Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a collar stay punch device that perforates a collar stay as well as a corresponding collar stay storage device adapted to store perforated collar stays.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Collar stays, a common garment accessory, are made of thin, narrow plastic or metal and are inserted into a stitched slot under the collar of shirts and/or blouses. Once positioned under the collar, collar stays provide additional stiffness to the collar and prevent the collar points from curling. Collar stays thereby assist a person in presenting a crisp and well-groomed appearance.  
           [0003]    Despite the aesthetic advantages of a prim appearance provided through the use of collar stays, collar stays themselves are prone to disarray and disorder during periods of non-use. The very nature of collar stays (i.e., thin, small strips of plastic or metal) tends to subject collar stays to detrimental bending, breakage or misplacement when not in use. Collar stays also have the tendency to migrate toward maximum disorder in storage areas such as drawers, closet spaces, toiletry kits, purses, suitcases or dressers, for example. Locating a workable pair of collar stays in the midst of broken or scattered collar stays, particularly when one is away on travel, not only complicates one&#39;s daily grooming regimen but also wastes time and breeds undue frustration.  
           [0004]    Consequently, a need exists for a storage device that maintains collar stays in an orderly arrangement and promotes rapid and accessible retrieval of collar stays. A need further exists for a collar stay storage device that is compact and portable for use during travel.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a device for perforating collar stays and a corresponding device for storing perforated collar stays are provided. The device for perforating a collar stay includes a base member having a punch hole and a guide adapted to receive a portion of a collar stay over the punch hole. A first lever member is pivotally attached to the base member and has a punch member extending from the inner surface. The punch member cooperates with the punch hole. A second lever member is pivotally attached to the base member and has an inner bearing surface which bears on the outer surface of the first lever member when the second lever member is moved toward the base plate. The bearing surface is preferably made from a wear-resistant material. The downward movement of the second lever member subsequently moves the punch member toward the guide plate bringing the punch member into full cooperation with the punch hole to perforate a collar stay when the collar stay is inserted in the guide. The punch member pushes and discharges the resulting perforate through an orifice in the base member, discharging the perforate from the device.  
           [0006]    Preferably, a housing is secured to the base member and encloses the first lever member. The housing includes an opening to accommodate the pivotable movement of the second lever member. The housing includes a latch to close the second lever member into the housing opening with a top panel of the second lever member extending over a portion of the housing top surface yielding a compact, closed configuration of the collar stay perforating device. Leaf springs located between the base member and the first lever member urge the outer surface of the first lever member to bear on the inner surface of the second lever member. When the latch is released, the first lever member urges the second lever member to rise above the housing, placing the device in an open or otherwise operational configuration. In the open configuration, a collar stay may be readily inserted into the guide and perforated as previously described.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the punch member has a sharpened cutting surface with a sharpened protruding edge. The protruding edge is located on a portion of the punch member proximate the pivot attachment of the first lever member. Positioning the protruding edge in this manner provides additional torque when the punch member is brought in cooperation with the punch hole. The protruding edge also contributes to reduce the amount of force required to form a perforation by forming an initial puncture hole in the collar stay. The remainder of the cutting surface subsequently initially engages the collar stay at the hole extending therefrom to cut out the remaining area of the perforate. This reduces the shearing force required to form the perforation when compared to the perforation force required with simultaneous engagement of the entire cutting surface upon the collar stay.  
