Button Fastener
AssigneeButtonon LLC
InventorJustin O. Shafer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener for quickly affixing a button with at least a hole to a fabric and a method for manufacturing the fastener are disclosed. The fastener comprises a needle, one or preferably multiple ratchets, and a locking hub—all connected by the primary thread and the secondary thread. Attaching a button can be quick and easy with a lock that works as a beginning-and-ending knot, formed by a ratchet and the locking hub. When an embodiment of the fastener comprises multiple ratchets, a break point may be provided between two ratchets to quickly rid of the needle and the primary thread after the button is attached to the fabric. An embodiment with multiple ratchets may also accommodate buttons of various thicknesses and sizes.
Claims22
A fastener for attaching a button with a hole to a fabric comprising:
- a) a needle for penetrating the fabric and passing through the hole of the button;
- b) a primary thread coupled to the needle;
- c) a plurality of linearly coupled ratchets each being tapered toward the needle and protruding away from the needle, the ratchets having:
- 1) a lead ratchet coupled to the primary thread,
- 2) an end ratchet, and
- 3) a break point between the lead and the end ratchets;
- d) a secondary thread coupled to the end ratchet;
- and
- e) a locking hub coupled to the secondary thread configured to allow the needle, the primary thread, and the ratchets to pass through and lock the ratchets by preventing the ratchets from backing out after the ratchets passing in a correct direction, wherein
- the break point is configured to easily detach the needle and the primary thread from the fastener after one of the ratchets that is not the lead ratchet is locked by the locking hub and the button is affixed to the fabric.
A method for manufacturing a fastener for attaching a button with a hole to a fabric, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a mold for the fastener that comprises:
- 1) a needle,
- 2) a primary thread coupled to the needle,
- 3) a plurality of linearly coupled ratchets each being tapered toward the needle and protruding away from the needle, the ratchets having:
- i) a lead ratchet coupled to the primary thread;
- ii) an end ratchet;
- and
- iii) a break point between the lead and the end ratchets,
- 4) a secondary thread coupled to the end ratchet, and
- 5) a locking hub coupled to the secondary thread configured to allow the needle, the primary thread, and the ratchets to pass through and lock the ratchets by preventing the ratchets from backing out after passing in a correct direction;
- and
- b) curing a resin in the mold, wherein
- the break point has a smallest diameter among the ratchets.
A one-piece fastener for attaching a button with a hole to a fabric comprising:
- a) a needle for penetrating the fabric and passing through the hole of the button;
- b) a primary thread coupled to the needle;
- c) a ratchet tapered toward while protruding away from the needle, and coupled to the primary thread;
- d) a secondary thread coupled to the ratchet;
- and
- e) a locking hub coupled to the secondary thread configured to allow the needle, the primary thread, and the ratchet to pass through and lock the ratchet by preventing the ratchet from backing out after the ratchet passing in a correct direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.