METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIT AND APPEARANCE OF AN ARTICLE OF APPAREL

Abstract

A method of using a fastening system includes providing at least one wire tie, located a position of a hank of a material to be adjusted, wherein, in the position, upon a gathering of the hank, results in a desired adjustment of the material and wherein the desired adjustment is as a result of the adjustments chosen from the group comprising: a shortening of the material, a waisting of the material, a pinching of the material, a pleating of the material, a folding of the material, a gathering of the material, a bundling of the material, a fastening together of a plurality of pieces of the material, then gathering the hank of the material to cause the desired result, wrapping the tie around the hank, and manipulating the beads so as to bend the opposite ends of the wire and the pair of beads to flatten the hank so as to mask the hank.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/764,885 filed Feb. 14, 2013 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIT AND APPEARANCE OF AN ARTICLE OF APPAREL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of devices and methods for altering the fit and appearance of a person's clothing, and for temporarily fastening objects or adjusting a person's hair, and in particular to such device and method employing wire ties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clothing is made for the masses. Not everyone has a body shape that fits into standard sizes. For example: a small person in body may have big arms therefore needing to buy a larger size blouse that fits the arms but leaves the torso area too big so that the neckline is too low and the blouse is baggy around middle, etc. Because custom tailoring is expensive and therefore not an option for most people, the problem is then that a lot of standard sized clothes do not fit properly and thus may be unappealing, inappropriately revealing, or uncomfortable to wear.

Each piece of clothing has a built in style. People search for those pieces that show off their style. Thus, a person's choice of clothes is a statement.

Clothes, especially women's clothes, are quite often complicated to fit properly. Once fitted, people change as they get older. They may grow bigger or smaller, or develop or obtain other issues that they try to hide (scars, tattoos, fat, etc.). In addition, styles which are considered fashionable change over time. What worked for attire a year or two ago may not work anymore. Applicant has found that there is not an off-the-rack solution for everyone, for all situations and seasons. Consequently, many people spend a lot of time searching for the right clothing. In general, clothes are not very versatile. It is often a struggle to find what fits and what looks good.

Applicant has determined that, at times, all it would take for people, especially women, to look and feel better about their appearance is to provide a tuck, hold, lift or gather in the right places on a garment. There are many types of clasps, clips, pins, magnets, that have been used to create temporary holds for clothes. These many types of clasps, clips, pins, magnets have been used in endeavoring to provide an effective means for removeably holding fabric together without damage. Safety pins create damage including holes in clothing and are typically used for emergency situations to immediately secure clothing, bandages, etcetera. Brooches include a pin as well and thus also will put holes in clothing. A brooch is typically meant and used for decoration only. A scarf clip sits on the clothing joining the two ends and has a small clasp for its limited purpose. A magnetic clothes gathering clasp is capable of creating a temporary hold without damaging the fabric but it is very visibly performing its function. It is able to gather the clothing like a rubber band, but is obvious in its use and limited to one hold and the strength of a magnet.

The following is a partial list of clothing issues which often have to be addressed in fitting off-the-rack standard sized clothing: the style is not versatile, the neckline is too low or too high or of the wrong shape, there is no definition in the body/torso area, the shoulder straps are too long/loose/falling, the shoulder bra straps show where they shouldn't, garment material keeps riding up torso looking messy and showing stomach, there are not enough belt loops or belt loops are in the wrong spot to hold a belt end or a garment is lacking belt loops, a garment needs to be cinched at the waist line, a dress is too long, a dress billows out more than desired, a dress is too wide, a blouse is too long, a blouse is too wide or billows out at bottom, sleeves are too wide, sleeves are too long and will not stay up with folding over, seams turn over to the wrong side exposing the back of the seam, a bathing suit top gaps at sides, ties are too short to make nice bow or loose knot, or ties have too much material and therefore the bow is too big.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein refer to a decorative wire ties that when used according to the method described herein create temporary holds on fabric and hair that does not harm the fabric or hair. The wire ties are used to selectively adjust the look, lift and feel of a user's garment or hair. The wire tie may be used by creating a loop and pulling a hank of fabric through the loop and tightening the loop, or by encircling the wire tie around the hair or fabric, and then wrapping so as to be tightly wrapped around the fabric or hair. Examples of the results of such use include creating pleats in clothing, shortening hem lines in tops, skirts, dresses and sleeves, and altering neck lines, to name just a few uses. More uses are listed below.

The decorative wire tie and method described herein may be used to make clothing fit better and/or to change the style of clothing, and/or as a hold for hair, either joining pieces of hair together for unique styles or to wrap around hair lengths for decoration. The wire ties may in one embodiment for example be made from wires that are for example 20 to 22 gauge, depending on the flexibility, strength and desired decorative aspect of the piece. One example of a decorative wire tie is five inches long made from 22 gauge half soft wire and includes two clearly defined decorative ends, referred to herein collectively as beads. This length is not intended to be limiting as other lengths may also work for different weight fabrics, etcetera, so that the length of the wire tie may range for example from one or two inches, to eighteen inches.

