GB2447945A

GB2447945A - Lower garment assembly with suspender device

Info

Publication number: GB2447945A
Application number: GB0706051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chih-Wei Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-29
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-29
Also published as: GB2447945B; GB0706051D0

Abstract

A lower garment assembly includes a lower garment (2) and a suspender device (3) for suspending the lower garment (2). The lower garment (2) has a plurality of attachment elements (23) provided on an inner surface of the lower garment (2). The suspender device (3) includes a waistband portion (31) adapted to fit around the waist of the user (1), at least two suspending portions (32, 33) extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of the waistband portion (31), and fastening members (34) secured respectively to bottom ends of the suspending portions (32, 33). Each of the fastening members (34) is connected removably to one of the attachment elements (23). The lower garment (2) can be held in position by the suspender device (3) to prevent undesired slipping of the lower garment (2) and undesired exposure. The suspender device (3) can be configured to resemble a thong to expose the midriff of the user (1).

Description

LOWER GABMENT ASSEMBLY WITR SUSPENDER DEVICE

The invention relates to a lower garment assembly, more particularly to a lower garment assembly with a suspender device.

Pants, shorts, skirts, culottes, and the like which are generally worn at or below the waistline are referred to herein as lower garments. Hereinbelow, the present invention is exemplified using pants as examples. In general, pants are held in position at or below the waistline using belts or elastic bands provided at the waist portion of the pants so as to prevent undesired downward slipping of the pants. Suspender straps are also used to help keep pants in position. However, although conventional suspender straps ease the constraining feeling imparted by belts, they do not always go with fashion wear.

Nowadays, it becomes a trend for young women and teenagers to wear low-rise or low-cut pants for both catching up with the hip-hop style and sense of popularity. That is, the pants are worn inches below the waistline or slung low on the hips. However, as the part of the body at the hips is comparatively wide, low-rise pants cannot be properly held in place even with belts, and may need to be pulled up from time to time to prevent undesired slipping and exposure, which is inconvenient, especially for young people doing extreme sports, such as extreme skateboarding, that require agile movements of squatting and twisting, etc. Fashionistas like to wear low-cut pants, midriff shirts, and thong underwear to expose their midriff.

Nevertheless, wearing low-rise pants is inconvenient, as mentioned above, and there have been warnings that prolonged wearing of thong underwear is not good for health.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lower garment assembly with a suspender device that will not affect the appearance and comfort of a lower garment and that can prevent undesirable downward slipping of the lower garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a suspender device designed to resemble thong underwear.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lower garment assembly comprises: a lower garment; and a suspender device including a waistband portion adapted to fit around the waist of a user, at least two suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of the waistband portion, and fastening members that are secured respectively to bottom ends of the suspending portions and that engage removably the lower garment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a suspender device is adapted to suspend a lower garment worn by a user, the lower garment including a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of the lower garment. The suspender device comprises: a waistband portion adapted to fit around the waist of a user; two suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of the waistband portion; ndtwofasteniflgIflembet5 secured respectively to bottom ends of the suspending portions and adapted to engage removably the attachment elements provided on the lower garment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a lower garment adapted to be suspended by the suspender device comprises a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of the lower garment, the fastening members being engageable removably with the attachment elements.

AccordingtoafOUrthaSPeCt0ftPreser1t invention, a lower garment assembly comprises: a lower garment having a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of the lower garment; and a suspender device including a waistband portion adapted to fit around left and right sides and a rear side of the waist of a user, two first suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two ends of the waistband portion, a second suspending portion extending downwardly from a rear part of the waistband portion, and a plurality of fastening members secured respectively to bottom ends of the first and second suspending portions, the fastening members being engageable removably with the attachment elements.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a front view of the third preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention; Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention; Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the sixth preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention; and Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the seventh preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, itshouldbenotedthat like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the

disclosure.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention is shown to include a lower garment 2 and a suspender device 3. The lower garment 2 has a plurality of attachment elements 23 provided on an inner surface thereof. The lower garment 2 includes a covering portion 21 adapted to cover the pelvic region of a user 1, and the attachment elements 23 are provided on inner sides of two opposite parts of the covering portion 21.

