Patent Publication Number: US-11044969-B2

Title: Button-supported fashion accessory

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application U.S. 62/744,783 filed on Oct. 12, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to ornamental button covers, and more particularly to ornamental covers that slidably attach to buttons of the type found on trousers and other types of clothing articles. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A fashion accessory is any item that accentuates a wearer&#39;s outfit. Some fashion accessories are carried by the wearer, whereas others are worn. Fashion accessories have become standard in the garment industry. 
     Accessories can be worn in many ways ranging from hair to wristbands. Brooches and other forms of jewelry fastened to clothing with a pin are popular fashion accessories. Stylish belt buckles are often equated with a brooch, in terms of jewelry fastened to clothing but through the use of a belt providing the method of attachment to the wearer. While many people desire to accessorize with belt buckles, belts to carry the buckle are not always desirable. For instance, when wearing certain types or styles of shorts, pants and other dress type garments, a belt may not be feasible. In these situations, the wearer is unable to take advantage of the belt buckle as a form of fashion accessories. 
     There have been some attempts to accessorize the buttons of shirt sleeve cuffs, such as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,313 to Hocq, issued Jan. 27, 1976. Hocq has but limited application due to several inherent design deficiencies which include a hinged cover that introduces manufacturing complexity and cost, as well as a wire-clip that is only conducive to shirt-sleeve applications. U.S. Pat. No. 8,726,469 to Delaneau and U.S. Pat. No. 9,993,047 to Patterson both describe button covers specifically designed for trouser applications. U.S. Pat. No. 1,774,033 to Myers and U.S. Pat. No. 9,198,480 to Junge both depict examples of covers where the clip is curved to better conform to the shape of the wearer&#39;s body. 
     One particularly deficient aspect to all of the prior art examples is that they are designed to be attached to, and detached from, the article of clothing while the flap is secured in a closed condition. While perhaps convenient for purposes of installation and removal, the button cover can be accidentally dislodged and lost, such as when the wearer brushes unawares against something. All of these prior art examples of button covers can be accidentally un-clipped in use and perhaps lost. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for an improved fashion accessory that is readily adaptable to various uses, including but not limited to belt-buckle type applications, which provides a more secure connection, which is comfortable to wear, which is easily installed and removed, which is durable and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a removeable decorative button cover assembly comprises an elongated slider bar. The slider bar has a service end and a display end. The slider bar establishes a constrained path between the service and display ends configured to guide a captive button back-and-forth therealong. A bracket extends from the display end of the slider bar. The bracket has a standoff portion and a mounting portion. The standoff portion is directly connected to the slider bar. The mounting portion is connected to the standoff portion and is spaced from the slider bar generally over the display end. A decorative cover is supported from the mounting portion of the bracket and is also spaced from the slider bar generally over the display end. A snare is attached to the service end of the slider bar. The snare has an aperture configured to receive and then trap the head of the button on one side of the slider bar. The aperture is bounded on one side thereof by an interior stopper edge. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, a combination is composed of an article of clothing and removeable decorative button cover assembly therefor. The article of clothing has a flap section. The flap section comprises an under-flap portion and an opposing over-flap portion. A button is secured to the under-flap section. The button has an enlarged head attached to and extending from a shaft. The shaft has a shaft diameter. The head of the button has a head diameter that is greater than the shaft diameter. The over-flap includes a slot, and the slot has a length greater than the head diameter of the button. The flap section is configured to be secured in a closed condition by inserting the head of the button through the slot on the over-flap. An elongated slider bar has a service end and a display end. The slider bar has opposing interior boundary edges establishing a constrained path between the service and display ends configured to guide the button captive back-and-forth therealong. A bracket extends from the display end of the slider bar. The bracket has a standoff portion and a mounting portion. The standoff portion is directly connected to the slider bar. The mounting portion connected to the standoff portion and is spaced from the slider bar generally over the display end. A decorative cover is supported from the mounting portion of the bracket and also spaced from the slider bar generally over the display end. A snare is attached to the service end of the slider bar. The snare has an aperture configured to receive and then trap the head of the button on one side of the slider bar. The aperture is bounded on one side thereof by an interior stopper edge. In combination, the slider bar is inextricably trapped between the under-flap and over-flap sections on the shaft of the button when the button head is secured through the slot on the over-flap. In the inextricably trapped condition, the decorative cover is moveable toward and away from a position directly overlying the button head. 
     The claimed invention has many advantages. For example, the slider bar of this invention can be inextricably trapped between the under-flap and over-flap sections of an article of clothing, on the shaft of the button, when the button head is secured through a slot in the over-flap. That is to say, when the flap is secured closed, the decorative cover assembly cannot be removed from the article of clothing. Despite being inextricably trapped, the decorative cover  40  is nevertheless freely moveable toward and away from a position directly overlying the button head. Travel of the captive button is arrested at one end by the bounded interior stopper edge of the snare, and at the other end by the bracket colliding with the over-flap. If the user accidentally snags the decorative cover, the entire assembly cannot be disconnected from the article of clothing. The configuration of the snare permits the assembly to be discretely installed with only minimal expose of the over-flap. A still further advantage is that the snare is prone to retain the assembly on the button even after the flap has been undone. When the flap becomes unsecured for whatever reason, the snare with its interior stopper edge will naturally cling to the button, thus reducing the likelihood of the assembly falling to the floor. These are but a few of the many advantages of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is an environmental view showing a person wearing trouser pants of the type having a waist band with an over-flap temporarily unsecured to expose the head of a button on an under-flap, and a removeable decorative button cover assembly according to one embodiment of the invention disposed for installation; 
         FIG. 1B  is a view as in  FIG. 1A  showing a further progression of the installation process in which the over-flap of the trouser pants is secured by connection with the button thereby trapping the removeable decorative button cover assembly on the button in-between the under- and over-flaps of the trousers; 
         FIG. 1C  is a view as in  FIG. 1B  showing a further progression of the installation process in which the removeable decorative button cover assembly is slid toward a final installed position while remaining trapped on the button; 
         FIG. 1D  is a view as in  FIG. 1C  showing the removeable decorative button cover assembly in the final installed position in which the button is fully occluded by a decorative cover of the removeable decorative button cover assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clip portion of a button-supported fashion accessory according to one embodiment of the invention, with mounting and decorative cover portions exploded and in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the clip portion of the button-supported fashion accessory of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the clip portion of the button-supported fashion accessory of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view as in  FIG. 3  but showing a mounting portion connected to the clip and a decorative cover exploded and in phantom; 
         FIG. 6A  is a simplified view from the perspective of a user, corresponding generally to  FIG. 1A , showing the flap section of trouser pants with the over-flap section temporarily unsecured to expose the head of a button, and a removeable decorative button cover assembly according to one embodiment of the invention disposed for installation; 
         FIG. 6B  is a view as in  FIG. 6A  showing a further progression of the installation process in which the over-flap of the trouser pants has been secured by connection with the button and the removeable decorative button cover assembly is in transit toward a final installed position; 
         FIG. 6C  is a view as in  FIG. 6B , corresponding generally to  FIGS. 1C and 1D , showing the removeable decorative button cover assembly in the final installed position; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view as in  FIG. 6C  but showing in phantom the removeable decorative button cover assembly shifted away from its final installed position such as by accidental impact; 
         FIG. 8  depicts the removeable decorative button cover assembly in exploded view format according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a ferro-magnetic interface enables quick-change functionality to the decorative cover; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a removeable decorative button cover assembly is generally shown at  10 . The assembly  10  is designed and intended to cover the button of an article of clothing. Throughout the illustrated examples, the article of clothing is depicted in the exemplary form of trouser pants, generally indicated at  12 . However, it should be understood that the article of clothing could instead be a shirt, blouse, jacket or the like. Furthermore, the article of clothing need not necessary be clothing. For example, the article of clothing could be a hand-carried or body-worn utility article such as purse, satchel, bag or the like. Regardless of the type of garment or item, the article of clothing will have an encircling feature, such as a waistband in the case of trousers  12  or a cuff in the case of a shirt sleeve or an opening in the case of a purse, etc., that is made discontinuous by means of a flap. The flap can be selectively unsecured in order to facilitate dressing and un-dressing in the case of garments, or otherwise easily passing objects through the encircling feature. 
     Regardless of the type of garment, the flap can be defined in most cases by an under-flap  14  and an opposing over-flap  16 . A button  18  is securely attached to the under-flap  14 . The button  18  has an enlarged head  20  attached to and extending from a shaft  22 . The shaft  22  may either be flexible, as in the case of sewing thread or the like, or rigid. When of the rigid type, the shaft  22  is generally cylindrical and can be defined as having a shaft diameter. A flexible shaft  22  will also have a transverse dimension that can be easily correlated to the diameter of a rigid shaft  22 . The head  20  of the button  18  can be any geometric shape, but in many cases is generally circular. When in the circular form, the head  20  may be defined as having a head diameter that is greater than the shaft diameter. A non-circular head  20  will also have a transverse dimension that can be easily correlated to the diameter of a circular head  20 . This differential in the relative diameters or dimensions between head  20  and shaft  22  are best seen in  FIGS. 6A-7 , and is common in the art. 
     The over-flap  16  includes a slot  24  formed therein, as best seen in  FIGS. 1B &amp; 1D . The slot has a length greater than the head diameter of the button  18 . Thus, the flap is configured to be secured in a closed condition by inserting the head  20  of the button  18  through the slot  24  on the over-flap  16 , according to the well-known practice. 
     The removeable decorative button cover assembly  10  includes a clip portion, generally indicated at  26 . The clip  26  may be fabricated from any suitable material, including but not limited to bent wire, sheet metal, wood, plastic and combinations thereof. In the illustrated examples, the clip  26  is made at least in part from bent wire. The clip  26  is best seen in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
     At one end of the clip  26  is formed a snare  28 . When viewed from the top, as in  FIG. 3 , the snare  28  can be seen to reside within a common plane. I.e., the snare  28  may be a generally planar formation. However, in other contemplated embodiments the snare  28  may be curved in this top view or may take other shapes deemed desirable. Turning to the front view of  FIG. 4 , the snare  28  is portrayed as having an aperture  30 . That is, the snare  28  represents the end or terminal portion of the clip  26 , and the aperture  30  is the open inside region of the snare  28 . This open inside region, or aperture  30 , is defined by an enlarged ingress/egress region  32  and a constricted neck section  34 . The ingress/egress region  32  and neck section  34  are identified in  FIG. 4  by their relative spans or measures across the aperture  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture  30  tapers uniformly between the ingress/egress region  32  and the neck section  34 . The snare  28  can take many different forms. In the illustrated examples, the snare  28  comprises a monolithic wire element bent into the general shape of a horseshoe. 
     The ingress/egress region  32  is bounded on one side thereof (the right side in  FIG. 4 ) by an interior stopper edge  33 . The interior stopper edge  33  of the aperture  30  is disposed adjacent the ingress/egress region  32  and remote from the neck section  34 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . This interior stopper edge  33  may be a semi-circular formation as defined by the aforementioned major dimension or span of the ingress/egress region  32 . In other contemplated embodiments, the interior stopper edge  33  could have a shape other than semi-circular. For example, the interior stopper edge  33  could be straight across thus forming a squarish shaped end of the aperture  30 , or could be V-shaped or ogee-shaped, etc. The fact that the interior stopper edge  33  of the aperture  30  is bounded, i.e., closed, is more important than its specific geometric shape. The major dimension of the ingress/egress region  32  is greater than the diameter of the button head  20  to enable the head  20  to pass freely through the aperture  30 . 
     The neck section  34 , which as stated previously is defined by the minor dimension shown in  FIG. 4 , which can be clearly seen as smaller than the major dimension of the ingress/egress region  32 . The minor dimension of the neck section  34  is smaller than the diameter of the button head  20 , yet greater than the diameter of the button shaft  22 . This is to enable the head  20  of the button  18  to be trapped behind the neck section  34  of the aperture  30 , although the shaft  22  of the button  18  can pass freely through the neck section  34 . 
     The clip  26  also has an elongated slider bar  36  that extends directly from the snare  28 . The slider bar  36  can take many different forms. In the illustrated examples, the slider bar  36  comprises a pair of wire elements that extend monolithically from the wire elements forming the snare  28 . The end of the slider bar  36  that adjoins the snare  28  may be designated as a service end. The opposite end of the slider bar  36  is designated as a display end. Thus, the slider bar  36  extends between two opposite ends, namely a service end (adjacent the snare  28 ) and a display end. As viewed in the top views of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the slider bar  36  may be contained within a unitary plane. However, in other contemplated embodiments the slider bar  36  may be curved in this top view or may take other shapes deemed desirable. Continuing in the perspective of a top view as in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the slider bar  36  and snare  28  could appear as a continuous curving structure, such as may be configured to match the anticipated curvature of a human user&#39;s body. However, in the illustrated examples the snare  28  lies within a plane that is obliquely angled with respect to the plane of the slider bar  36 . The oblique angle A of the snare  28  is shown residing in a range between approximately 185-215° measured relative to the slider bar  36 . This range is rather ideally suited for trouser applications so as to conform to the average human waist curvature. In some applications, the oblique angle A of the snare  28  may be more specifically established as approximately 200° measured relative to the slider bar  36 . 
     The slider bar  36  establishes a constrained path between its service and display ends configured to guide a captive button  18  traveling back-and-forth therealong. The constrained path may be curved, but in the illustrated examples is generally linear. This linear path is defined by opposing and generally parallel interior boundary edges. These interior boundary edges extend from the neck section  34  of the snare  28  toward the display end of the slider bar  36 . As perhaps best shown in  FIG. 4 , the lateral spacing between the interior boundary edges is thus generally equal to the minor dimension (neck section  34 ) of the aperture  30  in the snare  28 . The constrained path has a longitudinal length at least twice as long as the lateral spacing between the boundary edges. That is to say, the longitudinal distance between service and display ends of the slider bar  36  is greater than or equal to the minor dimension (neck section  34 ) of the aperture  30 . This length benefits the installation process as described below and shown in  FIGS. 1A and 6A . In the front view of  FIG. 4 , the bounded interior region formed between the aperture  30  and slide bar  36  take the shape of a keyhole. The button  18  is confined within, but freely moveable about, this keyhole space. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 2 and 4 , it can be seen that the boundary edges of the slider bar  36  adjacent the display end can be formed so as to diverge, or spread apart, from one another. And notably, at the display end of the slider bar  36 , the constrained path is open, i.e., un-blocked. It would be accurate to say that both the service end and the display end of the slider bar  36  are unbarricaded, although as will be described subsequently a button  18  held captive in the slider bar  36  cannot travel exit the slider bar  36  through the display end. 