In one aspect, not intended to be limiting, a method for adjusting the fit and appearance of an article of apparel is described herein which may for example include the steps of:

• • (a) providing an elongate selectively deformably bendable wire member having opposite first and second ends, wherein said bendable member is deformable between an unwrapped position and a wrapped position and to remain so deformed when bent into either position or between either position.
  • (b) providing a wearing apparel of fabric having a plurality of fitting dimensions and oppositely disposed interior and exterior surfaces, and gathering a hank of the fabric; that is, a gathering or bunching of the apparel fabric, so as to project the hank cantilevered from the exterior surface of the apparel, whereby at least one fitting dimension of the apparel is substantially altered by the formation of the hank, and wherein said fit dimension is chosen from the group comprising:
    • a) a lateral width
    • b) a height
    • c) a length
    • d) a waist line
    • e) a bust line
    • f) a hem line
    • g) a shoulder width
    • h) an inseam,
  • (c) positioning the member so as to press a mid-portion of the member against the projection of the hank, closely adjacent the exterior surfaces of the apparel adjacent the hank,
  • (d) wrapping at least one half turn of each of the opposite ends of the member around the hank so that the member extends substantially at least completely around the hank and snugging the member around the hank so as to releasably stabilize, clamp and/or lock the hank in its position on the apparel and so as to leave the opposite ends of the member each cantilevered from the hank,
  • (e) pressing the cantilevered ends of the member against any bunching of the fabric around the hank so as to flatten said bunching and/or the hank against the exterior surface of the apparel.

The method may include providing decorative ornamentation on said member, and in particular may include providing said ornamentation in the form of beads on one or both of said opposite ends of said member and/or on said mid-portion of said member.

The method may include forming two or more of the hanks and using one of the members to stabilize and lock the two or more hanks of the fabric.

The method may include forming two or more of the hanks and using two or more corresponding the members to the stabilize and lock the two or more hanks.

The method may further include twisting the ends of the member around each other following winding of the member around the hank so as to releasably lock the mid-portion of the member at the hank while leaving the ends cantilevered from the hank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a wire tie according to one embodiment shown in front elevation and bent into a single medial loop.

FIG. 2 is, in front elevation view, the tie of FIG. 1, when straight.

FIG. 3 is, in rear elevation view, the tie of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is, in partially cut-away front elevation view, a length of coated wire used in the manufacture of the tie of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is, in partially cut-away view, the coated wire of FIG. 4 partially shrouded in a fabric covering.

FIG. 6 is, in partially cut-away view, the coated and covered wire of FIG. 5 showing the non-coated end of the wire used to double back and wrap the end of the wire covering.

FIG. 7 is, in partially cut-away view, the covered wire end of FIG. 6 mounted into a clay bead.

FIG. 8 is, in top perspective view, a decorative button which may be employed to form part of bead of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is, in rear perspective view, the button of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is, in partially cut-away view, the interior of the bead of FIG. 7 showing the end of the covered wire and the spiralling of the exposed end of the wire so as to form a laterally extending anchor within the bead.

FIG. 11 is, in perspective view, the bead of FIG. 10 end casing the wire anchor.

FIG. 12 is, the partially cut-away view, of FIG. 10 showing the wrapping procedure so as to form the wire anchor.

FIG. 13 is the bead of FIG. 11 partially cut-away to show the relative dimensions of one embodiment of the wire-anchor encased within the bead.

FIG. 14 is, in from elevation view, a further embodiment of a wire tie having a loop along the covered wire.

FIG. 15 is the tie of FIG. 14 when straight.

FIG. 16 is, in partially cut-away front elevation view, a further embodiment of the wire anchor formed at one end of the covered wire for encasing in a bead.

FIG. 17 is, in partially cut-away rear elevation view, a second wire anchor formed behind the wire anchor of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is, in left side elevation view, the pair of wire anchors formed on opposite sides of the end of the covered wire of FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 19 is, in right side elevation view, the wire anchors of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is, in front elevation view, a user wearing a garment wherein a waist of the garment has been adjusted by using a wire tie to gather a hank of the waist material.

FIG. 21 is, in partially cut-away front elevation view, the initial forming of the hank which is shown gathered in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is the view of FIG. 21 with the hank rolled onto the tie.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 20 showing the hank gathered by the tie.

FIG. 24 is, in back elevation view, a further use of a wire tie by the gathering of a hank of garment material worn by a user so as to draw in the waist of the garment, wherein one side of the garment has been gathered.

FIG. 25 is the view of FIG. 24 wherein both sides of the garment have been gathered so as to snug the waist of the garment around the user.

FIG. 26 is, in side elevation view, the forming of a hank of garment material in FIG. 25 and showing a wire tie being positioned to gather the hank.

FIG. 27 is the view of FIG. 26 with the tie snugged and locked around the base of the hank of material.

