ITEN ROLAND (CH)
| GB1197216A | 1970-07-01 | |||
| CH85264A | 1920-07-16 | |||
| US2598281A | 1952-05-27 | |||
| GB2373430A | 2002-09-25 |
| 1. | Cufflink comprising a head element (1) and an end portion (30) interconnected by an intermediate element (20) that is arranged to pass through a button hole (4), characterized in that said intermediate element (20) has at least a segment of its height shaped in the form of a button hole (4) and is arranged to restrain rotation of said element (20) when said segment is engaged in the button hole (4). |
| 2. | Cufflink according to claim 1 , characterized in that the intermediate element (20) is shaped in the form of a button hole (4) along its entire height. |
| 3. | Cufflink according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end portion (30) is rotatable in order to close the cufflink after having pushed it through at least one button hole (4). |
| 4. | Cufflink according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end portion (30) is rotatable by rotating the head element (1). |
| 5. | Cufflink according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the head element (1) actuates a further technical function when said head element (1) is rotated. |
| 6. | Cufflink according to claim 5, characterized in that said head element (1) is arranged to reveal a decoration or produce a noise when rotated. |
| 7. | Cufflink according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said segment of the intermediate element (20), has two flat sides with rounded ends. |
| 8. | In combination, a cufflink according to any preceding claim with a cuff having at least one button hole (4) in which the segment of the cufflink's intermediate element (20) fits. |
The present invention relates to a cufflink.
Cufflinks have already been described in different publications. In general, a conventional cufflink is constituted by a decorative head element, an intermediate element and an end portion as shown by Figures 1 to 3. The insertion of such conventional cufflinks through cuff button holes is however troublesome. The intermediate element and the end portion of the cufflink are easily rotated by accidental contact, posing a danger that the cufflink might fall off from the cuff and get lost. Furthermore, such cufflink is difficult to close without holding both its sides with the hands.
The aim of the present invention is propose a cufflink which can be tightly held inside a cuff button hole which will lead to easier closing of the cufflink and the possibility for further manipulations.
This aim is achieved by a cufflink as set out in claim 1. Said cufflink comprises a head element and an end portion interconnected by an intermediate element. Said intermediate element is arranged to pass through a button hole such that at least a segment of its height shaped in the form of a button hole is arranged to restrain turning of said element when said segment is engaged in the button hole.
The invention will be better understood thanks to the following detailed description of two embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- Figures 1a and 1b represent respectively a side view and a front view of a cufflink known from the prior art, said cufflink comprising a head element, an intermediate element and an end portion.
- Figures 2a and 2b represent respectively a top view and a bottom view of the cufflink of Figure 1a and 1b inserted through a cuff button hole.
- Figures 3a and 3b represent respectively a top view and a bottom view of the cufflink of Figures 2a and 2b with the head element turned to unfasten the cufflink.
- Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a cufflink according to a first embodiment of the present invention from the front side.
- Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the cufflink of Figure 4 from the rear side.
- Figure 6 represents a side view of a second embodiment of the cufflink.
- Figure 7 represents one side of a cuff showing the head element when the cufflink of Figure 4 or 6 has been inserted in at least one button hole.
- Figure 8 represents the other side of the cuff fitted with the cufflink of Figure 4 or 6 showing the end portion which has been rotated 90 degrees.
According to the first embodiment of the invention, the cufflink comprises a head element (1) and an end portion (30) interconnected by an intermediate element (20). This intermediate element (20) is shaped in the form of a button hole (4) along its entire height as shown by Figure 5, so it can fit tightly in a slit-like button hole.
The specific shape of this intermediate element (20), which in the illustrated example has two flat sides formed by rounded ends, restrains rotation of said element (20) when it is engaged in at least one button hole (4). Thus, it is possible to rotate the head element (1) which can be mounted on a thread (not shown) without turning the entire cufflink. Such rotation of the head element (1) can activate a further technical function, such as a noise or a change of decoration.
In a second embodiment as shown by Figure 6, the head element (1) and the end portion (30) of the cufflink are connected together by a linkage mechanism (40) so that the end portion (30) can be rotated when the head element (1) is rotated. The fitting of the cufflink is trouble free.
First, the intermediate element (20) with the end portion (30) aligned is pushed through the button hole (4). The intermediate element (20) then remains in alignment with the button hole (4) when the head element (1) is rotated as to turn the end portion (30) by 90 degrees, as shown in Figure 8, to hold the cufflink in place. This turning of the end portion (30) is greatly facilitated due to the fact that its intermediate element (20) is prevented from turning by its engagement in the button hole (4). The entire fitting of the cufflink can easily be done using only one hand.