Replacable Clothing Fastener Apparatus

The present invention generally relates to fasteners and more specifically to replaceable clothing fastener apparatus.

A clothing fastener can join two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or sliding through an opening of clothing. Clothing fasteners can be made of plastic, metal, wood, mother-of-pearl, or other similar materials. Clothing fasteners come in a variety of cosmetic designs and can match the user's aesthetic style. Clothing fasteners also appear in many different shapes and sizes. A clothing fastener's precise placement and secure attachment can ensure the shirt maintains its tailored silhouette while providing ease of wear.

The various embodiments of the present apparatus contain several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described here.

One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that in current fastening apparatuses other than the present embodiments, any changes to the fastener require that the fastener be removed from the clothing. For example, a button of a user's shirt is directly sewn onto the shirt. If a clothing owner wants to change out the button appearance, for example the button face, the previous button must be removed, and a new button is sewn onto the clothing. The present embodiments solve this problem by using a multi-component button that allows for modular interchangeable parts. The present embodiments thus advantageously enable the changing of aesthetic feature of the fastener without unfastening the clothing. Additionally, the modular construction of the fastener allows for integration with electronic technology. The present embodiments provide these advantages and enhancements, as described below.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for attaching to a clothing, the apparatus comprising: a front element a middle element, wherein the middle element comprises a hollow washer element, a base element, wherein the base element comprises a base element protrusion configured to penetrate a hole in a clothing, wherein the base element protrusion fits within the hollow washer element, and wherein the base element attaches to the middle element, wherein the front element attaches to the middle element, the base element, or both the middle element and the base element.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the front element comprises a front element protrusion.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element is detachable from the rest of the apparatus and can be replaced by another front element.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element protrusion interfaces with the middle element or base element.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the hollow washer element comprises an internal washer element threading.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the hollow middle element comprises a protrusion.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the hollow middle element protrusion comprises an internal protrusion threading.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base element comprises a hollow base element protrusion, wherein the hollow base element protrusion comprises an internal base element threading and an external base element threading.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element comprises a front element protrusion, wherein the front element protrusion comprises a front element protrusion threading that can interface with the internal base element threading.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the middle element protrusion comprises an internal middle element protrusion threading, wherein the internal middle element protrusion threading can interface with the external base element threading.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises a battery.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the computing element comprises a component that can remotely interact with a remote computational device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the computing element comprises a printed circuit board (PCB).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises a near-field communication (NFC) module.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base element is physically connected to a pedometer.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base element is physically connected to a blood oxygen sensor.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base element is physically connected to an infrared (IR) sensor.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element comprises an imaging device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the imaging device comprises a camera.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element comprises a light emitting device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED).

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus is a clothing button.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus is a cuff link.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element attaches to the middle element.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element attaches to the base element.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the front element attaches to both the middle element and the base element.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of attaching an apparatus to a clothing, the method comprising: (a) providing a base element of an apparatus, wherein the base element comprises a base element protrusion, the base element protrusion comprising an internal base element protrusion threading and an external base element protrusion threading; (b) inserting the base element protrusion through a hole in a clothing, (c) attaching a middle element of the apparatus to the base element, wherein the middle element comprises a hollow middle element protrusion that comprises a middle element threading, wherein the hollow middle element protrusion comprises a larger radius than the base element protrusion, wherein the attaching comprises inserting the base element protrusion through the hollow middle element protrusion, and threading the external base element threading to the middle element threading; (d) connecting a front element of an apparatus to the base element, wherein the front element comprises a front element protrusion that comprises a front element protrusion threading, wherein the front element protrusion comprises a smaller radius than the base element protrusion, wherein the connecting comprises inserting the front element protrusion through the hollow middle element protrusion and into the base element protrusion, and threading the front element protrusion threading with internal base element protrusion.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the method further comprises disconnecting the front element of the apparatus from the base element, and connecting a second front element to the apparatus, wherein the connecting the second front element is performed without removing the base element protrusion out of the clothing.

The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers label elements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers are reproduced below in connection with the discussion of the corresponding drawing features.

Turning now to the drawings, replaceable clothing fasteners in accordance with embodiments of the invention are provided. In many embodiments, replaceable clothing fasteners may attach to clothing and may allow for the clothing to be fastened. Generally, clothing may include multiple components of cloth that can be fastened together. For example, a dress shirt may include one or more fasteners (e.g., buttons) that allow the dress shirt to be closed around the wearer. This fastening of cloth allows for the clothing to stay on the wearer. Similarly, a dress shirt may have sleeves that may be opened or closed using a fastener. Conventional systems of fastening may include a hole in a first piece of cloth and a button attached to a second piece of cloth, where the button may be inserted through the hole. However, these conventional systems result in a number of shortcomings. A conventional system of fasteners relies on a button being directly sewn onto a cloth. As such, a given button, and its accompanying aesthetic and functional features, typically needs to be directly sewn onto the cloth in order for the fastener to work. Due to this limitation, to change the button's appearance, the button has to be removed from the cloth, and a new button can be attached to it. In contrast, the present embodiments provide a fastener that can be appended to the cloth and the aesthetic feature of the button can be changed without removing the fastener from the clothing.

