INVENTOR

AMY JO LILLICH

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial Number 61/549,167, filed on October 19, 2011, titled MAGNETIC ASSEMBLY AND DISPLAY, which application is incorporated in its entirety by reference in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] 1. Field of the Invention.

[003] This application relates to a method and system for stacking interchangeable adornments to be worn by users on their body, person or clothing as an accessory item.

[004] 2. Related Art.

[005] Women and children, especially young girls, enjoy wearing accessories and adornments in their hair and on their clothing, including, but not limited to, bows and ribbons. These types of products can be expensive, and generally come in select colors, shapes and designs and are made to be worn for particular purposes. Not all adornments will match all clothing. Thus, girls and women often purchase a wide variety of accessories or adornments to be able to be coordinated. A need continues to exist for decorative accessories that can be utilized and worn in variously locations, on various body parts and on various types of clothing. A need further continues to exist for adornments to be interchangeable with respect to color, pattern and size to allow the adornments to be worn with different clothing, on different occasions, or to different events, all while allowing the adornments to color coordinate and match with other accessories worn by the user.

SUMMARY

[006] The present invention relates to the use of unique stacking magnets affixed to various decorative designs, such as ribbons, bows, flowers, to name a few, to create an interchangeable, multilayer, stackable adornment that may be worn by a person, on either her body or hair, or affixed to clothing, shoes or other accessory item. In one example, the product may include interchangeable bows comprised of multiple layers. The bows may be sold separately or as part of a set. A base magnet for attaching the stackable layers is provided that may be affixed to hats and headbands, hair clips, rubber bands, bracelets, necklaces, shoes, belts or other accessories. In one example, a unique system is provided that allow users to removeably affix the stackable adornments to flip flops or shoes.

[007] Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[008] The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

[009] Figure 1 illustrates one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system of the present invention, as used in a stacked bow arrangement.

[010] Figure 2 illustrates the back view of the stacked bow arrangement of Figure 1, which illustrates a clip magnetically affixed to the stacked bow arrangement.

[011] Figure 3 is an exploded illustration of the component parts of the stacked bow arrangement of Figure 1.

[012] Figure 4 illustrates a rear image of one of the stacked bows of Figure 1.

[013] Figure 5 illustrates the stacked bow arrangement with the rear clip and top disc removed.

[014] Figure 6 illustrates six magnets stacked, to demonstrate the use of the magnet assembly in connection with the present invention.

[015] Figure 7 is a grommet and magnet, which illustrates one implementation of the magnetic unit of the present invention.

[016] Figure 8 illustrates an assembled magnetic unit with the magnet positioned in the center of the grommet.

[017] Figure 9 illustrates one example of a stacked bow that may be utilized in the stacked bow arrangement illustrated in Figure 1. [018] Figure 10 illustrates the top side of one example of a stacked bow.

[019] Figure 11 illustrates the bottom side of one example of a stacked bow.

[020] Figure 12 illustrates three magnetic units joined by flexible cording.

[021] Figure 13 illustrates one example of the use of the magnetic units joined by the flexible cording to attach adornments to a shoe, for example.

[022] Figure 14 illustrates the adornment affixed to a shoe utilizing the magnetic assembly illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 above.

[023] Figure 15 illustrates an example of a stacked bow arrangement attached to a hat.

[024] Figure 16 illustrates an example of a headband having a magnetic unit affixed thereto for receiving a stacked bow assembly.

[025] Figure 17 illustrates the headband of Figure 16 having a stacked bows assembly affixed to the headband.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[026] Figure 1 illustrates one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system 100 of the present invention, as utilized in a stacked bow arrangement 105. The layered magnetic system 100, as will be further illustrated below, consists of stackable magnetic units 108 that permit items, such as bows 102 to be affixed to the magnetic units 108 to be stackable and interchangeable for adornment purposes.

[027] The layered magnetic system 100 may be utilized in a wide variety of applications to create various interchangeable adornments to be worn on a person's body, clothing and/or footwear, to name a few examples. As illustrated in Figure 1, one example of an implementation of the layered magnetic system may include stacked bows 102 that are affixed together by magnetic units 108. The stacked bow arrangement 105 may include at its back, as illustrated in Figure 2, a clip 106 for securing the bow arrangement to clothing, hair or other objects. In Figure 1, the stacked bow arrangements 105 includes four stacked bows 102 having magnetic units 108 affixed either through center of the bows or having magnetic units 108 affixed to both the front and back of the bows 102. An ornament disc 104 is further provided to cover the top exposed magnetic unit 108 on the center of the top stacked bow 102.

[028] Figure 2 illustrates the back view of the stacked bow arrangement 105 of Figure 1, which illustrates a clip 106 magnetically affixed to the stacked bow arrangement 105. Like the stacked bows 102, the method for securing the stacked bows 102 to a person may also be removeable and interchangeable. As such, the stacked bow arrangement 105 may be magnetically affixed to a number of different items, including a clip 106, as illustrated in Figure 2, which would permit the stacked bow arrangement 105 to be affixed easily, for example, to clothing or to the hair of a wearer.

[029] Figure 3 is an exploded illustration of the component parts of the stacked bow arrangement 105 of Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 3, the stacked bow arrangement 105 consists of four stacked bows 102 having magnetic units 108 positioned at the center of each stacked bow 108. Further included in the stacked bow arrangement 105 of Figure 1 is a clip 106 also having a magnetic unit 108 affixed to the clip 106 to allow the clip 106 to be removeably secured to the back of the stacked bow arrangement 105. Optionally, the stacked bow arrangement 105 may include an ornamental disc 104 having a magnet position on the back side of the disc 104 to affix the disc 104 on the top of and create a finished look on, the stacked bow arrangement 105.

[030] Figure 4 illustrates a rear image of one of the stacked bows 102 of Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 4 each stacked bow 102 also includes a magnetic unit 108 affixed through its center. Alternatively, the magnetic units 108 may be affixed to each side of the stacked bow 102 in a manner such that the magnets 125 (Figure 7) in the magnet units 108 arranged polar opposite to one another and attract one another when affixed to the bows 102.

[031] Figure 5 illustrates the stacked bow arrangement 105 with the rear clip 106 and top disc 104 removed. As illustrated in Figure 5, the stacked bows 102 are stacked together and secured through the magnetic units 108 positioned on each bow 102. The clip 106 includes a magnetic unit 108 that can be secured to the back of the stacked bow assembly 105. Similarly, a disc or other ornamental device 104 may be used having a magnet 125 (see Figure 7) positioned on the back of the disc 104, which can be placed upon the open front magnet on the bow assembly 105. The use of the disc 104 is optional.

[032] Figure 6 illustrates six magnet units 108 stacked together, absent any adornments attached to the magnetic units 108 to demonstrate the use of the magnet units 108 in assembled form to stack and connect adornments. As illustrated in Figure 6, the magnetic units 108 are affixed to one another in the same manner and in the same direction having one pole positioned on the top side the opposing magnetic pole on the bottom side of the assembly such that the units 108, when positioned and stacked, attract one another rather than repel one another.

[033] Figure 7 is a grommet 120 and magnet 125, which in one implementation is used to create the magnetic unit 108 of the present invention. The magnetic unit 108 may be, for example, comprised of a #2 (3/8") grommet and a 3/8" dia. x 1/16" thick Grade N42 - Nickel Plated magnet and epoxy resin. Depending on the product, the component may be made as an individual magnetic unit 108 that may then be secured, by glue for example, to the adornment. The magnetic unit 108 may be secured to opposing sides of an adornment or a hole may be punched in the adornment and the magnetic unit 108 may be is secured to the opening (in which case only one magnetic unit 108 is required to be used).

[034] To produce an individual magnetic unit 108, a grommet machine (not shown) may be utilized to compress the two pieces of the grommet 120 together. Once compressed, the magnet 125 may be positioned in the center hole of the grommet 125. The grommet machine may be utilized again to further press the grommet 125 to further maintain the magnet 125 in the hole of the grommet 120. The magnet 125 may also be glued with an adhesive, such as metal epoxy, to the adornment. The same adhesive may also be used to secure the magnetic unit 108 to an adornment, clip or other element used in the invention. As illustrated in Figure 8, the magnetic unit 108, once fully assembled is then enabled to be positioned on the adornments for purposes of stacking.

[035] Figure 9 illustrates one example of a stacked bow 102 that may be utilized in the stacked bow arrangement 105 illustrated in Figure 1. The stacked bow 102 is merely fabric constructed and arranged in the form of the bow which may be glued, taped or affixed together to create the bow. Thereafter, the magnetic units 108 may be assembled and affixed to the center of the bow to create the stacked bow 102 used in the stacked bow arrangement 105, or alternatively may be adhered to each side of the stack bow 102 in polar alignment.

