Patent Publication Number: US-2007118977-A1

Title: Interchangeable systems and methods for displaying designs on clothing accessories

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      This invention relates generally to clothing accessories, and more particularly to a system for interchangeably displaying various designs on clothing accessories.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      The retail market has a wide variety of companies that provide products and clothing to targeted markets. Moreover, it has been observed that many of these retailers are selling the same type of products or clothing to the same targeted market. A pattern has existed for a number of years where retailers are providing to consumers apparels decorated with vinyl decals, embroidery, or sewn-on-patches of various designs, including sports or celebrity-related designs. A walk in most major malls will allow one to see that there are many stores selling these same or similar items to the same demographics. This, among other things, is a strong indication of the demands consumers have for clothing with designs displayed thereon.  
      According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of people (age 14-26) in 1999 was 30 million. This number represents close to 10% of the total U.S. population. Teenagers influence about $324 billion in spending annually, have $151 billion in disposable income, spend $24 billion annually, and will spend $1.8 billion on-line by 2004. Teens spend an average of $80 to $100 per week on entertainment, fashion, food, and technology. These young people, dubbed “Generation Y”, dominate almost all facets of popular culture and are the fastest growing demographic under age 65.  
      It should be noted that although sometimes rebellious, teens also want to blend in and be accepted by peers yet also find ways to make them stand out as individuals. They seek a community of peers to welcome them, as well as help them stand out.  
      In addition, teenagers wear attitude like a uniform to give definition to their identity. This extends to clothing, hairstyle and the type of music listened to in public. They also react to humor, silliness, and irreverence more easily than to other styles. They follow sports, athletes, and celebrities in growing numbers.  
      Currently, specialty youth clothes and products is a billion dollar niche in the clothing industry. Over the past ten years, there has been a profound change in population dynamics in the U.S. The non-metropolitan population has been growing at the almost the same rate as the urban population making specialty youth clothes and products a viable product line in both urban and non-urban locations. As such the demand for athlete, celebrity, and sporting event memorabilia has increased dramatically.  
      Belt buckles which display different emblems on their surface have been made available by retailers in recent years for those looking to make a fashion statement. Other popular clothing accessories such as wallets and key chains have been used in a similar way. However, the consumers have not yet been given the ability to select the design or designs that they would like to have displayed on the belt buckle or given the option to interchange the design on the buckle to match the particular mood for the day.  
      Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide consumers the ability to select and interchange specific designs, for instance, fanciful designs, designs depicting favorite athletes or celebrities, designs depicting specific moments in a sporting event by an athlete, or designs depicting specific moments portrayed by a celebrity, and for display on a belt buckle.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a belt buckle having a design displayed thereon. The buckle of the present invention can be any standard belt buckle having a surface on which a design can be placed. The design to be displayed on the belt buckle, in an embodiment, can be an embroidered design, a non-embroidered design, or any patch design. An affixation mechanism can be provided between the design and the surface of the belt buckle to affix the design to the surface of the buckle. Such a mechanism can be, in an embodiment, an adhesive material provided on a back side of the design as a part of that design, or be independently provided on the surface of the belt buckle to which the design can be affixed. The affixation mechanism may alternatively be a hook and loop system (e.g., Velcro) with the loop portion provided on one of the back of the design or the surface of the belt buckle, while the hook portion may be provided on the other of the back of the design or the surface of the belt buckle. The affixation system may further be snap-on design with the surface of the buckle having an female end, while the back of the design may be attached to a sufficiently rigid male end for attachment to the female end, or vice versa. Of course, other affixation systems known in the art can readily be used.  
      The present invention also provide a belt and buckle system having interchangeable buckles and/or belts. The system, in one embodiment, includes a belt having opposing ends and a buckle removably attached to one end of the belt. The ability to remove and attach the buckle to one end of the belt permits a consumer to interchange either the belt or buckle or both to complement his or her particular mood for the day. The buckle, in an embodiment, includes a surface to which a design may be displayed. The design, in accordance with one embodiment, may be permanently or removably affixed to the surface of the buckle. In the embodiment where the design may be permanently affixed to the buckle, a plurality of buckles may be provided for interchangeability. A plurality of belts may also be provided for interchangeability purposes.  
