Button assembly with removable cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10925352-B2
Application number	US-201916505897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2019
Priority date	Jul 11, 2018
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A button assembly includes a top assembly, an attachment body, and a resilient member. The top assembly includes a cap and a locking ring defining a receiving area, and the locking ring includes a top protrusion extending into the receiving area. The attachment body includes a locking feature that includes a body protrusion and a notched portion. The resilient member is located between the cap and the attachment body such that the cap is movable toward the attachment body. In some examples, the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning the top protrusion of the locking ring with the notched portion of the locking feature, pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body, and rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion of the locking ring is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A button assembly comprising:
a top assembly comprising a cap and a locking ring defining a receiving area, the locking ring comprising a top protrusion extending into the receiving area;
an attachment body comprising a locking feature, the locking feature comprising a body protrusion and a notched portion; and
a resilient member located between the cap and the attachment body such that the cap is movable toward the attachment body,
wherein the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning the top protrusion of the locking ring with the notched portion of the locking feature, pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body, and rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion of the locking ring is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.

2. The button assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is on the top assembly.

3. The button assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is on the attachment body.

4. The button assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap defines a cap cavity, and wherein the locking ring is retained within the cap cavity.

5. The button assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking ring comprises a central axis, and wherein the top protrusion extends inwardly from an inner surface of the locking ring towards the central axis.

6. The button assembly of claim 5 , wherein the top protrusion further defines a receiving recess that is configured to receive the body protrusion of the locking feature when the top assembly is engaged with the attachment body.

7. The button assembly of claim 5 , wherein the top protrusion of the locking ring is a first top protrusion, and wherein the locking ring further comprises a second top protrusion opposite from the first top protrusion and a pair of recessed areas on opposing portions of the locking ring between the first top protrusion and the second top protrusion.

8. A button assembly comprising:
a top assembly comprising a top protrusion and a cap, wherein the cap defines a receiving area, and wherein the top protrusion extends into the receiving area;
an attachment body comprising a locking feature, the locking feature comprising a body protrusion and a notched portion; and
a resilient member located between the top assembly and the attachment body such that the top assembly is movable toward the attachment body,
wherein the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning the top protrusion with the notched portion of the locking feature, pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body, and rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.

9. The button assembly of claim 8 , wherein the top assembly further comprises a locking ring positioned within the receiving area and comprising the top protrusion.

10. The button assembly of claim 8 , wherein the top protrusion defines a receiving recess between the top protrusion and the cap within the receiving area, and wherein the receiving recess is configured to receive the body protrusion of the locking feature when the top assembly is engaged with the attachment body.

11. The button assembly of claim 8 , wherein the resilient member is on the top assembly.

12. The button assembly of claim 8 , wherein the resilient member is on the attachment body.

13. The button assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an alignment guide configured to orient the top assembly relative to the attachment body.

14. The button assembly of claim 8 , wherein the attachment body comprises a collet and a slug, wherein the collet comprises the locking feature, and wherein the slug is configured to engage with a garment fastener.

15. A method of assembling a top button comprising:
positioning a top assembly relative to an attachment body, wherein the top assembly comprises a receiving area and a top protrusion within the receiving area, wherein the attachment body comprises a locking feature comprising a body protrusion and a notched portion, and wherein positioning the top assembly comprises aligning the top protrusion with the notched portion of the locking feature;
pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body; and
rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising supporting the attachment body relative to a covering material by engaging the attachment body with a garment fastener such that a portion of the covering material is retained between the attachment body and the garment fastener.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the locking feature of the attachment body overlaps the covering material such that the attachment body remains attached to the garment fastener even if the top assembly is disengaged from the attachment body.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the top assembly further comprises a cap that defines the receiving area.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body comprises compressing a resilient member positioned between the top assembly and the attachment body.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the top assembly relative to the attachment body comprises positioning the top assembly in a predefined positioned defined by an alignment guide.

Assignees

• Ykk Corp

Inventors

• Lecompte Chuck G
• Brock Garland Jesse
• Sharp Jonathan H
• Butsch Joshua T

Classifications

• A44B1/14 Primary

  with replaceable {or protective} coverings {(removable fabric coverings A44B1/123; sleeve-links concealing a sewed-on button A44B5/007)} · CPC title

• A44B17/0064

  Details · CPC title

• A44B17/0041 Primary

  Press-button fasteners consisting of two parts (A44B17/0029 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A44B1/28

  with shank and counterpiece · CPC title

• A44B1/06

  Assembling of buttons (covering by braiding D04D) · CPC title