LOW PROFILE CONCEALED BELT

Abstract

A belt is described herein that is configured to partially encircle a torso of a wearer. The belt includes elongate flexible material having a length between a first and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the flexible material is elastic, a first fastening member attached to the first end of the flexible material; a second fastening member attached to the second end of the flexible material; and an adjustment member for adjusting the length of the flexible material, wherein the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer. Methods for wearing the belt are also described.

Description

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/298,546, entitled “LOW PROFILE CONCEALED BELT,” filed Jan. 26, 2010, the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Belts with multitudes of designs are known and available. Some belts predominantly serve a functional purpose, so as to support garments such as pants or skirts at the waist or hips of the wearer. Other belts have a more decorative purpose. However, most belts require the belt to close upon itself, such that the belt forms a closed loop encircling the front of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a belt that is configured to partially encircle a torso of a wearer. The belt includes elongate flexible material having a length between a first and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the flexible material is elastic, a first fastening member attached to the first end of the flexible material; a second fastening member attached to the second end of the flexible material; and an adjustment member for adjusting the length of the flexible material, wherein the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer.

Another aspect of the invention is directed towards a method for wearing the belt. The method includes steps of selecting a first location on a garment to secure the first fastening member; extending the second fastening member to a second location on the garment; and securing the second fastening member to the second location, wherein the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer when in use. In one embodiment, the first and second locations comprise belt loops on the rear portion of the garment. In a further embodiment, the first and second locations comprise adjacent belt loops on the rear portion of the garment. In an alternate embodiment, the first and second locations comprise first and third belt loops on the rear portion of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood and appreciated in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of the belt described herein;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a belt described herein above the rear waist band portion of a garment;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a belt described herein, showing the belt attached to belt loops of a rear waist portion of a garment; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an adjustable buckle for use in connection with the belt described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention described herein generally pertains to a belt, more particularly the invention provides a belt that only partially encircles the torso of the wearer (i.e., the belt does not close upon itself or form a closed loop) and is worn on the outside of the waist of the garment. In one embodiment, the belt is worn at the waist. In another embodiment, the belt is worn at the hips. In one embodiment, the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer when in use. In a more particular embodiment, the belt does not extend across the front of the wearer when in use, such that a front closure of the garment can be opened or closed without requiring that the belt be fastened or unfastened. Another advantage of the belt described herein is that the belt does not require the use of an uncomfortable bulky belt buckle at the front of the wearer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the belt 10 includes an elongate strip of flexible material 11 with fastening members 25, 35 at each of the first 20 and a second 30 ends of the material 11 and exterior 12 and interior 13 surfaces. In one embodiment, the exterior surface 12 of the elongate strip of flexible material 11 is decorated, such that the belt 10 is not only functional but ornamental as well. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible material 11 is an elastic material that is capable of returning to its original length after it is stretched. The flexible material 11 can be formed entirely of an elastic material or a combination of elastic and inelastic materials. Suitable elastic materials are known and include various woven or braided elastic materials including rubber and other natural or synthetic materials. Suitable inelastic materials include woven or knit material or other synthetic and natural materials such as leather. Various types of fastening members 25, 35 are known and include vest-clips, alligator clips, claw pins, hooks, etc. In an alternate embodiment, each end of the belt 10 may be wrapped around a belt loop and fastened on itself, for example, using a snap, button or Velcro® enclosure. In yet another embodiment, the fastening member 25, 35 can be a decorative.

The length L of the belt 10 is generally less than the circumference of the waist of a garment on which the belt 10 is to be used. In general, the length L is sufficient to extend between at least adjacent belt loops on the garment of the wearer and can extend between up to four belt loops of a garment. In one embodiment, the belt 10 has a length of at least about 2 inches and up to about 15 inches (when the flexible material 11 is relaxed or unstretched). In another embodiment, the belt 10 includes an adjustment member 50, such as an adjustable buckle (as shown in FIG. 4), suitable for adjusting the length of the flexible material 11 (i.e., the distance between the first 20 and second 30 ends of the flexible material 11).

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the waist portion of a garment, such as pair of pants 100. However, it is noted that the garment need not be a pair of pants, and can be any garment that covers the torso of a wearer, such as a dress, a shirt, a skirt, shorts, etc. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pants have several belt loops 125, 135 spaced along the waistband. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the fastening members 25, 35 of the belt 10 are attached to the loops 125, 135 of the pants 100. Although the two loops 125, 135 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are adjacent, non-adjacent belt loops can be used. For example, the belt 10 can extend between first and third loops or first and fourth loops of a garment (not shown). In general, the belt 10 of the invention is secured to belt loops located on the rear portion of the garment.

In using the belt 10, the wearer selects a location on the outside surface of the garment to secure the first fastening member 25 and clips the fastening member 25 thereto. In one embodiment, the first fastening member 25 is secured to a belt loop 125 on a pair of pants 100. The second fastening member 35 of the belt 10 is then extended to a second location and secured thereto. In one embodiment, the second fastening member 35 is secured to a second belt loop 135 on the pair of pants 100. If a more snug fit is desired, the length of the belt 10 can be stretched before securing the second fastening member 35 so that when the wearer releases the second fastening member 35, the flexible material 11 will contract and pull the fabric of the garment tight around the wearer.

The width W of the belt 10 can vary. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to thread the flexible material 11 through one or more belt loops on a garment. In such an embodiment, the width of the belt 10 is generally at least one-half inch, or at least three-quarters of an inch, or at least on inch, and up to about 2 inches. In other embodiments, in which the flexible material 11 of the belt extends on top of one or more belt loops 10, the width can be greater than 2 inches.

It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the phrase “configured” describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration. The phrase “configured” can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as “arranged”, “arranged and configured”, “constructed and arranged”, “constructed”, “manufactured and arranged”, and the like.

This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A belt configured to partially encircle a torso of a wearer, the belt comprising:

elongate flexible material having a length between a first and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the flexible material is elastic,

a first fastening member attached to the first end of the flexible material;

a second fastening member attached to the second end of the flexible material; and

an adjustment member for adjusting the length of the flexible material, wherein the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer.

2. The belt of claim 1, wherein the entire length of elongate flexible material is elastic.

3. The belt of claim 1, wherein the length of the belt is at least 2 inches.

4. The belt of claim 1, wherein the length of the belt is less than 15 inches.

5. The belt of claim 1, wherein the width of the flexible material is less than 2 inches.

6. The belt of claim 1, wherein the width of the flexible material is at least ½ inch.

7. The belt of claim 1, wherein the fastening member is selected from the group consisting of: vest-clips, alligator clips, claw pins, and hooks.

8. A method for wearing the belt of claim 1, the method comprising:

selecting a first location on an outside surface of a garment to secure the first fastening member;

extending the second fastening member to a second location on the garment; and

securing the second fastening member to the second location, wherein the belt extends less than halfway around the torso of the wearer when in use.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second locations comprise belt loops on the rear portion of the garment.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second locations comprise adjacent belt loops on the rear portion of the garment.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second locations comprise first and third belt loops on the rear portion of the garment.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second locations comprise first and fourth belt loops on the rear portion of the garment.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of adjusting the length of the belt using the adjustable buckle.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the belt is secured at the waist of the wearer.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the belt is secured at the hips of the wearer.