      The present invention further provides a system for displaying designs, such as an embroidered design, on clothing accessories. The system, in an embodiment, includes a design to be displayed, a clothing accessory, such as a wallet or keychain, having a surface on which the design can be displayed, and an affixation mechanism positioned between the design and the surface of the clothing accessory. Such a mechanism can be, in an embodiment, an adhesive material provided on a back side of the design as a part of that design, or be independently provided on the surface of the clothing accessory to which the design can be affixed. The affixation mechanism may alternatively be a hook and loop system (e.g., Velcro) with the loop portion provided on one of the back of the design or the surface of the clothing accessory, while the hook portion is provided on the other of the back of the design or the surface of the clothing accessory. The affixation system may further be snap-on design with the surface of clothing accessory having an female end, while the back of the design may be attached to a sufficiently rigid male end for attachment to the female end, or vice versa. Of course, other affixation systems known in the art can readily be used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates belt buckle for use in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a belt and belt buckle system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a method for creating a one-of-a kind buckle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of a method for displaying a design onto clothing accessories.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an apparatus for applying a design onto clothing accessories.  
       FIG. 6A -B illustrate a key chain in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart of a method for creating a one-of-a kind keychain in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a belt buckle, a belt buckle and belt combination, and other clothing accessories that can be interchangeable to allow consumers the ability to customize different combinations of colored or styled belts and belt buckles with displays, as well as other clothing accessories.  
      Looking now at  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a belt buckle  10  designed for removable attachment to a belt, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The buckle  10  includes a clamping end  11  for removably securing one end of a belt thereto, and tightening end  12  through which an opposite end of a belt may be adjustably received for adjustment circumferentially about the waist on a wearer. To maintain the position of the belt about the waist of the wearer, buckle  10  may be provided with a pin  13  which may be moved (e.g., roll or slide) toward the tightening end  12 . Movement of the pin  13  toward the end  12 , in one embodiment, presses the end of the belt entering through end  12  securely between the pin  13  and a back surface of the buckle  10 . The buckle  10  also includes a surface  14  onto which a design  15 , such as an embroidered design, a non-embroidered design (i.e., picture), or any patch design, can be displayed.  
      Buckle  10  may also be provided with an affixation mechanism (not shown) between the design  15  and the surface  14  of the buckle  10  to secure the design  15  to surface  14  of the buckle  10 . Such a mechanism, in an embodiment, can be an adhesive material, such as glue, that can be applied directly on to the surface  14  of the buckle  10  prior to application of the design  15  to the surface  14 . The adhesive material may alternatively be a heat seal material provided on a back side of the design  15 , and which heat seal material can be activated during application of the design  15  to the surface  14 . The affixation mechanism, in another embodiment, may be a hook and loop system (e.g., Velcro) with the loop portion provided on one of the back of the design  15  or the surface  14  of the belt buckle  10 , while the hook portion may be provided on the other of the back of the design  15  or the surface  14  of the belt buckle  10 . The affixation system may further be snap-on design with the surface  14  of the buckle  10  having, for instance, a female end, while the back of the design  15  may be attached to a sufficiently rigid male end for attachment to the female end. Placement of the male and female ends of the snap-on mechanism on the design  15  and surface  14  of the buckle  10  may of course be reversed. Other affixation systems known in the art can also readily be used.  
      Although illustrated in  FIG. 1  as a particular buckle, the belt buckle  10  of the present invention may any commercially available buckle, so long as such a buckle is removable from the belt and provides a surface to which a design may be displayed. By making the buckle  10  removable, the buckle  10  of the present invention may be interchanged with a variety of belts to provide the wearer with fashion options that can be matched to the particular mood of the wearer for the day. Moreover, by allowing the design  15  on the buckle  10  to be removable, design  15  as well as the belt may interchanged to provide the wearer with additional fashion options.  