           [0008]    The combined lever length offered by the double lever configuration of the collar stay perforating device provides adequate torque to perforate a collar stay with the application of minimal force to the second lever member. Once a collar stay is inserted into the guide, a user may simply place the base member and the second lever member between the thumb and forefinger and squeeze the device by bringing the thumb and forefinger towards each other in a closing motion. Thus, the closing force imparted by the hand of the average person is typically more than adequate to perforate conventional collar stays with the perforating device. Consequently, the collar stay perforating device is suitable for perforating collar stays of various compositions, such as plastic and metal, as well as collar stays of various widths and thicknesses. The collar stay perforating device is compact and durable and is equally suited for use at home or during travel.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device for storing perforated collar stays is provided and includes first and second arcuate members and a housing for maintaining the arcuate members in a pivotable relation to each other. A spring member within the housing is disposed between the first and second arcuate members to urge the first and second arcuate members to a closed position. Also disposed within the housing is a push button having a body portion disposed between the first and second arcuate members for urging at least one arcuate member to an open position when the button is pressed. The first and second arcuate members project freely from the housing and are releaseably engageable to form a closed loop. Pushing the button inward into the housing forces at least one arcuate member to pivot open forming a gap between the first and second arcuate members. The arcuate members have a cross-sectional configuration that permits either arcuate member to be inserted through the perforation of the collar stay. Collar stays may then be placed upon or removed from either arcuate member while the arcuate members are in the open position. Removing pressure from the button engages the arcuate members thereby forming a closed loop. In the closed configuration, the collar stay storage device maintains the perforated collar stays in an orderly arrangement. The compact size of the collar stay storage device minimizes space required to store collar stays making the storage device suitable for use in dresser drawers, closet spaces, suitcases, toiletry kits, garment bags, purses or pockets.  
           [0010]    Preferably, a magnet is attached to the outer housing surface of the storage device. The storage device may then be magnetically attached to the outer surface of the base member of the collar stay perforating device, which is preferably made of steel. The magnet enables the collar stay perforating device and the collar stay storage device to be kept together. This is advantageous for as soon as a collar stay is perforated, the collar stay may be placed on the storage device preventing damage and/or misplacement of the collar stay.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device for perforating and storing a collar stay device is provided. The perforating device comprises a body member defining a guide adapted to receive one end of a collar stay. The guide includes a punch hole. A punch member associated with and/or pivotally attached to the body member forms a hole in the collar stay when the body member and punch member are brought together and a collar stay is inserted into the guide. The perforating device may have a single lever or a double lever configuration. The perforating and storage device further comprises an elongated member for carrying a plurality of collar stays having a hole. The elongated member has a cross-sectional configuration that permits the elongated member to be inserted through the hole in the collar stay to carry the collar stay on the elongated member. The elongated member is preferably configured as a selectively releasable loop or ring that opens and closes allowing perforated collar stays to be added to and removed from the elongated member. The elongated member preferably includes first and second arm members in a pivotal relation that engage to form a closed loop and disengage to form a gap between the arm members.  
           [0012]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for perforating a collar stay is provided. The method comprises providing a punch device having a punch hole member pivotally attached to a punch member. The punch device is adapted to accommodate a collar stay and the punch member and the punch hole are adapted to cooperate with each other. The method includes placing a portion of the collar stay over the punch hole member and moving the punch member through the portion of the collar stay and into cooperation with the punch hole member to form a perforation within the collar stay.  
           [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a method for storing a collar stay is provided. The method includes providing a punch device having a punch hole member pivotally attached and in cooperation with a punch member, the punch hole member and the punch member adapted to accommodate the width and depth of the collar stay. The method further includes placing a portion of the collar stay over the punch hole member, and moving the punch member through the collar and into cooperation with the punch hole member to form a perforation within the collar stay. The method also includes providing a first arcuate member pivotally related and releaseably engageable with a second arcuate member to form a closed loop. The method entails opening the loop to form a gap between the arcuate members, inserting an arcuate member through the collar stay perforation and engaging the first and second arcuate members to maintain the collar stay on the closed loop.  
           [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for storing a collar stay is provided, the method including perforating the collar stay and providing an openable ring member which has releaseably engageable arm members for forming a closed loop. The method further includes disengaging the arm members to provide a gap between the arm members, inserting an arm into the collar stay perforation, engaging the arm members to form a closed loop, and maintaining the perforated collar stay within the closed loop.  
