U.S. patent application number 11/773262 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-08 for apparatus and method to secure loose clothing items.
Invention is credited to MAXINE L. WHITE.
Application Number | 20090007317 11/773262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40220278 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090007317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WHITE; MAXINE L. |
January 8, 2009 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD TO SECURE LOOSE CLOTHING ITEMS
Abstract
A method to secure the distal end of a belt extending past a
buckle device with the portion of the belt encircling a user's
waist, wherein a fixturing apparatus comprising a flexible member
comprising a first attachment means and a second attachment means
encircles the distal end of the belt.
Inventors: |
WHITE; MAXINE L.; (LAKE
CITY, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DALE F. REGELMAN
QUARLES & BRADY, LLP, ONE SOUTH CHURCH AVENUE AVE, STE. 1700
TUCSON
AZ
85701-1621
US
|
Family ID: |
40220278 |
Appl. No.: |
11/773262 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/322 ; 2/312;
2/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/02 20130101; A41F
9/00 20130101; A45F 2200/0516 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F
5/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/322 ; 2/312;
2/338 |
International
Class: |
A41F 9/00 20060101
A41F009/00 |
Claims
1. A method to secure the distal end of a belt extending past a
buckle device with the portion of the belt encircling a user's
waist, comprising the steps of: providing a fixturing apparatus
comprising a flexible member comprising a first surface, an
opposing second surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a
first attachment means disposed on said first surface adjacent said
first end, and a second attachment means disposed on said; securing
a pair of pants using a belt comprising a first end, an opposing
second end, and a buckle device, such that a distal portion of the
belt extends past said buckle device; disposing said fixturing
apparatus between said belt and said pants; releaseably attaching
said first attachment means to said second attachment means, such
that said fixturing apparatus encircles said distal end of said
belt.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first attachment means
comprises a plurality of hook-type fasteners, and wherein said
second attachment means comprises a plurality of loop-type
fasteners.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first attachment means
comprises a snap, and wherein said second attachment means
comprises a snap receiver.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first attachment means
comprises a button, and wherein said second attachment means
comprises an aperture.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises
leather.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises a
fabric.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises
plastic.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises
metal.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein: said providing a fixturing
apparatus step further comprises providing a fixturing apparatus
further comprising a third attachment means disposed on said first
surface; said releaseably attaching step comprises releaseably
attaching said first attachment means to said second attachment
means, such that said fixturing apparatus encircles said distal end
of said belt, and such that said third attachment means faces
outwardly; said method further comprising the steps of: supplying a
portable device comprising a front side, an opposing rear side, and
a fourth attachment means disposed on said rear side; releaseably
attaching said fourth attachment means to said third attachment
means.
10. The method wherein said portable device comprises a cellular
telephone.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said portable device comprises
an Internet communication device.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said portable device comprises
an MP3 music device.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said third attachment means
comprises a plurality of hook-type fasteners, and wherein said
fourth attachment means comprises a plurality of loop-type
fasteners.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein said third attachment means
comprises a snap, and wherein said fourth attachment means
comprises a snap receiver.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein said fourth attachment means
comprises a button, and wherein said third attachment means
comprises an aperture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to an apparatus and method using
that apparatus to releaseably secure the portion of a belt
extending past the belt buckle to the remaining portion of the
belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It goes without saying that the waist sizes of the people
differ. In addition, the waist size of any given person may
increase, or decrease, over time. If a person's waist size
decreases, then the belts that the person uses may be too long for
comfortable use. More specifically, when a belt is comfortable
secured around a pair of pants, the portion extending past the belt
buckle may be so long that it droops downwardly from the buckle.
Such a dangling belt portion may be undesirable.
[0003] What is needed is a fixturing apparatus that can releaseably
secure such a distal belt portion to the remaining belt such that
the distal portion is aligned with that remainder portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention includes a method to secure the distal end of
a belt extending past a buckle device with the remaining portion of
the belt encircling a user's waist. The method provides a fixturing
apparatus comprising a flexible member comprising a first surface,
an opposing second surface, a first end, an opposing second end, a
first attachment means disposed on said first surface adjacent said
first end, and a second attachment means disposed on said, and
secures a pair of pants around a user's waist using a belt
comprising a first end, an opposing second end, and a buckle
device, such that a distal portion of the belt extends past said
buckle device. The method disposes the fixturing apparatus between
the belt and the pants, and then releaseably attaches the first
attachment means to the second attachment means, such that the
fixturing apparatus encircles the distal end of the belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will be better understood from a reading of
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate
like elements, and in which:
[0006] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a belt comprising a first
end, a second end, and a buckle device;
[0007] FIG. 1B shows the first end of the belt extending through
the belt buckle such that a distal end portion of the belt extends
past the buckle;
[0008] FIG. 2A shows on embodiment of Applicant's fixturing
apparatus;
[0009] FIG. 2B shows a second embodiment of Applicant's fixturing
apparatus;
[0010] FIG. 3A shows one step of Applicant's method to use the
fixturing apparatus of FIG. 2A to secure the distal end portion of
the belt of FIG. 1B;
[0011] FIG. 3B shows one step of Applicant's method to use the
fixturing apparatus of FIG. 2B to secure the distal end portion of
the belt of FIG. 1B;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows the fixturing apparatus of FIG. 2A securing the
distal portion of a belt to the remainder of the belt;
[0013] FIG. 5A shows the fixturing apparatus of FIG. 2B securing
the distal portion of a belt to the remainder of the belt;
[0014] FIG. 5B shows a portable device releaseably attached to the
fixturing apparatus of FIG. 5A;
[0015] FIG. 6 summarizes the steps of Applicant's method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the
following description with reference to the Figures, in which like
numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference
throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment,"
or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment,"
and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not
necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
[0017] The described features, structures, or characteristics of
the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific
details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of
embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will
recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures,
materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to
avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, belt 100 comprises first end 102,
second end 104, and buckle device 110. In the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 1, buckle device 110 is attached to first end
102 of belt 100. By "buckle device," Applicant means any kind of
device, assembly, or plurality of components that allows second end
104 of belt 100 to be releaseably attached to first end 102 of belt
100. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, belt 100 may be
constructed of a variety of materials, including without limitation
a fabric, cotton, leather, metal, plastic, and combinations
thereof.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, second end 104 of
belt 100 has been advanced through buckle device 110, such that
portion 120 of belt 100 extends past buckle device 110. As those
skilled in the art will appreciate, as the waist size of the user's
pants varies, and as the length of belt 100 varies, the length of
distal portion 120 will vary. Depending on the length of belt 100
and on the waist size of the user, portion 120 may in certain
embodiments be sufficiently long such that portion 120 droops
downwardly from buckle device 110.
