Stretch Belt with Pocket

Abstract

An adjustable stretch belt with a pocket allows a user to carry items securely, conveniently and in a bounce-free manner while being active, while having the ability to adjust the sizing of the belt with an internal adjustor such that one size stretch belt can fit a variety of waist sizes, and allowing a user to vary the tightness as desired.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. application 62/995,537, filed Feb. 3, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While engaging in sports like running, biking, walking and many outdoor and leisure activities it is often desirable to bring personal items like phones, cards, money, medication, personal medical devices, sunglasses, eye drops, or other items a person may need. The following discloses a stretch belt with pocket that addresses the need to carry these types of personal items in a novel, versatile, comfortable, convenient and ergonomic and readily manufacturable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred version of a belt includes a panel of material forming the belt, wherein the belt forms an endless loop configured to be placed about the waist of a user. A pocket is positioned on the panel of material forming the belt. An adjustment belt is attached to the panel of material, the adjustment belt having a length greater than a circumference defined by the endless loop, the adjustment belt positioned with respect to the panel such that the adjustment belt is placed about the waist of the user together with the belt when the belt is placed about the waist of the user. An adjuster is connected to the adjustment belt, the adjuster releasably securing the adjustment belt in a plurality of positions, whereby the length of the adjustment belt may be increased or decreased.

In some versions, the panel further comprises a front panel and a rear panel joined to the front panel.

In some versions, the pocket is positioned on an interior surface of the panel.

In preferred examples, a closure is provided for selective access to the pocket, the closure most preferably being a zipper.

In some versions, the panel of material forming the belt further forms an interior tube, and the adjustment belt is positioned within the interior tube and surrounded by the panel of material forming the belt.

In preferred versions, at least one belt retainer is positioned within the interior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the at least one belt retainer.

In preferred versions, the interior tube forms the pocket, the belt further comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

Mos preferably, the adjuster is positioned within an opening of the closure when the closure is in an open position.

In some examples, the at least one belt retainer comprises a plurality of belt retainers, the plurality of belt retainers further defining a gap between two of the plurality of belt retainers, the adjuster being positioned at the gap when the adjustment belt is trained through the plurality of belt retainers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretch belt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretch belt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretch belt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention, further showing a zipper in an open position to allow access to an adjuster for adjusting the length of the belt.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a preferred stretch belt.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of a preferred stretch belt.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken through section A-A shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. An adjustment belt has not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 8 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. An adjustment belt has not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 9 is an outside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt, showing a side opposite that of the view of FIG. 8. An adjustment belt has not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 10 is an inside out plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt.

FIG. 11 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a right-side-out plan view of partially assembled stretch belt.

FIG. 13 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a section view taken through section B-B of FIG. 12. The belt has not been installed.

FIG. 15 is a section view taken through section B-B of FIG. 12 wherein in this section the stretch belt is shown as it would look with a belt installed.

FIG. 16 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. The side of a stretch belt adjacent stitch is shown slightly tilted upward (out of the page).

FIG. 17 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 16, although the area adjacent the stitch is shown in a flat orientation.

FIG. 18 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. The belt has not been installed yet.

FIG. 19 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an inside plan view of assembled stretch belt 10 wherein belt 20 has been installed.

FIG. 21 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an inside plan view of assembled stretch belt wherein the adjustment belt has been installed.

FIG. 23 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 shows a plan view of the adjustment belt wherein a portion of the length of the adjustment belt is shown cut away.

FIG. 25 is a section view of a portion (enlarged to show detail) taken through the adjustment belt and tri-glide to show the threading of the adjustment belt through tri-glide to allow adjustment of belt length.

FIG. 26 is a right side out plan view of partially assembled stretch belt wherein a center stitch is shown eliminated such that one main panel is shown.

FIG. 27 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred stretch belt 10 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and is shown in perspective views in FIGS. 1 and 2 positioned about the waist of a user 50. In one version, the stretch belt is formed from stretchy but breathable panels, including a front panel 1 and a rear panel 2. Most preferably, each of the front and rear panels are made from a fabric material such as stretch nylon with spandex, polyester with spandex, or yet other materials. In some versions, one or both of the panels is formed from a fabric which is less stretchy, such as from polyester but without a spandex component. In one version, the fabric panel material has a thickness between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm. In most cases the thickness for the sheet material used is between 0.35 mm and 0.65 mm thick with 0.5 mm being an optimal thickness in many cases. The preferred weight of the fabric is between 250 grams per yard and 500 grams per yard (when 58″ wide stock material is used). Directional stretch material in some cases may be desirable; for instance if 2-way stretch material is used it may be desirable to orient the stretch of the material perpendicular to the length of the belt (with length defined in a direction about the waist of the user) such that bounce can be controlled, although in some cases it may be desirable to orient the stretch of the material parallel to the length of the belt which could in some cases provide a more fitted stretch feel. 4-way stretch material can also be used and is generally preferable as it gives a desirable comfort feel as well as stretches to fit the contents being carried in the preferable pocket or pockets.

In the illustrated example, each of the front panel 1 and the rear panel 2 are folded over to define interior pockets. A front zipper 6 and a rear zipper 7 are attached to the panels, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Invisible-style or visible-style zippers are desirable for zippers 6 and 7. Zipper pull 8 for zipper 6 and zipper pull 9 for zipper 7 are also preferably included, and either zipper pull can be any of a variety of zipper pull styles. In one version, a standard auto-lock, spring loaded zipper pull is provided.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a user 50 is shown wearing a preferred stretch belt 10 having a pocket as described. The front panel 1 is shown secured to the rear panel 2 along a stitch line 11. The stretch belt 10 is shown on the waist of a user 50 in such a manner that allows the user to carry items in the pocket accessible via zippers 6 and 7, with zipper pulls 8 and 9.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a stretch belt 10 with pocket, and in this illustration the front zipper 6 is shown zipped to an open position such that an internal adjuster 21 is visible. The adjuster 21 can be accessed through the front zipper 6, and thereby through the front panel 1, for adjusting the length of an internal adjustment belt 20. The adjustment belt 20 is preferably made from a length of stretchy elastic, stretch strap, stretch webbing or similar materials. Accordingly, in the preferred version of the invention the stretch belt 10 has a fixed length (other than as may vary through stretchiness of the fabric material) but the adjustment belt may be varied in length by use of the adjuster.

The adjustment belt 20 as shown by itself in FIG. 24 (in partial cutaway view), removed from the stretch belt 10, and in section in FIG. 25 (taken through section 25-25 in FIG. 20, but with the front and rear panels removed for clarity of illustration). An adjuster, tri-glide, belt clasp, or other fastener 21 is attached to one end of the adjustment belt 20 via stitching 24 or other fasteners. In the illustrated example, the fastener is configured as a substantially rigid loop having a central cross-member in a configuration commonly known as a “tri-glide” buckle. One end of the adjustment belt is thereby secured to the center of the tri-glide fastener 21 by stitching 24, and the other end of the adjustment belt 20 is finished via folding over itself and fastening in place via an end stitch 23.

The adjustment belt 20 is preferably cut to a length that is longer than a length defined by the combined front panel 1 and rear panel 2, such that it functions to add a desirable amount of adjustable constriction. Accordingly, when worn around the waist of a user, the adjustment belt 20 can be threaded to itself as seen in FIG. 25 and secured by the adjuster or clasp, thereby allowing the user to adjust the size of the adjustment belt 20 such that stretch belt 10 can fit as snugly as desired by a user.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of the stretch belt 10 and FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the stretch belt 10. Section A-A is indicated in FIG. 4, and the corresponding sectional view is shown in FIG. 6 to illustrate a section through the front panel 1 and rear panel 2. FIG. 6 thus shows how the adjustment belt 20 is preferably captured in place and threaded through channels formed by belt retainers 3, 5 (and retainer 4 shown in FIG. 11). The belt retainers are preferably enclosed channels which serve to constrain the position of the adjustment belt within the stretch belt 20, most preferably at one end of the stretch belt which would be positioned as the top end of the stretch belt when worn by the user.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the front zipper 6 is installed in the front panel 1 by forming a slot corresponding to the length of the zipper 6 in the front panel 1 and then fastening the front zipper 6 to the front panel 1 via perimeter stitching 31 such that the slit in the front panel 1 provides access to the front pocket formed within the front panel and is closed by the front zipper 6.

The rear zipper 7 is installed in the rear panel 2 by forming a slot substantially the length of the rear zipper 7 in the rear panel 2 and fastening the rear zipper 7 to the rear panel 2 via perimeter stitching 32 such that the slit in the rear panel 2 provides access to the rear pocket formed by the rear panel and is closed by zipper 7.

