Clothing Article with Drawstring Assembly
A drawstring closure system includes a drawstring band assembly comprising a band assembly with a channel having a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring is thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end and has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied. The channel apertures facilitate the insertion and reinsertion of the drawstring.
The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,486, filed Jul. 8, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention describes a drawstring band to facilitate a convenient means to reinstall a drawstring assembly into a drawstring channel of a garment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are a multitude of clothing items that use a drawstring to fasten or secure the clothing. These items not only include hooded sweatshirts or “hoodies”, but also include sweatpants, windbreakers, swim trunks, and the like. Additionally, there are many non-garment items that use a threaded drawstring as a means of closure. While this common drawstring fastening system has worked well for years, it is not without its disadvantages. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage lies with the ease at which the drawstring can be accidentally removed, or partially remove so that one end becomes stuck inside the article of clothing. A knot is typically tied at an end of the drawstring to prevent such problems, but the knot itself is never quite large enough to prevent entry into the loop fabric area. The process to replace a removed drawstring is a timely process that is filled with aggravations. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which drawstrings in various types of clothing and other items can be easily reinstalled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a drawstring band assembly having a band assembly that comprises a channel with a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring assembly is also provides a drawstring that is adapted to be thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end using the channel apertures to assist in the threading of the drawstring. The drawstring, once threaded, has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied by a user. The present invention can be constructed into an item or garment while it is being produced or constructed, or as a drawstring band assembly that is attached to an existing item at any time.
Thus, when the present invention is used in the creation of a drawstring closure item, the time to thread or rethread the drawstring item is greatly reduced and the ease to do so is greatly increased. Additionally, if the present invention is used to provide a separate drawstring band assembly to be attached to an existing item this provides a great advantage if the need arises to rethread the item.
The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
10 drawstring band
20 drawstring assembly
22 tab
24 leader
26 drawstring
28 aglet
30 band assembly
32 drawstring channel
32a channel first end
32b channel second end
34 channel aperture
36 spacing interval
50 alternate drawstring band
52 attachable channel
54 channel hem
56 stitching
100 new article
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTIn accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes a drawstring band (herein referred to as the “apparatus”) 10, which provides a means to more easily install or reinstall a drawstring assembly 20 into a drawstring channel 32 of an item equipped with the present band assembly 30 as opposed to replacing a broken or missing drawstring of a conventional installation. The apparatus 10 in one embodiment may be disposed about the open edge of a hood of a garment and be constructed integral to the garment as it is being produced. An alternate embodiment of the present apparatus 10 provides a means to install an attachable channel 52 to an existing garment in order to take advantage of the enhanced reinstallation technique of the drawstring assembly 20. Given the variability in the size of the items to which the apparatus 10 can be applied, it is understood that a multitude of different lengths of the drawstring assembly 20 and the band assembly 30 is possible without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10. It should be further understood and appreciated that although the apparatus 10 is illustrated as attached to the hood of a garment, it is not so limited and may be applied to other items such as a pair of pants, drawstring bags, or the like.
Referring now to
The drawstring assembly 20 comprises a drawstring 26, preferably having a plurality of strands of twisted cotton fiber or nylon material covered by a woven cotton or nylon jacket, a leader 24, and a tab 22. The drawstring 26 is envisioned to have an approximate width of one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and the tab 22 is preferably flat in shape; however, other sizes and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus 10, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus 10. The drawstring 26 alternatively comprises other textiles or combinations thereof without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10. The leader 24 preferably comprises a continuing length of the drawstring 26 extending to the tab 22, and is impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to said drawstring 26. The leader 24 is envisioned to be approximately three inches (3 in.) to four inches (4 in.) in length and have a flat configuration; however, other lengths and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus 10, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus 10. The tab 22 is preferably a piece of thermoplastic material formed at, and encompassing at least one inch (1 in.) of the free end of the leader 24. It is envisioned for the tab 22 to have a width of approximately one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and have a flat configuration matching that of the string 26. A leader 24 and a tab 22 can be furnished on both ends of the string 26 or, alternately, an aglet 28 comprising a short leader 24 can be disposed upon one (1) end.
Referring now to
The tab 22 is reinserted into the same channel aperture 34 at the second spacing interval 36 as shown in
Referring now to
Disposed upon a side of the attachable channel 52 is a plurality of channel apertures 34 comprising hemmed openings, or slits, evenly, or unevenly, spaced at spacing intervals 36 along the longitudinal axis of said drawstring channel 52. In one (1) embodiment the channel apertures 34 are approximately one inch (1 in.) in length and the spacing intervals 36 are two inch (2 in.) to three inch (3 in.). The attachable drawstring band 50 utilizes a drawstring assembly 20 as previously described in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10.
In any of the embodiments described above, the apparatus 10 exists as a further alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, the band assembly 30 is further impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to an inside surface of said band assembly 30. With this added flexural rigidity, the band assembly 30 may be configured to create a drawstring channel 32 that has a shape complementary to the string 26.
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the enabled user in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training The illustration in
The alternate embodiment of the present apparatus 50 can be utilized by fastening the channel hem 54 to an existing article at a desired location, preferably by stitching with thread of an appropriate material such as cotton or nylon. The direction and orientation of the installation of the attachable drawstring band 50 will of course be at the discretion of the user, however, a preferred installation would be similar to the illustration of
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A drawstring band assembly disposed about an open edge of a hood of a garment comprising a channel having a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel side apertures located longitudinally along said channel.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a flexible textile material.
5. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said channel side apertures are equally spaced from each other.
6. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel is internally impregnated with a thermoplastic material.
7. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a portion of an item having an open end wherein said open end is folded over upon itself and hemmed.
8. A drawstring band assembly disposed about an open edge of a hood of a garment comprising:
- a channel having a first open end and a second open end;
- a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along said channel; and,
- a drawstring adapted to be thread through said channel from said first open end to said second open end and having sufficient length to allow distal ends of said drawstring to be drawn and tied by a user.
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel comprises a flexible textile material.
12. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said channel side apertures are equally spaced from each other.
13. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel is internally impregnated with a thermoplastic material.
14. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel comprises a portion of an item having an open end wherein said open end is folded over upon itself and hemmed.
15. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said drawstring further comprises a leader with an end tab disposed at each distal end.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 11, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015
Inventor: Michael T. Hodgdon (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 14/076,737
International Classification: A41D 27/00 (20060101);