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 Military badge and magnetic securing mechanismUSPTO Application #: 20070186390Title: Military badge and magnetic securing mechanism Abstract: A military badge and magnetic securing mechanism are disclosed. The military badge is formed to include a ferromagnetic material that is magnetically attracted to a magnet. The magnetic securing mechanism includes a magnet structure that is adapted to be placed inside of a military uniform. When the magnet structure is placed inside of a military uniform and the military badge is placed proximate to the magnet structure on the outside of the uniform, the magnet structure magnetically attracts the ferromagnetic material in the military badge through the fabric of the uniform to secure the military badge to the outside of the uniform. (end of abstract)
Agent: Brett Bornsen Duft Bornsen & Fishman, LLP - Boulder, CO, US Inventor: Paul D. Johnston USPTO Applicaton #: 20070186390 - Class: 24303 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070186390. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This non-provisional application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/773,118, filed on Feb. 14, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully provided herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The invention is related to the field of military badges, and in particular, to securing military badges to military uniforms using a magnetic securing mechanism. [0004]2. Statement of the Problem [0005]The standards for military uniforms and dress are regulated by regulatory bodies of the United States military, such as The Institute of Heraldry, the Army Uniform Board, etc. For prior combat uniforms, such as the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) for the United States Army, regulations required that military service members sew on all military insignia, such as the name tag, the unit patch, the military badges, etc. The sew-on items were securely affixed to the uniform, but military service members had to buy one set of military insignia for each of their uniforms. Recently, new combat uniforms, such as the Army Combat Uniform (ACU), were developed to replace the old combat uniforms. Instead of sewing the military insignia on the new combat uniforms, regulations require that the certain insignia be affixed to the uniform with a hook-and-loop system (VELCRO.RTM.), such as a name tag, a unit patch, etc. The regulations also require that other insignia, such as military badges, use a pin-on mechanism. Examples of military badges for the U.S. Army include a combat infantryman badge, an expert infantryman badge, a combat medical badge, an expert field medical badge, an Army aviator badge, a flight surgeon badge, an aviation badge, an explosive ordinance disposal badge, a glider badge, a parachutist badge, a pathfinder badge, a military freefall parachutist badge, an air assault badge, a ranger tab, a special forces tab, a diver badge, a driver and mechanic badge, a parachute rigger badge, and a physical fitness badge. [0006]One problem with affixing these military badges to the new combat uniforms with a pin-on mechanism is that the new combat uniforms can be damaged over time. The new combat uniforms are made from a thinner material than prior combat uniforms. The holes created in the uniform by the pin-on badges eventually enlarge due to normal wear and tear. Also, repeatedly removing and re-affixing the badges, such as when the uniform is being laundered, creates additional holes or further enlarges the existing holes in the uniform. The thin material of the new combat uniforms will eventually be destroyed by the pin-on mechanisms. Thus, a new mechanism for affixing military badges to uniforms in a removable fashion is needed. [0007]U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,866 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,760 describe methods of affixing items to clothing in a removable fashion instead of using a pin-on mechanism. In particular, the '760 patent describes using a magnetic mechanism to affix a decorative item, such as jewelry, to a garment. The '760 patent describes a structure that includes a casing adapted to secure the decorative item against a backing so that the decorative item faces away from the garment. The structure also includes a socket on the opposite side of the backing that extends outwardly from the backing towards the garment. The socket facing the garment retains a first magnet. A second magnet is then placed on the inside of a garment. When the first magnet is brought into a close proximity to the second magnet with the garment in between, the magnets are secured to one another to temporarily affix the decorative item to the garment. [0008]Unfortunately, the '760 patent does not describe using the magnetic mechanism to affix military badges to the new combat uniforms or any military uniform. Also, the magnetic mechanism in the '760 patent has a structure that causes the decorative item to protrude away from the garment. By protruding away from the garment in this manner, the structure of the '760 patent would not work for military badges. In order to receive acceptance from the appropriate regulatory bodies, the military badge would likely have to mimic the appearance of the traditional military badges that use the pin-on mechanisms. The pin-on badges rest substantially flush against the uniform. A military badge utilizing the structure of the '760 patent would not rest flush against the uniform, but would instead protrude outwardly from the uniform which would not likely be accepted by the regulatory bodies of the U.S. military. Thus, a new mechanism for affixing military badges to uniforms is still needed. SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION [0009]The invention helps solve the above problems with an improved military badge and magnetic securing mechanism that allows a military badge to be secured to a military uniform without having to use a pin-on mechanism. In one embodiment of the invention, the military badge is formed to include a ferromagnetic material or another type of material that is attracted to a magnet. The military badge is also formed to include a back surface that is adapted to rest substantially flush against a military uniform. The magnetic securing mechanism includes a magnet structure adapted to be placed inside of the military uniform. When placed inside of the military uniform, the magnet structure is adapted to magnetically attract the ferromagnetic material in the military badge through the fabric of the military uniform to secure the military badge to the outside of the military uniform. The military badge is secured so that the back surface of the military badge is substantially flush against the military uniform. [0010]The military badge and magnetic securing mechanism described herein provides many advantages. First, the military badge is secured by magnets rather than a pin-on mechanism, which avoids the damage to military uniforms caused by the pin-on mechanism. Military service members may thus wear their military badges without fear of damaging their uniforms. Secondly, the military badge is secured substantially flush to the military uniform. As a result, the appearance of the military badge secured by the magnetic securing mechanism closely resembles the appearance of a military badge secured with a pin-on mechanism. The military badge and magnetic securing mechanism may thus obtain or maintain approval by the regulatory bodies of the U.S. military as an accepted wear for military badges. Third, the magnetic securing mechanism strongly affixes a military badge to a uniform while allowing for quick and easy removal. [0011]Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of fabricating a military badge and magnetic securing mechanism. The method includes forming a military badge to include a material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material) having a permeability such that it is attracted to a magnet, and to include a back surface adapted to rest substantially flush against a military uniform. The method further includes forming a magnet structure adapted to be placed inside of the military uniform. When the magnetic structure is placed inside of the military uniform, the magnet structure is adapted to magnetically attract the material in the military badge to secure the military badge to the military uniform so that the back surface is substantially flush against the military uniform. [0012]Another embodiment of the invention includes an alternative method of fabricating a military badge and magnetic securing mechanism. The method includes forming a military badge having a front surface that includes a badge design and having a back surface opposite the front surface. The method further includes adhering a metallic plate to the back surface of the military badge. The method further includes forming a magnet structure adapted to be placed inside of a military uniform. When the magnetic structure is placed inside of the military uniform and the military badge is placed proximate to the magnet structure on the outside of the military uniform, the magnet structure is adapted to magnetically attract the metallic plate through the fabric of the military uniform to secure the military badge to the outside of the military uniform. [0013]The invention may include other exemplary embodiments described below. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]The same reference number represents the same element or same type of element on all drawings. [0015]FIG. 1 is a side view of a military badge and pin-on mechanism in the prior art. [0016]FIG. 2 is a side view of a military badge and magnetic securing mechanism in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [0017]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of fabricating a military badge and magnetic securing mechanism in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [0018]FIG. 4 is a front view of a military badge in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [0019]FIG. 5 is a rear view of a military badge in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [0020]FIG. 6 is a front view of a magnet structure in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Continue reading... 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