The front panel 1 includes in inside face (shown in FIG. 8) and an outside face (shown in FIG. 9). When the front pocket is turned right side out, the outside face of the fabric forming the front panel 1 is facing outward away from the pocket created by the front panel 1 with closure provided by zipper 6. Panel 2 likewise includes in inside face (shown in FIG. 8) and an outside face (shown in FIG. 9). When the rear pocket is turned right side out, the outside face of the fabric forming the rear panel is facing outward away from the pocket created by the rear panel 2 with closure provided by zipper 7. The front panel 1 is preferably fastened to the rear panel 2 via stitching 12 or another fastener such that front panel 1 is connected to rear panel 2.

As seen in FIG. 7, belt retainers 3, 4 and 5 are preferably spaced and positioned as shown and fastened in place by sewing along stitch line 13. The belt retainers 3, 4 and 5 are preferably strips or swatches cut from the same or similar material used for the front and rear panels 1 and 2, and edged as appropriate via stitching 14 and 15 by turning over the ends or by other appropriate edge binding which is fastening in place via stitching 14 and 15. After fastening with stitch 13, the belt retainers 3 and 4 are then folded over stitch 13 and fastened again to the front panel 1 via stitching 17 (see FIG. 9) which is used to hold the belt retainers temporarily in place such that they can be finally stitched in place by stitching 16 as can be seen in cross-sectional view in FIG. 6 and also in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

After fastening with stitch 13, a rear belt retainer 5 is then folded over along a line formed by stitch 13 and fastened again to the rear panel 2 via stitching 17 which is used to hold the retainers temporarily in place such that they can be finally stitched in place by stitching 16 as can be seen in cross-section in FIG. 6 and also in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

As seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 connected front and rear panels 1 and 2 are placed with the inside-facing fabric facing out and are folded over themselves inside-out and then fastened together via stitching 16 which extends along one edge of the joined panels, creating an inside out tube. Most preferably, the end stitching 16 extends along what will be the top end of the stretch belt when completed, with the top end positioned higher than the bottom end when worn by a user. The created inside out tube as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is then inverted on itself such that the outside face of the fabric is facing out as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. Then the right-side-out tube as shown in FIG. 12 is inverted half-way along its length such that the inside face of the front panel 1 is facing outward and the inside face of the rear panel 2 is facing inward wherein the outside faces of panels 1 and 2 are facing each other as can be seen in FIG. 16. Once brought together in this fashion, the outside faces of panels 1 and 2 are fastened together along stitch line 11, fastening them together with cuff-manner stitching such that the tube can be inverted right side out to create the stretch belt.

The adjustment belt 20, having a fastener 21 at one end and an opposite free end adjacent the stitch line 23 as shown in FIG. 24, is fed through the belt retainers 4, 5 and 3 such that the faster 21 resides in the gap 22 created between the first front panel belt retainer 3 and the second front panel belt retainer 4 (see FIGS. 16 and 20). The adjustment belt 20 thereby extends through the retainers 4, 5 and 3, emerging from first front panel belt retainer 3 at the adjacent gap 22. The adjustment belt 20 may be adjusted (for example, decreasing the length and therefore circumference of the corresponding adjustment belt) by pulling on the free end adjacent the stitch 23 while holding the opposite end of the adjustment belt adjacent the fastener 21.

The fastener 21 is preferably formed from plastic, metal or other relatively stiff materials. The fastener 21 can be die-cut from sheet material, injection molded, or otherwise formed.

After installing the adjustment belt 20 as shown in FIGS. 20 through 23 (through the belt retainers as described above) the belt panels may be folded and stitched to form the stretch belt. As shown in FIG. 20, the adjustment belt 20 is installed in the retainers. In FIG. 21, the stretch belt 10 is inverted, inside-out, from the view of FIG. 20. As shown in FIG. 21, the front zipper 6 is opened, with the rear zipper 7 preferably closed. All of the rear panel 2 is then pulled through the opening of the front zipper zipper 6 such the stretch belt 10 is inverted to be right-side-out through the opening provided by open front zipper 6. Once pulled out and inverted in this fashion, the front and rear panels 1 and 2 of the stretch belt 10 have their outside faces facing outward as can be seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show another way the stretch belt 10 can be inverted and stitch 11 can be sewn as described above, though in this case the front and rear panels are inverted before the adjustment belt is fed through the retainers.

As can be seen in FIG. 26, which is an outside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt in which a center stitch 12 as described above can be eliminated and is not shown, and further in which the front panel 1 and rear panel 2 are replaced by a single panel 60. In this version, instead of having front and rear panels the single belt panel 60 has a front and a rear portion, corresponding generally to the portions of the panels that include the front zipper 6 and the rear zipper 7, respectively. FIG. 27 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 26. The belt may be formed by joining the ends of the panel 60 together, with an adjustment belt and retainers such as described above. An additional stitch may optionally be included between the front and rear portions, generally at the location of the lead line for reference number 60, but in some versions the stitch may be omitted.

The stretch belt with pocket 10 is preferably constructed by sewing substantially flat die-cut panels of fabric or the like together. Although less preferred, it can be constructed by knitting, gluing, integrally forming or otherwise fastening parts together that have been manufactured from a variety of processes and techniques.

Preferably the fabric panels or parts of the stretch belt 10 are die cut from pliable and somewhat stretchy fabric as described above. Some materials that could be used include spandex, spandura, stretch denim or others. Panel parts can be constructed from a number fabrics of different materials in some versions. The invention could be constructed in a variety of different ways other than the cutting and sewing processes described above for the preferred versions. For example, various parts could be combined, formed as one, woven, heat sealed together, ultrasonically bonded together or formed in other ways.

The front panel 1 and rear panel 2 could be each further be formed from two panels each fastened at the top and bottom of stretch belt 10. If desired, the embodiment shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 could be constructed from a front panel and a rear panel fastened together at a seam adjacent the top of stretch belt 10 and the bottom of stretch belt 10 or otherwise as desired.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A belt, comprising:

a panel of material forming the belt, wherein the belt forms an endless loop configured to be placed about the waist of a user;

a pocket positioned on the panel of material forming the belt;

an adjustment belt attached to the panel of material, the adjustment belt having a length greater than a circumference defined by the endless loop, the adjustment belt positioned with respect to the panel such that the adjustment belt is placed about the waist of the user together with the belt when the belt is placed about the waist of the user; and

an adjuster connected to the adjustment belt, the adjuster releasably securing the adjustment belt in a plurality of positions, whereby the length of the adjustment belt may be increased or decreased.

2. The belt of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a front panel and a rear panel joined to the front panel.

3. The belt of claim 1, wherein the pocket is positioned on an interior surface of the panel.

4. The belt of claim 3, further comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

5. The belt of claim 4, wherein the closure comprises a zipper.

6. The belt of claim 1, wherein the panel of material forming the belt further forms an interior tube, and further wherein the adjustment belt is positioned within the interior tube and surrounded by the panel of material forming the belt.

7. The belt of claim 6 wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of panels.

8. The belt of claim 7, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a front panel and a rear panel joined to the front panel.

9. The belt of claim 6, further comprising at least one belt retainer positioned within the interior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the at least one belt retainer.

10. The belt of claim 9, wherein the interior tube forms the pocket, the belt further comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

11. The belt of claim 10, wherein the adjuster is positioned within an opening of the closure when the closure is in an open position.

12. The belt of claim 10, wherein the at least one belt retainer comprises a plurality of belt retainers, the plurality of belt retainers further defining a gap between two of the plurality of belt retainers, the adjuster being positioned at the gap when the adjustment belt is trained through the plurality of belt retainers.

13. A belt, comprising:

a front panel joined to a rear panel, the front panel and the rear panel combining to form an endless loop configured to be placed about the waist of a user;

the front and rear panels further being joined together to define an interior pocket;

an adjustment belt attached to the belt and positioned within the interior pocket, the adjustment belt having a length greater than a circumference defined by the endless loop, the adjustment surrounding the waist of the user together with the belt when the belt is placed about the waist of the user; and

an adjuster connected to the adjustment belt and positioned within the pocket, the adjuster releasably securing the adjustment belt in a plurality of positions, whereby the length of the adjustment belt may be increased or decreased.

14. The belt of claim 13, further comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

15. The belt of claim 14, wherein the closure comprises a zipper.

16. The belt of claim 13, wherein the pocket further forms an interior tube.

17. The belt of claim 16, further comprising a belt retainer positioned within the interior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the belt retainer.

18. The belt of claim 17, further comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

19. The belt of claim 18, wherein the adjuster is positioned within an opening formed by the closure when the closure is in an open position.

20. The belt of claim 19, wherein the belt retainer comprises a plurality of belt retainers, the plurality of belt retainers further defining a gap between two of the plurality of belt retainers, the adjuster being positioned at the gap when the adjustment belt is trained through the plurality of belt retainers.