Detachable clip-on waistband extender

Abstract

A clip-on waistband extender for engaging an eye slot member and a waistband hook member of a garment to increase a fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member of a waistband section of the garment to provide comfort to the wearer. The clip-on waistband extender includes a bar member having a first side and a second side; the bar member is used for bridging a gap between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment. The first side of the bar member includes a hook member for detachably engaging onto the eye slot member on the waistband section of the garment; and the second side of the bar member includes at least one or more channeled slot members for detachably engaging onto the waistband and onto the hook member on the waistband section of the garment so as to bridge the gap and to increase the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment for expanding the waist of the garment in order to provide comfort to the wearer. Each of the channeled slot members is spaced-apart on the second side of the bar member in order to increase or decrease the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member on the waistband section of the garment in order to expand the waist size of the garment.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 11/434,355 filed on May 15, 2006.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on skirts, pants, trousers or slacks in order to extend the waistline circumference of the clothing garment. More particularly, the detachable clip-on waistband extender is to be used by a person who has gained weight, such that the clip-on waistband extender extends the waist size of the user's clothing garment at least one or two sizes without alteration from a tailor/seamstress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clips, fasteners, and coupling devices for closing or fastening apparel and clips used in conjunction with clothing accessories for increasing belt length have taken many forms in relation to appearance, functionality, shape, and material of construction. Generally, various types of clips or fasteners have structures that are utilized in conjunction with the button hole and button of the garment or accessory or correspondingly, with the eye slot member and the waistband hook member of the clothing garment that is needed to be expanded or increased to a larger size measurement. The use of such devices increases the use of a particular clothing item even when the user has gained weight or has outgrown his/her garment size.

There remains a needs for a detachable clip-on waistband extender for increasing and extending the waist size of a garment, such that one end of the waistband extender engages and clips-on the eye slot member of the garment and the other end of the waistband extender engages and clips-on the waistband hook member of the garment. Different lengths and sizes of the detachable clip-on waistband extender will be available for men, women, and children's clothing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior art clips, fasteners clothes-adjusting devices, hook assemblies, and coupling devices for increasing a garment size or accessory length have been constructed in various ways with regard to design, appearance, configuration, structure, functionality, shape and materials of construction. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,792,128 to STEVENSON discloses a coupling device having a button-engaging section and a hook section for supporting trousers in connection with an undershirt. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the configuration, design or structure of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,777 to HAMADA et al. discloses a clothes-adjusting apparatus cable of easily adjusting the dimension of the waistline of clothing, such as a skirts, trousers or the like. The clothes-adjusting apparatus includes a waistband member; a dimension-adjusting part defined by overlapping one end portion of the band member over the other end portion of the band member and extending from one end portion of the band member toward the other end portion of the band member near the dimension-adjusting part; and a second cloth member that is provided in the dimension-adjusting part having one edge joined to the other end portion of the band member and having another edge joined to the first cloth member. The aforementioned structure allows the use to adjust the waistband of a pair of pants, a skirt, etc. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the configuration, design or structure of the detachable waistband extender of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,754 to KATO discloses a hook assembly used for a waist-adjusting mechanism of a garment with the garment having the waist-adjusting mechanism attached thereto. A front center opening can be opened and closed by a zip fastener. A hook assembly joins upper ends of the front center opening in a separable way and adjusts a waist size of pants within a fixed range. An adjusting cloth is sewed between one of the fastener tapes of the zip fastener and an outer cloth of the front center opening. The adjusting cloth has an overlap to provide an extra length on the waist size of the pants so as to fit a waist size of a user. The overlap of the adjusting cloth is extended in a specified manner so as to adjust a size of the patents corresponding to a portion lower than the waist of the user. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the configuration, design or structure of the detachable waistband extender of the present invention.