Inthisembodimeflt, thelowergarlfleflt2 isexemplified as a pair of low-cut shorts, and further has a crotch section 22 connected to bottom ends of front and rear parts of the covering portion 21. The lower garment 2 further includes a fabric strip sewn to the inner surface of the lower garment 2 along a plurality of substantially parallel stitch lines that are spaced apart from each other along the length of the fabric strip. Specifically1 the fabric strip is sewn to the inner sides of the crotch section 22 and the front and rear parts of the covering portion 21. In this embodiment, the attachment elements 23 are configured S as eyes respectively defined between two adjacent ones of the stitch lines, and are arranged in series in a top-to-bottom direction.

The suspender device 3 includes a looped waistband portion 31 adapted to fit around the waist of the user 1, a first suspending portion 32 and a second suspending portion 33 extending downwardly from front and rear sides of the waistband portion 31, and two fastening members 34 secured respectively to bottom ends of the first and second suspending portions 32, 33. Each of the fastening members 34 is connected removably to one of the attachment elements 23. The waistband portion 31 in this embodiment is in the form of an elastic band, and is adorned with lace. The first and second suspending portions 32, 33 extend downwardly and respectively to the opposite parts of the covering portion 21 from the waistbandportiOfl3)-. In addition, the fasteningmeflthers 34 in this embodiment are conventional fastening hooks for hooking the attachment elements 23, but may be in the forinof buttons, Velcro tapes, andthe like, without being limited thereto inpractice. correspondingly, the attachment elements23maYbebuttofleYes, Velcro tapeS, and the like for engaging the fastening members 34, without limiting the invention thereto.

Thus, before putting on the low-cut lower garment 2, the user 1 causes the fastening members 34 to engage respectively the attachment elements 23 on the lower garment 2. After putting on the lower garment 2, the waistband portion 31 of the suspender device 3 will fit around the waist of the user 1, with the suspending portions 32, 33 together with the fastening members 34 holding up the lower garment 2 to prevent undesired slippage or exposure.

In addition, since the attachment elements 23 are arranged on the front inner side of the covering portion 21, the crotch section 22, and the rear inner side of the covering portion 21, the attachment elements 23 run substantially longitudinally along mid-seams of the covering portion 21 and the crotch section 22. Thus, the fastening members 34 can be brought to engage the attachment elements 23 at different positions to permit adjustment of the distance between the waistband portion 31 and the lower garment 2.

Referring to Figure 4, the second preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly according to the present invention is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure. The difference residesinthattheWai5tbafldP0tt]0n3b0ft5 device 3 of this embodiment includes a strap 311 with two ends, andmale andfernale connectorS 312, 313 secured respectively to the two ends of the strap 311 and engageable removably with each other. The first and second suspending portions 32, 33 extend downwardly and respectively from left and right lateral sides of the strap 311. Furthermore, a plurality of fabric loops are sewn to the inner surface of the lower garment 2 at left and right lateral sides thereof for engaging the fastening members 34, respectively. Each of the fabric loops defines an eye serving as one of the attachment elements 23. In this embodiment, the strap 311 is fitted around the waist of the user, the male and female connectors 312, 313 are mated to secure the strap 311 on the waist of the user, and the fastening members 34 are caused to engage the corresponding fabric loops, i.e., the attachment elements 23, to holdup the covering portion 21 on the user' s pelvic region. This embodiment is primarily suitable for teenagers engaging in extreme sport activities like skateboarding to prevent slipping of the lower garment 2 or undesired exposure.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the third preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly with a suspender device according to the present invention is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure. The difference resides in that the waistband portion 31 of the suspender device 3 is in the form of a narrow elastic band, and the first suspending portion 32 is formed from a soft fabric cut into a triangular shape. In other words, the suspender device 3 is made to resemble the upper portion of a thong when worn with the lower garment 2. This embodiment allows the user ito expose themidriff of the body without incurring the problems associated with wearing thong underwear. Furthermore, the suspending portion 32 can be made to have a relatively large area so as to extend farther downward.

Referring to Figure 7, the fourth preferred embodrnent of a lower garment assembly with a suspender device according to the present invention is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure. The difference resides in that the waistband portion 31 of the suspender device 3 is in the form of a relatively wide elastic band, and there are provided two first suspending portions 32 and two second suspending portions 33, which extend downwardly and respectively from the waistband portion 31 in a spaced-apart relationship. The attachment elements 23 are provided on the inner side of the covering portion 21 to correspond to the first and second suspending portions 32, 33 for engagement with the fastening members 34 secured to the bottom ends of the first and second suspending portions 32, 33.

Referring to Figure 8, the fifth preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly with a suspender device according to the present invention is substantially similartothefourthpreferredembodimentinstructure.

The difference resides in that the waistband portion 31 of the suspender device 3 is an open loop with two ends, and is adapted to merely surround the back and the left and right parts of the waist of the user, and that the suspender device 3 includes two first suspending portions 32 that extend downwardly and respectively from the two ends of the waistband portion 31. The second suspending portion 33 extends downwardly from a rear portion of the waistband portion 31 between the two ends.

The fastening members 34 are disposed to engage the corresponding attachment elements 23 provided on the inner side of the covering portion 21 at corresponding positions.

In the above-described first to fifth preferred embodiment, it is necessary to provide attachment elements 23 on the inner sides of the lower garment 2 for engagement with the fastening members 34. However, the present invention can also be adapted for use on conventional lower garments 2. Referring to Figure 9, the sixth preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly with a suspender device according to the present invention is substantially similar to the fourth preferred embodiment in structure. The difference resides in that the lower garment 2 of this embodiment is not provided with the attachment elements 23 (see Figure 7). Instead, the lower garment 2 of this embodiment has a plurality of belt loops 24 fixed to an outer side of a top end part of the covering portion 2lforlimitingabelt (not shown) extendedtherethroUgh.

In other words, the lower garment 2 is a pair of pants or a skirt that can be fastened at or below the waist with a belt. The fastening members 34 of the suspender device 3 are disposed to hook the belt loops 24 directly so as to achieve the objectives of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 10, the seventh preferred embodiment of a lower garment assembly with a suspender device according to the present invention is substantially similar to the fourth preferred embodiment instructure. Thedifference resides inthat this embodiment is adapted to be used on a pair of pants ora skirt without the attachment elements 23 (see Figure 7) or the belt loops 24 (see Figure 8) . The fastening members 34 of the suspender device 3 in this embodiment are fastening clasps or clips adapted to clamp or clip onto a top end of the lower garment 20. In other words, the fastening members 34 directly clamps the top end of the lower garment 2 to prevent downward slipping of the lower garment.

It is noted that, while the lower garment 2 is exemplified as a pair of shorts in the above-described embodiments, it can be in the form of a pair of pants, a skirt, or the like, without being limited thereto.

In sum, with the provision of the waistband portion 31 and the suspending portions 32, 33 together with the fastening members 34, the lower garment 2 can be held securely on the lower body of the user to prevent possible S slipping of the lower garment 2 and undesired exposure.

Besides, the suspender device 3 can be made to resemble a thong to expose the midriff of the user without causing discomfort or health damage associated with conventional thong underwear.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A lower garment assembly comprising: a lower garment; and a

suspender device including a waistband portion S adapted to fit around the waist of a user, at least two suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of said waistband portion, and fastening members that are secured respectively to bottom ends of said io suspending portions and that engage removably said lower garment.
2. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lower garment includes a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, anda plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner side of said covering portion, said fastening members hooking or clipping onto said attachment elements.
3. The lower garment assembly according to claim 2, wherein said attachment elements are provided on front and rear parts of said inner side of said covering portion, said suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from front and rear parts of said waistband portion.
4. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lower garment is formed as a pair of low-cut shorts. S. * S p *** *.*. I * S... *5 * * . * .. * I.... * I S. S * * * S.

S

p. .ei p *

4. The lower garment assembly according to claim 2, wherein said attachment elements are fixed to two opposite parts of said inner side of said covering portion, andarearrangedia series inatoP_tOb0ttotU direction.

5. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said waistband portion of said suspender device includes a strap, and a male connector and a female connector secured respectively to two ends of said strap and engageable removably with each other.

6. The lower garment assembly according to claim 2, wherein said lower garment includes a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, a crotch section connected to front and rear parts of said covering portion, and a fabric strip sewn to said crotch section and to said front and rear parts along substantially parallel stitch lines that are spaced apart from each other along the length of said fabric strip, said attachment elements being configured as eyes each defined between two adjacent ones of said stitch lines.

7. The lower garment assembly according to claim 5, wherein said lower garment is a pair of pants.

8. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lower garment includes a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, and a plurality of attachment elements made of a fabric and sewn to an inner side of said covering portion, said fastening members hooking or clipping onto said attachment elements.

9. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lower garment includes a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, and a plurality of belt loops fixed to an outer side of a top end part of said covering portion, said fastening members hooking said belt loops, respectively.

lO.The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fastening members of said suspender device are clips that clip onto a top end of said lower garment.

11. A suspender device adapted to suspend a lower garment worn by a user, the lower garment including a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of the lower garment, said suspender device comprising: a waistband portion adapted to fit around the waist of a user; two suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of said waistband portion; and two fastening members secured respectively to bottom ends of said suspending portions and adapted to engage removably the attachment elements provided on the lower garment.

12. The suspender device according to claim 11, wherein said waistband portion includes a strap, and a male connector and a female connector secured respectively to two ends of said strap and engageable removably with each other.

13.A lower garment adapted to be suspended by the suspender device of Claim 11, comprising a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of said lower garment, said fastening members being engageable removably with said attachment elements.

14.The lower garment according to claim 13, further comprising a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, said attachment elements being provided on front and rear parts of an inner side of said covering portion, said suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from front and rear parts of said waist band portion.

15.The lower garment according to claim 13, further comprising a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, said attachment elements being provided on two opposite sides of an inner side of said covering portion and being arranged in series in a top-to-bottom direction on said inner side of said covering portion.

16.The lower garment according to claim 13, further comprising a covering portion adapted to cover the pelvic region of the user, a crotch section connected to front and rear parts of said covering portion, and a fabric strip sewn to said front and rear parts and said crotch section along a plurality of substantially parallel stitch lines that are spaced apart from each other along the length of said fabric strip, said attachment elements being configured as eyes each defined between two adjacent ones of said stitch lines.

17.A lower garment assembly, comprising: a lower garment having a plurality of attachment elements provided on an inner surface of said lower garment; and a suspender device including a waistband portion adapted to fit around left and right sides and a rear side of the waist of a user, two first suspending portions extending downwardly and respectively from two ends of said waistband portion, a second suspending portion extending downwardly from a rear part of said waistband portion, and a plurality of fastening members secured respectively to bottom ends of said first and second suspending portions, said fastening members being engageable removably with said attachment elements.

18.The lower garment assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19.The suspender device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

20.The lower garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. cit

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A lower garment assembly comprising: a lower garment having a covering portion that is adapted to cover the pelvic region of a user and that includes front and rear parts, and at least two attachment elements disposed respectively on inner sides of said front and rear parts and aligned substantially with said crotch section; and a suspender device including a waistband portion adapted to fit around the waist of a user and having front and rear sides, two spaced -apart suspending portions connected respectively to said front and rear sides of said waistband portion, and fastening members that are secured respectively to said suspending portions and that engage removably said attachment elements; wherein said waistband portion is spaced apart from said lower garment, said suspending portions extend into said lower garment and are aligned substantiallywith saidcrotch section, andportions of said suspending portions are exposed from said * S..

lower garment. **.S *. . p * *

* 2. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, * 25 wherein said lower garment further includes a fabric :*. strip sewn to said crotch section and to said front and rearpartso saidcovering portion along substantially parallel stitch lines that are spaced apart from each other along the length of said fabric strip, said attachment elements being configured as eyes each defined between two adjacent ones of said stitch lines.

3. The lower garment assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said attachment elements is formed as a fabric loop, and each of said fastening members is formed as a hook.