AU2007100855A4 - Waistband extender - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent

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iO in oo 0 Applicant: Ms Camilla Cavarra Invention Title: WAISTBAND EXTENDER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2- 8 WAISTBAND EXTENDER c-, SField of the Disclosure The disclosure relates to girth extenders for clothing, particularly to extenders for extending the girth of clothing so that a wearer can fit the clothing.

t Background of the Disclosure 00 SA wide variety of garments are designed so that the portion encircling the wearer's waist Sor hips fits snugly. In articles such as jeans, skirts, trousers and similar lower body garments, the upper region of the garment is generally provided with an opening for allowing the garment to be pulled on at a loose fit and closed to a close fit, securing the garment on the wearer. However, difficulties can arise due to body dimension variations both from person to person in the general population and for a given person temporary changes in their girth. In particular, during early pregnancy the girth of the waist has increased so that a user's normal garments do not readily fasten.

Various adjustment or extension features have been devised previously. However, these adjustments or extenders are frequently too large for the early term pregnancy and further these extenders change the appearance of the garment significantly owning to providing the garment with a new panel and new visible fastening means. This can render the garment distasteful to the wearer.

Summary of the Disclosure An extender for extending the waist girth of a garment having an opening at its waist, the extender comprising two end sections having a connection element positioned on each end section, and an intermediate section located between the two end sections, the extender being adapted such that in use the extender is folded allowing the two end sections to engage with the garment at one side of the opening while the intermediate section engages with the garment at the other side of the opening.

It can be seen that this arrangement allows for a user to extend the distance across the opening in their garment and wear the garment during pregnancy or despite weight gain.

-3- O The extender can be worn with any garment with a fastening device and utilises the Sgarment's own fastening device to provide a finished appearance.

e( In one form the intermediate section is flexible and is adapted to be threaded through a first fastening element already present on the garment. In one form the first fastening element is a button hole or loop.

00 SIn one form the connection elements on the ends are adapted to engage with a second fastening element already present on the garment. In one form the second fastening element is a button and the connection elements are buttonholes.

In one form the extender is composed of an elastomeric fabric.

In one form the intermediate section is narrower than the end sections.

The shape and fabric of this form of the extender allows it to be threaded through a buttonhole, loop or other fastener allowing the extender to be fastened to the garment at one side using the button or hook while engaging the other side through threading.

Brief Description of the Drawings It is convenient to describe the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the particularity of the drawings and their related description is to be understood as not limiting the preceding broad description.

Figure 1 is a simple plan view of the one embodiment of the extender; Figure 2 is a simple plan view of the extender of figure 1 being positioned; Figure 3 is a simple plan view of the extender of figure 1 in use.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Referring to the figures, disclosed is a girth extender 1 which is adapted to be positioned to extend the waist girth of a garment 2 having an opening at its waist. The extender is composed of fabric, and in one form is composed of an elastomeric fabric such as elasticised fabric strip.

The extender 1 includes two end sections 3 and 4. Each end section has a connection Selement 5 and 6 positioned on the end section. The connection elements 5 and 6 are a button hole in the embodiment described. In alternate embodiments the connection elements may be a loop or hook or other connection device. In the embodiment shown in the figures the connection elements 5 and 6 are adapted to be positioned over a button 7 which is positioned on the garment 2.

00 The extender 1 includes an intermediate section 9 which is located between the two end sections 3 and 4. The intermediate section 9 is narrowed when compared with the end N sections 3 and 4. Alternatively the intermediate section could be compressible or twistable.

The extender is designed so that in use one connection 5 is positioned over button 7 and the extender is threaded through button hole 8 in the garment 2. The second connection element 6 is then buttoned over button 7 so that the intermediate section remains threaded through the button hole 8 of the garment 2 while the connection elements and 6 are both engaged with the garment 2 at button 7.

The design of the extender 7 is discrete so that it can be worn by people who may have gained weight or be attempting to lose weight or by women who are pregnant without being significantly noticeable. The extender 1 provides additional centimetres between connection element 5 and intermediate section 9. This makes a persons usual garments fit. The elastic nature of the fabric of the extender 1 also allows for a certain amount of give in the extender. Further, it can be seen that the button 7 that is usually shown on the pants is still visible when using the extender. This allows for pants with particular style of button to be used without featuring a foreign button that is not usually shown on those pants. As a result, the extender can be used on a wide variety of pants.

While the extender has been described in relation to a button and button hole system, a similar extender could be used for a loop and hook system when the intermediate section threads through a loop on the garment and the connection elements 5 and 6 are adapted to be connected to a hook or other connection device. Further, while the O extender has been described with a narrow intermediate section, this section could c merely be flexible or compressible in order to be threaded through a button hole or loop.

In another form the extender could comprise a double loop with an interior section Vj) where the loops engage.

The detailed description should be not considered to limit the scope of the claims and Sbroad description.

00 SIt is to be understood that a reference herein to a prior art document does not constitute an admission that the document forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (6)

1. 2. A girth extender as defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate section is adapted to be threaded through a first fastening element already present on the garment.
2. 3. A girth extender as defined in claim 2 wherein the first fastening element is a button hole or loop.
3. 4. A girth extender as defined in any of the preceding claims wherein the connection elements are adapted to engage with a second fastening element already present on the garment. A girth extender as defined in claim 4 wherein the second fastening element is a button.
4. 6. A girth extender as defined in any of the preceding claims wherein the connection elements are buttonholes.
5. 7. A girth extender as defined in any of the preceding claims wherein at least a portion of the extender is composed of an elastomeric fabric.
6. 8. A girth extender as defined in any of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate section is narrower than the end sections.