Patent Application
20160193748
The present invention generally relates to collar stays and, more particularly, to a method of producing collar stays from identification cards.
Presently, collar stays are manufactured in large quantities using standard industrial processes for forming plastic articles. Such collar stays are relatively expensive given their plain and utilitarian nature. There is therefore a need for the ability to form collar stays that is more cost effective and that allows for some design creativity in the finished product. The present invention is directed toward meeting these needs.
The present invention is a method of producing collar stays from an identification card using a punch. The identification card may be composed of plastic, be a credit card, or a driver's license. The punch may have a holding section and a die section.
The present invention also includes a method of producing a collar stay with a hologram upon one side. An identification card with a hologram is placed in a punch. The die-cutting assembly of the punch is aligned with the hologram on the identification card and a collar stay comprising a hologram is punched out. The identification card may be any type of card used to provide information, access, rights, or status upon the owner such as a credit card or a driver's license. The punch may also have two handles fixed at a pivot to provide a mechanical advantage to the punch. The punch may further have a holding portion coupled to the first handle and a die portion coupled to the second handle.
The present invention also includes collar stays formed using the processes disclosed herein.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
“Identification card” as used herein refers to any type of card used to provide information, access, rights, or status upon the owner. Common forms of identification cards intended to be covered include, but are not limited to, credit cards, driver's licenses, student identification cards, organizational membership cards, debit and ATM cards, insurance cards, security badges, gift certificates, hotel electronic keys, business service cards such as cards to rent movies or obtain discounts on consumer purchases, calling cards, or any other card that has some commercial, legal, or personal significance.
The present invention comprises a method of using a punch for cutting one or more collar stays directly from an identification card. The punch includes a holding portion positioned on one side of the identification card and a die or blade portion aligned with the held identification card. The die or blade portion has the shape of a collar stay. The holding portion has a corresponding recess formed therein in the shape of a collar stay. When the punch is aligned with the recess in the holding portion and the two halves are brought together with an identification card therebetween, a collar stay is punched out of the identification card material.
The identification card may be positioned such that the resultingly produced collar stay prominently displays a portion of the identification card logo (i.e. Visa®, Master card®, or the like), includes the security hologram, includes the name of the card holder, etc. In this way, the collar stay may be customized or made to have a pleasing design element.
Referring to
Preferably the recess 16 extends completely through the holding portion 12, however those skilled in the art will recognize that the recess 16 may simply form a cavity in the holding portion 12. The recess 16 is formed in the shape of a collar stay and has a relatively sharp edge formed there around. The die portion 14 illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment to the present invention, the holding portion 12 is coupled to a first handle 28, while the die portion 14 is coupled to a second handle 30. The handles 28 and 30 are coupled to one another at a pivot 32. This arrangement is formed such that when the handles 28 and 30 are squeezed together, the die 14 and holding portion 12 are perfectly aligned to punch out a collar stay from an identification card 22 placed therebetween. Use of the handles 28, 30 facilitates alignment of the die 14 with the holding portion 12, and further provides a force-multiplying mechanical advantage to the squeezing action performed by the user.
It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that use of the method of the present invention allows plastic cards to be recycled in order to inexpensively manufacture collar stays, as well as allowing collar stays having decorative design elements thereon to be made from such plastic cards.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference herein the disclosure of U.S. Ser. No. 62/100,339, filed Jan. 6, 2015.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62100339 | Jan 2015 | US |
