EP3741242A1

EP3741242A1 - A clothing item, particularly trousers, comprising a belt band with improved wearability

Info

Publication number: EP3741242A1
Application number: EP20175451.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Freddi; Margherita Freddi
Original assignee: Freddy SpA
Current assignee: Freddy SpA
Priority date: 2019-05-21
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-19
Also published as: EP3741242B1; CN111972730A; IT201900007063A1

Abstract

A clothing item (1), particularly women's trousers, of the type comprising: a first rear portion (2) suitable to at least partially cover the buttocks, a second front portion (3) suitable to at least partially cover the abdomen, and a belt band (4) suitable to receive a belt (10) and, particularly, suitable to at least partially cover the waist of the trousers' wearer, wherein said belt band (4) comprises at least one band-shaped outer element (5) which is at least partially visible when the clothing item is worn, and a plurality of retaining elements (9) suitable to allow said belt (10) to be connected to said belt band (4); wherein said retaining elements (9) have outer surfaces (Q1, Q6) which are substantially coplanar to the relevant outer surfaces (Q2, Q3, Q7, Q8) of portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 5I, 5K) of said belt band (4) adjacent to said retaining elements (9), and wherein said retaining elements (9) when the belt (10) is connected to said belt band, have at least one section (T5) protruding outwards from the outer surfaces (Q4, Q5) of said portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 5I, 5K) of said belt band (4) adjacent to said protruding section (T5) of said retaining elements (9); wherein said band-shaped outer element (5) comprises a plurality of likewise band-shaped portions (5A-K), wherein said plurality of portions (5A-K) are distinct portions, each having side edges (A3-K3, A4-K4), and wherein said plurality of distinct band-shaped portions (5A-K) are queued to one another.

Description

Object of the present invention is a clothing item, particularly trousers, comprising a belt band with improved wearability, according to the pre-characterizing part of the main claim.
In this context, clothing item means a clothing item suitable to be used as a garment which is visible when it is worn, that is a garment not to be worn under another and which is not an undergarment, and which comprises a belt band. For example, the clothing item can be: trousers, a skirt, dungarees, an overall.
In this context, belt band means the portion of the clothing item in correspondence with which loops are usually provided to allow a belt to be connected to the clothing item to pass through. In this context, trousers mean a clothing item suitable to be used as a garment which is visible when it is worn and which has portions of any length whatsoever to allow legs to pass through.
It should be noted that the clothing item could also be an overcoat with a belt or similar clothing items, for example a coat or a trench coat, and that in this case belt band means the portion of the overcoat to which a closure belt for closing the overcoat can be connected.
In known clothing items the loops for associating a belt to the clothing item are generally made up of narrow strips of fabric applied externally in correspondence with the clothing item belt band, and protruding from said band, one end of said strips being sewn in correspondence with the belt band upper edge and a lower end sewn to the clothing item beneath said belt band or in correspondence with the lower edge thereof.
The loops, especially in clothing items shaped so as to be very tight to the wearer's body, such is the case for example of many women's trousers or jeans made of elastic knitted fabrics, visually interrupt the adherence and tight effect of the trousers fabric, and form discontinuities that interrupt the continuity of the clothing item and affect the shape of the waist, which is obtained by the particular cut and/or the shape of the trousers. On the other hands, the loops do not always make the use of the clothing item comfortable, because they form a plurality of protrusions, when for example they are not used for a belt to be connected, that in some particular situations of use of the clothing item reduce comfort to the clothing item's wearer; this is the case, for example, when the portion of the clothing item including the loops comes into contact with a rigid and flat surface, as it happens for example when lying on the ground.
Furthermore, the known loops can accidentally get caught or hooked in protrusions or hooks the clothing item can come into contact with, especially when a belt do not pass through them, with the risk of tearing the clothing item itself or making the wearer fall or get injured.
The above technical problems have been at least partially solved by DE 20 2013 008353 U1 and FR 2 581 292 A1 which describe making buttonholes in different zones of a belt band of a trouser, wherein said belt band is made by only a single piece of a fabric which is continuous and without any interruption or stitching, and in which buttonholes are obtained, the single piece of fabric forming the belt portion can have a single layer of fabric, or two layers of fabric if the piece of fabric is folded in an inverted U-shape. In these clothing it may happen that the entire belt band as it is made over time is damaged, or in any case the buttonholes are damaged when the belt is inserted and removed; moreover, the buttonholes do not facilitate inserting the belt nor do they always guarantee that the belt itself is perfectly retained.
US 6 389 600 B1 relates to a shirt to be worn in combination with known trousers and which is adapted to prevent sand from entering the trousers; for this purpose, the shirt has a double U-shaped folded portion in the lower end thereof which is made in a single and continuous piece of fabric and which has buttonholes for allowing known loops of trousers to pass through, allowing to stably constrain the shirt to the trousers, when a belt is passed through said loops and said buttonholes.
GB 400 390 , too, faces the above technical problems and teaches to make a belt band in two pieces of fabric sewn together in a rear portion of the trouser; in each piece of fabric folds are obtained which form a pocket for housing a known loop, which is sewn to the belt band fabric between the folds themselves; said folds protruding inside the belt band form bulges in the belt band which may be unwanted and / or uncomfortable to the trousers' wearer.
The object of the present invention is to provide a clothing item according to the pre-characterizing part of the main claim, which represents an alternative technical solution with respect to the belt bands of the prior art listed above, which further improves the wearability of the clothing item itself, and which particularly improves the wearability of the clothing item in correspondence with the wearer's waist, and allows for a better and more uniform shaping of this part of the body.
A further object is to improve the comfort of the clothing item's wearer.
A further object is to provide a clothing item that can reduce the risks that the clothing item itself be accidentally damaged or that the clothing item may accidentally get caught or hooked in protrusions or hooks.
These and other objects that will be evident to one skilled in the art are achieved by a clothing item according to the characterizing part of the attached claims.
For a better understanding of the present invention there are attached, by way of non-limiting example, the following drawings, wherein:

