Patent Application
20120137409
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of securers and more specifically relates to a securer for a garment such that the garment is secured in a user-preferred orientation thereby providing tightening or loosening for the garment.
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn typically depends on functional considerations (such as a need for warmth or protection from the elements) and social considerations. In some situations the minimum amount of clothing may be socially acceptable, while in others much more clothing is expected and/or needed.
Clothing can serve as protection from the elements. Clothes can also enhance safety during hazardous activities such as hiking and cooking, by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment. Further, these garments can provide a hygienic bather, keeping toxins away from the body and limiting the transmission of germs. Clothing performs a range of social and cultural functions, such as individual, occupational and sexual differentiation, and social status.
Unfortunately, a significant amount of individuals own clothes that do not fit exactly right, or that come unfastened at inopportune moments. To avoid these problems, individuals may choose to secure their garments with safety pins or other similar items.
A safety pin is a simple fastening device, a variation of the regular pin which includes a simple spring mechanism and a clasp. The clasp serves two purposes: to form a closed loop thereby properly fastening the pin to whatever it is applied to, and to cover the end of the pin to protect the user from the sharp point. Safety pins are commonly used to fasten pieces of fabric or clothing together. They are widely used to fasten cloth diapers as the safety clasp prevents the baby from being jabbed or to patch torn or damaged clothing. Safety pins can also be used as an accessory or jewelry, such as earrings, chains, and wristbands. Sometimes safety pins are used to attach an embroidered patch.
However, safety pins can be difficult to apply, and may prick users if they accidentally become unclasped. Also, safety pins may show through clothes, which can detract from the aesthetic appeal of an outfit. A stylish, functional solution is necessary.
Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,156,023; 4,507,344; 4,344,240; 5,685,174; 6,122,805; and 5,683,763. This prior art is representative of decorative pins. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
Ideally, a garment securing device should be user-friendly and aesthetically appealing, be safe in use and, yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable fashion pinz securing system to secure a garment in a user-preferred orientation thereby providing suitable tightening or loosening means to the garment and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known garment securer device art, the present invention provides a novel fashion pinz securing system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to secure a garment in a user-preferred orientation thereby providing the ability to tighten or loosen the garment(s) as desired. Users may gather together the fabric of loose-fitting clothes and apply the fashion pinz securing system to achieve tighter, more securely-fitted garments.
The present garment securing device as disclosed herein preferably comprises: a button top cap and a button back cap. The button top cap and the button back cap comprise a button assembly. The button assembly when attached though the at least one garment forms the garment securing system such that the at least one garment is secured in a user-preferred orientation to itself or to another garment. Further, the button assembly is usable to hold a first garment and a second garment in stasis to each other. In this way the button assembly acts in a capacity of a garment-tightener and/or a garment-loosener or both. The button top cap has a top surface and a bottom surface, and an extruded pin. The button back cap has a front surface and a back surface, and an extruded pin receiving aperture.
The extruded pin of the button top cap is first pierced through a first side of the garment and the extruded pin receiving aperture receives the extruded pin on the other side of the garment(s) (such that it can be held together.) The extruded pin receiving aperture of the button back cap is located adjacent a second side of the garment such that the button back cap acts to hold an inside portion of the garment stationary in relationship to an outside portion of the garment held stationary by the button top cap. Additionally, the button back cap may comprise a clutch (or other suitable equivalent) for holding secure the extruded pin within the extruded pin receiving aperture. The extruded pin comprises a post having a pointed tip for piercing garments. The pointed tip of the extruded pin comprises a spear tip in preferred embodiments.
The button top cap may comprise decorative indicia, gemstones, fabric, a cloisonné, a lapel pin, or a brooch. The preferred version of the button top cap comprises a diameter of about ½ inch to about 2 inches. The button back cap in turn comprises a diameter of about ½ inch to about 2 inches. The button top cap and the button back cap comprise at least one surface area by which the garment is secured without tearing the garment (via creating an increased surface area contact with the garment). The surface areas are located on the bottom surface of the button top cap and the front surface of the button back cap wherein the surface areas comprise a friction-grip in certain embodiments.
A kit is embodied herein for the fashion pinz securing systems comprising: the garment securing device having a plurality of button assemblies in various designs and materials; and a set of user's instructions.
In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention a preferred method of use is disclosed herein comprising: piercing an extruded pin of a button top cap through a first side of at least one garment; the extruded pin receiving aperture receiving the extruded pin, the extruded pin receiving aperture of the button back cap located adjacent a second side of the at least one garment such that the button back cap acts to hold an inside portion of the at least one garment stationary in adjacent relationship to an outside portion of the at least one garment held stationary by the button top cap; and attaching the button assembly though the garment(s) thereby forming the garment securing system such that the at least one garment is secured (securable) in a user-preferred orientation.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a fashion pinz securing system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, fashion pinz securing system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a garment securer device and more particularly to a fashion pinz securing system to secure a garment in a user-preferred orientation thereby providing tightening or loosening means to the garment(s).
Referring now to
Garment securing device 110 preferably comprises: button top cap 120 and button back cap 140 as shown best in
Button assembly 134 when attached though at least one garment 150 forms garment securing device 110 such that garment(s) 150 is secured in a user-preferred orientation as shown in ‘in-use position 106 of
Button top cap 120 has a top surface 122, bottom surface 124, and extruded pin 126 as shown best in
Button top cap 120 and button back cap 140 comprise at least one surface area by which garment 150 is secured without tearing garment 150. The surface areas of button top cap 120 and button back cap 140 are preferably located on bottom surface 124 of button top cap 120 and front surface 142 of button back cap 140 wherein the surface areas comprise a friction-grip. The friction grip acts to prevent button top cap 120 and button back cap 140 from moving relative to garment 150.
Additionally, button back cap 140 comprises clutch 148 in preferred embodiments for holding secure extruded pin 126 within extruded pin receiving aperture 146. Extruded pin 126 preferably comprises post 128 having a pointed tip for piercing garment 150. The pointed tip of extruded pin 126 comprises spear tip 132 in this particular embodiment. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of clutches as described herein, methods of fastening pins within apertures will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
As shown in
Fashion pinz securing systems 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising garment securing device 110 having a plurality of button assemblies in various designs and materials; and a set of user's instructions. Fashion pinz securing systems 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different indicia combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/420,189, filed Dec. 6, 2010 which application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61420189 | Dec 2010 | US |
