Modular Component System for Customizable Accessories
A modular component system for customizable accessories comprises a variety of molded polymer band segments, joined with a variety of molded polymer fittings, personalized to the needs of individual users. In the most basic form, one band segment and one fitting may be combined into a unit. A plurality of band segments and fittings may be connected to one another to add length, to create function, and to allow for variety of appearance. Each band segment and each fitting may be of varied color, size, shape, and may display ornamental designs. Assembled units may be non-destructively disassembled and the band segments and fittings reused, allowing for the creation of new looks and alternate functionality.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/656,902, filed Apr. 12, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis disclosure relates generally to customizable accessories. More specifically, this disclosure relates to such customizable accessories in which the principal components are modular and adaptable in usage.
Accessories are items that are not usually essential, but additional objects, equipment, decorations, or similar which make something more useful or attractive. In recent years, accessories made of molded polymers—such as silicone and flexible PVC—have become widespread. A number of popular silicone accessories come in the form of bands, with watch bands, wristbands, and identification bracelets being the most common and visible in public. Flexible polymer electrical cable ties and silicone shoelaces are also prevalent in the marketplace.
While there are a substantial amount of such items available, most molded polymer accessories are not usually customizable beyond their initial design to meet the needs of individual users. Such accessories are typically offered in standard sizes, which may not fit the user correctly if being worn or adjust to an adequate size if being utilized in some other manner, and color combination choices or other personalization options are generally not available.
An adaptable, modular component system would solve these issues. Consisting of band segments coupled with fittings and offered in a variety of size, color, shape, and ornamentation options, users may customize an accessory to suit their individual needs. Such customizable accessories may be configured to be functional or fashionable, and they may be easily changed to create a new look or even be repurposed for an entirely different use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA modular component system for customizable accessories comprises a variety of molded polymer band segments, joined with a variety of molded polymer fittings, personalized to the needs of individual users.
In the most basic form, one band segment and one fitting may be combined into a unit. A plurality of band segments and fittings may be connected to one another to add length, to create function, and to allow for variety of appearance. Each band segment and each fitting may be of varied color, size, shape, and may display ornamental design. To advantage, assembled units may be non-destructively disassembled and the band segments and fittings reused, allowing for the quick and easy creation of new looks and alternate functionality.
A typical band segment comprises two opposing faces separated by interior stratum, two opposing end portions, a midsection, and one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said opposing faces and said interior stratum. Said band segments may be available in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes, and may display ornamentation. Said band segments may be made of one or more materials molded into one unit. Said band segment may incorporate technological features for use as a wearable device such as a watch, activity tracker, or radio frequency identifier.
A typical fitting comprises a top face, underside, interior stratum, two opposing end portions, a midsection, one or more outwardly projecting peduncles, and one or more heads, said heads affixed to said peduncles and said peduncles affixed to said underside. Said fitting may comprise one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said top face, underside, and interior stratum. Said fittings may be available in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes, and may display ornamentation. Said fitting may be made of one or more materials molded into a single unit and/or may be made of metal. Said fitting may incorporate technological features for use as a wearable device such as a watch, activity tracker, or radio frequency identifier.
Ornamentation may be displayed on one or both said band segment faces and/or said fitting face and/or said fitting underside. Said ornamentation may rise from, adhere to, and/or be cut into said band segment and/or said fitting faces and/or said fitting underside and into or through the interior stratum and may be of a different color and/or made of a different material than said band segment and said fitting face and underside.
Adornments may be attached to said band segment and/or said fitting. A typical adornment comprises two opposing faces separated by interior stratum, two opposing end portions, a midsection, and one or more hollow cutouts extending through said interior stratum and/or one or both said opposing faces. One or more adornments may be attached to said band segment and/or said fitting by means of sliding said band segment and/or said fitting through said hollow cutout of said adornment. Said adornment may be available in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes, and may display ornamentation. Said adornment may be made of one or more materials molded into a single unit and/or may be made of metal.
A method of assembling a modular system for customizable accessories may include grasping a fitting, grasping a band segment, and inserting said fitting heads through said band segment eyelets until said heads penetrate said eyelets completely, thereby securing said fitting to said band segment.
A method of disassembling a modular system for customizable accessories may include grasping a fitting, grasping a band segment, and pulling said fitting heads through said band segment eyelets until said heads are expelled from said eyelets. Once said fitting and said band segment are separate, they may be used in combination with other band segments and fittings to create a new accessory.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings and description.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides modular components that may include a molded polymer band segment having two opposing faces separated by interior stratum, two opposing end portions, midsection, and one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said opposing faces and said interior stratum, and a molded polymer fitting having top face, underside, interior stratum, two opposing end portions, midsection, one or more outwardly projecting peduncles, one or more heads, said heads affixed to said peduncles and said peduncles affixed to said underside, and may include one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said top face, said underside, and said interior stratum.
One or more band segments and one or more fittings may be combined into a unit. A plurality of band segments and fittings may be connected to one another to add length, to create function, and to allow for variety of appearance. Each band segment and each fitting may be of a different color or color combinations, they may be fabricated of one or more materials, they may be of varied size, they may be ornamental in shape, and they may display ornamental designs. Within the basic concepts of the invention, each band segment and each fitting may be assembled and disassembled, mixed and matched, and reused, allowing for said band segments and said fittings to be utilized over and over again to create new looks and alternate functionality.
Referring now to the drawings, the system components prove to be simple, yet exceptionally versatile.
A typical molded polymer band segment 100, as shown in
A typical molded polymer fitting 200, as illustrated in
One alternate embodiment of a fitting 200, as shown in
Adornments 700, as shown in
A method for making modular customizable accessory may start with molding a band segment 100 and molding a fitting 200. Said band segment may be made of a natural or synthetic polymer, with the preferred material being silicone. Said band segment may be made of a plurality of polymers molded into one unit. Said fitting may be made of a natural or synthetic polymer, such as silicone or a suitable plastic. Said fitting may be made of a metal. Said fitting may be made of a plurality of polymers molded into one unit. Said fitting may be made of a polymer and a metal molded into one unit. Desirably, the molded band segment and molded fitting shall be molded using an injection or press process.
Within the basic concepts of the invention, each band segment 100 and each fitting 200 may be mixed and matched, allowing for said band segments and said fittings to be used to create a vast variety of configurations and accessories, as shown in
The modular component system of the invention provides a uniquely simple, yet exceptionally versatile way of creating a vast variety of accessories, both fashionable and functional. The physical components manufactured by utilizing mass production molding techniques are economical and long-lasting. Particularly significant is the ability to reuse and repurpose components. Within the basic concepts of the invention, it is possible to construct a wristband for everyday wear as a fashion accessory and then quickly and easily modify it for functional use in a variety of ways, such as to wrap a bundle of pens together, to be utilized as a sleeve scrunchie, to add color-coded identification to the handles of storage bins or, in a pinch, hold up a pair of shorts when a button breaks off. Color choices and the varied size of the band segments and fittings allow for a high level of personalization and functionality even when in basic form. The invention enables the individual user to have the ability to customize an accessory suited to their individual needs.
It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A modular system for customizable accessories comprising:
- a molded polymer band segment having two opposing faces separated by interior stratum, two opposing end portions, midsection, and one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said opposing faces and said interior stratum; and
- a molded polymer fitting having top face, underside, interior stratum, two opposing end portions, midsection, one or more outwardly projecting peduncles, one or more heads, said heads affixed to said peduncles and said peduncles affixed to said underside, and may include one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said top face, said underside, and said interior stratum;
- wherein said fitting head and said fitting peduncle are inserted into clamping engagement with said band segment eyelet, thereby securing said fitting to said band segment.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment and said fitting may be joined with one or more said band segments and/or one or more said fittings.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment and said fitting may be may be disassembled.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment and said fitting may be may be reused.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment may be of varying colors and/or color combinations and said fitting may be of varying colors and/or color combinations.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment may be of varying sizes and said fitting may be of varying sizes.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment may be of varying shapes and said fitting may be of varying shapes.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment may be made of metal and/or of a polymer and metal combination and said fitting may be made of metal or of polymer and/or of a polymer and metal combination.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein ornamental designs may rise from, adhere to, and/or be cut into one or both said band segment faces and into or through the interior stratum and may be of a different color and/or may be made of a different material than said band segment faces and ornamental designs may rise from, adhere to, and/or be cut into said fitting face and/or said fitting underside and into or through the interior stratum and may be of a different color and/or may be made of a different material than said fitting face and/or said fitting underside.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said band segment may incorporate technological features for use as a wearable device and wherein said fitting may incorporate technological features for use as a wearable device.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more adornment may be attached to said band segment and/or said fitting.
12. The system of claim 11, further characterized by:
- said adornment comprising two opposing faces separated by interior stratum, two opposing end portions, a midsection, one or more hollow cutouts extending through said interior stratum and/or one or both said opposing faces, and may include one or more hollow eyelets, said eyelets extending through said opposing faces and said interior stratum, wherein
- one or more adornments may be attached to said band segment and/or said fitting by means of sliding said band segment and/or said fitting through said hollow cutout of said adornment.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein said adornment may be of varying colors, color combinations, sizes, and/or shapes, and may display ornamentation.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein said adornment may be made of polymer and/or of metal and/or of a polymer and metal combination.
15. A method of assembling a modular system for customizable accessories comprising the steps of:
- grasping a fitting;
- grasping a band segment;
- inserting said fitting heads through said band segment eyelets until said heads penetrate said eyelets completely, thereby securing said fitting to said band segment.
16. A method of disassembling a modular system for customizable accessories comprising the steps of:
- grasping a fitting;
- grasping a band segment;
- pulling said fitting heads through said band segment eyelets until said heads are expelled from said eyelets.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 11, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 17, 2019
Inventor: Karen Ann Roy (Winter Garden, FL)
Application Number: 16/382,115