TENSIONING DEVICE FOR CLOTHING STRAPS
A clothing strap tensioning device has an elastic member having a geometry generally defined by middle, left end, and right end portions, and bounded by upper, lower, left and right edges, and includes mechanical snaps or other releasable attachment mechanisms integrated into the left end and right end portions for enabling releasable attachment of the end portions to each other to form the elastic member into a loop. The tensioning device is looped around a pair of spaced vertical straps of a brassiere, such that the straps are drawn toward each other medially to prevent the straps from slipping down the shoulders of a wearer and to impart an upward lift to the wearer's breasts. The geometry of the elastic member also prevents twisting of the straps.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/607,387, filed on Dec. 1, 2006, and of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/817,394, filed on Apr. 2, 2004, and claims the benefit of the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/547,633, filed on Feb. 25, 2004, the entirety of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a clothing accessory, and more particularly, to a tensioning device that draws clothing straps, such as brassiere straps, together to keep them from inadvertently slipping down over the wearer's shoulders and, in the case of brassiere straps, imparts an upward lift to the brassiere cups.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Clothing having straps, such as tank tops and brassieres that provide women support, are well known in the art. Although common, conventional straps can be uncomfortable and unreliable in providing support. Comfort and reliability are typically compromised when the straps inadvertently slip down or off the shoulders. Straps often slip down the shoulders when they lose tension due to stretching and loosening of the elastic straps over time, affecting the comfort, appearance and support of the brassiere or garment. Furthermore, with regard to brassieres, women are constantly searching for products such as push-up type brassieres, which, in addition to providing the usual support, offer enhanced upward lift to the breasts via the brassiere cups.
If a device existed that could prevent and/or limit inadvertent movement and slipping of straps by maintaining tension in the straps it would be well received. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide such a device that, in addition to preventing such slipping of the straps, provided enhanced upward lift to the brassiere cups in order to impart corresponding upward lift to the wearer's breasts. The present invention addresses these unfulfilled needs in the prior art by providing an accessory that maintains tension in clothing straps, even after they have lost some degree of elasticity, preventing them from slipping, and providing the aforementioned enhanced upward lift.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally directed to a clothing strap tensioning device configured to draw a pair of vertically disposed clothing straps toward each other in a manner increasing the tension of the straps. By way of the improved tensioning, the device prevents the problems of straps slipping off of the shoulders of the wearer, even after the strap elasticity has been degraded. In the case of brassieres, the device provides increased tensioning sufficient to enhance lift provided by the brassiere cups.
In a first general embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device comprises:
an elastic member having a geometry generally defined by middle, left end, and right end portions, and bounded by upper, lower, left and right edges; and
means integrated into the left end and right end portions for enabling releasable attachment of the end portions to each other to form the elastic member into a loop,
wherein, upon securing the tensioning device about the spaced-apart clothing straps, the clothing straps are drawn inwardly toward each other medially in a manner preventing twisting of the straps.
In another aspect of the invention, the releasable attachment means integrated into the left end and right end portions are configured to enable adjustment to the tension of said device.
In another aspect of the invention, the releasable attachment means is comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart mechanical snaps integrated into either the left or right end portion of the elastic member, for snap fit engagement with a corresponding snap member integrated into the other one of the left and right end portions.
In another aspect of the invention, the releasable attachment means comprises one-half of a hook-and-loop type fastening system integrated into the left end portion of the elastic member and the other half of the hook-and-loop type fastening system integrated into the right end portion.
In another aspect of the invention, the elastic member is characterized by left and right end portions projecting in an upward direction distally from the middle portion.
In another aspect of the invention, the elastic member is characterized by a varying transverse width, the transverse width defined as the transverse distance between the upper and lower edges at any point along the length of the elastic member.
In another aspect of the invention, the transverse width is substantially uniform along the middle region of said elastic member and increases along the left and right portions distally from the middle portion.
In another aspect of the invention, the elastic member is characterized by a geometry in which the upper and/or lower edges slope upwardly from the middle portion of the elastic member toward the left and right end portions thereof.
In a second general embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device comprises:
a first elastic member directly fastened to a first one of the clothing straps;
a second elastic member directly fastened to a second one of the clothing straps; and
means integrated into the first and second elastic members for enabling releasable attachment of the elastic members to each other,
wherein, upon fastening the first and second elastic members to each other the vertically disposed clothing straps are drawn toward each other medially.
In another aspect of the invention, the first elastic member has a portion fastened to the first one of the clothing straps and an unfastened flap portion extending therefrom, and the second elastic member has a portion fastened to the second one of said clothing straps and an unfastened flap portion extending therefrom.
In another aspect of the invention, the releasable attachment means is comprised of at least one snap member integrated into the unfastened flap portion of the first one of the clothing straps, and at least one mating snap member integrated into the unfastened free portion of the second one of said clothing straps.
In another aspect of the invention, the releasable attachment means is comprised of one half of a hook-and-loop, or hook-and-pile, type fastening system integrated into the unfastened flap portion of the first one of said clothing straps, and the other half of the hook-and-loop fastening system integrated into the unfastened flap portion of the second one of said clothing straps.
In a second general embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device has a unitary, or one-piece, construction comprising:
a planar rear wall portion;
left and right planar front wall portions disposed in a common plane and parallel to the rear wall portion; and
a pair of side wall portions adjoining the respective left and right front wall portions to opposite ends of the rear wall portion;
the left and right front wall portions terminating at respective edges defining a strap-receiving opening therebetween; and,
the rear, front and side wall portions together defining a strap retaining slot sized and shaped for simultaneously retaining said pair of clothing straps in a tensioned condition while preventing twisting of said straps.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is generally directed to clothing strap tensioning devices particularly configured for engaging a pair of spaced-apart vertically disposed clothing straps, and particularly brassiere straps, such that the straps are drawn toward each other medially. The tensioning devices function to prevent the inadvertent slipping of the straps down over the shoulders. Furthermore, when applied to brassiere straps, the tensioning devices further function to impart an upward lift to brassiere cups attached to the straps.
Referring initially to
Referring now to
Fastening means are provided for enabling releasable attachment of the left- and right-end portions, 26 and 28, to each other to form a continuous loop, or band, about the straps 12, 14, as illustrated in
Referring now to
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As best shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Fastening means 58 are provided for enabling releasable attachment of the left- and right-end portions, 26 and 28, to each other to form a continuous loop, or band, about straps 12, 14, as illustrated in
Referring now to
Fastening means 58 are provided for enabling releasable attachment of the left- and right-end portions, 26 and 28, to each other to form a continuous loop, or band, about straps 12, 14, as illustrated in
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various alternate means of attachment are also possible. Furthermore, tension adjustment can be accomplished by incorporating a conventional slide component 88 through which the elastic member extends and which cooperates with the elastic member to enable length adjustment thereof. The slide component 88 may be attached to an end of the elastic member and be able to slide along the length of the elastic member so that the length of the device may be adjusted by sliding the slide component along the length of the elastic member.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
For example, although it is preferred that the clothing strap tensioning device shown in
Claims
1. A tensioning device positionable about one or more clothing straps for drawing together the clothing straps, comprising:
- an elastic member positioned about one or more clothing straps defining a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion there between;
- a first attachment element coupled to the first end of the elastic member, and
- a second attachment element coupled to the second end of the elastic member, wherein the first attachment element is releasably engageable with the second attachment element such that the elastic member forms a loop.
2. The tensioning device according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein.
3. The tensioning device according to claim 2, wherein the second attachment element defines the substantially rectangular shape with the slot defined therein.
4. The tensioning device according to claim 3, wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary.
5. The tensioning device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second attachment elements are complementarily engageable, and wherein the thickness of an outer surface of a first clip and an inner surface of a second clip is approximately the same as the thicknesses of the inner surface of the first clip and the outer surface of the second clip.
6. The tensioning device according to claim 1, further comprising a loop-diameter adjustment element coupled to the elastic member.
7. The tensioning device according to claim 6, wherein the loop-diameter adjustment element includes a slide component through which at least a portion of the elastic member extends.
8. A tensioning device positionable about one or more clothing straps for drawing together the clothing straps, comprising:
- an elastic member defining a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion there between;
- a first attachment element coupled to the first end of the elastic member, and
- a second attachment element coupled to the second end of the elastic member, wherein the first attachment element is releasably engageable with the second attachment element such that the elastic member forms a loop.
9. The tensioning device according to claim 8, wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element each further comprise
- a slot,
- a perforation, and
- an extension.
10. The tensioning device according to claim 9, wherein a perforation of the first attachment element is complementary to an extension of the second attachment element.
11. The tensioning device according to claim 10, wherein a perforation of the second attachment element is complementary to the extension of the first attachment element.
12. The tensioning device according to claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the first attachment element is offset and parallel to an inner surface of the first attachment element.
13. The tensioning device according to claim 12, wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary.
14. The tensioning device according to claim 13, wherein the first and second attachment elements are engageable to form a snap-fit assembly having a substantially flat, rectangular shape.
15. The tensioning device according to claim 8, wherein the first attachment element is the same shape and in complementary orientation with the second attachment element.
16. The tensioning device according to claim 15, wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element each further comprise a snap clip having
- a slot,
- a perforation, and
- an extension.
17. The tensioning device according to claim 16, wherein
- the extension of the first snap clip fits into the perforation of the second snap clip, and
- the extension of the second snap clip fits into the perforation of the first snap clip, and
- each snap clip further comprises
- an outer portion, and
- an inner portion, whereby the outer portion has a surface offset from but parallel to the inner portion.
18. A method for drawing together one or more clothing straps using a tensioning device positionable about the clothing straps comprising:
- positioning an elastic member about one or more clothing straps; and
- releasably engaging a first end of the elastic member with a second end of the elastic member such that the elastic member forms a loop about the clothing straps drawing the clothing straps toward each other.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the elastic member further includes a loop-diameter adjustment element coupled to the elastic member.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the loop-diameter adjustment element further includes a slide component through which at least a portion of the elastic member extends.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 3, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Inventor: Kathy L. Baker (Orlando, FL)
Application Number: 12/477,692
International Classification: A41F 19/00 (20060101); A44B 21/00 (20060101);