Patent Application
20150224817
This specification relates to crown caps, and more particularly to the use of crown caps in crafting projects.
Crown caps are commonly-used bottle caps that are often used for artistic purposes. Crown caps are used to add creative flair to bows, clothes, purses, and other craft projects. The caps are generally affixed to other materials by using glue or other adhesive, or by punching holes in the crown cap in order to sew the cap to fabric or thread ribbon through the holes. While these methods allow the cap to be attached to a project, adhesives are messy and can detach from other materials under certain humidity and temperature conditions. Punching holes in the cap alters the appearance and structural integrity of the cap.
This specification describes a crown cap having a clasp permanently attached. In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a crown cap for crafting projects that includes a top wall comprising a substantially planar a depending peripheral flange, the flange having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of webs interconnecting the ribs; and a clasp permanently attached to the top wall wherein the clasp attached to the top wall forms an opening through which material can be passed through to secure the crown cap to an item.
The foregoing and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. The clasp is formed from a rigid material. The clasp is formed from a flexible material. The peripheral flange extends away from the top wall at least partially in a first direction along an axis that is perpendicular to a plane formed by the top wall. The clasp extends away from the top wall at least partially in the first direction along the axis. The clasp extends away from the top wall at least partially in a second direction opposite the first direction along the axis. A distance that the peripheral flange extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the top wall exceeds a distance that the clasp attached to the top wall extends along the axis. A distance that the peripheral flange extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the top wall does not exceed a distance that the clasp attached to the top wall extends along the axis. The crown cap is a metallic crown cap. The top wall is forms a substantially circular surface. The clasp is attached to the top wall in at least two places. The crown cap is a flattened bottle cap. The clasp is a ring of metal attached to the top wall in one place.
In general, another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods for attaching a crown cap to an item that include the actions of passing a strip of material through an opening formed by a clasp that is permanently attached to a top wall of the crown cap in at least two places, wherein the top wall has a depending peripheral flange, the flange configured to form a plurality of ribs and a plurality of webs interconnecting the ribs; and attaching the crown cap to the item by securing the material to the item. The foregoing and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. Attaching the crown cap to the item by securing the material to the item comprises sewing the material to the item. Attaching the crown cap to the item by securing the material to the item comprises tying the material to the item. The item is a hair bow, a hair clip, a headband, a chain, a zipper pull, or a keychain. The clasp is permanently attached to the top wall of the crown cap in at least two places. The crown cap is a flattened bottle cap. The clasp is a ring of metal attached to the top wall in one place.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
In various embodiments, a crown cap includes a clasp permanently connected to a top wall of the cap. The clasp can be attached to either the inner or outer surface of the top wall. In certain instances, the attached clasp may allow the cap to be sewn onto fabric, strung on ribbon or string, or attached to other materials. The clasp may allow the cap to be attached to various materials without adhesive and without punching holes in the cap.
The peripheral flange 120 connects to the top wall 110 along the circumference of the top wall 110. The peripheral flange 120 extends away from the top wall 110 at least partially in a first direction along an axis A that is perpendicular to a plane formed by the top wall 110. Thus, the peripheral flange can be part of a bottle cap or a flattened bottle cap, to name just a few examples. The peripheral flange 120 extends from the top wall 110 at an angle between forty-five and ninety degrees from the plane of the top wall 110. The angle between the peripheral flange 120 and the top wall 110 remains substantially uniform along the length of the peripheral flange 120.
The peripheral flange 120 includes a plurality of ribs 130 and a plurality of interconnecting webs 140. The ribs 130 and interconnecting webs 140 may extend along the entire circumference of the peripheral flange 120.
The clasp 150 is attached to the first side 110a of the top wall 110 in approximately the center of the first side 110a. In particular, the clasp 150 includes a first end 150a attached to the first side 110a, a second end 150b attached to the first side 110a, and a connecting portion 150c that connects the first end 150a and the second end 150b. The first end 150a, second end 150b, and connecting portion 150c are positioned on the top wall 110 such that a central axis extending perpendicular to and through a center of the top wall 110 bisects the clasp 150.
The connecting portion 150c is curved and forms a U-shape that extends in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, along the axis A. The connecting portion 150c defines an opening or space 160 between the connecting portion 150c and the first side 110a of the top wall 110. The space 160 is large enough for material to pass through the opening. The material can be, for example, ribbon, cloth, thread, elastic, or any other appropriate material.
Although shown as being connected to the top wall 110 in two places, the clasp 150 can also be attached to the top wall 110 in one place. For example, the clasp 150 may be a ring or an ellipse of material that is connected to the top wall 110 in one place.
The clasp 150 can be attached to the crown cap 100 as part of an integrated manufacturing process of the crown cap 100. The clasp 150 can also be welded, soldered, or glued onto the crown cap 100. The clasp 150 can be formed using any appropriate type of metal, or another appropriate flexible material, e.g., plastic, rubber, or silicone.
The material to which the crown cap 100 is attached, e.g. ribbon, can also be used to attach the crown cap to other materials. For example, the crown cap 100 can be attached to the ribbon 170, and the ribbon 170 can be attached to clothing, hair clips, hair bows, headbands, hair accessories, jewelry, beads, chains, zipper pulls, and keychains. The crown cap 100 can be attached by being tied or sewn on. The crown cap 100 can also be weaved in with beading on a string or on a chain.
The clasp 350 is attached to the second side 310b of the top wall 310 in approximately in approximately the center of the second side 310b. The clasp 350 includes a first end 350a attached to the second side 310b, a second end 350b attached to the second side 310b, and a connection portion 350c that connects the first end 350a and the second end 350b. The first end 350a, second end 350b, and connection portion 350c are positioned on the top wall 310 such that a central axis extending perpendicular to and through a center of the top wall 310 bisects the clasp 350.
The connecting portion 350c is curved and extends in a first direction along the axis B. The connecting portion 350c defines an opening or space 360 between the connecting portion 350c and the second side 310b of the top wall 310. The space 360 is large enough for material to pass through the opening.
The clasp 350 may also have additional attachment points to the plane of the top wall 310, thereby forming additional openings.
In
A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, more than one clasp could be attached to the cap, in a variety of different configurations. The clasps 150 and 350 are illustrated as a rigid “U”-shaped device, but the clasps 150 or 350 can have a number of other styles, shapes, and sizes. In addition, the clasps 150 and 350 are permanently attached in roughly the center of the top wall of the crown cap, but the clasps 150 or 350 can be attached to other appropriate positions of the top wall of the crown cap. Moreover, the clasps 150 and 350 extend perpendicular from the plane of the top wall, but can alternatively be attached at any appropriate angle between 0 and 90 degrees, e.g., 45 degrees, from the plane of the top wall.
Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
