Suspenders For Women

Abstract

A method for use by a woman wearing a bra and wearing pants having belt loops, to provide a certain support for the pants. The method makes use of a generally flexible article, having a top portion generally in shape of a V and a bottom and having a hook at the top of each branch of the V and a downwardly extending hook at the bottom. The hook on the top of each branch of the V IS hooked to a shoulder strap of the bra and the hook at the bottom of the article is hooked to one of the belt loops

Description

BACKGROUND

Low cut, also known as hip hugging, jeans have become very popular for women. One problem with wearing these jeans is that the natural support provided by a woman's hips is not available when the waistband of the jeans is positioned right on the hips, rather than above them. As a result, a woman wearing such low cut jeans might have the embarrassing problem of having the top of her pants fall below a desired level.

Some ways of addressing this problem have been offered. One, which has been given the name Suspend Hers®, comprises an adjustable length of elastic satin-finish material with a clamp on either end. A recommended method is to attach the first clamp to the side of the woman's bra and the other end to the waist band of her pants. One weakness of this method, however, is that clamps, like any other mechanical device, have the tendency to become degraded with time and the user may find herself having an unfortunate pants falling incident when the clamp unexpectedly yields under tension. Although the clamping action is facilitated by a set of cooperating bumps on either clamp side, still when attempting to grip the thick, somewhat unyielding denim of a waistband, it might be found that these bumps are insufficient to surely and without ever failing dig into the material deeply enough to ensure a sufficient grip. When something as important as clothing support is involved, some may desire a more certain mechanism.

US Patent application publication 2004/0187194 shows a Y-shaped support attached to a woman's blouse and pants. Although this provides an opportunity for decoration, it would tend to pull down on the blouse and might, therefore, be somewhat uncomfortable. It also appears to use clamps, thereby suffering the same possibility of failure as the Suspend Hers®.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

In a first, separate aspect, the present invention may take the form of a method for use by a woman wearing a bra and wearing pants having belt loops, to provide a certain support for the pants. The method makes use of a generally flexible article, having a top portion generally in shape of a V and a bottom and having a hook at the top of each branch of the V and a downwardly extending hook at the bottom. The hook on the top of each branch of the V IS hooked to a shoulder strap of the bra and the hook at the bottom of the article is hooked to one of the belt loops.

In a second, separate aspect, the present invention may take the form of a feminine foundation and support assembly, including a bra having shoulder straps and a suspenders unit that is attached to the bra at each of the shoulder straps and that has a lower hook adapted to suspend a pair of pants a belt loop.

In a third, separate aspect, the present invention may take the form of a support article for suspending a woman's pants from her bra shoulder straps, that includes a V-shaped element made of a ribbon of fabric, and wherein each top branch of the V-shaped element is length adjustable. A hook is fastened to the end of each branch of the V-shaped element, each hook having a substantially flat hooking surface adapted to contact the width of a bra shoulder strap, and an end hook, adapted to keep the hook from sliding off the shoulder strap, and a hook attached to the apex of the V-shaped element, adapted to hook about a belt loop of a pair of pants.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in use.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of yet another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a suspenders unit 10, according to the present invention, in use. A pair of arms 12, joined together by a gusset 14, forms a V-shape. A pair of hook elements 16, each at the top of an arm 12, attach about bra shoulder straps 17, and a bottom hook element 18 hooks about a belt loop 19, to provide suspending support to pants 21. A pair of adjustment elements 20, familiar to skilled persons, permit arms 12 to be adjusted so that unit 10 can be worn by women having different length torsos. Referring to FIG. 2, each hook element 16 includes an eye 22, an arm 23 having a relatively flat interior surface 24 adapted to contact a bra shoulder strap, and a terminal hook 26, adapted to keep the arm 23 from sliding off the shoulder strap. Hook element 18, similarly includes an eye 28, arm 30, having a flat interior surface 31, and a terminal hook 32.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of preferred embodiment 40, in which the unshown portion is the same as embodiment 10. In suspenders 40, a single piece of material 12 extends through eye 28, thereby providing more natural adjustment to movement.

Preferred embodiment 70, partially shown in FIG. 4 and otherwise identical to preferred embodiment 10, includes two bottom arms 36, each terminating in a hook assembly 18, thereby providing attachment to two belt loops. Finally, preferred embodiment 88, includes a rearward extending hook 90, to permit attachment of an ornament 92.

Arms 12 may be made of satin finish material and may have some elasticity to help accommodate torso movement. Alternatively a lace material may be used. Hook arms 23 may have a length of about 1 cm, to accommodate a standard size bra strap. Suspenders 10, 40 or 70 may be grouped with the bra to define a single assembly, after it is all put together. In a preferred embodiment, not shown, an article including a bra and suspenders 10, 40 or 70 is produced as a single unit. In this embodiment, suspenders 10, 40 or 70 (but with hook elements 16 and 18 removed) may be sewn onto bra to form a truly unitary assembly.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those possessed of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A method for use by a woman wearing a bra and wearing pants having belt loops, to provide a certain support for said pants, comprising:

(a) providing a generally flexible article, having a top portion generally in shape of a V and a bottom and having a hook at the top of each branch of said V and a downwardly extending hook at said bottom;

(b) hooking each said hook on the top of a branch of said V to a shoulder strap of said bra; and

(c) hooking said hook at said bottom of said article to a said belt loop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein apart from said hooks said article is made of primarily of cloth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said cloth is a satin finish elastic.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said hooks are made of metal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said hooks at the top of said Y are identical.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said hook at said bottom of said Y is larger than said hooks at the top of said Y.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said hook at said bottom of said Y is large enough to fit around a double belt loop having a width of 2 cm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said downwardly extending hook is a first downwardly extending hook and further including a second downwardly extending hook at said bottom, and wherein step (c) includes hooking said first downwardly extending hook to a first belt loop and said second downwardly extending hook to a second belt loop.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said bottom includes a first leg and a second leg, both legs having and end, and wherein said first downwardly extending hook is at said end of said first leg and said second downwardly extending hook is at said bottom of said second leg.

10. A feminine foundation and support assembly, comprising:

(a) a bra having shoulder straps; and

(b) a suspenders that is attached to said bra at each said shoulder strap and having a lower hook adapted to suspend a pair of pants a belt loop.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further including a pair of pants having belt loops and being supported by said lower hook, hooked around one of said belt loops.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said suspenders is attached to said bra by hooks.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said lower hook is a first lower hook and further including a second lower hook, and wherein said first and second lower hooks are adapted to suspend a pair of pants be being hooked to a first belt loop and a second belt loop, respectively.

14. A support article for suspending a woman's pants from her bra shoulder straps, comprising:

(a) a V-shaped element made of a ribbon of fabric, and wherein each top branch of said V-shaped element is length adjustable;

(b) wherein a hook is fastened to the end of each branch of said V-shaped element, each hook having a substantially flat hooking surface adapted to contact the width of a bra shoulder strap, and an end hook, adapted to keep said hook from sliding off said shoulder strap;

(c) and wherein a hook is attached to the Apex of said V-shaped element, and is adapted to hook to a belt loop of said pants.