None of the aforementioned prior art patents disclose or teach the features shown in the design, configuration and structure of the present invention of a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on slacks, skirts, pants or trousers in order to extend the waistline of the garments without alteration to them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on clothing garments such as skirts, culottes, slacks, pants, trousers, shorts, or jeans in order to extend the waistline circumference of that clothing garment without any alteration to the clothing garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on persons who have gained weight, such that the detachable clip-on waistband extender extends and increases the waist size of the user's garment at least one or two clothing sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender for increasing and extending the waist size of the clothing garment that is of a compact configuration and is easy to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender having different styles, lengths and sizes for use in men's, women's, and children's clothing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender that is made from a light-weight, durable plastic or a light-weight metal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender that is capable of adjusting its hooking position by the attachment of one of the channeled slot members to a waistband hook member of the clothing garment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable clip-on waistband extender that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clip-on waistband extender for engaging an eye slot member and a waistband hook member of a garment to increase a fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member of a waistband section of the garment to provide comfort to the wearer. The clip-on waistband extender includes a bar member having a first side and a second side; the bar member is used for bridging a gap between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment. The first side of the bar member includes a hook member for detachably engaging onto the eye slot member on the waistband section of the garment; and the second side of the bar member includes at least one or more channeled slot members for detachably engaging onto the waistband and onto the hook member on the waistband section of the garment so as to bridge the gap and to increase the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment for expanding the waist of the garment in order to provide comfort to the wearer. Each of the channeled slot members is spaced-apart on the second side of the bar member in order to increase or decrease the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member on the waistband section of the garment in order to expand the waist size of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing its component parts in detail;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing its component parts in detail;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the clip-on waistband extender being attached to a clothing garment;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the clip-on waistband extender in its attached configuration to the clothing garment;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing a hook member and a plurality of channeled slot members integrally attached to a flat bar member;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the hook member and the channeled slot members being at opposing ends and opposite sides of the bar member;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing one of the channeled slot members of the bar member;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows showing the hook member, the channeled slot members of the bar member;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the alternate embodiment of the present invention showing its component parts in detail;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the clip-on waist extender being attached to a clothing garment;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the clip-on waistband extender in its attached configuration to the clothing garment;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing a hook member and a plurality of channeled slot openings and engaging members integrally attached to a flat bar member;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the hook member and the channeled slot openings being at opposing ends of the bar member;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention showing the hook member of the bar member; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the detachable clip-on waistband extender of the present invention taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 9 in the direction of the arrows showing the hook member, the channeled slot openings and the engaging members of the bar member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred Embodiment 10

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 10 and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in detail by FIGS. 1 through 8 of the patent drawings. The detachable clip-on waistband extender 10 of the preferred embodiment is used by a person who has gained weight, such that the clip-on waistband extender 10 extends the waist size of the user's clothing garment 12 at least one or two sizes (extends the waistline ½ to 2 inches) without alteration of the garment 12 by a tailor/seamstress.

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to 8 includes a bar member 20 having a top side surface 22, a bottom side surface 24, and a perimeter edging 26. The bar member 20 includes a first end 28 and a second end 30. The first end 28 of bar member 20 includes a hook member 32 being positioned on the bottom side surface 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the patent drawings. Hook member 32 is used for detachably engaging onto an eye slot member 13 on an exterior side 14a (right hand flap section 15a) of a waistband section 16 of a pair of slacks 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Hook member 32 includes a raised horizontal top wall 34 having a slot opening 36 therein for detachably attaching onto the eye slot member 13. The second end 30 of bar member 20 further includes a plurality of channeled slot members 40,42 and 44 being spaced-apart and positioned on the top side surface 22, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. One of the channeled slot members 40, 42 and 44 is used for engaging a waistband hook member 18 on an interior side 14b (left hand flap section 15b) of the waistband section 16 of the slacks 12, as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the channeled slot members 40, 42 and 44 include a bridge top wall 46, 48 and 50 having a slot opening 45, 47 and 49 therein, respectively, for detachably engaging the waistband hook number 18.