      The buckle  10  may be provided as part of a belt and buckle system  20 , such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the system  20  includes a buckle  21  having a design  27  that can be substantially similar to buckle  10  provided above. The system  20  further includes a belt  22  for placement circumferentially about the waist of a wearer. The belt  22 , in one embodiment, includes a first end  23  to be securely retained within a clamping end  24  of the buckle  21 , and a second end  25  for adjustable placement through a tightening end  26  of the buckle  21 . The second end  25  of belt  22  may adjustably move through the tightening end  26  to permit the belt  22  to accommodate variation in the waist size of the wearer. In an embodiment of the present invention, system  20  may be provided as part of a kit in which a plurality of buckles  21  and plurality of belts  22  may be included to permit the wearer with options for interchangeability. For instance, a kit of  10  different buckles  21  and  10  different belts  22  can provide the wearer with about  100  different combinations of belt and buckle. Of course, if the buckle  21  is provided with removable designs, a plurality of designs may also be provided as part of the kit. Otherwise, the wearer may purchase commercially available designs, such as those from www.GrooveGear.com for placement on the buckle  21 .  
      The present invention further contemplates a method to permit a consumer to create one-of-a kind belt buckles by permitting the consumer to choose or provide a design of choice which can subsequently be created for display on the belt buckle. Such designs can be any fanciful designs, embroidered designs, a non-embroidered design (i.e., picture), or patch designs, and can include designs depicting public figures, such as athletes or celebrities, or designs depicting specific moments from an event, such as a sporting event or concert.  
      Looking now at  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a method  30  for the creation of a one-of-a kind belt buckle. Initially, the consumer may select  31  a design for display on the belt buckle. In one embodiment, the selected design can be one of many available in a store or in a database accessible on-line through the Internet for perusal. Alternatively, the consumer may submit  32  a design for display on the belt buckle. The submitted design, in an embodiment, may be a picture, a photograph, an electronic image, or a video frame. Once submitted, the image may be digitized  33  using appropriate methods known in the art. The digitized image thereafter may be used as a template from which a design, an embroidered design or patch having a substantial likeness of, for instance, the original photograph, may be created  34  using processes well known in the art. For instance, the digitized image can be transformed into a substantial likeness using embroidered thread that is applied to a fabric backing.  
      Thereafter, the consumer may select  35  a buckle on which the design may be displayed. The present invention contemplates, in one embodiment, allowing a customer to see a wide variety of buckles from which they may choose. These buckles may, for perusal purposes, be placed on display racks, worn by employees at the retail store, on mannequins, in catalogs, on-line, on television, and/or in print ads in the store. Each buckle, in an embodiment, may be provided with a specific number for easy identification by the store.  
      It should be noted that although the description is directed to the buckle, the method of the present invention also contemplates allowing the consumer to select the belt along with the buckle and design in a manner similar to that associated with the buckle.  
      Once the design, buckle and belt have been selected, the order may be forwarded to a production area where the design can be applied  36  on to the buckle. Securing of the design on to the buckle can be by any method known in the art.  
      After the design has been applied onto the buckle for display, the consumer may pay  37  for the merchandise. However, it should be noted that, once the consumer has selected the design, the belt and the buckle, she may pay for her order in advance of the application of the design. Alternatively, the merchandise may be paid at pick up.  
      Subsequent to payment, the consumer may pick up the order and leave  38  the store with the merchandise. The completed order may also be mailed to the consumer. The order process from payment to assembly can be accomplished in about an hour or under. Moreover, when utilizing the method of the present invention, it can be expected that the merchandise can be ready in about 5 minutes or less, once the desired design, belt, and buckle have been selected and paid for by the customer.  
      In addition to the belt and buckle system above, the present invention further provides a method for displaying designs, such as fanciful designs, embroidered designs, or patch designs, and can include designs depicting public figures, such as athletes or celebrities, or designs depicting specific moments from an event, such as a sporting event or concert onto other clothing accessories, such as wallets, purses, hats, visors, scarves, bags etc.  
      In  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a method  40  for displaying various designs on to a wallet or purse, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Initially, the consumer may select  41  a design for display on the wallet. In one embodiment, the selected design can be one of many available in a store or in a database accessible on-line through the Internet for perusal.  
      Alternatively, the consumer may submit  42  a design for display on the purse or wallet. The submitted design, in an embodiment, may be a picture, a photograph, an electronic image, or a video frame. The submitted design can subsequently be transformed  43  into a design display using the method described above or any other method know in the art.  
      Thereafter, the consumer may select  44  a wallet or purse on which the design may be displayed. The present invention contemplates, in one embodiment, allowing a customer to see a wide variety of wallets or purse from which they may choose. These wallets or purses, as well as the designs may, for perusal purposes, be placed on display racks, in catalogs, on-line, on television, and/or in print ads in the store. Each design and wallet or purse, in an embodiment, may be provided with a specific number for easy identification by the store.  
