FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a button.

In particular, the button according to the present invention is of the type with through holes, through which a thread is passed to attach the button to an article.

The button, according to the present invention, is mainly applied in the clothing sector, even if different applications are not excluded. A preferred embodiment provides the use of the button, according to the invention, on shirts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buttons with different shapes, sizes and applications are known.

Buttons made of different materials are also known, such as plastic, metal, mother-of-pearl, ivory and others, with two or more through holes through which, during use, the sewing thread is inserted.

These buttons usually have a discoidal shape and are classified according to the size of their diameter, also called“ligne” in the field, with a uniform thickness comprised between 3 and 5 mm, and the thickness is an indication of the strength and quality of the button.

Buttons called“cups” are also known, which have a roundish convex surface facing toward the article and an opposite concave surface facing toward the outside; the surfaces are made so as to maintain a substantially constant thickness throughout the entire button.

It is also known to make, on the surface, during use, a recess facing toward the outside, in correspondence with which the through holes are made. The recess protects the thread which would otherwise protrude from the central part of the button and would be damaged.

Despite the recess, however, the thread remains slightly protruding and wears with use.

Furthermore, the presence of the recess in the button structurally weakens the button in the very zone where it is most stressed, that is, the connection zone between the button and the article, between the through holes.

One disadvantage of known buttons is the difficulty in ironing the articles of clothing at the attachment points of the buttons with the risk of damaging or detaching the button by stressing or tearing the attachment thread or the article, and not accurately ironing the article around the buttons.

Another disadvantage is that known buttons make buttoning operations difficult due to the small space between the article and the button, and the disproportion between the size of the eyelet of the article and the thickness of the button. This can cause the button to be forced into the respective eyelet of the article.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a button which is easy and quick to button into the eyelet of the article without effort.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a button which allows to simplify the ironing operations of the article on which it is attached.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a button which does not cause the connection thread which is associated with it to protrude from the surface facing toward the outside, so as to protect the thread from possible rubbing and make the button more aesthetically pleasing.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a button which is more resistant than known buttons.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a button according to the present invention is provided with a first surface facing, during use, toward the article to which the button is connected and a second surface, opposite the first surface and facing, during use, toward the outside.

The button is also provided with a plurality of through holes through the first and the second surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the button is defined by a discoidal portion, comprised between the first surface and the second surface, and by a convexity protruding from the discoidal portion and made in a single body with the discoidal portion.

The convexity, advantageously, confers greater strength and therefore a sign of greater quality of the button.

The convexity also allows, when in use, to distance the button from the surface to which it is applied, facilitating the buttoning operations of the article.

Furthermore, the presence of the convexity facilitates the ironing operations around the button.

According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the button is provided with at least one groove made in the second surface and which connects together at least two of the holes.

The function of the groove is to contain the thread, which is usually made to pass through the through holes, retracted in order not to damage it due to wear or sliding.

Furthermore, the at least one groove is positioned directly on the side opposite the convexity. This determines an increase in the resistance and rigidity of the button since, in the very zone where there would be a reduction of the resistant section due to the groove, the convexity is present. In fact, the convexity allows to have substantial uniformity of thickness in every zone of the button itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a view of the top of a button according to one embodiment of the invention;

- fig. 2 is a view from below of fig.1 ;

- fig. 3 is a lateral view of fig. l ;

- fig. 4 is a lateral section view along the line IV-IV of fig. 2 of the button in a condition of use;

- fig. 5 is a three-dimensional section view of fig. 4.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

A button 10 according to the present invention is provided with a first surface 11 and a second surface 12 opposite the first surface 11.

The first surface 11 faces, during use, toward an article A, to which the button 10 is connected for example by means of a thread F, while the second surface 12 is facing toward the outside.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the button 10 is provided with a plurality of through holes 13 through the first surface 11 and the second surface 12. The through holes 13 develop transversely, in this case orthogonally, to the first surface 11 and the second surface 12.

According to the embodiments of figs. 1, 2 and 5, the button 10 is provided with four through holes 13.

According to variant embodiments, the button 10 is provided with two through holes 13.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the button 10 has a discoidal shape, that is, axial-symmetric.

