Button cover for protection of skin and body

Abstract

Disclosed is a button cover that may be used to cover a button that is provided on the inside of articles of clothing, such as buttons utilized in adjustable children's pants. The button cover is used to protect the wearer's skin from irritation and injury as the button rubs against the wearer's skin. The button cover may have a soft, flexible cover portion and a button engagement means on the back side. Also disclosed is a process for making the button cover according to the present invention.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A button cover for use on buttons located on the inside of an article of clothing, said button having an outer surface, an outer edge, an underside and a largest diameter, said button cover comprising:
 a planar main cover portion having a top side and a bottom side, said main cover portion being constructed of a single layer of soft, flexible fabric and configured to cover at least the entire outer surface of said button; and   button engagement means configured for holding the planar main cover portion directly adjacent to and flat against said outer surface of said button;   wherein said button engagement means is coupled to said bottom side of said planar main cover portion; and   wherein said button engagement means is sized and configured to interact with said underside of said button.   
     
     
         2 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said engagement means is at least one elastic member having an opening formed therein. 
     
     
         3 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said engagement means is a pair of elastic members separated at an engagement distance. 
     
     
         4 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said planar main cover portion has a narrowest dimension that is equal to or greater than the largest diameter of said button. 
     
     
         5 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said soft, flexible fabric is fleece. 
     
     
         6 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said planar main cover portion further comprises a second layer of soft, flexible fabric on at least a portion of said bottom side. 
     
     
         7 . The button cover of  claim 1  wherein said planar main cover portion comprises a square. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using a button cover to cover a button positioned on the inside of an article of clothing, said button having an outer surface, an outer edge, and a bottom side, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a button cover, said button cover comprising   a planar main cover portion having a top side and a bottom side, said main cover portion being constructed of a single layer of soft, flexible fabric and configured to cover at least the entire outer surface of said button; and   button engagement means configured for holding the planar main cover portion directly adjacent to and flat against said outer surface of said button;   wherein said button engagement means is coupled to said bottom side of said planar main cover portion; and   wherein said button engagement means is sized and configured to interact with said under side of said button;   moving said button engagement means around said outer edge of said button; and   positioning said engagement means in engagement with said bottom side of said button.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said engagement means is at least one elastic member having an opening formed therein. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said engagement means is a pair of elastic members. 
     
     
         11 . A process for making a button cover for use on buttons located on the inside of an article of clothing, said process comprising the steps of:
 providing a first layer of material sized and configured to cover said button,   providing engagement means, said engagement means comprising at least one elastic strap having a first end and a second end,   positioning said engagement means on an underside of said first layer of material,   providing a second layer of material,   securing said first end of said at least one elastic strap between said first and said second layers of material using securing means, and   securing said second end of said at least one elastic strap between said first and said second layers of material oppositely disposed from location of said first securing step.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said providing a second layer of material comprises folding over a portion of said first layer of material to form a second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said securing means comprises stitching.