CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable to this application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable to this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cufflinks and more specifically it relates to a cufflinks attachment system for easily and efficiently attaching cufflinks to a shirt cuff.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Cufflinks are used to secure shirt cuffs. Shirt cuffs may be secured with cufflinks in a barrel cuff with the ends of the cuff overlapping as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings or a double cuff (a.k.a. a French cuff or kissing cuff) with the ends of the cuff pinched together as illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings. Cufflinks are constructed of various types of materials such as, but not limited to, metal, precious metals, stone, glass, fabric material (e.g. silk knots) and the like. Cufflinks are typically constructed of a first catch member, a second catch member and a connector extending between the catch members. One of the catch members is inserted through the holes in the shirt cuffs whereby both catch members retain the opposing portions of the shirt cuff removably secured together.
One example of cufflinks are “double-panel” cufflinks comprised of a short post (straight or bent) or chain connecting two disc-shaped parts. Another example of cufflinks are “swivel bar” or “rocker arm” cufflinks comprised of an outer catch member, a post extending from the outer catch member and a swivel bar movably connected to the distal end of the post to allow for alignment with the post for insertion through the holes in the shirt cuff and then aligned transversely with respect to the post after insertion through the holes to prevent accidental removal.
One of the problems with conventional cufflinks is they can be difficult to align and insert through the holes of the shirt cuff. Another problem is that conventional cufflinks can be time consuming to position within the holes of the shirt cuff particularly if the holes are smaller.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved cufflinks attachment system for easily and efficiently attaching cufflinks to a shirt cuff.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to a cufflink attachment system which includes a cufflink and a pulling device that removably connects to the cufflink to pull the cufflink through the openings of a shirt cuff. The cufflink includes a first catch member, a second catch member and a connector attached between the catch members. The second catch member includes at least one opening. The pulling device includes a handle and a hook attached to the handle. The user inserts the pulling device through the openings in the shirt cuff, inserts the hook through an opening in the second catch member and then pulls a portion of the cufflink through the openings in the shirt cuff.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the cufflink and the pulling device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the cufflink in the secure position.
FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of the cufflink in the release position.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the cufflink for the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cufflink for the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the cufflink for the present invention in the secure position.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the cufflink for the present invention in the release position.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 9a is a side view of the present invention being used with respect to a shirt cuff in a double cuff position (shown as a partial cutaway) with the pulling device partially extended through the openings within the shirt cuff.
FIG. 9b is a side view of the pulling device extended through the openings in the shirt cuff with the hook exposed for engaging the cufflink.
FIG. 9c is a side view of the hook of the pulling device inserted through the openings in the shirt cuff with the hook connected through an aperture within the second catch member.
FIG. 9d is a side view of the pulling device pulling the cufflink through the openings of the shirt cuff.
FIG. 9e is a side view of the pulling device removed from the cufflink and the second catch member of the cufflink positioned into the secure position to prevent removal of the cufflink from the shirt cuff.
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a shirt cuff in an overlapping position.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of a shirt cuff in a double cuff position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A. Overview.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 9 illustrate a cufflinks attachment system 10, which comprises a cufflink and a pulling device 50 that removably connects to the cufflink to pull the cufflink through the openings of a shirt cuff 12. The cufflink includes a first catch member 20, a second catch member 40 and a connector 30 attached between the catch members 20, 40. The second catch member 40 includes at least one opening. The pulling device 50 includes a handle 56 and a hook 52 attached to the handle 56. The user inserts the pulling device 50 through the openings in the shirt cuff 12, inserts the hook 52 through an opening in the second catch member 40 and then pulls a portion of the cufflink through the openings in the shirt cuff 12.
B. Shirt and Shirt Cuff.
A shirt (e.g. dress shirt) has a pair of shirt cuffs 12 with one shirt cuff 12 attached to the left arm sleeve of the shirt and the other shirt cuff 12 attached to the right arm sleeve of the shirt. Each shirt cuff 12 includes a first distal end 14 and a second distal end 16 opposite of the first distal end 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings.
Each shirt cuff 12 further includes a first opening 15 within the shirt cuff 12 near the first distal end 14 and a second opening 17 within the shirt cuff 12 near the second distal end 16. Some shirt cuffs 12 include a pair of first openings 15 near the first distal end 14 and a pair of second openings 17 near the second distal end 16. The openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 are typically comprised of narrow slots or slits as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings. The present invention may be utilized with various types of shirt cuffs 12 that have a preference of being closed and connected when the shirt is worn by the user.
C. Cufflink.
FIGS. 1 through 8 best illustrate the cufflink of the present invention having a first catch member 20, a connector 30 attached to the first catch member 20, and a second catch member 40 attached to the connector 30 opposite of the first catch member 20. The cufflink may be constructed of various types of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as, but not limited to, metal, precious metals, stone, glass, plastic, composite materials and the like.
The first catch member 20 is preferably comprised of a relatively flat and broad structure. The first catch member 20 may have various shapes such as, but not limited to, circular (FIGS. 1 through 5), oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal and the like. The first catch member 20 has a shape and structure that prevents the first catch member 20 from being easily pulled through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12. The first catch member 20 preferably has a size that is larger than the openings 15, 17 within the shirt cuff 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 9a through 9e of the drawings.
The first catch member 20 includes an outer surface 22 and an inner surface 24 opposite of the outer surface 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings. The outer surface 22 may be decorative and is worn to be exposed on the outside portion of the shirt cuff 12. An ornamental feature may be attached to the outer surface 22 of the first catch member 20 as is well known in the art of cufflinks. The inner surface 24 of the first catch member 20 is attached to the connector 30.
