Garment Belts and Methods of Adjusting a Garment
A garment belt includes a first attachment device at a first end of the belt, the first attachment device being configured to attach over a first belt loop on a garment. A second attachment device is on a second end of the belt, the second attachment device being configured to attach over a second belt loop on a garment. An adjustment piece can be disposed along the belt strap between the first adjustment device and the second adjustment device. A method of adjusting a garment by providing a belt having a pair of opposing attachment devices and a belt strap extending between the first and second attachment devices. The method includes attaching the first attachment device to a first belt loop on a garment and attaching the second attachment device to a second belt loop on the garment.
This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/972,652, which was filed on Mar. 31, 2014, entitled “Garment Belt”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention pertains to belts for garments and methods of adjusting garments.
BACKGROUNDTraditionally, belts for pants and other garments are configured to encircle the wearer's waist, with the belt typically passing through numerous belt loops attached around the waistband of or around the waist region the garment. It can sometimes be cumbersome to place the belt through all the loops. Full-length belts can additionally cause the garment to pucker around the waist, often with puckering occurring non-symmetrically. Additionally, traditional belts are sized to fit specific waist sizes. Accordingly, if the wearer's waist size increases or decreases, a different belt size is in order, necessitating purchase of a new belt. Full-length belts may be expensive and may be difficult to find in certain size ranges. It would be advantageous to provide alternatives to traditional, full-length belts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention encompasses a novel garment belt. The belt is configured for utilization with garments that have belt loops such as outerwear, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, etc. The belt can attach to, for example, two of the belt loops on the garment and can be configured to provide tightening between the two loops.
The invention additionally encompasses methods of adjusting a garment utilizing belt embodiments of the invention.
The invention encompasses various embodiments of garments belts that extend between two belt loops of a garment. The two belt loops can be adjacent to one another or can be separated by one or more additional belt loops. The belt can extend across a front of a garment, across the back of a garment, across a side of a garment, across a front and a side of a garment, etc. In particular aspects, a belt of the invention can extend between two adjacent belt loops across the front of a garment.
The belts of the invention can be utilized with various garments, including but not limited to pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, tops, jackets and other outerwear. The belts can be utilized to adjust the size of the garment and/or to give a garment a more fitted appearance. The belts can also be utilized to provide a support for carrying items such as accessories, devices and tools (e.g. cell phones, knives, adornments, etc.).
One aspect of the invention is generally described with reference to
The two attachment devices can be independently selected from a variety of attachment hardware including but not limited to hooks, clips, clasps and snaps. In the example embodiment depicted in
Where first attachment device 12 has a hook configuration, the depth of the hook portion d1, (the distance from the front of the hook to the back of the hook) can preferably be sufficiently deep to allow ease of attachment over a belt loop. The depth d1 is not limited to a particular value and can vary depending upon the type of garment. Depth d1 can in some instances be, for example, about 0.5 inches. Attachment device 12 can preferably be configured such that a length, L1, of front portion 20 is greater than a length L2 of back portion 24, as depicted in
Attachment device 12 can comprise a slot 21 (visible in
Second attachment device 14 can be a hook (not shown) that can have the same configuration as device 12, or can have a hook configuration that differs from device 12. In the belt configuration shown in
The configuration of clip 14 of
Attachment device 14 can comprise a slot 31 (
Attachment devices 12 and 14 can be fabricated from one or more of a variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, wood, metal material (e.g. steel, aluminum, copper), and plated metals (e.g. gold, silver, nickel). The two attachment devices can comprise identical material(s) or can contain one or more differing materials.
Still referring to
Materials that can be utilized for the strap include but are not limited to nylon, fabric materials, knotted material, rope, hemp, woven material, leather, bungee material, elastic material, chain, or combinations thereof.
In particular embodiments, the belt strap will consist of a single contiguous piece of strap material. Where the strap consists of s single piece, adjustment hardware device 18, such as a bar slide buckle, can be used to adjust the length of the belt. Alternatively, the strap can be provided in two pieces that can be joined by a joining buckle or other end-joining device (not shown). Belt adjustment device 18 can in particular instances be a bar slide buckle having a pair of openings 35 (
Adjustment device 18 can comprise any of the materials or combinations of materials set forth above with respect to attachment devices 12 and 14.
Where belt 10 comprises a bar slide type adjustment device 18, free end 39 of belt strap 16 can be threaded through slot 31, from back to front, of attachment device 14 until slide stop 17 reaches the slot, thereby anchoring the strap. The free end of strap 16 can then be threaded through the slots of adjustment device 18 (from back to front to back) as illustrated in
Referring next to
Although
In particular embodiments, slot 21 can have an opening width W2 (vertical) of about 0.75 inches to about 1.1 inches, and a horizontal space width (side to side) of from about 0.05 to about 0.125 inches. However, such measurements are configured for a strap having a thickness of less than 0.125 inches. Since the invention contemplates more narrow or wider strap widths, as well as thinner or thicker straps, the slot opening can be adjusted accordingly.
Relative dimensions of the front 20, back 24 and side portion 22 of attachment device 12 are represented in
Referring to
In particular aspects, the widths W4 of slot openings 35 can be, for example, 0.3125 inches and the vertical height of the openings can be as set forth above with respect to w2 of slot 21. In particular embodiments, overall length W5 of adjustment device can be, for example, 1.0 inches. However, alternative lengths are contemplated.
It is to be understood that although device 18 is depicted as being square (rectangular) alternative shapes are contemplated, including any of the alternative shapes and/or edge configurations described with respect to attachment device 12 set forth above.
A side view of adjustment device 18 is shown in
Second attachment device 14 is depicted in front view in
A side view of second attachment device is shown in
The dashed line along a right side of a front face 25 of strap 16 as shown in
The seamed area can be better understood with reference to
In accordance with the invention, belt 10 can be provided to adjust size and/or positioning of garment 50. To attach belt 10, strap 16 can be introduced through the slot (back to front) in attachment device 14 until the slide stop contacts the slot. The free end of strap 16 can then be threaded through adjustment device 18 (back to front to back) and subsequently through the slot (front to back) of adjustment device 12. The opposing attachment devices 12, 14 can be mounted over adjacent belt loops 52 by sliding the respective back portions behind the belt loops, in either order of attachment. Strap 16 can be secured by threading the free end of the strap behind the portion already threaded, back through adjustment device 18 from back to front to back, either prior to or after attachment of belt 10 to belt loops 52. Tension can then be applied across strap 16 between the attachment devices to adjust the garment by shortening strap 16 between devices 12 and 14.
Once an appropriate adjustment of garment belt 10 has been set, belt 10 can be removed by lengthening the strap between attachment devices or by pulling belt 10 to either side for detachment of one of the attachment devices, followed by detachment of the opposing attachment device. If the belt is removed without lengthening of the strap, the set belt can be reattached to the garment by attaching the belt to adjacent belt loops 52 without readjusting the belt length. Although the process is described with respect to adjacent belt loops, it is to be understood that similar process can be utilized to attach belt 10 to non-adjacent belt loops, with one or more intervening loops.
An alternative configuration of a garment belt 10a in accordance with the invention is depicted in
Strap 16a can be secured to each of the attachment devices 12a by threading the strap through each attachment device (front to back) and fastening the ends of strap 16a back to itself with one or more fasteners 45. Fasteners 45 can include, for example, one or more seams, snaps, rivets, hook and loop material, etc. Alternatively, one or both opposing ends of strap 16a can have a slide stop such as discussed above.
Attachment of garment belt 10a to garment 50 can include engaging one of opposing attachment devices 12a to a first belt loop 52, and engaging the other of the opposing attachment devices to a second, adjacent or non-adjacent belt loop.
Referring to
An alternative embodiment of the invention is described with reference to
Referring to
Garment belt 10c can comprise an alternative attachment device 60 that comprises an attachment portion 60B along with an adjustment portion 60A. As shown, portions 60A and 60B can be integral. However, the two portions can alternatively be constructed independently and joined. Attachment device 60 can have attachment portion 60B that has a back portion 64 such as previously described. Adjustment portion 60A can comprise a bar structure having two slots 62. The slots 62 and bar can be as set forth above with respect to adjustment device 18.
Strap 16d is shown to comprise a design associated with the strap. The design can be woven into the strap or can be provided separately. The belt straps of the invention can be of any color or combinations of colors. The strap design can be of the same color as the strap or differing color(s). The design can alternatively be branded into the strap or can utilize one or more additional materials. The strap design can comprise any of the design configurations discussed above with respect to the attachment devices.
Optionally, garment belts of the invention can comprise a slide piece 100, as shown in
Slide 100 can have a front 102 that can optionally comprise a design that is similar or that differs from any of the other belt components. Example design configurations are described above.
Slide piece 103 can additionally include a back 108 and opposing top and bottom portions 106 extending between the back and the front. An overall width W1 (vertical) of slide piece 100 can preferably be the same as one or more of adjustment portion 18 (where present) and attachment portions 12, 14. A width W9 (horizontal) can be, for example, 0.5 inches. An example thickness d3 of the slide piece can be, for example, 0.325 inches. Opening 104 through slide 100 can have an example thickness d4 of about 0.1 inches. Slide 100 can be flat as shown or can be curved (top to bottom), or can have a flat front portion with a curved back portion.
Use of the belts of the invention in conjunction with men's women's or children's garments are contemplated. Accordingly, the sizes of the various components of the described garment belts can be varied relative to those specifically set forth. The belts may be provided in specific lengths (i.e. specific measurement of belt length or strap length), in adjustable lengths based upon a range of sizes (i.e. small, medium, large, etc. for men women or children), or as a one size fits all.
In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise example embodiments. The claims are thus to be afforded full scope as literally worded, and to be appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A garment belt comprising:
- a first attachment device at a first end of a belt;
- a second attachment at a second end of the belt; and
- a strap extending between the first attachment device and the second attachment device.
2. The belt of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment device, wherein the strap is threaded through the adjustment device.
3. The belt of claim 2 wherein the adjustment device is a bar slide buckle.
4. The belt of claim 2 wherein the adjustment device is integral with one of the first and second attachment device.
5. The belt of claim 2 wherein the strap consists of two separate pieces and wherein the adjustment piece joins the two separate pieces.
6. The belt of claim 2 wherein the strap is a single contiguous piece.
7. The belt of claim 1 wherein the strap comprises one or more of the members of the group consisting of nylon, cloth, leather, chain, elastic, woven material, hemp, and rope.
8. The belt of claim 1 wherein the first attachment device is a hook and the second attachment device is a clip.
9. The belt of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment devices independently comprise one or more of plastic, metal, wood, plate metal, steel, aluminum, copper and brass.
10. The belt of claim 1 further comprising a slide disposed around the strap configured to hold a fee end of the strap.
11. A garment belt comprising:
- a first attachment device at a first end of the belt, the first attachment device being configured to attach over a first belt loop on a garment;
- a second attachment device on a second end of the belt, the second attachment device being configured to attach over a second belt loop on a garment; and
- an adjustment piece disposed along the belt strap between the first adjustment device and the second adjustment device.
12. The belt of claim 11 where the first and second attachment devices are independently selected from the group consisting of hooks, and clips.
13. The belt of claim 11 wherein the belt strap is from about 8.0 inches to about 10.0 inches in length.
14. The belt of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second attachment devices comprises a strap slot through which the strap passes.
15. The belt of claim 11 wherein the adjustment piece is a buckle having two openings.
16. The belt of claim 11 wherein the belt strap is attached to each of the first attachment device and the second attachment by stitching, grommets, gluing, rivets or a combination thereof.
17. The belt of claim 11 wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of pants, shorts, skirts, dresses and outerwear.
18. A method of adjusting a garment, the method comprising:
- providing a belt having a pair of opposing attachment devices comprising a first attachment device and a second attachment device and a belt strap extending between the first and second attachment devices;
- attaching the first attachment device to a first belt loop on a garment; and
- attaching the second attachment device to a second belt loop on the garment.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second belt loops are adjacent belt loops.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing an adjustment device disposed between the pair of opposing attachment devices and utilizing the adjustment device to apply tension between the first and second belt loops by adjusting the length of the belt strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 23, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2015
Inventor: Justin W. Glenn (Spokane Valley, WA)
Application Number: 14/665,807