According to variants, the shape of the button 10 can also be rectangular, square or any other kind suitable for the field of application.

According to one embodiment, the button 10 can be made of mother-of-pearl.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the button 10 has an axis of symmetry Y with respect to which the button 10 is axial-symmetric.

According to a possible solution, the through holes 13 have axes of development substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry Y.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the button 10 is provided with a convexity 14 made protruding from the first surface 1 1. According to one embodiment of the invention, the convexity 14 is in a single body with the button 10.

According to a further embodiment, the button 10 can be made by molding.

According to a possible solution, the convexity 14 can be cone shaped.

According to a possible variant embodiment, the convexity can have a spherical cap or arched cap shape, for example with a half-moon shape, with the convexity facing toward the outside.

According to one embodiment, the cone-shaped convexity 14 has an angle at the top of the cone comprised between 120° and 170°, preferably between 140° and 160°.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the cone-shaped convexity 14 has a rounded apex 15. This guarantees that when the button is in contact with a user it will not cause problems.

The apex 15 can have a radius of curvature R1 comprised between 2 mm and 7 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm.

According to a possible solution, the convexity 14 is provided, in correspondence with the first surface 11, with a rounded portion 16. The rounded portion 16 can have a radius of curvature R2 comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm.

According to a possible embodiment, the button 10 is defined by a discoidal portion 17, comprised between the first surface 11 and the second surface 12, and by the convexity 14 protruding from the discoidal portion 17. In particular, it can be provided that the discoidal portion 17 is provided with the first surface 1 1 and the second surface 12.

The discoidal portion 17 has a first diameter D1 and the convexity 14 has a maximum second diameter D2 comprised between 0.6 and 0.8 times the first diameter D 1.

According to a possible embodiment, the discoidal portion 17 can have the first diameter D1 comprised between 7.5 mm and 20.5 mm, corresponding to a ligne comprised between 12 and 32.

According to a possible solution, the discoidal portion 17 has a first thickness S I while the convexity 14 has a second thickness S2 or height, which is comprised between 0.2 and 1 , preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 times the first thickness S 1.

According to a possible solution, the convexity 14 has its apex 15 in correspondence with the center of the button 10, that is, of the discoidal portion 17.

According to a further embodiment, the through holes 13 are made in correspondence with the convexity 14. In this way, it is possible to guarantee that the button 10 has a high resistance to stresses.

Furthermore, the positioning of the through holes 13 in correspondence with the convexity 14 facilitates the ironing operations allowing for example the iron to reach even portions of the article A located under the button 10.

According to possible solutions, the button 10 is provided with at least one groove 18, in this case two grooves 18 made in the second surface 12, and which connects at least two of the through holes 13 together.

The function of the groove 18 is to incorporate in the thickness of the button 10 the thread F which is made to pass through the through holes 13, so as to protect the thread F from damage and wear and to make the button 10 more aesthetically pleasing.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the groove 18 has a depth comprised between 0.5 and 1 times the second thickness S2.

The depth is suitably sized to avoid the structural weakening of the button 10.

According to a possible solution, the groove 18 has a rectilinear development.

In particular, it can be provided that the groove 18 has a development according to the diameter of the discoidal portion 17.

According to a possible embodiment, if the button 10 has four through holes 13, it can be provided that pairs of through holes 13, diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of symmetry Y, are connected to each other by respective grooves 18.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, if the button 10 comprises four through holes 13, the button 10 comprises two grooves 18 intersecting each other, that is, defining a cross shape.

According to a possible variant embodiment, if there are four through holes 13, there can be four grooves 18 which can connect the holes 13 two by two without intersecting in the center of the button 10, that is, they define a square shaped frame.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the button is provided with at least one incision 19 made on the bottom of the respective groove 18.

The incision 19 allows to obtain a correct positioning of the thread F in the groove 18 and through the through holes 13.

The incision 19 can be positioned in correspondence with the center line of the groove 18.

According to a possible solution, not shown, the second surface 12 can be provided with a concavity which defines a further recess protecting the thread F from damage.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the button as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of button, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.