Abstract:
The present invention includes a base or first portion connectable with a cap or second portion through an article of clothing. The first portion includes an area for several styles of indicia, including raised gems or ornaments, an appliqué, or etchings into the second portion. The second portion is easily changeable with another second portion to better coordinate with the underlying article, or to portray a particular style or fashion statement. The second portion may include a recessed circular area for receiving the appliqué therein and to provide an alignment mechanism for properly positioning the appliqué.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/480,649, filed Apr. 29, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to decorating goods, and in particular to a decorative snap-on apparatus for various goods such as clothing and various accessories, and to the use of the decorative apparatus for customizing the goods to the whims of the user. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Countless numbers of items, and in particular jewelry and decorative attachments have been used over the centuries for attaching to various goods, and in particular clothing or accessories such as handbags, shoes, etc. to provide a choice of fashion statements for the wearer or user. Most of these attachments are of a single type that once attached, either remain attached or are removably attached, and are provided with a particular design or decoration thereon. However, in today&#39;s fashion, especially in the younger adults, there is a desire to accessorize or decorate various articles of clothing and related accessories and to mix and match the decorations without requiring that the entire piece of jewelry or decorative device be replaced each time a different style of fashion is desired. 
         [0006]    Snap fasteners have been used in the clothing industry for years in order to secure two pieces of fabric together with one half of the snap fastener being permanently fixed to one piece of the fabric with the other half of the snap fastener being fixed to the other piece of fabric, and whereupon the two half members are snap-fitted together to form a closure for the article of clothing. However, such snap-fasteners have never been used to assist in customizing various types of goods. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is a desire in the fashion industry to provide an apparatus and method of using the apparatus for customizing goods, and in particular clothing enabling the user to match various occasions, moods or make a particular fashion statement without requiring an entire separate piece of jewelry for each desired fashion. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One feature of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, one part or member thereof which is permanently secured to an article of clothing or other types of goods, with another member being removably connected to the first member. This second member has a decorative facing and can be easily replaced to provide other decorative facings to provide a certain fashion statement or to coordinate one article of clothing such as the pants, to match the color of a second article of clothing, such as the shirt or blouse being worn by the wearer. 
         [0009]    Another feature of the present invention is to enable the decorative member of the attachment apparatus to be easily removed from the permanently attached member of the apparatus and replaced with another member having a different decorative surface or appliqué applied thereto. 
         [0010]    A further feature of the invention is to enable one member of the attachment apparatus to remain fixed to the article with a snap-fit post thereof being exposed providing a fashion feature to the clothing similar to the rivets used in various types of jeans or leather goods, yet when desired, will snap-fit receive thereon the second member of the decorative apparatus which has a decorative face thereon. 
         [0011]    Still another feature of the present invention is to enable the device to be attached to various types of goods and articles such as pants, shirts, shoes, etc. in addition to backpacks and handbags presently being used by many school-age children and young adults, or attached to animal collars or countless numbers of other goods. 
         [0012]    These features are achieved by the method of the present invention comprising the steps of: securing a first member on the goods by penetrating the goods with a post of the first member; removably attaching a second member on the post of the first member by a snap-fit connection; and providing an exposed surface on the second member displaying a decorative design. 
         [0013]    These features are further obtained by the combination of an article having first and second surfaces and an apparatus secured to the article for customizing the article, wherein the apparatus has a first member with a base abutting the first surface of the article and an outwardly extending post penetrating the article, and a cap having a base abutting the second surface of the article and a socket for receiving the post therein to secure the first member on the article; a second member having a socket for receiving the cap and post of the first member therein in a removable snap-fit engagement wherein the second member is removably mounted on the first member; a button secured to the socket; and a decorative indicia on the button. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing the apparatus of the present invention secured to a fabric sheet; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  with the first member of the attachment apparatus being secured to the fabric sheet and the second member removed therefrom; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view showing one design on the exposed surface of the second member of the attachment apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the second member shown in  FIG. 3  with a removable decorative appliqué being partially applied thereto; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view showing another type of front decorative face consisting of a plurality of raised jeweled members secured to the front surface of the second member; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the second member shown in  FIG. 5  with one of the jewels separated therefrom; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view showing another type of decorative front surface of the second member which has been etched with a laser or other type of printed indicia; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 7  showing the etching of the front surface of the second member of the attachment apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the first member of the attachment apparatus attached to a piece of fabric; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken on line  10 - 10 ,  FIG. 9 , with the second member of the apparatus being shown in dot dashed lines; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view similar to  FIG. 9  showing another type of the first member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken on line  12 - 12 ,  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is another front elevational view similar to  FIGS. 9 and 11  showing a further type of first attachment member; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken on line  14 - 14 ,  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic perspective view showing one manner in which a plurality of the attachment apparatus of the present invention are secured to a pair of pants; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a diagrammatic perspective view showing several different decorative attachment apparatus of the present invention secured to an animal collar; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a plurality of the decorative attachment apparatus secured to the flap of a book backpack; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a perspective front view of another embodiment of the second member of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a perspective rear view of the second member shown in  FIG. 18 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the second member of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    The apparatus of the present invention for carrying out the method of the invention is shown particularly in  FIGS. 2-14  with the method of use being shown particularly in  FIGS. 1 ,  15  and  16 . The apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally at  1 , and is shown in  FIG. 1  secured to an article or one type of goods  3  with what the apparatus can be used, which for many applications will be a piece of fabric such as an article of clothing. Apparatus  1  includes first and second members  5  and  7 , respectively, which are joined together by a releasable snap-fit connection as discussed below. 
         [0037]    A first embodiment of the first member  5  is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and includes a disc-shaped base  9  with a post  11  having a distal bulbous end  13 . Base  9  and post  11  may be integrally formed as a single piece or formed as two separate pieces without affecting the concept of the invention. First member  5  further includes a socket  15  having a disc-shaped base  17  and a rivet-like protrusion  21  having a configuration generally complementary to and adapted to receive distal end  13  of post  11  therein. As shown in  FIG. 10 , first member  5  is secured to an article  3  by post  11  extending through a hole  21  formed in the article, afterwhich post  11  is received in socket  15  and permanently secured therein preferably by a crimping or staking procedure. This securely clamps base  9  against a first surface  23  of article  3  and base  17  of socket  15  against the opposed surface  25  of article  3 . This connection preferably ensures that first member  5  remains permanently attached to article  3  but could be removed if desired by the user by force separation of the two components. It also provides the rivet-like protrusion or member  21  for snap-fit receiving the second member thereon as discussed below 
         [0038]    A second embodiment of the first member which attaches to the goods is indicated generally at  26 , and is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In this embodiment base  27  is disc-shaped but has a considerably larger diameter than that of base  17  of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , and is provided with a plurality of printed indicia  29  and decorative designs  30  thereon as shown in  FIG. 11 . This configuration enables the first member to be a decorative accessory on the goods even before the second member is removably attached thereto. For example, it can be used on a pair of jeans  31  as shown in  FIG. 15 , before the decorative second member  7  is secured thereto. It is common in various types of jeans that a metal rivet be exposed and the second embodiment of  FIG. 12  will in and of itself provide a fashion statement for the wearer whether he/she wishes to even attach a decorative second member thereto. Also, the larger base  27  can have the appropriate trademark of the manufacturer of the goods to which it is applied. The remaining components of the second embodiment are similar to those as discussed above for the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0039]    A third embodiment of the first member is indicated generally at  35  and is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Embodiment  35  is similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 11  and includes a base  37  which is a two-piece member having a large diameter shaped disc  39  and a smaller diameter disc  40 . The two discs can be formed either as an integral one-piece member or a two-piece member as shown in  FIG. 14 . This provides for a further decorative-type surface when exposed as shown in  FIG. 13 , and also may be provided with printed indicia  29  and the decorative designs  30  thereon. Again this provides for an attractive fashion feature when exposed on the wearer&#39;s jeans or other goods even before subsequent attachments of the decorative second member thereon if desired by the wearer. 
         [0040]    The second member  7  also may have various embodiments such as shown in  FIG. 3-8 . A first embodiment generally indicated at  41 , is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This embodiment includes a socket  43  which as shown in  FIG. 10  includes an opening  45  which houses a pair of spring clips (not shown) which snap-fittedly receives the bulbous end  13  of post  11  and the rivet-like protrusion  21  of the outer portion of socket  15  therein to removably secure the first member  5  to second member  7  in a manner well known in the snap-fit art. Socket  43  is secured to a button  47  preferably in a permanent manner by a crimping or staking procedure. Button  47  has a front-face  49  which preferably has a disc-shaped configuration. The embodiment  41  has an appliqué  51  applied to front-face  49  by an adhesive  53  and preferably has a decorative  FIG. 55  or any other type of indicia thereon to provide a desired fashion statement by the user thereof. It is readily understood that appliqué  51  could be easily removed from front-face  49  if desired by using a pressure-sensitive adhesive  53  and replaced with various other appliqués or decals having numerous types of decorative indicia  55  thereon. This provides the wearer with an easy manner of matching different parts of his/her outfit with different decals to provide for a different fashion statement. However, appliqué can be permanently attached to front face  49  by use of a different type of adhesive if desired. 
         [0041]    A second embodiment of second member  7  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and indicated generally at  57 . Embodiment  57  is similar to embodiment  41  described above and includes socket  43  and button  47  but has a plurality of decorative jewel stones  59  instead of appliqué  51  applied and secured in a variety of arrangements to front-face  49  of button  47 , such as by a pressure-sensitive adhesive  61 . This enables the wearer to provide various arrangements of the jewel stones to form a decorative pattern on button  47  and can provide the stones in various colors, sizes, geometric shapes, etc. Again, it provides the user of apparatus  1  to be creative in his/her styling of clothes, backpacks or other type of goods. In the alternative, jeweled buttons can be provided by the manufacturer ready to be snap-fitted to a first member  5 . 
