SHIRT CUFF EXPANDER

Abstract

A shirt cuff expander for facilitating the expansion of a shirt cuff. The shirt cuff expander comprises a first and second end connected by a connecting member. The connecting member may be a band-like member having first and second ends and may optionally include an elastic portion. The cuff expander first end may have a button attached to it as its fastening mechanism or another type of obstruction that prevents the extender from slipping through a button-hole. The second end may have, a similar obstruction to prevent slippage through a button-hole or may have a button-hole stitched into its second end. This arrangement allows the first and second ends to be fastened to a button cuff or a link cuff or any other type of shirt cuff. This allows the expander and shirt cuff to transition easily between the traditional closed, first position in which the two ends of the shirt cuff are axially aligned with each other and the open, second position, in which the two ends of the shirt cuff are laterally displaced from one another. This versatility allows for the shirt sleeves to be pushed up or pulled down quickly and easily. The optional elastic portion may also help retain the shirt sleeves in the raised position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/944,655 filed Feb. 26, 2014. Applicant Incorporates by reference herein Application Ser. No. 61/944,655 in its entirety,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to wearing apparel and more particularly, to a long sleeve shirt having a cuff.

2. Description of the Related Art

Shirt cuffs are conventionally offered in two styles: one in which the cuff ends overlap and are fastened by a button known as a “button cuff” or “barrel cuff,” and the other in which the cuff ends typically have button-boles on both sides and are meant to be fastened with cufflinks, silk-knots, or a similar fastening device. This second style of shirt cuff is generally known as a “French cuff” or “link cuff.” All conventional shirt cuffs fully encircle the wrist of the wearer so that they may be fastened with a button, cuff link, or other fastener. Shirt cuffs may be worn in the “kissing/style” where the insides of both sides are pressed together, commonly seen with French cuffs, or the “barrel style” in which the outside of one end touches the inside of the other end as commonly seen with button culls. The present invention is directed to all fastenable shirt cuffs including button cuffs, barrel cuffs, French cuffs, link cuffs, cocktail cuffs, turn back cuffs, Milanese cuffs, and others.

FIG. 1 shows a typical example of a garment having long sleeves and a button cuff. While not shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the garment also includes a corresponding long sleeve and button cuff for the left arm as well. The periphery of the closed fastened cuff is smaller than any other portion of the sleeve. Many of us have had the experience at one time or another of not being able to put on or take off a shirt without unfastening the cuff so that our hand can pass through the cuff opening.

One common issue that arises when wearing a long sleeve shirt with cuffs is that the wearer wishes to remove the sleeves from the wrist area. This can arise from various reasons. For example, the wearer may be too warm with the sleeves fully extended or the lower portion of the sleeves may be in the way when the wearer performs a certain task.

Since the fastened cuff has the smallest sleeve periphery and is typically slightly greater than the circumference of your lower arm near your wrist, sliding the fastened cuff up your arm typically meets resistance due to the size of your forearm within a few inches of upward sliding. The typical solution is for the wearer to unfasten the cuffs and roll up the sleeves in one of several ways. The internet provides several techniques for “properly” rolling up one's sleeves. In fact, some of the purportedly more fashionable ways require the wearer to roll up the sleeves while not wearing the shirt.

An alternative to rolling is just sliding the unfastened cuff up the wearer's forearm; however, the sleeve is typically back down at the wearer's wrist in a few moments as there is nothing to fight gravity's downward pull.

Another issue that sometime arises with fastened shirt cuffs is that the wearer's watch, bracelet or other jewelry worn around the wearer's wrist is confined due to the tightness of the fastened cuff. Typically, the alternative's are don't wear the jewelry, unfasten the cuffs and look fashion-less, roll up the sleeves or throw the shirt away.

