U.S. patent application number 16/857025 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-28 for sports accessory belt.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas Malone. Invention is credited to Thomas Malone.
Application Number | 20210330064 16/857025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004873405 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210330064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malone; Thomas |
October 28, 2021 |
Sports Accessory Belt
Abstract
A sports accessory belt having a belt strip having an attachment
mechanism and a base strip, and a hem, wherein an interior surface
of the attachment mechanism is connected to an exterior surface of
the base strip.
Inventors: |
Malone; Thomas; (Brooklyn,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Malone; Thomas |
Brooklyn |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004873405 |
Appl. No.: |
16/857025 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/06 20130101; A45F
5/021 20130101; A41F 9/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/02 20060101
A45F005/02; A45F 5/06 20060101 A45F005/06; A41F 9/00 20060101
A41F009/00 |
Claims
1. A sports accessory belt comprising: a belt strip comprising an
attachment mechanism and a base strip, and a hem, wherein an
interior surface of the attachment mechanism is connected to an
exterior surface of the base strip.
2. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 wherein the attachment
mechanism is a continuous piece of material extending substantially
the full length of the base strip.
3. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 wherein the attachment
mechanism is a hook or loop mechanism.
4. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 wherein the hem is
continuously integrated with the base strip.
5. The sports accessory belt of claim 4 wherein the hem extends
from the base strip, wraps around a perimeter edge of the
attachment mechanism, and attaches to the attachment mechanism.
6. The sports accessory belt of claim 5 wherein the interior
surface of the hem touches the exterior surface of the attachment
mechanism.
7. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 wherein the hem wraps
around a perimeter edge of the belt strip.
8. The sports accessory belt of claim 7 wherein a first portion of
an the interior surface of the hem touches an exterior surface of
the attachment mechanism and a second portion of an interior
surface of the hem touches an exterior surface of the base
strip.
9. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 wherein a portion of the
attachment mechanism is positioned between the base strip and the
hem.
10. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 further comprising a
cavity.
11. The sports accessory belt of claim 10 wherein the cavity
extends substantially the entire length of the belt strip.
12. The sports accessory belt of claim 10 wherein the cavity is
configured to receive the complete thickness of the flap of the
glove, so that the top surface of the glove flap is at an even
level or recessed below the exterior surface of the hem.
13. The sports accessory belt of claim 10 further comprising a
second hem, wherein the cavity is defined by the first hem, the
second hem, and the attachment mechanism.
14. The sports accessory belt of claim 1 further comprising a
securing mechanism.
15. The sports accessory belt of claim 14 wherein the securing
mechanism passes through the base strip and the attachment
mechanism.
16. The sports accessory belt of claim 15 wherein the securing
mechanism passes through the hem.
17. The sports accessory belt of claim 16 wherein the hem comprises
a first hem portion and a second hem portion and wherein the
securing mechanism passes through the first hem portion and the
second hem portion.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Golf is an extremely popular sport in the United States and
in other countries throughout the world. A golfer uses a golf club
to strike a golf ball in order to move the golf ball toward a hole.
A golfer often utilizes a golf glove to protect the hand from
injury and allow the golfer to secure a tight grip on the golf
club. The golfer will often remove the golf glove for comfort while
in transition to the next shot or while putting. Golfers must
transport their golf equipment around the golf course as they play
the game. Typically the golfer places golf clubs in a golf bag,
however, typically smaller items, such as a golf glove, are not
placed in a golf bag so the golfer can easily access the golf glove
without spending needless time accessing the golf bag in search for
the golf glove. Golfers often place their golf glove in the pocket
of their pants. This, too, is undesirable as the golf glove will
often fall out or interfere with the golfer's ability to play
golf.
[0002] There is thus a need to provide golfers with a device that
will allow a golf glove to be secured to the golfer's body in a
manner that reduces the likelihood of the glove from easily being
detached from the device as a result of the glove snagging or
catching on an object, such as a tree branch, or the golfer's club
or hands while swinging a golf club.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present disclosure pertains to a sports accessory belt
having a belt strip having an attachment mechanism and a base
strip, and a hem, wherein an interior surface of the attachment
mechanism is connected to an exterior surface of the base strip.
Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein
the attachment mechanism is a continuous piece of material
extending substantially the full length of the base strip. Another
aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein the
attachment mechanism is a hook or loop mechanism.
[0004] Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt
wherein the hem is continuously integrated with the base strip.
Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein
the hem extends from the base strip, wraps around a perimeter edge
of the attachment mechanism, and attaches to the attachment
mechanism. Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory
belt wherein the interior surface of the hem touches the exterior
surface of the attachment mechanism. Another aspect of the
disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein the hem wraps around
a perimeter edge of the belt strip. Another aspect of the
disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein a first portion of an
the interior surface of the hem touches an exterior surface of the
attachment mechanism and a second portion of an interior surface of
the hem touches an exterior surface of the base strip. Another
aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein a
portion of the attachment mechanism is positioned between the base
strip and the hem.
[0005] Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt
having a cavity. Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports
accessory belt wherein the cavity extends substantially the entire
length of the belt strip. Another aspect of the disclosure is a
sports accessory belt wherein the cavity is configured to receive
the complete thickness of the flap of the glove, so that the top
surface of the glove flap is at an even level or recessed below the
exterior surface of the hem. Another aspect of the disclosure is a
sports accessory belt having a second hem, wherein the cavity is
defined by the first hem, the second hem, and the attachment
mechanism.
[0006] Another aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt
wherein having a securing mechanism. Another aspect of the
disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein securing mechanism
passes through the base strip and the attachment mechanism. Another
aspect of the disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein the
securing mechanism passes through the hem. Another aspect of the
disclosure is a sports accessory belt wherein the hem comprises a
first hem portion and a second hem portion and wherein the securing
mechanism passes through the first hem portion and the second hem
portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of
the present invention and together with the description, further
serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a
person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or
functionally similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the
invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be
readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference
to the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a sport accessory belt
according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments
may be utilized and that structural or logical changes may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. The
following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined
by the appended claims.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the present disclosure pertains to
sports accessory belt 10 configured to attach sports accessories
12, for example, without limitation, a sports glove such as a golf
glove, baseball batting glove, or the like, to the belt 10. The
belt 10 is configured to be disposed around the waist of an athlete
where the interior surface 11 of the belt 10 touches the athlete.
As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the belt 10 can have a belt strip 20 having
a base strip 30 and an attachment mechanism 40.
[0019] The attachment mechanism 40 is configured to secure a sports
accessory 12 to the belt strip 20. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the
interior surface 42 of the attachment mechanism 40 can be connected
to and/or touch the exterior surface 32 of the base strip 30. In
one embodiment, the attachment mechanism 40 can be a continuous
piece of material extending substantially the full length of the
base strip 30. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the belt
strip 20 can have more than one attachment mechanism 40 of desired
lengths and positioned at desired locations on the base strip 30.
The multiple attachment mechanisms 40 can be disposed apart from
one another at predetermined intervals on the base strip 30.
[0020] The attachment mechanism 40 can be any means for releasably
attaching a sports accessory 12 to the belt strip 20, for example,
without limitation, the attachment mechanism 40 can be a hook and
loop mechanism. In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism 40 can
be a hook or loop mechanism, for example, without limitation, the
attachment mechanism 40 can be the hook member or the loop member
of a hook and loop mechanism. Most sports gloves 12 close using a
hook and loop material having two closing flaps, a hook flap (not
shown) and a loop flap 14, where the hook flap has hook material
and the loop flap 14 has loop material. Thus, where the attachment
mechanism 40 has hook material, the sports glove 12 can attach to
the belt by securing the loop flap 14 to the attachment mechanism
40, and where the attachment mechanism 40 has loop material, the
sports glove 12 can attach to the belt 10 by securing the hook flap
to the attachment mechanism 40.
[0021] The base strip 30 can have an interior surface 34 and an
exterior surface 32. The base strip 30 can be made of any suitable
material for a belt strip 20, for example, leather, fabric,
plastic, synthetic material, composite material, or the like.
[0022] In one embodiment, the belt 10 can have at least one hem 50
configured to secure the attachment mechanism 40 to the base strip
30. The hem 50 can have an exterior surface 52 and an interior
surface. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the hem 50 is a
continuous piece integrated with the base strip 30. In one
embodiment, the hem 50 can be created by folding a portion of the
base strip 30 around a perimeter edge of the attachment mechanism
40 so the interior surface of the hem 50 touches the exterior
surface 44 of the attachment mechanism 40 and/or the interior
surface 32 of the base strip 30. In one embodiment, a portion of
the attachment mechanism 40 is positioned between the base strip 30
and the hem portion 50 of the base strip 30. Upon the attachment
mechanism 40 being secured to the base strip 30 by the securing
mechanism 60, the attachment mechanism 40 is pinched between the
base strip 30 and the hem 50. This, and other similar engagements
described herein, allow for the attachment mechanism 40 to be more
firmly secured to the base strip 30 thereby allowing for a
resilient engagement more impervious against the forces pulling the
attachment mechanism 40 away from the base strip 30 as a result of
the repeated disengagement of the sports glove 12 from the
attachment mechanism 40. This is because the hem 50 receives some
of the detachment force thereby preventing the securing mechanism
60 from receiving all of the detachment force. The hem 50 can
extend a portion of a perimeter edge of the attachment mechanism
40, substantially the entire length of a perimeter edge of the
attachment mechanism 40, or the entire perimeter of the attachment
mechanism 40. In one embodiment, the belt strip 20 can have two
hems 50, where a first hem 50a is positioned along a first
longitudinal perimeter edge of the attachment mechanism 40 and a
second hem 50b is positioned along a second longitudinal perimeter
edge of the attachment mechanism 40.
