Badge or decoration mounting

A thin backing first support plate, for use with one or more retention pins that attach a display decoration to a shirt or jacket fabric, comprising the plate having one or more through openings to pass the pin or pins that are also passed through the uniform fabric, the plate having an edge notch or notches engageable by fabric under a user's finger or fingers, whereby the user can from the front side of the fabric sidewardly orient the plate relative to the decoration located at the front side of the fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains generally to badge retention devices, as for example are used to pin badges on military uniforms, properly centered and properly spaced on the uniform itself as well as with respect to other badges on the uniform.

The problems solved include drastically decreasing the amount of time spent re-pinning military skill badges on uniforms as when changing to a clean uniform. The user needs to avoid use of a ruler or other measuring device to then measure, reposition, and re-measure repeatedly, to properly position the badges, the correct distances being built into the device of the invention. The invention also enables use to quickly pin military badges, such as US Army skill badges, on Army Combat Uniforms (ACU) at the proper spacing and distances both from the US Army nametape and between each badge, per Army Regulation AR 670-1 and Department of the Army written messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Basically the device of the invention comprises a support plate for use in combination with one or more retention pins that attach display badges or decorations to a shirt or jacket fabric, and characterized in that:

a) the plate has one or more through openings to pass a badge pin or pins that are also passed through the uniform fabric,

b) that plate having an edge notch or notches engageable by fabric under a user's finger or fingers, whereby the user can from the front side of the fabric sidewardly orient the plate relative to the decoration located at the front side of the fabric.

As will be seen the plate has a lower horizontal edge at which the notch is located, preferably centrally, relative to a vertical, at opposite sides of which the badge pin openings are located. The notch provides spaced edges for engagement with a user's finger to stabilize the plate against twisting, as during orientation adjustment.

The centering notch is a critical feature in that it is used to quickly position the plastic plate relative to the uniform itself. The device also serves as a backer plate for the uniform and badge or badges, once pinned in place. The device can have slightly different forms for adaptation to different military uniforms including Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The device meets the need in the art of military uniforms and insignia for a device that can be used to quickly, accurately and flexibly pin skill badges on combat uniforms in a reliable, precise manner in a plurality of badge combinations.

In use the method includes the step

a) exerting finger pressure through the fabric to engage edges defined by the notch, and

b) sliding the plate against the fabric rear side, via said finger pressure exerted at the front side of the fabric, to position the plate prior to badge pin penetration through the fabric and through said opening or openings.

This invention solves at least two problems in particular:

1. The amount of time it takes to re-pin skill badges after removing them to either wash or simply change uniforms will be drastically reduced.

2. Badges pinned without the device are much more difficult to center and properly space; the present invention affords the individual the ability to pin badges quickly at the correct spacing, without having to use a measuring device. Once pinned in place, the plate serves as a backer for uniform fabric around the badge, and which provides a neat, organized appearance when displaying the badges in place while wearing the uniform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIGS. 1-3, a thin backing first support10is provided, for use with one or more retention pins11as extend from the body12of a badge or decoration12a. Such pins are adapted to be extended through, i.e. from the front side to the rear side, of the wearer's shirt or jacket fabric layer or sheet indicated at13. A clasp14fits over the end of the pin, at the rear side of the support10, which may comprise a thin plate or panel, which acts as a firm flat backer against the garment sheet13, against which the garment sheet is held.

The support10, typically consisting of molded plastic, has one or more through openings15to pass the pin or pins; and such openings are shown as elongated in the length direction of the support, i.e. the direction of arrow16, and their elongation allows for lengthwise adjustment of the support, during its position adjustment application to the garment, with badge pins projecting through the openings. Also, the openings are located in a row or rows as shown, but typically offset in direction16, to the left and right of the center line17of the support, for balanced, adjusted attachment of the backing support to the garment, as well as balanced support of the body12of the decoration or badge. Openings15aand15bare equally spaced from line17; openings15cand15dare equally spaced from line17; and openings15eand15fare equally spaced from line17.

It is a feature of the invention that the support plate10has discontinuity, such as a notch20positioned along the plate lower edge10a, to be blindly engaged by the user's finger22, or fingers, via fabric as the plate is adjustably positioned adjacent the rear side of the fabric layer13, whereby the user or badge wearer can accurately sidewardly orient the plate relative to the pin or pins of the badge location, at the front side of the shirt or jacket fabric layer. This result is enhanced by the fact that the notch width relative to the pin or pins of the badge location, at the front side of the shirt or jacket fabric layer. This result is enhanced by the fact that the notch width “w” is substantially less than the finger width32a, whereby the finger convex surface engages, via deflected fabric, the two sharp edges20band20cof the notch, tending to stabilize the plate20against twisting as it is shifted up or down, or sidewise, during position adjustment, in surface to surface engagement with the fabric13.

Also, the notch is positioned to medially intersect center line17of the support, whereby tendency of the support to twist (due to rubbing against13) during elevation of the finger22in engagement with points20band20cis minimized. The notch width “w” is typically about 8 millimeters, for best adjustment results, the lengths “1” of the elongated openings are about 4 millimeters, and their widths w2are about 2 millimeters. The notch is, for best adjustment results, located below the levels of the openings.

FIG. 5shows a modified overall support plate35having additional plate36attached to plate10along the upper edge of36and along the lower edge of10. If needed, the connection or attachment locus37can be severed to allow plate10to function as described above, atFIGS. 1 and 3. Plate36has two laterally elongated openings36aand36b, directly below two of the openings in plate10, as well as a notch40, like notch20, as described. Notch40is centrally located at the lower edge of plate36. Notches20and40are alike and in direct vertical alignment, and an upper flange41on plate36fits in notch20, since notch40now serves as an adjustment means for the overall plate35.FIG. 6is a view taken on lines6-6ofFIG. 5. The thickness “t” of the plate35is about 2 millimeters, and the plastic is preferably translucent to enable viewing of the user's fingers, through the plate, to aid adjustment. Openings36aand36bare adapted to receive badge pins as referred to, and to accommodate their

FIG. 7shows a further modified overall support plate45having an additional plate46attached to plate36, along the upper edge of46and along the lower edge of36. If needed, the connection or attachment locus47can be severed to allow plates10and36to function as overall plate35, referred to inFIGS. 5 and 6. Plate46has two laterally elongated openings46aand46b, like openings15a-15f, and36aand36b, directly below two of the openings in plate10, and below openings36aand36b, as shown. A notch50is provided for finger engagement, as described for notch20. Notches20,40and50are alike and in direct vertical alignment. An upper flange51on plate46fits in notch40, since notch50now serves as an adjustment means for the overall plate45.FIG. 8is a view taken on lines8-8ofFIG. 7. Openings46aand46bare adapted to receive badge pins.

In normal use, the device functions as follows: the user utilizes the centering notch (20,40, or50) to center the plate on the back side of the uniform fabric. The user then uses a fingertip to locate the notch, via pressure exerted through the uniform front side fabric, places the uniform on a flat surface with the backer plate centered at the inside of the uniform, and held in place. He then finds the first hole15by feeling through the front side of the fabric to find the hole in the plastic and then simply pins the badge by pushing the pins through the fabric and holes. He then attaches the clasps, and then pins the next badge in place, in succession, until complete. The user can then trim the plate for other badge combinations by cutting along the pre-molded outline at37or47with scissors or other cutting device.

The invention provides skill badge support templates made of plastic for use as for example specifically with combat camouflage military uniforms of the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines for pinning subdued, black skill badges using the built in rearward projected prongs or pins at a pre-configured spacing, both vertically from one badge to the next, and vertically from a predetermined area of the uniform, for example the US Army tape at the distances and spacing specified in military regulations. The device centering notch at the bottom center is used to center the device prior to pinning skill badges. The device typically consists of a flat “T” spaced surface to be positioned on the inside of the uniform jacket pre-configured with pre-positioned generally oval shaped openings set to receive the prongs of the skill badges pinned on the front side of the jacket pinned through the fabric of the uniform and secured on the backside of the uniform, as by clasp fasteners that accompany the badges.

Notch gap width is preferably less than finger width so that the finger can bridge the two notch edges20band20c, and is preferably greater than 3 millimeters, so that plate stabilizing pressure can be transmitted via the finger to the plate.

FIG. 9shows a further modified support plate60incorporating plates10,36and46, and also, a wider lower plate61with sub sections61a-61ehaving aligned notches62a-62e, and ribbon display pin openings63a-6e,64a-64eand65a-65e.