What is needed is an alternative to rolled up sleeves that is simple, easy, inexpensive and quick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a cuff expander for facilitating the adjustment of a shirt cuff. In one embodiment, this cuff expander comprises a band-like member with first and second ends and may optionally include an elastic portion. This embodiment typically has a button attached to the first end and a button-hole stitched into the second end such that the button-hole at the second end may be attached to a shirt cuff button and the expander button may be inserted through a shirt cuff button-hole. The expander may be worn in its folded first position, pulling the shirt cuff into the standard fastened position or the expander may be allowed to open into its second position allowing the shirt cuff to expand. In the second-position, the shirt cuff button and shirt cuff button-hole are laterally displaced from one another. In alternate embodiments, the second end of the expander may be permanently affixed to the shirt cuff. In still a separate embodiment the shirt cuff expander has a fastener at the first end, a fastener at the second end, and an elastic portion attaching the first end to the second end. Alternatively a static connection member of an adjustable length may be used to connect the first and second ends of this embodiment. These embodiments may preferably be used to fasten link cuffs. The expander may also display logos, emblems, insignias or colors representative of various organizations or as a decorative feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and for better understanding. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a typical long sleeve garment having a button cuff;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the button cuff of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of the cuff expander of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cuff expander of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cuff expander of FIG. 3 in a partially folded position;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of the cuff with the cuff expander installed and the cuff expander in the closed first position;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a portion of the cuff with the cuff expander installed and the cuff expander in the open second position;

FIGS. 8 and 9 each show a technique for biasing the cuff expander in a folded position;

FIG. 10 is atop view of another embodiment of the cuff expander of the present invention;

FIG. 11 a view of another embodiment of the cuff expander of the present invention shown attached to a cuff;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a link cuff;

FIG. 13 shows an end view of a link cuff with the cuff expander installed and the cuff expander in the closed first position;

FIG. 14 shows an end view of a link cuff with the cuff expander installed and the cuff expander in the open second position;

FIG. 15 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the cuff expander;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the cuff expander; and

FIG. 17 is a top view of another embodiment of the cuff expander of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

Various embodiments of the invention may be utilized with apparel having a buttoned cuff, link cuff, or other fastenable cuff without modifying the existing apparel. FIGS. 1 and 2 are representative of a buttoned cuff 10 attached, typically sewn, to an end of a sleeve 12 in a conventional manner. The cuff 10 has an upper edge 14, which is joined to sleeve 12, and an opposing lower edge 16. Referring to FIG. 2, the cuff 10 further includes first and second ends 18 and 20, respectively. A fastener 22, typically a button, is attached, typically sewn, proximate the first end 18 of the cuff 10 and a receiver 24 (FIG. 1), typically a button-hole, is formed proximate the second end 20 of the cuff 10. When worn around the wrist of an individual, cuff ends 18 and 20 overlap when the button 22 is inserted through the button-hole 24.

Typically, the shirt cuff 10 circumscribes the wrist somewhat closely and defines a periphery that is smaller than the periphery of the sleeve 12 above the cuff 10. Thus, since the wearer's arm becomes larger above the wrist, the fastened cuff 10 limits or restricts the cuff from advancing up the arm.

For numerous reasons (which need not be enumerated here) oftentimes the wearer of the shirt desires to adjust the length of the sleeves 12 which requires that the cuff 10 be unfastened and either the sleeves 12 rolled up a turn or two or simply the -unfastened cuff 10 and lower portion of the sleeve 12 are slid up the arm. This latter technique usually results in the sleeve 12 and cuff 10 sliding back down the wearer's art in a relatively short period of time.

FIG. 3 shows a plain view of one embodiment of the cuff expander 30 and Fig, 4 shows the bottom view of the expander 30. This embodiment of the cuff expander 30 comprises a band-like member 32, generally trapezoidal in shape, having first and second end portions 34 and 36, respectively, a medial portion 35, and upper and lower surfaces 32a and 32b, respectively. The band-like member 32 is preferably thin, and more preferably has a thickness of no more than ⅛th inch.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a fastener 38, typically a button, is attached, typically sewn, proximate the first end portion 34 of the band-like member 32 and a receiver 40, typically a button-hole, is formed proximate the second end portion 36 of the band-like member 32.

Referring to FIG. 5, the expander 30 is shown in a partially folded position with the lower surface 32b of the first end portion 34 facing the lower surface 32b of the medial portion 35 and the upper surface 32a of the second end portion 36 facing the upper surface 32a of the medial portion 35.

Referring to FIG. 6, the folded expander 30 is shown, -attached to a typical button cuff 10. The cuff button 22 is inserted through the expander button-hole 40 in the second end portion 36 and the expander button 38 is inserted through the button-hole 24 proximate the second end 20 of the cuff 10. The expander button 38 is preferably aligned with the cuff button axis 22 when the cuff expander 30 is in the closed or folded position. It is to be understood that the periphery of the cuff 10 is substantially unchanged with the expander 30 installed and in the folded position and gives the appearance of a normal buttoned cuff.

