GRID OF FASTENERS WITH REMOVABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE DECORATIVE MODULAR TILES FOR USE WITH ACCESSORIES AND APPAREL ITEMS
A customizable product includes an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item, the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item including an outer layer. A plurality of fasteners are affixed to the outer layer of the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item. An at least one modular tile is removeably attached to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners.
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This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/027,094, filed Jul. 21, 2014, which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure relates generally to fashion accessories or apparel, and more particularly to fashion accessories or apparel having an interchangeable exterior.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREThe current state of products such as fashion accessories and apparel is such that the design of the products generally is dictated during manufacturing and is not fully customizable by the customer after the manufacturing is complete. Typically, exterior colors, textures, and patterns are permanently applied to the products without a way for the customer to replace them. As a result, the design of fashion accessories and apparel remains static and cannot be readily changed to create different looks. A customer becomes a passive user of the product and cannot actively participate in the design, re-design, or alteration of the products.
It will be appreciated that this background description has been created by the inventors to aid the reader, and is not to be taken as an indication that any of the indicated problems were themselves appreciated in the art. While the described principles can, in some respects and embodiments, alleviate the problems inherent in other systems, it will be appreciated that the scope of the protected innovation is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability of any disclosed feature to solve any specific problem noted herein.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe disclosure describes a customizable product that includes an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item. A plurality of fasteners are affixed to the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item. An at least one modular tile is removeably attached to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners.
In another aspect, the disclosure describes a method for changing the exterior appearance of an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item. A plurality of fasteners are affixed to an at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item. A first modular tile is removeably attached to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners. The first modular tile is replaced by a second modular tile, the second modular tile having a different at least one of a color, size, shape, material, pattern and texture, than the first modular tile.
These and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent through the detailed descriptions below.
The disclosure generally concerns a plurality of fasteners that are affixed to a customizable product. The customizable product is at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item. Non-limiting examples of a base accessory include handbags, clutches, wallets, and shoes. Non-limiting examples of a base apparel item includes hats, shirts, jackets, scarves, and pants. An at least one modular tile of a various size, shape, material, color, texture and pattern removeably attaches to at least one of the plurality of fasteners to create a customizable pattern or image. The modular tile may be reusable and interchangeable. The plurality of fasteners may be universal, meaning that the modular tiles may be shared among a variety of customizable products. This allows a user to accumulate modular tiles over time and use them interchangeably between the products that contain the same universal plurality of fasteners. The amount of fasteners that comprise the plurality of fasteners may also scale based on the size of the customizable product. For example, a customizable product includes several sizes of a handbag. Larger handbags may have more rows and columns of fasteners than smaller handbags, while spacing between adjacent fasteners for both larger and smaller handbags remains the same. This allow for the modular tiles to be shared between different size base items as well as to be shared between different types of the base item.
The point of contact for the modular tile may be, but is not limited to, openings that fit over fasteners, such as snaps, or at least one of an extruded and an intruded feature of the modular tile. The extruded or the intruded feature can consist of off-the-shelf fastener parts of various materials, such as metal or plastic and affixed onto the tiles, or they can be manufactured as an integral part of the modular tile, for example molded together with the modular tile from the same material. The extruded or the intruded features may protrude away from the inner surface of the modular tiles in either direction. If the plurality of fasteners 104 on the customizable product include a male part of a fastener system, the at least one modular tile will include a female part of the fastener system. Conversely, if the plurality of fasteners on the customizable product include a female part of a fastener system, the at least one modular tile will include a male part of the fastener system.
The customizable product 302 includes an outer layer 350, the outer layer 350 including an outer surface 346 and an inner surface 348. The outer layer 350 forms a hole 340 roughly the diameter of the post 338 extending from the outer surface 346 to the inner surface 348. The post 338 is configured to extend through the hole 340 of the outer layer 350 and extend through the central bore 342 of the first disk 312 and into the hollow portion 344 of the snap 314. In operation, pressure is applied to squeeze the post 338 into the hollow portion 344 of the snap 314. Further in operation, the pressure on post 338 near the indents 352 cause the post 338 to deform, increasing a diameter of the top portion 354. As a result, the front portion 332 is configured to lock with the rear portion 334. The outer layer 350 is configured to be sandwiched between the front portion 332 and the rear portion 334.
The point of contact 109 forms an opening 304 through the modular tile 308. The outer diameter of the snap 314 at a location where the outer diameter is largest is slightly greater than the diameter of the opening 304. In operation, the fastener 104 passes through the opening 304 and the snap 314 exerts pressure on the inside wall 316 of the opening 304 to secure the modular tile 308 to the customizable product 302.
The customizable product 302 includes an outer layer 350, the outer layer 350 including an outer surface 346 and an inner surface 348. The outer layer 350 forms a pair of slits 362, a size and distance between the pair of slits 362 corresponding with a size and distance between the pair of prongs 358 and a size and distance between the pair of disk openings 364. The prongs 358 are configured to pass through the outer layer 350 and the rear portion 334 of the fastener 104. In operation, the prongs 358 are folded inwards over each other after they pass through the rear portion 334 of the fastener 104 to permanently affix the fastener 104 to the customizable product 302.
The point of contact 109 includes a disk 320, a first metal stud 306 extending away from one side of the disk 320, and a second metal stud 368 extending away from another side of the disk 320. A modular tile 308 includes an inner surface 310 and an outer surface 330. The modular tile 308 forms a cutout 366 adjacent the inner surface 310 and extending towards the outer surface 330. The cutout 336 is configured to accommodate the second metal stud 368 and prevent lateral motion of the second metal stud 368 with respect to the modular tile 308. The second metal stud 368 is affixed to at least one wall 370 of the cutout 366. A rear end 322 of the disk 320 is affixed to the inner surface 310 of the modular tile 308. The first metal stud 306 is configured to fit within the central bore 326 of the fastener 104. In operation, the magnetic properties of the fastener 104 attract at least one of the first metal stud 306 and the metal disk 320 to removeably attach the modular tile 308 to the customizable product 302. The central bore 326 forms a wall 324. The wall 324 substantially retains the first metal stud 306 within the central bore 326 when the first metal stud 306 is connected to the fastener 104. In embodiments, the fastener 104 may be a male part of the magnetic fastener system, and the point of contact 109 may be a female part of the magnetic fastener system.
All of the modular tiles may be formed of various materials and veneers, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, acrylic, wood, metal, leather and vinyl. These materials may either be structurally self-supportive, forming a single layer modular tile or they may be applied as outermost finishes onto a base structural layer of the tiles, forming a multilayer modular tile. The base layer, or first layer, can consist of, but is not limited to, acrylic, plastic, cork, wood, metal and rubber. A second layer, or finish layer, can consist of, but is not limited to, acrylic, plastic, cork, wood, metal, rubber, cardboard, paper, vinyl, acetate, wood, fabric, leather or paint. The second layer attaches to an exterior face of the first layer to form a multilayer modular tile. In addition to different materials and finishes, modular tiles can also come with a printed image in black and white, grayscale or color. The image can be printed directly onto the first layer or first printed onto a finish material, or second layer, and then laminated onto the exterior face of the first layer. Each modular tile may contain its own independent image or a portion of an image that has been divided over a plurality of modular tiles. Such independent image tiles, when combined with other independent image tiles, can comprise a series of images, such as, but not limited to, stop-motion animation. Image tiles can also be combined in a set with non-image tiles. Although a certain image can imply a direction, the tiles themselves are non-directional, adding to customization of a pattern. In addition to printed images, images and patterns can also be engraved or scored into the structural tiles or into laminated finish material, such as wood or metal, and used interchangeably with similar or different type tiles. The images and photographs can be original images, mass-produced or custom ordered. For example, a family photograph may be printed on an image modular tile.
Modular tiles may include but are not limited to straight, rounded or faceted corners. Modular tiles may be rectilinear (square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, parallelogram, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, etc.) or non-rectilinear (round, oval, or atypical non-geometric shapes). As shown in
As previously disclosed, a modular tile includes at least one point of contact 109. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The final pattern for the customizable product may consist solely of a plurality of modular tiles or a combination of a plurality of modular tiles and exposed portions of the plurality of fasteners. A pattern consisting of modular tiles may consist of modular tiles with various sizes, colors, shapes, materials, patterns, and textures. It should be noted that the above stated examples are only used to illustrate a few possible scenarios of modular tile arrangements.
A method for changing the exterior appearance of an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item includes producing an at least one of an accessory and apparel item. A plurality of fasteners are affixed to the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item. A first modular tile is removeably attached to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners. The first modular tile is replaced by a second modular tile, the second modular tile having a different at least one of a color, size, shape, material, pattern and texture, than the first modular tile.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. A customizable product comprising:
- an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item, the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item including an outer layer;
- a plurality of fasteners affixed to the outer layer of the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item; and
- an at least one modular tile, the at least one modular tile removeably attached to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners.
2. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile includes an at least one point of contact, the at least one point of contact configured to removeably attach the at least one modular tile to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners.
3. The customizable product of claim 2, wherein the at least one modular tile includes an inner surface and an outer surface, and
- wherein the at least one point of contact is attached to the inner surface of the at least one modular tile.
4. The customizable product of claim 2, wherein the at least one point of contact forms a disk with a first metal stud and a second metal stud, the first metal stud extending away from one size of the disk and the second metal stud extending away from another size of the disk.
5. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item includes soft materials.
6. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners are affixed to an exterior surface of the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item.
7. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners are arranged rectilinearly.
8. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the fasteners of the plurality of fasteners are arranged in substantially vertical rows and horizontal columns, a distance between adjacent columns equal to a distance between adjacent rows.
9. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners are magnetic fasteners.
10. The customizable product of claim 8, wherein the distance between adjacent columns of the plurality of fasteners is one inch.
11. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners include a female end of a magnetic fastener, and the at least one modular tile includes a male end of a magnetic fastener.
12. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile is of a single layer of uniform material.
13. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a base material and a second layer including a finish material,
- wherein the second layer is attached to an exterior face of the first layer.
14. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the at least one modular tile is flat.
15. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile is rectilinear in shape.
16. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface forming a smooth texture.
17. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface forming a printed image.
18. The customizable product of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular tile forms rounded corners.
19. A method for changing an appearance of an at least one of a base accessory and a base apparel item, the method comprising:
- producing the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item, the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item including an outer layer;
- affixing a plurality of fasteners to the outer layer of the at least one of the base accessory and the base apparel item;
- removably attaching a first modular tile to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners; and
- replacing the first modular tile with a second modular tile, the second modular tile having a different at least one of a color, size, shape, material, pattern, and texture, than the first modular tile.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is a magnetic fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 20, 2015
Publication Date: Jan 21, 2016
Applicant:
Inventor: Darya Stefanovic (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 14/804,199