U.S. patent application number 11/206782 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for drawstring cover for clothing.
Invention is credited to John W. Purnell.
Application Number | 20070050890 11/206782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37828679 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070050890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Purnell; John W. |
March 8, 2007 |
Drawstring cover for clothing
Abstract
The present invention relates to a garment in which the width of
an opening is adjustable by means of a cord or drawstring having
free ends accessible by the wearer which ends are usually tied
together to maintain the desired adjustment and to a cover
comprising means to retain the tied ends of the cord or drawstring
within the garment during activity by the wearer.
Inventors: |
Purnell; John W.; (West
Lawn, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERMAN & ASSOCIATES
415 NORTH ALFRED STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
37828679 |
Appl. No.: |
11/206782 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F 9/025 20130101;
A41D 2300/33 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/235 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/06 20060101
A41D001/06 |
Claims
1. A garment comprising an adjustable waistband, a cord within said
waistband, said cord having two ends passing out of said waistband
through at least one opening therein within said garment and
accessible to a wearer whereby said cord can be pulled by said
wearer to adjust the size of said waistband about said wearer, said
ends of said cord being tieable to maintain said adjusted size,
cover means secured to said waistband adjacent to said at least one
opening and positionable over said tied cord between said garment
and said wearer whereby said tied cord is confined between said
garment and said cover means whereby eversion of said tied cord
from between said garment and said wearer is prevented.
2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises an elongated
fabric panel secured along the inner surface of said waistband
immediately above and centered relative to said at least one
opening, said panel having a length to extend downward over said
opening and said tied cord when folded downward inside said garment
whereby said tied cord is confined between said panel and said
garment.
3. The garment of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises means to
releasably secure said panel to said tied cord and said garment in
the downward position.
4. The garment of claim 2 wherein said cover comprises a first side
normally facing the inside of said garment and a second side
normally facing said wearer, said first side having a high
coefficient of friction relative to said garment whereby said cover
resists displacement relative to said garment, and said second side
is soft and non-irritating to the skin of said wearer.
5. The garment of claim 4 further comprising a pocket on said first
side, said pocket opening upward when said cover is in position
between said garment and said wearer, said pocket further receiving
said tied ends of said cord and confining same therein.
6. In a garment having a circumferentially adjustable opening, a
band encircling said opening on the inside of said garment and
confining a cord therein, an aperture in said band, said cord
extending about said opening within said band and having two free
ends passing through said aperture whereby said cord is adjustable
by pulling on said ends, said ends being securable by tying them
together, the improvement comprising: a fabric panel having a first
side and a second side, said panel being secured along an edge
thereof to said band between said opening and said aperture,
whereby said panel is normally positioned over said aperture
whereby said ends of said cord are confined between said first side
of said panel and the inside of said garment and whereby said panel
is displaceable outward of said garment to provide access to said
cord ends.
7. The garment of claim 6 further comprising a pocket in said first
side of said panel, said pocket receiving and confining said ends
of said cord therein.
8. The garment of claim 6 wherein said first side of said panel has
a texture providing a gripping action against said cord ends and
the fabric of said garment, whereby said panel resists displacement
relative to said garment.
9. The garment of claim 6, wherein said panel comprises a first
layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said
outer side of said first layer corresponds to said first side of
said panel and has a texture providing a gripping action against
said cord ends and said garment, a second layer of fabric having an
inner side and an outer side wherein said outer side of said second
layer corresponds to said second side of said panel and has a
surface texture that is soft and non-irritating, said first and
second layers of fabric being joined about their peripheries
whereby said inner side of said first layer and said inner side of
said second layer are facing.
10. The garment of claim 9 further comprising a layer of cushioning
material between said first layer and said second layer.
11. The garment of claim 9 further comprising a pocket formed on
said outer side of said first layer, said pocket having an opening
adjacent to said aperture in said band whereby said pocket is
capable of removably receiving said free ends of said cord.
12. The garment of claim 11 wherein said pocket is formed by
providing a slot in said first layer whereby said pocket comprises
the space between said first layer and said second layer.
13. The garment of claim 11 wherein said pocket is formed by a
third layer of fabric applied over said first layer of fabric and
secured thereto about common peripheral edges, said third layer
having a transverse edge across said first layer adjacent to said
aperture in said band, said transverse edge remaining
unsecured.
14. A drawstring cover for a garment having a waistband adjustable
by means of a drawstring the ends of which pass through an aperture
in said waistband and are accessed from within said garment for
adjustment and tying, said drawstring cover comprising a fabric
panel secured to said waistband along an edge of said panel between
said aperture and the outer edge of said waistband, said panel
adapted to hang downward within said garment over said ends of said
drawstring between said drawstring and a wearer, whereby said panel
covers and confines said drawstring, whereby said tied drawstring
is prevented from being inadvertently everted or pulled from within
said garment.
