GARMENT STRAP ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A garment strap attachment is configured to conceal at least a portion of a garment strap. The garment strap attachment may be removable, and may feature decorative elements in order to improve the appearance of a particular item of clothing. In various exemplary embodiments, the garment strap attachment is folded around a garment strap, and portions of the garment strap attachment are coupled to one another to conceal at least a portion of the garment strap while allowing the garment strap to move therewithin.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional No. 61/314,730 filed on Mar. 17, 2010 and entitled “DECORATIVE STRAP ATTACHMENT.” The entire contents of the foregoing application are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to clothing, and particularly to decorative enhancements for garment straps.

BACKGROUND

Garment straps, for example brassiere straps, are often considered unsightly and are kept hidden below other items of clothing. However, for reasons of fashion, temperature, or otherwise, a person may desire to wear clothing which may partially or fully reveal one or more garment straps. Because typical garment straps are primarily functional in nature, the exposed straps may detract from the resulting appearance. Moreover, a person may also desire to accessorize or otherwise enhance a garment strap in order to present a more fashionable appearance, to achieve a higher level of comfort, to allow greater interchangeability of clothing, and the like.

SUMMARY

Decorative attachments for garment straps and method for construction and use of the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a garment strap attachment comprises a main body having at least one decorative item attached thereto, a loop side coupled to the main body, and a hook side coupled to the main body. The loop side and the hook side are configured to couple to one another in order to releasably surround at least a portion of a garment strap.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method for decorating a garment strap comprises coupling at least one decorative item to a garment strap attachment, folding the garment strap attachment around a first garment strap such that at least a portion of the first garment strap is entirely concealed within the garment strap attachment, and coupling a first portion of the garment strap attachment to a second portion of the garment strap attachment to secure the garment strap attachment around the first garment strap.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method for decorating a garment strap comprises coupling at least one decorative item to a tubular garment strap attachment, passing a garment strap through the garment strap attachment to at least partially conceal the garment strap, and coupling the garment strap to a garment. The coupling retains at least a portion of the garment strap within the garment strap attachment.

The contents of this summary section are provided only as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limit the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates a decorative strap attachment utilizing a hook and loop fastener in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1B illustrates a decorative strap attachment configured with an attachment loop in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1C illustrates a decorative strap attachment configured for use with ribbon or lace in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates decorative strap attachments coupled to brassiere straps as worn by a person in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a decorative strap attachment configured with a zipper in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a decorative strap attachment configured as a tubular structure for use with removable garment straps in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate multiple views of a decorative strap attachment having a garment strap passed therethrough in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate a brassiere having decorative strap attachments coupled to each shoulder strap in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the brassiere of FIGS. 8 through 10 as worn by a person in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a decorative strap attachment partially enclosing a garment strap in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is of various exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various exemplary embodiments including the best mode. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques for clothing and/or jewelry construction, sewing, stitching, coupling, fastening, and the like may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical decorative strap attachment.

Garment straps have attempted to incorporate decorative elements in the past. However, due to the nature of the strap material, the required strap configuration, and the like, decoration options have been limited. However, a broader range of decoration may be enabled through use of a decorative strap attachment in accordance with principles of the present disclosure.

With reference now to FIGS. 1A through 1C and 6 through 12, and in various exemplary embodiments, a decorative strap attachment 100 comprises main body 102, hook side 104, loop side 106, and one or more decorative items 108. Decorative strap attachment 100 is configured to be placed and/or folded around a garment strap in a removable manner. Decorative strap attachment 100 may also be configured to allow a garment strap to be passed therethrough without folding or fastening. In an exemplary embodiment, decorative strap attachment 100 may be configured to be substantially planar when unfolded, and may resemble a flattened tubular structure or “straw”-like configuration when surrounding and/or coupled to a garment strap.

Decorative strap attachment 100 may be configured with any desired length, width, and/or thickness. For example, in various exemplary embodiments, decorative strap attachment 100 may have a length of about 12 inches. In other exemplary embodiments, decorative strap attachment 100 may have a length of about six inches. Moreover, decorative strap attachment 100 may have any suitable lengths, widths, thicknesses, angles, curves, and/or other dimensions or configurations in order to allow one or more decorative strap attachments 100 to be utilized, for example in connection with different items of clothing, by persons having varying body measurements, and/or the like.

