Patent Application
20080282510
The present invention relates to a decoration button configured to be fixed to a surface sheet of outfits like bags and sandals, that can be easily manufactured, installed, and used.
There are a lot of surfaces. Even though the world we live in is definitely three-dimensional, it seems that the world is full of two-dimensional things. Two-dimensionality lies not only on both sides of a thin paper, but right on the top of three-dimensionality.
A voluminous balloon is a three-dimensional object. It has a width, a height, and a depth. It contains even a volume of air inside, which cannot be done by a sheet of plastic film. However, the balloon is contacting with the other three-dimensional thing, which is called an atmosphere. And, the border between the balloon and the atmosphere is the thin rubber layer. The thin rubber layer is a two-dimensional thing no matter what it encloses a volume inside.
Therefore, a three-dimensional thing cannot be reached unless crossing the surface of the three-dimensional thing, the two-dimensional border of the three-dimensional thing. It is true even to an eyesight. The light from the two-dimensional surface reaches eyes before the light from the three-dimensional thing. Sometimes, probably all the time with some exceptions with transparent surfaces, the three-dimensional thing inside is totally blocked away from viewing by the two-dimensional surface.
That is why almost all kinds of decoration is about the surface.
Also, from the viewpoint of engineering, it is easy to make a flat and plain surface and then decorated it with some attachments rather than to make a surface with a complicated decorating pattern integrated on the surface. It is true especially when the surface or the sheet is curved or not simple.
Therefore, there has been a need for a button for decoration of a sheet or surface for a long time considering the wide range of the surface to be decorated.
The present invention contrives to solve the needs and problems in the emergency service.
An objective of the invention is to provide a button to be fixed to a sheet for a decoration.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a button to be manufactured with ease.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide a button with a plurality of accepting grooves for decoration pieces.
One aspect of the invention provides a button comprising: a bottom plate comprising a substantially flat first surface and a curved second surface; a stem extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the bottom plate; a top plate comprising first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising a plurality of accepting grooves, and the second surface comprising a receptacle for the stem; and a connector configured to connect the stem to the receptacle of the second surface of the top plate, wherein the button is configured to be fixed with the stem through a hole provided in a sheet and the top and bottom surfaces disposed on both sides of the sheet, and wherein the fixed button is configured to be plucked out of the sheet by using a force larger than a predetermined magnitude.
The stem may be integrated with the bottom plate. The connector may comprise glue or may be obtained by using glue. The sheet may be resilient. Therefore, the button may be plucked out easily out of the holes of the sheet when pulled out with force larger than a predetermined magnitude.
The second surface of the bottom plate may be configured to render substantially low resistance to a movement in a direction parallel to the first surface of the bottom plate. The curved surface may comprise at least part of an outer surface of a sphere.
Each of the plurality of accepting grooves may be configured to accept a decoration piece.
The decoration piece may be fixed to the corresponding accepting groove using glue.
The top plate and the bottom plate define a gap between the second surface of the top plate and the flat surface of the bottom plate around the stem. The gap may be determined by a thickness of the sheet.
The plurality of accepting grooves form a pattern. The pattern comprises a flower, a jewel, a gemstone, and a geometrical pattern.
The top plate, the connector, the stem, and the bottom plate may be integrated into one body.
In another embodiment of the invention, a button decoration set for decorating a base surface is provided. The button decoration set comprises: a base sheet comprising a plurality of holes and a plurality of fixing devices for fixing the sheet to the base surface; a bottom plate comprising a substantially flat first surface and a curved second surface; a stem extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the bottom plate; a top plate comprising first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising a plurality of accepting grooves, and the second surface comprising a receptacle for the stem; and a connector configured to connect the stem to the receptacle of the second surface of the top plate, wherein the top plate, the connector, the stem, and the bottom plate form a button, wherein the button is configured to be fixed with the stem inserted through one of the plurality of holes provided in the base sheet and the top and bottom surfaces disposed on both sides of the base sheet, and wherein the fixed button is configured to be plucked out of the base sheet by using a force larger than a predetermined magnitude.
The base surface may comprise surfaces of a shoe, a slipper, a flip flop, and a bag. The base sheet may be made of plastic or leather. The button may be one integrated body.
The button has advantages: (1) the button has a simple structure to be easily manufactured, installed, and used; (2) the button provides a plurality of accepting grooves for accepting decoration pieces; (3) the button provides a decoration to a full range of sheet material including a fabric, plastic, and metal.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description, and appended claims.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The button 100 for decorating a surface sheet of bodily outfits like bags and sandals, comprises: a bottom plate 30 comprising a substantially flat first surface 32 and a curved second surface 34; a stem 20 extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface 32 of the bottom plate 30; a top plate 10 comprising first and second surfaces 12, 14, the first surface 12 comprising a plurality of accepting grooves 16, and the second surface 14 comprising a receptacle 18 for the stem 20; and a connector 40 configured to connect the stem 20 to the receptacle 18 of the second surface 14 of the top plate 10, wherein the button 100 is configured to be fixed with the stem 20 through a hole 94 provided in a sheet 92 and the top plate 10 and the bottom plate 30 disposed on both sides 95, 96 of the sheet 92, and wherein the fixed button 100 is configured to be plucked out of the sheet 92 by using a force larger than a predetermined magnitude.
The stem 20 may be integrated with the bottom plate 30 as shown in
The second surface 34 of the bottom plate 30 may be configured to render substantially low resistance to a movement in a direction parallel to the first surface 32 of the bottom plate 30. The curved surface 34 may comprise at least part of an outer surface of a sphere.
Each of the plurality of accepting grooves 16 may be configured to accept a decoration piece 90 as shown in
The decoration piece 90 may be fixed to the corresponding accepting groove 16 using glue.
The top plate 10 and the bottom plate 30 define a gap 50 between the second surface 14 of the top plate 10 and the flat surface 32 of the bottom plate 30 around the stem 20. The gap 50 may be determined by a thickness of the sheet 92 as shown in
The plurality of accepting grooves 16 may form a pattern. The pattern may comprise a flower, a jewel, a gemstone, and a geometrical pattern.
The top plate 10 may be fixed to the stem 20 through the connector 40 after the integrated stem 20 and bottom plate 30 is inserted to the hole 94 of the sheet 92. The connector 40 may be broken and the top plate 10 and the bottom plate 30 may be separated easily under a force larger than a predetermined magnitude to prevent a choking hazard.
The top plate 10 and the bottom plate 30, and the stem 20 may be made of plastic. And, the decoration piece 90 may be made of Rhine stone. Alternately, the stem 20 may be formed in a multigonal shape including a pentagon, a hexagon and an octagon to secure stability when worn and in contact with the sheet 92.
The button 100 according to the invention may look like a regular button with some decoration pieces on it.
The bottom plate 30 of the button 100 may be smaller than the top plate 10 in diameter.
The button 100 may be installed at a bag, a slipper, and a flip flop. Since the curved surface 34 of the bottom plate 30 is smoothly curved, it does not bother a skin inside, for example in a flip flop.
The top plate 10, the connector 40, the stem 20, and the bottom plate 30 may be integrated into one body.
In another embodiment of the invention as shown in
The base surface 99 may comprise surfaces of a shoe, a slipper, a flip flop, and a bag. The resilient base sheet 92 may be made of plastic or leather. The button 100 may be one integrated body.
In a still another embodiment, at least the top and bottom plates 10, 30 and the stem 20 of the button 100 may be flexible such that the button 100 may be plucked out of the holes 94 of the sheet 92 even if the sheet 92 is not resilient.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skills in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
