VARIABLE ORNAMENT ASSEMBLY

The inventive subject matter provides an ornament assembly comprising a fastener that is configured to simultaneously couple with an ornament and an accessory. The fastener could be configured such that the ornament could be replaced with one or more different ornaments without any damage to the fastener or ornament. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener could be configured to be removed from the accessory and coupled with a different accessory of the same or different size without any damage to the fastener or the accessory.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is ornament assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Some efforts have been placed in providing decorative items that can be placed on accessories such as eyeglasses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,554 teaches a removable eyeglass charm. However, the '554 patent's charm includes a fastener that is integral with the charm, and thus the charm and fastener must be removed and replaced together. Furthermore, the fastener is apparently only suitable for coupling the charm with an arm of eyewear, and not for other accessories having different dimensions.

Thus, there is still a need for improved ornament assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides an ornament assembly comprising a fastener that is configured to simultaneously couple with an ornament and an accessory. In some embodiments, the fastener could be configured such that the ornament could be replaced with one or more different ornaments, preferably without any damage to the fastener or ornament. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener could be configured to be removed from the accessory and coupled with a different accessory of the same or different size, again preferably without any damage to the fastener or the accessory.

Some contemplated fasteners include a magnet that is partially or completely enclosed in an enclosure material such as silicone rubber. It should be appreciated that the casing or enclosure material could comprise silicone, rubber, plastic, or any suitable material, but is preferably thin (e.g., less than 200% the thickness of the magnet, less than 150% the thickness of the magnet, less than 100% the thickness of the magnet) to allow the fastener to magnetically couple with the ornament.

A fastener could also include an attachment mechanism that is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of one or more accessories such as eyewear arms, belts and bracelets. The magnet could be used to provide a magnetic coupling with one or more ornaments such as bottle caps, jewelry ornaments, or any other suitable ornamental object made at least in part of a ferromagnetic material.

Viewed from another perspective, the inventive subject matter provides a variable ornament assembly comprising a fastener (e.g., a magnet), at least one ornament (e.g., a cap) that removably couples with the fastener, and an attachment mechanism that removably couples the fastener to an accessory (e.g., an eyeglass stem or arm). As used herein, an object that “removably couples” to another object does so in a non-destructively removable manner.

In some aspects of the inventive subject matter, the fastener is a disc-shaped magnet and includes a through-hole (e.g., radially) sized and dimensioned to receive the attachment mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the ornament comprises a first material (e.g., a ferromagnetic metal), and the fastener and ornament can be magnetically coupled with one another. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment mechanism includes or forms one or more loops, which includes a first end, a central portion and a second end. Preferably, the first and second ends are each sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of an accessory when the central portion is disposed within the through-hole.

The through-hole can have any diameter suitable for receiving a suitable attachment mechanism. For example, a diameter of a through-hole can be between 0.5 mm and 20 mm, between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, and most preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm. Where the magnet is at least partially enclosed in a casing, the magnet and the casing could comprise a through-hole. For example, the attachment mechanism can comprise a casing that partially or entirely encloses the fastener (e.g., magnet), and two loop ends extending from the casing.

In an alternative embodiment, the casing and magnet could lack a through-hole and the casing could include or be coupled to one or more loops sized and dimensioned to receive an accessory.

All attachment mechanisms suitable for removably coupling the fastener to any suitable accessory (e.g., eyewear, bracelet, belt, shoelace, etc.) are contemplated. In some contemplated embodiments, an attachment mechanism is a looped band or loop, for example an elastic or inelastic band. Where the attachment mechanism is disposed through a hole of the fastener, it is generally preferred that the portion of the attachment mechanism passing through a fastener's through-hole has a diameter that is no more than 125%, more preferably no more than 120%, or even more preferably no more than 110% of the thickness of the attachment mechanism.

An ornament of the inventive subject matter can be made of any suitable material(s). Where a fastener comprises a magnet (in whole or in part), it is preferred that the ornament comprises a ferromagnetic material (in whole or in part) to allow for a magnetic coupling of the ornament to the fastener. For example, the ornament could be a metal cap (e.g., a bottle cap).