FIG. 28 is, in front elevation view, the hank and tie of FIG. 27 wherein the hank has been folded down over the material of the garment and secured in place by the folding down of the ends of the tie.

FIG. 29 is an illustration of the use of a wire tie to gather a hank of material so as to shorten a garment and cinch the waist, and so as to change the shape of neckline and strap.

FIG. 30 is, in front elevation view, the use of a wire tie to shorten a skirt, showing the first step to shorten a skirt, wherein the user lifts the skirt to desired length with excess fabric showing at top.

FIG. 31 is, in front elevation view, the forming of a pair of hanks of skirt material so as to draw in the waist of the skirt around the waist of a user.

FIG. 32 is the view of FIG. 31 wherein a wire tie has been positioned around the base of the pair of hanks.

FIG. 33 is the view of FIG. 32 wherein the tie has been wrapped tightly around the base of the pair of hanks and locked.

FIG. 34 is the view of FIG. 33 wherein the tie has been folded down over the pair of hanks so as to lay the pair of hanks flush down against the surface of the garment.

FIG. 35 is the view of FIG. 34 wherein the hanks and tie have been tucked in behind the waist of the skirt.

FIG. 36 is, in front elevation view, a user wearing a garment having shoulder straps and illustrating the mounting of a wire tie onto each of the shoulder straps.

FIG. 37 is, in partially cut-away view, the wrapping of one of the ties around one of the shoulder straps in FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is the view of FIG. 37 wherein the shoulder strap and the tie have been twisted together and rotated so as to entwine the strap with the tie thereby shortening the shoulder strap.

FIG. 39 is the view of the FIG. 36 with the shoulder straps of the garment shortened.

FIG. 40 is, a partially cut-away enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 39 showing the shortening of a shoulder strap by the twisting of a tie with the shoulder strap according to the illustration of FIG. 38.

FIG. 41 is, in front elevation view, a user wearing a scarf which has been gathered on the users chest using a single wire tie and wherein a decorative object is suspended from the tie.

FIG. 42 is, in front elevation view, a user wearing a garment wherein the neckline of the garment has been lowered by the use of a wire tie gathering a hank formed from the front centre of the neckline.

FIG. 43 is, in front elevation view, a user wearing a scarf secured by wrapping a tie tightly around the ends of the scarf from top to bottom.

FIG. 44 is, in front elevation view, a user wherein wire ties are used to secure the user's bangs and to secure the user's pigtails, wherein one pigtail is tied, the other one wrapped.

FIG. 45 is, in front elevation view, the head of a user showing a wire tie used to create a bun or ponytail on the top of the user's head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A decorative wire member or tie is described that, when applied properly, can create a strong temporary hold on a hank of fabric so as to adjust the fit of the fabric as part of wearing apparel, and to flatten the hank for example. While performing its function, the function of the decorative wire tie is overlooked by an observer; that is, the function is disguised or not so readily apparent when viewed as primarily only the decorative aspect is noticed.

By creating a loop of decorative wire tie around the hank of fabric, and then tightening the wire and giving the wire half a turn, creates a locked, secure hold with the wire tie which will not harm the fabric or hair, and which is not permanent.

To make a blouse or dress fit better, to give just two examples, to change the apparel's style from formal to sexy or to modest with a few twists of wire ties is a new way of dressing. A user will find that clothes that have been passed over are worth putting on again, with the user seeing what can be done using decorative wire tie as described below. The lifespan of many wardrobes may thus be extended.

To make pleats using the decorative wire tie the fabric of the clothing itself must be flexible. The lighter the fabric the more flexibility the fabric has and the more ways the decorative wire tie may be used.

The wire tie may be used to create many different effects on fabric clothing by using multiple gathering points. The wire tie may be used to re-direct the fabric away from a fold to make the fold less bulky while not drawing a viewer's attention the wire tie's function as hardware but instead leaving the viewer with primarily the decorative impression only. Again, the body of the wire tie is looped around a hank formed in the fabric, and the ends of the tie are pulled tightly together, and secured by turning or twisting the ends around one another where they meet. This may be used to create a pleat. Multiple pleats may be created with the same length of wire tie. The decorative parts such as the beads on the ends of the tie are positioned over, and may be pressed down onto, the fabric hank, thereby hiding the hank.

The wire tie may also be used as discussed further below by rolling it in the fabric so that the tie is encased in a tube of fabric, and then looping or twisting the tube of fabric containing the wire to a desired shape. As used herein, the gathering of the fabric around the wire tie to form the fabric tube around the wire tie is also referred to as the gathering of a hank of fabric, in that the function and end result is of drawing in fabric from the garment into the hank, and securing the hank in place with the tie. Again, the hank is finished by manipulating the wire ends to encircle, and cover or fold over onto the hank.

The wire ties may be used to encircle shoulder straps, and may also be used on the inside of clothing to create fit adjustments with no hardware/decoration showing.

