Patent Publication Number: US-10327491-B2

Title: Locking button system

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIMS 
     This application is a divisional of, and thus claims the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/429,567, being filed on Feb. 10, 2017, which application also claims benefit to provisional patent application Nos. 62/294,425 being filed on Feb. 12, 2016, and 62/295,195 being filed on Feb. 15, 2016, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent application document contains material that is subject to copyright protection including the drawings. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to clasps, straps, buttons, snaps, and other easily removable fastening systems often used in clothing or other technologies involving fastening of one thing to another. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Present button type clasps involve the user of a mushroomed male portion and a female receiver wherein the female receiver has a portion wherein the female receiver has spring portions which deform elastically around the mushroomed head of the male portion so as to cause an interference fit between the mushroomed upper flange portion of the male portion and an interior portion of the female receiver. 
     The present invention seeks to overcome many deficiencies present in the prior art by providing a hybrid fastening system which has both mechanical and magnetic components operating in tandem to ensure a quick and easy, but also secure, coupling between a first and second component. It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown include the use of first and second components as they relate to the closure of a wrist portion of a glove, however, as will be appreciated by those having skill in the art, that the present embodiment can be used to replace, hook and loop, button, snap, buckles or any number of fasteners in any number of implementations from clothing to straps in commercial and household applications. 
     Unfortunately such buttons rely on the elastic properties of the materials or internal springs during clasping and release, which interference fit is unsuitable for many high tension situations as with buttons that are releasable through tension alone. Additionally these components can also become worn over time and get significantly weaker with age; thus, greatly diminishing their clasp strength. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to provide a connector which overcomes various discussed limitations in the prior art and provides a strong and stable connection between two components, but is operable using a single hand. Additionally, the locking button system of the present invention is unaffected by dampness or immersion in water and can be made from non-corrosive materials for high-stress or heavy-duty applications. As such, the present invention as contemplated herein can include a locking button system, the system having a male component having a male flange portion, the male component further including a first locking component being provided on an upper surface of the male component. The male component being configured to interact with a female component, the female component including an annular retention ring defining an interior cavity, the annular retention ring having an interior channel provided on an interior surface of the annular retention ring, the annular retention ring having a female flange portion having an inner diameter corresponding to an outer circumference of the male flange portion of the male component. 
     A cap can then be provided over the annular retention ring wherein a second locking component can be provided on an interior surface of the cap, the second locking component being configured to engage the first locking component of the male component. 
     In some embodiments, a magnet can be provided about an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and the cap can be formed of a magnetically responsive material such that the magnet and the cap are biased in a compressed configuration, or in other words, they are configured such that the cap and the magnet tend to draw together. In some alternative embodiments, a magnet can be provided on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; wherein the cap includes a corresponding magnet on an interior surface such that the magnet and the cap are biased in a compressed configuration, or configured such that the cap and the magnet tend to draw together. In yet another embodiment a magnet can be provided about an interior surface of the cap wherein the annular retention ring is formed of a magnetically responsive material such that the magnet and the cap are biased in a compressed configuration, or configured such that the cap and the magnet tend to draw together. 
     It will also be appreciated that in some embodiments the male component can include a base portion having an anchor means configured to attach to a first closing component, i.e. a first end of a strap. Further, in some embodiments the female component can also include a base portion having an anchor means configured to attach to a second closing component, i.e. a second end of a strap, such that two ends of a strap can be affixed together. 
     In some alternative embodiments, the magnet can be provided within a recess of an upper flange of the annular retainer ring such that an upper surface of the magnet is flush with the upper surface of the annular retainer ring. 
     In yet additional embodiments the magnet can be provided with an aperture about a central portion thereof, wherein the aperture has a radius corresponding with a depth of the interior channel of the annular retention ring. 
     In yet additional embodiments the cap can also be provided with an interior flange, and the annular retention ring further can be provided with an exterior flange, and wherein the cap is configured to translate axially with respect to the annular retention ring wherein the interior flange of the cap and the exterior flange of the annular retention ring interferingly engage with one another in an extended state and limit travel in the axial direction. 
