Patent Application
20140260425
The present invention relates to bands and buckles for bands and, in particular, to personalized fashion bracelets and the like, and to apparatus for displaying fashion bracelet components, and, more particularly, to fashion bracelets that comprise a strap and an exchangeable personalized buckle.
A fashion item particularly popular among young people today is a “paracord” bracelet comprised of a strap of woven parachute cords (paracords) connected by a side release buckle, with the buckle personalized by a graphic such as a person's given name, a favorite team, a city, state, saying, or the like. Side release buckles are well known and commonly used to connect straps together, such as in connection with backpacks, luggage, and a wide variety of other items where straps are used and need to be releaseably joined. Side release buckles generally comprise a male component commonly referred to as the “hook” and a female component commonly referred to as the “catch”. Throughout, it will be understood that the terms “female” and “catch” refer to the buckle component that releaseably receives the component referred to here as either the “male” or “hook”.
Known paracord bracelets comprise a woven strap with a side release buckle wherein the hook component of the buckle is non-releaseably attached to one end of the strap and the catch component is non-releaseably attached to the other end of the strap. The bracelet is secured to and released from a person's wrist by connecting and disconnecting the buckle male and female components.
Such bracelets are typically offered in a variety of strap variations, such as colors or weaves, sizes, and personalized graphic on the face of the buckle catch.
In order for a brick-and-mortar retailer, for example, to offer to customers a bracelet personalized with the name “Aidan”, for example, with 10 strap variations and three sizes (small, medium and large), it is necessary to have an inventory 30 bracelets. In order to accommodate multiple demands for the same combination of name, strap variation and size for the one name “Aidan”, it is reasonable to inventory 5 of each for a total of 150 bracelets for that one name. To offer 50 names (or other personalized graphic) requires 7,500 bracelets. This requires a large initial inventory and concomitant cost and the need to frequently resupply the inventory.
With the present invention, for the same choices—5 each of 10 strap variations in 3 sizes (150) and 5 each of 50 different buckle names in one size (250)—a total of only 400 pieces are required.
The present invention provides a bracelet and the like with a buckle having a component that is readily releasable from the bracelet strap and has a space for a graphic such as a name, graphic or other personalization. In this way, the personalized buckle component is not a dedicated part of the bracelet strap, but rather is free to be attached to any strap with a hook at each end and of a variation and size selected by a customer.
With the present invention, a customer shopping for a personalized bracelet can approach a rack displaying bracelet straps and personalized buckle components, select a strap from a variety of choices and sizes, then select a personalized buckle component from a separately displayed array of such components to complete the bracelet. If desired, the customer can select a plurality of such components of different personalization for use with only one strap and/or a variety of different straps for one personalized buckle component.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 3A-3D, a double-sided catch 26 of the invention comprises a generally rectangular top member 31 that is narrower at its waist 32 than at its wider ends 33 and 34 and a substantially identical bottom member 36 that is narrower at its waist 37 than at its wider ends 38 and 39. The top member 31 and bottom member 36 are joined by side members 41, 42, 43 and 44 that secure the wider ends 33 and 34 of the top member 31 to the bottom member 36 wider ends 38 and 39, respectively. Side members 41, 42, 43 and 44 maintain the top and bottom members 31 and 36 spaced apart from one another, forming a generally tubular structure 45 (
The tubular double-sided catch 26 has end openings 51 and 52 sized to operatively receive a hook 23 (
In one embodiment, the top member 31 includes a contiguous upper surface 31a onto which a personalizing graphic 48 (“Aidan” as shown) can be applied by any of several well known methods including, without limitation, embossing, painting, decals, and the like. In one embodiment, the upper surface 31a is left blank to be decorated after purchase.
The advantage of the two-sided catch 26 is that it is attachable to but, at the same time separate from, a strap 21, making it possible for a strap 21 to be personalized with a variety of different catches 26. Likewise, a single catch 26 can be attached to a variety of different straps 21.
The present invention makes it easy and convenient for a customer to determine the right size strap without having to disturb the inventory of personalized catches and, at the same time, provides a convenient way to display the straps.
Referring to
Referring to
The straps 67 illustrated in
In one embodiment, the straps 67 additionally include a wrapper 77 affixed to and surrounding the strap 67 on which a place, or event, or the like is identified, lending the strap the quality of a souvenir.
In addition to the straps 67, the display panel 71 also supports and displays a plurality of double-sided catches 26 with a variety of different names or other graphics on their top surfaces 31. In one embodiment, a card 73 with a mounting hole 74 is inserted through the side openings 46 and 47 of each catch 26 as a means for supporting and displaying the catches 26 on panel 71. Other devices for mounting catches 26 may occur to those skilled in the art and will be within the scope of the invention.
Assuming, for example, 30 different catch graphics, 10 different strap variations, and 3 different strap sizes, the total number of possible combinations is 900. The present invention makes it possible offer all 900 combinations with just 60 components (30 catches and 30 straps).
A prior art system where the catch on which the graphic is applied is permanently attached to a strap would require an initial inventory of 900 straps to offer the same choices to a customer as offered by the present invention.
The display panel 71 has been illustrated in a simplified form to disclose the essence of the invention. In a commercial embodiment, the display panel 71 could be one side of a kiosk-like stand having multiple sides, each having bracelet components mounted and displayed in various combinations. Such kiosks often are rotatable to permit ease of access. Also, while the graphics illustrated are all common given names, the invention contemplates that names of places, or teams or cities, or zip codes, or telephone area codes, or pictorial graphics, or sayings, or the like are contemplated and well within the scope of the invention. Similarly, the invention is not limited to straps of paracords as other materials that are desirable are within the scope of the invention. In addition, while bracelets are of particular interest in the market, the invention is not so limited and is equally applicable to other personalized detachable bands such as dog or cat collars, belts and the like.
Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.