figures 1-4 show partial, front and rear schematic prospective views, respectively, of a first clothing item without and with a belt;
figures 5 and 7 show a schematic plan view of the outer and inner face, respectively, of a belt band of the clothing item shown in figures 1-2, before it is sewn to the other portions of the trousers;
figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of the various portions forming an outer element of a belt band of the clothing item shown in figures 1-2, before said parts of the outer element of the belt band are sewn together;
figures 8A shows a schematic enlargement of a portion of figure 5 indicated by the arrow F;
figures 8B and 8C show the same detail as shown in figure 8A, in a schematic side prospective view and in two different possible positions of said detail;
figures 9-12 show sectional views taken along section lines IX, X, XI, XII of figures 8A-C; these sections are schematic and greatly enlarged with respect to the actual dimensions of the represented components;
figure 13 shows a schematic sectional view as the one in figure 12 but when a belt is connected to the clothing item;
figure 14 shows a schematic front prospective view of a second embodiment of a clothing item according to the invention;
figures 15-16 show a schematic front and rear view of a third embodiment of a clothing item according to the invention.

With reference to figures 1-4, they show a portion of a clothing item 1 (partially represented), that in the example shown in the above figures is a women's trouser, of the type comprising: a first rear portion 2 suitable to at least partially cover the buttocks, a second front portion 3 suitable to at least partially cover the abdomen, and a belt band 4 which, in the embodiment in figures 1-4, is suitable to connect said first 2 and second 4 portion at the top and is suitable to at least partially cover the waist of the trousers' wearer.
The belt band 4 comprises: at least one band-shaped outer element 5 which is at least partially visible when the clothing item is worn, and which provides a plurality of retaining elements 9 suitable to allow a belt 10 (schematically shown in figure 4) to be connected to said belt band 4.
In this context, band-shaped element means a substantially two-dimensional elongated element, in which its length Z1 (fig. 5) and / or its width Z2 are significantly greater than its thickness S1 (fig. 9) (for example at least 5 times greater, more preferably at least 10 times greater, even more preferably at least 20 times greater).
According to the invention, the band-shaped outer element 5 comprises a plurality, preferably at least six, of likewise band-shaped portions 5A-K (fig. 6), comprising an upper edge A1-K1 and a lower edge A2-K2 and side edges A3-K3, A4-K4 (fig. 6).
According to the invention, said plurality of band-shaped portions (5A-K) are queued to one another and arranged so that at least one side edge A4-J4 (Fig. 6) of each of said portions 5A-K is opposite to and at least partially in contact with a side edge B3-K3 of the immediately following portion 5B-5K, so that said first outer element 5 is substantially continuous. According to the invention, the pairs of opposite side edges A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3 (fig. 6) of said queued and immediately following portions 5A-K are constrained to one another (and preferably sewn):

so that at least one upper section T1 (fig. 8) and one lower section T2 of said pairs of opposite side edges A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13,14 J3, J4 K3 (fig. 6) are stably constrained to one another, preferably sewn to one another,
and so that said pairs of opposite side edges A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3, in correspondence with an intermediate section T3 provided between said lower sections T2 and said upper sections T3, are not constrained (preferably not sewn), so as to form a through opening 6 in correspondence with said intermediate section T3 of said pairs of opposite side edges A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13,14 J3, J4 K3 and so as to form a plurality of said through openings 6 in said outer element 5.

According to the invention, the plurality of through openings 6 of the outer element 5 are suitable to allow a section of the belt 10 for the clothing item to pass through and to allow said belt to be connected to the belt band 4.
According to the invention, retaining elements 9 comprise at least some of the band-shaped portions 5B-5J (fig. 6) provided between two following openings 6.
According to the invention, the retaining elements 9 at least in correspondence with said upper section T1 and lower section T2 of the pairs of side edges which are sewn, to one another, have an outer surface Q1 (fig. 8B) which is substantially coplanar to the relevant outer surfaces Q2, Q3 (fig. 8) of the adjacent band-shaped portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51 5K; and when the belt 10 is connected to said belt band, said retaining elements 9 have at least one section T5 (fig. 8C) protruding outwards from the outer surfaces Q4 Q5 (fig. 8B) of the adjacent band- shaped portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51 5K.
Preferably when the belt 10 is not connected to the retaining elements 9, their overall outer surface is substantially coplanar to the corresponding outer surfaces of the adjacent band- shaped portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51 5K (as shown in fig. 8B).
In this context, retaining elements whose outer surface is "substantially coplanar" to the relevant outer surfaces of the adjacent band-shaped portions refer to those elements whose outer surface forms a surface which is continuous and coplanar to the outer surface of the continuous band-shaped portions, or forms a surface which is slightly raised in one or more areas (for example by a distance ranging between 1 mm and 3 mm, more preferably between 1 and 2 mm) than the outer surface of the continuous band-shaped portions, when the band is stretched over a flat surface. Any slight discontinuities in the coplanarity between the surfaces of the retaining elements and the adjacent band portions (when the belt is not connected to the clothing item and the band is resting on a plane) being due for example to the fact that the belt band is formed by portions made of a very thin fabric and / or to the presence of strengthening tapes beneath one or more of said portions.
Advantageously, the band-shaped portions 5A-K of the outer element 5 have all the same height Z5 (fig. 6), for example ranging between 1 cm and 30 cm, more preferably between 1 cm and 15 cm and even more preferably between 3 cm and 10 cm.
According to a variant not shown, the portions 5A-K could also have different heights. Advantageously, the band-shaped portions 5A-K of the outer element 5 comprise a first plurality of portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9 of the belt 10, beneath which the belt 10 passes, alternating with the portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K of a second plurality of portions of the outer element 5, which do not retain the belt, the belt passing in correspondence with these portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K above said portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K (as partially visible in fig. 4).
Preferably the width Z6 (fig. 6) of the portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9 is the same (so as to make the belt band manufacturing and assembly easier), and ranges for example: between 5 mm and 100 mm, more preferably between 5 mm and 50 mm, even more preferably between 5 mm and 30 mm. However, said width Z6 can also be lower than 30%, more preferably lower than 15% and even more preferably lower than 5% of the overall width Z1 (fig. 7) of the belt band 4 or of the overall width of the clothing item, measured in correspondence with the portion of the clothing item where the openings 6 are provided.
According to a variant not shown, the portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9 could also have different widths.
Advantageously, the width of the second portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K alternating with the first portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9, is not the same, said second portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K comprising for example end portions 5A and 5K, comprising closing means 19 (fig. 1) for closing the belt band, such as for example at least one buttonhole 11 and a button 12 (preferably two or more buttonholes 11 and two or more buttons 12 provided one above the other, so as to close the belt band more effectively) which have widths Z7' and Z7" and portions 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K provided between said end portions all having width Z7 greater than the width Z7' and Z7" of said end portions, and preferably the same width (so as to make the belt band manufacturing and assembly easier). For example said width Z7 is at least twice as wide as the width Z6 of the portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9, more preferably is at least four times as wide as Z6 and even more preferably is at least six times as wide as Z6. Thanks to said sizes, the manufacturing and assembly of the belt band can be optimized and simplified, and in particular the overall number of portions 5A-K forming the outer element 9 can be limited to a number ranging between ten and twelve, more preferably eleven, and with a number of portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J designed to form the retaining elements 9 ranging between four and six, more preferably five.
The portions 5A-K of the outer element 9 are strips of any conventional material used to manufacture clothing items; however, preferably the portions 5A-K are strips of fabric and even more preferably strips of a knitted fabric.
Preferably, the portions 5A-K of the outer element 9 are strips made of the same fabric, particularly knitted fabric, used to manufacture at least the outer portions, which remain visible in the clothing item and particularly in the trousers.
Advantageously, the portions 5A-K of the outer element 9 are made of a material comprising a high percentage of elastomer synthetic materials (such as for example elastan), wherein for example the elastomer materials are provided in a percentage between 15% and 30% and more preferably in a percentage between 20% and 25% of the overall material used to manufacture at least said outer element 5 of the belt band 4.
This high percentage of elastomer material allows the belt 10 to be inserted more easily between the openings 6 and beneath the retaining elements 9.
Preferably, the yarn of the fabric used to manufacture at least the portions 5A-K of the outer element 9 comprises either a natural fibre, such as for example cotton, or an artificial fibre, such as for example, polyamide or polyester, and an elastomer, such as for example Lycra or Elastan, and the percentage of elastomer in the yarn preferably ranges between 20% and 30% and preferably amounts to about 25%.
Advantageously, the portions 5A-K of the outer element 5, in particular when they are made of a woven material, for example knitted and / or of reduced thickness, at least in correspondence with the openings 6, provide at least one strengthening element 13, 14 (fig. 9) suitable to reduce deformability and to reduce the stretch of the portions themselves, at least in correspondence with these through openings 6. Thanks to said strengthening elements, as shown in figure 8B and 8A, when the trousers are worn without a belt, the opposite edges (which, with reference to figure 8A and 8C are indicated with references E4, F3 and F4, G3) of the portions (5E, 5F, 5G) in which they are provided the openings 6 themselves are substantially in contact with each other or slightly spaced apart (for example spaced apart by a portion between 0.5 mm and 5 mm) even in correspondence with an intermediate section T3 in which said opposite edges are not constrained and in any case said portions are substantially coplanar even in correspondence with the openings 6.
The strengthening elements 12, 13 are strips, preferably made of a substantially not stretchable or only limitedly stretchable material, for example strips of orthogonal fabric (a fabric with non-elastic weft and warp threads), such as for example a known tape for strengthening and finishing.
The strengthening elements are constrained, for example sewn, to the inner side of the portions 5A-K of the outer element 9. Said portions 5A-K provide only one strengthening element 13 or two strengthening elements 12 and 13 sandwich-like overlapping each other, depending on the rigidity and elasticity degree to be given to said portions.
The strengthening elements 12, 13 preferably have a height Z5' (fig. 9) equalling the height Z5 of the portions 5A-K they are applied to.
Preferably, the portions 5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J of the outer element 9, suitable to act as a retaining element for a belt, provide at least two stiffening elements 12 and 13 (as shown in the section in fig. 9), and also the end portions V1 and V2 (fig. 8) of the other portions 5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K, which are closest to the openings 6 provide said two stiffening layers 12 and 13 (as shown in figures 8, 10 and 11). Said portions V1 and V2 for example have a width Z8 which is substantially the same or slightly greater than the width Z6 of the portion 5F. Advantageously at least one of the layers 12 or 13 extends even beyond said end portions V1 and V2, so as to also stiffen the other portions of the belt band, this is particularly advantageous if the fabric the portions 5A-K or the outer element are made of is very thin or very elastic. Hence, according to a first embodiment at least one of the stiffening layers 12 or 13 has an overall length which is the same as the length Z7 (fig. 6) of the portions 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, while according to another embodiment said layer 12 or 13 only extends for a section of said portions 5C, 5E, 5G, 51 thus leaving a central section of one or more of said portions 5C, 5E, 5G, 51 without a stiffening layer, the latter solution being advantageous for making an outer element 5 at least partially elastic. Therefore, by changing the extension of the stiffening layers 12 and / or 13 a more or less elastic belt band can be obtained. Said stiffening layers can be also provided for all or even part of the extension of the end portions 5A and 5K of the outer element 5.
The sections of figs. 12 and 13 shows the position of a retaining element 9 and the belt band in correspondence with the openings 6, when the belt 10 is not connected to the band (as in figure 8B) and when a belt is connected to the band (the belt is not shown in fig. 8C and shown in dotted lines in fig. 13), respectively. Fig. 12 also highlights the seams shown with reference R1 and R2 that join the sections T2 (fig. 8) of the pairs of opposite edges (E4 F3 and F4 G3 fig. 6 and 8C) of the portions 5E and 5F, and 5F and 5G respectively. Figures 12 and 8B also highlight how the portion 5F suitable to act as a retaining element 9 substantially flushes with the adjacent portions 5G and 5E when a belt is not inserted in the belt band, whereas said portion 5F slightly protrudes (as shown in fig. 13 and 8C) when said belt is inserted in the element 9.
To manufacture the outer element 5 according to the invention, the following steps are to be taken: the portions 5A-K and the relevant stiffening layers 12 and 13 are cut and stably constrained to the relevant portions 5A-K, then the pairs of the opposite edges A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13,14 J3, J4 K3 (fig. 6) of the portions 5A-K queued to one another are stably constrained

so that at least one upper section T1 (fig. 8) and one lower section T2 of said opposite edges are stably constrained to one another,
and so that an intermediate section T3 of said opposite edges, provided between said lower sections T2 and said upper sections T3 which are stably constrained to one another, is not constrained, so as to form a through opening 6 in correspondence with each of said intermediate sections T3 of said opposite edges, so as to form a plurality of said through openings 6 in said outer element 5.

In this context, the expression "to stably constrain" means to constrain by means of any technique known to the expert in the field which is suitable to connect together two portions of a clothing item in a stable and lasting way. For example, if the portions 5A-K are made of a textile material, these portions will be preferably constrained to one another by means of known sewing operations, but if for example said portions 5A-K are made of a different material, for example a synthetic material, they could be constrained to one another by means of known welding or gluing operations.
According to a preferred embodiment, in addition to the band-shaped outer element 5 the belt band 4 comprises a likewise band-shaped inner element 7, which is not visible when the trousers are worn and which preferably completely lines the outer element 5 on the inner side (as shown in fig. 7). Preferably the inner element 7 is formed by a single continuous strip of fabric having the same size as the belt band and the outer element 5.
The inner element 7 is preferably constrained, for example sewn, to an elastic ribbon 8 suitable to favour the adherence of the trousers to the waist and to allow the trousers to be used also without a belt.
Advantageously, the ribbon is constrained, preferably sewn, to the inner surface of the inner element 7, so as to be visible inside the clothing item, so that it can be as close as possible to the skin of the clothing item's wearer; this is particularly advantageous when the ribbon or at least the outer portion thereof is made of silicone or a similar material.
The elastic ribbon 8 (shown in dotted lines in figures 9-13) has for example a height Z9 which is lower than or equal to the height Z10 of the inner element 7 (shown in dotted lines in figures 9-13) and extends for example throughout the entire length of the belt band, but preferably with the exception of the portions of the band comprising the buttonholes 11 and the buttons 12.
Preferably the height Z9 is equal to about half the height Z10 of the inner element 7 and of the belt band (as shown in figures 7, 9-11), if the belt band is of the high rise or medium rise type, while it can have the same height as the belt band if the belt band is of the medium to low rise and low rise type.
Advantageously, to optimize the manufacturing of the trousers, the fabric the inner element 7 is is identical to that used to manufacture the outer element 5, even more advantageously the inner element 7 and the outer element 5 are made of a fabric which is identical to the one used to manufacture the remaining portions 2 and 3 of the trousers covering the buttocks and the abdomen and, if available, the portion 16 covering the legs. Advantageously, said fabric is a knitted fabric of the type previously indicated with reference to the only outer element 5.
To optimize the retaining of the belt 10 and at the same time the operations required for manufacturing the belt band, the latter advantageously comprises at least three retaining elements 9 according to the invention, two provided in a first P1 (fig. 2) and a second P2 front position of the front portion 3 of the trousers, one in a rear position P3 (fig. 3), provided in the rear portion of the trousers, preferably in correspondence with a central seam 17 of said rear portion of the trousers, so that the portion 5F of the outer element 5, suitable to form the retaining element 9 of the belt is substantially coaxial with said central seam 17.
Preferably, as shown in figure 3, the trousers can provide, in addition to the two front retaining elements in the first frontal position P1 and in the second frontal position P2, and to the rear retaining element in the rear position P3, also two further pairs of buttonholes in the positions P4 and P5 provided in intermediate positions between: the first front position P1 and the rear position P3 and between the second front position P2 and the rear position P3, said additional pairs of buttonholes for example being provided in the belt band provided above the rear portion of the trousers or in side portions (P8, P9) of the trousers provided between the rear and front portions of the trousers.
It should be noted that thanks to the particular conformation of the elements 9, according to the invention, which are suitable for keeping a belt 10 connected with said belt band 4, and in particular thanks to the fact that said elements 9 are not elements which protrude from the belt band 4 but they are "integrated" in the belt itself, said elements 9 can be positioned in a different and improved way with respect to the position of the known belt retaining elements provided in known trousers.
In particular, the front positions P1 and P2 can be provided at an equal distance Z10 (fig. 1) with respect to a front central symmetry line X of the trousers, and in the case of jeans-type trousers, comprising two front pockets 18 with an arched upper edge 18A ending at the top in correspondence with the lower edge 4A of the belt band 4, the positions P1 and P2 can also be provided above these pockets 13, thereby improving both the aesthetic appearance of the trousers and the constraint of the belt 10 to the belt band 4 of the trousers.
In fact, in known jeans-type trousers of the type described above, as the elements for retaining the belt usually extend also beneath the belt band 4, said belt retaining elements must be positioned in the front sections of the belt beneath which the pockets 13 do not extend, for example in the positions P6 and P7 (indicated with a dotted line in fig. 1), while thanks to the retaining elements according to the invention said retaining elements 9 can be positioned in any position of the front portion of the belt band 4, also in positions of the belt band provided above the pockets 18.
Furthermore, in the known trousers, the positions of the retaining elements 9 for retaining the belt 10 intermediate between the front retaining elements and the rear retaining element are usually always provided in the rear portion of the trousers, so as to prevent them from protruding excessively from the belt band in correspondence with the hips of the trousers' wearer; with the retaining elements 9, according to the invention, the intermediate retaining elements can instead be provided in any position in the belt band 4, even for example in the side areas of the belt band 4 provided between the front and the rear portion of the trousers, and in correspondence with the hips.
According to the invention, for example for design reasons the trousers could provide that only some of the retaining elements 9 for retaining the belt 10 are manufactured according to the invention, whereas other types are of the known type (that is with a strip of fabric applied externally and in correspondence with the belt band 4 of the clothing item, an end of said strips being sewn in correspondence with the upper edge 4B of the belt band 4 and a lower end sewn to the clothing item beneath said belt band 4 or in correspondence with its lower edge 8). For example, the retaining elements provided in the front portion of the trousers can be manufactured according to the invention, whereas the retaining elements provided in the front portion can be of the conventional type, or vice versa. In this way, trousers can be manufactured for example which have a conventional appearance from the front part, while at the rear they can adhere and better shape the rear part of the body of the trousers' wearer, and vice versa.
The strengthening elements 12 and 13 can also have the function of facilitating the insertion and the sliding of the belt in the retaining elements 9 of the belt band and, for this purpose, they could also be made of a non-woven fabric, for example a plastic sheet or a similar material.
According to the invention, the openings 6 have a height Z11 (fig. 8) which is less than the height of Z5 of the band 4, so as to allow the opposite edges of the portions 5A-K queued to one another of the outer element 5 to be sewn together. Preferably, the height Z11 of the openings 6 is comprised between the following ranges: 30%Z5<=Z11<=90%Z5 or more preferably 40%Z5<=Z11<=80%Z5, and even more preferably between 50%Z5<=Z11<=70%Z5.
In this way, the belt 10 is better connected to the belt band, since the latter has a greater height than that of the belt itself.
Preferably, the trousers are for example jeans-type trousers, and of the type comprising at least two pockets 18 in the front portion 3. The trousers could also comprise a further pocket 18C (fig. 2) provided inside one of the two front pockets. The trousers could also comprise two further known rear pockets 20 (figure 3) even in the rear portion 2. In this context, pockets mean both real pockets and fake pockets or closed pockets, that is pockets only having the usual seams as the real pockets, but that cannot be used and only have a decorative function. Preferably, the front pockets are of the type having an arched upper edge 18A ending at the top in correspondence with the lower edge 4A of the belt band 4, and of the end portions 5A 5K of the outer element 5. The trousers preferably have a flap 21 in the front portion 3 and beneath the belt band 4, which can cover, if present, a known zipper (not shown) below it, which is suitable to close a front opening of the trousers; said flap can therefore also be a "fake flap" simply sewn to the front portion of the trousers (which, in this case, is not provided with the underlying zipper) only having a decorative function.
The belt 10 is of the known type and comprises, for example, a ribbon-like body 10A and a closing member 10B for closing the ends of said ribbon-like body.
For manufacturing a belt band of the type described so far, when the outer element 5 and the inner element 7 have been made, they are sewn together in correspondence with their upper edge, in the way known to one skilled in the art, so as for example to make an upper seam 22. The band is then sewn in a way known to one skilled in the art to the other portions 2 and 3 of the trousers, for example by means of two seams 23 parallel to each other.
Finally, it should be noted that the retaining elements 9 described so far for allowing a belt to pass through can be also provided in a clothing item other than trousers, for example in a skirt 101 (fig. 14) or in an overcoat 201, as represented in figures 15 and 16, in which the portions of the clothing item previously described have been indicated with the same numbering, but increased by 100 or 200, and which will not be further shown below. With reference to figures 15 and 16 in which an overcoat 201 is shown, it should be noted that this clothing item, too, has a belt band 204, comprising an outer element 205 made of a plurality of portions 205A-K of the type substantially identical to the one previously described (except for any different sizing, which is obvious for one skilled in the art, in the length of the various portions 205 A-K). Also in the overcoat 201 at least in correspondence with the belt band 204, the clothing item preferably also has an inner layer (not shown). Advantageously, as for the other embodiments described so far, even in the belt band 204 of the overcoat 201, at least in correspondence with the retaining elements 9 the outer element 205 has strengthening elements of the type similar to those previously described. In the overcoat 201 the elastic element which is internally provided in correspondence of the position of the outer 205 is optional.
Finally, it is be stressed again that the embodiments shown so far are given purely by way of non-limiting example and that the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

