CA2628992C

CA2628992C - Martial arts belt

Info

Publication number: CA2628992C
Application number: CA2628992A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Michel Goyette
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2008-04-14
Publication date: 2016-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-14
Also published as: CA2628992A1

Abstract

A martial arts belt comprising first, second and third belt elements, the first and second belt elements consisting of elongated strips of belt material tied together at one end into a permanent knot, their opposite free ends being provided with cooperating strips of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to be releasably engaged when the free ends overlap around a wearer's waist. One of the said free ends being provided with foldable tabs adapted to fold over and releasably engage the other free end. The third belt element consisting of an elongated strip of belt material permanently fixed to the first and second belt elements and within the knot.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
MARTIAL ARTS BELT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to martial arts belts. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with martial arts belts having a pre-tied knot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Martial arts are combat sports practiced recreationally and competitively throughout the world. Most martial arts such as judo and karate are practiced with a traditional jacket and belt. The belt is called an obi and has great symbolic value. The belt also serves the practical purpose of securing the jacket during use. The belts are color coded to establish the level of expertise of the martial artist.

[0003] The standard belt generally consists of a length of stitched cotton fabric. According to tradition, the belt must be wrapped twice around the wearer's waist and tied in front in a particular way.

[0004] Since martial arts are taught from an early age, tying belts is often a struggle for children. As a result, much of the instructor's time is spent re-tying loosened belts or teaching belt tying, instead of teaching the martial arts.

[0005] To surmount this problem, prior inventors have disclosed martial arts belts with pre-tied knots. One such belt is disclosed in US Patent 6,532,600 to Brignoli.
The belt is provided in two parts. A first part is in the form of a standard length of stitched fabric which is twice wrapped around the waist of its wearer and, instead of being tied by a knot, the loose ends are secured in overlapping arrangement by hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro brand fasteners. The second part is in the form of a detachable pre-tied knot having the apparence of a traditional knot.
This second part is secured to the first part also in overlapping arrangement by hook and loop fastening means. One drawback of such arrangement is that the knot portion may come undone during combat.

[0006] US Patent 6,996,855 also discloses a martial arts belt having a traditional appearance. The belt has a pre-tied frontal knot that is stitched or glued in place. The belt opens from the back since it is provided with ends capable of overlapping and fastening by hook and loop fastening strips. One drawback of such arrangement is that during combat or because of repeated use, the hook and loop strips may easily come undone with the result that the belt no longer serves its function.

[0007] US Patent 5,539,933 entitled "Belt with Tying Strap" is directed to a martial arts belt having a waist portion secured with Velcro . The front of the belt is provided with a length of stitched fabric which can be knotted by the user.
Thus, the belt does not feature of permanently tied knot. The midportion of the length of stitched fabric is permanently secured to the belt thereby leaving loose ends on either side of the midportion. The loosed ends can be knotted together by the user.

[0008] US published patent application 2006/0282933 entitled "Easy to Don and Secure Martial Arts Uniform" describes a jacket tied with Velcro and a belt with a pre-tied knot, also tied with Velcro . This belt suffers from the same drawbacks as the belt described in US Patent 6,996,855 discussed above.

[0009] Thus, there remains the need for a martial arts belt that overcomes the previous difficulties of the prior art. More specifically, there is a need for a martial arts belt that bears the appearance of a traditional belt, is easily secured to a wearer and will not easily come undone during combat or because of repeated use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] More specifically the present invention provides a martial arts belt comprising first, second and third belt elements, the first and second belt elements consisting of elongated strips of belt material tied together at one end into a permanent knot, their opposite free ends being provided with cooperating strips of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to be releasably engaged when the free ends overlap around a wearer's waist. One of the said free ends being provided with at least one foldable tab adapted to fold over and releasably engage the other free end.
The third belt element consisting of an elongated strip of belt material permanently fixed to the first and second belt elements and within the knot.

[0011] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the appended drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a martial arts belt in accordance with the present invention illustrated in open configuration and showing a given side of one belt portion;

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view the martial arts belt of Figure 1, showing the other side of the same belt portion;

[0015] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the martial arts belt of Figures 1 and 2 shown in closed configuration with securing tabs in open configuration;

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the martial arts belt of Figures 1-3 shown in closed configuration with securing tabs in closed configuration; and

[0017] Figure 5 is a partial side elevation view of the martial arts belt of Figure 4.

[0018]
Figures 6 and 7 are partial side elevation views of alternate embodiments of the martial arts belt of Figure 5.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following illustrative embodiments.

[0020]
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a martial arts belt generally designated by numeral 10. Belt 10 is conveniently made of stitched cotton as per traditional martial arts belt. Belt 10 provided with a pre-tied knot generally designated by numeral 12. Knot 12 is preferably stitched in place or glued in place so that it remains permanently tied. Knot 12 extends into free ends, generally designated by numeral 14 giving it a traditional appearance. The exact pattern of knot can vary according to accepted traditional practice. These patterns are known to those of skill in the art and are included in the present invention.