      Once the design and wallet have been selected, the order may be forwarded to a production area where the design can be applied  45  on to the wallet. Securing of the design on to the wallet can be by any method known in the art, for instance, gluing, heat seal, or sewn-on.  
      In one embodiment, and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , there is provided a portable device  50  that permits displays and/or designs, such as patches, having heat activated adhesive backing (i.e., iron on type patches) to be affixed to clothing accessories, such as a wallet or purse.  
      The device  50 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, includes two opposing arms  51  and  52 , each having at one end heating plate  53  and  54  respectively, and at an opposing end handle  55  and  56  respectively. The arms  51  and  52 , in one embodiment, may be pivotally attached to one another, so that the arms  51  and  52  may be manipulated by the handles  55  and  56  to extend or decrease the distance between the heating plates  53  and  54 . In addition, the opposing arms  51  and  52  of the device  50  may be sufficiently elongated so as to allow the heating plates  53  and  54  to reach past the edges of clothing accessories in a manner conducive to applying designs on to the certain areas of the clothing accessories.  
      Each heating plate may be provided with a heating mechanism (not shown) designed to allow each heat plate  53  and  54  to be heated to a sufficiently high temperature, for instance, within a range of from about 325° F. to about 375° F., needed for the application of patches or designs that use heat activated adhesion backing. As these plates need to engage the patches or designs, the plates  53  and  54  may be provided with a non-stick coating, such as Teflon, so that while pressure is applied to the patch by the plates  53  and  54 , the adhesive backing on the patch may be melted onto the surface of the article and not get stuck to the heat plates. The device  50  may subsequently be removed from the article, and the design/patch permitted to cool.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 4 , after the design or designs have been applied onto the wallet for display, the consumer may pay  46  for the merchandise, and subsequent leave  47  the store with the merchandise. It should be noted that, once the consumer has selected the clothes and determined the permanent location for application of the designs, she may pay for her order in advance of application. Alternatively, the merchandise may be paid at pick up. The completed order may also be mailed to the consumer.  
      Although a heat seal method for affixing the design to the wallet or purse is disclosed above, it should be appreciated that other methods of affixing the design to the wallet or purse may be used. In particular, gluing, Velcro, snap-on, or other similar methods.  
      The wallet or purse created by the method of the present invention provides a consumer with a one-of-a kind article which can assist that consumer in making a fashion statement.  
      In a further embodiment of the present invention, looking now to FIGS.  6 A-B, a key chain  60  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The key chain  60 , in an embodiment, includes two layers  61  and  62 , each having a design, such as those disclosed above. The key chain  60  further includes an affixation layer  63  positioned between the two opposing layers  61  and  62 . In one embodiment of the invention, layers  61  and  62  may be mirror images of one another, so that after affixation, the key chain  60  may be provided with a complementary profile when viewing from either side of the key chain  60 . To the extent that a complementary profile is not desired (i.e., distinct profiles), two distinct designs may be affixed to one another.  
      The affixation layer  63 , in an embodiment, can be an adhesive material, such as glue, that can be applied directly on to the back surface of each of the layers  61  and  62  prior to affixation of the designs to one another. The adhesive material may alternatively be a heat seal material provided on a back side of the layers  61  and  62 , and which adhesive material can be activated during application of the designs to one another. The affixation layer, in another embodiment, may be a hook and loop system (e.g., Velcro) with the loop portion provided on one of the back of one design, for example, layer  61 , while the hook portion may be provided on the back of the other design, for example, layer  62 . The affixation layer may further be snap-on design with one design having, for instance, a female end, while the other design having a male end for attachment to the female end.  
      The key chain  60  may further include a key holding mechanism  64 , such as metal loop, or any key holding mechanism known in the industry. The key holding mechanism  64  may be attached to the key chain  60  by any method available, for instance, hole  65 .  