The inventive subject matter also provides an ornament assembly comprising a fastener and an ornament. In some preferred embodiments, the fastener comprises a first coupling and the ornament comprises a second coupling. The first a second couplings are preferably paired such that they removably couple to one another. The first and second couplings could cooperate to act as any commercially suitable fastener, including for example snaps, buttons and button hole, screw and thread, spring-loaded detent, hook-and-loop, peg and slot, or a latch. In some embodiments, one or both of the fastener and the ornament could additionally or alternatively comprise a magnet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1Cshows an embodiment of a variable ornament assembly 100 of the inventive subject matter having an ornament130and a fastener160. Here, fastener160comprises a magnet170, an attachment mechanism180, and a through-hole190sized and dimensioned to receive the attachment mechanism180. The ornament130comprises a material (that may or may not be different than the material of the fastener—e.g., a magnet, a metal) that allows for a magnetic coupling of the ornament and the magnet. As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the magnet170could be partially or fully enclosed in a casing as further described below. The casing may or may not be magnetic or ferromagnetic and may comprise plastic, wood, leather, metal, ceramic, glass, rubber, silicone, silicone rubber, or another commercially suitable material(s). The casing could act as a buffer to reduce or control the magnetic attraction between the magnet and an ornament or other object.

As used herein, a magnet can partially or fully comprise a permanent or a temporary magnet. Permanent magnets partially or fully comprise a ferromagnetic metal or ferromagnetic metal alloy, such as nickel, iron, neodymium, magnetite, steel, aluminum-nickel-cobalt, neodymium-iron-boron, samarium-cobalt, strontium-iron, or any other ferromagnetic metal or ferromagnetic alloy. Temporary magnets include electromagnets, solenoids, or other magnets that are magnetized by a magnetic field produced by an electric current.

FIGS. 2A-2Bprovide further views of fastener160. Fastener160comprises a magnet170, an attachment mechanism180, and a through-hole190. The through-hole190is sized and dimensioned to receive the attachment mechanism180. In some contemplated embodiments, contemplated fasteners could additionally or alternatively comprise a partial hole or recess that extends only partially through a dimension of the magnet. Alternatively or additionally, a partial or through-hole can extend partially or completely through a dimension of a casing (where included). It should also be appreciated that a fastener of the inventive subject matter can include a plurality of partial holes or through-holes.

In some embodiments, the partial hole(s) or through-hole(s) can have a diameter of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, inclusive, more preferably between 1 mm and 4 mm, inclusive, and most preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm, inclusive. Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

As used herein, a “hole” includes any aperture, opening, gap, space, indentation, or perforation that is sized- and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of an attachment mechanism.

In some embodiments, a fastener could includea casing that encloses a magnet, and includes one or more looped portions that are sized and dimensioned to receive an accessory. The attachment mechanisms (e.g., looped material, etc.) can be composed of different materials with different thicknesses depending on the contemplated ornament(s) and accessory. In preferred embodiments, the thickness of a portion of the attachment mechanism that passes through or within a hole of a fastener—in relation to a diameter of the hole—is preferably at least 0.75:1, more preferably at least 0.85:1, and most preferably at least 0.90:1. Viewed from a different perspective, where a diameter of a fastener hole is 5 mm, it is generally preferred that the portion of an attachment mechanism (e.g., rubber band) that passes through the hole has a thickness that is at least 3.75 mm, more preferably at least 4.25 mm, and most preferably at least 4.5 mm. In some embodiments, for example where the attachment mechanism comprises a looped material, it is contemplated that the “thickness” of the portion passing through a fastener hole would be twice as large as a thickness of the same material if unlooped.

A fastener of the inventive subject matter could comprise any suitable regular or irregular shape, including for example, a cylinder (e.g., a disc), a sphere, a cube, a tetrahedron, a trapezoidal prism, etc. For example,FIG. 3Ashows a rectangular cube-shaped fastener310comprising a magnet320, an attachment mechanism380A, and a through-hole390A.FIG. 3Bshows a disc-shaped fastener330with a small magnet370partially enclosed or encased in a casing340with a through-hole390B extending through the magnet and the casing, and an attachment mechanism380B. As shown inFIG. 3B, the through-hole may extend radially through a diameter of the fastener.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism can be a part of a casing that partially or entirely encloses the fastener. For example, the attachment mechanism could comprise two loops that are a part of, and extend from, the casing. Such an embodiment may be advantageous as it could simplify manufacturing by eliminating the need for a through-hole. Also, this embodiment could reduce the number of parts required by incorporating the attachment mechanism as part of the casing. It is contemplated that the casing can comprise silicone, plastic, rubber, nylon, or any other suitable material that is of sufficient thinness to allow the magnet enclosed to fasten with an ornament.