In many embodiments, replaceable clothing fasteners may include a front element. The front element may include an aesthetic portion of the fastener. This front element may have a cosmetic design, such a logo, or other shape that is displayed on the clothing. The front element may include a protrusion that allows the front element to interface with other elements of the fastener, and can attach the front element to the rest of the fastener. In various embodiments, replaceable clothing fasteners may also include a middle element. The middle element may allow the fastener to fasten to clothing by sandwiching the clothing between the middle element and a base element. The middle element may include threading that can interface with threading on the base element. In several embodiments, replaceable clothing fasteners may further include a base element. The base element may allow the fastener to fasten to clothing by sandwiching clothing between the base element and the middle element. The base element may include threading that allows it to interface with the front element and the middle element. The base element may include a hollow protrusion that has threading on the interior and exterior of the hollow protrusion. The interior and exterior threading may allow the base element to interface with both the front element middle element, by for example, having the middle element interface with the exterior threading, and having the front element interface with the interior threading.

The base element may also include electronic technology, such as sensors, instruments, batteries, or circuit boards that allow for technology to be integrated into the fastener apparatus.

Additionally, conventional fastening systems are unable to interface with computers, or other similar technology, or provide any biometric data of the wearer. Replaceable clothing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide a platform for integrating technology into clothing. As clothing fasteners are a component of many clothing, a fastening apparatus that is integrated with sensors or other technological components can allow a wearer to retrofit existing clothing and turn the clothing into “smart” clothing that can be used to sense characteristics of a user. Replaceable clothing fasteners may be integrated with electronic technology. These integrated electronic technologies can, for example, allow for biometric data of the wearer to be generated. As described herein, replaceable clothing fasteners may allow for modular replacement or interchangeability of electronic components, and the replacement of changing of electronic components may be performed without needing to unfasten the clothing. For example, in some embodiments, the clothing fastener may include a processor, a sensor, and a communication module that allow the fastener to gather and share data with a mobile device. In an alternative embodiment, the clothing fastener may have sensors that provide standalone utility like a light that would allow the user to illuminate dark areas with or without a connection to a mobile device. The light could be, but is not limited to, a light emitting diode (LED), fluorescent lighting, halogen lighting, or any other suitable light source. In an additional embodiment, the clothing fastener may contain a near-field communication module. In an alternative embodiment, the clothing fastener may include an imaging device and/or camera. In an alternative embodiment, the clothing fastener may include a pedometer. In an alternative embodiment, the clothing fastener may include an infrared sensor. In an alternative embodiment, the clothing sensor may contain a blood oxygen sensor. Any of the above embodiments may be combined to create further embodiments. Examples include, but are not limited to, an embodiment that contains both an imaging device and a light. More than two embodiments can be combined and further embodiments are not limited by the number of previous combinations. Replaceable clothing apparatus with smart connections in accordance with embodiments of the invention are further discussed below.

Replaceable Clothing Apparatus with Smart Connections

In some embodiments, the replaceable clothing apparatus can connect to one or more smart devices. These connections may allow the replaceable clothing apparatus to transfer data, transmit and/or receive commands, and/or monitor sensors from the smart device.

An example of a high-level overview of the replaceable clothing fastener in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in. The replaceable clothing apparatus may be attached to a variety of clothing including, but not limited to, shirts, jeans, jackets, suits, tuxedos, pants, etc. For example, a replaceable clothing apparatus may be attached to any piece of clothing that incorporates a fastener, where the fastener may be replaced by the replaceable clothing apparatus. In reference to, the replaceable clothing apparatusmay replace any of the fasteners (e.g., a button) of the clothing (e.g., a shirt), as further described below.

In reference to, the replaceable clothing apparatusmay have connectionsto a device such as, but not limited to, a client devicein accordance with embodiments of the invention. In various embodiments, the connectionscan be any wireless connection that enables the replaceable clothing apparatusto communicate with the client device. For example, the connectionmay utilize

is a block diagram illustrating a base elementof a replaceable clothing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The base elementcarries the various elements that enable the apparatus to communicate with a device. Exemplary pieces of these elements include a battery, processing element, communication device, and sensor. It is not required that all of the exemplary pieces shown in the diagram be present for the apparatus to be operational. In one embodiment, the apparatus may act as an access key and therefore not include the sensorin said embodiment. In another embodiment, the apparatus may function as a small utility light and not have a processing elementor communication device. In some embodiments, the various elements are attached directly to the base element. In alternative embodiments the elements are connected to one another with only one or some of the elements being directly connected to the base element. Various configurations with combinations of the elements are described throughout this description but are not an exhaustive or limiting list of the possible embodiments.

