Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Dissociable gripping members
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-10-02
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Dissociable gripping members
C024S114120, C024S114900, C224S194000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295703
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to devices used to attach objects to fabric. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which can be used to attach objects to fabrics of various thicknesses without damaging the fabric.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often desirable to attach various accessories and devices to clothing. For example, it is desirable to attach accessories such as jewelry to clothing for the purpose of displaying the accessory. It is also often desirable to attach a device to clothing for a special purpose. For example, individuals in the medical profession (such as dentists, hygienists, doctors, and nurses) and other professions using protective clothing (for example, fire and rescue personnel) commonly use gloves or long-sleeved exterior clothing which would obscure a watch worn on the person's wrist. It is therefore sometimes desirable to attach a watch to the exterior of a person's clothing to give the person ready access to the watch without having to remove gloves or pull back a covering sleeve of a garment. Different types of attaching means have been invented for this purpose. An example of such an attaching means is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,877 .
The attaching devices known in the art, however, suffer from several deficiencies. First, many of the attaching devices harm the fabric they are attach to by puncturing the fabric or permanently altering the fabric. Neither of these results is desirable because it is expected that a person may desire to attach a device to fabric on certain occasions and not on other occasions. It is undesirable to have the fabric damaged so that the fabric could not be worn without a device attached to cover up any permanent mark made by the attaching device.
Yet another deficiency of the known devices is that they are unable to adapt to fabric of various thicknesses. For example, many of the known devices rely on wedging fabric between the object to be attached to the fabric and some structure located behind the fabric. Typically, the gap between the object and the structure located behind the fabric will only accommodate a small range of fabric thicknesses. If the gap is made relatively large to accommodate thick fabrics, it will not hold an object on thinner fabrics. Likewise, a gap which accommodates a thin fabric will not be able to accept a thicker fabric. It is therefore desirable to have a device for attaching objects to fabrics of a greater range of thicknesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus well-suited for attaching objects while minimizing any damage to the underlying fabric. The present invention also facilitates attachment of objects to fabrics of various thicknesses.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a device is provided which enables attaching an object to fabric. The device includes a backing member formed from a flexible, resilient material which is shaped to surround and engage a majority of the periphery of an object to be attached to fabric. At least a portion of fabric is interposed between the backing member and the object. The backing member has an inner peripheral wall which contacts at least a portion of the fabric when the object is pressed into said backing member. The backing member also has an outer peripheral wall opposite the inner peripheral wall. The backing member also has at least one continuous discontinuity through the inner and the outer peripheral walls which allows the backing member to expand in order to receive objects of various size. The backing member has a peripheral dimension such that when the object and the backing member are aligned on opposite sides of a fabric and pressed together, the fabric is held in place by compression between the backing member and the object.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device is provided which also includes a tensioning device which serves to bias the backing member into contact with the fabric and the object.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the tensioning device is disposed in a partial indentation on the outer peripheral wall of the backing member.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the device includes retaining members which are substantially “L” shaped and which extend from the outer peripheral wall to form a trough which retains a tensioning device in cooperation with the outer peripheral wall of the backing member.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the “L” shaped retaining members may extend from the outer wall in a manner such that the troughs alternate between a position in which the opening of said trough faces toward the direction of insertion of the object and opposite the direction of insertion of the object.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a device for attaching an object to fabric is provided which includes a backing member formed from a flexible, resilient material and shaped to surround a majority of the periphery of an object to be attached to fabric with at least a portion of fabric interposed between the backing member and the object. The backing member has a generally annular shape, defined by an inner wall, an outer wall, and a height. The height is of sufficient measurement to receive and hold the object. The backing member has at least one discontinuity coextensive through its inner wall and outer wall, or annular shape, allowing the backing member to expand in order to receive objects of various size when the object and the backing member are aligned on opposite sides of a fabric and pressed together such that at least a portion of the fabric is held in place between the backing member and the object.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention a device is provided wherein the annular shape of the backing member has a partial indentation on said inner wall for engaging the object.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description and the included drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 270244 (1983-08-01), McCormick
patent: D. 292677 (1987-11-01), Jordi
patent: D. 313758 (1991-01-01), Klose
patent: D. 313759 (1991-01-01), Nomizu
patent: D. 322762 (1991-12-01), Miller
patent: 571425 (1896-11-01), Wood
patent: 1113211 (1914-10-01), Greenebaum
patent: 1559210 (1925-10-01), Wetherell
patent: 1589158 (1926-06-01), Hedison
patent: 2333428 (1943-11-01), Kinsey
patent: 2472235 (1949-06-01), Sullivan
patent: 3492809 (1970-02-01), Gisiger-Lusa
patent: 4705408 (1987-11-01), Jordi
patent: 4793155 (1988-12-01), Law
patent: 5033170 (1991-07-01), Ewert
patent: 5035000 (1991-07-01), Matthias
patent: 5046222 (1991-09-01), Byers et al.
patent: 5156023 (1992-10-01), Bevolo
patent: 5511289 (1996-04-01), Melia
patent: 5610877 (1997-03-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5655271 (1997-08-01), Maxwell-Trumble et al.
patent: 60883 (1912-01-01), None
patent: 680327-A (1992-08-01), None
patent: 3143-546-A1 (1983-06-01), None
patent: 507295 (1939-06-01), None
Adams Kathy S.
Gee, II Jack
Knowles Michael J.
Kornhauser Mark L.
Brittain James R.
Clip It 2, Inc.
Cortina A. Jose
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
LandOfFree
Device for attaching objects to fabric does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for attaching objects to fabric, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for attaching objects to fabric will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596877