The physical dimensions of the detachable clip-on waistband extender 10 are as follows: The bar member 20 measurements are 2½ inches in length, ¾ of an inch in width and a wall thickness of at least 1/16 of an inch. The length of bar member 20 may vary in a range of 1½ inches to 6 inches. The raised horizontal top wall 34 of hook member 32 measurements are ½ of an inch in length and ⅜ of an inch in width having a slot opening 36 measurement of 1/16 of an inch. The bridge top wall 46, 48 and 50 of each channeled slot member 40, 42 and 44 measurements are ⅛ of an inch in length and ½ of an inch in width having a slot opening 45, 47 and 49 measurement of 1/16 of an inch. The bar member 20 is made of durable, semi-flexible plastics such as nylon or Teflon™, or light-weight metals such as aluminum, stainless steel or steel.

Alternate Embodiment 100

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 100 and its component parts of the alternate embodiment is represented in detail by FIGS. 9 through 15 of the patent drawings. The detachable clip-on waistband extender 100 of the alternate embodiment is also used by a person who has gained weight, such that the clip-on waistband extender 100 extends the waist size of the user's clothing garment 12 at least one or two sizes (extends the waistline ½ inch to 2 inches) without alternations of the garment 12 by a tailor or seamstress.

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 100, as shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 11, includes a bar member 120 having a top side surface 122, a bottom side surface 124 and a perimeter edging 126. The bar member 120 also includes a first end 128 and a second end 130. The first end 128 of the bar member 120 includes a hook member 132 being positioned on the top side surface 122, as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Hook member 132 is used for detachably engaging onto an eye slot member 13 on an exterior side 14a (right hand flap section 15a) of a waistband section 16 of a pair of slacks 12, as depicted in FIG. 10. Hook member 132 further includes a raised horizontal top wall 134 having a slot opening 136 therein for detachably attaching onto the eye slot member 13. The second end 130 of bar member 120 further includes a plurality of channeled slot openings 140, 142 and 144 being spaced-apart and positioned on the top wall surface 122, as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 12 of the drawings. One of the channeled slot openings 140, 142 or 144 is used for engaging a waistband hook member 18 on an interior side 14b (left hand flap section 15b) of the waistband section 16 of the slacks 12, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings. Each of the channeled slot openings 140, 143 and 144 include an independent engaging member 141, 143, 145 and 147, respectively, for detachably engaging the waistband hook member 18.

The physical dimensions of the detachable clip-on waistband extender 100 are as follows: The bar member 120 measurements are 2 inches in length, 3/4 of an inch in width and a wall thickness of at least 1/32 of an inch. The length of bar member 120 may vary in a range 1½ inches to 6 inches. The raised top wall 134 of hook member 132 are 5/16 of an inch in length and ⅜ of an inch in width having a slot opening 136 measurement of 1/20 of an inch. The channeled slot openings 140, 143 and 144 have measurements of 0.245 inches in length and 0.485 inches in width. The engaging members 141, 143, 145 and 147 have measurement of 3/20 of an inch in length and 0.485 inches in width. The bar member 120 is made of durable, semi-flexible plastics such as nylon or Teflon™; or light-weight metals such as aluminum, stainless steel or steel.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 10 is easy to use by the wearer when he or she has outgrown a particular clothing garment 12 having a waistband 16, such as, leisure shorts, pants, trousers, slacks, culottes, skirts, and the like, but the wearer still wants to use and wear the garment 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wearer first attaches the hook member 32 of waistband extender 10 to the eye slot member 13 on the exterior side 14a of the right hand flap section 15a on the waistband section 16 of slacks 12. The wearer then engages one of the channeled slot members 40 and 42 with the waistband hook member 18 on the interior side 16b of the left hand flap section 15b of the waistband section 16 of slacks 12, which then fastens the slacks 12 to a closed position P_c, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The wearer can still wear his or her standard belt over the waistband extender 10 for keeping the clothing garment 12 in a proper place on the wearer's waist. The wearer of the clip-on waistband extender 10 should be able to extend the waist size of that garment 12 one or two clothing sizes for the comfort of the wearer, and at least one inch. The clip-on waistband extender 10 has different sized extenders for use by men, women or children for their particular garment needs.