[0021]
Belt 10 is made of three strips of stitched cotton, designated by numerals 16, 18 and 20. Strip 16 is sufficiently long to be worn around the waist of its wearer and to form part of knot 12 and free end 14. Strip 20 is also sufficiently long to be worn around the waist of its wearer. Strip 18 is relatively shorter than strips 16 and 20 and is permanently stitched or glued to strips 16 and 20. In this arrangement, knot 12 will not become undone during combat.

[0022]
Referring to strip 20, there is provided on its outer surface (the surface facing away from the waist of its wearer) a band of loop fastening elements 24.
Cooperating hook fastening elements 22 are provided on inner surface of strip 16. The hook and loop fastening elements used in the present invention will conveniently be Velcro type fasteners although other brands or types of releasable fasteners may be used.

[0023] In use, the wearer will secure belt 10 around his or her waist by overlapping strip 16 on strip 20. The hook and loop fastening elements 22 and

24 meet, thereby securing the belt.
[0024]
Belt 10 is adjustable to snugly fit the wearer's waist because hook and loop fastening elements 22 and 24 can meet at various locations.

[0025]
Referring to strip 16, there is provided on its outer surface, a plurality of securing tabs 26. Each tab 26 is provided with hook type fasteners 28 on their inner surface.

[0026]
Referring to Figure 2, the inner surface of strip 20 is shown. This inner surface, i.e. the surface facing the waist of the wearer is also provided with a band of loop fastening elements 30. The hook type fasteners 28 provide on the inside surface of tabs 26 are adapted to be releasably secured anywhere on the band of loop fastening elements 30.

[0027]
Referring to Figure 3, belt 10 is shown in closed configuration where strips 16 and 20 have overlapped and are secured together by hook and loop fasteners 22 and 24. Tabs 26 are shown in open configuration and ready to be folded over and engaged securely onto loop fasteners 30.

[0028] In use, belt 10 is fitted on its wearer in two simple steps. The first step consists of overlapping strip 20 onto strip 16 and pressing strips 20 down onto strip 16 to engage hook and loop fasteners 22 and 24. Depending on the waist size of the wearer, strips 20 and 16 will overlap along more or less of their lengths.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the second step is accomplished when tabs 26 on strip 16 are folded over strip 20 so that hook type fasteners 28 engage loop fasteners 30. Thus, tabs 26 provide additional reinforcement to avoid strip 16 from being involuntarily detached from strip 20 during combat or through repeated use of belt 10. In effect, two separate systems of hook and loop fasteners are acting together to maintain strip 20 firmly in place on strip 16.

[0029] Referring to Figure 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the belt of the present invention. In this embodiment, tabs 26 are replaced by single tab 32.
Tab 32 completely overlaps strip 20 thereby securing strip 16 on strip 20.

[0030] Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a further alternate embodiment of the belt of the present invention. In this embodiment, tabs 26 or tab 32 are replaced by tabs 34 and 36. Tab 34 extends from strip 16 and overlaps strip 20 in the manner shown in Figure 6. Tab 36 also extends from strip 16 and is made to overlap tab 34 and is secured thereto with hook and loop fasteners (not visible in Figure 7).

[0031] Because tabs 26, 32, 34 and 36 are folded over and secured on the side of belt 10 that is directed towards the wearer, tabs 26, 32, 34 and 36 are not visible on the outside of belt 10. This concealed securing means enhances the traditional appearance of belt 10.

[0032] Belt 10 has a traditional appearance and yet is easily and securely worn by children. Furthermore the belt is adjustable in length to accommodate wearers having different waist sizes.

[0033] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A martial arts belt wherein the belt is a unitary assembly comprising first and second belt elements each consisting of elongated strips of belt material having opposite free ends and joined ends and a permanent knot at their joined ends, the opposite free ends of the belt material of the first and second belt elements being of sufficient length to form a belt when placed in an overlapping position, said opposite free ends being provided with cooperating strips of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to be releasably engaged when the free ends overlap, wherein at least one foldable tab is permanently fixed to one of said free ends, said at least one foldable tab adapted to fold over and releasably engage the other free end.

2. The martial arts belt according to claim 1, wherein the martial arts belt additionally comprises a third belt element, said third belt element consisting of an elongated strip of belt material permanently fixed to the first and second belt elements and within said knot.

3. The martial arts belt of claim 1 or 2, wherein the permanent knot is formed by tying the first and second belt elements together at their joined ends and stitching or gluing the resulting knot.

4. The martial arts belt of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second belt elements meet at one end to form a single elongated strip of belt material, and wherein the permanent knot having free ends of belt material consists of a separate elongated strip of belt material tied into a knot and permanently attached to the first and second belt elements.

5. A martial arts belt wherein the belt is a unitary assembly comprising first and second belt elements each consisting of elongated strips of belt material, the first belt element having opposite free ends, the first belt element being of sufficient length to form a belt when placed in an overlapping position, said opposite free ends being provided with cooperating strips of hook and loop fastening elements adapted to be releasably engaged when the free ends overlap, wherein at least one foldable tab is permanently fixed to one of said free ends, said at least one foldable tab adapted to fold over and releasably engage the other free end, the second belt element being sized and shaped so as 10 form a permanent knot attached to the first belt element.