InFIGS. 4A-4D, two ornaments405and410are shown having different designs. Ornaments405and410are made at least in part of a metal that is ferromagnetic. However, it should also be appreciated that fasteners and ornaments could removably couple to one another in any suitable manner. For example, the fastener and ornament could comprise complementary hook and loop fasteners, snaps, button and buttonhole, or any other suitable coupling mechanisms.

Ornaments405and410are caps, and could be made of a plastic, a ceramic, a wood, a metal, a leather, a fabric, or any other commercially suitable material(s). A plurality of ornaments with a plurality of designs could be provided and used with the same fastener, which could allow the user to change a design of an assembly by switching out an ornament as desired. As used herein, the term “design” includes any drawing, sketch, pattern, motif, diagram, picture, photo, logo, character, letter, etc. and may be etched or drawn directly on the ornament or may be attached via adhesive means (e.g. a sticker). As used herein, the term “ornament” should be interpreted broadly to include, among other things, a charm, a bauble, a trinket, a decoration, an adornment, an embellishment, or other suitable item.

FIGS. 5A-5Billustrate a fastener being attached to an accessory, and an ornament being placed on the fastener. Here, fastener160is attached to the accessory, in this case an arm510of a pair of glasses, via attachment mechanism180. In embodiments where attachment mechanism is looped, arm510can extend through the loops of attachment mechanism180. In some other contemplated embodiments, attachment mechanism180may be tied to arm510. Ornament130can be magnetically attached to fastener160, and may be removed and replaced with another ornament of a different color, dimension, shape, or design without removing fastener160from arm510.

As used herein, an accessory includes any article or item that can be carried or worn, for example, to complement a garment or outfit. Contemplated accessories include, but are not limited to eyewear, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, belts, scarves, shoelaces, shoes, tools, frames, furniture items (e.g., lamps, tables, chairs), cables, writing utensils, pet collars, and bags (e.g., tote bags, cross-body bag straps, backpacks). For example,FIG. 6illustrates an ornament assembly having an ornament130, a fastener (not shown) and attachment mechanism180coupled to a belt.

FIGS. 7A-7Dillustrate another contemplated fastener of the inventive subject matter, which could be used with any suitable ornaments and accessories as described above and below.

Fastener710includes a magnet730that is completely enclosed in a casing715. Casing715is coupled with a looped portion720such that the casing and looped portion define an opening sized and dimensioned to receive one or more accessories. In some preferred embodiments, the casing is made of a silicone, a rubber, or a silicone rubber, and is at least partially elastic to accommodate accessories of different sizes and shapes. Additionally or alternatively, the casing and the looped portion could be made of a single piece of material. Additionally or alternatively, the casing could comprise an aperture through which the magnet730could be received.

Magnet730is disc-shaped, and could have any suitable thickness and diameter. For example, the magnet could have a thickness of greater than 10 mm, greater than 15 mm, greater than 20 mm, less than 15 mm, less than 10 mm, less than 5 mm, between 1-25 mm, between 3-15 mm, between 3-5 mm, or any other suitable thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the magnet could have a diameter of greater than 20 mm, greater than 25 mm, greater than 30 mm, less than 25 mm, less than 20 mm, less than 15 mm, between 1-50 mm, between 10-20 mm, between 13-17 mm, or any other suitable diameter. Additionally or alternatively, the magnet could have a diameter to thickness ratio of between 1:1 and 1:5, between 5:1 and 1:1, between 4:1 and 2:1, or between 3.5:1 and 2.5:1, or any other suitable ratio. It is contemplated that the shape, size and dimensions could vary depending on the size and shape of the ornament, the size and shape of the ornament's fastener receiving portion or the size and shape of the accessory to be received by the attachment mechanism. Viewed from another perspective, a magnet for use with fastener710does not need to be disc-shaped, and could comprise any suitable shape (e.g., spherical, triangular prism, rectangular prism, an ellipsoid).

