Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Having magnetic fastener
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-09-04
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Having magnetic fastener
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the attachment of jewelry, name tags and similar articles to garments, and more particularly to device for magnetically attaching brooches, buttons, insignia, jewelry, name tags, ribbons, stick pins, and other decorative or informative articles to garments.
The attachment of decorative articles, such as brooches, buttons, jewelry or stick pins to garments is a common practice. At business and social functions, people are often asked to attach information articles, such as name tags or buttons to their garments. Such decorative or informative articles typically have a hinged pin and clasp on the back. The decorative or informative article is attached to a garment by inserting the pin through the front of the garment, passing the pin underneath the garment for a short distance and then bringing the pin back out to the front side of the garment, whereupon the pin is secured in the closed position. The holes created by the pin can cause unacceptable damage to the garment, especially when the garment is made from fine silk or other delicate fabric. Even more durable fabrics are not immune to such damage, especially after repeated use of these decorative or informative articles.
Reluctant to damage their fine clothing, many people avoid wearing brooches and similar pin-secured jewelry articles, and refuse to wear pin-secured name tags or other informative articles. There is, accordingly, a need for a method of attaching these decorative or informative articles to garments without damaging the garments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for magnetically attaching brooches, buttons, insignia, jewelry, name tags, ribbons, stick pins, and other decorative or informative articles to garments without damaging the garment with pin holes.
In one embodiment, the decorative or informative articles has a pin attachment mechanism on its back surface. The device of the present invention includes an inner magnet, an outer magnet and an anchor attached to the outer magnet. The anchor includes a passageway for insertion of a pin of a pin-backed decorative or informative article. When the article is attached to the anchor by passing the pin through the passageway, the article can be attached to the garment by bringing the inner and outer magnets into magnetically close proximity on the opposite sides of the garment.
In another embodiment of the invention, a display device for attachment to an item of apparel includes a casing with a socket at the back thereof, a first magnet retained in the socket, and a second magnet that can be brought into close proximity with the first magnet on the opposite side of a thin portion of the apparel, whereby an article of jewelry or an informative article can be worn by the user without damaging the item of apparel.
The presently preferred ways of carrying out the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Brittain James R.
Thompson & Knight L.L.P.
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