U.S. patent application number 10/904634 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-11 for adjustable cuff system for garments.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPYDER ACTIVE SPORTS, INC.. Invention is credited to -, Bush, Trent Eric.
Application Number | 20050172379 10/904634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34830424 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050172379 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bush, Trent Eric ; et
al. |
August 11, 2005 |
Adjustable Cuff System for Garments
Abstract
An adjustable cuff system for a garment includes a cuff having a
cuff channel. A strip extends at least partially through the cuff
channel and comprises a first connector attached to the strip. A
second connector is attached to the cuff. The second connector is
adapted to adjustably receive the first connector. The adjustable
cuff system further comprises a tab extending from the cuff. The
tab comprises a third connector adapted to secure the tab in a
closed configuration.
Inventors: |
Bush, Trent Eric; (Boulder,
CO) ; -; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOLLAND & HART, LLP
555 17TH STREET, SUITE 3200
DENVER
CO
80201
US
|
Assignee: |
SPYDER ACTIVE SPORTS, INC.
4725 Walnut Street
Boulder
CO
|
Family ID: |
34830424 |
Appl. No.: |
10/904634 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60524997 |
Nov 24, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/123 ; 2/170;
2/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 11/125 20130101;
A41D 2300/32 20130101; A41D 27/10 20130101; A41B 2300/32 20130101;
A41F 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/123 ;
002/060; 002/170 |
International
Class: |
A41B 007/00; A41D
027/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable cuff system comprising: a cuff comprising a cuff
channel; the cuff channel comprising an inner wall and an outer
wall; a strip extending at least partially through the cuff
channel; a first connector attached to the strip; a second
connector attached to the cuff, the second connector to adjustably
mate the first connector; a tab extending from the cuff; and a
third connector attached to the tab, the third connector to secure
the tab in a closed configuration such that the first connector and
the second connector are substantially covered.
2. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the third
connector mates with the second connector.
3. The adjustable cuff system of claim 2, wherein the third
connector mates with the first connector and the second
connector.
4. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the third
connector mates with a fourth connector attached to the cuff.
5. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the cuff is
coupled to a garment selected from the group of garments consisting
of: a shirt, a jacket, a glove, a sock, a pant, or a shoe.
6. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the strip extends
through all of the cuff channel.
7. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the strip
comprises an elastic material.
8. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the first
connector, the second connector, and the third connector comprise
corresponding strips of hook and loop material.
9. The adjustable cuff system of claim 1, wherein the tab comprises
a lever.
10. The adjustable cuff system of claim 9, wherein the lever
comprises a material stiffer than a material forming the cuff.
11. The adjustable cuff system of claim 10, wherein the lever
comprises a molded lever.
12. An adjustable cuff system, comprising: a cuff having a
circumference; a cuff channel extending around a portion of the
circumference, the cuff channel having a channel first end and a
channel second end; at least one strip, the at least one strip
residing within the cuff channel having a first connector extending
from the first end and a tab extending from the second end; a
second connector having a cuff first end and a cuff second end, the
second connector coupled to the cuff at the cuff first end
proximate the channel first end and extending about a portion of
the circumference to the cuff second end in a direction opposite
the cuff channel, the second connector to adjustably receive the
first connector; a gusset extending about the remainder of the
circumference having a gusset first end coupled to the cuff second
end and a gusset second end coupled to the channel second end; the
tab extending from the cuff channel to a tab end; and a third
connector having a first connector end coupled to the tab end and a
second connector end coupled to the cuff second end, the third
connector having an open position and a closed position, such that
when in the closed position, the cuff is relatively smaller in
diameter and third connector protects the second connector from the
environment and when in the open position, the cuff is relatively
larger in diameter and the gusset is extended.
13. The adjustable cuff of claim 12, wherein the second connector
comprises an internal connector mounted on an inner wall of the
cuff channel and an external connector mounted on an outer wall of
the cuff channel.
14. The adjustable cuff of claim 12, wherein the at least one strip
extends from the first end to the second end.
15. The adjustable cuff of claim 14, wherein the at least one strip
comprises at least an elastic portion.
16. The adjustable cuff of claim 12, wherein the tab comprises a
lever.
17. The adjustable cuff system of claim 16, wherein the lever
comprises a material stiffer than a material forming the cuff.
18. The adjustable cuff system of claim 16, wherein the lever
comprises a molded lever.