           [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for storing a collar stay is provided. The method includes providing a first member having a body that defines a guide to receive one end of a collar stay and a punch member associated with the body for forming a hole in the collar stay received in the guide. The method further entails placing a portion of the collar stay into the body, moving the punch member through the portion of the collar stay to form a perforation within the collar stay, and providing an openable ring member which has releaseably engageable arm members for forming a closed loop. The method further includes disengaging the arm members to provide a gap between arm members, inserting an arm member into the collar stay perforation, engaging the arm members to form a closed loop and maintaining the perforated collar stay within the closed loop. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the collar stay perforating device in an open position with a collar stay extending therefrom in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the collar stay perforating device;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is front elevation view of the collar stay perforating device;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the collar stay perforating device;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the collar stay perforating device;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is an exploded front perspective view of the collar stay perforating device;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 1 of the collar stay perforating device having a collar stay inserted therein and the housing removed;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 1 of the collar stay perforating device having a collar stay inserted therein and the housing removed;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a perforated collar stay in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a collar stay storage device in a closed position in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the collar stay storage device in an open position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 10;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 10;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 14 is an exploded rear perspective view of the collar stay storage device; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the collar stay storage device attached to the bottom of the collar stay perforating device in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    1. Collar Stay Perforating Device  
         [0032]    Referring to the FIGURES generally, where like reference numerals denote like structure and elements, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collar stay perforating device  10  is depicted comprising a first lever member  12 , a second lever member  14 , a housing  16  and a guide slot  18  through which a collar stay  38  is inserted into device  10 . Housing  16  further includes a releasable latch  20 . Moving latch  20  in the direction of arrow A opens device  10 . Movement of latch  20  in the direction of arrow B closes device  10 . Housing  16  has an opening  30  which allows second lever member  14  to rise from housing  16 , when latch  20  is moved to the open position. FIG. 1 illustrates an open configuration of device  10  whereupon second lever member  14  is raised exposing an inner surface  22  of second lever member  14 . Second lever member  14  also has first and second side walls  24   a  and  24   b  as well as a top panel  26 . A portion of first lever member  12  contacts or bears upon a portion of inner surface  22  as will be discussed in detail later. Preferably, inner surface  22  includes a plurality of protruding ridges  28  which contact the outer surface of first lever member  12 .  
         [0033]    First and second lever members  12  and  14  are pivotable or otherwise movable within housing  16 . Housing  16  limits the movement of first lever member  12 . Second sidewall  24   b  has a notch  32  which cooperates with latch  20  to maintain device  10  in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Top panel  26  conceals opening  30  when device  10  is in the closed configuration. Top panel  26  also includes an extended portion  34  which extends over a portion of the upper surface of housing  16  when latch  20  and notch  32  cooperatively engage to maintain device  10  in a closed position. Extended portion  34  may include a finger depression  36  to assist in finger placement during use of device  10 .  
         [0034]    Device  10  further comprises a base member  40  having a discharge orifice  42  and a pad  44  as shown in FIGS. 3-5. A pivot attachment  46  between base member  40  and second lever member  14  is shown in FIG. 4. Pad  44  may be attached to the exterior surface of base member  40  as is commonly known to those skilled in the art, with adhesive attachment preferred. Preferably, pad  44  is made of rubber, a soft plastic, or similar material to provide a soft, non-scratch imposing lowermost surface for device  10 .  
         [0035]    The internal components of device  10  are best seen in the exploded view provided by FIG. 6. First lever member  12  includes a hinge portion  48  which cooperatively fits with first hinge portions  50   a  and  50   b  of base member  40 . A hinge pin  52  secures hinge portion  48  to first hinge portions  50   a  and  50   b  thereby providing a pivot attachment  53  between base member  40  and first lever member  12 . Similarly, second lever member  14  has hinge portions  54   a  and  54   b  that cooperate with a second hinge portion  56  of base member  40 . A hinge pin  58  secures hinge portions  54   a  and  54   b  to second hinge portion  56  to provide a pivot attachment  46  between base member  40  and second lever member  14 . A guide plate  60  corresponding to guide slot  18  is placed upon base member  40  and is aligned with guide slot  18  to create a guide pathway  61 . Guide plate  60  further comprises a raised surface  62  having a punch hole  64 . Guide plate  60  is positioned on base member  40  so as to align punch hole  64  with discharge orifice  42 . Housing  16  has tracks  66   a  and  66   b  corresponding to the perimeter of raised surface  62 . Tracks  66   a  and  66   b  properly align guide pathway  61  with guide slot  18  and secure guide plate  60  on base member  40  when housing  16  is secured to base member  40 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the width of guide slot  18  and guide pathway  61  may be adapted to accommodate collar stays of varying widths and depths.  
         [0036]    Leaf springs  68   a  and  68   a  are secured in place on guideplate  60  by a spring clamp  70 . First lever member  12  pivots so that the inner surface of first lever member  12  rests upon leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b . Screws  72   a  and  72   b  insert through corresponding screw holes  74   a  and  74   b  and into screw seats (not shown) in housing  16  thereby securing base member  40  to housing  16 . A decorative inlay  76 , preferably made of a shiny metal, may be adhesively secured to the exterior surface of top panel  26 . Pad  44  may be adhesively secured to the exterior surface of base member  40 . Pad  44  has an opening  45  ensuring discharge orifice  42  is not obstructed. Latch  20  has a protruding portion  78  which extends through a washer  80  and through a latch hole  82  in housing  16 . When device  10  is in a closed position, protruding portion  78  engages notch  32  and maintains device  10  in a closed configuration. Moving latch  20  in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 1) disengages protruding portion  78  from notch  32 . The force exerted upon first lever member  12  by leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b  urges the exterior surface of first lever member  12  to bear upon inner surface  22  thereby raising second lever member  14  above housing  16 .  
         [0037]    Inner surface  22  of second lever member  14  includes a bearing surface  94 . Bearing surface  94  preferably includes a plurality of protruding ridges  28 . Ridges  28  may be made of any wear-resistant material as is commonly known in the art including such non-limiting examples as metal or plastic with glass filled nylon being preferred.  
         [0038]    Preferably, base member  40 , first lever member  12 , guideplate  60  hinge pins  52  and  58 , leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b , spring clamp  70 , are made of a hard, durable, wear-resistant material. Suitable materials for these components may include plastic, or a metal such as steel. Preferred is cold rolled steel with spring steel preferred for leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b  and spring clamp  70 .  
         [0039]    Housing  16  is omitted from FIGS. 7 and 8 to better illustrate the operation of collar stay punch device  10 . First lever member  12  has an inner surface  84  and an outer surface  86 . A punch member  88  extends from the inner surface  84 . Punch member  88  is designed and positioned on inner surface  84  to cooperate with punch hole  64 . Located distally from pivot attachment  53  is a curved portion  90  of first lever member  12 . The inward curve of curved portion  90  provides a rounded or otherwise smooth contact surface between outer surface  88  and bearing surface  94  of second lever member  14 .  
         [0040]    The user of device  10  initially releases latch  20  to raise second lever member  14  from housing  16  to place device  10  in an open position. The user then inserts an end of collar stay  38  into guide slot  18  and slides collar stay  38  through guide pathway  61  until a portion of collar stay  38  extends under punch hole  64 . A user&#39;s finger  92  then moves second lever member  14  toward base member  40  as indicated by arrow C in FIG. 7. This downward motion brings bearing surface  94  of second lever member  14  into contact with curved portion  90  of first lever member  12 . Curved portion  90  preferably contacts bearing surface  94  proximate pivot attachment  46  to increase the torque potential afforded by the double lever configuration of device  10 .  
         [0041]    As user&#39;s finger  92  moves second lever member  14  downward, the user initially experiences resistance from leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b . As the downward motion continues, the user then experiences greater resistance as punch member  88  inserts into punch hole  64  whereupon a cutting edge  96  of punch member  88  engages collar stay  38 . Collar stay  38  may be made of any material as is commonly known in the art including such non-limiting examples as plastic, paper, cardboard or a metal such as steel, stainless steel, brass, gold, silver or nickel.  
         [0042]    Preferably, cutting edge  96  has a protrusion  98  for initially piercing collar stay  38 . Cutting edge  96  and protrusion  98  are hard, sharpened surfaces and may or may not be made of the same material as first lever member  12 . Preferred are cutting edge  96  and protrusion  98  made from cold rolled steel. Protrusion  98  is preferably located on the portion of punch member  88  closest to pivot attachment  53  further increasing the torque potential of device  10 . With the downward force provided by user&#39;s finger  92 , protrusion  98  pierces an initial hole in collar stay  38  with a minimal amount of force from user&#39;s finger  92 . As user&#39;s finger  92  continues to apply a downward force, the rest of cutting edge  96  engages collar stay  38  at the puncture point and cuts along the circumference of punch hole  64 . User&#39;s finger  92  continues to move second lever member  14  downward as indicated by arrow D in FIG. 8 until the entire cutting edge  96  cuts through collar stay  38  bringing punch member  88  into full cooperation with punch hole  64 . Punch member  88  subsequently discharges a perforate  100  through discharge orifice  42 . The initial hole formed by protrusion  98  and the gradual cutting by cutting edge  96  contribute to reduce the shearing force required to fully perforate collar stay  38  by avoiding the simultaneous engagement of the entire cutting surface with collar stay  38 . Removal of user&#39;s finger  92  from second lever member  14  enables the resistance from leaf springs  68   a  and  68   b  to urge second lever member  14  to rise above housing  16 . The user may then remove collar stay  38  from guide pathway  61 .  
         [0043]    In view of the operational aspects of device  10 , it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that housing  16  also provides several safety features. Housing  16  prevents the user&#39;s fingers or clothing from becoming caught or pinched between the first and second lever members, as well as between the pivot attachments of each lever. In addition, the restriction of pivotal movement imposed upon first lever member  12  by housing  16  protects the user from the sharpened surfaces of cutting edge  96  and protrusion  98 .  
         [0044]    Punch member  88 , cutting edge  96  and punch hole  64  may be designed as is commonly known in the art to provide any desired shape perforation in collar stay  38 . Such shapes may include, but are not limited to, square, triangular, round, or elliptical. Once removed from guide pathway  61 , collar stay  38  exhibits a clean-cut perforation  102  as shown in FIG. 9. Preferably, perforation  102  is round in shape.  
         [0045]    One of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize that either end of collar stay  38  may be perforated with device  10 . FIG. 9 shows one embodiment wherein perforation  102  is located in a round end portion  104  of collar stay  38 . However, device  10  may be used to readily apply a perforation to any portion of collar stay  38 . Such portions may include a middle portion  106  as well as the pointed portion  108  of collar stay  38 . The skilled artisan will further recognize that device  10  may be employed to apply multiple perforations to collar stay  38 . In such a situation, guide pathway  61  may be adapted to have no restraint thereby enabling collar stay  38  to be inserted through guide pathway  61  so that at least the longitudinal midpoint of collar stay  38  extends under punch hole  64 . Alternatively, guide slot  18  and guide pathway  61  may be situated within housing  16  to allow collar stay  38  to be inserted into one end of housing  16  and removed from an opposing end of housing  16 . Such a configuration would facilitate the rapid application of multiple perforations to the collar stay.  
         [0046]    The double lever configuration of device  10  greatly reduces the force required to perforate a collar stay. Device  10  is readily hand operated by placing second lever member  14  and base  40  between the thumb and forefinger, and squeezing the thumb and forefinger together in a closing motion. Manual use of device  10  provides sufficient force to comfortly perforate collar stays having a thickness between 0.0005 inches to about 0.05 inches. Best results are achieved when device  10  is used to perforate plastic collar stays. Metal collar stays may also be perforated with the present invention.  
         [0047]    The double lever configuration of the present invention also contributes to the compactness of device  10 . Device  10  has length between about 2.5 inches to about 3.5 inches, a width between about 1.0 inches to about 2.0 inches, and a height between about 1.0 inches to about 2.0 inches. This is advantageous as device  10  takes up minimal space in drawers, suitcases, garment bags and the like. The compactness of device  10  promotes portability as device  10  readily fits in purses, travel kits, toiletry or accouterment kits, and even pockets.  