     Also contemplated herein is a method for coupling a male component of a locking button system to a female component of locking button system, the method including the steps of: providing a male component having a male flange portion and a male locking pin provided on an upper surface of the male component; providing a female component, the female component having: an annular retention ring defining an interior cavity, the annular retention ring having an interior groove provided on the interior surface, the interior cavity having a diameter corresponding to an outer circumference of the flange portion of the male component; an axially telescoping cap; and a second locking pin provided on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap; inserting the male component into the female component translating the male component axially until the male locking pin abuts against the second locking pin and thus causing the axially telescoping cap to translate axially; translating the male component radially outward causing the male flange portion to engage a sidewall of the interior groove; translating the axially telescoping cap so as to cause the second locking pin to interfere with radial translation of the male locking pin of the male component. 
     The method contemplated above can alternatively include the steps of providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and forming the axially telescoping cap of a magnetically responsive material. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing a corresponding magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In some such alternative embodiments, the method can include a step of embedding magnet into a recess provided about an upper flange of the annular retainer ring such that an upper surface of the magnet is flush with the upper surface of the annular retainer ring. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing an additional magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: embedding a magnet within an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing an additional magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an inner surface of the axially telescoping cap; and forming the annular retention ring of a magnetically responsive material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of a locking button system illustrating various aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a separated side perspective view of the locking button system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate exploded top and bottom perspective views of the locking button system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a female component for use in the locking button system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate various top perspective views of a male component for use in the locking button system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A-D  illustrate various cross-sectional views of the locking button system of  FIG. 1  and in particular the interaction between the male and female button components through various engagement steps; 
         FIGS. 7A-D  illustrate various top conceptual views of the interaction between the male and female components through various engagement steps; 
         FIGS. 8A-D  illustrate various engagement and disengagement angles between the male and female components through various steps. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side cross sectional view of a locking button system having an alternative magnet configuration; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a side cross sectional view of a locking button system having yet another alternative magnet configuration; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a locking button system illustrative of various alternative attachment means; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the locking button system as illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of an alternative male component of the system as illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a side perspective view of an alternative male component of the system as illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a side perspective view of the locking button system as illustrated in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13  in a locked configuration; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a side exploded perspective view of the locking button system as illustrated in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a side detailed perspective view of the locking button system as illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a top view of an alternative male component applicable for use in any of the locking button systems shown above; and 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a top view of an alternative male component applicable for use in any of the locking button systems shown above. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To provide an overall understanding of the systems, devices, and methods described herein, certain illustrative embodiments will be described. Although the embodiments and features described herein are frequently described for use in clothing applications, it will be understood that all the components, mechanisms, systems, methods, and other features outlined below can be combined with one another in any suitable manner and can be adapted and applied to other similar systems and in any number of suitable settings. 
     The present application seeks to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems, namely reduce the correlation between clasp strength and material resilience and mere tension of an interference fit. This is achieved by creating various interference and locking features. The locking button system of the present invention involves the use of clasps and fasteners that rely on one or more pairs of flanges which apply opposing shearing forces to each other. These mechanisms can also include magnets or springs configured to bias the various parts into proper alignment. In some embodiments, magnets are preferable as they allow for the benefit of fewer points of failure for longer lifecycles. It will be appreciated that in some cases, the use of springs can be a reasonable substitute for magnets without requiring significant modifications to the designs. 
     The locking button system disclosed herein illustrates an elegant and compact clasp design which utilizes a keyed slot feature being easy to engage and disengage using only one hand. Also, the execution of both engaging and releasing the locking button system is simple, intuitive and requires very little strength. However, when the clasp is engaged, because of the locking mechanisms involved, the coupling is stronger than the mere elastic properties of the interference fit between the various components, particularly in the primary tensile force direction therebetween. 
