Anti-counterfeiting system and method for authenticating manufactured articles

Abstract

A button is adapted for use in an anti-counterfeiting system and method for authenticating a manufactured article. The button defines at least five holes adapted for receiving thread to attach the button to the manufactured article.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A button adapted for use in an anti-counterfeiting system for authenticating a manufactured article, said button defining at least five holes adapted for receiving thread to attach said button to the manufactured article.  
     
     
         2 . A button according to  claim 1 , wherein said button comprises a top button adapted for residing on an outside surface of the manufactured article.  
     
     
         3 . A button according to  claim 1 , wherein said button comprises a relatively thin, circular disk having a center point and notional quadrants.  
     
     
         4 . A button according to  claim 3 , wherein said button defines a center hole at the center point, and four quadrant holes outside of said center hole and located within respective notional quadrants.  
     
     
         5 . A button according to  claim 4 , wherein said quadrant holes are equally spaced approximately 90 degrees apart.  
     
     
         6 . A button according to  claim 4 , wherein each of said quadrant holes is equally spaced from the center hole of said button.  
     
     
         7 . A button according to  claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the center hole is greater than the diameter of the quadrant holes.  
     
     
         8 . A button according to  claim 1 , wherein said button comprises a stay button adapted for residing on an inside surface of the manufactured article  
     
     
         9 . A button according to  claim 8 , wherein said stay button has a square shape.  
     
     
         10 . An anti-counterfeiting method for authenticating a manufactured article, wherein said method comprises the step of attaching a button to the manufactured article, the button defining at least five holes.  
     
     
         11 . An anti-counterfeiting method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of attaching the button comprises stitching a thread through each of the five holes of the button and the article.  
     
     
         12 . An anti-counterfeiting method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of attaching the button further comprises making a first stitch through a center one of the holes of the button.  
     
     
         13 . An anti-counterfeiting method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of attaching the button comprises using a single-thread chainstitch button sewing machine.  
     
     
         14 . An anti-counterfeiting method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of attaching the button comprises stitching the button to an outside surface of the manufactured article.