GB2324953A

GB2324953A - Attachment device for badges

Info

Publication number: GB2324953A
Application number: GB9723689A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Edward Oliver; Alison Claire Oliver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-11
Filing date: 1997-11-11
Publication date: 1998-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-11
Also published as: AU1043899A; GB9723689D0; GB2324953B; WO1999024956A1

Abstract

The mounting for a badge 2 is a resilient planar body 4 having a groove 12 across its rear surface. Jaws 14,16 extend along and over the groove and are urged together by the resilience of the body. Flexing the body along the groove opens the jaws to allow the badge to be attached to a garment. In another embodiment (Fig 7a-d) the jaws have meshing fingers and are mounted on the body by resilient means which holds the jaws closed. Each mounting bears an operating button which projects over the edge of the badge. Pressing the buttons inwardly opens the jaws.

Description

Attachment device The present invention relates primarily, though by no means exclusively, to the attachment of badges, identification cards, name plates, personal radiation dose meters and like insignia or apparatus to a garment.

Badges and the like are presently attached to garments either by means of a safety pin or spring biased clip retained upon a rear face of the badge. Safety pin type badges require the pin to penetrate into and then out of the fabric of the garment, a procedure which may be detrimental to the integrity of the garment especially if it is of a protective nature. The pin type badge is not suitable for small children and may also accidentally injure persons not familiar with the operation of such devices. The spring clip type badges require to be clipped over an edge of material, such as a lapel or pocket edge, and thus are limited to use in conjunction with appropriately tailored garments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved attachment device.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an attachment device having a body comprising a front face, a rear face and a peripheral edge, first and second opposing jaw members being arranged on said rear face, said jaw members being resiliently urged together into a closed position and being arranged whereby, in an open position, material can be inserted between the jaw members in a direction transverse to the body of the badge.

The present invention thus provides a non-invasive attachment device for a badge or the like which enables said badge to be attached to a fold provided in a substantially planar expanse of material.

Preferably said body has a generally planar front face and is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material. In an alternative embodiment the body may comprise a resiliently deformable member embedded within, attached to or otherwise carried by a deformable cover member. In such an embodiment the jaw members may be defined by said resiliently deformable member.

The jaw members may comprise free ends which are urged into engagement with one another to retain material therebetween.

Preferably the free ends include a plurality of intermeshing teeth, serration's or the like.

Said jaw members may oppose one another along a line on the rear face of the body.

Preferably said line bisects the rear face of the body.

A groove or indent projecting into the body may be provided along said line.

The jaw members may extend fully or at least partially across the rear face of the body parallel to said line.

In use, the body may be flexed about a plane passing through the line on the rear face of the body, thereby effecting the opening of the jaw members, by holding the body at opposing points on the peripheral edge, said points being substantially perpendicular to said plane, and applying a force to the front face of the body in a direction parallel to said plane.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a badge comprising a body having a front face and a rear face, said rear face carrying a pair of opposing grip members, said grip members being resiliently urged together into a closed position and being arranged whereby, in an open position, material can be inserted between the grip members in a direction transverse to the body of the badge.

Preferably said opposing grip members comprise, in part, a plurality of intermeshing fingers, said fingers having at their distal ends hooked portions.

Said hooked portions may intermesh about an axis parallel to the rear face of the body and perpendicular to the fingers.

Said opposing grip members may be retained upon the rear face of said body by a plurality of flexible connections extending from anchor points upon said rear face.

Preferably the opposing grip members and flexible projections, when acted upon by sufficient force, co-operate to move the jaw members into the open position.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the following drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear face of a device according to a first embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention; Fig.2 is a plan view of the rear face of the device of Fig 1; Figs.3a - 3b are side elevations of the device of Fig 1; Fig.4 is a perspective view of the rear face of a device according to a second embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention; Fig.S is a plan view of the rear face of the device of Fig 4; Figs.6a - 6b are side elevations of the device of Fig 4; and Figs.7a - 7d are plan and side views of a device according to a second aspect of the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figs 1 to 3b there is shown a badge 2 comprising a body 4 having a front face 6, a rear face 8 and a peripheral edge 10. The badge 2 shown is generally circular but may be of any shape depending upon the function the badge 2 is to perform. A groove 12 is provided upon the rear face 8 of the badge 2. The groove 12 bisects the rear face 8 across its diameter. Jaw members 14,16 are provided upon opposing sides of the groove 12 extending outwardly from the rear face 8 so as to arch over the groove 12. The jaw members 14,16 meet above the centreline of the groove 12. The distal end of each jaw member 14,16 is provided with a plurality of teeth 18 which mesh with those provided upon the opposing jaw member 14,16. As to whether the teeth 18 on one jaw member 14 come into contact with those of an opposing jaw member 16, or are provided with a clearance as shown the accompanying figures, will depend upon factors such as the weight of the badge 2 and the material to which it is to be attached. In the embodiment shown, the contact length over which the jaw members 14,16 mesh is less than the diameter of the rear face 8. The contact length is equidistantly spaced between respective edges of the rear face 8. By reconfiguring their size and shape it is wholly possible to construct jaw members 14,16 which extend beyond the edges of the rear face 8, are biased closer to one edge rather than another, or indeed mesh intermittently over their contact length to provide gaps between respective meshing portions.

The front face 6 of the badge 2 is generally planar and able to support display means. Such means is, for example, either printed directly to the front face 6 or carried upon a sticker attached to the front face 6.

The body 4 of the badge 2 is made from a resiliently deformable material, such as a plastics material, which urges the jaw members 14,16 into a closed position as shown in Figs 1 to 3a.

The jaw members 14,16 are moved into an open position, as shown in Fig 3b, by supporting the badge 2 at opposing points 20,22 on the peripheral edge 10, said points 20,22 being substantially perpendicular to the direction of the groove 12, and applying a force indicated by arrow F (see Figs 3a and 3b) to the front face 6 at a point along the line of the groove 12.

The resultant flexing of the body 4 about the line of the groove 12 opens the jaw members 14,16 and enables a fold of material 24 to be positioned therebetween. Upon release, the body 4 returns to its initial state thus gripping the fold of material 24 between the jaw members 14,16. The material 24 may be released from the jaw members 14,16 by repeating the above procedure and withdrawing the material 24 from between the jaw members 14,16 when they are open. In use, to conduct the above procedure, the badge 2 may be held between the thumb and middle finger with the force F being supplied by the index finger.

Alternatively the peripheral edge 10 may be provided with pads or grips (not shown) at points 20 and 22 extending ahead of the front face 6 to enable the jaw members 14,16 to be opened by the application of finger pressure to these points 20,22.

Figs 4 to 6b show an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the jaw members 14,16 are provided upon a separate spring member 26 attached to the rear face 8 of the badge body 4. The spring member 26 may be manufactured from, for example, a resilient metallic material such as spring steel, while the body 4 is manufactured from a plastics material of a lesser resilient nature. The embodiment shown in Figs 4 to 6b is operable in the same manner described above.

Figs 7a to 7d show an embodiment of a badge 2 according to a second aspect of the present invention. Features of this second aspect which correspond to those of the first aspect are identified with like numerals. The badge 2 comprises a body 4 having a front face 6, a rear face 8 and a peripheral edge 10. A pair of opposing grip members 28,30 are carried upon the rear face. Each grip member 28,30 has a plurality of fingers 32. The fingers 32 of grip member 28 are arranged to intermesh with the fingers of grip member 30. Each finger 32 has, at its distal end, a hooked portion 34. The grip members 28,30 are retained upon the rear face 8 of the badge 2 by respective resiliently flexible connections 36, 39 which extend from anchor points 37 upon the rear face 8 of the badge 2. Each grip member 28,30 is provided with a respective actuation button 38,40 remote from the fingers 32 which projects over the peripheral edge 10 of the badge 2. The front face 6 may be provided with a recessed portion (not shown) to enable a sticker or the like to be positioned thereupon.

Fig 7a and 7b show the initial relationship between the grip members 28,30 and the rear face 8 of the badge 2. In the position shown the hooked portions 34 curve through an angle of around 180 degrees and thus the hooked portions 34 of opposing grip members 28,30, as shown in Fig 7b, substantially confine a space 44 about an axis A-A, said space 44 being both substantially parallel to the rear face 8 and perpendicular to the fingers 32. The application of a force to the buttons 38, 40 in the directions indicated by arrows B (Fig 7d.) results in the hooked portions 34 of the fingers 32 upon respective grip members 28,30 moving apart. Access is thus granted to space 44, thereby permitting a fold of material 24 to be introduced into the space 44. By releasing the force on the buttons 38,40 the grip members 28, 30 and flexible projections 36,39 return to their initial state and the material 24 is gripped between the hooked portions 34 of the respective grip members 28,30.

The embodiments hereinbefore described are given as illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An attachment device having a body comprising a front face, a rear face and a peripheral edge, first and second opposing jaw members being arranged on said rear face, said jaw members being resiliently urged together into a closed position and being arranged whereby, in an open position, material can be inserted between the jaw members in a direction transverse to the body of the badge.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the body is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises a resiliently deformable member carried by a deformable cover member.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the jaw members may be defined by said resiliently deformable member.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the jaw members comprise free ends which are urged into engagement with one another to retain material therebetween.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the free ends include a plurality of intermeshing teeth, serration's or the like.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the jaw members oppose one another along a line on the rear face of the body.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the line bisects the rear face of the body.

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein groove or indent projecting into the body is provided along said line.

10. A device according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the jaw members extend fully across the rear face of the body parallel to said line.

11. A device according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the jaw members extend partially across the rear face of the body parallel to said line.

12. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body has a generally planar front face.

13. A badge comprising a body having a front face and a rear face, said rear face carrying a pair of opposing grip members, said grip members being resiliently urged together into a closed position and being arranged whereby, in an open position, material can be inserted between the grip members in a direction transverse to the body of the badge.

14. A badge according to claim 13 wherein the opposing grip members comprise, in part, a plurality of intermeshing fingers.

15. A badge according to claim 14 wherein the fingers have hooked portions at their distal ends.

16. A badge according to claim 15 wherein the hooked portions intermesh about an axis both parallel to the rear face of the body and perpendicular to the fingers.

17. A badge substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 4 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

17. A badge according to any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the opposing grip members are retained upon the rear face of said body by a plurality of flexible connections which extend from anchor points upon the rear face.

18. A badge according to claim 17 wherein the opposing grip members and flexible connections, when acted upon by sufficient force, co-operate to move the jaw members into the open position.

19. A badge according to any of claims 13 to 18 in which the body of the badge is substantially planar.

20. An attachment device according to any of claims 1 to 12 in which the device is a badge or like article for attachment to clothing.

21. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 1 to 3b of the accompanying drawings.

22. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 4 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

23. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 7a to 7h of the accompanying drawings.

24. A badge substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 1 to 3b of the accompanying drawings.

25. A badge substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 4 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

26. A badge substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 7a to 7h of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows cSs 1. An attachment device having a resiliently deformable body comprising a front face, a rear face and a peripheral edge, first and second opposing jaw members being arranged on said rear face, said jaw members being resiliently urged together into a closed position by the resilience of the body and being arranged whereby, in an open position, material can be inserted between the jaw members in a direction transverse to the body of the

2. A device according to claim I wherein the body is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the free ends include a plurality of intermeshing teeth. serration's or the like .

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein groove or indent projecting into th body is provided along said line.

13. An attachment device according to any of claims 1 to 12 in which the device is a badge or like article for attachment to clothing.

14. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 1 to 3b of the accompanying drawings.

15. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 4 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

16. A badge substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs 1 to 3b of the accompanying drawings.