BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the front side of the flexible mounting sheet of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the flexible mounting sheet;
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the flexible mounting sheet;
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the flexible mounting sheet;
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the flexible mounting sheet;
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the badge;
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the uniform;
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the flexible mounting sheet;
FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the flexible mounting sheet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front side of the flexible mounting sheet 10 of the present invention. The flexible mounting sheet 10 may be formed from plastic, paper, cardboard, metal or any other suitable material. If the flexible mounting sheet 10 is formed from transparent or nearly transparent plastic, the transparent plastic aids in the placement and alignment of the flexible mounting sheet 10 on the uniform. FIG. 1 additionally shows badge section 14 which is an area in the flexible mounting sheet 10 of apertures or cut away sections through the flexible mounting sheet 10 and which is in the shape of a badge that the user wishes to have placed on a uniform. Almost endless combinations of these badge sections 14 are possible with the present invention. FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a rectangular outline 26 for placement of the first attachment apparatus. Although a rectangular outline 26 is shown in FIG. 1, other shapes for the outline 26 are within the scope of the invention. The outline 26 may correspond to the second attachment apparatus 24 of the standard military uniform. In the above description, flexible has been used to describe a portion of the invention. However, the sheet 10 could vary in thickness and could also be rigid.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the flexible mounting sheet 10 with the first attachment apparatus 12 which is used to detachably connect to the uniform and which is attached to the flexible mounting sheet 10 at the outline 26 by adhesive.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the flexible mounting sheet 10 and the first attachment apparatus 12 which is opposed to the second attachment apparatus 24 which attaches to the first attachment apparatus 12. The term “attachment apparatus” as used herein refers to any device known in the art of fastening, including screws of a number of types, bolts, pins, and clips. One preferred attachment apparatus is Velcro which includes hooks and loops types of fasteners. Behind the uniform 22 which may be a shirt, pants or jacket or other type of appropriate clothing, is a protective pad 16 which may be formed from foam, paper or cardboard or other suitable device and which stabilizes the flexible mounting sheet 10. Additionally FIG. 4 illustrates a badge 18 which may be a pin type or screw type badge to be placed through the badge section 14 and which includes a pin 17 which penetrates the uniform 22 and the protective pad 16.
FIG. 5 illustrates the badge securing device 20 being inserted into the pin 17 to secure the badge 18 on the uniform.
Accurate placement of the badge 18 is a result of the alignment between the first attachment apparatus 12 with the second attachment apparatus 24 and is a result of the alignment between the first attachment apparatus 12 and the badge section 14. The badge section 14 should be sufficiently larger than the badge 18 so that the badge 18 fits within the badge section 14, but the badge section 14 should not be sufficiently larger than badge 18 so that the badge 18 is not properly positioned.
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the badge 18 which is shown as a pin back type and the badge securing device 20.
FIG. 7 illustrates the uniform 22 which is shown as a jacket but could be any type of clothing with the second attachment apparatus 24. FIG. 7 shows the service branch identification tag 30 removed from the second attachment apparatus 24. It can be seen that the present invention can be used on any uniform 22 that has a removable service branch identification tag 30.
The user places the uniform 22 in a position to access the service branch identification tag 30. The service branch identification tag 30 is removed from the second attachment apparatus 24, and the first attachment apparatus 12 is aligned with the second attachment apparatus number 24 and removably attached to the second attachment apparatus 24. The protective pad 16 is placed behind the uniform 22 so that it is approximately aligned with the flexible mounting sheet 10. The user inserts the badge 18 and pin 17 through the badge section 14 until the pin 17 reaches the protective pad 16. The user checks the alignment of the badge 18 and repeats the process if the badge 18 is not properly aligned. If the badge 18 is properly aligned, the user removes the protective pad 16, and the user places the badge securing device 20 on the pin 17. The badge 18 is now secured on the uniform 22. The flexible mounting sheet 10 is removed from the uniform 22 by detaching the first attachment apparatus 12 from the second attachment apparatus 24. At this point, the process could be repeated to place another badge 18 on the uniform 22. Alternatively, the user attaches the service branch identification tag 30 to the second attachment apparatus 24.
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention having three badge sections 14 substantially vertically aligned.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present invention, showing another embodiment having one badge section 14.
FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention having two badge sections 14.
The flexible mounting sheet 10 could be transparent, frosted, varying colors or include grid lines.
The flexible mounting sheet 10 could be secured manually by the user without the first attachment apparatus 12 or alternatively, the flexible mounting sheet 10 could be aligned with the second attachment apparatus 24 by the outline 26.
Alternatively, the flexible mounting sheet 10 could be constructed without the badge sections 14, and the user could push the pin 17 through the flexible mounting sheet 10 and the uniform 22. The flexible mounting sheet 10 could then be removed and the badge 18 mounted on the uniform 22 by using the holes created by the pin 17.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Patent Application
20070294924
