Locking mechanism

Abstract

A locking mechanism is disclosed for clothing and other applications. The locking mechanism includes a top locking component and a bottom locking component configured to removably engage with the top locking component. The top locking component has a male top rivet portion fixedly coupled to a female top portion. A gap is disposed radially between the male top rivet portion and the female top portion. The female top portion comprises a plurality of legs configured to removably engage with the bottom locking component. The bottom locking component includes a female bottom portion having a plurality of recesses configured to receive each of the plurality of legs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking mechanism used with an article of clothing, the locking mechanism comprising:
 a top locking component comprising:
 a male top rivet portion having a turning head and a first rivet element extending away from the turning head, and 
 a female top portion having a center cavity and a center protrusion disposed on opposite sides of the female top portion, the female top portion further comprising a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs comprising a winged projection extending outward from the center cavity, the center cavity being fixedly coupled to the first rivet element to radially form a gap between the turning head and the female top portion, 
 wherein a first section of the article of clothing is disposed along the gap and further wherein the top locking component is rotatable about the first section of said article of clothing; and 
   a bottom locking component comprising:
 a female bottom portion having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the female bottom portion comprising a center aperture and a plurality of recesses extending from the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises an upper ceiling, a side wall, and a bumper forming a locking cavity, the female bottom portion further comprising a plurality of gripping elements disposed on the bottom surface, and 
 a male bottom portion rivet having a second rivet element fixedly coupled to the center aperture of the female bottom portion, 
 wherein a second section of the article of clothing is disposed between the female bottom portion and the male bottom portion rivet and further wherein the bottom locking component is non-rotatable about the second section of said article of clothing; 
   wherein the first locking component is removably coupled to the second locking component.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein each of the winged projections is disposed inside one of the locking cavities, each of the winged projections being locked into place by the side wall, the upper ceiling, and the bumper of the respective locking cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , the turning head of the male top rivet portion further comprising an outer rim with a plurality of points, wherein each of the plurality of points is vertically disposed above one of the winged projections to aid in aligning the top locking component with the bottom locking component. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses is evenly distributed from the center aperture of the female bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripping elements engages with the second section of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the center protrusion of the female top portion contacts the center aperture of the female bottom portion during engagement of the top and bottom locking components. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment jig disposed between the top locking component and the bottom locking component. 
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism of  claim 7 , the alignment jig further comprising:
 a top side having a first plurality of pockets configured to receive the plurality of legs and the center protrusion of the female top portion; and   a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side comprising a second plurality of pockets configured to receive the female bottom portion.   
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism of  claim 8 , the top side further comprising a first center extension configured to engage with the center protrusion and the first rivet element to form a fixed, non-rotatable union between the male top rivet portion and the female top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The locking mechanism of  claim 9 , the bottom side further comprising a second center extension configured to engage with the center aperture and the second rivet element to form a fixed, non-rotatable union between the female bottom portion and the male bottom rivet portion. 
     
     
         11 . A locking mechanism, comprising:
 a top locking component comprising:
 a male top rivet portion having a turning head and a first rivet element extending away from the turning head, and 
 a female top portion having a center cavity and a center protrusion disposed on opposite sides of the female top portion, the female top portion further comprising a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs comprising a winged projection extending outward from the center cavity, the center cavity being fixedly coupled to the first rivet element to radially form a gap between the turning head and the female top portion; and 
   a bottom locking component comprising:
 a female bottom portion having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the female bottom portion comprising a center aperture and a plurality of recesses extending from the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises an upper ceiling, a side wall, and a bumper forming a locking cavity; 
   wherein the first locking component is removably coupled to the second locking component.   
     
     
         12 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , the female bottom portion further comprising a plurality of gripping elements disposed on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         13 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein each of the winged projections is disposed inside one of the locking cavities, each of the winged projections being locked into place by the side wall, the upper ceiling, and the bumper of the respective locking cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , the turning head of the male top rivet portion further comprising an outer rim with a plurality of points, wherein each of the plurality of points is vertically disposed above one of the winged projections to aid in aligning the top locking component with the bottom locking component. 
     
     
         15 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of recesses is evenly distributed from the center aperture of the female bottom portion. 
     
     
         16 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the center protrusion of the female top portion contacts the center aperture of the female bottom portion during engagement of the top and bottom locking components. 
     
     
         17 . The locking mechanism of  claim 11 , further comprising an alignment jig disposed between the top locking component and the bottom locking component. 
     
     
         18 . The locking mechanism of  claim 17 , the alignment jig further comprising:
 a top side having a first plurality of pockets configured to receive the plurality of legs and the center protrusion of the female top portion; and   a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side comprising a second plurality of pockets configured to receive the female bottom portion.   
     
     
         19 . The locking mechanism of  claim 18 , the top side further comprising a first center extension configured to engage with the center protrusion and the first rivet element to form a fixed, non-rotatable union between the male top rivet portion and the female top portion.