EP0643562A1

EP0643562A1 - Device for holding up trousers, skirts, shorts or similar.

Info

Publication number: EP0643562A1
Application number: EP93909706A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Joseph Mievis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-05
Filing date: 1993-06-02
Publication date: 1995-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-02
Also published as: US5632069A; WO1993025104A1; DE69305989T2; EP0643562B1; CA2137270A1; DE69305989D1; ES2096284T3; BE1005956A5

Abstract

A device for holding up trousers (1), skirts, shorts or similar by attaching this item of clothing to a second item of clothing such as a shirt (2), blouse, top or similar comprises a rigid base piece (3) less than fifteen centimetres in length and having a clip (4) at one end, one leg of said clip being secured to or integral with the base piece (3). The rigid base piece (3) is provided with an attachment means (5) at its end opposite the clip (4), the mobile leg (6) of said clip (4) being oriented, when the clip (4) is closed, towards the above mentioned end fitted with the attachment means (5) in such a way that, when the clip (4) is attached to the edge (12) of the first item of clothing (1), the attachment means (5) at the opposite end can be positioned inside said item of clothing (1), the attachment means (5) being designed for attachment to the second item of clothing (2) lying inside said first item.

Description

Device for retaining in place pants, a skirt, shorts or the like which one wears.

The invention relates to a device for retaining in place pants, a skirt, shorts or the like which is worn, by fixing this first garment to a second garment such as a shirt, a blouse, a bodice or the like. device comprising a rigid base part, of a length less than fifteen centimeters, provided at one end with a clamp of which a branch is integral or integral with the base part.

Such devices are used to replace a pair of suspenders. These pairs of suspenders hold pants very well and are therefore sometimes preferred to wear a belt, especially in people who are moving or overweight. However, these pairs of suspenders are not very aesthetic.

Such a device is known from FR-A-2,357,195. In this device, the basic part is composed of a branch of the clamp and an extension of this branch. The clip is removably attached to the shirt or the like. The above extension is. engaged or hung in a tab or pocket provided below the upper edge of the trouser belt, inside the latter.

The use of this known device therefore requires the presence of tabs or pockets or in other words a special preparation of the pants.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a device for retaining in place pants, a skirt, shorts or the like which are worn, retaining effectively this garment without the latter having to be provided with tabs or pockets, this device being able to be worn in such a way that only part of the device is visible, part which can be very discreet or on the contrary be clearly visible but of a pleasant or aesthetic appearance.

For this purpose, the basic rigid part is provided at its end opposite to the clamp with a fixing means, the movable branch of the clamp being, in the closed position of the clamp, directed in the direction of the said end. carrying the fastening means, so that, when the clamp is fixed to an edge of the aforementioned first garment, the fastening means on the opposite end can be located inside this garment, this fastening means being such that 'it can be attached to the second garment inside the first.

A device comprising a rigid base part provided at one end with a first clamp, one branch of which is integral with the base and at the other end with a second clamp is known from US-A-1,958,643. The movable branch of the first clamp is however directed outwards, which means that when this clamp is attached to the edge of pants, the device is outside of it and is almost completely visible. The other clamp is pivotally attached to the base piece and has two legs which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base piece. This clip is used to be attached to the front edge of a shirt, above the pants.

DE-U-8.509.839 also discloses a device comprising a rigid base part provided at both ends with a clamp, a branch of these clamps forming an integral part of the base piece. The movable arms of these two clamps are directed in opposite directions. When a clip is attached to the edge of pants, this device is therefore located outside the pants and is therefore visible. In fact, this device is an improved embodiment of a clip for suspenders, this device being used to be fixed using one of its clips to a strap of suspenders. The base part is moreover provided with slots for inserting this strip.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fixing means is also a clamp.

Effectively, one of the branches of the clamp forming the fastening means is integral with or an integral part of the basic rigid part.

The branches of the two clamps are then preferably directed on the same side in the closed position.

The movable arms of the two clamps, preferably located along the same face of the rigid part.

The upper clip used to be pinched on the waistband of the pants, skirt or shorts or the like may be larger than the other clip used to be pinched on the other garment inside the previous one.

For clarity, an exemplary embodiment of a device for retaining in place pants, a skirt, shorts or the like that is worn, according to the invention is described below by way of illustration and not restrictively, while referring to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a man wearing pants held by a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows on a larger scale a section along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows on an even larger scale a view along arrow F3 of Figure 2 of the device;

Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a front view similar to that of Figure 4 of a device according to the invention, but relating to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 represents a section along line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 represents a man wearing pants 1 and a shirt 2, the pants 1 of which are retained at the front using two devices according to the invention, one above each leg.

As shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4, each of the devices consists of a rigid metal base plate or piece 3 and two jaws, clips or clamps 4 and 5, one at each end.

The rigid base piece 3 has a length of less than fifteen centimeters and normally has a length of 5 to 6 cm for children, from 6 to 10 cm, for example about 7 cm, for men and from 6 to 14 cm. , for example 10 cm for women. The width is less than 6 cm and normally 2 to 3 cm except at the lower end where the width is decreasing.

The clips 4 and 5 are of a similar and known construction, for example of the kind used to attach the known suspenders to pants, with the difference that one of the branches 6 of each clip is secured to one end of the piece base 3, that is to say fixed, for example glued to it.

Each clamp is provided inside its branches 6 with a non-slip part 7 or 8, for example made of plastic or rubber.

In the upper clamp 4, which has practically the same width as the part 3, these parts 7 and 8 are separate but complementary parts. Part 7 is fixed directly to part 3 and forms a square toothed bowl 7 into which penetrates part 8 fixed to the movable or pivoting branch 6, a part which is also square but smaller. This pivoting branch 6 is hinged between supports 9 mounted on the part 3. A leaf spring 10, fixed between the supports 9 to the part 3, pushes the pivoting branch 6 and therefore pushes the clamp into the open position. This clamp can be closed and retained in the closed position using a lever 11 hinged between the supports 9 around an axis located at a greater distance from the part 3 than the hinge axis of the branch swivel 6. The lever 11, which is folded in the shape of an L, passes through a neutral point when it switches to the base part 3 by closing the clamp 4 or 5 so that once closed, the clamp is held in this position by the lever, as long as it is not tilted by hand. In the lower clamp 5, which is smaller than the clamp 4 and further narrows towards its lower end, the parts 7 and 8 together form a single toothed strip and folded in half. This band is made of rubber and generates a spring effect which tends to put the clamp in the open position. This clamp 4 therefore does not have a spring 10. The clamp 5 comprises, in a similar manner to the clamp 4, also a control lever 11 there for closing and keeping the clamp 5 closed.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the arms 6 of the two clamps 4 and 5 are, in the closed position of the clamps, directed on the same side, that is to say downwards. In addition, these pivoting arms 6 are located along the same face, called the front face, of the base part 3.

To put the device in place, it is slipped inside the pants, between it and the shirt 2, with the clip 4 at the top. The clip 4 is pinched on the waist band 12 of the pants 1 with its pivoting branch 6 on the outside, while the clip 5, which is located just below the strip 12 of the pants, is pinched on the part of the shirt 2 inside the pants, as shown in Figure 2, where the pants 1 and the shirt 2 are shown in broken lines. Normally two devices will be used at the front, at the level of the groin.

Once in place, the device follows the inside of the waist band 12 of the pants and all that remains visible from the device is the lever 11 and the upper part of the upper clip 4. This lever can, if necessary, still be largely covered by a belt 13 that is put around the waist band 12 of the pants 1 but which, unlike the belts of this - 1 -

kind, is not used to hold the pants in place but only serves as decoration.

In some cases the lever 11 is not covered, but made inconspicuous by its _ color which can be very similar to that of the pants. In other cases, this lever can on the contrary be made visible by its shape, its color, a design or an inscription.

The embodiment of the device according to Figures 5 and 6 differs from the embodiment described above essentially by the shape or construction of the clamps 4 and 5 and by the fact that the rigid base part 3 is not flat but slightly folded or curved, a cushion 14 of synthetic foam being glued to the rear face, roughly in the middle. Clamps 4 and 5 located at the front, on the wire side of the base part 3.

The lower clamp 5 is almost identical to the clamp 5 of the device according to FIGS. 1 to 4, with the difference that the branch 6 secured to the base part 3 is not fixed to this part but forms an integral part of it.

The upper clamp 4, on the other hand, is of another construction. Instead of . to be composed of two rigid branches connected to one another in a pivoting manner, the clamp 4 is constituted by a spring strip folded in a hairpin, the two branches having in free position, their distant ends. A lever 11, hinged on a part folded towards the front of the base part 3 overcomes the spring action and puts the clamp in the closed position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Since the clamp 4 is itself a spring, an additional spring is not required. The branch of the clamp 5 which is integral with the base part 3 is retained on this part since it is taken on the one hand between two bumps 15 and the folded end of the base part 3. Only this branch is covered inside the clamp 4 by a coating rubber 7.