         [0048]    2. Collar Stay Storage Device  
         [0049]    Upon perforating a collar stay with device  10 , a collar stay storage device  200  is provided to store perforated collar stays as shown in FIGS. 10-14. Device  200  includes first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b , a housing  204 , a cover member  206  and a push button  208 . A portion of each first and second arcuate member  202   a  and  202   b  extends into housing  204  through openings  205   a  and  205   b  respectively. Housing  204  thereby maintains first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  in a pivotal relation to each other as will be described in detail below.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 10 shows device  200  in a closed configuration wherein first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  are engaged to form a closed loop. Device  200  is particularly suited for the storage of perforated collar stays  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c , and  210   d  as the diameter for each of first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  is less than the diameter of the perforation in each collar stay. Each collar stay  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  has a corresponding perforation  212   a ,  212   b ,  212   c , and  212   d  through which either first arcuate collar stay  202   a  or second arcuate collar stay  202   b  is readily inserted. Consequently, device  200  maintains collar stays  210   a - 210   d  in an ordered, arranged and readily usable manner.  
         [0051]    A user pressing push button  208  disengages first arcuate member  202   a  from second arcuate member  202   b . This provides a gap between first arcuate member  202   a  and second arcuate member  202   b  as shown in FIG. 11. In this open configuration, perforated collar stays may be placed onto storage device  200  by inserting either arcuate member through the perforation within the collar stay. FIG. 11 shows second arcuate member  202   b  being inserted through perforation  212   a  of collar stay  210   a . It is preferred that the gap formed by opening arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  is somewhat small, about 0.02 inches to about 0.10 inches, to reduce the chance that collar stays maintained on the arcuate members do not inadvertently slip or fall off device  200  upon addition or removal of another collar stay. After insertion of second arcuate member  202   b  through perforation  210   a , the user releases pressure from button  208  and arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  engage to form the closed loop, as shown in FIG. 10. Removal of a collar stay from device  200  is similar wherein button  208  is pressed to disengage the arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b , a collar stay is moved to the gap and removed from either arcuate member. Device  200  may store as few as one or as many as about 30 perforated collar stays upon the closed loop formed by first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b.    
         [0052]    One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the selectively releasable closed loop or ring formed by the engagement of first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  may result in a variety of shapes. The arcuate members may engage to form a substantially circular loop as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and  15 . Alternatively, the shape of the arcuate members may be modified so that the shape of the closed loop may be any desired shape commonly known in the art including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or elliptical.  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 14, device  200  also includes a spring  214 , pins  216   a  and  216   b  and a magnet  218 . First and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  respectively include first and second elbows  220   a  and  220   b , first and second arm segments  221   a  and  221   b , first and second flat portions  222   a  and  222   b  and first and second holes  224   a  and  224   b . Pins  216   a  and  216   b  are disposed in respective pin seats  226   a  and  226   b . Arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  are mounted onto the exposed portions of seated pins  216   a  and  216   b  through respective holes  224   a  and  224   b . This provides each arcuate member with pivotal movement. First and second flat portions  222   a  and  222   b , first and second arm segments  222   a  and  222   b  and first and second elbows  220   a  and  220   b  are disposed within housing  204 . The remaining portions of first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  extend through opening  205   a  and  205   b  respectively and project freely from housing  204  to form a closed loop. The ends of spring  214  are attached to elbow portions  220   a  and  220   b  to urge first and second arcuate members toward each other and into a closed position.  
         [0054]    Button  208  comprises an exterior surface  228  and a button body  230  as shown in FIG. 14. Button body  230  extends from exterior surface  228  inward into the interior of housing  204  with a portion of button body  230  extending between first and second arm segments  221   a  and  221   b . Circumferentially disposed and integral to button body  230  is a lip  232  which extends outwardly. Lip  232  abuts against cover member  206  when device  200  is in a closed position. Lip  232  maintains button  208  within housing  204  as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Cover member  206  has an opening  234  corresponding to the shape of button exterior  228 . Cover member  206  attaches to the top of housing  204  thereby enclosing device  200  and maintaining button  208 , spring  214 , pins  216   a  and  216   b  and portions of the arcuate members within housing  204  as previously described. Cover member  206  is secured to housing  204  as is commonly known in the art including, but not limited to, lip and groove attachment snap-on attachment or adhesively attached.  