In this embodiment, the cuff expander 30 is normally biased to the folded position as shown in FIG. 6. This can be accomplished in various manners. For example, the band-like member 32 may include means for biasing such that the lower surface 32b of the first end portion 34 is adjacent the lower surface 32b of the medial portion 35 and the upper surface 32a of the second end portion 36 is adjacent the upper surface 32a of the medial portion 35. One example is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 where stitching 42 has been used to bias the band-like member 32 in the folded position at one or two locations. Alternatively, the band-like member 32 may comprise a plurality of individual segments, for example three, that are overlaid onto each other and secured to one another at or adjacent respective end locations as shown in FIG. 9. In another embodiment, the band-like member 32 includes releasable fasteners, such as hook-and-loop-type fasteners, magnetic fasteners, or other releasable fasteners to normally maintain the cuff expander 30 in the folded position. In some embodiments, the releasable fasteners may be concealed within the interior of the cuff 10 or cuff expander 30, positioned behind the expander fastener 38 such as the expander button, or be simply tucked into the sleeve 12.

When the wearer wishes to reposition his long sleeves 12 up the wearer's arm, the sleeves 12 may be slid un the arm and the cuff expander 30 may unfold as shown in FIG. 7 or otherwise open. In a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the connection member 32 is made of an elastic material allowing the connection member 32 an amount of stretch. For example, all or a portion of the connection member 32 may comprise an elastic material. In one embodiment, the medial portion 35 comprises an elastic material and the first and second end portions 34, 36 comprise a stiff or non-elastic material. It should be noted that an elastic material is any material that returns to, substantially returns to, or is capable of returning to or substantially returning to an initial form or state after deformation. The elastic material allows the expander 30 to accommodate and maintain the cuff 10 at various positions along the wearer's arm. Thus, the expander 30 will stretch sufficiently to accommodate the size of the arm and prevents the cuff/sleeve from sliding back down to the wrist due to gravity.

Preferably, the elastic material may be stretched at least two times its unstretched length without permanently deforming the elastic material. It should be understood that via use of different elastic materials, the amount of stretch may be more or less than the aforementioned amount. The spring constant (K) for the elastic material may be chosen to allow a predetermined stretch for a predetermined amount of tensile force applied. Preferably, the elastic material chosen will allow the periphery of the cuff opening to expand greater than a half inch, more preferably greater than an inch, and most preferably greater than one and one-half inch.

In another embodiment as shown, in FIG. 10, the cuff expander 30′ comprises a substantially flat, band-like member 32 having a button 38 and a button-hole 40 similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the cuff expander 30′ is not normally biased to a folded position and instead is intended to remain relatively flat. At least a portion of the band-like member 32 is preferably made from elastic material. In this embodiment, when the cuff expander 30′ is not in use, the shirt cuff button 22 is inserted through the expander button-hole 40 and then the shirt cuff button 22 is inserted through the cuff button-bole 24 resulting in a normal buttoned cuff with the expander 30′ sandwiched between the overlapping cuff ends 18 and 20. Preferably, the free end of the cuff expander 30′ with the button 38 is positioned such that it remains bidden and obstructed from clear view in the buttoned cuff position. When the wearer desires to position the sleeves 12 up the arms, the cuff 10 is unbuttoned (i.e., the cuff button 22 is inserted back through the cuff button-hole 24) and the expander button 38 is inserted through the cuff button-hole 24. The wearer can then slide the sleeves 12 up the wearer's arms and the elastic material of the expander 30′ secures the cuffs 10 to the desired location on the arms.

In another embodiment as shown in. FIG. 11, the cuff expander 30″ is incorporated in the cuff 10 of the shirt itself. The band-like member 32″ has a button 38 at one end of the band-like member 32″ and a second end attached, preferably by stitching, to the cuff first end 18, preferably near the cuff button 22. The cuff expander 30″ could be part of the original shirt or could be added later. Preferably, all or part of the connection member 32″ is comprised of an elastic material. It is to be understood that the attachment to the cuff 10 is not limited to stitching but may be by any suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the art as for example, adherence. The cuff expander 30″ is used in a manner similar to expander 30′.

FIG. 12 is representative of a second style of shirt cuff generally known as a “French cuff” or “ink cuff” 100. The link cuff 100 is attached, typically sewn, to an end of a sleeve 112 in a conventional manner. The link cuff 100 includes first and second ends 118 and 120, respectively. The cuff ends 118 and 120 typically have button-holes 124 on both sides and are meant to be fastened with cufflinks, silk-knots, or a similar fastening device. Link cuffs 100 are typically worn in the “kissing style” where an inside portion of the cuff ends 118 and 120 are adjacent or contacting one another.