The wire ties may also be used as an accessory for hair. The wire twist can be used to manipulate hair in the same fashion as on fabric/cloth. It can have many holding positions with one wire tie; that is, it can be used to direct hair, hold hair or just as an adornment.

The use of the wire ties described herein to adjust the fit, look, and the feel to the user of a garment may be described as including, but not limited to the following uses: change the style of clothing, elevate neckline, drop neckline, create definition in the torso, create false seams, shorten dresses, shorten blouses, shorten skirts, modify the style of shoulder straps, to replace a knot or bow, as a scarf tie, lengthen or shorten a strap, to secure or curl hair.

Construction

The following description describes one method of making a wire tie, but is not intended to be limiting.

A 22 gauge, round cross-section, stainless steel half-soft length of wire has its opposite ends coiled or balled (herein reflectively referred to as being formed as a spiral) to have a pleasing and distinct appearance at each end. The finished length of the tie may be for example one inch for light weight fabric or narrow straps, up to for example eighteen inches for bulky fabrics, beach towels, etcetera. The ends of the wire may be formed as various shapes using for example a formable, curable material including moldable clay, metal, rubber, glue, latex, plastic etc. The ends of the wire tie are encased in this way to form beads, and so as to ensure that no sharp point of wire is left protruding which may catch and harm fabric/people.

Although the wire tie has a minimum of one and preferably two distinct decorative beads, that is, preferably one at each end, there may also be more beads along the body of the wire tie, for example, at the medial point along its length etc.

The wire is sufficiently flexible for ease of manual manipulation, so that it may be manipulated to create a secure temporary hold or lock (herein collectively referred to as a lock), because the tie can fold or twist over onto itself thereby temporarily locking the hold.

The body of the wire tie, that is, the length of the tie extending between the beads at the opposite ends of the tie, may be made with a variety of different gauge wires. The body may also include beading along its length of wire and/or coating of the wire with plastic, rubber, silicone, etc.

The ends of the tie need to be easily identifiable for ease of the user securing and releasing a locking twist of the tie, for example around so as to lock a hank of fabric.

The ends are formed as what are referred to herein as “beads”. Beads are decorative pieces secured to the ends of the body of the tie. Each bead is a separate piece; and may include a bead, button, jewel or ornament. The bead may either be attached by the wire going through it and glued or set in place as described better below.

The prior art is replete with examples of mechanical clamping devices useful for clamping soft objects such as clothing and hair. What is not found however is a method of decoratively and functionally adjusting the style and fit of clothing or the way hair is worn using a device which may be inexpensively mass-produced and may be easily used once the method of its use according to one aspect of the present invention is know to the user.

One such device is shown by way of example in FIGS. 1-3, and whose construction is better understood by a review of the illustrations in FIGS. 5-12 described below. In FIG. 1, tie 10 is shown with the central body 12 looped between the beads 14 formed on either end. Beads 14 may have a decorative face 14a or a undecorated face 14b, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. Body 12 is advantageously covered along its entire length in a flexible sheath or sleeve or wrap 12a. Advantageously, the faces, for example either faces 14a or 14b, of beads 14 provide a sufficiently large surface area to allow ease of manipulation of body 12 by a user when forming spirals, loops and other shapes for the purposes of adjusting for example clothing and the disguising of the presence of operation of tie 10 as described below.

As seen in FIG. 4, in one preferred embodiment, body 12 includes coated wire 16 within coating 12a. One example of the coating of coated wire 16 is polyolefin heat-shrunk tubing mounted onto a core of wire 16a, wherein wire 16a is of known malleable material of sufficient gauge to allow repeated bending of coated wire 16 while in use without the excessive fatiguing and breaking. Without intending to be limiting, it is been found that 20 or 22 gauge copper wire works, for example, wire marketed by Beadalon™ as 22 gauge, round, medium temper, German style wire. On the wire hardness scale provided by Beadalon™, such medium tempered wire has a 3/8 hardness.

If starting with bare BeadalonT™ German style wire, then coated wire 16 may be formed by sliding a length of polyolefin tubing, such as sold by 3M Corporation as thin-wall tubing, model no. FP301 polyolefin tubing, over a length of the aforesaid German style Beadalon™ wire. For example, 1/16 inch diameter polyolefin tubing may be used to cover 22 gauge wire and heating the combined wire and polyolefin tubing is heated at 270° Centigrade for 20 minutes. As would be know to one skilled in the art, the use of polyolefin tubing is not intended to be limiting, as other coatings 12a such as of silicon or rubber may also work. Applicant has found that, using a 12 inch length of the aforesaid German style wire and centering an approximately 5½ inch length of polyolefin tubing on the length of Beadalon™ wire will work to produce a tie 10 of a useful size. Applicant has found that this coating of the wire considerably lengthens the life of the wire. In use, coated wire does not break, presumably from bending fatigue, for quite some time much longer than uncoated wire. Applicant has observed that the coated wire not only has an extended lifespan, but also prevents permanent, sharp breaking of the wire.