A clothing item (1), particularly women's trousers, comprising:
- a first rear portion (2) suitable to at least partially cover the buttocks,

- a second front portion (3) suitable to at least partially cover the abdomen,

- and a belt band (4) suitable to receive a belt (10) and, particularly, suitable to at least partially cover the waist of the trousers' wearer, wherein said belt band (4) comprises at least one band-shaped outer element (5) which is at least partially visible when the clothing item is worn,
and a plurality of retaining elements (9) suitable to allow said belt (10) to be connected to said belt band (4),

- wherein said retaining elements (9) when the belt is not connected to said belt band (4) have outer surfaces (Q1, 6Q) which are substantially coplanar to the relevant outer surfaces (Q2, Q3, Q7, Q8) of portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K) of said belt band (4) adjacent to said retaining elements (9), and wherein said retaining elements (9) when the belt (10) is connected to said belt band, have at least one section (T5) protruding outwards from the outer surfaces (Q4, Q5) of said portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K) of said belt band (4) adjacent to said protruding section (T5) of said retaining elements (9),
characterised in that:
- said band-shaped outer element (5) comprises a plurality of likewise band-shaped portions (5A-K),

- said plurality of portions are different and distinct portions, each having side edges (A3-K3, A4-K4),

- said plurality of different and distinct band-shaped portions (5A-K) are queued to one another and arranged so that at least one side edge (A4-J4) of each of said portions (5A-K) is opposite to and at least partially in contact with a side edge (B3-K3) of the immediately following portion (5B-5K), so that said first outer element (5) is substantially continuous,

- the pairs of opposite side edges (A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3) of said plurality of portions (5A-K), queued and immediately following, are sewn to one another:
- so that at least one upper section (T1) and one lower section (T2) of said pairs of opposite side edges (A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3) are sewn to one another,

- and so that said pairs of opposite side edges (A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3), in correspondence with an intermediate section (T3) provided between said lower sections (T2) and said upper sections (T3), are not sewn to each other, so as to form a through opening (6) in correspondence with said intermediate section (T3) of said pairs of opposite side edges (A4 B3, B4 C3, C4 D3, D4 E3, E4 F3, F4 G3, G4 H3, H4 13, 14 J3, J4 K3) and so as to form a plurality of said through openings (6) in said band-shaped outer element (5);

- wherein said plurality of through openings (6) of the outer element (5) are suitable to allow a section of the belt (10) for the clothing item to pass through and so as to allow said belt to be connected to the belt band (4),

- wherein the retaining elements (9) are formed by at least some of the band-shaped portions (5B-5J) provided between two following through openings (6),

- and in that said retaining elements (9) at least in correspondence with said upper section (T1) and lower section (T2) of said pairs of side edges which are sewn together have outer surfaces (Q1, Q6) which are always substantially coplanar to the relevant outer surfaces (Q3, Q2, Q7, Q8) of the adjacent band-shaped portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 5I5K), and in that, only when the belt (10) is connected to said belt band, said retaining elements (9) have one section (T5) protruding outwards from the outer surfaces (Q4, Q5) of the band-shaped portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K) adjacent to said protruding section.
A clothing item according to claim 1, characterised in that the band-shaped portions (5A-K) of the outer element (5) comprise a first plurality of portions (5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J) forming the retaining elements (9) of the belt (10), beneath which the belt (10) can pass through the relevant through openings (6), alternating a second plurality of portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K) of the outer element (5), which are not suitable to retain the belt, the belt passing above the outer surface of said second plurality of portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K), so that, preferably when the belt is not connected to said retaining elements, the overall outer surface of the retaining elements is substantially coplanar to the corresponding outer surfaces of the adjacent band-shaped portions of said second plurality of portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K).
A clothing item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the belt band (4) comprises a likewise band-shaped inner element (7) which is not visible when the trousers are worn and which covers internally the outer element (5), at least in correspondence with the through openings (6), and preferably covers internally the entire outer element (5).
A clothing item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of said plurality of portions (5A-K) of the outer element (5), at least in correspondence with the through openings (6), provides at least one additional inner strengthening element (12, 13) different from said plurality of portions (5A-K) and suitable to reduce deformability and to reduce the stretch of said plurality of portions (5A-K), at least in correspondence with these through openings (6), and in that said strengthening element (12, 13) is a strip of fabric, preferably of an orthogonal fabric, more preferably a tape for strengthening and finishing, sewn to each of said plurality of portions.
A clothing item according to claim 4, characterised in that said additional strengthening element (12, 13) comprises at least one strip of fabric different from the ones of said plurality of portions (5A-K), and sewn to the inner face of said plurality of portions (5A-K).
A clothing item according to claim 4, characterised in that the portions (5B, 5D, 5F, 5H, 5J) of the outer element (5), suitable to act as retaining element (9) for a belt (10), provide at least two stiffening elements (12, 13) overlapping each other, and that even at least end portions (VI, V2) of the other portions (5A, 5C, 5E, 5G, 51, 5K), which are closest to said retaining elements (9) and to the through openings (6) provide said at least two stiffening layers (12).
A clothing item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that, all the parts of said plurality of portions (5A-K) of the outer element (5), have the same height (Z5), preferably comprised between 1 cm and 30 cm, more preferably between 1 cm and 15 cm, and even more preferably comprised between 3 cm and 10 cm.
A clothing item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that all said plurality of band-shaped portions (5A-K) of the outer element (5) are strips made of the same fabric, particularly of the same knitted fabric, used to manufacture at least the outer portions, which remain visible in the clothing item and particularly in the trousers.
A retaining element (9) suitable to allow a section of a belt (10) for a clothing item (1) to be connected to said clothing item, comprising three portions (5E, 5F, 5G) suitable to form said retaining element,
- wherein said retaining element (9) is shaped in such a way that it has the outer surface (Q1, Q6) of a first central portion (5F) of said three portions, which is substantially coplanar to the relevant outer surfaces (Q2, Q3, Q7, Q8) of a second (5E) and a third portion (5G) of said three portions (5E, 5F, 5G), when the belt (10) is not inserted into the retaining element, in which said second and third portions are immediately adjacent to said central portion (5F), and that said retaining element (9), when the belt (10) is inserted into said retaining element, has at least one portion (T5) of said central portion (5F), protruding outwards from said outer surfaces (Q2, Q5) of said other two portions (5E, 5G),
characterised in that said three portions (5E-G) are band-shaped portions,

- that said three portions (5E-G) are different portions, each having side edges (E4, F3, F4, G3);

- that said three band-shaped portions are queued to one another and arranged so that at least one side edge (E4) of said first portion (5E) is opposite to and at least partially in contact with a side edge (F3) of said central portion (5F), and so that also the other side edge (F4) of said central portion (5F) is opposite to and at least partially in contact with a side edge (G3) of said third portion (5G), so that said three portions form a substantially continuous band, and that said pairs of opposite side edges (E4, F3, F4, G3) of said three queued portions are sewn to one another:
- so that at least one upper section (T1) and one lower section (T2) of said pairs of opposite side edges are sewn to one another,

- and so that said pairs of opposite side edges (E4, F3, F4, G3), in correspondence with an intermediate section (T3) provided between said lower sections (T2) and said upper sections (T3), are not sewn, so as to form a through opening (6) in correspondence with said intermediate section (T3) of said pairs of opposite side edges (E4, F3, F4, G3)
said retaining element providing two through openings (6) for the passage of a section of the belt (10) for said clothing item;
and in that said three band-shaped portions at least in correspondence with said upper section (T1) and lower section (T2) of said pairs of side edges which are sewn to one another have outer surfaces (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q6, Q7, Q8) which are always substantially coplanar to one another and in that, only when the belt is connected to said retaining element, one section (T5) of the second portion protrudes outwards from the corresponding outer surfaces (Q4, Q5) of the second (5E) and the third portion (5G).
A retaining element (9) according to claim 9, characterised in that each of said three portions (5E, 5F, 5G) provides at least one additional inner strengthening element (12, 13) different from said at least three portions (5E, 5F, 5G) and suitable to reduce deformability and to reduce the stretch of said at least three portions (5E, 5F, 5G), at least in correspondence with the through openings (6), and in that said strengthening elements (12, 13) are a strip of fabric, preferably of an orthogonal fabric, more preferably for example a tape for strengthening and finishing, sewn to said three portions.