Title of Invention: Buttoning accessory
Abstract: 
This invention is a buttoning accessory for passing a button secured to a first part of a garment through a buttonhole located in a second part of a garment. The apparatus consists of a collar, a shank, and a handle. 

Detailed Description: 

 This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/754,744 filed Dec. 29, 2005.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
 1. Field of the Invention 
 The present invention relates to fasteners used for clothing, namely an accessory to effect the buttoning of one part of a garment to another. 
 2. Description of the Prior Art 
 Buttons are commonly used in clothing to attach one end of a garment to another. Shirts, pants, blouses, dresses and shoes frequently employ buttons to join components of clothing together. Tightly-fitted garments or tightly-fitting components of garments, such as a waistband component of pants, denim jeans, or field pants, present difficulty in buttoning. While an article of clothing, when buttoned, may fit properly, the process of buttoning an article of clothing frequently requires the button and corresponding buttonhole to overlap to effect the insertion of the button into the buttonhole. When the article of clothing is already tight on the wearer's body or appendage, quickly and easily directing the button into the correct buttonhole is desirable to minimize the effort and discomfort to the wearer. 
 Prior art patents describe apparatuses for engaging and guiding a button through a buttonhole. One group of prior art describes a wire structure with a loop. The loop portion is inserted through the buttonhole and engages the button or the attaching thread or structure which joins the button to the fabric at that component of the clothing; when an operator pulls on the structure, the button is pulled through the buttonhole and fastening is effected. 
 A second group of prior art describes a planar, or slightly angled, apparatus. A button-engaging element is inserted through a buttonhole; the button-engaging portion is connected to the button or the attaching thread or structure which joins the button to the fabric at that component of the clothing; when an operator pulls on the apparatus, the apparatus spreads open the buttonhole, thus effecting, the passage of head button through the buttonhole. 
 U.S. Pat. No. 349,415 (Taylor, 1886) describes a buttoner made of a single piece of wire and bent at an obtuse angle with a hook at the end. The hook engages the button eye and the button is “drawn and pried through the button-hole”. 
 U.S. Pat. No. 473,035 (Van Patten, 1892) describes a button hook made of a single piece of wire at the end of a shank, the wire having a “laterally-extended spiral twist at the end thereof”. In the description, 



 “the hook would engage in the button-eye shank, and then using the buttonhole as a fulcrum, and the handle of the hook as a lever to draw the button under and up through the buttonhole, which being done the implement was again turned down laterally, so that the hook could be disengaged from the button-eye shank by pushing the hook away.” (Col 1, 11. 17-24) 



 U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,903 (Kleiber, 1932) is a closing device for collar buttons. A bent lever or handle is attached to a cup-like head, which engages a button. The handle protrudes through a first buttonhole on the first end of a collar; by rotating the lever around the button, the second buttonhole on the second end of the collar is engaged. Each button hole is enlarged for easy passage of the button. 
 U.S. Pat. No. 2,912,733 (Layman, 1959) relates to an attachment for a prosthetic arm or hand. A straight shank is attached at one end to a bill (48) at the end of an extension “at an obtuse angle” to the shank (30) and the open portion of the button-engaging “bill being oriented substantially in the direction of the shank. In operation the bill (48) extends through the button hole and engages the button; the button is pulled towards and through the button hole. The bill (48), extension (49) and shank (30) are coplanar. 
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,688 (Ross, 1994) is a clothing fastening apparatus particularly suited for fastening slacks or jeans. A closed loop structure with a nose is inserted through the button hole and engages the button; an operator pulls the gripping shaft—and therefore the side of the garment with the button towards the side of the garment with the button hole—and the button passes into and through the buttonhole. 
 U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,312 (Kabat, 2003) is a buttoning accessory. A generally planar flat retainer body with a slot fits between the garment and the underside of a button. When an operator pulls on the apparatus, the apparatus spreads open the buttonhole, thus effecting, the passage of head button through the buttonhole.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
 FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a clothing fastener apparatus according to the present invention illustrating its use. 
 FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention. 
 FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention. 
 FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention. 


DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
 As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus of the invention is a buttoning accessory (10) for passing a button (41) with a predetermined diameter and a thickness, and secured to a first part of a garment (42) through a buttonhole (43) located in a second part of a garment (44). 
 The apparatus of the invention consists of three elements: a collar (11), a shank (21) and a handle (31). In operation, the collar (11) is inserted through a buttonhole (43) to meet the button (41) on the second part of the garment (44). The top side (12) of the collar engages the underside (47) of a button (41). The apparatus (10) is rotated about the axis (48) of the button (41) so that the shank (21) of the apparatus (10) rests in the distal end (45) of the buttonhole (43). By using the nub (49) of the button (41) as a fulcrum, shank (21) serves as a lever to pull the second part of the garment (44) in which the buttonhole (43) is located to the first part of the garment (42) upon which is located the button (41). Unlike much of the prior art, which primarily pulls the button to the buttonhole, this invention distinguishes itself over the prior art by primarily employing a lever-type action to pull the buttonhole (43) and second part of the garment (44) to the button (41). With the buttonhole (43) positioned over the button (41), an operator is able to work the collar (11) such that one side of the generally planar bottom side (13) is elevated with the button (41) through the aperture in the buttonhole (43). By turning the shank (21) about the axis (48) of the button (41) in the direction of that part of the buttonhole (43) not yet beneath the underside (47) of the buttonhole (43), the shank (21) engages the side of the buttonhole (43) thus allowing the passage of the collar (11) with button (41) engaged on the generally planar top side (12) to emerge on the exterior surface of the second part of the garment (44). Once the entire underside (47) of the button (41) engages the exterior surface of the second part of the garment (44), the operator is able to disengage the collar (11) from the button (41) by sliding the generally planar bottom side (13) of the collar (11) against the exterior surface of the second part of the garment (44) such that the nub (49) of the button (41) exits through the opening (17) on the front end (14) of the collar (11). 
 The apparatus (10) of this invention can likewise be used to disengage a button (41) from fastening the first part of the garment (42) from the second part of the garment (44) by reversing the operation described above. 
 The structure of the apparatus (10) of this invention consists of three elements: a collar (11), a shank (21) and a handle (31). The collar (11) and shank (21) elements of the invention are not coplanar. The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention. 
 The collar (11) consists of a generally planar top side (12), a generally planar bottom side (13), a front end (14), a rear end (15), and an edge (16). The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the collar (11) as being generally circular; thus the generally planar top side (12) and the generally planar bottom side (13) are also circular in shape. In other embodiments, the collar may be elliptical; in such other embodiments, the generally planar top side (12) and the generally planar bottom side (13) are also elliptical. 
 The edge (16) of the collar (11) is defined as being between the generally planar top side (12) and generally planar bottom side (13). The edge (16) is continuous between the generally planar top side (12) the a generally planar bottom side (13). In the center of the collar (11) is an aperture, the interior edge (16) of which is in communication with the exterior edge (16) through an opening (17) at the front end (14) of the collar (11). Because the interior edge (16) is continuous with the exterior edge (16), the edge (16) defines the opening (17) at the front end (14) of the collar (11). In certain embodiments, the edge (16) of the opening (17) begins at the front end (14) of the collar (11). The function of opening (17) is for receiving a button (41). In certain other embodiments, the edge (16) of the opening (17) begins at the front end (14) of the collar (11) and thereby defines a region which is smaller than the predetermined diameter of the button (41). 
 The shank (21) is illustrated in the drawings as an elongated component. In different embodiments of the invention, the length, cross-section and shape of the shank (21) may vary according to the specific pathway to a button (41) a given article, or type, of clothing may require. In basic terms, the shank (21) has a length, a longitudinal axis (22) along the length, a first end (23) and a second end (23). As shown in the drawings, the first end (23) of the shank (21) is attached to the rear end (15) of the collar (11). In the embodiments shown, a metal shank (21) is welded to a metal collar (21). In other embodiments, the shank (11) and collar (21) may be made of a single piece of suitable material. 
 In certain embodiments, the longitudinal axis (22) of the shank (21) is perpendicular to the generally planar top side (12) of the collar (11). In certain embodiments, the longitudinal axis (22) of the shank (21) is perpendicular to the generally planar bottom side (13) of the collar (11). The distinction between the orthogonal position of the longitudinal axis (22) with respect to the top side (12) or bottom side (13) anticipates various shapes of the collar (11). While the drawings illustrate a collar (11) with the plane of the generally planar top side (12) and the plane of generally planar bottom side (13) being parallel to one another, this invention contemplates that the generally planar top side (12) and the generally planar bottom side (13) may, in certain embodiments, taper towards one another. 
 The handle (31) has a base (32), which is attached to the second end (24) of the shank (21). The drawings illustrate one expression of a handle (31). As shown in the drawings, one embodiment of the handle (31) is an elongated cylindrical element which a second longitudinal axis (33). The presence of the second longitudinal axis (33) does not necessarily entail an cylindrical element. In certain embodiments, however, the second longitudinal axis (33) of the handle (31) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (22) of the shank (21). 
 The handle (31) illustrated in the drawings is one embodiment. In other embodiments, the handle may include contoured elements to conform the hand of an operator, or attachment means to permit attachment of the apparatus (10) to a mechanical or prosthetic hand. 
 In one embodiment, the collar (11) is a generally U-shaped component, measuring 0.660 inches from the exterior of the rear end (15) of the collar to the edge (16) of the front end (14) of the collar (11). The opening (17) at the front end (14) of the collar (11) measures 0.325 inches. The shank (21) measures 4.30 inches in length. The first end (23) of the shank (21) measures 0.120 inches in depth, as measured from the rear end (15) of the collar (11). The second end (24) of the shank (21) measures 0.240 inches in depth. The taper on the shank (21) begins 1.2 inches from the top side (12) of the collar (11); the depth of top side (12) of the collar (11) at the rear end (15) for engaging the underside (47) of the button (41) measures approximately 0.125 inches. The handle is (31) 2.95 inches in length. 
 It is contemplated that the components of the invention are to be made of metal or plastic. The use of plastic or metal is not intended as limiting the scope of the invention, but is contemplated and described here in order to better illustrate the components of the invention; additionally, the size of the components employed is not intended as a limit as to the invention disclosed or the various embodiments of this invention. It is contemplated that in other embodiments of the invention, components may be made of plastic, metal, or other suitable materials for performing the function of the elements of the invention. 



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