19. The adjustable cuff system of claim 12, wherein the cuff is
coupled to a garment selected from the group of garments consisting
of: a shirt, a jacket, a glove, a sock, a pant, or a shoe.
20. The adjustable cuff system of claim 12, wherein the first
connector, the second connector, and the third connector comprise
corresponding parts of hook and loop material.
21. A method of wearing an adjusting cuff for a garment, the method
comprising the steps of: constricting the size of a cuff by
selectively placing a first connector on a second connect such that
the diameter of the cuff is constrained to a maximum diameter;
placing the cuff on an appendage of a wearer; tightening the cuff
on the appendage by securing a tab; and loosening the cuff on the
appendage by releasing the tab.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein securing the tab comprises
preventing a gusset from expanding.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein releasing the tab comprises
allowing the gusset to expand.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first connector is placed
on the second connector on an inner wall of the cuff.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional application No. 60/524,997, filed Nov. 24, 2003, titled
the same, incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to an adjustable cuff for
garments and, more particularly, to a garment that has a cuff that
is adjustable to a wearer's cuff size.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Garments, such as, for example, jackets and the like, often
employ adjustable cuffs to allow the cuff of the garment to be
adjusted by a wearer. Commonly, cuffs include elastic extending
around at least a portion of the perimeter and a tab that may be
attached to the cuff at different positions to select the size of
the cuff. The tab, for example, typically includes a hook portion
that mates with an extended strip of loop material attached to the
exterior of the cuff.
[0004] When a wearer puts on a jacket, for example, the wearer
extends his or her arm into the sleeve with his or her hand
extending out the end of the sleeve. The cuff of the sleeve is
typically adjusted to fit the size of the wearer's wrist and to
prevent foreign items such as leaves or snow from entering the
sleeve. The wearer pulls a tab attached to the cuff to tighten the
cuff around his or her wrist. When the cuff is tightened to a
desired dimension, the wearer attaches the tab to the perimeter of
the cuff. Typically, the cuff includes an extended strip of loop
material to which hook material located on the tab may be placed
depending upon how tight the wearer wants the cuff. These
adjustable cuffs often create problems in that the loop and/or hook
material is exposed to the elements and may become damaged in areas
when the tab is covering it. In addition, the exposed loop and/or
hook material which is required for adjustability detracts from the
visual appearance of the garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An adjustable cuff system of the present invention comprises
a cuff comprising a cuff channel. A strip extends at least
partially through the cuff channel and comprises a first connector
attached to the strip. A second connector is attached to the cuff.
The second connector is adapted to adjustably receive the first
connector. The adjustable cuff system further comprises a tab
extending from the cuff. The tab comprises a third connector
adapted to secure the tab in a closed configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of
an adjustable cuff system of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the
adjustable cuff system is in an open configuration;
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of an adjustable cuff system of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3
wherein the adjustable cuff system is in an open configuration;
[0010] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a lever that may be used
in the embodiments of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a tab that may be used in
the embodiments of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a gusset such as the one used in
the embodiment of FIG. 3; and
[0014] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
an adjustable cuff system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an adjustable cuff
system 20 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the garment
18 includes cuff system 20 and comprises a channel 22 formed by an
inner wall 23 and an outer wall 25. The inner and outer walls 23
and 25, for example, may comprise the same or different layers of
the garment. In one embodiment, for example, the channel 22 may be
formed by folding over the outer layer of the garment and attaching
it to itself, such as via stitching, bonding, welding, adhesion, or
the like to make a "tube". Another embodiment may form channel 22
by attaching using separate fabrics for inner wall 23 and outer
wall 25 and connecting the layers using stitching, bonding,
welding, adhesion, or the like to make a space between inner and
outer walls 23 and 25.
[0016] The channel 22 may comprise an elastic or inelastic channel.
The channel 22, for example, may be formed of an elastic or
non-elastic material. The channel 22 may also comprise an elastic
material attached to the channel 22 to provide the channel 22 with
an elastic property so that the cuff tends to contract to fit the
wearer. Cuffs made all or in part of elastic material or inelastic
material are generally known in the art and will not be further
explained herein except as it relates specifically to the present
invention.
[0017] In another embodiment, as described below, an elastic
material may extend at least partially through the channel 22 to
provide the channel with an elastic property. The adjustable cuff
system 22, however, need not comprise an elastic material either in
the channel or extending through the channel.
[0018] The adjustable cuff system 20 further comprises a strip 24
extending through the channel 22. The strip 24 could be a cord, a
band, or the like. The strip 24 may be elastic, comprise a
partially elastic portion, or may be non-elastic material. The
strip 24 comprises a connector 26 at a first end 28. The first end
28 of the strip 24 may also comprise a tab 29 so that a wearer may
be able to grasp the first end 28 of the strip 24 more easily. The
connector 26, for example, may comprise a portion of a hook and
loop connector. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for
example, the connector 26 comprises hooks 30 on a first side 32,
which is internally facing, and, optionally, loops 34 on a second
side 36, which is externally facing. Second side 36 alternatively
may not include loops 34. For simplicity, hook material and
corresponding loop material is explained as residing at particular
locations on the device, but one of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize on reading the disclosure, that hook material and loop
material is largely interchangeable. Other connectors or
combinations of connectors such as snaps, buttons, buckles,
pressure-sensitive adhesives or the like, may be used within the
scope of the present invention, however.
[0019] The adjustable cuff system 20 also comprises a second
connector 40. The second connector 40 mates with the first
connector 26 of the strip 24. The second connector may be disposed
in the channel or outside the channel 22. As shown in FIG. 1, for
example, the channel 22 comprises an opening 44 through which the
second connector 40 may be accessed. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, for example, the first connector 26 may extend through the
opening 50 on a first side 52 of the opening 44. Opening 50 is
defined by channel 22. The second connector 40 may be disposed on
the inner wall 23 of the channel 22 at the opening 44. Second
connector 40 alternatively may actually be a portion of inner wall
23. In this particular embodiment, for example, first connector 26
may be adjusted and connected at any point along the second
connector 40. The second connector preferably extends for a length
sufficient to allow the circumference of the cuff to be adjusted
from the desired minimum circumference to the desired maximum
circumference. Following the example above where first connector 26
has hook material 30 on the first side internally facing, second
connector 40 would have corresponding loop material.
[0020] The opening 44, for example, may comprise a window cut from
the outer wall 25 of the channel 22. Alternatively to the opening
44, opening 50 may comprise a small opening, such as a slit,
through which the first connector 26 of the strip 24 may extend. In
this embodiment, the second connector 40 may be disposed on the
outer surface 27 of outer wall 25 and the first connector 26 of the
strip 24 may be adjustably connected at any point along the second
connector 40.
[0021] The adjustable cuff system 20 further comprises a tab 60 for
closing the cuff system 20. The tab 60 comprises a third connector
62. The third connector 62 may mate with the second connector 40
where the first connector 26 is not located and, preferably, may
mate with a second side 36 of the first connector 26 also.
Alternatively, a fourth connector 61 may reside on outer surface 27
that third connector 62 can mate with. Using the fourth connector
61 allows the adjustment connectors 26 and 40 to be isolated from
the elements during use as tab 60 would extend over connector 40
and connector 26.
[0022] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the
second side 36 of the first connector 26 comprises loops 34 for
mating with hooks 64 of the third connector 62. Thus, regardless
where the first connector 26 is located along the second connector
40, the hooks 64 of the third connector 62 mate with loops 43 of
the second connector 40 or loops 34 of the second side 36 of the
first connector 26. Further, the tab 60 preferably completely
covers the loops of the first and second connectors that are
located outside the channel 22 when the tab 60 is closed and serves
to protect the loops from the elements.
[0023] The tab 60 may also optionally comprise a lever 66 that
provides leverage for the tab 60. The lever 66, for example, may
comprise a piece of stiff material, such as a molded plastic
material, that acts as a hinge lever to pull an elastic material of
the cuff 20. The lever 66 may be connected to the tab 60 such as
being stitched, bonded, welded, adhered or otherwise connected to
the tab 60.
[0024] When the tab 60 is closed, the lever 66 pulls the strip 24
and tightens the cuff 20 circumferentially around a wearer. Where
the strip 24 at least partially comprises an elastic material, for
example, the strip 24 is stretched by the lever 66 and tightens the
cuff 20 around the wearer.
[0025] FIGS. 3-5 show a second embodiment of an adjustable cuff
system 120 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, for
example, the adjustable cuff system 120 comprises a channel 122
having an inner wall 123 and an outer wall 125. A portion of the
inner wall 123 is open at a window 127. The window 127 is proximate
a opening 131 defined by channel 122 out of which a first connector
126 extends into window 127. First connector 126 can be moved along
window 127 to adjusting the size of the cuff and securing first
connector 126 relative to a second connector 140. As described
above, the channel 122 may be elastic, be partially elastic, or
non-elastic.
[0026] The adjustable cuff system 120 further comprises a strip 124
extending at least partially through the channel 122. As described
above, the strip 124 may at least partially comprise an elastic
material or may comprise an entirely non-elastic material. The
strip 124 comprises a first connector 126 at a first end 128 of the
strip 124. The first connector 126, for example, may comprise a
connector such as hooks, loops, snaps, buttons, buckles, pressure
sensitive adhesives or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
3-5, for example, the first connector 126 comprises a panel of
hooks 129 on a first side exterior facing side of the first
connector 126. The first connector 126 mates with a strip of loop
or pile material 141 on an interior facing side of a second
connector 140. When the first connector 126 comprises a panel of
hooks 129 as shown in FIGS. 3-5, for example, the second connector
140 preferably comprises a panel of loops 141. The panel of loops
141 of the second connector 140 preferably extends for a length
greater than the panel of hooks of the first connector 126 so that
the first connector 126 may be adjustably connected with the panel
of loops of the second connector 140 to select a desired
circumference of the cuff 120 between a minimum cuff circumference
and a maximum cuff circumference.
[0027] The adjustable cuff system 120 also preferably comprises a
gusset 168 connecting the channel 122 to itself to form a maximum
cuff circumference when the cuff is in an open configuration. One
embodiment of a gusset 168 that may be used within the scope of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. In this embodiment,
the gusset 168 comprises a folded triangular-shaped piece of
material that provides for expansion of the cuff circumference in
an open configuration and folds on itself when the cuff system 120
is closed. However, any conventional gusset could be used for
gusset 168.
[0028] The strip 124 also extends out of a second opening 133 in
the channel 122 at a second end 119 of the strip 124. The second
end of the strip 124 is attached to a tab 160. The second end of
the strip 124 may be attached to the tab 160 by any connection
technique known in the art such as stitching, bonding, adhesion,
welding and the like.
[0029] In this embodiment, the tab 160 is connected to the second
end of the strip 124 at a first end 161 of the tab 160 and is
connected to the outer wall 125 of the channel 122 at a second end
163 of the tab 160 as shown in FIG. 3. The tab 160 includes a third
connector 162 for holding the adjustable cuff system in a closed
configuration.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example, the third
connector comprises a panel of hooks 164 for engaging with a panel
of loops 165 of the second connector 140. The second connector 140,
in this embodiment, comprises a panel of loops 165 disposed on a
back side of the second connector 140. The tab preferably closes
over the entire panel of loops of the second connector and thus
protects the second connector 140 from the elements when the tab
160 is in a closed configuration.
[0031] In an alternative embodiment, however, the cuff system may
comprise a fourth connector 170 disposed outside the outer wall 125
of the channel 122 (see FIG. 9). In this embodiment, the panel of
hooks on the tab 160 preferably engage a panel of loops disposed on
the fourth connector 170. In this embodiment, the fourth connector
shown 170 is protected by the flap 160 when the flap is in a closed
configuration. Also, in this configuration, connector 140 could be
mounted to inner wall 123.
[0032] The tab 160 may further comprise a lever 166 as described
above. The lever 166 may comprise a piece of stiff material as
shown in FIG. 6. The lever 166, for example, may be attached to the
tab 160 such as via stitching, bonding, adhesion, welding or the
like. In one particular embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, for
example, the lever 166 may be stitched within the tab 160. The tab
160, in this embodiment, comprises the lever 166 sewn inside body
fabric 167 of the garment. The body fabric 167 of the garment also
includes a window 169 through which the third connector 162 is
exposed. The third connector 162, for example, may be directly
attached to the lever 166, such as by stitching, bonding, welding,
adhesion or the like, or may be attached to the body fabric 167 of
the tab 160.
[0033] Other garments that may use the adjustable cuff system
similar to the one described for a jacket include, for example,
shirts, pants, socks, gloves, and the like. These garments are
merely exemplary, however, as one skilled in the art would readily
recognize from this disclosure that the adjustable cuff system of
the present invention can be used with many different types of
garments.
[0034] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes
in the form and details may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *