Abstract:
Stacking magnets affixed to various decorative designs, such as ribbons, bows, flowers, to name a few, are provided that create interchangeable, multilayer, stackable adornments that may be worn by a person, on either her body or hair, or affixed to clothing, shoes or other accessory item. In one example, the product may include interchangeable bows comprised of multiple layers. A base magnet for attaching the stackable layers is provided that may be affixed to hats and headbands, hair clips, rubber bands, bracelets, necklaces, shoes, belts or other accessories.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/549,167, filed on Oct. 19, 2011, titled MAGNETIC ASSEMBLY AND DISPLAY, which application is incorporated in its entirety by reference in this application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This application relates to a method and system for stacking interchangeable adornments to be worn by users on their body, person or clothing as an accessory item. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Women and children, especially young girls, enjoy wearing accessories and adornments in their hair and on their clothing, including, but not limited to, bows and ribbons. These types of products can be expensive, and generally come in select colors, shapes and designs and are made to be worn for particular purposes. Not all adornments will match all clothing. Thus, girls and women often purchase a wide variety of accessories or adornments to be able to be coordinated. A need continues to exist for decorative accessories that can be utilized and worn in variously locations, on various body parts and on various types of clothing. A need further continues to exist for adornments to be interchangeable with respect to color, pattern and size to allow the adornments to be worn with different clothing, on different occasions, or to different events, all while allowing the adornments to color coordinate and match with other accessories worn by the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to the use of unique stacking magnets affixed to various decorative designs, such as ribbons, bows, flowers, to name a few, to create an interchangeable, multilayer, stackable adornment that may be worn by a person, on either her body or hair, or affixed to clothing, shoes or other accessory item. In one example, the product may include interchangeable bows comprised of multiple layers. The bows may be sold separately or as part of a set. A base magnet for attaching the stackable layers is provided that may be affixed to hats and headbands, hair clips, rubber bands, bracelets, necklaces, shoes, belts or other accessories. In one example, a unique system is provided that allow users to removeably affix the stackable adornments to flip flops or shoes. 
         [0007]    Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system of the present invention, as used in a stacked bow arrangement. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the back view of the stacked bow arrangement of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a clip magnetically affixed to the stacked bow arrangement. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded illustration of the component parts of the stacked bow arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear image of one of the stacked bows of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates the stacked bow arrangement with the rear clip and top disc removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates six magnets stacked, to demonstrate the use of the magnet assembly in connection with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a grommet and magnet, which illustrates one implementation of the magnetic unit of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates an assembled magnetic unit with the magnet positioned in the center of the grommet. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates one example of a stacked bow that may be utilized in the stacked bow arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates the top side of one example of a stacked bow. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates the bottom side of one example of a stacked bow. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates three magnetic units joined by flexible cording. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates one example of the use of the magnetic units joined by the flexible cording to attach adornments to a shoe, for example. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates the adornment affixed to a shoe utilizing the magnetic assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13  above. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  illustrates an example of a stacked bow arrangement attached to a hat. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates an example of a headband having a magnetic unit affixed thereto for receiving a stacked bow assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  illustrates the headband of  FIG. 16  having a stacked bows assembly affixed to the headband. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system  100  of the present invention, as utilized in a stacked bow arrangement  105 . The layered magnetic system  100 , as will be further illustrated below, consists of stackable magnetic units  108  that permit items, such as bows  102  to be affixed to the magnetic units  108  to be stackable and interchangeable for adornment purposes. 