In an exemplary embodiment, decorative strap attachment 100 is configured to allow a garment strap to stretch and/or contract, for example due to movement of the wearer. Accordingly, decorative strap attachment 100 may be formed of flexible material (e.g., elastane, rubber, and/or the like). Moreover, because in certain exemplary embodiments decorative strap attachment 100 at least partially surrounds a garment strap, in these embodiments the garment strap remains free to slide within decorative strap attachment 100. In this manner, decorative strap attachment 100 may remain in a desired location relative to a wearer's body and/or clothing, while still allowing the garment strap to move as needed.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1A through 1C, main body 102 is configured to couple to one or more decorative items 108. Moreover, decorative items 108 may be integrated within main body 102. Main body 102 may also be coupled to and/or integral with hook side 104 and/or loop side 106. Main body 102 may comprise a section of fabric, for example fabric formed from cotton, nylon, rayon, polyester, and the like. Main body 102 may be formed from any suitable material configured to couple with one or more decorative items 108.

Hook side 104 is configured to releasably couple with loop side 106 in order to enclose a garment strap. In various exemplary embodiments, hook side 104 comprises a section of fabric having a hook-style fastener (e.g., Velcro® brand material or similar) coupled thereto. In other exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3, hook side 104 comprises a section of fabric having one size of a zipper coupled thereto. Hook side 104 may be configured with any suitable structure, device, fastener, and/or the like, to enable hook side 104 to releasably couple with loop side 106. For example, hook side 104 may be coupled to multiple fastener portions having spacing therebetween in order to allow decorative strap attachment 100 to be flexible and/or adjustable.

Loop side 106 is configured to releasably couple with hook side 104 in order to enclose a garment strap. In various exemplary embodiments, loop side 106 comprises a section of fabric having a loop-style fastener (e.g., Velcro® brand material or similar) coupled thereto. In other exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3, loop side 106 comprises a section of fabric having one side of a zipper coupled thereto. Moreover, loop side 106 may be configured with any suitable structure, device, fastener, and/or the like, to enable loop side 106 to releasably couple with hook side 104. One skilled in the art will appreciate that hook side 104 and/or loop side 106 may comprise any suitable structure and/or fastening method. Moreover, one skilled in the art will appreciate that main body 102, hook side 104, and/or loop side 106 may be formed from a single portion of fabric or other material, or from multiple pieces as desired.

Still referencing FIGS. 1A through 1C and in various exemplary embodiments, decorative item(s) 108 are configured to couple to main body 102. Decorative items 108 may comprise any desired item configured to provide decorative strap attachment 100 with a particular appearance, for example: thread, plastic, rhinestones, costume jewelry, pendant 112, ribbon, lace, precious metals, precious stones, and/or the like. Decorative items 108 may be permanently fastened to main body 102. Moreover, decorative items 108 may be releasably coupled to main body 102, in order to allow customization or other modifications to decorative strap attachment 100. Decorative items 108 may be coupled to decorative strap attachment 100 in any suitable location in order to achieve a desired appearance. Decorative items 108 may be coupled to decorative strap attachment 100 by stitching, gluing, riveting, pinning, and/or any other suitable coupling method, technique, or means.

In various exemplary embodiments, and with particular reference now to FIGS. 1B and 5-7, decorative strap attachment 100 further comprises attachment loop 110. Attachment loop 110 is configured to allow one or more decorative items 108 to be releasably and/or permanently coupled to decorative strap attachment 100 and/or attachment loop 110. Attachment loop 110 may comprise fabric, ribbon, chain, and/or the like. Moreover, attachment loop 110 may comprise any suitable structure configured to couple one or more decorative items 108 to decorative strap attachment 100. For example, a first end of attachment loop 110 may be coupled to main body 102, and attachment loop 110 may be passed through a portion of a decorative item 108, for example pendant 112. A second end of attachment loop 110 may then be coupled to main body 102, allowing pendant 112 to hang in a desired location, for example at the bottom of decorative strap attachment 100. One or more portions of attachment loop 110 may be releasable in order to allow substitution of one or more decorative items 108. Alternatively, attachment loop 110 may further comprise a split ring or other component configured to allow substitution of one or more decorative items 108.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 8-12, one or more decorative strap attachments 100 may be coupled to an item of clothing, for example a brassiere. The brassiere strap may be placed against main body 102, and hook side 104 and loop side 106 may be folded around the brassiere strap and coupled to one another. In this manner, decorative strap attachment 100 may releasably surround at least a portion of a brassiere strap, and may at least partially conceal the brassiere strap within decorative strap attachment 100. Moreover, because hook side 104 and loop side 106 are releasably coupled to one another, decorative strap attachment 100 may be easily removed from a particular garment strap and coupled to a different garment strap, allowing decorative strap attachment 100 to be utilized with a wide variety of garments.