      The present invention further provides a method for creating a one-of-a kind keychain, similar to that described above. With reference now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a method  70  for the creation of a one-of-a kind key chain. Initially, the consumer may select  71  a design or designs for use in the creation of the key chain. In one embodiment, the selected design or designs can be one of many available in a store or in a database accessible on-line through the Internet for perusal. In particular, these designs, for perusal purposes, may be placed on display racks or the employees at the retail store, on mannequins, in catalogs, on-line, on television, and/or in print ads in the store. Each design, in an embodiment, may be provided with a specific number for easy identification by the store.  
      Alternatively, the consumer may submit  72  a design for display for use as a key chain. The submitted design, in an embodiment, may be a picture, a photograph, an electronic image, or a video frame. Once submitted, the image may be digitized  73  using appropriate methods known in the art. The digitized image thereafter may be used as a template from which a mirror image designs, e.g., embroidered or picture designs or patches having a substantial likeness of, for instance, the original photograph, may be created  74  using processes well known in the art. For instance, the digitized image can be transformed into a substantial likeness using embroidered thread that is applied to a fabric backing.  
      Once the design or designs have been selected or the patch created, the order may be forwarded to a production area where the mirror image designs can be affixed  75  to one another using any method known in the art, for instance, gluing, heat seal, snap-on, sewing etc.  
      After the design has been affixed to one another, it is transformed  76  into a key chain. The consumer may, thereafter, pay  77  for the merchandise. However, it should be noted that, once the consumer has selected the design, the belt and the buckle, she may pay for her order in advance of the creation of the key chain. Alternatively, the merchandise may be paid at pick up. The merchandise may also be mailed to the consumer.  
      It should be noted that if selection of any of the above items is through an on-line website, the website for use in connection with this embodiment may be accessed from, for instance, an in-store kiosk, in-store computer, or through an off-site computer, such as a home desktop, a laptop or a wireless handheld device. Moreover, should the order be made from within the store, the consumer may wait or, at his/her convenience, return to the store and pick up the order once it has been completed. If the order was placed off-site, the completed product may be set aside to allow the consumer to go to the store and pick it up at his/her convenience. Alternatively, the finished product may be mailed to consumer, at his/her option, whether the order was placed in-store or off-site.  
      In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the consumer may select, through the website, individual designs depicting athletes, celebrities, or specific moments from a sporting event they wish to purchase. These individual designs can then be shipped the consumer, and the consumer can subsequently apply the designs to the clothing accessories in the privacy of their own homes.  
      The on-demand approach, when implemented in connection with the methods of the present invention, allows for single (i.e., one-off) or small orders to be placed without economic burden on the store or the consumer that may typically be associated with economy of scale for large orders. Of course, it should be noted that the on-demand approach may also permit large scale orders to be placed.  
      In another embodiment, the present invention provides a system or method which may be implemented seamlessly with a website of a licensee company to allow that company&#39;s customers to implement the “on-demand” design protocol. In one embodiment, once the consumer accesses, for example, the company&#39;s website and clicks on a link to the “on-demand” design service, the consumer will be seamless directed to the system of the present invention. The consumer may thereafter pick out the design depicting athletes, celebrities, or specific moments from a sporting event, the clothing accessories onto which the design or designs will be applied, and send in the order. The order will be logged by the system and the order may subsequently by carried out. The completed product may be shipped to the store from which the order was originated for pick up by the consumer or shipped directly to the consumer at a designated address.  
      A method to allow similar or matching designs to be placed on multiple/different clothing accessories (e.g., buckle, belt, wallet etc.) to create a unifying theme is also provided in connection with the present invention. For example, a consumer might select a belt, buckle, wallet or other clothing accessories from different manufacturers or having different styles. The consumer would then select a designs or designs to be applied that will give the items selected a coordinated, custom or matched appearance or theme.  
      In another embodiment, a kit may be provided to allow placement of the designs onto the clothing accessories or creation of the accessories. For example, the consumer can purchase specific kits or sets of patches which they can then use at home to apply to their clothing to create a uniform or style to accessorize their clothing.  
      The present invention also contemplates, in an embodiment, a method to permit consumers to purchase these products in retail locations or on-line and to collect these products if they so desire through continued purchase of different styles of these products through auto-ship programs or through individual repeat purchases.  
      The foregoing has outlined, in general, certain aspect of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication, material, or application of use described and illustrated herein. Any other variation of fabrication, use, or application should be considered apparent as an alternative embodiment of the present invention.