[0020] Applicant's apparatus and method provide a mechanism to keep
portion 120 in alignment with the corresponding portion 130 of belt
100, wherein belt portion 130 is adjacent to first end 102 and is
disposed between first end 102 and second end 104. Referring now to
FIG. 2A, embodiment 200 of Applicant's apparatus comprises flexible
member 210, wherein member 210 comprises a first surface 212, and
opposing surface 214, a first end 216, and an opposing second end
218. In certain embodiments, flexible member 210 is formed from one
or more fabric materials. In certain embodiments, flexible member
210 is formed from cotton. In certain embodiments, flexible member
210 is formed from canvas. In certain embodiments, flexible member
210 is formed from plastic. In certain embodiments, flexible member
210 is formed from metal.
[0021] In certain embodiments, flexible member 210 comprises a
length between about 5 inches and about 6.5 inches. In certain
embodiments, flexible member 210 has a width between about 0.5
inches and about 1.5 inches. In certain embodiments, flexible
member 210 has a thickness between about 0.1 inches and about 0.25
inches.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2A, first closure
means 220 is disposed on first surface 212 adjacent first end 216,
and second closure means 230 is disposed on second surface 214
adjacent second end 218.
[0023] In certain embodiments, first closure means 220 comprises a
plurality of "hook" type fasteners, and second closure means 230
comprises a plurality of "loop" type fasteners, wherein the
plurality of hook type fasteners 220 can be releaseably attached to
the plurality of loop type fasteners 230. In other embodiments,
first closure means 220 comprises a snap and second closure means
230 comprises a snap receiver, wherein snap 220 can be releaseably
attached to snap receiver 230.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2B, embodiment 205 of Applicant's
apparatus comprises the elements of embodiment 200 in combination
with third closure means 240. In certain embodiments, third closure
means 240 comprises a plurality of hoop type fasteners. In certain
embodiments, third closure means 240 comprises a plurality of loop
type fasteners. In certain embodiments, third closure means 240
comprises a snap. In certain embodiments, third closure means 240
comprises a snap receiver.
[0025] Applicant's invention includes a method to releaseably
secure belt portion 120 to belt portion 130 using apparatus. In
step 610, the method provides a pair of pants, a belt such as belt
100, and Applicant's releasable fixturing apparatus, such as
apparatus 200 or 205.
[0026] In step 620, the user dons the pants and comfortably secures
the belt around his/her waist. In certain embodiments and referring
to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in step 630, the user places member 210 between
belt portion 130 and pants exterior 310, such that first closure
means 220 faces inwardly and such that second closure means 230
faces outwardly. First end 216 is then moved upwardly to cover both
belt portion 120 and belt portion 130.
[0027] In step 640 and referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5A, second end
218 of apparatus 200 is moved downwardly to cover both belt portion
120 and belt portion 130, such that second closure means 230 is
releaseably attached to first closure means 220. In the illustrated
embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5A, belt portion 120 is aligned with,
and releaseably attached to, belt portion 130, such that belt
portion 120 no longer droops downwardly from buckle device 110.
[0028] In step 640, the user determines whether to attach a
portable device to Applicant's fixturing apparatus 205 as shown in
FIG. 5A. If the user elects in step 650 not to releaseably attach a
portable device to Applicant's fixturing apparatus 205, then the
method transitions from step 650 to step 670 and ends.
[0029] Alternatively, If the user elects in step 650 to releaseably
attach a portable device to Applicant's fixturing apparatus 205,
then the method transitions from step 650 to step 660 wherein the
user releaseably attaches a portable device to the third
attachments of fixturing apparatus 205. In the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 5A, third closure means 240 faces outwardly from
pants 310. Referring now to FIG. 5B, portable assembly 500
comprises front side 502, rear side 504, and fourth closure means
510 disposed on rear side 504. In the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 5B, fourth closure means 510 is releaseably attached to third
closure means 240. In certain embodiments, portable assembly 500
comprises a cellular telephone. In certain embodiments, portable
assembly 500 comprises an Internet communication device, such as
and without limitation a BLACKBERRY device. In certain embodiments,
portable assembly 500 comprises an MP3 music player, such as and
without limitation an IPOD device.
[0030] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that
modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *