Garment closure device

Abstract

There is disclosed a garment closure comprising a front component, a rear component and an intermediate connector component. The connector component fastens the front component and the rear component together so that the front component and rear component are in spaced relationship relative to each other. The rear component is configured for insertion through a fastener aperture.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A garment closure device comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a front component with a front inner surface, a front outer surface, a front peripheral edge therebetween, and an axis extending through the middle of the front inner surface and the middle of the front outer surface; 
 a rear component with a rear inner surface, a rear outer surface, a rear peripheral edge therebetween, and the axis extending through the middle of the rear inner surface and the middle of the rear outer surface; 
 a center component having a first end coupled to the front inner surface, a second end coupled to the rear inner surface, and the axis extending through the middle of the center component; and 
   a cap comprising a decorative portion, wherein the base and the cap are configured to be releasably coupled to one another;   wherein the front component has a front width, measured perpendicular to the axis, that is larger than a center width of the center component, measured perpendicular to the axis; and   wherein the rear component has a rear width, measured perpendicular to the axis, that is larger than the center width.   
     
     
         2 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative portion is removable from the cap and interchangeable with a plurality of decorative portions. 
     
     
         3 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening in the front outer surface and a channel extending along the axis from the opening into the front component; and   the cap further comprising a shaft, the decorative portion on the cap having a width larger than a width of the shaft;   wherein the channel and the shaft are configured to be releasably coupled to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the front component is a circular disc. 
     
     
         5 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein center component is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the rear component is a circular disc. 
     
     
         7 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the rear peripheral edge is knurled. 
     
     
         8 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the rear peripheral edge comprises a chamfered edge. 
     
     
         9 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , in combination with a first fabric member and a second fabric member having a keyhole:
 wherein the cap and the base are configured to hold the first fabric member between the decorative portion and the front component; and   wherein the base is configured to accept the second fabric member between the front component and the rear component, with the center component passing through the keyhole.   
     
     
         10 . The garment closure device of  claim 3 , in combination with a first fabric member having an eyelet and a second fabric member having a keyhole:
 wherein the cap and the base are configured to hold the first fabric member between the decorative portion and the front component, with the shaft passing through the eyelet;   wherein the base is configured to accept the second fabric member between the front component and the rear component, with the center component passing through the keyhole.   
     
     
         11 . The garment closure device of  claim 10 , wherein the eyelet is sized to allow the shaft to pass through and to prevent the decorative portion from passing therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The garment closure device of  claim 10 , wherein the keyhole is generally ovate and configured so as to prevent the rear component from passing therethrough when the center component is held against an edge of the keyhole. 
     
     
         13 . The garment closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of caps each having a differing decorative portion, wherein the base and any of the plurality of caps are configured to be releasably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A garment closure device comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a first portion having a generally cylindrical shape with a first diameter; 
 a second portion adjacent the first portion, the second portion having a generally cylindrical shape with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; 
 a third portion adjacent the second portion, the third portion having a generally cylindrical shape with a third diameter that is larger than the second diameter; 
   a cap comprising a decorative portion, wherein the base and the cap are configured to be releasably coupled to one another.   
     
     
         15 . The garment closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative portion is removable from the cap and interchangeable with a plurality of decorative portions. 
     
     
         16 . The garment closure device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an opening in the first portion and a channel extending along an axis of the first portion from the opening to a depth; and   the cap further comprising a shaft, the decorative portion on the cap having a width larger than a diameter of the shaft;   wherein the channel and the shaft are configured to be releasably coupled to one another.   
     
     
         17 . The garment closure device of  claim 14 , wherein an edge of the third portion comprises a chamfered edge. 
     
     
         18 . The garment closure device of  claim 16 , in combination with a first fabric member having an eyelet and a second fabric member having a keyhole:
 wherein the cap and the base are configured to hold the first fabric member between the decorative portion and the front component, with the shaft passing through the eyelet;   wherein the base is configured to accept the second fabric member between the front component and the rear component, with the center component passing through the keyhole.   
     
     
         19 . The garment closure device of  claim 18 , wherein the eyelet is sized to allow the shaft to pass through and to prevent the decorative portion from passing therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . The garment closure device of  claim 18 , wherein the keyhole is generally ovate and configured so as to prevent the rear component from passing therethrough when the center component is held against an edge of the keyhole.