US20100236028A1 - Button cover assembly and method for making same - Google Patents

Button cover assembly and method for making same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100236028A1
US20100236028A1 US12/383,188 US38318809A US2010236028A1 US 20100236028 A1 US20100236028 A1 US 20100236028A1 US 38318809 A US38318809 A US 38318809A US 2010236028 A1 US2010236028 A1 US 2010236028A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
button
disk
cover
diameter
annulus
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Abandoned
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US12/383,188
Inventor
Jennifer D. Clark
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US12/383,188 priority Critical patent/US20100236028A1/en
Publication of US20100236028A1 publication Critical patent/US20100236028A1/en
Priority to US14/100,608 priority patent/US20140101897A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44BBUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B1/00Buttons
    • A44B1/04Ornamental buttons
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44BBUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B1/00Buttons
    • A44B1/08Constructional characteristics
    • A44B1/12Constructional characteristics covered by fabric
    • A44B1/126Manufacture not otherwise provided for
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/36Button with fastener
    • Y10T24/367Covers
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/13Button-fastener making

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a button cover assembly for ornamentally adorning buttons, and method of manufacture for the same.
  • the '654 Patent describes an ornamental cover for a sewed button plate, an arched top plate extending over said bottom plate, said bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced at its forward edge from the forward edge of the top plate and having a central recess extending to the forward edge thereof, whereby a sewed button may be received within said housing, said top plate having an opening adjacent its front edge, a lock lever hinged to said top plate and having a tongue adapted to extend through said opening when the lock lever is seated on the top plate, and means for releasably securing the lock lever to the top plate.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,487 which issued to T. R. Ryan, discloses Interchangeable Ornaments for Buttons.
  • the '487 Patent describes an interchangeable ornament for buttons or the like comprising an ornamental member having a substantially flat portion, a V-shaped element having a base resilient curved branch portions extending from said base portion, and means for normally keeping said V-shaped element juxtaposed to said ornamental member, the branch portions of said V-shaped member being constructed and arranged for receiving between them threads fastening a button to a piece of fabric and for engaging said button in such a manner as to fasten thereto said ornamental member.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,009 ('009 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Covered Button.
  • the '009 Patent describes a button comprising connected top and bottom sections; wherein the top section has a pair of bendable fingers extending there-from toward said bottom section, said bottom section having a first aperture through which said fingers pass when said sections are assembled and having second and third apertures on opposite sides of said first aperture through which said fingers are bent to extend into said button when said sections are assembled, said top section comprising a shell, a first member received within said shell, integral portions of said first member extending there-from to define said fingers, and a second member secured within said shell beneath said first member by direct engagement with one of said shell and said first member and having an aperture through which said fingers extend.
  • the top section may be covered by material which extends partially over the lower surface thereof above said second and third apertures in said bottom section, said fingers being of a length such as, when bent through said second and third apertures, to engage said material.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,544 ('544 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Hand-Assembled, Fabric-Covered Button.
  • the '544 Patent describes a button shell and a button back for forming a fabric-faced button, said button shell comprising a body provided with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and inwardly of said body, said button back comprising a body provided with a central opening and with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and outwardly of said back body, said button back body being disposed upwardly and inwardly of its peripheral flange and being formed between its central opening and its said peripheral flange with a series of circular stepped ribs, said shell and back being dimensioned for the back to be telescoped and pressure-fitted into and to rest within the shell with the peripheral flanges of the shell and back interlocking in engagement with fabric material of a facing covering for the button.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,965 ('965 Patent) which issued to S. Wassell, discloses an Ear Muff.
  • the '965 Patent describes an ear muff having a water-repellent material lined with thin insulation sewn into the form of a pocket which fits around the ear of the wearer to protect the ear against cold, wind, snow, or the like without substantially impairing hearing.
  • the ear muff is kept engaged to the ear by means of an elastic loop residing in the hem of the opening of the pocket which contracts around the base of the ear, and in addition, adjacent to the elastic within the hem, a malleable earlobe clasp which the wearer clamps around the earlobe, so that the ear muff can be used by people with attached earlobes as well as by people with unattached earlobes.
  • the lined water-repellent material comprising the pocket plays no part in keeping the ear muff engaged to the ear, and thus is made of flexible material so that it can conform to various shapes of ears.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,455 ('455 Patent) which issued to D. Joseph, discloses an Ear Cover.
  • the '455 Patent describes an ear cover for protecting the external ear of a wearer.
  • the cover includes a first flexible sheet having an outer layer formed of an absorbent material and an inner layer coextensive therewith formed of an impermeable material.
  • a second flexible sheet is secured to the first flexible sheet adjacent the inner layer to serve as a liner for the cover.
  • An elastic band is secured between the first and second flexible sheets for gathering the respective peripheries thereof around the ear of a wearer.
  • the present invention thus attempts to structurally address the foregoing features in particular and provides a button cover assembly and method of manufacture for the same, which button cover assembly ornamentally adorns a button when outfitted thereupon.
  • the button cover assembly may preferably comprise a circular, embroidered disk and a cover construction.
  • the embroidered disk has an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter.
  • the inner disk surface comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape having peaks and valleys strewn across the disk landscape, which peaks and valleys are reflective of the embroidery.
  • the cover construction is preferably formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material comprising a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter.
  • the bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape since the bonding interface is formed by filling the disk landscape with the polymeric material while in a liquid form.
  • the uneven volumetric space above the disk landscape is thus filled with the liquid material, which when solid, complements the disk landscape and enhances bond strength via increase bond contact surface area.
  • the disk is bonded to the cover construction at the non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover interface.
  • the elastic annulus is integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprises a button-receiving cover aperture defined by the inner annular diameter, which may be reinforced or non-reinforced according the application requirements.
  • the cover aperture has a relaxed aperture or inner annular diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter but greater in magnitude than the diameter of a target button.
  • the pliable, elastic material is elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.
  • FIG. 1 is an anterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a posterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a first sequential lateral view of a generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a plunger, and a volumetric spaced defined intermediate the disk and plunger, which space is being filled with a liquid material.
  • FIG. 3 is a first sequential lateral view of a fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a fragmentary plunger, and a volumetric spaced defined intermediate the disk and plunger, which space is being filled with a liquid material.
  • FIG. 3( a ) is an enlarged, lateral view of the fragmentary plunger otherwise shown in FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 4 is a second sequential lateral view of a fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a phantom and fragmentary plunger being removed from a button cover assembly as shown in cross-section after the liquid material (as shown in FIG. 3 ) solidifies.
  • FIG. 4( a ) is an enlarged, lateral view of the fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show a sectional button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 5 is a depiction of a fragmentary plunger element being removed form the button cover assembly as seen from a side view.
  • FIG. 5( a ) is an enlarged sectional view as sectioned from FIG. 5 showing an uneven, non-uniform, or non-flat bonded interface or boundary between the disk and cover construction of the button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of the button cover assembly donned upon a button with parts of the cover construction broken away to show the button as enveloped or received by the button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 6( a ) is an enlarged side view of the button cover assembly and button otherwise shown in FIG. 6 to more clearly show relative dimensions of components.
  • FIG. 7 is an anterior view of a first button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a first ornamental marking upon the disk.
  • FIG. 8 is a first posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 9 is a second posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing elastically stressed inner and outer diameters of the annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 10 is a third posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing elastically stressed inner diameter of the annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 11 is a first side view of a first cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the first cover construction comprising a reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 12 is a first side view of a second cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the second cover construction comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 13 is a second side view of the first cover construction otherwise shown in FIG. FIG. 11 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 14 is a second side view of a second cover construction otherwise shown in FIG. 12 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 15 is an anterior view of a second button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a second ornamental marking upon the disk.
  • FIG. 16 is a first posterior view of the second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 15 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 17 is a second posterior view of the second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 15 showing radially directed elastic stress vectors of the inner annular diameter of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 18 is a first side view of the button cover assembly comprising a disk bonded to a cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the button cover assembly comprising a reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 19 is a first side view of a second button cover assembly comprising a disk bonded to a cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the second button cover assembly comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 20 is a second side view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 18 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 21 is a second side view of a second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 19 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 22 is an anterior view of a third button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a third ornamental marking upon the disk, which disk comprises a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover construction diameter.
  • FIG. 23 is a first posterior view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 24 is a second posterior view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing an elastically stressed inner annular diameter of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 25 is a first side view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing the disk bonded to the cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the button cover assembly comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 26 is a second side view of a third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing the inner annular diameter being stressed to receive/envelope the button.
  • FIG. 27 is a third side view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 28 is a depiction of a coat having three buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 29 is a depiction of a shoe having a single button, the button having been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 30 is a depiction of a handbag with a single button, the button having been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 31 is a depiction of a belt outfitted with a plurality of buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 32 is a depiction of a headband outfitted with a plurality of buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 33 is a depiction of a user's head being adorned with the headband otherwise depicted in FIG. 32 .
  • buttons 11 are typically stitched to underlying support structures 19 via thread or some other similar fastening means as at 18 .
  • buttons-outfitted structure 19 (such as coat 12 , shoe 13 , handbag 14 , headband 15 or belt 16 ) is attached to the button 11 at a button-to-structure junction, which button-to-structure junction defines an annulus-receiving gap or space as at 17 .
  • This space or gap 17 provides opportunity for a device to be inserted therein so as to cover or envelope the button 11 .
  • the present invention or button cover assembly 10 preferably comprises a (circular) embroidered disk 20 and a cover construction 21 .
  • the embroidered disk 20 may be fashioned according to state of the art embroidery construction practices and comprises an outer or lower disk surface 22 , an inner or upper disk surface 23 , and a disk diameter as at 24 .
  • the inner disk surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven or non-uniform embroidered disk landscape 25 as may be generally seen from an inspection of FIG. 5( a ).
  • the (circular) cover construction 21 is preferably being formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material (such as rubber) and comprises a bonding surface or portion 26 , an annulus 27 , and a cover diameter as at 28 .
  • the bonding portion 26 has a second profile or cover landscape as at 29 , which second profile or cover landscape 29 is complementary to the first profile or disk landscape 25 .
  • the cover landscape having been formed from a liquid medium poured into the disk landscape and solidified, becomes a negative or a complement to the disk landscape for increasing the surface area of the bond, and enhancing bonding strength.
  • the disk 20 is preferably bonded to the cover construction 21 at the first and second profiles at a disk-to-cover interface, at which interface the cover landscape 29 is the complement of the disk landscape 25 for enhancing bond strength.
  • This bond is formed by filling the disk landscape 25 with the polymeric material while in liquid form, the fluid material having no independent shape, but a definite volume for filling volumetric space. The liquid medium thereafter solidifies and effectively bonds the cover construction 21 to the disk 20 .
  • the annulus 27 is preferably integrally formed with the bonding portion 26 and defines a button-receiving cover aperture as at 30 .
  • the inner annular diameter or cover aperture 30 has a relaxed aperture diameter as generally depicted in FIGS. 2 , 6 ( a ), 8 , 16 , and 23 .
  • the relaxed aperture diameter 30 is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28 .
  • the inner annular diameter of cover construction 21 may or may not comprise a reinforced rim as at 80 versus a non-reinforced rim as at 81 .
  • the annulus 27 is preferably formed so as to be substantially parallel to the bonding portion 26 .
  • the button 11 as received within the cavity defined by the annulus 27 and bonding portion 26 , comprises a maximal button thickness.
  • the annulus 27 and bonding portion 26 preferably comprise a substantially uniform distance therebetween when in a relaxed state for receiving the maximal button thickness.
  • the pliable, elastic material is thus elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter 30 to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving a button 11 as generally demonstrated in FIGS. 5 , 9 , 10 , 17 , and 24 .
