Flexible button
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRachel Marie McClay, Luke A. Pezzimenti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Concepts provided are directed to a flexible button that is bendable when exposed to a force. The flexible button in accordance herein has a tapered perimeter portion such that a thickness of a peripheral edge of the perimeter portion is less than a thickness of remaining portions of the flexible button. The low-profile of the flexible button allows the flexible button to easily slip through a respective button hole and to be more easily gripped by a user. Further, the flexible button in accordance with aspects herein provides higher breathability than conventional buttons of the same size by having voided portions on its perimeter portion.
Claims20
A flexible button comprising:
- a central portion having two or more threading openings and a first thickness;
- and
- a perimeter portion continuously extending from the central portion, wherein a peripheral edge of the perimeter portion is tapered such that a second thickness of the peripheral edge is less than the first thickness of the central portion, and wherein the flexible button comprises a Shore A durometer hardness value from about 80 to about 100;
- and
- one or more voided portions in the perimeter portion, wherein the one or more voided portions are spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the perimeter portion, and wherein the one or more voided portions extend completely through the flexible button.
An upper-body garment comprising:
- a torso portion;
- and
- a flexible button affixed to the torso portion, the flexible button comprising a Shore A durometer hardness value from about 80 to about 100:
- a central portion having two or more threading openings and a first thickness;
- a perimeter portion continuously extending from the central portion, wherein a peripheral edge of the perimeter portion is tapered such that a second thickness of the peripheral edge is less than the first thickness of the central portion;
- and
- one or more voided portions spaced from the peripheral edge of the perimeter portion, wherein the one or more voided portions extend completely through the flexible button.
A method for manufacturing a flexible button, comprising:
- preparing a mixture comprising at least 50% of a recycled thermoplastic material;
- and
- forming the flexible button from the mixture, the flexible button comprising:
- a central portion having two or more threading openings and a first thickness;
- and
- a perimeter portion continuously extending from the central portion, wherein a peripheral edge of the perimeter portion is tapered such that a second thickness of the peripheral edge is less than the first thickness of the central portion, wherein the flexible button comprises a Shore A durometer hardness value from about 80 to about 100;
- and
- one or more voided portions in the perimeter portion, wherein the one or more voided portions are spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the perimeter portion, and wherein the one or more voided portions extend completely through the flexible button.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.