U.S. patent application number 13/183743 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for magnetic closure fashion belt.
Invention is credited to Colette Gartner Cosky.
Application Number | 20120180197 13/183743 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46489561 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120180197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cosky; Colette Gartner |
July 19, 2012 |
MAGNETIC CLOSURE FASHION BELT
Abstract
Provided is a fashion belt including a magnetic retention
feature adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like
configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. The strap
of the belt includes a plurality of magnets embedded therein. The
magnets are positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be
magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof
through the magnetic interaction between the magnets.
Inventors: |
Cosky; Colette Gartner; (San
Diego, CA) |
Family ID: |
46489561 |
Appl. No.: |
13/183743 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61364908 |
Jul 16, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F 1/002 20130101;
A41F 9/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/338 |
International
Class: |
A41F 9/00 20060101
A41F009/00 |
Claims
1. A belt comprising: an elongate strap defining a first end
portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion
disposed between the first and second end portions; a first
magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end
portion; and a second magnetic element disposed within the central
portion of the strap; the first end portion of the strap being
magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the
first and second magnetic elements.
2. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element
includes a plurality of magnets.
3. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein the magnets are separated
from each other at substantially equidistantly spaced
intervals.
4. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein each magnet has a generally
circular configuration.
5. The belt recited in claim 1, further comprising a buckle
connected to the second end portion of the strap.
6. The belt recited in claim 5, wherein: the strap includes a
plurality of apertures formed adjacent the first end portion, the
apertures being disposed in spaced relation to each other; and the
buckle includes a frame member and a stem pivotally connected to
the frame member, the stem being configured to be selectively
advanceable through one of the plurality of apertures.
7. The belt recited in claim 6, wherein the first end portion
terminates at a distal end, the first magnetic element being
disposed between the plurality of apertures and the distal end.
8. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element
comprises an elongate magnetic strip.
9. The belt recited in claim 8, wherein the magnetic strip has a
generally quadrangular configuration.
10. The belt recited in claim 9, wherein the first magnetic element
is flexible.
11. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic
element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the
strap.
12. The belt recited in claim 11, wherein the magnetic slider is
slidably positionable along the length of the strap.
13. A belt comprising: an elongate strap defining a first end
portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion
disposed between the first and second end portions; a first
magnetic element connected to the strap adjacent the first end
portion; and a second magnetic element connected to the central
portion of the strap; the first end portion of the strap being
magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the
first and second magnetic elements.
14. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic
element includes a plurality of magnets.
15. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic
element comprises an elongate magnetic strip.
16. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic
element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the
strap.
17. A belt configured to be worn around the midsection of a wearer,
the belt comprising: a strap defining a first end portion defining
a distal end, an opposed second end portion and a central portion
disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion;
and a buckle connected to the second end portion; the first end
portion being advanceable through the buckle and engeable therewith
to define a closed loop about the wearer, the segment of the first
end portion disposed between the buckle and the distal end being
magnetically attractable to the central portion.
18. The belt recited in claim 17, further comprising: a first
magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end
portion; and a second magnetic element disposed within the central
portion of the strap;
19. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic
element comprises a plurality of magnets.
20. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic
element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/364,908, filed Jul. 16, 2010.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Technical Field
[0004] The present invention relates generally to wearing apparel
and, more particularly, to a new and improved fashion belt which
includes a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to
maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration without a
dangling end portion.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Belts have been a staple part of men's and women's wearing
apparel for many, many years. A belt is a flexible band or strap
typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worm around the
waist. Typically, the belt supports trousers or other articles of
clothing, and also serves for style and decoration.
[0007] In most currently known belts, one end portion of the
elongate strap is provided with a plurality of circularly
configured apertures disposed therein, the apertures being
separated from each other at prescribed intervals, often about one
inch. Operatively secured to the opposed end portion of the strap
is a buckle. A commonly configured buckle comprises a frame member
which is of a prescribed shape and includes an elongate stem
pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof.