The installation of this device is quite similar to that of the device according to FIGS. 1 to 4. The curvature of the base part 3 has the result that, once the clamp 4 is fixed on the waist band 12 of the pants 1, the lower end of this piece 3, located inside the pants 1 is slightly away from the person's body. The cushion 14 makes the contact with the device softer.

Two devices as described placed at the front are sufficient to efficiently and aesthetically retain the pants 1. Since these devices retain the pants 1 relative to the shirt 2, they at the same time prevent the shirt from coming out of the pants 1 .

Such devices can similarly retain a skirt. Two devices are attached using their upper clip 4 to the waist band of the skirt, matching the inside of this band and using their lower clip 5 to the part of the blouse or blouse located at inside the skirt. These devices at the same time prevent the blouse or blouse from coming out of the skirt.

The device can also be used to hold shorts in place. It is attached by clip 4 to the waistband of the shorts and by clip 5 to the shirt or blouse or sweater. The device described above can effectively replace the belt or suspenders. It is simple and economical to build. The pants, skirt or shorts to remember always remain perfectly in place, despite intensive movements. The garment that we put in pants, skirt or shorts and to which we fix the device (s) acts as suspenders. One or two devices allow you to be well dressed in all circumstances. The device can be used by men as well as by women and children, by the skinny or the fat. If you want to remove the pants or skirt, it is not necessary to remove the tracksuit as is the case with ordinary suspenders. Just open one of the pliers or both pliers of the devices.

The fact that the two clips 4 and 5 are located on the same side of the rigid part 3 makes the attachment of the clip 5 to the shirt, the blouse or the sweater easier. It is even possible to open the lower clamp 5 and therefore to release the shirt 2 or the like from the outside, that is to say through the pants 1 or the like.

It is obvious that numerous modifications can be made to the examples described above, without however departing from the scope of the invention, as described in the claims below.

In particular, the clamps can be of a different construction. They do not have to be spring loaded and do not necessarily have to include a control lever. Without such a lever, the free branch of the upper clip remains visible outside the garment to be retained. The rigid part does not necessarily have to be made of metal. It can be made of plastic or other material. An essential condition is that it retains the clamps or other fixing means at a certain distance from each other.

It is not absolutely necessary for one of the branches of each clamp to be an integral part of the rigid part. This branch can also be made integral with the rigid part by any means, and for example be glued by its back to the rigid part.

It is also not essential that the movable arms of the two clamps, in the closed position, be directed in the same direction. The pivoting branch of the lower clamp could be directed upwards, for example when the other branch of this clamp is integral or integral with an end folded over about 180 degrees from the base part.

The clamps do not have to be on the same side of the base piece.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1.- Device for retaining in place pants (1), a skirt, shorts or the like which one wears, by fixing this first garment to a second garment such as a shirt (2), a blouse, a bodice or similar, this device comprising a rigid base part (3), of a length less than fifteen centimeters, provided at one end with a clamp (4) of which a branch is integral or integral with the base part (3) , characterized in that the rigid base part (3) is provided, at its end opposite to the clamp (4), with a fixing means (5), the movable branch (6) of the clamp (4) being , in the closed position of the clamp (4), directed in the direction of the aforesaid end carrying the fixing means (5), so that, when the clamp (4) is fixed to an edge (12) of the first garment (1) above, the fixing means (5) on the opposite end can be located inside this garment (1), this fixing means (5) being such that it can be attached to the second garment (2) inside the first.

2.- Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing means (5) is also a clamp.

3.- Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that one of the branches (6) of the clamp forming the fixing means (5) is integral or integral with the basic rigid part (3).

4.- Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the branches (6) of the clamps (4 and 5) are directed on the same side in the closed position.

5.- Device according to either of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the movable branch (6) of the clamps (4 and 5) is located along the same face of the rigid base part ( 3).

6.- Device according to either of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the clamps (4 and 5) comprise a control lever (11), the lever (11) of one of the clamps (4 ) having a decorative form or being provided with a decoration.

7.- Device according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a device for retaining the pants (1), the clamp (4) at one end of the base part (3) being constructed to be attached to the waist band (12) of the pants (1), the fastening means (5) at the other end being constructed to be attached to a shirt (2) or the like inside the pants ( 1).

8.- Device according to either of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is a device for retaining a skirt, the clamp (4) at one end of the base part (3) being constructed to be fixed to the waist band of the skirt, the fixing means at the other end being constructed to be fixed to a blouse, a blouse or the like inside the skirt.

9.- Device according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid base part (3) is made of metal.

10.- Device according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base part (3) is slightly bent or curved, the clamp (4) being on the hollow side.