FIG. 8illustrates fastener710coupled to an arm800of a pair of eyeglasses. In some embodiments, fastener710could be sized and dimensioned to alternatively or additionally couple with one or more other accessories.

FIGS. 9A-9Billustrate an ornament900that could be used in conjunction with fastener710(or any other suitable fastener as described herein), which includes decorative elements910and a fastener accepting portion920, here a disc-shaped recess. It should be appreciated that the fastener accepting portion920could be sized and dimensioned to partially or entirely extend over the side-wall(s) of the fastener. Viewed from another perspective, the disc-shaped recess could have a depth that is less than, equal to or greater than the width of the fastener enclosure.

FIGS. 10A-10Billustrates fastener systems1060and1070, each comprising a male snap1010A,1010B, a fastener body1040,1050, an attachment mechanism180A,180B, and a through-hole190A,190B through which the attachment mechanism extends through. Attachment mechanisms180A,180B and through holes190A,190B can be configured as described with respect to attachment mechanism180and through hole190above. A distinction between fastener systems1060and1070is the shape of their respective fastener bodies. Fastener body1040of fastener system1060is shaped as a cylinder while fastener body1050of fastener system1070is shaped as a rectangular prism. It should be appreciated that fastener bodies1040and1050can have a variety of three-dimensional shapes, including elliptic cylinder, parabolic cylinder, hyperbolic cylinder, polygonal prism, or any other commercially suitable shape.

Male snap1010A comprises stem1020A and lip1030A, and is configured to couple with female snap couplings, such as the female snap coupling1120depicted inFIG. 11. Male snap1010B comprises stem1020B and lip1030B, and is also configured to couple with female snap coupling1120of ornament1110. WhileFIGS. 10A-10Bdepict male snap couplings andFIG. 11depicts female snap couplings, it should be appreciated that other configurations suitable for removably coupling the fastener to an ornament can be used alone or in combination, such as button snaps, buttons and button hole, screw and thread, spring-loaded detent, hook-and-loop, peg and slot, and latch and recess. It is also contemplated that the coupling on the fastener and the coupling on the ornament (i.e. male on fastener, female on ornament) as described throughout can be switched. Further, it is contemplated that magnetic fasteners such as those described inFIGS. 1A-3B and 7A-8can be used in combination with the couplings described above. The same is true for the embodiments depicted inFIGS. 12A-18.

FIG. 11illustrates ornament1110having female snap coupling1120. Female snap coupling1120comprises recess1130and lip1140. Recess1130is sized and dimensioned to receive a male snap coupling, such as male snap coupling1010inFIGS. 10A-10B. Lip1140is sized and dimensioned to couple with lip1030ofFIGS. 10A and 10Bsuch that pressing male snap coupling into female snap coupling flexes the interface between lip1030and1140until lip1030passes lip1140and male snap coupling is received into recess1130.

FIGS. 12A-12Bdepict additional contemplated fastener systems of the inventive subject matter. Similarly numbered elements have the same description as above forFIGS. 10A and 10B. A distinction between fastener systems1060and1070ofFIGS. 10A-10Band fastener systems1260and1270ofFIG. 12A-12Bis loop couplings1210and1220. Loop couplings1210and1220comprise the loop component of hook-and-loop couplings. Fastener systems1260and1270could additionally or alternatively comprise hook couplings. Loop couplings1210and1220are illustrated as circular and rectangular in shape, respectively, but can be of any suitable geometric shape. Loop couplings1210and1220are configured to mate with hook couplings, such as hook coupling1320of ornament1310ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 13depicts ornament1310comprising hook coupling1320, which is configured to removably couple with loop couplings1210and1220. Ornament1310could additionally or alternatively comprise loop couplings. Viewed from another perspective, the configuration of fasteners1260and1270with respect to ornament1310(i.e. loop coupling versus hook coupling) can be switched.