  • the button 11 as received by the cover construction 21 has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28 , but greater in magnitude than the relaxed aperture diameter 30 .
  • the annulus 27 thus functions to retain the button cover assembly 10 adorned upon the received button 11 . In other words, the annulus 27 occupies the annulus-receiving gap 17 when the button cover assembly 10 is donned upon the button 11 thereby enveloping the button 11 .
  • the disk diameter 24 is preferably greater in magnitude than the cover diameter 28 for masking the cover construction 21 from an anterior viewpoint as generally depicted in FIGS. 7 , 15 , 22 , and 28 - 33 .
  • the disk diameter 24 may be lesser in magnitude than the diameter of the cover construction 21 as generally depicted in FIGS. 22-27 .
  • the outer or lower disk surface 22 preferably comprises ornamental markings (such as the four-leaf clover 31 as in FIG. 1 ; the capital letter “J” 32 in FIG. 7 ; the bug 33 in FIG. 15 ; and the flower 34 in FIG. 22 ).
  • the ornamental markings, as exemplified by elements 31 - 34 function to ornament or ornamentally adorn the button 11 as received or enveloped by the cover assembly 10 .
  • cover construction 21 may be either opaque or translucent depending on the desired application. It is contemplated that an opaque cover construction 21 may well function to visually conceal the received button 11 or similar other structure, and that a translucent cover construction 21 may well function to visually reveal the received button 11 or similar other structure as otherwise seen from a lateral viewpoint.
  • the opacity or translucence of cover construction 21 may be further altered according to whether the disk diameter as at 55 is greater or lesser in magnitude relative to the cover construction diameter as at 56 for effecting an ornamental button cover assembly according to a desired effect.
  • the button cover assembly 10 may thus be manufactured by first fashioning an embroidered disk as at 20 , which embroidered disk has a lower or outer disk surface as at 22 , an upper or inner disk surface as at 23 , a disk diameter as at 24 , and a certain disk thickness 39 . It will be recalled that the upper disk surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape as at 25 .
  • the disk 20 may then be positioned at the first end of a disk-receiving walled cylinder 50 or chamber 52 orthogonally to its axis. It is contemplated that the disk-receiving cylinder 50 may preferably be closed with a support structure 51 , which structure 51 functions to support the disk 20 as received within the chamber 52 defined by cylinder 50 and structure 51 .
  • the cylinder 50 (or chamber 52 ) preferably comprises a certain walled height and first and second diameters ( 55 and 56 , respectively), such that disk thickness is lesser in magnitude the cylinder-walled height and the disk diameter 24 is substantially equal to the first cylinder/chamber diameter as at 55 and generally depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 .
  • a piston-shaped plunger 60 is positioned in superior adjacency to the upper disk surface or inner disk surface 23 intermediate the cylinder height as at 53 .
  • the plunger 60 comprises a plunger head 61 and a plunger rod 62 .
  • the plunger head 61 has a head thickness 63 and a head diameter 64 .
  • the plunger rod 62 has a rod diameter 65 .
  • the head diameter 64 is preferably lesser in magnitude than the cylinder diameter 56
  • the rod diameter 65 is preferably lesser in magnitude than the head diameter 64 .
  • the disk thickness 39 and the head thickness are lesser in magnitude than the cylinder depth or height 53 such that a volumetric space is defined above the embroidered disk 20 within the cylinder 50 via the positioned plunger 60 .
  • This volumetric space is then filled a liquid polymeric material 70 as generally depicted in FIG. 3 .
  • the liquid polymeric material 70 complements the uneven disk landscape 25 and covers the head 61 in radial adjacency to the rod 62 .
  • the plunger head 61 may be provided with an annular depression in radial adjacency to the rod 62 so as to enable the formation of reinforced rim 80 comprising an annular area of greater bulk of material 70 .
  • the otherwise liquid polymeric material 70 is then solidified, thereby becoming elastic and forming the cover construction 21 as bonded to the embroidered disk 20 at the uneven embroidered disk landscape 25 .
  • the polymeric material 70 as solidified into cover construction 21 , and as bonded to the disk 21 thereby forms button cover assembly 10 .
  • the disk-to-cover bonded interface is formed by first filling the disk landscape 25 with the pliable, polymeric material 70 while in a liquid state and thereafter solidifying the pliable, polymeric material 70 thereby bonding the disk 20 to the cover construction 21 such that the disk and cover landscapes 25 and 29 complement each other.
  • the cover construction 21 thereafter comprises bonded portion 26 , annulus 27 , and a cover diameter substantially equal in magnitude to the cylinder diameter 56 .
  • the annulus 27 has cover aperture 30 , which cover aperture 30 comprises a relaxed diameter defined or formed by the rod diameter 65 .
  • the head 61 is removed from the cover construction 21 by elastically stressing the annulus 27 and increasing the aperture opening or diameter as generally depicted in FIG. 5 .
  • the annulus is elastically relaxed, thereby decreasing the aperture diameter.
  • the button cover assembly 10 may then be removed from the button-receiving chamber 52 for further processing.
  • the button cover assembly essentially comprises a disk and a cover construction.
  • the disk has an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter.
  • the inner disk surface has an uneven or non-uniform disk landscape.
  • the cover construction is formed from an elastic material and comprises a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter.
  • the bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape at a disk-to-cover bonded interface.
  • the annulus is integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprises or defines a button-receiving cover aperture.
  • the cover aperture has a relaxed aperture diameter that is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter.
  • the elastic material of the cover construction is elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving a button.
  • the received or cover-enveloped button has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, but greater in magnitude than the relaxed aperture diameter such that the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the button.
  • the cover assembly supports a method of manufacture comprising the steps of: forming a first structure such as the embroidered disk, which first structure has opposed or first and second structural surfaces, and a structural width.
  • the first structural surface has a non-uniform, uneven, or non-flat landscape.
  • the first structure is then positioned at a first end of opposed walls as may be preferably defined by a cylindrical structure.
  • the opposed walls have a certain wall height and thereby define a wall-to-wall space.
  • a second structure such as a piston shaped plunger is then positioned above the first structure intermediate the opposed walls.
  • the second structure comprises a head and a post.
  • the head has a head thickness and the post has a post width or diameter.
  • An open volumetric space is thus defined above the first structure via the positioned second structure.
  • the otherwise open volumetric space is then filled with a liquid material, which liquid material complements the non-uniform or uneven structural landscape and covers the head in adjacency to the post.
  • the liquid material is then solidified thereby becoming elastic and effectively forms a cover construction bonded to the first structure at the non-uniform structural landscape to form a button cover assembly.
  • the second structure is then removed from the cover construction after solidifying the elastic material, and the button cover assembly is removed from the button-receiving chamber after removing the second structure.
  • the structural width of the first structure may preferably extend intermediate the wall-to-wall dimension of the opposed walls so as to fill space intermediate the opposed walls at the first end thereof.
  • the disk-like first structure may preferably have a diameter substantially equal in magnitude to a cylinder diameter of the cylindrical wall-to-wall space.
  • the first structure is supported by a third structure, whereby the third structure and opposed walls defining a structure-receiving chamber.

Abstract

A cover assembly and a supporting method of manufacture therefor provide users with a button cover. The cover assembly comprises a disk and a cover construction. The disk has an inner disk surface comprising an uneven disk landscape having peaks and valleys strewn thereacross. The cover construction is formed from an elastic material comprising a bonding portion and an annulus. The bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape as the bonding interface is formed by filling the disk landscape with the polymeric material while in liquid form. The annulus comprises an aperture having a relaxed diameter greater in magnitude than the diameter of a target button. The annulus is elastically stressable for increasing the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention generally relates to a button cover assembly for ornamentally adorning buttons, and method of manufacture for the same.
  • 2. Description of the Prior Art
  • The prior art shows a number of button covering devices and the like. Some of the more pertinent prior art disclosures are briefly described hereinafter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,654 ('654 Patent), which issued to Armbruster, discloses a Cuff Button Cover. The '654 Patent describes an ornamental cover for a sewed button plate, an arched top plate extending over said bottom plate, said bottom plate, said bottom plate being spaced at its forward edge from the forward edge of the top plate and having a central recess extending to the forward edge thereof, whereby a sewed button may be received within said housing, said top plate having an opening adjacent its front edge, a lock lever hinged to said top plate and having a tongue adapted to extend through said opening when the lock lever is seated on the top plate, and means for releasably securing the lock lever to the top plate.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,487 ('487 Patent) which issued to T. R. Ryan, discloses Interchangeable Ornaments for Buttons. The '487 Patent describes an interchangeable ornament for buttons or the like comprising an ornamental member having a substantially flat portion, a V-shaped element having a base resilient curved branch portions extending from said base portion, and means for normally keeping said V-shaped element juxtaposed to said ornamental member, the branch portions of said V-shaped member being constructed and arranged for receiving between them threads fastening a button to a piece of fabric and for engaging said button in such a manner as to fasten thereto said ornamental member.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,009 ('009 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Covered Button. The '009 Patent describes a button comprising connected top and bottom sections; wherein the top section has a pair of bendable fingers extending there-from toward said bottom section, said bottom section having a first aperture through which said fingers pass when said sections are assembled and having second and third apertures on opposite sides of said first aperture through which said fingers are bent to extend into said button when said sections are assembled, said top section comprising a shell, a first member received within said shell, integral portions of said first member extending there-from to define said fingers, and a second member secured within said shell beneath said first member by direct engagement with one of said shell and said first member and having an aperture through which said fingers extend. The top section may be covered by material which extends partially over the lower surface thereof above said second and third apertures in said bottom section, said fingers being of a length such as, when bent through said second and third apertures, to engage said material.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,544 ('544 Patent) which issued to A. Dritz, discloses a Hand-Assembled, Fabric-Covered Button. The '544 Patent describes a button shell and a button back for forming a fabric-faced button, said button shell comprising a body provided with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and inwardly of said body, said button back comprising a body provided with a central opening and with a peripheral flange disposed upwardly and outwardly of said back body, said button back body being disposed upwardly and inwardly of its peripheral flange and being formed between its central opening and its said peripheral flange with a series of circular stepped ribs, said shell and back being dimensioned for the back to be telescoped and pressure-fitted into and to rest within the shell with the peripheral flanges of the shell and back interlocking in engagement with fabric material of a facing covering for the button.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,965 ('965 Patent) which issued to S. Wassell, discloses an Ear Muff. The '965 Patent describes an ear muff having a water-repellent material lined with thin insulation sewn into the form of a pocket which fits around the ear of the wearer to protect the ear against cold, wind, snow, or the like without substantially impairing hearing. The ear muff is kept engaged to the ear by means of an elastic loop residing in the hem of the opening of the pocket which contracts around the base of the ear, and in addition, adjacent to the elastic within the hem, a malleable earlobe clasp which the wearer clamps around the earlobe, so that the ear muff can be used by people with attached earlobes as well as by people with unattached earlobes. The lined water-repellent material comprising the pocket plays no part in keeping the ear muff engaged to the ear, and thus is made of flexible material so that it can conform to various shapes of ears.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,455 ('455 Patent) which issued to D. Joseph, discloses an Ear Cover. The '455 Patent describes an ear cover for protecting the external ear of a wearer. The cover includes a first flexible sheet having an outer layer formed of an absorbent material and an inner layer coextensive therewith formed of an impermeable material. A second flexible sheet is secured to the first flexible sheet adjacent the inner layer to serve as a liner for the cover. An elastic band is secured between the first and second flexible sheets for gathering the respective peripheries thereof around the ear of a wearer.
  • It will be seen from a review of the foregoing that the prior art is silent on a button cover assembly comprising a disk and an elastic cover construction bonded to the disk at a non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover bond interface, which uneven bond interface functions to increase the bond contact surface area as a means to enhance bond strength. Accordingly, the prior art perceives a need for such and button cover assembly and method for manufacturing the same.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention thus attempts to structurally address the foregoing features in particular and provides a button cover assembly and method of manufacture for the same, which button cover assembly ornamentally adorns a button when outfitted thereupon. The button cover assembly may preferably comprise a circular, embroidered disk and a cover construction. The embroidered disk has an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter. The inner disk surface comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape having peaks and valleys strewn across the disk landscape, which peaks and valleys are reflective of the embroidery.
  • The cover construction is preferably formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material comprising a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter. The bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape since the bonding interface is formed by filling the disk landscape with the polymeric material while in a liquid form. The uneven volumetric space above the disk landscape is thus filled with the liquid material, which when solid, complements the disk landscape and enhances bond strength via increase bond contact surface area. In other words, the disk is bonded to the cover construction at the non-uniform or uneven disk-to-cover interface.
  • The elastic annulus is integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprises a button-receiving cover aperture defined by the inner annular diameter, which may be reinforced or non-reinforced according the application requirements. The cover aperture has a relaxed aperture or inner annular diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter but greater in magnitude than the diameter of a target button. The pliable, elastic material is elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving the button. After the assembly is donned, the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the received or enveloped button.
  • Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of patent drawings:
  • FIG. 1 is an anterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a posterior perspective view of the button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a first sequential lateral view of a generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a plunger, and a volumetric spaced defined intermediate the disk and plunger, which space is being filled with a liquid material.
  • FIG. 3 is a first sequential lateral view of a fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a fragmentary plunger, and a volumetric spaced defined intermediate the disk and plunger, which space is being filled with a liquid material.
  • FIG. 3( a) is an enlarged, lateral view of the fragmentary plunger otherwise shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 4 is a second sequential lateral view of a fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show, from bottom to top, a disk, a phantom and fragmentary plunger being removed from a button cover assembly as shown in cross-section after the liquid material (as shown in FIG. 3) solidifies.
  • FIG. 4( a) is an enlarged, lateral view of the fragmentary and generic assembly-forming chamber with parts broken away to show a sectional button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 5 is a depiction of a fragmentary plunger element being removed form the button cover assembly as seen from a side view.
  • FIG. 5( a) is an enlarged sectional view as sectioned from FIG. 5 showing an uneven, non-uniform, or non-flat bonded interface or boundary between the disk and cover construction of the button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of the button cover assembly donned upon a button with parts of the cover construction broken away to show the button as enveloped or received by the button cover assembly.
  • FIG. 6( a) is an enlarged side view of the button cover assembly and button otherwise shown in FIG. 6 to more clearly show relative dimensions of components.
  • FIG. 7 is an anterior view of a first button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a first ornamental marking upon the disk.
  • FIG. 8 is a first posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 9 is a second posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing elastically stressed inner and outer diameters of the annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 10 is a third posterior view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 7 showing elastically stressed inner diameter of the annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 11 is a first side view of a first cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the first cover construction comprising a reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 12 is a first side view of a second cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the second cover construction comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 13 is a second side view of the first cover construction otherwise shown in FIG. FIG. 11 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 14 is a second side view of a second cover construction otherwise shown in FIG. 12 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 15 is an anterior view of a second button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a second ornamental marking upon the disk.
  • FIG. 16 is a first posterior view of the second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 15 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 17 is a second posterior view of the second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 15 showing radially directed elastic stress vectors of the inner annular diameter of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 18 is a first side view of the button cover assembly comprising a disk bonded to a cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the button cover assembly comprising a reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 19 is a first side view of a second button cover assembly comprising a disk bonded to a cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the second button cover assembly comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 20 is a second side view of the first button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 18 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 21 is a second side view of a second button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 19 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 22 is an anterior view of a third button cover assembly according to the present invention showing a third ornamental marking upon the disk, which disk comprises a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover construction diameter.
  • FIG. 23 is a first posterior view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing an elastically relaxed annulus of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 24 is a second posterior view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing an elastically stressed inner annular diameter of the cover construction.
  • FIG. 25 is a first side view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing the disk bonded to the cover construction in exploded superior adjacency to a structurally attached button, the button cover assembly comprising a non-reinforced inner annular diameter.
  • FIG. 26 is a second side view of a third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 showing the inner annular diameter being stressed to receive/envelope the button.
  • FIG. 27 is a third side view of the third button cover assembly otherwise shown in FIG. 22 in attached superior adjacency to a structurally attached button.
  • FIG. 28 is a depiction of a coat having three buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 29 is a depiction of a shoe having a single button, the button having been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 30 is a depiction of a handbag with a single button, the button having been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 31 is a depiction of a belt outfitted with a plurality of buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 32 is a depiction of a headband outfitted with a plurality of buttons, each of which buttons has been outfitted with a button cover assembly according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 33 is a depiction of a user's head being adorned with the headband otherwise depicted in FIG. 32.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT/METHOD
  • Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a button cover assembly 10 for adorning a button 11 as attached to an underlying button support structure 19, such as a coat 12, a shoe 13, a handbag 14, a headband 15 or a belt 16. In this last regard, it will be noted that buttons 11 are typically stitched to underlying support structures 19 via thread or some other similar fastening means as at 18.
  • At the stitch site, a certain space is formed or defined intermediate the button and underlying support structure. In other words, the button-outfitted structure 19 (such as coat 12, shoe 13, handbag 14, headband 15 or belt 16) is attached to the button 11 at a button-to-structure junction, which button-to-structure junction defines an annulus-receiving gap or space as at 17. This space or gap 17 provides opportunity for a device to be inserted therein so as to cover or envelope the button 11.
  • The present invention or button cover assembly 10 preferably comprises a (circular) embroidered disk 20 and a cover construction 21. It is contemplated that the embroidered disk 20 may be fashioned according to state of the art embroidery construction practices and comprises an outer or lower disk surface 22, an inner or upper disk surface 23, and a disk diameter as at 24. The inner disk surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven or non-uniform embroidered disk landscape 25 as may be generally seen from an inspection of FIG. 5( a).
