Patent Publication Number: US-2009217490-A1

Title: Decorative button

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a decorative button, especially, relates to a decorative button that is capable of being mounted on any object for improved safety and aesthetic appeal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Garments of clothing are not just for warmth, but also to display individual purpose and expression. Therefore, decorations, for example brooches, decorative pins, campaign pins and the like are temporarily affixed to the garments for improved aesthetic appeal and self-tailor the garments to individual styles. 
     However, the decorations generally comprise a sharp needle arm for puncturing through and fastening the decoration to the garment that is further bent back on itself or mounted into an inner cap. This not only causes injuries easily but also shortens the use life of the garment. Moreover, the sharp needle arm is very dangerous and should the needle arm become loose, gives rise to contamination issues. Moreover, the inner cap is abrasive causing discomfort to user. Therefore, certain improvement in the related industry of decorating products is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide a decorative button for improved safety and aesthetic appeal. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the decorative button in accordance with the present invention comprises a body, connector and an inner cap. The body has an outline, a front surface formed with a pattern and a rear surface. The connector is attached to the rear surface of the body and has a sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and a flange being formed perpendicularly on the distal end of sleeve. The inner cap has a stopper and a plug. The plug is formed centrally on and protrudes perpendicularly from the stopper, is mounted through and fastened in the connector and has a proximal end. The decorative button is mounted through existing holes in any objects to improve aesthetic appeal without being dangerous or causing damage. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a decorative button in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the decorative button in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective front view of the decorative button in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded rear perspective view of the decorative button in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side view of the decorative button in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment of a decorative button in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the decorative button in  FIG. 1 , shown mounted on a sandal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a decorative button in accordance with the present invention comprises a body ( 10 ), a connector ( 20 ) and an inner cap ( 30 ). 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the body ( 10 ) may be plastic and has a front surface ( 11 ), an outline and a rear surface ( 12 ). The front surface ( 11 ) of the body ( 10 ) has a pattern such as cartoon characters for children or flowers, insects, other aesthetically appealing patterns and may further be in relief. The outline of the body ( 10 ) may correspond to the pattern of the front surface ( 11 ) for integrating an appearance of the body ( 10 ). The rear surface ( 12 ) of the body ( 10 ) has an optional recess ( 121 ) formed in the rear surface ( 12 ). 
     The connector ( 20 ) may be plastic, is attached to the rear surface ( 12 ) of the body ( 10 ) and has a sleeve ( 21 ) and a flange ( 22 ). 
     The sleeve ( 21 ) has a through hole ( 211 ), a distal end, a proximal end and a shoulder. The through hole ( 211 ) of the sleeve ( 21 ) is formed through the sleeve ( 21 ), may be circular or polygonal in cross-section and defines an inner surface of the sleeve ( 21 ). The proximal end is attached to the rear surface ( 12 ) of the body ( 10 ). The shoulder is recessed in the inner surface of the sleeve ( 21 ), at the proximal end. 
     The flange ( 22 ) is formed perpendicularly around the distal end of sleeve ( 21 ), is attached to the rear surface ( 12 ) of the body ( 10 ), and may be mounted securely in the recess ( 121 ) of the body ( 10 ) using adhesive, thermal bonding or the like. 
     The inner cap ( 30 ) is resilient, may be plastic, and has a stopper ( 31 ), a plug ( 32 ). The stopper ( 31 ) may be circular or polygonal and has an outer surface, an inner surface and a diameter. The outer surface of the stopper may be convex for increased comfort. The plug ( 32 ) is formed centrally on and protrudes perpendicularly from the inner surface of the stopper ( 31 ), is mounted securely in and corresponds to the through hole ( 211 ) of the sleeve ( 21 ), and has multiple resilient tabs ( 322 ). The resilient tabs ( 322 ) are formed on and protrude individually from the plug ( 32 ) and have hooked distal ends ( 321 ). The hooked distal ends ( 321 ) are mounted in and abut the shoulder of the sleeve ( 21 ) and prevent the stopper ( 30 ) detaching easily from the sleeve ( 21 ). 
     When assembling the decorative button of the present invention, the plug ( 32 ) of the inner cap ( 30 ) is mounted through the through hole ( 211 ) of the sleeve ( 21 ) and fastened in the connector ( 20 ). The plug ( 32 ) is resilient so slightly deforms to allow the resilient tabs ( 322 ) of the plug ( 32 ) to pass through the through hole ( 211 ) of the sleeve ( 21 ) and spring into place to fasten the stopper ( 30 ) to the connector ( 20 ). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 7 , the decorative button of the present invention is used to mount on the any objects provided with holes without damaging the objects for decoration and to improve aesthetic appeal, for example, mounted on a pair of sandals ( 40 ) having holes ( 41 ) or through a button hole or a jacket, jumper, shirt, cardigan or the like. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.