[036] To construct the bow, ribbons are first cut to a specific length depending on the width of the ribbon, which also determines the size of the resulting product and creates a layered effect when stacked. Ribbons can be flat, curly or twisted to create different looks. The ribbon can then be placed in a stack of 3 or more individual ribbons of the same size. To hold the ribbons in place, a brad may be placed thru the center of the stack of ribbons. A template may be used to make the ribbons look like a star and then glued to the center to hold them in place. The "star" may then be folded such that each end of the ribbons is placed onto the brad, the brad is opened to hold them in place and then closed with a clear sticker, tape or other adhesive placed on top to additionally hold the ribbons in place, as illustrated in Figure 9.

[037] Once this process is completed, if the magnetic unit 108 is being placed in the center of the bow 102, a grommet machine may be used, with, for example, a 3/8" hole punch die to punch out the brad and make a 3/8" circle. The grommet machine may then be used to place a 3/8" grommet 120 in the hole effectively holding the bow together. Once this process is completed a magnet 125 is placed in the grommet and smashed in further with an arbor press. In this application, the magnetic unit 108 is formed in conjunction with the formation of the stacked bow 102.

[038] Each magnet unit 108 (stand alone or secured in a product) may be secured with a small amount of epoxy resin, or other adhesive, on the back side to ensure the magnet 125 does not come loose or fall out. Once the epoxy resin is in place, at least one side of the unit can be marked with, for example, a logo sticker for purposes of identifying the magnetic poles and/or for branding or creating additional ornamental product features.

[039] Figures 10 and 11 illustrates a stacked bow 102 having a magnetic assembly 108 placed through a hole in the center of the bow. Figure 10 illustrates the top side and Figure 11 illustrates a bottom side. Thus, the stacked bow 102 includes only one magnetic assembly 108. The grommet 120 is secured at its perimeter to a hole punched in the bow, as described above.

[040] Alternatively, magnet units 108 may be positioned on each side of the adornment to enable the adornments to be stacked. When two magnetic units 108 are used, the magnets 125 are positioned in a manner that attracts one to the other and that will allow the finished adornment to have one pole at the top of the bow and another magnetic pole position at the bottom of the bow to attract other magnets in a stacked assembly 105.

[041] Figures 12 and 13 illustrates three magnetic units 108 joined by flexible cording 130, which is another example of how the stacked magnet units 108 may be used to affix themselves through the stacking mechanism to clothing, such as shoes 115, for example. [042] In this implementation, the cording between the magnet units 108 allow the magnet units 108 to be stacked while being wrapped around an element such as the strap of the flip flop shoe 115. As illustrated in Figure 13, the center magnet unit 108a may be positioned where the adornment is desired to be located on the shoe 115. The cord between the center magnet 108a and one end magnet unit 108b may then be used to wrap around the strap of the flip flop and allow the magnetic unit 108b to be attached atop the magnetic unit 108a. The magnetic unit 108c may then also wrap the cord around the strap of the shoe 115 and attach atop of the magnetic unit 108b creating a stack 108a, b or c that permits an adornment to be affixed to a shoe 115. Figure 14 illustrates the adornment 105 affixed to a shoe utilizing a magnetic unit assembly illustrated and described in Figures 12-13 above. In a similar manner that the corded magnetic unit 108 a, b and c can be affixed to the strap of a flip flop, the same unit may also affix to other articles, like shoe laces, belts, clothing straps, etc.

[043] Many other uses of the magnetic units are also possible. Including the attachment of adornments to clothing, hats, socks, bracelets, necklaces, animal collars and clothing. Figures 15-17 illustrate other such examples. Figure 15 illustrates an example of a stacked bow arrangement 105 attached to a hat 130. Figure 16 illustrates an example of a headband 140 having a magnetic unit 108 affixed thereto for receiving a stacked bow assembly 105. Figure 17 illustrates the headband 140 of Figure 16 having a stacked bows assembly 105 affixed to the headband.

[044] By using the magnetic unit 108 within each component, individuals can choose an accessory, multiple layers and optional adornments to create and build various stacked bow assemblies. This allows for an endless number of combinations to create bow assemblies to accessorize for various events, occasions and color coordinate.

[045] The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.