SHIRT SECURER

Abstract

A system for securing a shirt is provided that includes a retainer having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, the anterior portion of the retainer having a fastener for securing the anterior portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on an anterior portion of the shirt, and the posterior portion of the retainer having a fastener for securing the posterior portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on a posterior portion of the shirt. The system may be part of the shirt or discrete from the shirt.

Description

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to shirt systems that reduce the problem of shirts coming out from within the pants of the wearer. Despite the availability of various fastening technologies, many shirts, particularly those worn by adults, lack the ability to maintain a conforming fit to the user so that the repetition of sitting and standing does not result in wrinkling of the shirt or the undesired removal of the shirt. Indeed, the ubiquity of shirts intended to be worn outside of one's pants reflects part of that long-standing problem. Embodiments of the present invention address that problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a schematic elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a schematic elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic elevational view of yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic elevational view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, one embodiment 10 of the present system comprises a shirt 12 comprising an anterior portion 14 and a posterior portion 16, where the system further comprises a retainer 18 also comprising an anterior portion 22 and a posterior portion 24. In one example of embodiment 10, shirt 12 comprises a plurality of fasteners 30, some of which may be employed at a lower position of the anterior portion 14, some of which may be employed at a lower position of the posterior portion 16, and/or some of which may be employed along the side of the shirt. The retainer 18 functions to secure the shirt system to the user by conforming the shirt to the lower portion of the torso; i.e., between the user's legs, in a manner that is comfortable but effective.

The retainer 18 may comprise one of numerous possible shapes and configurations, but preferably has a plurality of fasteners 32 configured to mate with the fasteners 30 of shirt 12. In the example shown, one type of fastener 30, 32, may comprise a button and button hole, respectively. Other means are contemplated, including snaps, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®), etc. Referring to FIG. 1B, an alternative retainer 18 is shown having a different configuration, merely as yet one of another of numerous possible configurations. In the retainer 18 of FIG. 1A, there may be sufficient portions of the retainer to support as many fasteners as are desired to mate with as many of the shirt fasteners provided. As such, for example, the posterior portion 24 of retainer 18 may be secured to the side fasteners 30 of shirt 12 or fasteners 30 of the posterior portion 16, depending upon the size of the person and/or the comfort or level of securement desired. Moreover, the number of fasteners provided on the shirt and retainer, and the position of such fasteners, is a matter of design choice.

Referring to FIG. 2A and 2B, an alternative embodiment 110 is shown comprising a shirt 112 comprising an anterior portion 114 and a posterior portion 116, where the shirt system further comprises a retainer 124 integral with the shirt. In one example, the retainer 124 is integral with the lower portion of the posterior shirt portion 116, although it may be alternatively integral with the anterior shirt portion 114. As with the above embodiments, a set of fasteners 130, 132 are provided, which may be one of numerous types, are provided to permit retention of the shirt below the torso. The fasteners may be buttons and button holes, as shown, or any other type. As shown in FIG. 2B, the retainer portion 124 is fastened in place to show how it would look when worn and secured.

While the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B show a shirt 12 comprising a more traditional dress shirt (regardless of sleeve length), the invention is applicable to all types of shirts, including sleeveless shirts, such as those shown in FIGS. 2A through 4. However, it is important to note that the features described with the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B may be equally applicable to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A through 4, and vice versa. For example, FIGS. 2A and 2B show one embodiment of the present invention in which the retaining portion of the system is integral with the shirt itself Nonetheless, a discrete retainer may be used with the sleeveless embodiments if so desired. Indeed, a discrete and integral retainer may be combined where so desired.

It should be noted that the retainer portion, whether integral or not, may be configured in one or numerous ways. Referring to FIG. 3, embodiment 210 comprises a retainer system that is configured to fasten to fasteners on the anterior portion 214 of shirt 212 where the fasteners 230 are located more toward the side than the fasteners 130 are in the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B. It is contemplated that adjustability may be employed in the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, adjustability may be provided on the retainer system, such as a buckle 334 placed on each of two retainer straps 324.

Other arrangements of shirt systems are contemplated as well. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, various types of shirts may be configured so that fasteners are positioned at the lower inner area of both the anterior and posterior portions of the shirt to permit direct fastening of the anterior portion to the posterior portion directly through the user's leg without a retainer portion per se. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, a dress shirt 410 comprises one half of a set of fasteners 430 at the lower portion of the anterior portion 414 of shirt 412 for connection to the other half of a set of fasteners 432 on the lower portion of the posterior portion 416. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 6, a varied configuration comprises a shirt system 510 where one half of a set of fasteners 530 at the lower portion of the anterior portion 514 of shirt 512 for connection to the other half of a set of fasteners 532 on the lower portion of the posterior portion 516.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A system for securing a shirt to a wearer of the shirt to avoid the shirt from slipping out of pants when the shirt is tucked in, the system comprising a retainer having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, the anterior portion of the retainer comprising a fastener for securing the anterior portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on an anterior portion of the shirt, and the posterior portion of the retainer comprising a fastener for securing the posterior portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on a posterior portion of the shirt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the anterior portion of the retainer comprises a plurality of fasteners.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the posterior portion of the retainer comprises a plurality of fasteners.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the anterior portion of the retainer comprises two members, each member having a fastener for securing a portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on the shirt.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the posterior portion of the retainer comprises two members, each member having a fastener for securing a portion of the retainer to a corresponding fastener on the shirt.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a button.

7. The system of claim 1, where the fastener comprises a buckle.

8. An article of clothing for use about the torso of a wearer, the article of clothing configured for securing the article of clothing about the legs of the wearer, the article of clothing comprising an anterior tab and a posterior tab, each of the anterior and posterior tabs comprising a fastener for securing the anterior tab to the posterior tab.

9. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the anterior tab comprises two members, each member comprising a fastener.