     It should be appreciated that the locking button system has a simplified workflow that allows the mechanism to be manipulated with one hand. Simply by placing two or more fingers against the sides of the top cap and rolling the fingertips by slightly curling the fingers they will rotate and create a lifting force under an exposed lip, thus causing the top cap to rise. This lifting force simply overcomes a magnetic attraction as there is no spring. Internally, this telescoping action releases a locking mechanism as the cap rises so as to allow for disengagement. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a locking button system  10  in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The locking button system  10  includes a female component  100  which in this case is visible on an exterior surface after the locking button system  10  is engaged. The locking button system  10  also includes a male component  200  which as shown can be connected to an interior surface or lower layer to form a clasping point, such as to close a jacket. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a separated view of the locking button system  10  wherein the female component  100  is separated from the male component  200 . It will be appreciated that a base portion of the male component can have various attachment means for affixing a base of the male component  200  to a desired attachment point on the specific article of clothing. For example, various apertures for stitching can be provided, or alternatively a rivet style system can be provided into the rear surface, or the male component can be adhered using an adhesive, as such it will be appreciated that numerous attachment means would be readily apparent to those having skill in the art, which alternatives fall within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate various exploded side perspective views of the locking button system  10  so as to illustrate various components in the male and female components  200  and  100  respectively, and more particularly, female component  100 . The female component  100  includes a cap  110  which engages with an exterior sliding surface of a retention ring  130 . The cap can be configured to telescope with respect to the retention ring. This telescoping movement can be limited by providing interfering lips or flanges  118  and  138  about the cap  110  and the retaining ring  130  respectively. The interfering lip  138  can be provided about a distal edge of the retaining ring, and the interfering lip  118  can be provided about a bottom edge of the cap such that they only engage in a maximum expanded configuration. 
     The retention ring  130  can be provided with a magnet  120  at an upper portion so as to bias the cap into a compressed configuration. The compressed configuration and the biasing into such a configuration will be discussed in greater detail below, as it aids in a locking step and configuration between the male and female components. 
     It will be appreciated that the female portion can also be provided with an anchor means such as a fabric retainer  150  at a lower portion. It will be appreciated that while the fabric retainer  150  is shown here as a crimp which sandwiches a portion of fabric  300 A between the fabric retainer  150  and an outer flange  137  or the retention ring  130 , that it can also be affixed through adhesion, as discussed above, or otherwise provided with holes through outer flange  137  or other attachment means which can be utilized for stitching, such alternative mechanisms will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art. 
     The retention ring  130  can be annular in shape with an open central portion along the axis for receiving a protrusion  210  of the female component  200 . The protrusion  210  can include a flange portion  220  which can interact with the retention ring  130 , particularly when slid radially into a channel or annular groove  134  of the retention ring  130 . As such, the interior surface of the open central portion of the retention ring  130  can receive a portion of the flange portion  220  of the protrusion  210  of the male component  200  such that they interfere with one another and prevent axial relative translation between the male and female components when engaged. 
     It will be appreciated that a base portion  250  of the male component  200  can include the attachment means discussed above for affixing the male component to the fabric at an attachment point. 
     The locking button system  10  can also include first and second locking components, shown herein as locking pins  114  and  214  which will interact with each other as well as in conjunction with the magnet  120  so as to provide a locking mechanism which will be discussed in more detail below. 
     In order to affix the female component  100  to an opposing fabric, end of a strap, or at a specified point, the fabric retainer  150  can be crimped or otherwise pressed into the retainer ring  130  so as to sandwich a portion of fabric therebetween so as to facilitate proper positioning. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an assembled female component affixed to a piece of fabric  300 A wherein only the visible cap  110  and a bottom flange of the retainer ring  130  is visible. These two components can be plated, or formed of similar or differing materials so as to achieve virtually any desired aesthetic effect. 
       FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate various side perspective views of the male component  200  which includes the base, for affixing to an attachment point, as well as the male protrusion  210 . The male protrusion  210  also includes a flange portion  220  and a locking pin  214 . 
       FIGS. 6A-D  and  FIGS. 7A-D  illustrate various steps in the coupling process of the locking button system  10  between the male component  200  and the female component  100  wherein the male component is affixed to a connection point on first fabric flap  300 B and a connection point on second fabric flap  300 A.  FIG. 6A  illustrates how initially male component and locking pin  214  is aligned coaxially with the female component  100  and locking pin  114 . The male component  200  including the protrusion  210  and flange portions  220  fit into and slide into the internal cavity of the retention ring  130  until the locking pin  214  of the male component abuts the locking protrusion  114  of the female component  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , the male component pushes the cap  110  upward with respect to the retention ring  130  so as to allow for axial translation of the male component until the flange portion  220  aligns with the channel or annular slot  134 . 