FIGS. 14A-14Bdepict fastener systems1460and1470comprising threaded recesses1410A and1410B, respectively. Similarly numbered elements have the same description as above forFIGS. 10A and 10B. Threaded recess1410A comprises female threads1420A that are sized and dimensioned to mate with male threads1540of a screw or bolt, such as screw or threaded element1520of ornament1510(FIG. 15). Threaded recess1410B similarly comprises female threads1420B that are sized and dimensioned to mate with male threads1540of threaded element1520of ornament1510.

FIG. 15depicts ornament1510comprising threaded element1520. Threaded element1520comprises stem1530having spiraled ridges or male threads1540disposed along the circumference of stem1530. Male threads1540are sized and dimensioned to mate with female threads1420or threaded recess1410.

FIG. 16depicts fastener system1660having a male snap coupling1010C, and a fastener710A with loop portion720B. Male snap coupling1010C comprising a stem1020C and lip1030C, similarly to male snaps1010A and1010B ofFIGS. 10A-10B. It should be appreciated that fastener710B could be the same as, or similar to fastener710ofFIGS. 7A-7D, with or without a magnet (e.g.,730). Additionally or alternatively, it is contemplated that a head of male snap1010C could be partially or entirely disposed within fastener710B's casing (similar to casing715). Additionally or alternatively, it is contemplated that male snap1010C could be coupled with fastener710B's casing in any suitable manner. Additionally or alternatively, it is contemplated that loop portion720B could be coupled directly to male snap1010C, or to a material attached to snap1010C. Viewed from another perspective, fastener710B does not need to include a casing, for example, where fastener710B does not include a magnet to encase.

FIG. 17depicts fastener system1760having a hook coupling1320B, and a fastener710C, which includes a casing and loop portion720C. Fastener system1760could couple with an ornament having a hook or loop fastener, such as ornament1310ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 18depicts fastener system1860having a threaded element1520B, and fastener710D. Threaded element1520B includes a stem1530B and male threads1540B, and fastener710D includes a casing and a loop portion720. Fastener system1860could couple with an ornament having a complementary threading, such as an ornament having a threaded recess with female threads.

FIGS. 19A-Cillustrate fastener systems1900A,1900B, and1900C. Each of the fasteners include a casing (as best illustrated inFIG. 19A) that is coupled to or includes a band. The band is preferably made of at least one of a silicon and a rubber, and is sized and dimensioned to receive one or more accessories, such as an arm of a pair of glasses.

The casing could be made of one or more materials. For example, the casing could include a metal or plastic face portion (opposite the band) as illustrated inFIGS. 19B and 19C, where a snap acceptor (e.g.,1950A) or recessed internal threading (e.g.,1950B) could be included. The remaining portions of the casing could be made of, for example, metal, plastic, silicon, rubber, or any other suitable materials.

In some embodiments, a silicon or rubber casing could partially enclose a cylindrical or other shaped piece that is made of a plastic or a metal, for example, and includes a snap acceptor or an internal threading. For example, the casing could enclose the entire metal or plastic piece having the snap acceptor, threading or other coupler, except the face portion that includes the snap acceptor or internal threading that couples with a coupling of an ornament.

FIGS. 20A-Cillustrate ornaments2000,2000A, and2000B. Each of the ornaments includes an ornamental design on a design face, and includes a coupling on a coupler face. InFIG. 20A, the design face is shown, and the coupler face is not shown. InFIG. 20B, the design face is facing down and hidden, and coupler face including a snap coupling2050A is shown inFIG. 20C, the design face is facing down and hidden, and coupler face including a threaded coupling2050B is shown.

It should be appreciated that snap coupling2050A could be sized and dimensioned to snap into snap acceptor1950A ofFIG. 19B, and threaded coupling2050B could be sized and dimensioned to thread with internal threading1950B. When snap coupling2050A is coupled with snap acceptor1950A, it is contemplated that snap coupling2050A could be entirely disposed within snap acceptor1950A such that the fastener system and ornament are adjacent one another. When threaded coupling2050B is coupled with internal threading1950B, it is contemplated that threaded coupling2050B could be entirely disposed within internal threading1950B such that the fastener system and ornament are adjacent one another.