CA2005837A1

CA2005837A1 - Clothing button guard

Info

Publication number: CA2005837A1
Application number: CA002005837A
Authority: CA
Inventors: James A. Hardin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-06
Filing date: 1989-12-18
Publication date: 1990-09-06
Also published as: US4918791A

Abstract

CLOTHING BUTTON GUARD
Abstract of the Disclosure A guard which encloses clothing buttons during cleaning operations. The guard includes a cup-shaped container with a slot which allows the guard to slide over the button. A cap may be releasably secured to the container to completely enclose the button and protect it from damage.

Description

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CLOT~}ING BUTTON GUARD
Summary of the Invention The invention relates to a guard for clothin~ buttons which protec-ts the buttons from damage during commercial cleaning operations.
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A recurrent problem in the commercial cleaning ~ -,~ .
business i~ the damage often caused to the clothing buttons during cleaning. While most buttons are not affected by detergents or any dry cleaning Eluids, constant rapid ~.
tumbling often causes the buttons to contact the walls of ;~
the cleaning tank where they are easily chipped or broken.
Commercial cleaners currently protect clothing but-tons `~
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from damage by wrapping -them in aluminum foil prior to cleaning. Other cleaners remove the bu-ttons prior to `~
cleaning then replace them afterwards. ~oth processes are ~ ~' :
time-consuming and create additional expense wh`ich is normally borne by the garment owner. Additionally, foil wrapping is not totally effective in prevent ~utton damage, while removal risks loss oE -the but-tons or even a switching with different garments.
The button guard of this invention includes a cup-shaped container which has a longi-tudinal slot in its side wall. The container slides over the button via the slot to enclose the button and protect it from damage. A cap may then be releasably secured to the container to completely enclose the button in -the container.

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Accordingly, it is an object oP this invention to - ~`
. ~ .:..: :, provide for a guard which protects clothing buttons from -~

damage during cleaning. ,~
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Another object is to provide for a button guard which may be rapidly fixed abou-t -the button and which is easily ` -and readily detachable after use.
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Another object is to provide Eor an economical yuard which completely encloses -the bu-tton during cleaning.
Other objects will become apparent upon a reading of the Eollowing description. ~ ;, Brief Description of the Drawin 5 .' A preferred embodiment of the invention has been depicted for illustrative purposes only wherein: ;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view oE a button and the guard prior to connection. ;;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the button and yuard after connection. ~ - ;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the button and guard after securement of the cap.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of -~ ~
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Fig. 3.

Descri~tion of the Preferred Embodiment - ~ ., :
The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to -the precise form disclosed. I-t is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and prac-tical use to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to the button guard of this invention which is used to protect a clDthing but-ton 8 from damage during cl eaning . Bu-tton 8 is sewn -to garment 9 in a conven-tional manner and is attached to the garment by thread 12.
Button guard 10 is preferably cup-shaped and is formed of molded plastic or similar material which is resistent to ; , . ", deteriora-tion by detergents and dry cleanin~ fluids. Guard 10 is generally cup-shaped and includes continuous side /`

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wall 14 and bottom wall 16. A cap 18 may be pivotally ~:
connected to side wall 14 throuyh an in-tegral hinge 20, commonly referred to as a "living hinye". Side wall 14 has a lonyitudinal slot 22 which may have a bevelled or rounded upper edye 24 as shown. Cap 18 preferably includes annular projection 26 which allows the cap to be releasably secured to guard 10 in a snap-interlock fashic)n.
Fiys. 1-3 illustrate the use of button yuard 10. : .:
Guard 10 is positioned as shown in Fig. 2 with slot 22 aligned wi-th -thread 12 and then slid over button 8 with the thread 12 extendiny through slot 22 (Fig. 2). With the ~:
button contained inside of yuard 10, cap 18 is snap-fi-tted onto the guard to completely enclose the button 8 therein (Fig. 3) and protect the bu-tton from damage duriny cleaning. To remove guard 10 after cleaning, the above process is reversed.
It is understood that the invention is not limited to ~.
the details above-given, but may be modified within the scope oE the following claims. ;:
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Claims

1. A guard for protecting a clothing button, said guard comprising a container having a side wall and an end wall to define an enclosure means for surrounding a clothing button, said side wall having a longitudinal slot formed therein to allow said clothing button to be slid into said enclosure means, and a cap releasably secured to said guard side wall at a top edge thereof wherein said clothing button is virtually surrounded by said guard.

2. The guard of Claim 1 wherein said cap is connected to said side all by an integral hinge part.

3. A method of safeguarding a clothing button during cleaning, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a guard having a side wall and an end wall to define an enclosure;
forming a longitudinal slot in said guard side wall;
sliding said button into said enclosure with a garment connecting thread of said button fitted in said slot; and releasably securing a cap to said guard at a top edge of said side wall to completely enclose the button within the guard.