Coated wire 16 may be subsequently covered with a sheath, sleeve or wrap 12a (herein referred to as a sleeve 12a), leaving the uncoated ends of wire 16a protruding from either end thereof. Sleeve 12a may for example be a wrapped length of fabric or like cushioning material, such as for example a length of material akin to a soft shoelace, wrapped in a tight spiral along the entire length of coated wire 16.

If using shoelace, the shoelace core may be removed and the wire journalled through the remaining sleeve of the shoelace. The sleeve may for example be a braided tube. The braided tube may be tensioned so as to tighten the braided tube around the wire. The ends of the shoelace sleeve may advantageously be embedded into the clay of beads 14 so as to lock the sleeve in place and tensioned once the clay is baked. This removes the need to glue the ends of the shoelace sleeve in place. Applicant has found that this manner of securing the ends of the sleeve in the clay results in a longer lasting fastening than the use of glue alone.

The ends of sleeve 12a may be secured as seen in FIG. 6 using the uncoated protruding ends of wire 16a. Uncoated ends of wire 16a may, as shown, be doubled back onto a corresponding end of sleeve 12a, and the wire wound therearound to secure the sleeve in place on top of coated wire 16. In FIG. 6 the wound ends of uncoated wire 16a, where they are wrapped onto the corresponding ends of sleeve 12a are indicated by reference numeral 16b. The securing of wire 16a onto the ends of sleeve, may take the form of several spiralled snug turns of the wire, leaving excess wire 16a, indicated in FIG. 6 by reference numeral 16c, dangling. The excess wire 16c of wire 16a should be of sufficient length so that it may be formed as an anchor to be mounted into, so as to be formed integrally with, a corresponding bead 14.

As seen in FIGS. 10 and 12, a desirable form of anchor using end 16c of end 16a within bead 14 is not only secured around the end of sleeve 12a by wire segment 16b, but also extends laterally outwardly from the sides of the end of sleeve 12a. For example the anchor may be formed in a roughly circular spiral-like (or similar functional effect) pattern extending laterally outwardly into the side flanges 14c of bead 14. As shown by arrows A in FIG. 12, the end wire portions 16c may be formed in a circular fashion in direction A, for example as a flattened spiral so that coated wire 16 within sleeve 12a is embedded within bead 14. Because of the anchor formed by the extension of wire portions 16c laterally outwardly into the bead flanges 14c, in the end product such as seen FIG. 11, a force applied by the user for example in direction B against one of the bead flanges 14c of the finished bead 14 may rotate bead 14 about its axis of rotation C, which extends along the longitudinal axis of coated wire 16 when wire 16 is linear, i.e., straight. Thus the user may twist bead 14 into a useful orientation while also twisting the coated wire 16 and sleeve 12a held securely within the bead by reason of the anchoring using the wire end portion 16c to provide the lateral mounting foundation within the bead.

A further example of the anchoring of the ends of the wire within a corresponding bead is shown in FIGS. 16-19. In FIG. 16 wire end portion 16c is shown in a substantially planar spiral, which spirals outwardly from the wire portion 16b, where it is clamping the corresponding end of sleeve 12a. The distal end of the wire end portion 16c as seen in FIG. 16, appears to disappear behind sleeve 12a. Advantageously, as seen in FIG. 17-19, rather than the distal end of the wire end portion 16c merely terminating, it extends to the opposite side of the corresponding end of sleeve 12a where it is formed in a substantially mirror image spiral as seen in the view of FIG. 17. Thus as seen in the opposite side elevation views of FIGS. 18 and 19, the two substantially planar spirals formed from wire end portions 16c provide a pair of anchoring coils which sandwich therebetween the end of sleeve 12a and the corresponding end of wire 16.

A bead 14 such as seen in the examples of round beads in FIGS. 14 and 15, may then be formed as described below so as to fully encase the oppositely disposed pair of substantially planar anchor coils within each bead 14.

Beads 14 may be formed of many different materials, in many various ways as would be known to one skilled in the art. One example, which is not intended to be limiting in any way, is the forming of beads 14 using a heat curable clay, such as for example commercially available sculpting clay which may be formed and then baked or otherwise heated so as to set the clay. One such commercially available sculpting clay is sold under the trade-mark Sculpey. If for example beads 14 are to be formed of clay, the clay is pressed into the spaces between the anchor coils of the wire end portions 16c, without forming air pockets, so that the area sandwiched between the oppositely disposed planar coils of wire end portions 16c and the spacing voids 16d within the coils, are completely filled with clay. Further clay is moulded around the outside of the pair of anchoring coils so as to fully encase them or so as to leave the wire exposed. As desired, a decorative finish such as for example the swirl effect shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, may be applied before or after curing of the clay to thereby form the decorative face 14a on each bead 14. Glazes or other finishing coatings as would be know to one skilled in the art may be applied. In the case of the Sculpey example, the entire tie 10 is heated at 270° C. for 30 minutes.