         [0055]    Housing  204  further includes button supports  234   a ,  234   b ,  234   c , and  234   d . Button supports  234   a - 234   d  guide the inward movement of button  208  when inward pressure is applied thereto placing device  200  in an open configuration. Spring  214  extends between button support  234   c  and  234   d  attaching to first and second elbow portions  220   a  and  220   b  as previously described. The cross-sectional shape of button body  230  is a wedge shape or otherwise tapered such that the width of button body  230  is greater proximate button exterior  228  than the width of button body  230  distal button exterior  230  as depicted in FIG. 13. As button  208  is pressed inward into housing  204 , opposing outer surfaces of button body  230  are brought to bear upon first and second arm segments  221   a  and  221   b . The inner movement of button  208  brings the widening cross-sectional configuration of button body  230  to bear upon first and second arm members  221   a  and  221   b , gradually increasing the distance between the arm members. This causes at least one arcuate member to pivot about pin  216   a  or  216   b  thereby disengaging arcuate member  202   a  from  202   b  and providing a gap therebetween.  
         [0056]    Housing  204 , cover member  206  and button  208  may be made of any durable material including, but not limited to plastic, rubber or metal. Similarly, pins  216   a  and  216   b , spring  214  and first and second arcuate members  202   a  and  202   b  are made of a durable material such as plastic or metal, with metal being preferred.  
         [0057]    Magnet  218  is attached to the underside of device  200  as is commonly known in the art such as adhesive attachment, for example. Device  200  may then be magnetically attached to base member  40  of collar stay punch device  10  as shown in FIG. 15. Preferably, the shape of pad opening  45  conforms to the circumferential shape of housing  204  allowing magnet  218  to attach directly to the exterior surface of base  40 . This is advantageous as collar stay perforating device  10  and collar stay storage device  200  may be stored together. Consequently, once a collar stay is perforated by device  10 , it may immediately be placed upon storage device  200  before being bent, broken or misplaced.  
         [0058]    Device  200  may used in conjunction with collar stay perforating device  10 , or may be used separately. Similar to collar stay perforating device  10 , an advantage of collar stay storage device  200  is its compactness, durability, and portability as well as its ease of operation. The length of device  200  is between about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches with the width being between about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches. The height of device  200  is about 0.3 inches to about 1.0 inch. Given these dimensions, device  200  is a handy garment accessory that is readily stowed in a dresser drawer, a suitcase, a garment bag, a car glove compartment, a toiletry kit, a purse or even a pocket with or without device  10 . Given its ease of operation device  200  may also be used to store such ringed objects as keys, paper clips, rubber bands, hair bands and the like.  
         [0059]    In another aspect of the present invention, device  200  may be used in conjunction with a mated attachment system. In this embodiment, an attachment component is affixed to the rear surface (i.e., the outer surface of housing  204  opposing button exterior  228 ) of device  200 . A mated attachment component is provided to releaseably attach to the attachment component of device  200 . The mated attachment component may then be affixed to any desired surface or structure that promotes ready access to the collar stays maintained by device  200 . For example, the mated attachment component may be affixed to a closet wall adjacent the closet area where shirts and/or blouses are stored. Attaching device  200  to the mated attachment component thereby enables a person to conveniently retrieve collar stays from device  200  for use with a shirt or blouse as the shirt is retrieved for wear. The mated attachment component may be affixed to any surface or structure that is able to provide a suitable mounting platform for device  200 . Such surfaces or structures may include the interior wall of a dresser, suitcase, garment bag or toiletry kit or even a bathroom wall. Consequently, device  200  may be moved from one mated attachment component (i.e., a mated attachment component affixed to a closet wall) to another mated attachment component (i.e., a mated attachment component affixed to an inner wall of a garment bag) providing device  200  the versatility of use at home or during travel. The mated attachment system may be any releasable attachment system as is commonly known in the art wherein the attachment component and mated attachment component may include such non-limiting examples as a magnet and an iron-bearing metal or metal alloy, a hook or loop attachment system, a lip and groove attachment, and a snap and clip attachment. The attachment component may be affixed to device  200  as is commonly known in the art with adhesive attachment preferred. Likewise, mated attachment component may be affixed to any suitable structure or surface as is commonly known in the art with adhesive attachment preferred.  
         [0060]    While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Technology Category: 4