Additionally, in various exemplary embodiments, decorative strap attachment 100 may be configured to at least partially surround and/or couple to at least a portion of multiple items of clothing. For example, decorative strap attachment 100 may be configured to allow both a strap of an inner item of clothing (for example, an undergarment strap, a brassiere strap, and the like) and a strap for an outer item of clothing (for example, a “spaghetti” strap of a camisole, a tank top strap, an evening gown strap, a cocktail dress strap, and the like) to be simultaneously passed therethrough. In this manner, decorative strap attachment 100 may improve the appearance of multiple items of clothing simultaneously. Moreover, multiple garment straps may thus be kept adjacent to one another for a more comfortable and/or fashionable look.

With reference now to FIG. 4, in various exemplary embodiments, decorative strap attachment 100 is configured as a “tube”- or “straw”-like structure for use with garment straps which are removable from a garment and/or separable from a garment at one end of the garment strap. In these exemplary embodiments, one end of a garment strap may be passed through decorative strap attachment 100, and then the garment strap may be reattached to the item of clothing. In these exemplary embodiments, decorative strap attachment 100 may be configured without hook and loop fasteners, zippers, and the like; however, these exemplary embodiments are suitable for use with a garment strap which may be detached from the corresponding garment at one or more ends.

With reference now to FIG. 13, decorative strap attachment 100 may be removed from a particular garment strap and placed around a different garment strap. In various exemplary embodiments, hook side 104 and loop side 106 may be forcibly separated by a user, freeing the garment strap within. Hook side 104 and loop side 106 may be re-coupled as desired, for example once decorative strap attachment 100 is placed around a new garment strap.

While the principles of this disclosure have been shown in various exemplary embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials and components, used in practice, which are particularly adapted for a specific environment and operating requirements may be used without departing from the principles and scope of this disclosure. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and may be expressed in the following claims.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various exemplary embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all of the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. When language similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, the phrase is intended to mean any of the following: (1) at least one of A; (2) at least one of B; (3) at least one of C; (4) at least one of A and at least one of B; (5) at least one of B and at least one of C; (6) at least one of A and at least one of C; or (7) at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

Claims

1. A garment strap attachment, comprising:

a main body having at least one decorative item attached thereto;

a loop side coupled to the main body; and

a hook side coupled to the main body, wherein the loop side and the hook side are configured to couple to one another in order to releasably surround at least a portion of a garment strap.

2. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, further comprising a pendant coupled to the main body.

3. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, further comprising a split ring coupled to the main body.

4. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, wherein the garment strap attachment is configured to releasably surround at least a portion of multiple garment straps.

5. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, wherein the garment strap attachment has a length of between six inches and twelve inches.

6. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, wherein the decorative item comprises at least one of costume jewelry, ribbon, or lace.

7. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, further comprising a zipper configured to releasably couple the loop side and the hook side.

8. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a material configured to allow the garment strap to slide within the garment strap attachment

9. The garment strap attachment of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a flexible material.

10. A method for decorating a garment strap, the method comprising:

coupling at least one decorative item to a garment strap attachment;

folding the garment strap attachment around a first garment strap such that at least a portion of the first garment strap is entirely concealed within the garment strap attachment; and

coupling a first portion of the garment strap attachment to a second portion of the garment strap attachment to secure the garment strap attachment around the first garment strap.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising decoupling the first portion from the second portion to release the first garment strap from the garment strap attachment.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

folding the garment strap attachment around a second garment strap such that at least a portion of the second garment strap is entirely concealed within the garment strap attachment; and

coupling the first portion to the second portion to secure the garment strap attachment around the second garment strap.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising folding the garment strap attachment around a second garment strap together with the first garment strap.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first garment strap and the second garment strap comprise one or more of a brassiere strap, an undergarment strap, a camisole strap, a tank top strap, an evening gown strap, or a cocktail dress strap.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one decorative item is coupled to the garment strap attachment via stitching.

16. A method for decorating a garment strap, the method comprising:

coupling at least one decorative item to a tubular garment strap attachment;

passing a garment strap through the garment strap attachment to at least partially conceal the garment strap; and

coupling the garment strap to a garment, wherein the coupling retains at least a portion of the garment strap within the garment strap attachment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

decoupling the garment strap from the garment; and

passing the garment strap through the garment strap attachment to separate the garment strap attachment from the garment strap.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein passing a garment strap through the garment strap attachment comprises passing two garment straps through the garment strap attachment.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the tubular garment strap attachment comprises a sheet of fabric fastened to itself to form a tube.