     The clip  26  also includes a bracket, generally indicated at  38 , that extends from the display end of the slider bar  36 . The function of the bracket  38  is to connect the clip  26  to a decorative cover, generally indicated at  40 . The bracket  38  has a standoff portion  42  and a mounting portion. The standoff portion  42  directly connects to the slider bar  36  and is oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the plane of the slider bar  36 . Returning to the top views of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , it can be seen that the standoff portion  42  extends in a direction opposite from that of the snare  28 . That is to say, relative to the plane of the slide bar  36 , the snare  28  angles rearwardly into the body of the user whereas the projects forwardly away from the user&#39;s body. As perhaps best shown in  FIG. 6C , the function of the standoff portion  42  is to distance the mounting portion from the head  20  of the button  18  when in its final installed position. To accomplish this objective, the standoff portion  42  is at least as long as the combined thicknesses of the over-flap  16  and button head  20 . That is to say, the standoff portion  42  must establish clearance space for the mounting portion above the button head  20  and over-flap  16  as viewed in  FIG. 6C . The standoff portion  42  can take many different forms. In the illustrated examples, the standoff portion  42  comprises a pair of wire elements that extend monolithically from the wire elements forming the slider bar  36 . 
     The mounting portion is connected to the standoff portion  42  so as to be spaced from the slider bar  36  generally over the display end. In most embodiments, it is expected that the mounting portion will be oriented generally parallel to the plane of the slider bar  36  as shown in  FIGS. 5-6C . The mounting portion can take many different forms. In the illustrated examples, the mounting portion is a composite structure formed, in part, by a pair of prongs  44  that extend monolithically from the wire elements forming the standoff portion  42 . In the illustrated examples, the mounting portion also includes a receiving pad  46  which may be formed of plastic or wood or any other suitable material. At least one, but preferably two, fixation sockets  48  are formed on the backside of the receiving pad  46 . The fixation sockets  48  are configured to directly attach to the respective prongs  44  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The prongs  44  are shown converging toward one another in  FIG. 4 , which would require the fixation sockets  48  to have a corresponding splay. The included angle between the prongs  44  is preferably in the range of about 40-70°. In the illustrated example of  FIG. 4 , the included angle is shown about 55° which has been found to provide good results. The angled nature of the prongs  44  relative to the elongated slide bar  36  will provide a mechanical interlock to resist disconnection between prongs  44  and receiving pad  46  in use. 
     The decorative cover  40  may be any suitable piece of jewelry or emblem. In some examples, the decorative cover  40  could be a polished stone, a small work of art, an insignia, a photo frame, a slim box, an illuminating device, a camera or any other object of suitable size and weight and quality. The decorative cover  40  is supported directly from the mounting portion of the clip  26 . And more specifically, the decorative cover  40  may be attached directly to the receiving pad  46 , such as by adhesive, hook-and-loop, magnetic attraction, mechanical fasteners or any other suitable technique. Thus, the receiving pad  46  is preferably designed to provide an optimal attachment surface for the decorative cover  40 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  describe an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the mounting portion is specially adapted to enable quick-change ability for interchanging among several decorative covers  40 . For example, a user may own only one clip  26 , but numerous decorative covers  40  that can be interchanged on-the-fly. To accomplish this objective, the decorative cover  40  is mated with an interface  50 . It is envisioned that each decorative cover  40  in a user&#39;s collection will be mated with a dedicated interface  50 . The interface  50  is fitted with one part of a two-part fastening system, whereas the receiving pad  46  is fitted with the second part of the two-part fastening system. For example, the fastening system is hook-and-loop, the interface  50  may carry the hook part and the receiving pad  46  the loop part. Or, if the fastening system comprises male and female self-locking elements, the interface  50  may carry the male part(s) and the receiving pad  46  the female part(s). The examples depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9  show yet another contemplated embodiment, wherein the fastening system relies on magnetic attraction. In this example, the interface  50  may carry the magnetized elements  52  and the receiving pad  46  ferrous receptors. Of course, the interface  50  may be integrated directly into the decorative cover  40 , such as by gluing a magnet  52  directly to is back. In that case, the glue or other design feature integral with the decorative cover  40  could be considered the interface  50 . Numerous variations will become apparent to those of skill in the art when it is contemplated that the mounting portion and interface  50  are configured with mutually attractive ferro-magnetic properties. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1A-D  and  6 A-C, use of the present invention will be described in the context of a button cover for trousers  12 . To install the assembly  10 , a user must first unfasten the flap at the waistband by desecuring the over-flap  16  from the under-flap  14  thus fully exposing the button  18 . This is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 6A . With the button  18  fully exposed, the user will attach the snare  28  by passing its aperture  30  over the button head  20  in the vicinity of the ingress/egress region  32 . 