Beads 14 may also be formed so as to incorporate conventional decorative objects such as decorative buttons. The eye typically found on the rear face of the button may be used to secure the button to the wire anchor, for example by the threading one length of the wire through the eye and then forming the bead around the wire as described above, so as to encase or frame the button. This then anchors the button into bead 14 while leaving the decorative surface of the button exposed, for example on one of the faces of the bead.

It will be noted that, although only two beads 14 have been described for mounting at the opposite ends of tie 10, more beads may be formed along the length of tie 10 to provide further decorative aspects and thereby provide further locations along tie 10 where a user may easily manipulate the shape and lie of the tie.

A further problem addressed by the present invention is that of tying laces, wherein the reference herein to shoe laces is understood to include laces for all forms of footwear. Not everyone knows how to tie shoe laces. Often people avoid buying lace-up shoes for their children of the elderly because don't how to or no longer can tie the laces.

To solve this problem, wire tie 10 may be used. A tie 10 may be threaded through the eyelets and the ends of tie 10 twisted around each other at the upper eyelets to lock the tension. Alternatively separate ties 10 may be used in separate nodules, each holding their own position. The ends of tie 10 may be hidden inside the shoe. Another feature of the tie 10 is that very little of the shoe face is hidden. The use of ties 10 gives people who cannot tie a shoelace the option to buy shoes that require laces.

A further problem addressed by the present invention is that, in bedding, a duvet shifts around inside its cover, leaving some spots with no coverage and leaving the duvet bunched up in others. The duvet cover is large and therefore this problem is cumbersome and may be difficult to fix, yet it may become uncomfortable if it is left. To cure this problem it is known to sew snaps to both a duvet and its cover, or to sew on strings or straps, but this takes time and requires a knowledge of sewing. Often there is excess material on the sides of a duvet cover, making its difficult to secure the duvet to its cover with straps or clips. Using the present invention, a tie 10 may be easily applied anywhere the duvet and its cover come together. Tie 10 will not harm the fabric, such as by putting holes through it, be heavy or hard to lay on, and may be hidden and secured from the inside or the outside of the cover. It does not matter if the duvet cover is bigger than the duvet as it will secure one to the other anywhere they meet by pinching a piece of fabric away from the body of the duvet and from the cover so as to form a hank from the duvet and cover, and twisting a tie around the hank and locking it.

As seen in the figures commencing in FIG. 20 onwards, a method according to a further aspect of the present invention is illustrated by the sequence of steps shown in several examples. Thus in FIG. 20, the material of a garment 18 being worn by a user 20 is snugged around the user's waist 20a by the gathering of a hank 22, in this instance from the waist or hem 18a of garment 18, and the gathering of hank 22 using tie 10. In this example, not intended to be limiting, tie 10 is rolled up into a tubular form of hank 22 so as to thereby bind hank 22 onto tie 10 by the rolling of the end of hank 22 and tie 10 in direction E about the longitudinal axis of tie 10 when linear, designated by reference numeral F as seen in FIG. 21. With hank 22 rolled onto tie 10 as seen in FIG. 22, tie 10 is then looped so as to loop tie 10 and hank 22 as seen in FIG. 23. This is referred to as one form of wrapping tie 10 around hank 22. This pulls the fabric of the material of waist 18a together in directions G thereby snugging the waist of garment 18. With tie 10 formed into a loop so as to gather hank 22, the exposed ends of tie 10 may be twisted around one another to form a releasable, or twisted lock 24 consisting of the ends of the tie wrapped around themselves to thus secure gathered hank 22. The exposed ends of tie 10 including beads 14 may then be left to decoratively extend below waist 18a or may be manipulated so as to bend tie 10, thereby allowing the exposed ends of tie 10 to be tucked up under waist 18a to hide them from view. One of the beads 14 may be bent over so as to cover the loop of hank 22 to again thereby decoratively cover the loop.

In the example of FIGS. 24-29, the midriff 18b of garment 18 is tightened to cause a waisting of garment 18 around the user's midriff. The desired position of a hank 22 which will cause the desired waisting of garment 18 is first located on the midriff 18b. For example, hank 22 shown formed in FIG. 26 of the material of midriff 18b, may be initially pulled outwardly from the garment substantially on the centreline 18c (showing in dotted outline) so as to symmetrically cause a waisting of midriff 18b. The material of midriff 18b is pulled outwardly, that is, away from the torso of user 20, to form hank 22 and then gathered by wrapping tie 10 around the base of hank 22 as seen in FIG. 27. The size of the hank 22 may be adjusted to pull out more or less material from midriff 18b to thereby, respectively, increase or decrease the waisting effect. With the desired size of hank 22 formed, tie 10 is tightened around the base of hank 22 and releasably locked into position by forming for example a lock 24 where tie 10 is twisted onto itself. Lock 24 is advantageously formed approximately midway along the length of tie 10, midway between beads 14. To cause the waisting effect around 18b, the material of midriff 18b is gathered in directions H to form hank 22.