The connector 30 extends from the inner surface 24 of the first catch member 20 in a preferably transverse manner as best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The connector 30 is preferably a rigid and non-movable structure. The connector 30 is further non-movable with respect to the first catch member 20. The connector 30 is preferably comprised of a first member 32 and a second member 34 extending parallel to one another to pivotally support the second catch member 40 at the opposing distal end thereof with a hinge 36. The hinge 36 may have an axle that extends through the distal portions of the connector 30 with the second catch member 40 movably positioned between the members 32, 34.
The second catch member 40 is attached to the connector 30 opposite of the first catch member 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The second catch member 40 may be comprised of the same size and structure as the first catch member 20, or the second catch member 40 may have a different size and structure compared to the first catch member 20. The second catch member 40 may be non-movably attached to the connector 30 or movably attached to the second catch member 40. It is preferable that the second catch member 40 is movably attached to the connector 30 to allow the second catch member 40 to be positioned in a release position which allows the second catch member 40 to pass through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 and a secure position which prevents the second catch member 40 from passing through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12. The second catch member 40 is preferably pivotally attached to the connector 30 by the hinge 36 and rotates between the members 32, 34 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings. FIG. 5 best illustrates the second catch member 40 has having an elongated structure and centrally connected to the connector 30.
The second catch member 40 has a shape and structure that prevents the first catch member 20 from being easily pulled through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 when in the secure position as illustrated in FIG. 9e of the drawings. The second catch member 40 preferably has a size that is larger than the openings 15, 17 within the shirt cuff 12 when in the secure position as illustrated in FIG. 9e of the drawings.
The second catch member 40 preferably includes a first aperture 44 and a second aperture 48 as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The first aperture 44 is near a first end 42 of the second catch member 40 and the second aperture 48 is near a second end 46 of the second catch member 40 opposite of the first aperture 44. While it is preferable to have two opposing apertures 44, 48 to allow for removable connection to the pulling device 50 regardless of which end is pointed outwardly from the connector 30, a single aperture 44, 48 may also be utilized within the second catch member 40.
D. Pulling Device.
FIGS. 1, 9
a through 9d illustrate the pulling device 50 of the present invention which is utilized with the cufflink to pull the cufflink through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12. The pulling device 50 has an elongated handle 56 and a hook 52 attached to the handle 56 as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The pulling device 50 is preferably constructed of a single unitary material such as a narrow piece of metal (e.g. metal wire) or plastic. The pulling device 50 may be constructed of various types of materials. The handle 56 is preferably narrow to easily pass through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12.
While FIGS. 9a and 9b of the drawings illustrate inserting the hook 52 through the openings 15, 17 initially, either the distal end of the handle 56 or the hook 52 may be first inserted through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 prior to removably connecting the pulling device 50 to the cufflink. Alternatively, the pulling device 50 may first be attached to the cufflink and then the distal end of the handle 56 inserted through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12.
The hook 52 may have various structures (e.g. curved, L-shaped, V-shaped, U-shaped) capable of extending through and catching upon one aperture 44, 48 within the second catch member 40. The hook 52 includes a distal end portion 54 which may be blunt. The width of the hook 52 measured from the distal end portion 54 to a surface of the handle 56 opposite of the distal end portion 54 is narrower than the length of the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 to allow for relatively free passage of the hook 52 through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 as illustrated in FIG. 9a of the drawings.
E. Operation of Preferred Embodiment.
In use, the second catch member 40 is initially aligned with the connector 30 in a release position as illustrated in FIG. 9a of the drawings. The pulling device 50 is inserted at least partially through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 as illustrated in FIG. 9b of the drawings. It can be appreciate that the pulling device 50 does not need to first be extended through the openings 15, 17 before attaching the pulling device 50 to the cufflink.
The pulling device 50 is then connected in a removable manner to the cufflink by extending the hook 52 through at least one aperture 44, 48 within the second catch member 40 as illustrated in FIG. 9c of the drawings. The pulling device 50 is then aligned with the openings 15, 17 to be pulled through the openings 15, 17 by the user from the other side of the shirt cuff 12.
After the pulling device 50 is removably connected to the second catch member 40, the user grasps and pulls upon the handle 56 of the pulling device 50 to pull the pulling device 50 along with at least a portion of the cufflink through the first opening 15 and the second opening 17 of the shirt cuff 12 as illustrated in FIG. 9d of the drawings. The second catch member 40 is completely pulled through the openings 15, 17 of the shirt cuff 12 opposite of the first catch member 20 as further shown in FIG. 9d. In addition, a portion of the connector 30 extends outwardly from the openings 15, 17 opposite of the first catch member 20 which catchably engages the opposite side of the shirt cuff 12 as shown in FIG. 9d of the drawings. When the user is pulling the pulling device 50 with the cufflink attached, the user pulls until the first catch member 20 engages the shirt cuff 12 and prevents further movement of the cufflink through the openings 15, 17.
After the second catch member 40 is pulled through the openings 15, 17, the user removes the pulling device 50 from the second catch member 40 by removing the hook 52 from the aperture 44, 48. The user then manipulates the second catch member 40 into the secure position by pivoting the second catch member 40 until the second catch member 40 is substantially transverse with respect to the connector 30 as illustrated in FIG. 9e of the drawings. The shirt cuff 12 is now closed and secured by the cufflink with the first catch member 20 and the second catch member 40 retaining the shirt cuff 12 in the desired position as illustrated in FIG. 9e of the drawings. To remove the cufflink, the user simply manipulates the second catch member 40 into the release position by pivoting the second catch member 40 to be aligned with the connector 30 and then pulls the cufflink out from the openings 15, 17.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
Patent Application
20160309851