In a preferred embodiment for link cuffs 100, the cuff expander 130 does not rely on buttons but uses an alternative fastener which may be inserted through at least two button-holes 124 to fasten link cuffs 100. In this embodiment the expander 130 comprises a first end 130a. and second end 130b. The first end 130a has a fastener 136 designed to extend through the buttonholes 124. The second end 130b may also have a fastener 134 designed to fasten to a button-hole. The first and second ends 130a and 130b of the expander 130 are connected by a connection member 132. This connection member 132 preferably comprises at least a portion of elastic material. The elastic connection member 132 may be band-like or may be an elastic cord. In this embodiment the connection member is short enough to secure the cuff 100 in approximately the traditional closed position (FIG. 13). The elastic member 132 may then be stretched when the wearer wishes to slide the sleeves 112 up the wearer's arms as shown in FIG. 14. The elastic connection member 132 will expand allowing the cuff 100 to open and accommodate the wearer's arm and retain the cuff 100 in the position it is placed. In an alternate embodiment, the elastic connection member 132 may comprise a folding-type band-like member as shown in FIGS. 5-9.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show alternate embodiments of the cuff expander 130. In FIG. 15, the cuff expander 130′ is similar to cuff expander 130. At least one of the first and second ends 130a′ and 130b′ of the cuff expander 130′ contains a magnetic fastener 150′ and the other end is attracted to the magnetic fastener 150′. For example, a magnet 150′ may be “buried” or concealed within one or both of the fasteners 134′ and 136′ or at least one of the fasteners is the magnet 150′ and the other fastener is attracted to the magnetic fastener. As a result the magnetic attraction between the first and second ends 130a′ and 130b′ is capable of holding the cuff expander 130′ in a securely closed position. In this embodiment the connection member 132′ may be concealed within the cuff 100 when the cuff 100 is fastened. When the wearer wishes to slide his sleeves 112 up his arms the magnetic attachment may be broken and the elastic connection member 132′ secures the cuffs 100 in an open position-higher up the wearer's arm. The magnets 150′ used in this embodiment may be placed at any position along the cuff expander 130′ but will be preferably concealed behind or very near the fasteners 134′ and 136′. This magnetic fastening feature may optionally be utilized in any of the described embodiments regardless of the other features of the embodiment.

the cuff expander 130″ shown, in FIG. 16 is similar to a typical cuff link having a pivoting member as a back fastener 134″ and a front fastener 136″. The fasteners 134″ and 136″ are joined with an elastic connection member 132″, As with cuff expander 130′, the fasteners 134″ and 136″ may also include magnetic fasteners 150″.

In another embodiment, the cuff expander includes a logo, emblem, or insignia 44 (FIG. 10) that is seen when the expander is in the unfolded or stretched position. The insignia 44 is located on the upper surface 32a of the medial portion of the band-like member or connecting member 32. It is to be understood that a logo, emblem or insignia 44 can be used with any of the cuff expander embodiments having a band-like connection member. The logo, emblem, or insignia 44 may be representative of a particular organization, company, university or school. The expander may include one or more colors that may be indicative of a particular organization, company, university or school,

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the cuff expander 30′″. The cuff expander 30′″ comprises a substantially-flat, band-like member 32 having a button 38 and a button-hole 40 similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, the cuff expander 30″′ is not normally biased to a folded position and instead is intended to remain relatively flat. At least a portion of the band-like member 32 is preferably made from elastic material. In this embodiment, a fabric 46 is attached, preferably stitched, to at least the medial portion of the band-like member 32. Preferably, the fabric 46 is more aesthetically pleasing than the elastic material. Additionally or alternatively, the fabric may be stitched to the elastic material while the elastic material is stretched so that when released, the fabric exhibits slight creases or puckers, providing a more pleasing appearance. The cuff expander 30″′ is used similar to the cuff expander 30′.

In another embodiment, the expander includes one or more colors that may match the sleeve color or otherwise compliment the shirt.

Other apparatus, features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that ail such additional apparatus features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A cuff expander for shirt cuffs, the cuffs having a first end with a button-hole therethrough and a second end having either a button-hole therethrough or a button attached thereto, the cuff expander comprising:

an expandible assembly having first and second end portions;

a first fastener at the assembly first end portion, the first fastener designed to fasten to a button-hole and the assembly second end portion having either a second fastener designed to fasten to a button-hole or having a button-hole extending therethrough,

wherein the assembly first end portion may attach to the cuff first end and the assembly second end portion may attach to the cuff second end;

a connection member connecting the first and second end portions of the expandible assembly, and

the expandible assembly having a first position in which the first and second end portions of the expandible assembly are retained together, causing the first and second cuff ends to be substantially in contact with one another and a second position in which the first and second end portions of the expandible assembly are separated, allowing the first and second cuff ends to be laterally displaced from one another.

2. The cuff expander of claim 3, wherein the expandible assembly is normally biased in the first position.

3. The cuff expander of claim 1, wherein releasable fasteners may be used to bias the expandible assembly in the first position.

4. The cuff expander of claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hook-and-loop type fasteners and magnetic fasteners.

5. The cuff expander of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the connection member is made of an elastic material.

6. The cuff expander of claim 5, wherein the elastic material may be stretched to at least two times its unstretched length with permanently deforming the elastic material.

7. The cuff expander of claim 1, wherein the expandable assembly includes a color, logo, emblem or insignia that is seen when the expander is in the second position.

8. The cuff expander of claim 7, wherein the color, logo, emblem, or insignia is representative of a particular organization, company, university or school.

9. A cuff expander for a button-type cuff of a long sleeved shirt, the button-type cuff having a first end with a cuff button-hole extending therethrough and a second end with a cuff button attached thereto, the cuff expander comprising:

a band-like member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a button fastened thereto, the second end portion having a button-hole extending therethrough,

wherein the cuff button may be inserted through the expander button-hole and the expander button may be inserted through the cuff button-hole, and

the cuff expander having a first position in which the cuff button and the expander button are axially aligned (one above the other) and a second position in which the buttons are laterally displaced from one another.

10. The cuff expander of claim 9, wherein the band-like member is normally biased in the first position.

11. The cuff expander of claim 9, wherein releasable fasteners may be used to bias the band-like member in the first position.

12. The cliff expander of claim 11, wherein the releasable fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hook-and-loop type fasteners and magnetic fasteners.

13. The cuff expander of claim 9, wherein the band-like member comprises at least a portion made of an elastic material.

14. The cuff expander of claim 13, wherein the elastic material may be stretched to at least two times its unstretched length without permanently deforming the elastic material.

15. The cuff expander of claim 9, wherein the expander includes a color, logo, emblem or insignia that is seen when the expander is in the second position.

16. A cuff expander for a button-type cuff of a long sleeved shirt, the button-type cuff having a first end with a cuff button attached thereto and a second end with a cuff button-hole extending therethrough, the cuff expander comprising:

a band-like member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion having a button fastened thereto, the second end portion being affixed to the shirt cuff,

the expander having a first position in which the expander button is disconnected from the cuff button-hole and concealed within the cuff and a second position in which the expander button is inserted through the cuff button-hole allowing the first and second ends of the cuff to be laterally displaced from one another.

17. The cuff expander of claim 16, wherein the band-like member comprises at least a portion made of an elastic material.

18. A cuff expander for a link-type cuff of a long sleeved shirt, the link-type cuff having a first end with a first button-hole extending therethrough and a second end with a second button-hole extending therethrough, the cuff expander comprising:

a connection member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion attached to a first fastener designed to fasten to a button-hole, the second end portion attached to a second fastener designed to fasten to a button-hole,

wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners may be inserted through the first and second button-holes,

the cuff expander having a first position in which first and second ends of the cuff expander are retained together causing the first and second ends of the shirt cuff to be substantially in contact with one another and second position in which the first and second ends of the cuff expander are separated, allowing the first and second ends of the shirt cuff to be laterally displaced from one another.

19. The cuff expander of claim 18, wherein the connection member is normally biased in the first position.

20. The cuff expander of claim 19, wherein a releasable fastener may be used to bias the connection member in the first position.

21. The cuff expander of claim 20, wherein the releasable fastener is selected from the group consisting of hook-and-loop type fasteners and magnetic fasteners.

22. The cuff expander of claim 18, wherein the connection member comprises at least a portion made of an elastic material.

23. The cuff expander of claim 22, wherein the elastic material may be stretched to at least two times its unstretched length without permanently deforming the elastic material.

24. The cuff expander of claim 21, wherein the expander includes a color, logo, emblem or insignia that is seen when the expander is in the second position.