     Next, the over-flap  16  of the trousers  12  are re-secured in the normal fashion by passing the slot  24  over the button head  20 . See  FIG. 1B . The thin construction of the snare  26  takes advantage of the inherent clearance at the button  18  connection so that the flap can be readily made fast without undue stress on the button joint. At this point, the clip  26  becomes trapped or confined on the shaft  22  of the button  18  in-between the under- and over-flaps  14 ,  16 . It is impossible to remove the clip  26  without unfastening the flap and exposing the button  18 , which means it is now impossible for the assembly  10  to be accidentally lost. 
     Next, the user will begin to slide the snare  28  into the trousers  12 , causing the shaft  22  of the button  18  to pass through the neck section  34  and into the elongated slide bar  36 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . Under continued urging, the assembly  10  will slide until the standoff portion  42  makes contact with the edge of the over-flap  16 . As can be clearly seen in  FIG. 6C , the leading edge of the over-flap  16  becomes sheltered between the slider bar  36  and the receiving pad  46 . At this point, corresponding to  FIGS. 1C, 1D and 6C , the decorative cover  40  is hovering directly in front of the head  20  of the button  18 , like a canopy, occluding or eclipsing the head  20  from view except from the eye of the user themselves. Rather, the decorative cover  40  will appear, to third-party observers, to occupy the space where a button head  20  would normally be, thus creating an aesthetically pleasing and fashionable appearance. 
     It is therefore a distinct advantage of this invention that the slider bar  36  can be inextricably trapped between the under-flap  14  and over-flap  16  sections, on the shaft  22  of the button  18 , when the button head  20  is secured through the slot  24  in the over-flap  16 . I.e., when the flap is secured closed, the clip  26  cannot be removed from the trousers  12 —it is trapped inextricably. And yet in this inextricably trapped condition, the decorative cover  40  is freely moveable toward and away from a position directly overlying the button head  20 . 
     To remove the assembly  40  from the trousers, the described steps are followed in reverse order. 
     The assembly  10  is unique, easy to use, inexpensive to manufacture, light weight, and offers several distinct and high beneficially advantages. One such advantage is that, in use, the slider bar  36  is trapped between the under-flap  14  and over-flap  16  on the shaft  22  of the button  18 . Travel of the captive button  18  is arrested at one end by the bounded interior stopper edge  33  of the snare  28 , and at the other end by the standoff portion  42  colliding with the over-flap  16 . Thus, once installed, if the user accidentally snags the decorative cover  40  on an object the entire assembly  10  cannot be disconnected from the trousers  12 . Another advantage is that the oblique angle A of the snare  28  facilitates installation by naturally angling aperture  30  so that the button  18  can be easily hooked. This permits the assembly  10  to be discretely installed ( FIG. 1A ) with only minimal expose of the over-flap  16 . Furthermore, the oblique angle A of the snare  28  creates a natural bend in the hidden parts of the clip  26  that will better conform to the curved body of the user. This will enable a more comfortable fit less likely to poke or press against the wearer during extended periods of use. And a still further advantage of the snare  28  is that it is prone to retain the assembly on the button  18  even after the flap has been undone. There may be instances where the user wishes to temporarily undress, such as when re-tucking a shirt or perhaps using the lavatory. Or, there could be occasions when the flap is susceptible to come undone of its own accord without warning, such as due to poor fit or poor design. When the flap becomes unsecured for whatever reason, the snare  18  with its interior stopper edge  33  will naturally cling to the button  18 , thus reducing the likelihood of the assembly  10  falling to the floor. 
     Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate adaption of these methods of use to applications other than trousers  12 . 
     The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention.