Abstract: A guidance device is disclosed. The device may comprise a tracking pad with a guiding opening and a plurality of sensors operable with at least one beacon on a needle to track the disposition of the needle at least when a distal end of the needle is inserted into the guiding opening. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for guiding electrodes relative to a tissue treatment region. The device can comprise a body have a plurality of passages therethrough. Each passage can axially restrain an electrode positioned therein. When each electrode is axially restrained in a passage, the distal ends of the electrodes can be spaced a predetermined distance apart. Further, the electrodes can be held in a parallel or substantially parallel alignment when axially retained in the passages. The predetermined distance between the electrodes can correspond to a treatment distance in a tissue treatment region and the distal ends of the electrodes can be operably structured to conduct current therebetween when at least one of electrodes is energized by an energy source.

Abstract: An object-containing button includes a housing and upper and lower floors mounted within the housing. Each floor has a plurality of thread-receiving holes and two pin holes formed at opposite side of the thread-receiving holes. A container rotatably and detachably coupled to the housing. An object is stored inside the container. A removable lid covers a bottom opening of the container facing the upper floor. A pin-carrying member having two pins inserted through the pin holes for piercing and tearing open the cover.

Abstract: A removably attachable button includes a pin assembly and a cap assembly. The pin assembly has a pair of pins which releasably engage the cap assembly. The cap assembly has a front surface which has the appearance of a button and a rear surface which accepts the pin assembly. The button is utilized to embellish or to replace a missing button on a piece of clothing without needing to access sewing equipment.

Abstract: A garment fastening system having a button member adapted to be inserted into a buttonhole of a garment. The button member has a front wall, a rear wall and a side wall disposed therebetween. The button member defines an aperture that is extending from a portion of the rear wall and a portion of the side wall, and an internal chamber in communication with the aperture. The garment system also has a resilient member extending, through the aperture and having two opposite ends that are connected to the internal chamber thereby defining a loop at least partially extending outside the button member and adapted to receive a button of the garment. The aperture is dimensioned for allowing movement of the resilient member. The garment fastening system can be used for providing elasticity to a garment by simply connecting it to existing button and buttonhole.

Abstract: Provided is a button fastener, having a penetrating part (10) and a receiving part (20), wherein the penetrating part (10) is substantially u-shaped by means of having a transversal base (16) with two parallel legs (15), each of said legs (15) having a pointed end (11; 31) and a protruding retaining member (14;34) adjacent said pointed end arranged to interlock with the receiving part (20), and wherein said receiving part (20) is substantially u-shaped with at least one transversal base (25) and at a position at a distance from said transversal base (25) an interlocking receiving member (22) arranged to interlock with said penetrating part (10), wherein at least one of said parts (10, 20) is arranged with a gripping member (19, 29) which is detachable by means of a line of rupture (17, 27), and a method of fastening buttons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconnecting a button to a garment includes positioning the button in a desired location on the front side of garment. The ends of a wire are then manually inserted into the thread receiving holes of the button, and the wire is pushed through the garment from the front side to the back side so that the wire urges the button into contact with the first side of the garment, and the ends of the wire penetrate the back side of the garment thereby forming first and second protruding legs. The protruding legs are then manually bent over until they abut the back side of the garment. A sheet is then adhesively applied to the back side of the garment to cover the bent over protruding legs. In another embodiment, the protruding legs are twisted together before being bent over.

Abstract: There is provided a garment fastening system comprising a button member adapted to be inserted into a buttonhole of a garment. The button member comprises a front wall, a rear wall and a side wall disposed therebetween. The button member defines an aperture that is extending from a portion of the rear wall and a portion of the side wall, and an internal chamber in communication with the aperture. The garment system also comprises a resilient member extending, through the aperture and having two opposite ends that are connected to the internal chamber thereby defining a loop at least partially extending outside the button member and adapted to receive a button of the garment. The aperture is dimensioned for allowing movement of said resilient member. The garment fastening system can be used for providing elasticity to a garment by simply connecting it to existing button and buttonhole.

Abstract: A material fastener apparatus having one or more buttons which are attached to a first section of the material. The apparatus may comprise of a layer of stretchable material which may be positioned under the first section of the material. The apparatus may also comprise of one or more button holes which are attached to a second section of the material. The one or more button holes may be angled to the horizontal and are configured to receive the one or more buttons. The button holes may also be further configured to fasten the first section of the material with a second section of the material when the one or more buttons are buttoned with the one or more button holes.

Abstract: Embodiments of a button attachment awl are disclosed which may be used to attach a button to a garment without using a needle and thread. The awl has a pointed forward end and a rearward slanting notch rearward of the point. A connector with outward flaring fingers fits into the notch. The point of the awl and the connector fingers are pushed through a button hole and the cloth. The fingers distort sufficiently to fit through the button hole and the cloth and then flare outward to prevent the connector from being pulled back through the holes.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a piece for attaching buttons or the like, capable of using standard buttons and of attaching buttons which can be easily detached and which impart a usage sensation no different from standard buttons. In order to resolve the above-described problem, the present invention is a piece (1) for attaching buttons or the like for detachably attaching buttons (10) or the like to fabric, comprising: an attaching piece main portion (2) having a main through-hole (2c) through which thread (12) passed through a button attaching hole formed in the fabric is inserted and the thread extending from the button or the like to be attached to the fabric; a thread anchoring portion (4) for winding thread passing through the main through-hole; and a thread gripping portion (6) for gripping and affixing the end of thread wound on the thread anchoring portion.

Abstract: A knot brush with a knot plate having a plurality of perforations disposed circumferentially about the plate near an outer rim. A plurality of mounting holes are formed through the knot plate and are spaced apart from one another. Each mounting hole is located at a radial position that is inward from the perforations. A plurality of wire bundles are attached to the knot plate. Each wire bundle includes a center portion extending through a perforation and two end portions twisted together securing the bundle to the knot plate. Two side plates are attached to the knot plate. Each side plate includes protrusions extending out from the side plate and into the mounting holes. One side plate is punched into a protrusion on the other side plate forming an interlocking button that extends from the surface of the side plate and locking the side plates together.

Abstract: An article (10) has a fastener button (12) formed of a one or more layers (26) of relatively stiff material that is secured to the article by one or more lines of stitching (40) passing through the pad and into the article thereby securing the pad to the article and thereby defining a stitched region of the pad and side portions of the pad extending transversely from either side of the stitched region In use, a fastener member (14) having an elongate slot (16b) closed at one end may be placed between the article (10) and the side portions, with at least part of the stitched region in the slot (16b), the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot (16b).

Abstract: A button attaching device includes a pair of elongate members each having a pointed first end and a hole adjacent to a second end. Each of the elongate members has a slit therein extending from an outer surface to a corresponding one of the holes. A thread extends between the elongate members and extends through the holes. The thread has a pair of knots therein adjacent to opposite ends of the thread such that the elongate members are secured together by the thread. Each of the elongate members may be extended through one of a pair of openings in a button and through the cloth such that the button is secured to the cloth. The thread is releasable through the slits such that the thread is released from the elongate members.

Abstract: A button is adapted for use in an anti-counterfeiting system and method for authenticating a manufactured article. The button defines at least five holes adapted for receiving thread to attach the button to the manufactured article.

Abstract: A headliner pinning assembly for repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. The headliner pinning assembly includes a first pin member having a head portion and a spike portion extending outwardly from the head portion, a second pin member having a coiled medial portion and a pair of opposite ends extending outwardly from the coiled medial portion, and a washer.