  • The (circular) cover construction 21 is preferably being formed from a pliable, elastic, polymeric material (such as rubber) and comprises a bonding surface or portion 26, an annulus 27, and a cover diameter as at 28. The bonding portion 26 has a second profile or cover landscape as at 29, which second profile or cover landscape 29 is complementary to the first profile or disk landscape 25. In other words, the cover landscape, having been formed from a liquid medium poured into the disk landscape and solidified, becomes a negative or a complement to the disk landscape for increasing the surface area of the bond, and enhancing bonding strength.
  • In other words, the disk 20 is preferably bonded to the cover construction 21 at the first and second profiles at a disk-to-cover interface, at which interface the cover landscape 29 is the complement of the disk landscape 25 for enhancing bond strength. This bond is formed by filling the disk landscape 25 with the polymeric material while in liquid form, the fluid material having no independent shape, but a definite volume for filling volumetric space. The liquid medium thereafter solidifies and effectively bonds the cover construction 21 to the disk 20.
  • The annulus 27 is preferably integrally formed with the bonding portion 26 and defines a button-receiving cover aperture as at 30. The inner annular diameter or cover aperture 30 has a relaxed aperture diameter as generally depicted in FIGS. 2, 6(a), 8, 16, and 23. As can be seen from a general and comparative inspection of FIGS. 6 and 6( a), the relaxed aperture diameter 30 is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28. From a comparative inspection of FIGS. 11 versus 12 or 18 versus 19, it may be seen that the inner annular diameter of cover construction 21 may or may not comprise a reinforced rim as at 80 versus a non-reinforced rim as at 81.
  • The annulus 27 is preferably formed so as to be substantially parallel to the bonding portion 26. In this regard, it is noted that the button 11, as received within the cavity defined by the annulus 27 and bonding portion 26, comprises a maximal button thickness. The annulus 27 and bonding portion 26 preferably comprise a substantially uniform distance therebetween when in a relaxed state for receiving the maximal button thickness.
  • The pliable, elastic material is thus elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter 30 to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving a button 11 as generally demonstrated in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 17, and 24. Notably, the button 11 as received by the cover construction 21, has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter 28, but greater in magnitude than the relaxed aperture diameter 30. The annulus 27 thus functions to retain the button cover assembly 10 adorned upon the received button 11. In other words, the annulus 27 occupies the annulus-receiving gap 17 when the button cover assembly 10 is donned upon the button 11 thereby enveloping the button 11.
  • The disk diameter 24 is preferably greater in magnitude than the cover diameter 28 for masking the cover construction 21 from an anterior viewpoint as generally depicted in FIGS. 7, 15, 22, and 28-33. Alternatively, the disk diameter 24 may be lesser in magnitude than the diameter of the cover construction 21 as generally depicted in FIGS. 22-27. In any event, the outer or lower disk surface 22 preferably comprises ornamental markings (such as the four-leaf clover 31 as in FIG. 1; the capital letter “J” 32 in FIG. 7; the bug 33 in FIG. 15; and the flower 34 in FIG. 22). The ornamental markings, as exemplified by elements 31-34, function to ornament or ornamentally adorn the button 11 as received or enveloped by the cover assembly 10.
  • It is contemplated that the material used to construct the cover construction 21 may be either opaque or translucent depending on the desired application. It is contemplated that an opaque cover construction 21 may well function to visually conceal the received button 11 or similar other structure, and that a translucent cover construction 21 may well function to visually reveal the received button 11 or similar other structure as otherwise seen from a lateral viewpoint. The opacity or translucence of cover construction 21 may be further altered according to whether the disk diameter as at 55 is greater or lesser in magnitude relative to the cover construction diameter as at 56 for effecting an ornamental button cover assembly according to a desired effect.
  • It is contemplated that the button cover assembly 10 may thus be manufactured by first fashioning an embroidered disk as at 20, which embroidered disk has a lower or outer disk surface as at 22, an upper or inner disk surface as at 23, a disk diameter as at 24, and a certain disk thickness 39. It will be recalled that the upper disk surface 23 preferably comprises an uneven embroidered disk landscape as at 25.
  • The disk 20 may then be positioned at the first end of a disk-receiving walled cylinder 50 or chamber 52 orthogonally to its axis. It is contemplated that the disk-receiving cylinder 50 may preferably be closed with a support structure 51, which structure 51 functions to support the disk 20 as received within the chamber 52 defined by cylinder 50 and structure 51. The cylinder 50 (or chamber 52) preferably comprises a certain walled height and first and second diameters (55 and 56, respectively), such that disk thickness is lesser in magnitude the cylinder-walled height and the disk diameter 24 is substantially equal to the first cylinder/chamber diameter as at 55 and generally depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • After the disk 20 is positioned at the end of the cylinder 50 or chamber 52, a piston-shaped plunger 60 is positioned in superior adjacency to the upper disk surface or inner disk surface 23 intermediate the cylinder height as at 53. The plunger 60 comprises a plunger head 61 and a plunger rod 62. The plunger head 61 has a head thickness 63 and a head diameter 64. The plunger rod 62 has a rod diameter 65. The head diameter 64 is preferably lesser in magnitude than the cylinder diameter 56, and the rod diameter 65 is preferably lesser in magnitude than the head diameter 64.
  • The disk thickness 39 and the head thickness are lesser in magnitude than the cylinder depth or height 53 such that a volumetric space is defined above the embroidered disk 20 within the cylinder 50 via the positioned plunger 60. This volumetric space is then filled a liquid polymeric material 70 as generally depicted in FIG. 3. By filling the volumetric space defined by the positioned plunger 60, the liquid polymeric material 70 complements the uneven disk landscape 25 and covers the head 61 in radial adjacency to the rod 62. It is contemplated that the plunger head 61 may be provided with an annular depression in radial adjacency to the rod 62 so as to enable the formation of reinforced rim 80 comprising an annular area of greater bulk of material 70.
  • The otherwise liquid polymeric material 70 is then solidified, thereby becoming elastic and forming the cover construction 21 as bonded to the embroidered disk 20 at the uneven embroidered disk landscape 25. The polymeric material 70, as solidified into cover construction 21, and as bonded to the disk 21 thereby forms button cover assembly 10. In other words, the disk-to-cover bonded interface is formed by first filling the disk landscape 25 with the pliable, polymeric material 70 while in a liquid state and thereafter solidifying the pliable, polymeric material 70 thereby bonding the disk 20 to the cover construction 21 such that the disk and cover landscapes 25 and 29 complement each other.
  • The cover construction 21 thereafter comprises bonded portion 26, annulus 27, and a cover diameter substantially equal in magnitude to the cylinder diameter 56. The annulus 27 has cover aperture 30, which cover aperture 30 comprises a relaxed diameter defined or formed by the rod diameter 65. After solidifying the material 70, the head 61 is removed from the cover construction 21 by elastically stressing the annulus 27 and increasing the aperture opening or diameter as generally depicted in FIG. 5. After removing the head 61 from the construction 21, the annulus is elastically relaxed, thereby decreasing the aperture diameter. The button cover assembly 10 may then be removed from the button-receiving chamber 52 for further processing.
  • While the foregoing specifications and drawings are set forth in some detail, the specific embodiments described and illustrated thereby, and methodology supported thereby are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention(s) to the specific embodiments illustrated and methods supported. For example, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially discloses a button cover assembly and method for making same.
  • The button cover assembly essentially comprises a disk and a cover construction. The disk has an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter. The inner disk surface has an uneven or non-uniform disk landscape. The cover construction is formed from an elastic material and comprises a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter. The bonding portion has a cover landscape complementary to the disk landscape at a disk-to-cover bonded interface.
  • The annulus is integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprises or defines a button-receiving cover aperture. The cover aperture has a relaxed aperture diameter that is lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter. The elastic material of the cover construction is elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving a button. The received or cover-enveloped button has a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, but greater in magnitude than the relaxed aperture diameter such that the annulus retains the button cover assembly adorned upon the button.
  • As earlier stated, it is further contemplated that the foregoing specifications support certain button cover assembly manufacturing methodology. In other words, the cover assembly supports a method of manufacture comprising the steps of: forming a first structure such as the embroidered disk, which first structure has opposed or first and second structural surfaces, and a structural width. The first structural surface has a non-uniform, uneven, or non-flat landscape.
  • The first structure is then positioned at a first end of opposed walls as may be preferably defined by a cylindrical structure. The opposed walls have a certain wall height and thereby define a wall-to-wall space. A second structure such as a piston shaped plunger is then positioned above the first structure intermediate the opposed walls. The second structure comprises a head and a post. The head has a head thickness and the post has a post width or diameter. An open volumetric space is thus defined above the first structure via the positioned second structure.
  • The otherwise open volumetric space is then filled with a liquid material, which liquid material complements the non-uniform or uneven structural landscape and covers the head in adjacency to the post. The liquid material is then solidified thereby becoming elastic and effectively forms a cover construction bonded to the first structure at the non-uniform structural landscape to form a button cover assembly. The second structure is then removed from the cover construction after solidifying the elastic material, and the button cover assembly is removed from the button-receiving chamber after removing the second structure.
  • The structural width of the first structure may preferably extend intermediate the wall-to-wall dimension of the opposed walls so as to fill space intermediate the opposed walls at the first end thereof. For example, given a disk-like first structure, and a cylindrically defined wall-to-wall space, the disk-like first structure may preferably have a diameter substantially equal in magnitude to a cylinder diameter of the cylindrical wall-to-wall space. Preferably, the first structure is supported by a third structure, whereby the third structure and opposed walls defining a structure-receiving chamber.
  • From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications of the underlying assembly may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, certain manufacturing methodology is supported by the basic understanding of the inventive assembly. Thus, it is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific assembly and/or methodology illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

1. A button cover assembly for adorning a button, the button cover assembly comprising:
a disk, the disk having an outer disk surface, an inner surface, and a disk diameter, the inner disk surface having an uneven disk landscape; and
a cover construction, the cover construction being formed from an elastic material and comprising a bonding portion, an annulus, and a cover diameter, the bonding portion comprising a cover landscape, the disk being bonded to the cover construction at a disk-to-cover bond interface, the cover landscape being the complement of the disk landscape for enhancing bond strength, the annulus being integrally formed with the bonding portion and comprising a button-receiving cover aperture, the cover aperture having a relaxed aperture diameter, the relaxed aperture diameter being lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter, the elastic material being elastically stressable for enabling a user to increase the relaxed aperture diameter to a stressed aperture configuration for receiving a button, the received button having a diameter lesser in magnitude than the cover diameter and greater in magnitude than the relaxed aperture diameter, the annulus for retaining the button cover assembly adorned upon the received button.
2. The button cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the disk-to-cover interface is formed by first filling the disk landscape with polymeric material while in a liquid state and thereafter solidifying the polymeric material thereby bonding the disk to the cover construction such that the disk and cover landscapes complement each other.
3. The button cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the disk diameter is greater in magnitude than the cover diameter, the disk thus for masking the cover construction.
4. The button cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the annulus is substantially parallel to the bonding portion and the received button comprises a maximal button thickness, the annulus and bonding portion thus having a substantially uniform distance therebetween when in a relaxed state for receiving the maximal button thickness.
5. The button cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the outer disk surface comprises ornamental markings, the ornamental markings for ornamentally adorning the received button.
6. The button cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the cover construction is opaque, the opaque cover construction for concealing the received button.
7. The button cover assembly of claim 3 wherein the cover construction is translucent, the translucent cover construction for enabling a passerby to view the button through the cover construction.
8. The button cover assembly of claim 2 in combination with a button-outfitted structure, the button-outfitted structure being attached to the button at a button-to-structure junction, the button-to-structure junction defining an annulus-receiving gap, the annulus occupying the annulus-receiving gap when the button cover assembly is donned upon the button.
9. A method for manufacturing a button cover assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
fashioning an embroidered disk, the embroidered disk having a lower disk surface, an upper disk surface, a disk diameter, and a disk thickness, the upper disk surface having an uneven embroidered disk landscape;
positioning the embroidered disk at the first end of a disk-receiving cylinder, the disk-receiving cylinder having a cylindrical height and a cylinder diameter, the disk diameter being substantially equal to the cylinder diameter;
positioning a plunger in superior adjacency to the upper disk surface intermediate the cylinder height, the plunger comprising a plunger head and a plunger rod, the plunger head having a head thickness and a head diameter, the plunger rod having a rod diameter, the head diameter being lesser in magnitude than the cylinder diameter, the rod diameter being lesser in magnitude than the head diameter, the disk thickness and head thickness being lesser in magnitude than the cylinder height;
defining a volumetric space above the embroidered disk within the cylinder via the positioned plunger;
filling the volumetric space with a liquid polymeric material, the liquid polymeric material complementing the uneven disk landscape and covering the head in radial adjacency to the rod; and
solidifying the liquid polymeric material, the solidified polymeric material thereby becoming elastic and forming a cover construction bonded to the embroidered disk at the uneven embroidered disk landscape thereby forming a button cover assembly.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the embroidered disk is supported by a support structure, the support structure and cylinder defining a structure-receiving chamber.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the cover construction comprises a bonded portion and an annulus, the annulus having a cover aperture, the cover aperture having a diameter defined by the rod diameter, the method comprising the steps of:
removing the head from the cover construction by elastically stressing the annulus and increasing the aperture diameter; and
elastically relaxing the annulus and decreasing the aperture diameter.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the button cover assembly is removed from the button-receiving chamber after elastically relaxing the annulus and decreasing the aperture diameter.
13. A method for manufacturing a button cover assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a first structure, the first structure having opposed structural surfaces, the first structural surface having a non-uniform landscape;
orthogonally positioning the first structure at a first end of opposed walls, the opposed walls having a wall height and thereby defining a wall-to-wall dimension;
positioning a second structure above the first structure intermediate the walls, the second structure comprising a head and a post, the head having a head thickness and the post having a post width;
defining a volumetric space within the wall-to-wall space above the first structure via the positioned second structure;
filling the volumetric space with a liquid material, the liquid material complementing the non-uniform landscape and covering the head in adjacency to the post; and
solidifying the liquid material, the solidified material thereby becoming elastic and forming a cover construction bonded to the first structure at the non-uniform landscape to form a button cover assembly.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second structure is removed from the cover construction after solidifying the elastic material.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the cover construction comprises a bonded portion, and an annulus, the annulus having a cover aperture, the cover aperture being defined by the post width, the method comprising the additional steps of:
removing the head from the cover construction by elastically stressing the annulus; and
elastically relaxing the annulus.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of forming the first structure is defined by fashioning an embroidered structure, the first structural surface comprising a non-uniform, embroidered landscape.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the button cover assembly is removed from the button-receiving chamber after elastically relaxing the annulus.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the first structure extends intermediate the wall-to-wall dimension so as to fill space intermediate the walls at the first end thereof.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the embroidered structure is disk-like and the wall-to-wall space is cylindrical, the disk-like embroidered structure having a diameter substantially equal in magnitude to a cylinder diameter of the cylindrical wall-to-wall space.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the first structure is supported by a third structure, the third structure and walls defining a structure-receiving chamber.
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US20130283571A1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2013-10-31 Y & P Marston Designs, Llc Apparatus and kit for interchanging button designs on apparel and other goods
US20140101896A1 (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-04-17 Michael T. Rowton Button Covering System
US20140101897A1 (en) * 2009-03-20 2014-04-17 Jennifer D. Clark Button Cover Assembly
US20140109346A1 (en) * 2012-10-24 2014-04-24 Susan Michelle Barce Interchangeable decorative cover for buttons
US20170006976A1 (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-12 Thomas D'Ercole Device to Illuminate Novelty Buttons
USD871255S1 (en) 2018-03-20 2019-12-31 Alietalia Williamson Button cover
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Cited By (13)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090183344A1 (en) * 2008-01-17 2009-07-23 Brian Polsky Decorative device for apparel products
US20140101897A1 (en) * 2009-03-20 2014-04-17 Jennifer D. Clark Button Cover Assembly
US9265306B2 (en) 2010-03-10 2016-02-23 Nils Lindfors Detachable cover for a button
WO2011112135A1 (en) * 2010-03-10 2011-09-15 Nils Lindfors Improvements in or relating to a device for fastening a detachable cover on a button
US20130283571A1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2013-10-31 Y & P Marston Designs, Llc Apparatus and kit for interchanging button designs on apparel and other goods
US9532627B2 (en) * 2010-12-29 2017-01-03 Y & P Marston Designs, Llc Apparatus and kit for interchanging button designs on apparel and other goods
US20140101896A1 (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-04-17 Michael T. Rowton Button Covering System
US9408439B2 (en) * 2012-10-24 2016-08-09 Susan Michelle Barce Interchangeable decorative cover for buttons
US20140109346A1 (en) * 2012-10-24 2014-04-24 Susan Michelle Barce Interchangeable decorative cover for buttons
US20170006976A1 (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-12 Thomas D'Ercole Device to Illuminate Novelty Buttons
US10371346B2 (en) * 2015-07-08 2019-08-06 Thomas D'Ercole Device to illuminate novelty buttons
USD871255S1 (en) 2018-03-20 2019-12-31 Alietalia Williamson Button cover
GB2597057A (en) * 2020-07-02 2022-01-19 Palmer Lauren Button Cover

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