         [0027]    The layered magnetic system  100  may be utilized in a wide variety of applications to create various interchangeable adornments to be worn on a person&#39;s body, clothing and/or footwear, to name a few examples. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system may include stacked bows  102  that are affixed together by magnetic units  108 . The stacked bow arrangement  105  may include at its back, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a clip  106  for securing the bow arrangement to clothing, hair or other objects. In  FIG. 1 , the stacked bow arrangements  105  includes four stacked bows  102  having magnetic units  108  affixed either through center of the bows or having magnetic units  108  affixed to both the front and back of the bows  102 . An ornament disc  104  is further provided to cover the top exposed magnetic unit  108  on the center of the top stacked bow  102 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates the back view of the stacked bow arrangement  105  of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a clip  106  magnetically affixed to the stacked bow arrangement  105 . Like the stacked bows  102 , the method for securing the stacked bows  102  to a person may also be removeable and interchangeable. As such, the stacked bow arrangement  105  may be magnetically affixed to a number of different items, including a clip  106 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which would permit the stacked bow arrangement  105  to be affixed easily, for example, to clothing or to the hair of a wearer. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is an exploded illustration of the component parts of the stacked bow arrangement  105  of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the stacked bow arrangement  105  consists of four stacked bows  102  having magnetic units  108  positioned at the center of each stacked bow  108 . Further included in the stacked bow arrangement  105  of  FIG. 1  is a clip  106  also having a magnetic unit  108  affixed to the clip  106  to allow the clip  106  to be removeably secured to the back of the stacked bow arrangement  105 . Optionally, the stacked bow arrangement  105  may include an ornamental disc  104  having a magnet position on the back side of the disc  104  to affix the disc  104  on the top of and create a finished look on, the stacked bow arrangement  105 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear image of one of the stacked bows  102  of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4  each stacked bow  102  also includes a magnetic unit  108  affixed through its center. Alternatively, the magnetic units  108  may be affixed to each side of the stacked bow  102  in a manner such that the magnets  125  ( FIG. 7 ) in the magnet units  108  arranged polar opposite to one another and attract one another when affixed to the bows  102 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates the stacked bow arrangement  105  with the rear clip  106  and top disc  104  removed. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the stacked bows  102  are stacked together and secured through the magnetic units  108  positioned on each bow  102 . The clip  106  includes a magnetic unit  108  that can be secured to the back of the stacked bow assembly  105 . Similarly, a disc or other ornamental device  104  may be used having a magnet  125  (see  FIG. 7 ) positioned on the back of the disc  104 , which can be placed upon the open front magnet on the bow assembly  105 . The use of the disc  104  is optional. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates six magnet units  108  stacked together, absent any adornments attached to the magnetic units  108  to demonstrate the use of the magnet units  108  in assembled form to stack and connect adornments. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the magnetic units  108  are affixed to one another in the same manner and in the same direction having one pole positioned on the top side the opposing magnetic pole on the bottom side of the assembly such that the units  108 , when positioned and stacked, attract one another rather than repel one another. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a grommet  120  and magnet  125 , which in one implementation is used to create the magnetic unit  108  of the present invention. The magnetic unit  108  may be, for example, comprised of a #2 (⅜″) grommet and a ⅜″ dia.× 1/16″ thick Grade N42—Nickel Plated magnet and epoxy resin. Depending on the product, the component may be made as an individual magnetic unit  108  that may then be secured, by glue for example, to the adornment. The magnetic unit  108  may be secured to opposing sides of an adornment or a hole may be punched in the adornment and the magnetic unit  108  may be is secured to the opening (in which case only one magnetic unit  108  is required to be used). 
         [0034]    To produce an individual magnetic unit  108 , a grommet machine (not shown) may be utilized to compress the two pieces of the grommet  120  together. Once compressed, the magnet  125  may be positioned in the center hole of the grommet  125 . The grommet machine may be utilized again to further press the grommet  125  to further maintain the magnet  125  in the hole of the grommet  120 . The magnet  125  may also be glued with an adhesive, such as metal epoxy, to the adornment. The same adhesive may also be used to secure the magnetic unit  108  to an adornment, clip or other element used in the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the magnetic unit  108 , once fully assembled is then enabled to be positioned on the adornments for purposes of stacking. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  illustrates one example of a stacked bow  102  that may be utilized in the stacked bow arrangement  105  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The stacked bow  102  is merely fabric constructed and arranged in the form of the bow which may be glued, taped or affixed together to create the bow. Thereafter, the magnetic units  108  may be assembled and affixed to the center of the bow to create the stacked bow  102  used in the stacked bow arrangement  105 , or alternatively may be adhered to each side of the stack bow  102  in polar alignment. 
         [0036]    To construct the bow, ribbons are first cut to a specific length depending on the width of the ribbon, which also determines the size of the resulting product and creates a layered effect when stacked. Ribbons can be flat, curly or twisted to create different looks. The ribbon can then be placed in a stack of 3 or more individual ribbons of the same size. To hold the ribbons in place, a brad may be placed thru the center of the stack of ribbons. A template may be used to make the ribbons look like a star and then glued to the center to hold them in place. The “star” may then be folded such that each end of the ribbons is placed onto the brad, the brad is opened to hold them in place and then closed with a clear sticker, tape or other adhesive placed on top to additionally hold the ribbons in place, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0037]    Once this process is completed. if the magnetic unit  108  is being placed in the center of the bow  102 , a grommet machine may be used, with, for example, a ⅜″ hole punch die to punch out the brad and make a ⅜″ circle. The grommet machine may then be used to place a ⅜″ grommet  120  in the hole effectively holding the bow together. Once this process is completed a magnet  125  is placed in the grommet and smashed in further with an arbor press. In this application, the magnetic unit  108  is formed in conjunction with the formation of the stacked bow  102 . 
         [0038]    Each magnet unit  108  (stand alone or secured in a product) may be secured with a small amount of epoxy resin, or other adhesive, on the back side to ensure the magnet  125  does not come loose or fall out. Once the epoxy resin is in place, at least one side of the unit can be marked with, for example, a logo sticker for purposes of identifying the magnetic poles and/or for branding or creating additional ornamental product features. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrates a stacked bow  102  having a magnetic assembly  108  placed through a hole in the center of the bow.  FIG. 10  illustrates the top side and  FIG. 11  illustrates a bottom side. Thus, the stacked bow  102  includes only one magnetic assembly  108 . The grommet  120  is secured at its perimeter to a hole punched in the bow, as described above. 
         [0040]    Alternatively, magnet units  108  may be positioned on each side of the adornment to enable the adornments to be stacked. When two magnetic units  108  are used, the magnets  125  are positioned in a manner that attracts one to the other and that will allow the finished adornment to have one pole at the top of the bow and another magnetic pole position at the bottom of the bow to attract other magnets in a stacked assembly  105 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrates three magnetic units  108  joined by flexible cording  130 , which is another example of how the stacked magnet units  108  may be used to affix themselves through the stacking mechanism to clothing, such as shoes  115 , for example. 
         [0042]    In this implementation, the cording between the magnet units  108  allow the magnet units  108  to be stacked while being wrapped around an element such as the strap of the flip flop shoe  115 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the center magnet unit  108   a  may be positioned where the adornment is desired to be located on the shoe  115 . The cord between the center magnet  108   a  and one end magnet unit  108   b  may then be used to wrap around the strap of the flip flop and allow the magnetic unit  108   b  to be attached atop the magnetic unit  108   a.  The magnetic unit  108   c  may then also wrap the cord around the strap of the shoe  115  and attach atop of the magnetic unit  108   b  creating a stack  108   a, b  or  c  that permits an adornment to be affixed to a shoe  115 .  FIG. 14  illustrates the adornment  105  affixed to a shoe utilizing a magnetic unit assembly illustrated and described in  FIGS. 12-13  above. In a similar manner that the corded magnetic unit  108   a, b  and  c  can be affixed to the strap of a flip flop, the same unit may also affix to other articles, like shoe laces, belts, clothing straps, etc. 
         [0043]    Many other uses of the magnetic units are also possible. Including the attachment of adornments to clothing, hats, socks, bracelets, necklaces, animal collars and clothing.  FIGS. 15-17  illustrate other such examples.  FIG. 15  illustrates an example of a stacked bow arrangement  105  attached to a hat  130 .  FIG. 16  illustrates an example of a headband  140  having a magnetic unit  108  affixed thereto for receiving a stacked bow assembly  105 .  FIG. 17  illustrates the headband  140  of  FIG. 16  having a stacked bows assembly  105  affixed to the headband. 
         [0044]    By using the magnetic unit  108  within each component, individuals can choose an accessory, multiple layers and optional adornments to create and build various stacked bow assemblies. This allows for an endless number of combinations to create bow assemblies to accessorize for various events, occasions and color coordinate. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.