GARMENT CINCHING APPARATUS
A apparatus for use with garments, such as tee shirts, or other clothing fabric or materials, which pulls the garment tighter to the wearer's body without slipping off the garment. The apparatus consists of a single unit with multiple inner members and a relatively thicker outer perimeter. The inner members are spaced apart, leaving an opening through which a portion of the tee shirt, garment or material is inserted. The tee shirt, garment or material is then pulled through the opening to achieve the desired effect. The flexibility of the inner members must permit the tee shirt, garment or material to pass through the apparatus, but be sufficiently strong to hold the apparatus in place for an extended period of time and through vigorous activity.
The present patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/090,121 filed Aug. 19, 2008, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a cinching apparatus for use in connection with tee shirts, garments, and other clothing fabric or material, and more particularly to the practice of gathering such garments or material to tighten or shorten them for reasons of style or function.
SUMMARYThe invention provides a garment cinching apparatus comprising a structure having an interior surface defining an opening, the opening including a center. The invention also provides a plurality of resilient members integrally formed with the structure and extending from the interior surface toward the center of the opening so that a portion of the garment pulled through the opening is secured therein by the resilient members to cinch the garment around the individual wearing the garment.
In another form, the invention provides A garment cinching apparatus comprising a generally rigid ring structure having a thickness, an interior surface defining an opening, and an exterior surface. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of resilient members having a thickness less than and being integrally formed with the ring structure, and being spaced from one another around the interior surface and extending from the interior surface into the opening so that a portion of the garment pulled through the opening is secured therein by the resilient members to cinch the garment around the individual wearing the garment.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of constriction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The drawings of the present invention demonstrate some of the ways the apparatus can be customized. Other shapes, slogans, colors, prints, designs and additions are anticipated, however, the particular shape, slogan, color, print, design or addition is not critical to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe resilient members 23 have a thickness less than the thickness of the ring structure 25, so that the ring structure 25 is generally rigid, and the resilient members 23 are generally flexible relative to the ring structure 25. The resilient members 23 are spaced from one another around the opening.
The garment cinching apparatus 20 is formed from a one of rigid plastic, rubber, rigid foam, or other material capable of being molded into a single unit. The apparatus 20 is constructed of a material that provides sufficient strength to stay in place while at the same time remaining flexible enough to avoid damaging the garment 21.
The apparatus 20 also includes an exterior surface 28. The exterior surface may be customized and include ornamentation. The outer perimeter or ring 25 is generally circular in the drawings, but can be other shapes, as shown in
The apparatus 20 may be further customized using different colors, either by using different colors of plastic, or other material, in the manufacturing process or by printing patterns or designs on the apparatus 20. The apparatus 20 may be further customized using stickers, charms, rhinestones, plastic jewels or beads, or ribbons. The apparatus 20 may also be imprinted with different patterns, such as animal patterns or other patterns to make the apparatus 20 look as if it is made of a different material. The apparatus 20 may be further customized using various clips, pins, shapes, designs, or other devices, affixed, glued, tied or snapped to the apparatus 20. The customization may be provided during the manufacturing process or by the consumer.
As shown in
The garment cinching apparatus 20 may be customized through imprinting or printing a logo, name, or slogan, as in
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A garment cinching apparatus comprising:
- a structure having an interior surface defining an opening, the opening including a center; and
- a plurality of resilient members integrally formed with the structure and extending from the interior surface toward the center of the opening so that a portion of the garment pulled through the opening is secured therein by the resilient members to cinch the garment around the individual wearing the garment.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure is generally in the shape of a ring defining the opening, wherein the ring has a thickness and wherein the resilient members have a thickness less than the thickness of the ring, so that the ring structure is generally rigid, and the resilient members are generally flexible relative to the ring structure.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the resilient members are spaced from one another around the opening.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is formed from a one of resilient plastic, rubber, or rigid foam.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure further comprises an exterior surface and ornamentation connected to the exterior surface.
6. A garment cinching apparatus comprising:
- a generally rigid ring structure having a thickness, an interior surface defining an opening, and an exterior surface; and
- a plurality of resilient members having a thickness less than and being integrally formed with the ring structure, and being spaced from one another around the interior surface and extending from the interior surface into the opening so that a portion of the garment pulled through the opening is secured therein by the resilient members to cinch the garment around the individual wearing the garment.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 25, 2010
Inventor: Amy R. MacLean (Hartland, WI)
Application Number: 12/543,603