[0023] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the hem 50 can be an
additional piece of material, separate from the base strip 30,
where the hem 50 piece is folded around a perimeter edge of the
belt strip 20. In one embodiment, the hem 50 can have a top hem
portion 56 and a bottom hem portion 58. The hem 50 can be secured
to the belt strip 20 by the bottom hem portion 58 being secured to
the exterior surface 34 of the base strip 30, the hem 50 wrapping
around the perimeter of the belt strip 20, and the top hem portion
56 being secured to the exterior surface of the attachment
mechanism 40. More specifically, the interior surface of the top
hem portion 56 touches the exterior surface 44 of the attachment
mechanism 40 and the interior surface of the bottom hem portion 58
touches the exterior surface 34 of the base strip 30.
[0024] In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism 40 is recessed
below the hem 50. In one embodiment, the exterior surface 44 of the
attachment mechanism 40 is recessed below the exterior surface 52
of the hem 50 thereby creating a cavity 70 defined by a first hem
50a, second hem 50b, and attachment mechanism 40. For example,
without limitation, where the attachment mechanism 40 is the hook
portion of the hook and loop attachment mechanism 40, the top of
the hooks on the exterior surface 44 of the attachment mechanism 40
can be positioned below the exterior surface 56a,b of the hem 50.
The cavity 70 is configured such that the cavity 70 is sufficiently
deep to completely receive a glove flap 14 of a sport glove 12 or
the thickness of a glove flap 14 of the sports glove 12 so that,
upon a glove flap 14 connecting to the attachment mechanism 40, the
exterior surface 16 of the glove flap is at least at an even level
or recessed below an exterior surface 52a,b of the hem 50. This
reduces the likelihood of the glove flap 14 catching or snagging on
an object and inadvertently being stripped off the belt 10. In one
embodiment, the cavity 70 can extend substantially the entire
length of the belt strip 20.
[0025] In one embodiment, the belt strip 20 can have a securing
mechanism 60 for securing the attachment mechanism 40 to the base
strip 30. The securing mechanism 60 can secure the attachment
mechanism 40 to the base strip 30 and/or to the hem 50 by way of
adhering the attachment mechanism 40 utilizing adhesive, sewing the
attachment mechanism 40 utilizing thread, or the like. In one
embodiment, where the securing mechanism 60 is thread, the securing
mechanism 60 is sewn through the hem 50, the attachment mechanism
40, the base strip 30, or any combination thereof, thereby securing
the attachment mechanism 40 to the base strip 30 by threading the
attachment mechanism 40 to the base strip 30 and cinching the
attachment mechanism 40 between the hem 50 and the base strip 30.
In one embodiment, where the securing mechanism 60 is thread, the
securing mechanism 60 is sewn through the attachment mechanism 40
and the base strip 30, thereby securing the attachment mechanism 40
to the base strip 30.
[0026] In one embodiment, the belt can have a buckle 18 engaged to
a first end 22 of the belt strip 20 and a tongue portion 19
incorporated into the second end of the belt strip 20. The tongue
portion 19 can have a plurality (e.g., four or five) of holes
spaced apart in a line or row along the belt strip 20 configured to
receive a prong of the buckle 18, can have rivets configured to be
received by a ratcheting mechanism of the buckle 18, or the
like.
[0027] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly
stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"includes," "comprises," "including" and/or "comprising," when used
in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is
referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element,
it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or
intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
[0028] The foregoing has described the principles, embodiments, and
modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention
should not be construed as being limited to the particular
embodiments described above, as they should be regarded as being
illustrative and not as restrictive. It should be appreciated that
variations may be made in those embodiments by those skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0029] Modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be
understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *