Stress-Relieving Button Cover

Abstract

A slide-over button cover having a front portion to cover a button and a rear portion that slides under a placket of a top layer of a button-down shirt (or other clothing) thereby reducing the stress caused on the thread of a button. The slide-over button cover can have a one- or two-piece construction, or two-piece magnetic construction and can also have a recessed portion under the front portion to accommodate a button.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clothing accessory or ornamentation device, in particular, a slide-over button cover that uses tension and/or compression to keep the button cover securely in place. The clothing accessory/ornamentation device covers a button, for example, on a shirt placket. The button cover in accordance with the present invention is described herein to cover a shirt placket, but it is understood that the device can been used to cover a button found on other articles of clothing and accessories.

Previous button covers generally hang directly on the button, causing stress on the button itself and its threads, causing its threads to come loose. U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,494 to Duke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,951 to Gould, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,719 to Fang, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285 to Jerjian are examples of such button covers, the disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated by reference. In contrast, the present invention uses tension and compression to clasp both the button and shirt placket (or other material), thereby distributing the stress caused by the weight of the button cover to both the button and the shirt placket, and causing less stress on the button threads as compared to previous button covers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a slide-over button cover comprises a front portion designed to cover a button; and a rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket and surround a thread passing through the button; the front and rear portions are rigidly connected at first ends thereof to create a U-shaped portion; the front portion has an end section formed at a second end thereof to cover a button; the rear portion has a hook at a second end thereof, the hook surrounds the thread passing though the button; the front and rear portions have protruding elements formed on inner sides thereof; the front portion and rear portion use compression to hold the button cover in place; the rear portion has two prongs creating a U-shape at a second end thereof; and the U-shaped portion is sized to sandwich the shirt placket.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a button cover comprises a front portion designed to cover a button; and a rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket or other garment; the front and rear portions are magnetically connected; the front portion and the rear portion have magnetic end portions; the front portion has a recessed portion to accommodate a button; and the magnetic end portions of the rear portion are rigidly connected by a U-shaped portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a slide-over button cover comprises a front portion designed to cover a button; a rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket; the front portion flexes on a prong to allow the button and shirt placket to slide in between said front and rear portions; said rear portion has a hook portion designed to surround a thread passing through the button to keep the button cover in place; and the front portion and rear portion use compression to hold the button cover in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a top-side view of an exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a rear-side view of the exemplary button cover of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A illustrates a top-side view of another exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates a rear-side view of the exemplary button cover of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top-side view of another exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a front portion of another exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of the rear portion to be mated with the front portion shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C provides a cross sectional view of the button cover shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B taken along the line I-I;

FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of another exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 5B illustrates a top view of another exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1A illustrates a top-side view of an exemplary button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. In this example, button cover 101 has a one-piece rigid construction, comprising front portion 102 and rear portion 103, wherein the front and rear portions 102 and 103 are connected at ends thereof to generally create a U-shape portion 104. At a distal end of the front portion 102 is formed an end section 105 to cover a button (not shown). End section 105 of front portion 102 optionally has a recessed portion 106 formed therein to receive a decorative element (not shown). The end section 105 is shown to be circular in this instance but can be other shapes and sizes.

Rear portion 103 has a hook 107 formed at its distal end, which is designed to slide behind or underneath a button and a piece of clothing to which the button is attached. Hook 107 allows for easy attachment and removal of the button cover 101. The front end portion 102 and rear portion 103 have protruding elements 108 formed on inner sides thereof to aid in securing the button cover around the piece of clothing.

Button cover 101 in accordance with the present invention can be inserted while a shirt or other piece of clothing is buttoned. The shirt placket, for example, is able to slide in between the front portion 102 and rear portion 103 of the button cover 101 and is held in a receiving portion 109. When engaged, end section 105 rests directly over the button, while the hook 107 of the rear portion 103 secures around the thread passing through the button. The hook 107 of the button cover 101 serves a number of purposes. For example, hook 107 surrounds the thread passing though the button to secure button cover 101 and prevent button cover 101 from sliding off of and detaching from the shirt or other garment. Also, it secures the button and shirt sandwiching or clasping the button and the shirt between the front portion 102 and rear portion 103 of the button cover 101.

FIG. 1B shows button cover 101 from a rear view. On a reverse side of end section 105 is a textured portion 110. Textured portion 110 is not only decorative but can aid in holding the button cover in place using friction. Alternatively, reverse side of end section 105 can also be recessed to accommodate the shape of a button.

FIG. 2A is a top-side view of button cover 201 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. Button cover 201 has a front portion 202 and a rear portion 203. A hinge 204 connects front portion 202 and rear portion 203. The rear portion 203 acts as a lever to sandwich the shirt or like in between the front portion 202 and rear portion 203, much like a clip. At a distal end of the front portion 202 is formed an end section 205 to cover a button (not shown). The end section 205 has a recessed portion 206 formed therein to receive a decorative element (not shown). The end section 205 is shown to be circular in this instance but can be other shapes and sizes.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of button cover 201 shown in FIG. 2A. Button cover 201 can be seen with rear portion 203 and hinge 204. Hook 207 extends from rear portion 203. A back side 208 of front portion 202 is shown to be flat. However, back side 208 could be recessed to accommodate the shape of a button.

The button cover in accordance with the present invention can be a one-piece construction as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In another embodiment, the present invention can have a general two-piece construction, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 3 is a top-side view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. Button cover 301 has a front portion 302 and rear portion 303. Front portion 302 and rear portion 303 are connected by U-shaped portion 304. The opening created in by the U-shaped portion 304 is generally sized to sandwich one layer of the placket of a shirt. Front portion 302 covers the button while the rear portion slides under a top layer of the shirt and surrounds the thread passing through the button. Front portion 302 has two side walls 305, which allow a button to slide therethrough and aid in securing the button cover in place. Front portion 302 also has a tapered portion 307, which tapers into U-shaped portion 304. Rear portion 303 has two prongs 306 extending at a distal end thereof which also help secure the button cover in place by allowing the thread of the button to pass therethrough.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show another embodiment of a button cover in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment, magnets are used to keep the two portions of the button cover in place, one portion fitting over the button, and the sliding under the shirt placket. FIG. 4A is a top view of a front portion 401 of a button cover in accordance with this embodiment. Front portion 401 has two end portions 402 and a middle section 403. Middle section 403 is shown in FIG. 4A as round but it is understood that it could be any shape. Backside of middle section 403 has a recessed portion (not shown) to accommodate a button 404 (in a dotted line to show that it is under the cover). The recessed portion found on the back side of middle section 403 is generally shaped to accommodate a button, and can be a variety of shapes and sizes. End portions 402 are magnetic (i.e., can comprise of magnet material or is suited to be mated with a magnet.)

FIG. 4B shows a top view of the rear portion 405 of button cover. Rear portion 405 has two end portions 406, which are designed to magnetically mate with end portions 402 of front portion 401. End portions 406 are magnetic (i.e., can comprise of magnetic material or is suited to be mated with a magnet.) A circular portion 407 connects end portions 406. The circular portion 407 creates an opening 408 to allow the thread of the button to pass therethrough.

FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional view of the button cover seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, taken along line I-I. Front portion 401 is shown with its two end portions 402 and middle section 403. Rear portion 405 has two end portions 406. Front portion 401 has a recessed portion 409, which accommodates button 404. Front portion 401 and rear portion 405 sandwich shirt placket 410. As discussed above, end portions 402 and 406 on front portion 401 and rear portion 405, respectively, are magnetic, and the magnetic force between these portions would need to be sufficient to allow for shirt placket 410 to be sandwiched in between and the front and rear portions 401 and 405 to stay magnetically mated.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show other embodiments in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. As shown in the figures, button cover 501 has a front portion 503 and rear portion 502. Front portion 503 generally comprises an end section 504 to cover a button and a flexible prong 505, which allows front portion 503 to flex along the flexible prong 505 to slide over and cover a button. Rear portion 502 generally comprises two prongs (at feature 502), which slide underneath a shirt placket. At least one of the prongs has a hook 506, which helps keep the button cover in place by securing the button cover around a thread passing through the button. End section 504, which part generally covers the button, can be variety of shapes and sizes as can be seen in the exemplary figures.

The button cover in accordance with the present invention can be used over a variety of buttons found, for example, on a shirt pocket, shirt placket, shirt collar sweater, jacket, cardigan, pants, trousers, bag, or any article of clothing or accessory. The cover can be sized in accordance with the size of the button and also shaped as desired. The shape can match the shape of the button, but can also bear a different shape. The shape of the recessed portions can be a variety of shapes and sizes. The hook in accordance with the present invention can be either open-end hook or a closed end hook. The button cover can be made from a variety of materials, for example, silver, gold, white gold, platinum, titanium, palladium, steel/stainless steel, bronzed, brass, or other precious or non-precious metal. Non-metal materials can also be used, such as plastic, silicon, rubber, glass, wood, ivory, shell, clay, etc.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combination, and equivalents of the embodiments, methods, and examples provided herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the embodiments and examples disclosed here, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A slide-over button cover comprising: a front portion designed to cover a button, said front portion having a first end; anda rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket and surround a thread passing through the button while said front portion is covering the button, said rear portion having a first end;wherein the front and rear portions are rigidly connected at said first ends thereof to create a U-shaped portion; andwherein when said front portion is covering the button, the button cover clasps both the button and the shirt placket.

2. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the front portion has an end section formed at a second end thereof to cover a button.

3. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear portion has a hook at a second end thereof, wherein said hook surrounds the thread passing though the button.

4. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the front and rear portions have protruding elements formed on inner sides thereof, said protruding elements protruding towards each other.

5. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the front portion and rear portion use compression to hold the button cover in place.

6. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear portion has two prongs creating a U-shape at a second end thereof.

7. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said U-shaped portion is sized to sandwich the shirt placket.

8. A slide-over button cover comprising: a front portion designed to cover a button; anda rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket;wherein the front portion flexes on a prong to allow the button and shirt placket to slide in between said front and rear portions.

9. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein said rear portion has a hook portion designed to surround a thread passing through the button to keep the button cover in place.

10. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein the front portion and rear portion use compression to hold the button cover in place.

11. A slide-over button cover comprising: a front portion designed to cover a button, the front portion having a first end; anda rear portion designed to slide underneath a shirt placket and surround a thread passing through the button, the rear portion having a first end;wherein the front and rear portions are rigidly connected at said first ends thereof;wherein the rear portion has a hook at a second end thereof; and wherein said hook surrounds the thread passing though the button underneath the shirt placket when the slide-over button cover is placed over the button.

12. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear portion has a hook at a second end thereof, wherein said hook surrounds the thread passing though the button underneath the shirt placket.

13. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hook is unitary.

14. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 13, wherein said unitary hook is shaped as approximately three-quarters of a circle.

15. The slide-over button cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein one side of said front portion of the button cover that contacts the button is textured.