15. The drawstring cover of claim 14 further comprising means to
prevent displacement of said panel from a covering position during
physical activity.
16. The drawstring cover of claim 15 wherein said means to prevent
displacement comprises a texture on the side of said panel facing
said garment and said drawstring whereby said panel releasably
adheres to said garment and said drawstring.
17. The drawstring cover of claim 16 further comprising a pocket in
the side of said panel facing said garment and drawstring, said
pocket adapted to removably receive and confine said tied
drawstring therein.
18. The drawstring cover of claim 17 wherein said panel further
comprises two facing layers of fabric secured about their common
peripheries, a first layer facing said garment and said drawstring
and having a slit adjacent to said waistband aperture thereby
providing access to an area between said facing layers forming said
pocket, said tied drawstring being insertable into said pocket
through said slit, and a second layer facing a wearer, said second
layer having a layer of padding secured to its inner surface and
having an outer surface that is smooth and non-irritating to human
skin.
19. The drawstring cover of claim 14 wherein said garment, said
panel and said waistband are sewn together in a layered
relationship with said panel garment layer innermost and said panel
intermediate said garment layer and said waistband, said garment
layer is then folded over said waistband and sewn to said waistband
whereby said garment layer is outermost, said panel is innermost
and said waistband is intermediate said garment layer and said
panel, said waistband and said garment layer forming a channel to
receive said drawstring, and said panel naturally depends within
said garment over said aperture in said waistband, said panel
further being tack stitched at each end to said waistband.
20. The drawstring cover of claim 19 wherein said panel has a first
side facing said garment and a second said facing a wearer and
comprises a first layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer
side wherein said outer side of said first layer corresponds to
said first side of said panel and has a texture providing a
gripping action against said cord ends and said garment, a second
layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said
outer side of said second layer corresponds to said second side of
said panel and has a surface texture that is soft and
non-irritating, said first and second layers of fabric being joined
about their peripheries whereby said inner side of said first layer
and said inner side of said second layer are facing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a garment in which the
width of an opening is adjustable by means of a cord or drawstring
having free ends accessible by the wearer which ends are usually
tied together to maintain the desired adjustment and to a cover
comprising means to retain the tied ends of the cord or drawstring
within the garment during activity by the wearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is commonplace for the waists of trousers, shorts or
skirts and other types of clothing to be reduced in width by
adjusting a belt. It is also known for such garments, particularly
those used in sports, i.e., soccer, wrestling, etc., to employ a
drawstring which is confined within the waistband of the garment
with the ends passing through an aperture on the inside of the
waistband at the front of the garment whereby the wearer is able to
grasp the ends of the drawstring and pull them to adjust the
waistband to fit, whereupon the ends of the drawstring are tied,
usually in a bow, and tucked in between the garment and the
wearer's body.
[0003] In such circumstances it is not unusual for the tied ends of
the drawstring to work their way out from between the inside of the
waistband and the wearer's body and to become exposed such that
they may become untied or, in the case of a close contact sport
such as wrestling, inadvertently entangled in an opponent's
fingers.
[0004] Thus there is perceived a need for a means to comfortably
retain the tied ends of a drawstring in place within a garment
during physical activity which does not add bulk around the waist
of the garment and which does not present discomfort or danger to
the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides an item of
clothing in which the width of an opening therein is adjustable by
means of a drawstring confined within a band encircling the
opening, the drawstring having exposed ends whereby the width of
the opening is adjustable by pulling on the ends of the drawstring,
the ends being secured by tying them together, the item of clothing
further having a drawstring cover in the form of a flap or panel
secured along one edge to the band encircling the opening adjacent
to and above the ends of the drawstring, this flap or panel being
positionable over the tied ends of the drawstring between the band
and the wearer's body to cover and confine the tied ends of the
drawstring. The flap or panel is secured to the band in such a
manner that, in its relaxed state, the panel hangs downward within
the garment over the drawstring ends.
[0006] Preferably, the surface of the flap or panel which lies
against the drawstring ends and the inside of the garment has a
texture which provides a high degree of friction with the fabric of
the garment and the drawstring to ensure retention of the flap or
panel in its correct position within the garment, thereby ensuring
confinement of the ends of the drawstring. The surface of the flap
or panel which lies against the wearer's body is preferably smooth
and non-irritating to the skin.
