Abstract:
An apparatus for suspending or attaching a pinned badge that may identify a position, rank, and employer of an individual which may be attached to a belt, a ballistic bullet resistant vest, a helmet, a hat, a shirt, a jacket, or other articles of clothing, or suspended from a lanyard or necklace chain or other device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/522,604, filed Aug. 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is in the technical field of display devices. More specifically, an apparatus for suspending or attaching a pinned badge that may identify a position, rank, and employer of an individual that may be attached to a belt, a ballistic bullet resistant vest, a helmet, a hat, a shirt, a jacket, or other articles of clothing, or suspended from a lanyard or necklace chain or other devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments include a badge holder comprising: a main badge holder comprising at least three backing members, where a first backing member may comprise a means for attaching a badge, a second backing member comprises at least one of: hook elements of a hook and loop fastening array and loop elements of a hook and loop fastening array, where the hook and loop fastening array may be disposed on an outer surface of the second backing member, and a third backing member may comprise a rigid material where the third backing member may be interposed between the first backing member and the second backing member and the at least three backing members may be stitched together; and at least one backing plate, where the at least one backing plate may comprise at least one of: (a) lanyard, (b) strapping, (c) loop elements of a hook and loop fastening array, and (d) hook elements of a hook and loop fastening array; where the main badge holder may be detachably attached to the at least one backing plate by the hook and loop fastening array. In additional embodiments, the means for attaching a badge may comprise two eyelets aligned vertically to a local plane. In other exemplary embodiments, the at least one backing plate may comprise at least three backing members: a first backing member, a second backing member comprising at least one of: hook elements of a hook and loop fastening array and loop elements of a hook and loop fastening array, the hook and loop fastening array disposed on an outer surface of the second backing member, and a third backing member comprising a rigid material where the third backing member may be interposed between the first backing member and the second backing member and the at least three backing members may be stitched together. In other exemplary embodiments, the first backing member of the at least one backing plate may comprise at least three pieces of webbing fabric sewn horizontally to a local plane across the surface of the first backing member, where each of the at least three pieces of webbing fabric may abut each other vertically to a local plane and may be attached end to end, and where a center stitch may be sewn orthogonally through the center of the at least three pieces of webbing fabric. In additional exemplary embodiments, the at least three pieces of webbing fabric may be about two inches. In additional exemplary embodiments, two pieces of webbing fabric may be attached perpendicular to the at least three pieces of webbing fabric sewn horizontally, and where the two pieces of webbing fabric may be sewed at one end proximate to a top edge of the first backing member and detachably attached at an opposite end of the first backing member by a detachable attachment device. In additional exemplary embodiments, the detachable attachment device may be at least one of: (a) button snaps and (b) hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners. 
     Exemplary embodiments also include a badge holder comprising: a main badge holder comprising at least three backing members, where a first backing member comprises at least one of: hook elements of a hook and loop fastening array and loop elements of a hook and loop fastening array, the hook and loop fastening array disposed on an outer surface of the first backing member, a second backing member comprises a means for holding and displaying an identification card disposed on an outer surface of the second backing member, and a third backing member comprising a rigid material, where the third backing member may be interposed between the first backing member and the second backing member and the at least three backing members may be stitched together. In additional exemplary embodiments, the badge holder may further comprise two reinforced eyelets that may be aligned horizontal to a local plane, where the reinforced eyelets go through the at least three backing members and may be proximate to a top edge of the main badge holder. In additional exemplary embodiments, the badge holder may further comprise a lanyard, wherein the lanyard may be slidably engaged through the two reinforced eyelets of the main badge holder. In additional exemplary embodiments, the main badge holder may further comprise a border, where the border may comprise two pieces of semi-rigid material disposed around the perimeter of the main badge holder and the border, and wherein the at least three backing members may be double-stitched together. In additional exemplary embodiments, the means for holding and displaying an identification card may be a transparent plastic, wherein the height of the transparent plastic may be less than the height of the second backing member and the transparent plastic may be attached to the second backing member on a bottom side, a left side, and a right side. In additional exemplary embodiments, the transparent plastic may be attached to the second backing member on the bottom side, the left side, and the right side by stitching. In additional exemplary embodiments, the badge holder may further comprise at least one badge backing, where the at least one badge backing may comprise at least one of loop elements of a hook and loop fastening array and hook elements of a hook and loop fastening array; and where the badge holder may be detachably attached to the main badge holder by the hook and loop fastening array. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary Main Badge Holder detachably attached to an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with lanyard; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary Main Badge Holder detachably attached to an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with strapping; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary Main Badge Holder detached from an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with lanyard and the Badge Mount Receiver with strapping; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with lanyard; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with lanyard; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective rear view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with strapping; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with strapping; 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with strapping; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective rear view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver with an ID Card window; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver; 
         FIG. 6C  is a perspective rear view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver and Holder with an ID Card window; 
         FIG. 6D  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver and Holder; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Main Badge Holder; 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary Main Badge Holder; 
         FIG. 7C  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary badge and an exemplary Main Badge Holder having a hook or loop element array of hook and loop means for detachably attaching to a Badge Mount Receiver; 
         FIG. 7D  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary badge detachably attached to an exemplary Main Badge Holder; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a person having an exemplary Main Badge Holder and an exemplary Badge Mount receiver; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a person having an exemplary first Badge Mount Receiver and an exemplary second Badge Mount Receiver; and 
         FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary badge having a backing material and pin. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary main badge holder  101  detachably attached to an exemplary badge mount receiver  110 . The badge holding device may display the badge in multiple desired locations and may comprise two elements: the main badge holder  101 , and the badge mount receiver  110 . More than one badge mount receiver may be utilized to allow for quick transfer of the main badge holder  101  to one or more badge mount receivers  110 . The rear surface of the main badge holder  101  may be attached to the front surface of the badge mount receiver  110  by hook or loop elements  130  of hook and loop fasteners. In one embodiment, the badge mount receiver may be attached via lanyard  120 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary main badge holder  201  detachably attached to an exemplary badge mount receiver  210 . The rear surface of the main badge holder  201  may be attached to the front surface of badge mount receiver  210  by a hook and loop fastening array  230 . In some embodiments, the badge mount receiver may be attached via strapping  221 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary detached main badge holder  301 . The hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners  330  may allow for the easy transfer of the main badge holder between an exemplary badge mount receiver  310  with lanyard  320  and/or an exemplary badge mount receiver  310  with strapping  321 . 
       FIG. 4A  depicts a perspective front view of an exemplary badge mount receiver  410  with lanyard  420 . A lanyard  420 , for example, a metal chain or other neck chain, may be slidably engaged through two horizontal holes  422 , 423 , e.g., grommets, spaced approximately two inches apart and approximately ⅛ inch from the top of the badge mount receiver. The two horizontal holes  422 , 423  may be reinforced to prevent the wear and widening of the fabric, for example, by aligned metal or nylon eyelets. In some embodiments, the front surface may be affixed with hook or loop elements  430  of hook and loop fasteners. In some embodiments, a border  440  comprised of two pieces of a semi-rigid material, e.g., cloth, of the same size may be double stitched around the perimeter to join the pieces together. 
       FIG. 4B  depicts a cross-sectional view of the exemplary badge mount receiver  410  with lanyard  420 . The exemplary badge mount receiver may comprise at least three backing members. A first backing member  450  may be joined with hook or loop elements of hook and loop fastening material to allow for mounting of the main badge holder. A second backing member  451  may provide the outer surface opposite the first backing member, and a third backing member  452  may be interposed between the first backing member  450  and the second backing member  451  to provide rigidity. The at least three backing members  450 , 451 , 452  may be sewn together, for example, with double stitching, with a border  440  to join the at least three backing members  450 , 451 , 452 . 
       FIG. 5A  depicts a perspective rear view of an exemplary badge mount receiver  510  with strapping  521 . The rear surface of the badge mount receiver may comprise three, approximately two inch pieces, of webbing fabric  524  sewn horizontally across the surface. Each of these three pieces of webbing fabric  524  may abut each other vertically and may be attached end to end. There may be stitching  525  sewn into the center of the surface, effectively creating two equal halves of these attachments. In addition to the three horizontal webbing pieces  524 , there may be two 1¾ inch pieces of webbing fabric  521  sewn at the top. In some embodiments, on the bottom of the two 1¾ inch pieces of webbing fabric  521  there may be attachment devices  526 , 527 , e.g., button snaps, in order to secure the straps through the three pieces of horizontal webbing  524 . 
       FIG. 5B  depicts a cross-sectional view of the badge mount receiver  510  with strapping  521 .  FIG. 5C  depicts a perspective front view of the badge mount receiver  510  with strapping. The front surface may be affixed with hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners  530 . A border  540  comprised of two pieces of a semi-rigid material, e.g., ballistic nylon, of the same size may be double stitched  541  around the perimeter to join the pieces together. 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective rear view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver  610  with an ID card window  660 . The ID card window  660  may be of a transparent material, e.g., plastic, for holding and/or displaying an identification card. The ID card window  660  may be attached on three sides of the Badge Mount Receiver  610  by double stitches  641  and/or epoxy. A portion of the window proximate to the two horizontal holes  622 , 623  may be open to allow for the insertion and/or removal of a card. 
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver  610 . The front surface may be affixed with hook or loop elements  630  of hook and loop fasteners.  FIG. 6C  is a perspective rear view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver and Holder  610  with an ID Card window  660 .  FIG. 6D  is a perspective front view of an exemplary Badge Mount Receiver and Holder  610 . The Badge Mount Receiver and Holder  610  may comprise two horizontal holes  622 , 623  spaced approximately two inches apart and approximately ⅛ inch from the top of the front surface of the badge mount receiver and holder  610 . The front surface may also comprise two horizontally aligned holes  628 , 629  to accommodate a pin of a badge. In some embodiments, hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners  630  may be attached to the front surface of the Badge Mount Receiver and Holder  610 . 
       FIG. 7A  depicts a perspective front view of an exemplary main badge holder  701 . The front surface of the main badge holder may comprise two aligned holes  728 , 729 , e.g. metal or nylon eyelets, to accommodate a pin of a badge, which may prevent the wear and widening of the fabric of the badge mount receiver with time. Hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners  730  may be attached to the front surface of the main badge holder and/or the back surface of the main badge holder (not shown). 
       FIG. 7B  depicts a cross-sectional view of the main badge holder. The main badge holder may comprise at least three backing members  750 , 751 , 752 . A first backing member  750  may be joined with hook or loop elements of hook and loop fastening material to allow for mounting of a badge. A second backing member  751  may provide the outer surface opposite the first backing member, and may be joined with hook or loop elements of hook and loop fastening material to allow for mounting of a badge mount receiver. A third backing member  752  may be interposed between the first backing  750  member and the second backing member  751  to provide rigidity. The at least three backing members  750 , 751 , 752  may be sewn together, for example, with double stitching, with a border  740  to join the at least three backing members  750 , 751 , 752 . The material for the third backing member  752  may be comprised of a sturdy and flexible material so that the badge may be prominently displayed therefrom and so that the badge will not substantially adversely affect the third backing member, even during prolonged use. The second backing member may contain two holes  728 , 729  containing aligned metal or nylon eyelets to accommodate the pin of a badge, which may prevent the wear and widening of the fabric of the main badge holder  701 . 
       FIG. 7C  depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary badge  770  having a pin  771  and the main badge holder  701  having a hook and loop means  730  for detachably attaching to a badge mount receiver. The hook or loop elements of hook and loop fasteners  730  attached to the second backing member  751  may allow for the easy transfer of the main badge holder  701  between an exemplary badge mount receiver with lanyard and/or an exemplary badge mount receiver with strapping (not shown). 
       FIG. 7D  depicts an exemplary badge  770  detachably attached to the main badge holder  701 . The pin  771  of the badge  770  is disposed through two aligned holes  728 , 729  in a front surface of the main badge holder. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a person having an exemplary main badge holder  801  detachably attached to an exemplary backing plate with strapping connected to a belt and a second exemplary backing plate  810  with lanyard  820  secured around a neck by the lanyard  820 . The main badge holder  801  may be removed from the backing plate with strapping and detachably attached to the backing plate  810  with lanyard  820 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a person having a first badge mount receiver  910  mounted on a vest  972 , and a second badge mount receiver  910  mounted to protective gear, e.g., a helmet and/or hat  973 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a badge  1070  having a backing material  1074  and a pin. A badge may have the backing material  1074 , e.g., leather, to prevent wear to the badge. The pin of the badge  1070  may have enough travel to attach to a main badge holder  1001  without removal of the backing material  1074 . In some embodiments, the main badge holder may be circular or oval in shape (not shown). 
     It is contemplated that various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the above embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Further it is intended that the scope of the present invention is herein disclosed by way of examples and should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.