As seen in FIG. 29, a similar method may be employed to shorten the length of a dress or other garment 18, that is, so as to raise the hemline 18a in this instance by forming hank 22 from a gathering of material into the hank by tensioning the material vertically, for example in direction I as seen in FIG. 29. Although shown as a gathering of hank 22 on the front of garment 18 it will be understood that the location of hank 22 will be located to as cause the optimized or desired effect on the garment, and thus may be positioned along the side or even the back, top or bottom of any relatively light fabric garment 18.

Further it will be understood that although hank 22 is shown in the illustrations as being relatively large, this is by way of example only and intended for ease of understanding the illustration. Hank 22 may in use be relatively small or relatively large depending on the amount of adjustment to the garment which is desired by the user. The smaller the hank 22, the more easily it is disguised when for example folded over or rolled around (herein collectively referred to as being gathered) by or into tie 10, whereafter tie 10 may be then folded over by manipulating the covered wire and beads 14 of tie 10. In the line illustrations of the figures it is difficult to convey, but the folding or rolling of hank 22, where hank 22 is of course matched to the rest of the fabric of garment 18 (as it is formed from the same material), significantly camouflages the existence of hank 22 when the hank is folded or rolled or otherwise compressed up, against or into the body of the remainder of the garment. An observer viewing such an adjusted garment sees the decorative effect of tie 10, and in particular of beads 14, and generally doesn't notice the presence of hank 22 or understand its significance in the shaping of the appearance of the material, for example, the fabric of garment 18. The lighter the weight of the fabric, the more easily it is disguised. Examples of lighter weight fabrics include, but are not limited to: polyester and spandex blend, cotton, nylon, silk, etcetera.

As seen in the example of FIGS. 30-35, a skirt may be shortened by forming a pair of hanks 22. In the illustration, which again is not intended to be limiting, hanks 22 are formed in the front of the waist 18d so as to draw the material upwardly in direction J in the case of FIG. 30 or so as to draw the waist inwardly in direction K in the case of FIG. 31. As seen in the sequence of views thereafter, in FIGS. 32-35 respectively, a tie 10 is wrapped around so as to gather the pair of hanks 22, and with the size of the hanks configured to provide the desired adjustment to the waist size. Tie 10 is wrapped around the bases of hanks 22 in FIG. 33 and twisted together to form a knot 24. In FIG. 34 the exposed ends of tie 10 and beads 14 are folded over to disguise hanks 22 against the waist of the garment. As seen in FIG. 35, hanks 22 and tie 10 may be tucked behind the waistband of the garment.

In the example of FIGS. 36-40, when it is desired to either shorten garment 18 or specifically to raise the neckline 18e of garment 18, when garment 18 has shoulder straps 18f a hank 22 may be gathered from each shoulder strap 18f. This may for example be done by intertwining a corresponding tie 10, for example using the circular or twisting motion in direction L seen in FIG. 38 which results in a spiral form of hank 22 as shown in FIG. 40. The exposed ends of tie 10 may then be decoratively displayed for example by bending them to extend more or less downwardly along strap 18f, or maybe tucked in behind the strap so as to hide the exposed ends of tie 10.

In the example of FIG. 41, tie 10 is affixed to neckline 18e so as to suspend a decorative pendant 26 therefrom. Pendant 26 may be suspended from the body of tie 10, that is, from the covered wire which extends between the pair of beads 14. Beads 14 serve to prevent the pendant from sliding off the end of the tie 10. Tie 10 may be folded over so as to expose one bead 14 on the front of the neckline 18e and so as to hide the other bead 14 behind the neckline 18e.

In FIG. 42, a tie 10 is used to gather material in the centre of bust 18g to thereby lower the lower vertex of neckline 18 in direction M between the normal position shown in dotted outline and the desired lowered adjusted position shown held in place using tie 10. In this instance, hank 22 is formed of the gathered material at bust 18g and may be folded over and compressed using one bead 14 so as to disguise the hank in the manner of the previous example of FIG. 28.

In FIG. 58 a tie 10 is illustrated being used to clamp two ends of a scarf 26, or other elongate fabric neck-wrap, around the neck of a user 20. A tie 10 is also used as a belt keeper for the loose end protruding from the buckle of belt 28. Extra ties 10 may be kept on the belt loops, etcetera, and will appear as decorations on the clothing until needed elsewhere during the day.

