 1) but whose outline is shown in FIG. 1 in phantom or broken line behind the jewel) as well as a belt loop 16. The pants 12, button 14 and belt loop 16 do not form part of the present invention and are presented in the drawings to illustrate one type of clothing to which the present invention may be attached.

Assembly 10 includes an object to be visible to others when assembly 10 is worn by the user. It may include one or more of any number of types of articles, such as a jewel 18 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8. Jewel 18 is held by a jewel support 20 formed with a back 22. Secured to or integrally formed with back 22 is means for holding the back 22 and its supported jewel 18 to button 14. A preferred, non-hinged embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, wherein an unhinged back 24 is illustrated formed with a pair of fingers 26 and 28, comprising with back 24 a button-gripping structure 30.

Still referring to FIG. 11, a link chain 32 formed with link elements is secured at one of its ends to an opening 34 formed through back finger 28, while its other or opposite end is secured to a loop lock ring 36 integral with a chain locking ring 38. Chain locking ring 38 is substantially hollow and arcuately shaped with a gap 40 bridged by a portion 42 of a movable locking element kept within ring 38, and movable by the user through contact and movement of a spring-biased release pin 44 integral with the locking element. Movement by the user of pin 44 away from gap 40 will result in corresponding movement of portion 42 of locking element in the same direction, such that gap 40 will become “open”, thereby permitting securing of the chain locking ring 38 to a belt loop 16 or other clothing structure.

By securing the chain locking ring 38 to a belt loop, for example, the user is assured that the jewel 18 and the entire assembly according to the present invention will not be dislodge and lost or misplaced. In other words, system 10 of the present invention provides a security system which permits the user to utilize relatively valuable or treasured jewels or object of desire.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 10 of the drawings/photographs, FIG. 2 illustrates a back 22 formed with fingers 46 and 48 similar in shape or configuration to those of back fingers 26 and 28, but where these fingers are rotatably secured to back 22 through a hinge 50. The legend “Back A” is positioned above these elements of the present invention. “Back B” is a legend which is adjacent an alternative back configuration with fingers 52 and 54, wherein these fingers are formed with fabric-gripping or fabric-piercing spurs 56. Spurs 56 enable the assembly 10 to be affixed to clothing without necessarily requiring a clothing button, and thus “Back B” provides the flexibility of being used with either a button or fabric.

The embodiment of the present invention within FIG. 11 is preferred because it should be less expensive to fabricate than the hinged embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-10.

Claims

1. A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system, including, in combination:

An object whose visibility is desired,

Means for functionally supporting said object in a viewable position,

Means for holding said supporting means to a clothing button,

Releasable locking means adapted to be connected to the clothing at a position spaced from the object, and

Means for connecting said supporting means to said releasable locking means, said supporting means and locking means capable of alternatively attached to and detached from the clothing.

2. A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system according to claim 1, wherein said object is an ornament.

3. A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system according to claim 1, wherein said object is a jewel.

4. A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding said supporting means to a clothing button is unhinged.

5. A removable securable interchangeable clothing button system according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding said supporting means to a clothing button is hinged.