[0007] In its simplest form, the flap or panel is s single layer of
fabric sewn into the band above the drawstring along one edge of
the panel. Alternatively, the flap or panel may be two layers of
fabric sewn together with an intermediate layer of stiffening
material, such as Pelon which is a fusible liner material commonly
used to provide structure to shirt collars and the like. Also, if
desired, a layer of padding, such as foam or non-woven batting may
be provided between the two layers of fabric as a cushion between
the tied ends of the drawstring and the wearer's body. In a still
further embodiment, the flap or panel may be provided with a pouch
or pocket on the drawstring side into which the tied ends of the
drawstring may be tucked for added security.
[0008] The present invention is particularly suitable for use with
drawstrings used to adjust the waist size of a garment but may be
used anywhere a drawstring is used where the ends of the drawstring
are accessed from within the garment.
[0009] Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a garment
comprising an adjustable waistband, a cord within the waistband,
the cord having two ends passing out of the waistband through at
least one opening therein within the garment and accessible to a
wearer whereby the cord can be pulled by the wearer to adjust the
size of the waistband about the wearer, the ends of the cord being
tieable to maintain the adjusted size, cover means secured to the
waistband adjacent to the at least one opening and positionable
over the tied cord between the garment and the wearer whereby the
tied cord is confined between the garment and the cover means
whereby eversion of the tied cord from between the garment and the
wearer is prevented.
[0010] It is a further object to provide a garment having a
circumferentially adjustable opening, a band encircling the opening
on the inside of the garment and confining a cord therein, an
aperture in the band, the cord extending about the opening within
the band and having two free ends passing through the aperture
whereby the cord is adjustable by pulling on the ends, the ends
being securable by tying them together, the improvement
comprising:
[0011] a fabric panel having a first side and a second side, the
panel being secured along an edge thereof to the band between the
opening and the aperture, whereby the panel is normally positioned
over the aperture whereby the ends of the cord are confined between
the first side of the panel and the inside of the garment and
whereby the panel is displaceable outward of the garment to provide
access to the cord ends.
[0012] It is a still further object to provide a drawstring cover
for a garment having a waistband adjustable by means of a
drawstring the ends of which pass through an aperture in the
waistband and are accessed from within the garment for adjustment
and tying, the drawstring cover comprising a fabric panel secured
to the waistband along an edge of the panel between the aperture
and the outer edge of the waistband, the panel adapted to hang
downward within the garment over the ends of the drawstring between
the drawstring and a wearer, whereby the panel covers and confines
the drawstring whereby the tied drawstring is prevented from being
inadvertently everted or pulled from within the garment.
[0013] Further objects and advantages will become evident from the
following drawings and descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1. is an expanded view showing the present invention in
a garment.
[0015] FIG. 2. is a planar view of the inside of a garment with the
drawstring cover in place.
[0016] FIG. 3. is a view of the inside of a garment showing an
alternative embodiment of the drawstring cover having a pocket for
receiving the ends of the drawstring.
[0017] FIG. 4. shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with the drawstring
tucked into the pocket.
[0018] FIG. 5. is a cross section showing the first stage of
construction of a garment according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 6. is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing
the construction of a garment according to the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 7. is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing
the construction of a garment with the alternative embodiment of
FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 8. is a view of the inside of a garment showing an
alternative embodiment of the pocket for receiving the ends of the
drawstring.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing
the construction of the embodiment of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Looking at FIG. 1, the present invention provides a
drawstring cover 1 which is sewn into a garment 2 with a waistband
3 and a drawstring 4. In the normal construction of a drawstring
garment, the waistband 3 and garment 2 are sewn together along
stitching lines 5 and 6 so that a space 18 is left between them to
accommodate the drawstring 4. An aperture 7 is provided in the
waistband 3, usually at the inside front of the garment, through
which the ends 8 of the drawstring pass so as to be accessible to
the wearer.
[0024] In an ordinary drawstring garment, the garment is donned by
the wearer and the ends 8 of the drawstring 4 are pulled to adjust
the fit of the garment about the wearer's waist. The ends 8 of the
drawstring are then tied together to retain the adjustment and the
tied ends 8 are simply tucked inside the garment between the
waistband 3 and the wearer's body. In this position, there is
nothing to keep the tied ends of the drawstring inside the garment
and it is often the case that simple movements by the wearer cause
the tied ends to be everted where they can become loosened and
entangled.
[0025] In its simplest embodiment shown in FIG. 1, drawstring cover
1 is sewn into a finished garment 2 along stitching line 9 which
preferably coincides with stitching line 5 and hangs downward over
waistband 3 and tied ends 8 of drawstring 4. In this embodiment,
drawstring cover 1 comprises a single layer of fabric which may be
the same as that used to manufacture garment 2. To bias drawstring
cover 1 in its downward position, the tack stitches 10 are applied
at each end of stitching 9 securing drawstring cover to waistband 3
below the location of drawstring 4. In this manner, the upper edge
12 and the upper ends of the sides of drawstring cover 1 at the
tack stitches 10 form a downwardly opening pouch over drawstring
ends 8 which physically prevents drawstring ends 8 from being
everted from their tucked in position within garment 2.
[0026] As noted, drawstring cover 1 in this embodiment is a single
layer of fabric which may be the same as that used to manufacture
garment 2 or such other fabric as is desired. Examples include but
are not limited to cotton, polyester, nylon, and other natural or
synthetic fibers including blends thereof. Preferably, any fabric
used should have at least one side that is comfortable and
non-irritating to human skin and that side will be outermost in the
completed construction. The opposite side facing garment 2 and
drawstring ends 8 may have a texture which provides a high
coefficient of friction against garment 2 and drawstring ends 8 to
resist sliding against garment 2 thereby improving the ability of
drawstring cover 1 to remain in place over drawstring ends 8. As an
alternative, patches of hook and loop fastener material 11 may be
used along the lower edge of drawstring cover 1 with corresponding
portions on the inside of garment 2, as shown in FIG. 6, to ensure
that drawstring cover 1 remains in place during physical activity.
For drawstrings in locations other than a garment waist, more rigid
fasteners such as snaps or buttons may be used.
[0027] Drawstring cover 1 is of sufficient size and shape to permit
securing to garment 2 in the manner described and to provide the
desired coverage over drawstring ends 8. A substantially
rectangular panel of 3 to 6 inches along each side is suitable.
Alternatively, drawstring cover 1 may be semicircular as shown in
the drawing figures with attachment to garment 2 being along the
straight edge 12. Of course, drawstring cover 1 may be provided in
any shape desired as long as it provides the desired function.
[0028] Although drawstring cover 1 in its simplest form comprises a
single layer of fabric, in order to obtain a comfortable,
non-irritating outer face and a textured inner face, drawstring
cover 1 may comprise two layers of dissimilar fabric secured
together about their common peripheries. In this construction, if
desire, a layer of padding, such as foam or non-woven batting, or a
fabric stiffener, such as pelon, may be provided between the inner
and outer fabric layers.
[0029] The foregoing describes a garment construction wherein the
drawstring cover 1 is simply sewn directly to the waist of a
completed garment 2 so as to be in place over the drawstring ends
8. Preferably, however, drawstring cover 1 is included during the
construction of garment 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the first stage of this
construction with waistband 3, drawstring cover 1 and garment 2
sewn together along stitching lines 5 in a layered assembly which
is the partially assembled garment turned inside out. As shown in
FIG. 6, this assembly is then turned right side out by folding
garment 2 over stitching lines 5 and the sewn together ends of
drawstring cover 1, garment 2 and waistband 3. Drawstring 4 is
placed in the space 18 between waistband 3 and garment 2 with the
ends 8 threaded through aperture 7 and waistband 3 and garment 2
are sewn together along stitching lines 6. Alternatively, waistband
3 and garment 2 may be sewn together along stitching lines 6,
thereby creating space 18 and drawstring threaded through aperture
7 and space 18 so that both ends 8 extend outward through aperture
7.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows the above construction of the single fabric
layer embodiment as a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2. In an
alternative embodiment which is a variation of the double layer
construction described previously, the second or inner layer 13 can
be used to form a pocket on drawstring cover 1 in which the ends 8
of drawstring 4 may be tucked for further security. This embodiment
is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in cross section in FIG. 7 where
second layer 13 is shorter than drawstring cover 1 and the two
layers are sewn together around their common peripheral edges 14.
The top edge 15 of second layer 13 is not sewn so that a pocket 16
is formed between drawstring cover 1 and second layer 13. As shown
in FIGS. 4 and 7, drawstring ends are tucked into pocket 16 with
drawstring cover 1 everted. Drawstring cover 1 is then folded
downward between garment 2 and wearer to securely confine
drawstring ends 8.
[0032] In a further embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, drawing
cover 1 and second layer 13 are separate fabric layers of the same
size and shape sewn together along their common peripheral edges at
14. Access to pocket 16 is by means of a slit 17 cut across part of
second layer 13 below stitch lines 5. Edges of slit may be
reinforced by whip stitching as in button holes or by such other
means as are known. In this embodiment, drawstring ends 8 are
tucked into pocket 16 through slit 17 and drawstring cover 1 is
then tucked downward in between garment 2 and wearer.
[0033] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *