EP0643562B1 - Device for holding up trousers, skirts, shorts or similar - Google Patents

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

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 formed by a shirt, a blouse, a bodice or the like, this device comprising a rigid base piece, of a length less than fifteen centimeters, provided at one end with a fixing means constructed to be fixed to the second garment inside the first garment.

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 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 fixing means is a clamp 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 waistband of the pants, inside the latter.

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

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a device for retaining pants in place, a skirt, shorts or the like which one wears, effectively retaining 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 opposite end by means of fixing, with a clamp constructed to be fixed to the waist band of the first garment, a branch of this clamp being integral with or integral with the part base, the other movable branch of the clamp being, in the closed position of the clamp, directed in the direction of the aforesaid end carrying the fixing means, so that, when the clamp is fixed to the strip of size of the aforementioned first garment, the fastening means on the opposite end can be located inside this garment and 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 waist band 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.

Other particular embodiments according to the invention are indicated in claims 6 to 8.

• la figure 1 représente un homme portant un pantalon retenu par un dispositif selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente à plus grande échelle une coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 représente à encore plus grande échelle une vue selon la flèche F3 de la figure 2 du dispositif;
• la figure 4 représente une coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3;
• la figure 5 représente une vue frontale analogue à celle de la figure 4 d'un dispositif selon l'invention, mais concernant une autre forme de réalisation;
• la figure 6 représente une coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5.

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;
• FIG. 5 represents a front view similar to that of FIG. 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 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 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 being 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 fixed 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 (8)

1. Device for holding up trousers (1), a skirt, shorts or similar, that are worn, by fixing this first garment to a second garment, formed by a shirt (2), a blouse, a body or similar, this device comprising a rigid base element (3), of a length lesser than fifteen centimetres, provided at one extremity with an attachment means (5) constructed to be fixed to a second garment (2) inside the first garment (1), characterised in that the rigid base element (3) is provided, at its extremity opposed to the attachment means (5), with a clip (4), constructed to be fixed to the waist-stripe (12) of the first garment (1), one leg of this clip (4) forming one piece with or being an integral part of the base element (3), the other mobile leg (6) of the clip (4) being, in the locked position of the clip (4), directed towards the aforementioned extremity carrying the attachment means (5), in such way that, when the clip (4) is fixed to the waist-stripe of the aforementioned first garment (1), the attachment means (5) on the opposite extremity, can be situated inside this garment (1) and can be fixed to the second garment (2), inside the first one.
2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the attachment means (5) is also a clip.
3. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that one of the legs (6) of the clip, constituting the attachment means (5), forms one piece with or is an integral part of the rigid base element (3).
4. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the legs (6) of the clips (4 and 5) are directed towards one same side in the locked position.
5. Device according to any one of the claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the mobile leg (6) of the clips (4 and 5) is located along one same face of the rigid base element (3).
6. Device according to any one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the clips (4 and 5) comprise a control lever (11), the lever (11) of one of the clips (4) having an ornamental design or being provided with an ornament.
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid base element (3) is made of metal.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base elemnt (3) is slightly bent or curved, the clip (4) being located at the hollow side.

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