The detachable clip-on waistband extender 100 operates in a similar manner as the waistband extender 10 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the patent drawings.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on clothing garments such as skirts, culottes, slacks, pants, trousers, shorts, or jeans in order to extend the waistline circumference of that clothing garment without any alteration to the clothing garment.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender for use on persons who have gained weight such that the detachable clip-on waistband extender extends and increases the waist size of the user's garment at least one or two clothing sizes.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender for increasing and extending the waist size of the clothing garment that is of a compact configuration and is easy to use.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender having different styles, lengths and sizes for use in men's, women's, and children's clothing.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender that is made from a light-weight, durable plastic or a light-weight metal.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a detachable clip-on waistband extender that is capable of adjusting its hooking position by the attachment of one of the channeled slot members to a waistband hook member of the clothing garment.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a detachable clip-on waistband extender that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the user.

A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

1. A clip-on waistband extender for engaging an eye slot member and a waistband hook member of a garment to increase a fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member of a waistband section of the garment to provide comfort to the wearer, comprising:

a) a clip-on waistband extender including a bar member having a first side and a second side; said bar member for bridging a gap between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment;

b) said first side of said bar member including a hook member for detachably engaging onto the eye slot member on the waistband section of the garment;

c) said second side of said bar member including at least one or more channeled slot members for detachably engaging onto the waistband and onto the hook member on the waistband section of the garment so as to bridge said gap and to increase the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment to expand the waist of the garment in order to provide comfort to the wearer; and

d) each of said channeled slot members being spaced-apart on said second side of said bar member in order to increase or decrease the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member on the waistband section of the garment in order to expand the waist size of the garment.

2. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one or more channeled slot members includes three channeled slot members on said second side of said bar member.

3. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one or more channeled slot members includes at least two or more channeled slot members on said second side of said bar member.

4. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member has a substantially rectangular shape.

5. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is formed from a single piece of material.

6. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is made from durable, semi-flexible plastics such as nylon or Teflon™.

7. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is made from light-weight, durable flexible metals such as aluminum, steel or stainless steel.

8. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member has a length in a range of 1½ inches to 6 inches.

9. A clip-on waistband extender for engaging an eye slot member and a waistband hook member of a garment to increase a fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member of a waistband section of the garment to provide comfort to the wearer, comprising:

a) a clip-on waistband extender including a bar member having a first end and a second end; said bar member for bridging a gap between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment;

b) said first end of said bar member including a hook member for detachably engaging onto the eye slot member on the waistband section of the garment;

c) said second end of said bar member including at least one or more channeled slot openings having an engaging member for detachably engaging onto the waistband and hook member on the waistband section of the garment so as to bridge said gap and to increase the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member located on the waistband section of the garment to expand the waist of the garment in order to provide comfort to the wearer; and

d) each of said channeled slot openings having said engaging member being spaced-apart at said second end of said bar member in order to increase or decrease the fastened distance between the eye slot member and the waistband hook member on the waistband section of the garment in order to expand the waist size of the garment.

10. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one or more channeled slot openings includes three channeled slot openings on said second end of said bar member.

11. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one or more channeled slot openings includes four engaging members on said second end of said bar member.

12. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of said channeled slot openings has a substantially rectangular shape.

13. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of said engaging members has a substantially rectangular shape.

14. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member has a substantially rectangular shape.

15. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is formed from a single piece of material.

16. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is made from durable, semi-flexible plastics such as nylon or Teflon™.

17. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member is made from light-weight, durable flexible metals such as aluminum, steel or stainless steel.

18. A clip-on waistband extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar member has a length in a range of 1½ inches to 6 inches.