In FIGS. 44 and 45 ties 10 are used, respectively, to secure the hair 30 of user 20; firstly, by retaining bangs 30a out of the face of the user; secondly, for clamping the long hair into pigtails 30b (in one instance by twisting tie 10 so as to form a knot, and in the other instance to form tie 10 into a clamping spiral); and, thirdly, in FIG. 45 to pull the hair 30 of the user up so as to form a bun 30c. Applicant has forward that the use of conventional elastic loops to hold a pigtail creates static when the pigtail is pulled through the elastic loop. The use of tie 10 avoids the creation of static in the user's hair. Further, in addition to what is shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, a user may use a tie 10 to hold hair which is very loosely pulled back or up, so as to allow the hair to hang in a swoop, while securely holding the end of the hair against the hair on the user's scalp. Applicant has found that trying to use barrettes for this purpose does not work as the ends of the loosely hanging hair quickly works itself free of or slips in the barrette.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For example ties 10 may be used to form, and disguise, hanks in curtains so as to change the shape or dimensions of the curtains. Ties 10 may also be used to tension cloth tablecloths by pulling taunt a hank of the tablecloth material under the corners of the table. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A fastening system comprising;

an elongate, flexibly deformable tie, which includes a flexibly deformable length of wire having opposite ends, and wherein a pair of beads are coupled to said opposite ends; one bead of said pair of beads on each end of said opposite ends, and wherein a wire covering is mounted on said wire so as to extend substantially an entire length of said wire exposed between said pair of beads, and wherein said covering is chosen from the group comprising: sleeve, sheath, wrap, tube,

wherein said opposite ends of said wire and corresponding ends of said wire covering are anchored in said beads, and wherein said beads provide a pressure bearing surface for a user to apply pressure to said opposite ends of said wire and to manipulate said wire by bending or looping said wire or twisting said opposite ends of said wire to releasably lock said ends to each other, and wherein said pressure bearing surface extends laterally outwardly of said wire which extends between said beads, and wherein said each of said opposite ends of said wire are formed as an anchor which extends said laterally outwardly of said wire which extends between said pair of beads.

2. A method of using the fastening system of claim 1, comprising:

(a) providing at least one said tie,

(b) located a position of a hank of a material to be adjusted, wherein, in said position, upon a gathering of said hank, results in a desired adjustment of said material and wherein said desired adjustment is as a result of said adjustments chosen from the group comprising: (i) a shortening of said material, (ii) a waisting of said material, (iii) a pinching of said material, (iv) a pleating of said material, (v) a folding of said material, (vi) a gathering of said material, (vii) a bundling of said material, (viii) a fastening together of a plurality of pieces of said material,

(c) gathering said hank of said material to cause said desired result,

(d) wrapping said tie around said hank,

(e) manipulating said beads so as to bend said opposite ends of said wire and said pair of beads to flatten said hank so as to mask said hank.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said material is chosen from the group comprising: cloth of a garment, the neck of a garment, the waist of a garment, the bust of a garment, the straps of a garment including the shoulder straps of at least one garment worn by the user, the user's hair, laces including shoe and boot laces, a duvet and duvet cover.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said wire covering is chosen from said group further comprising: a wire coating applied directly to said wire, a flexible sheath, a flexible sleeve, a flexible elongate wrap wrapped onto said wire, shoe laces.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said wire is of a gauge substantially in the range of 20-22 gauge.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said anchor of said wire is formed of at least one flattened substantially spiral coil of said opposite ends of said wire.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said anchor is formed of a pair of said coils.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said pair of said coils are disposed on opposite sides of a corresponding end of said wire covering so as to be in substantially opposed facing relation, and so that laterally opposite edges of said pair of said coils extend said laterally of said wire extending between said pair of beads.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each bead of said pair of beads is formed of bead elements chosen from the group comprising: mouldable, curable material including clay, resin, plastic; buttons, decorative rigid objects.

10. A fastening method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an elongate deformable, bendable wire member wherein said bendable member is deformable between an unwrapped position and a wrapped position and to remain so deformed when bent into either position or between either position.

(b) providing wearing apparel made of fabric and having oppositely disposed interior and exterior surfaces, and gathering a hank by a gathering or bunching of said fabric so as to project said hank from said exterior surface of said apparel whereby at least one fit dimension of said apparel is substantially altered, and wherein said fit dimension is chosen from the group comprising: a lateral width, a height, a length, a waist line, a bust line, a hem line, a shoulder width, an inseam,

(c) positioning said member so as to press a mid-portion of said member against said projection of said hank, closely adjacent said exterior surfaces of said apparel adjacent said hank,

(d) wrapping at least one half turn of each of said opposite ends of said member around said hank so that said member extends substantially at least completely around said hank and snugging said member around said hank so as to releasably stabilize and lock said hank in its position on said apparel and so as to leave said opposite ends of said member each cantilevered from said hank,

(e) pressing said cantilevered said ends of said member against any bunching of said fabric around said hank so as to flatten said bunching.

11. The method of claim 10 further including providing decorative ornamentation on said member, on one or both of said opposite ends of said member and/or on said mid-portion of said member.

12. The method of claim 10 includes forming two or more of said hanks and using at least one of said members to said stabilize and lock said two or more of said hanks of said fabric.

13. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one of said members is a plurality of said members, to said stabilize and lock said two or more of said hanks.

14. The method of claim 10 further including twisting said ends of said member around each other following winding of said member around said hank so as to releasably lock said mid-portion of said member at said hank while leaving said ends said cantilevered from said hank.