     Once the flange portion  220  is aligned with the annular slot  134  the male component  200  can be slid radially such that a portion of the flange portion  220  engages with a lower sidewall of the annular slot  134 . This lateral movement causes the circular flange portion  220  to create a crescent-shaped engagement area with the lower sidewall of the annular slot  134 . As such, at this point separation due to tensile stresses is impossible because of this engaged area. 
     The lateral radial translation also allows for sufficient radial motion that the locking pin  114  is no longer stopped in the downward axial direction by the male locking pin  214  as shown in  FIGS. 6C-D  and the locking pin  114  and visible cap are allowed to translate axially downward and the locking pin slides to align radially with the male locking pin  214  preventing radial translation back with into axial alignment between the flange portion and the interior aperture of the retention ring  130 . Structurally, the locking pins function solely as locking mechanisms and do not bear any of the fastening stresses that occur laterally. The pins simply prevent incidental alignment during times when tension goes to zero, as such alignment could cause the clasp to disengage. The pins insure that the clasp always maintains that crescent-shaped meshing of the crescent-shaped engagement area. 
     The magnet  120  which can be press fit, bonded, or otherwise provided on the upper surface of the retention ring  130  can then act to retain the visible portion  110  in the axial downward position until release is desired by the user. It will be appreciated that the cap  110  can be formed of a corresponding ferromagnetic material, or even be provided with a corresponding magnet  120 B on its interior surface, as shown in  FIG. 10 , so as to increase the magnetic coupling strength between the visible portion  110  and the retention ring so as to maintain the radial positioning of the locking pin  114  behind the male locking pin portion. In some embodiments, the male component can also be ferrous and thus be attracted to a magnet embedded in an interior surface of the cap, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     It will be appreciated that these arrangements then provide a compressive force between the male portion and the cap, and particularly between the retention ring  130  and the cap so as to cause the pin  114  of the cap to interfere with the radial translation of the second locking pin  214  after the male portion is slid radially into the retention ring  130  and its channel or cavity  134 . 
     In other words, this attraction applies a downward force on the female annular ring, working to discourage any separation of the male and female components because the male portion will then be unable to translate radially to align the axis of the circular flange portion with the aperture in the retention ring because of the interfering pins  114  and  214 . 
     The downward pull of the magnet also plays a role as it aids the user in initial engagement since the button will try to engage when it gets close enough so as to be within the effect of the magnetic field. 
     In this manner, the male component  200  can move within the slot in a circle about the axis, but will be prevented from moving radially inward and allowing for unlocking of the male component  200  from the female component  100 . 
     In yet additional embodiments it would also be possible to embed an additional ring magnet in the top of the male surface so as to strengthen the magnetic attraction. 
     Additionally, because the interference area between the flange portion  220  and the annular slot  134  is a crescent-shaped engagement two-dimensional planar area the components can thus resist rotating out of axial parallel alignment, and thus prevent an unlocking under an out of axis torque load. 
       FIGS. 8A-D , as discussed above illustrate that the male and female components can be engaged from various angles so as to establish a connection or to disengage a previously established connection. Note that while increasing the amount of play between the two components will often make it possible to affect how easy it is to transition to engaged, there will be an inflection point, i.e. a maximum angle, beyond which some stages may get harder. Also, it should be noted that the components can pass each other through the various stages if they are at an angle to each other with varying difficulty, in this manner perfect alignment is not necessarily required for purposes of engagement or disengagement. However, in practice a maximum relative angle of about 20 degrees appears to be most comfortable and useful. 
     As such, the present invention as contemplated herein can include a locking button system  10 , the system having a male component  200  having a male flange portion  220 , the male component  200  further including a first locking component  214 , in the form of a pin, being provided on an upper surface of the male component  200 . The male component  200  being configured to interact with a female component  100 , the female component  100  including an annular retention ring  130  defining an interior cavity or channel  134  provided therein on an interior surface of the annular retention ring, the annular retention ring  130  having a female flange portion  136  having an inner diameter corresponding to an outer circumference of the male flange portion  220  of the male component  200 . 
     A cap  110  can then be provided over the annular retention ring  130  wherein a second locking component  114  can be provided on an interior surface of the cap  110 , the second locking component  114  being configured to engage the first locking component  214  of the male component  200 . 
     In some embodiments, a magnet  120  can be provided about an upper surface of the annular retention ring  130 . It will also be appreciated that the magnet  120  can be embedded into an upper surface of the retention ring  130  such that the magnet  120  and the retention ring  130  have a flush or smooth upper surface. In an alternative embodiment, an alternative magnet  120 B, as shown in  FIG. 10 , can be provided about an interior surface of the cap  110  wherein the annular retention ring is formed of a magnetically responsive material such that the magnet and the cap are biased in a compressed configuration, or configured such that the cap and the magnet tend to draw together. 
     It will also be appreciated that in some embodiments the male component can include a base portion having an anchor means  250  which can then be configured to attach to a first closing component, i.e. a first end of a strap. Further, in some embodiments the female component can also include a base portion having an anchor means  150  configured to attach to a second closing component, i.e. a second end of a strap, such that two ends of a strap can be affixed together. 
     Also contemplated herein is a method for coupling a male component of a locking button system to a female component of locking button system, the method including the steps of: providing a male component having a male flange portion and a male locking pin provided on an upper surface of the male component; providing a female component, the female component having: an annular retention ring defining an interior cavity, the annular retention ring having an interior groove provided on the interior surface, the interior cavity having a diameter corresponding to an outer circumference of the flange portion of the male component; an axially telescoping cap; and a second locking pin provided on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap; inserting the male component into the female component translating the male component axially until the male locking pin abuts against the second locking pin and thus causing the axially telescoping cap to translate axially; translating the male component radially outward causing the male flange portion to engage a sidewall of the interior groove; translating the axially telescoping cap so as to cause the second locking pin to interfere with radial translation of the male locking pin of the male component. 
     The method contemplated above can alternatively include the steps of providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and forming the axially telescoping cap of a magnetically responsive material. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing a corresponding magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In some such alternative embodiments, the method can include a step of embedding magnet into a recess provided about an upper flange of the annular retainer ring such that an upper surface of the magnet is flush with the upper surface of the annular retainer ring. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing an additional magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: embedding a magnet within an upper surface of the annular retention ring; and providing an additional magnet on an interior surface of the axially telescoping cap. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the method contemplated above can include the steps of: providing a magnet on an inner surface of the axially telescoping cap; and forming the annular retention ring of a magnetically responsive material. 
       FIGS. 11-18  illustrate various aspects an alternative locking button system having male and female locking components  100 A and  200 A respectively. These components lock together in the same manner as the embodiments described above with retaining ring  130 , flange portion  220  and are attracted together using magnet  122  and locked using locking pins  114  and  214  respectively. This embodiment does however vary in that the attachment means is provided as a circular aperture  290  which can be configured to connect to a chain or a rope. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates an alternative male locking component  200 B which has yet another alternative attachment means in the shape of an elongated aperture  294 , wherein the elongated aperture is more suitable for the receiving of flat straps, etc. 
     It will also be appreciated that the top surface of the cap  110 , in any of the aforementioned embodiments can be provided with one or more features, such as indicia  112 . In some embodiments, the top surface can be provided with a coating of tactile material, such as rubber or silicone, so as to improve the ease of grasping the cap  110  by a user. It will be appreciated that the magnets embedded within the locking button system can greatly increase the ease of single-hand clasping functions or aide in ease of alignment for users having decreased motor function, such as the elderly or those with debilitating diseases such as ALS, etc. 
     In yet alternative embodiments the indicia  112  can be provided instead as decorations which increase the aesthetic properties, such as gems, jewels, cameos, or other jewelry such that the button itself can become or resemble a pendant or the focal piece of the item, such as a necklace. 
     While several embodiments have been described herein that are exemplary of the present invention, one skilled in the art will recognize additional embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. Modification and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the applications of the embodiments disclosed herein are varied. Accordingly, additions and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the disclosure. In this regard, it is intended that such changes would still fall within the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment as shown, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.