The batterycan be any suitable battery that is able to interface with the elements located on the base element. In some embodiments, the batterymay be a separate battery pack that is separated from the apparatus and located somewhere on the user's person. In other embodiments, the batterycan be directly connected to the base element. The batterymay directly connect to the some or all of the communication device, processing element, and sensorin some embodiments. In alternative embodiments, the batterymay directly connect to only one element and the other elements draw power by connecting to that element. The batterymay be its own standalone component or an integrated piece of one of the other elements. The connection between the apparatus and the mobile device may be facilitated by a variety of different communication protocols and/or technologies which are further described below.

The communication devicemay allow the apparatus to connect with other smart devices. These connections allow the apparatus to transfer data, issue and receive commands, or monitor sensors from the smart device. The communication devicemay be housed directly on the base elementor be integrated onto another element. The communication devicemay not be included in some embodiments where connection between apparatus and a mobile deviceis not necessary. The communication devicecan be attached to the batterydirectly or indirectly through one of the other elements on the base element. The communication devicemay connect to the other elements via physical connection like wiring or through wireless connection.

The processing elementmay allow the apparatus to calculate and transfer data, or control other elements located on the base element, or any combination thereof. The processing elementmay directly connect to each other element on the base elementdirectly or indirectly. The processing elementmay connect to other elements through means of physical wiring or wireless connection. The processing elementmay not be included in some embodiments.

The sensormay provide additional data or functionality to the apparatus in various embodiments. In some embodiments the sensormay connect to the base elementdirectly. In additional embodiments, the sensormay be integrated into one of the other elements located on the base element. In alternative embodiments, the sensormay not be included. The sensormay connect to some elements via physical connection, wired connection or wireless connection. The connection between the sensorand each element on the base elementmay differ depending on the embodiment.

Mobile devicemay be a component that is physically separate from the apparatus. The mobile devicecan serve to provide instructions or data to the apparatus. The mobile devicecan be any device that can interface with the apparatus via a direct or indirect connection. These connections include, but are not limited to, physical connection, wired connection, and wireless connection For example, the physical connection may comprise a port (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) port), and a component that may plug into the port. The connection may comprise a wire that connects the mobile deviceto the apparatus. The connection may comprise wireless emitter or wireless receiver that can interact mobile deviceto the apparatus. The mobile deviceallows the user to provide direct instructions to the apparatus in certain embodiments. The mobile deviceallows the user to monitor data gathered by the apparatus in certain embodiments.

illustrates the apparatusconnected to the mobile devicevia a connection. The apparatuscontains one or more elements that allow connection between the apparatusand the mobile deviceto be made. In some embodiments the apparatuswill not need a connectionto the mobile device. The connectionmay be a physical, wired, or wireless connection between the apparatusand the mobile device. A non-exhaustive list of transferrable items from the connection includes data, instructions, or even power to be transferred between the apparatusand the mobile device. The mobile device can be any devicethat can interface with the apparatus. The mobile devicemay be a watch, laptop, or other device that is able to connect to the apparatusby physical, wired, or wireless communication. The mobile devicecan control the apparatusfunctionality via the connection in some embodimentslike toggling sensors on the apparatuson or off. The mobile devicecan also monitor data being sent from the apparatusin some embodiments.

illustrates potential locations for the replaceable clothing fastener apparatus. In an example embodiment, a shirthas the apparatusattached where a conventional fastener would be. The apparatuscan replace any of the conventional fasteners found on the shirt. Multiple apparatuscan be utilized on the same piece of clothing. Different embodiments of the apparatuscan be mixed and matched on one piece of clothingat the same time. Referencehighlights an alternative location to place the apparatuson the clothing. The apparatusis replacing what would be a conventional fastener found on the wrists of shirts.

illustrates a replaceable clothing fastener apparatusattached to a another piece of clothingin accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The apparatuscan be inserted to replace conventional clothing fasteners. Multiple apparatuscan be inserted on to the clothingto ensure that there is uniformity on the clothing design. Different embodiments of the apparatuscan be utilized simultaneously on one piece of clothingfor different functionality, design, or both. The apparatuswould replace the conventional fastener by removing the conventional fastener and inserting the apparatusinto its place. Once replaced, the apparatuswould fasten the clothingclosed.