GB2050810A - A garter for a leg warmer or stocking - Google Patents

Abstract

A garter for a legwarmer or a stocking leg comprises a flexible but longitudinally substantially inextensible band 1 having a non-slip construction, for example cling trimmings 4, and a touch-and-close fastener 2, 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A garter for a leg warmer or stocking The invention relates to a garter for a sports stocking or a footless stocking known as a legwarmer. In many types of sports, such as, for example, in football, the players use stockings. As the player moves during play, the legwarmers tend, as a result of friction between the heel movement and the shoe, to slip down over the calf towards the foot. As a result, on longer-lasting movement, for example during a game of football, the stocking legs slip under the sole of the foot and form thickened portions and creases, which can cause slight injuries, such as blisters and scuffing. At the very least, however, the movement of the player is impaired, or his performance is hampered.If in addition shin pads are used with known types of legwarmer or stocking which slip, the shin pads do not possess adequate grip and therefore partly lose their protective function; the problem indicated above is thus magnified further.

Hitherto, there has been no satisfactory solution proposed for holding the legwarmers or stocking legs. In most cases rubber garter bands are used, but because of their elasticity these cannot prevent the legwarmer or stocking leg from slipping over the calf.

According to the invention, there is proposed a garter comprising a flexible band which is substantially inextensible in the longitudinal direction, is of non-slip construction and is provided with an adjustable fastener to connect the ends of the band together.

It should be understood that the invention is applicable not only to legwarmers or stockings used in sports, but also for all other legwarmers or stockings.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, of one possible embodiment of legwarmer garter in accordance with the invention. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of the garter; and Figure2 is a perspective view of the garter.

As is shown by the drawing, a band 1 is provided having at its one end a part 2 of a touch-and-close fastener whose matching part 3 is on the rear of the band 1 at the other end. The touch-and-close fastener 2, 3 may, for example, comprise a Velcro strip fastener (R.T.M.). One surface of the band 1 is additionally provided with non-slip or cling trimmings 4.

The band 1 can consist of any flexible material which is non-elastic or only slightly elastic, in the lengthwise direction; it is also possible for the band to have non-flexible portions (not shown).

The surface of the band 1 can be made non-slip by using a non-slip material, for example by employing in the manufacture of the band a special type of woven fabric construction or a special type of knitted fabric. Furthermore the surface of the band, either in portions or over its entirety, and optionally also on one side only, can be provided with a non-slip material, such as, for example, slubs, strips, flock covering, an impregnation, or burr-like materials.

Furthermore, the entire band 1 can consist of a cling band or touch-and-close band, or one side face of a carrier band can be of this type. If the band is three-dimensional, for example of rectangular or hexagonal cross-section, a non-slip or cling arrange ment can be provided on several surfaces.

The closure can be any of various diverse types. It can be a cling or touch-and-close fastener, but also a press-fastener such as a press-stud, a hook-and-eye fastener, or a buckle fastener; that is to say any conventional fastener can be used.

By using the closure 2, 3, the garter can be suited to individual circumstances and is infinitely adjustable so that the band 1, by virtue of the fact that it is substantially inelastic and that the calf is thicker than the region below the knee, can under no circumstances slip over the calf. The cling trimmings hold the legwarmerorthestocking leg in position and prevent it from slipping under the band and thus making the garter ineffective. If the legwarmer or the stocking is turned over at the top, it is advantageous if, additionally to the cling trimmings on the inside, cling trimmings of this type are also provided on the outside of the band.

It is also possible to integrate the band into the upper end of the legwarmer or stocking leg. In that case it is sufficient to provide only a fastener.

1. A garter comprising a flexible band which is substantially inextensible in the longitudinal direction, is of non-slip construction and is provided with an adjustable fastener to connect the ends of the band together.

2. A garter according to claim 1, wherein the band is at least in part of non-slip construction on one or both of the broad sides and/or one or both of the narrow sides.

3. A garter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the band consists of a non-slip woven fabric construction.

4. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band carries non-slip trimmings.

5. A garter according to claim 4, wherein the non-slip trimmings are slubs, strips, or impregnations.

6. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band is formed, at least in part, of a non-slip material.

7. A garter according to claim 6, wherein the band consists entirely of a non-slip knitted fabric.

8. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastener is a touch-and-close fastener.

9. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener is a press-stud fastener.

10. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band is integrated into a legwarmer.

11. Agarterfora legwarmer or stocking leg substantially as hereinbefore described with refer

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A garter for a leg warmer or stocking The invention relates to a garter for a sports stocking or a footless stocking known as a legwarmer. In many types of sports, such as, for example, in football, the players use stockings. As the player moves during play, the legwarmers tend, as a result of friction between the heel movement and the shoe, to slip down over the calf towards the foot. As a result, on longer-lasting movement, for example during a game of football, the stocking legs slip under the sole of the foot and form thickened portions and creases, which can cause slight injuries, such as blisters and scuffing. At the very least, however, the movement of the player is impaired, or his performance is hampered.If in addition shin pads are used with known types of legwarmer or stocking which slip, the shin pads do not possess adequate grip and therefore partly lose their protective function; the problem indicated above is thus magnified further. Hitherto, there has been no satisfactory solution proposed for holding the legwarmers or stocking legs. In most cases rubber garter bands are used, but because of their elasticity these cannot prevent the legwarmer or stocking leg from slipping over the calf. According to the invention, there is proposed a garter comprising a flexible band which is substantially inextensible in the longitudinal direction, is of non-slip construction and is provided with an adjustable fastener to connect the ends of the band together. It should be understood that the invention is applicable not only to legwarmers or stockings used in sports, but also for all other legwarmers or stockings. In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, of one possible embodiment of legwarmer garter in accordance with the invention. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of the garter; and Figure2 is a perspective view of the garter. As is shown by the drawing, a band 1 is provided having at its one end a part 2 of a touch-and-close fastener whose matching part 3 is on the rear of the band 1 at the other end. The touch-and-close fastener 2, 3 may, for example, comprise a Velcro strip fastener (R.T.M.). One surface of the band 1 is additionally provided with non-slip or cling trimmings 4. The band 1 can consist of any flexible material which is non-elastic or only slightly elastic, in the lengthwise direction; it is also possible for the band to have non-flexible portions (not shown). The surface of the band 1 can be made non-slip by using a non-slip material, for example by employing in the manufacture of the band a special type of woven fabric construction or a special type of knitted fabric. Furthermore the surface of the band, either in portions or over its entirety, and optionally also on one side only, can be provided with a non-slip material, such as, for example, slubs, strips, flock covering, an impregnation, or burr-like materials. Furthermore, the entire band 1 can consist of a cling band or touch-and-close band, or one side face of a carrier band can be of this type. If the band is three-dimensional, for example of rectangular or hexagonal cross-section, a non-slip or cling arrange ment can be provided on several surfaces. The closure can be any of various diverse types. It can be a cling or touch-and-close fastener, but also a press-fastener such as a press-stud, a hook-and-eye fastener, or a buckle fastener; that is to say any conventional fastener can be used. By using the closure 2, 3, the garter can be suited to individual circumstances and is infinitely adjustable so that the band 1, by virtue of the fact that it is substantially inelastic and that the calf is thicker than the region below the knee, can under no circumstances slip over the calf. The cling trimmings hold the legwarmerorthestocking leg in position and prevent it from slipping under the band and thus making the garter ineffective. If the legwarmer or the stocking is turned over at the top, it is advantageous if, additionally to the cling trimmings on the inside, cling trimmings of this type are also provided on the outside of the band. It is also possible to integrate the band into the upper end of the legwarmer or stocking leg. In that case it is sufficient to provide only a fastener. CLAIMS

1. A garter comprising a flexible band which is substantially inextensible in the longitudinal direction, is of non-slip construction and is provided with an adjustable fastener to connect the ends of the band together.

2. A garter according to claim 1, wherein the band is at least in part of non-slip construction on one or both of the broad sides and/or one or both of the narrow sides.

3. A garter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the band consists of a non-slip woven fabric construction.

4. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band carries non-slip trimmings.

5. A garter according to claim 4, wherein the non-slip trimmings are slubs, strips, or impregnations.

6. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band is formed, at least in part, of a non-slip material.

7. A garter according to claim 6, wherein the band consists entirely of a non-slip knitted fabric.

8. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastener is a touch-and-close fastener.

9. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener is a press-stud fastener.

10. A garter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band is integrated into a legwarmer.

11. Agarterfora legwarmer or stocking leg substantially as hereinbefore described with refer ence to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.