         [0042]    A third embodiment of the second member  7  is indicated generally at  65 , and is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Embodiment  65  will have the front-face  49  of button  47  pre-engraved by a laser  67  with any type of design, emblem, geometric pattern, etc. desired. In embodiment  65  ( FIG. 8 ) only a cross-hatch pattern is shown being engraved thereon. However, it is readily understood any type of design, picture, printed indicia, etc. desired by the manufacturer can be engraved, stamped or etched into front face  49  of button  47 . Again, this is formed as an integral part of button front-face  49  which is attached to socket  43  ready for use by the purchaser and subsequent user thereof. It is readily understood that second member  7  and, in particular, button  47  thereof could have countless number of designs, printed indicia, appliqués, etc. applied to the front-face  49  thereof or formed as an integral part thereof as shown in  FIG. 8  to provide a vast variety of color, styles, configurations for the ultimate purchaser and user in accordance with the invention. 
         [0043]    Apparatus  1  is shown if  FIG. 15  being applied to various locations of a pair of jeans  31 . It may be desired that the particular color of the appliqué or front-face of button  47  be matched with the top part  69  of the wearer&#39;s outfit such as the blouse, sweater, etc. in making a desired fashion statement. Also, as shown if  FIG. 15 , the front-face of button  47  may have the same configuration or the various configurations as shown by the heart design  68  and the Y configuration  70 , in addition to a colored or cross-patched configuration  71 . Again, it provides the user with countless combinations of colors, designs, etc. for use on the wearer&#39;s jeans and matching or contrasting the shirt or upper part of the outfit being worn by the user. Also, second member  7  may be omitted and only the rivet arrangement of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 9-14  may be exposed as indicated at  75  in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 16  shows still another method of using apparatus  1  in which various designs, configurations, printed indicia, etc. are on the front-faces  49  of buttons  47  and are applied to a dog collar  73 .  FIG. 17  shows a backpack  76  of the type carried by many teenagers and young adults having a number of apparatus  1  thereon which have similar and different combinations of printed indicia decorations etc. on the front-face button  47 . The examples shown in  FIGS. 15-17  are merely three of the countless number of uses for which apparatus  1  can be applied for carrying out the customizing method of the present invention. Second member  7  can be used with the front-face  49  thereof being provided with a variety of decorative indicia, designs, etc. or only the front portion of the first member  5  which is secured to the goods can be exposed providing a rivet-like configuration if desired by the wearer. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown as apparatus  101 . Apparatus  101  includes a second member  103  or cap having a front surface  105 , a back surface  107 , and a side surface  109  extending therebetween. Second member  103  includes alternating protrusions  111  and recesses  113  along the outer periphery of the body of second member  103 . A connector plate  115  extends outwardly away from back surface  107  and includes a back surface  117  and a peripheral surface  119  extending from back surface  107 . Connector plate  115  defines a threaded recess  121  sized to receive a matching threaded stud extending from a first member (not shown) or base in accordance with the previously described first members of the present invention. Connector plate  115 , and in particular, peripheral surface  119  works to extend front surface  105  outwardly away from the first member such that second member  103  appears more three dimensional and more pronounced as a separate feature from the underlying clothing. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , another embodiment  201  of the present invention is shown having generally similar features to embodiment  101 . However, embodiment  102  includes a recessed area  214  defined generally by a recess surface  216  and a side surface  218  extending outwardly therefrom. The general size and placement of recessed area  214  corresponds to an ornamental adhesively backed design such as the appliqué  51  shown in  FIG. 3 . As such, the size of appliqué  51  is received within recessed area  214  to present a generally smooth outer surface on second embodiment  201 , as well as to portray a receiving area for receiving appliqué  51 . As such, receiving area  214  provides the added benefit of facilitating an aesthetically pleasing alignment on the exterior or front surface  205  of second embodiment  201  such that a user can easily place appliqué  51  within the predefined space. All other features of embodiment  201  are generally consistent with embodiment  101 , including a front surface  205 , a side surface  209 , and an alternating pattern of protrusions  211  and recesses  213 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , second embodiment  201  includes eight protrusions  211  and corresponding eight recesses  213 , to provide an aesthetically pleasing overall shape to second member  203 . 
         [0047]    In summary, the apparatus and method of the present invention enables a person to customize various goods including articles of clothing, accessories carried or worn by the user in which the front face of the button of the second member or the exposed face of the first member without the second member attached can be placed at various locations and have various designs to satisfy every fashion statement desired to be made by the wearer. 
         [0048]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0049]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.