Functional Decorative Brooch Skirt Weights

Abstract

This patent discloses the design elements to manufacture functional decorative brooch skirt weights. Brooch skirt weights prevent a skirt, short dress, or other garment from blowing up in a breeze. Each set of skirt weights consists of two decorative brooches and a method of attaching them to the skirt hem that preferably does not put holes in a garment, such as a set of magnets, a clamp, clasp, pinch clasp, clip, tie-clip, money clip, or other similar attachment.

Claims

1. A skirt weight consisting of a decorative brooch element and a method of attachment that attaches near the hem of a dress, skirt, or other garment to prevent it from blowing up during a breeze.

2. A skirt weight as stated in claim 1 where the preferred placement of two skirt weights is one skirt weight placed near the hem on the left side of garment and one skirt weight placed near the hem on the right side of the garment.

3. A skirt weight as stated in claim 1 where the method of attachment is a set of two magnets, or a clamp, clasp, pinch-clasp, clip, tie-clip, money clip, or other similar attachment. Preferably the attachment does not put holes in the garment.

4. A skirt weight as stated in claim 1 where the decorative brooch element is the primary source of weight in the skirt weight; the total weight includes the brooch element and the weight of the method of attachment. The total weight for one brooch skirt weight is no less than one half ounce (0.5 oz.); the maximum weight for one brooch skirt weight is five ounces (5 oz.).

5. A skirt weight as stated in claim 1 where the decorative brooch element resembles fashion jewelry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In conjunction with the drawings provided, the objects of the present invention are evident from the following description and claims. The drawings depict typical embodiments of the invention and therefore do not limit the scope or the spirit of the invention.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention in its preferred embodimenttwo decorative brooches with one magnet attached to each, both worn near the hem of a skirt. One decorative brooch is placed on the left side; another decorative brooch is placed on the right side of the skirt.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a front and back elevation of the invention in its preferred embodiment using a set of two magnets; the back elevation features the decorative brooch with the partner magnet attached to it.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows top and side elevations of the invention's unattached partner magnet has a cover. In this embodiment using magnets, the magnet cover is merely a design choice for the user's convenience, e.g., if you drop the magnet on the floor the cover makes it easier to find.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a front and back elevation of the invention in an alternate embodiment where the partner magnet is attached to the brooch element by a cloth, fabric, or other flexible material. In this embodiment, the brooch element is placed on the skirt near the hem and the flexible material goes around the bottom of the skirt where the partner magnet meets the back of the brooch magnet.

[0050] FIG. 5 is another alternate embodiment of the invention where it uses a brooch element with a magnet attached to it and a partner magnet, but the brooch is attached to a clip or folded element at the bottom where the brooch element folds flat against the back of the skirt and the partner magnet meets the brooch magnet.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a side elevation of FIG. 5 alternate embodiment. It shows the brooch element on one side of the skirt, the fold or clip is at the bottom of the skirt, and the partner magnet folds against the back of the skirt where the two magnets meet and hold the brooch in place.

[0052] FIG. 7 is a back elevation of the invention in an alternate embodiment where the method of attachment is a pinch clasp or tie clip mechanism. It shows the pinch clasp attached to the back of a round brooch and a pinch clasp attached to the back of a flower-shaped brooch. In each design the pinch clasp does not extend past the boundary of the brooch.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a front and back elevation of the invention in an alternate embodiment where the method of attachment resembles a money clip. The money clip should have the capability to clamp and hold the brooch next to the garment for several hours per use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The components of the present invention as illustrated in the figures may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of configurations. The following detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 8, do not limit the scope of the invention, they merely represent the present preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a female wearing two decorative brooches near the hem of a skirt. One decorative brooch is placed on the left side; the other decorative brooch is placed on the right side of the skirt. An outline of the decorative brooch on the left indicates it technically is not visible from this side view. 10 is the skirt. 20 is the decorative brooch.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a front elevation of the invention where 20 is the brooch, 22 is an example of one of decorative crystal settings that resemble fashion jewelry FIG. 2 also shows the back view of 20 the decorative brooch, and 30 a magnet attached to it.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an example of 40 a partner magnet. The top view shows 42 a cover attached to one side of 40 the partner magnet. It is not mandatory that the partner magnet has a cover; it may be a stand-alone magnet.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a front and back elevation of an alternate embodiment of the invention where the 20 brooch with a 30 magnet attached to the back also attaches to 50 a strip of cloth, fabric, metal, ribbon, or other flexible material attaches to the 40 partner magnet. The 50 strip of cloth, fabric, ribbon, metal, or other flexible material is glued to the back of 40 the partner magnet.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a front and back elevation of another alternate embodiment of a clip with two parts each having a magnet. The 20 brooch has a 30 magnet attached to the back and features a 55 clip or other folded aspect at the bottom of the brooch, the 42 cover of the 40 partner magnet folds up so that both magnets meet.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a side elevation of FIG. 5 indicating how the user places the 20 brooch on the exterior of the 10 skirt near them hem, with the 55 folded clip directly under it, and the 42 cover with 40 partner magnet fold up on the opposite side of 10 the skirt and the magnets meet.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a back elevation of the invention in an alternate embodiment where the method of attachment is a pinch clasp or tie clip mechanism. 60 is the pinch clasp attached to the back of a round 20 brooch and a pinch clasp attached to the back of a flower-shaped 20 brooch. The preferred embodiment here shows in each design the pinch clasp does not extend past the boundary of the brooch.

[0062] FIG. 8 is a front and back elevation of the invention in an alternate embodiment where the method of attachment to the back of the 20 brooch resembles a 70 money clip and 22 is a jewelry element (such as crystals) on the front of the 20 brooch.

[0063] There are two steps to manufacture the product of this invention: 1) fabricate the decorative brooches, and 2) attach or embed magnets (or other methods of attachment) to the back of the brooches. If using magnet sets, provide a suitable partner magnet for each brooch. This patent does not include any proprietary process to design or manufacture the decorative brooch skirt weights or the method of attachment because the processes to create custom jewelry and fashion accessories are commonplace in the global market. There are many standard techniques to choose from and a wide variety of different metals and styles, etc. In fact, the design options are endless. To manufacture the brooch and method of attachment design the item and outsource manufacturing to a production facility anywhere in the world.

[0064] It is an object of this invention to provide an effective and fashionable device for women to keep their skirt, short dress, or other garment in place when they are outdoors so they will not worry about the possibility of public embarrassment when there is a breeze.

[0065] It is an object of this invention to specify magnets are the preferred method to attach the skirt weight set near the hem of a skirt or dress. A magnet is attached or embedded to the back of one decorative brooch. The user places the decorative brooch near the hem on the exterior side of a skirt or dress so that it is visible to the public. A partner magnet attaches to the brooch magnet under the skirt or dress; it is not visible to the public.

[0066] It is an object of this invention to identify the preferred placement of the skirt weights on a skirt or short dress. The preferred placement for the two skirt weights is to place one brooch set near the hem on left side of a skirt, and place one brooch set near the hem on the right side of the skirt. Alternatively, a user may place one skirt weight near the hem in the front of the skirt, and the other skirt weight in the back of the skirt near the hem (however, this placement did not work well because the brooches forced the skirt to gather between the knees making it awkward to walk). Users may also choose to place the skirt weights anywhere on a skirt or dress at the hemline that they desire; for example, she may choose to place skirt weights in the front or both skirt weights in the back. Users may also use more than two sets of brooch skirt weights for particularly breezy days.

[0067] It is an object of this invention to specify the weight of the each skirt weight set is the sum of the weight of the brooch and all decorative jewelry items plus the weight of the method of attachment. Minimally, the weight requirement is one half ounce (0.5 oz.) per skirt weight. The maximum weight per skirt weight is five ounces (5 oz.).

[0068] It is an object of this invention to specify when the method of attachment is a set of magnets, the combined magnetic pull force/strength of the two magnets should be no less than one pound (1 lb.).

[0069] It is an object of this invention that the product has a decorative front resembling fashion jewelry. The back of each skirt weight may also be decorative but it is not necessary.

[0070] The product of this invention uses standard manufacturing practices to craft the brooch element. The techniques to make brooches and other fashion jewelry elements are widely known by jewelry manufacturers worldwide. The product of this invention holds no proprietary technique to manufacture the brooch element. The preferred requirement is to accurately describe the brooch element to a professional jewelry designer or manufacturer until the sample version is acceptable and then outsource production to them.

[0071] In the spirit of protecting the end-product of this invention, it is an object of this invention to specify alternate methods of attachment to the skirt or other garment. Whereas, all other elements resemble the product of this invention, it is an object of this invention to include alternate methods to attach the brooch to the garment, preferably without putting holes in fabric. These methods include but are not limited to a clamp, clasp, pinch-clasp, clip, tie-clip, or money clip. When using two magnets per brooch, if the partner magnet is not a stand-alone object, the methods of attaching the magnet to the brooch may include using a strip of cloth, fabric, ribbon, metal, or other flexible material to attach the partner magnet to the brooch.