[0008] In using the buckle to secure the opposed end portions of
the strap to each other, the end portion of the strap having the
apertures disposed therein is advanced through the interior of the
frame member, with the stem being manipulated so as to be inserted
into and through a corresponding one of the apertures. Typically,
the length of the strap is such that even upon the advancement of
the stem portion into one of the apertures, a segment of the end
portion including the apertures extends beyond the buckle, and is
thus susceptible to dangling or flapping since it is not otherwise
secured to the remainder of the strap. To prevent such dangling or
flapping, a typical practice is to advance such excess segment of
the end portion of the strap through a belt loop. However, when the
belt is worn with garments not having a belt loop positioned to
accommodate such excess segment, another common practice is for the
user to secure such segment to the remainder of the belt through
the use of, for example, double-stick tape, or to complete an
unsightly tuck of such segment into the garment to prevent the
unsightly flapping or dangling described above.
[0009] The present invention provides a solution to belts including
flapping or dangling end portions when worn by a wearer by
providing a belt which is outfitted with a magnetic retention
feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular,
hoop-like configuration without a dangling end portion. These, as
well as other features and advantages of the present invention will
be described in more detail below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
multiple embodiments of a fashion belt which includes a magnetic
retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a
circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling
end portion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the strap
of the belt includes a plurality of circularly configured magnets
embedded therein in a prescribed arrangement, the magnets being
positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically
secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the
magnetic interaction between a prescribed pair of the magnets. In
another embodiment of the present invention, certain ones of the
circularly configured magnets are substituted with an elongate
magnetic plate or strip which is integrated into a cental portion
of the strap as allows a stand alone magnet within and end portion
of the strap to be magnetically coupled thereto. In yet another
embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip is
substituted with an adjustable magnetic slider which is operatively
positionable along the length of the strap so as to allow a stand
alone magnet within and end portion of the strap to be magnetically
coupled thereto.
[0011] The present invention is best understood by reference to the
following detailed description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These, as well as other features of the present invention,
will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art belt in an extended
state;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a belt including a magnetic
closure constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure
constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure
constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings
and detailed description to indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for
purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present
invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1
depicts a conventional, prior art belt 1. The belt 1 comprises an
elongate strap 2 which defines opposed first and second end
portions 3, 4, respectively. Disposed within the first end portion
3 is a plurality of circularly configured apertures 5 which are
separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly spaced
intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected to the
second end portion 4 is a buckle 6 of the belt 1. The buckle 6
includes a peripheral frame member 7 having an elongate stem 8
pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof. As explained
above, in the normal use of the belt 1 upon a wearer, the first end
portion 3 is advanced through the interior of the frame member 7 of
the buckle 6, with the stem 8 thereafter being advanced into and
through a corresponding one of the apertures 5. However, that
segment of the first end portion 3 extending between the aperture 5
through which the stem 8 is advanced and a distal end 9 of the
strap 2 defined by the first end portion 3 is unsecured, and thus
free to dangle when the belt 1 is in use on the wearer.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a belt 10
constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention. Like the prior art belt 1, the belt 10 comprises an
elongate strap 12 which defines opposed first and second end
portions 13, 14, respectively. Disposed within the first end
portion 13 is a plurality of circularly configured apertures 15
which are separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly
spaced intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected
to the second end portion 14 is a buckle 16 of the belt 10 which is
identically configured to the buckle 6. In this regard, the buckle
16 includes a peripheral frame member 17 having an elongate stem 18
pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof.
[0020] The belt 10 further comprises a plurality of magnets 20
which are embedded in prescribed locations within in the interior
of the strap 12. More particularly, as seen in FIG. 2, three (3)
magnets 20 are embedded in a central portion 11 of the strap 12
between the first and second end portions 13, 14 thereof. An
additional, single magnet 20 is embedded in the first end portion
13 of the strap 12 in a location between the apertures 15 and a
distal end 19 of the strap 12 defined by the first end portion 13
thereof. In the belt 10, each of the magnets 20 preferably has a
generally circular configuration, though the present invention is
not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the magnets
20.
[0021] In the normal use of the belt 10 upon a wearer, the first
end portion 13 is advanced through the interior of the frame member
17 of the buckle 16, with the stem 18 thereafter being advanced
into and through a corresponding one of the apertures 15. When the
belt 10 is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end
portion 13 extending between the aperture 15 through which the stem
18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of the strap 12, which would
normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the
remainder of the strap 12. More particularly, the magnet 20
embedded within the first end portion 13 is magnetically engageable
to any one of the magnets 20 embedded in the central portion 11 of
the strap 12.
[0022] Though three (3) magnets 20 are shown in FIG. 2 as being
embedded in the central portion 11 of the strap 12, those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that greater or fewer than
three magnets 20 may be embedded in the central portion 11 without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Along
these lines, though the magnets 20 embedded in the central portion
11 are also shown in FIG. 2 as being separated from each other at
equidistantly spaced intervals, it is also contemplated that such
spacing may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present invention. It is further contemplated that the belt
10, and in particular the number, spacing and positioning of the
magnets 20 within the central portion 11 of the strap 12, will be
selected so that the magnet 20 within the first end portion 13 may
be easily aligned with a corresponding one of the magnets 20 in the
central portion 11 when the belt 10 is used on a wearer.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a belt 100
constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention. The belt 100 of the second embodiment bears substantial
structural similarity to the belt 10 of the first embodiment, with
only the distinctions between the belts 100, 10 being described
below.
[0024] The sole distinction between the belts 100, 10 lies in the
three magnets 20 disposed in the central portion 11 of the strap 12
of the belt 10 being substituted with an elongate magnetic strip
102 in the belt 100. Thus, the strip 102 is also disposed in a
prescribed location within the central portion 11 of the strap 12.
When the belt 100 is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first
end portion 13 extending between the aperture 15 through which the
stem 18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of the strap 12, which
would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the
remainder of the strap 12. More particularly, the magnet 20
embedded within the first end portion 13 is magnetically engageable
to the strip 102 embedded in the central portion 11 of the strap
12.
[0025] Though the strip 102 is shown in FIG. 3 as having a
generally quadrangular (e.g., rectangular) configuration, those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention
is not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the strip
102. Additionally, it is contemplated that the strip 102 will
fabricated to be of a thickness which imparts at least some measure
of bendability or pliability thereto. Still further, the length of
the strip 102 relative to the strap 12 as shown in FIG. 3 is
intended to be exemplary only, in that the length of the strip 102
may be selectively increased or decreased from that shown in FIG. 3
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a belt 200
constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention. The belt 200 of the third embodiment also bears
substantial structural similarity to the belt 10 of the first
embodiment, with only the distinctions between the belts 200, 10
being described below.
[0027] The sole distinction between the belts 200, 10 lies in the
three magnets 20 disposed in the central portion 11 of the strap 12
of the belt 10 being substituted with an magnetic slider 202 in the
belt 200. In the belt 200, the slider 202 is movably mounted to the
strap 12, and selectively, slidably positionable along the length
of the strap 12. When the belt 200 is in use on a wearer, that
segment of the first end portion 13 extending between the aperture
15 through which the stem 18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of
the strap 12, which would normally be free to dangle, is
magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap 12. More
particularly, the magnet 20 embedded within the first end portion
13 is magnetically engageable to the slider 202 after the same has
been moved to a location on the central portion 11 of the strap 12
by the wearer which effectively aligns the slider 202 with the
magnet 20.
[0028] In each embodiment of the present invention, it is
contemplated that the strap 12 will be fabricated from two layer of
a pliable material which are secured to other, with the magnets 20
alone or in combination with the strip 102 being captured between
such layers. Along these lines, it is also contemplated that in
each of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, an
additional layer of a pliable, non-magnetic material may be
interposed between the magnets 20 and that layer of the strap 20
which will normally be outwardly presented on the wearer so as to
prevent any inadvertent magnetic attraction between the magnets 20
and an external metal object. This objective could also potentially
be accomplished by making the outwardly presented layer of the
strap 20 of sufficient thickness to prevent such magnetic
attraction.
[0029] This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the
present invention. The scope of the present invention is not
limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations,
whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by
the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type
of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of
skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
* * * * *