US20040187194A1

US20040187194A1 - Decorative suspender

Info

Publication number: US20040187194A1
Application number: US10/777,279
Authority: US
Inventors: David Gilliam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-14
Filing date: 2004-02-11
Publication date: 2004-09-30

Abstract

A decorative suspender which may be used as ornamentation in accordance with a fashion of blouse that exposes the midriff and lower back. The suspender attaches by a means of suitable fasteners such as clips or buttonholes, to the bottom of the blouse which then connects to the waistband of the pants. An ornamental element can be affixed to the straps and can be substituted by other elements as desired by the wearer.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Suspender designs have typically been utilitarian consisting of elastic straps attaching to a pair of pants. Early designs were based on functionality alone (U.S. Pat. No. 468,561 Dunham February 1892). The front straps typically connect to the pants, arc over the shoulders, cross at the center of the back and connect to the pants at the center back of the pants by a single strap below the cross or to the back sides of the pants by two straps, each extending from the cross at the back. The shoulders of the wearer provide the support for the suspenders which provide support for the pants. Other previous inventions have attempted to incorporate another article of clothing in addition to the pants upon which to attach the suspenders. A collar (U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,899 Griffin July 1998), a vest underneath the shirt (U.S. Pat. No. 790,314 Robertson May 1905), a vest outer garment (U.S. Pat. No. 1,118,572 Nigh November 1914) are examples of designs incorporating upper garments. Ornamentation has been used in previous inventions as a means of suspending an upper garment, such as a halter top. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,171 Brancato August 2001) but none have combined both ornamentation and functionality in securing the bottom garment with the top. Previous inventions have used tabs to attach to the blouse but are not ornamental in scope (U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,775 B1 Battaglia September 2002). The suspender of the present invention is unique in appearance and construction to reflect adaptability to a fashion of blouse that is not tucked into the pants but is intentionally short in order to expose the midriff. Unlike previous inventions this suspender attaches to the bottom of the blouse which then connects to the waistband of the pants. The suspender of the present invention combines functionality with ornamentation. As worn, the present suspender not only supports the pants but prevents the blouse from riding up. Because the present suspender does not arc over the shoulders it can be attached at any point along the lower margin of the blouse providing great flexibility and personal preference for the wearer. Previous suspenders are limited in the scope of ornamentation in the aspect that ornamentation must blend with the shirt design and color. The present suspender does not have this limitation and can be decorated to provide ornamentation for the midriff and/or the lower back of the wearer. The present suspender has a unique aesthetic quality in providing some coverage of the midriff and/or lower back at the same time. It also creates an optical linear effect of making the midriff appear slimmer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new design of suspender that combines functionality and ornamentation for use for with a current fashion of garment, a blouse that exposes the midriff and lower back. The distal ends of the straps of the suspender of the present invention can be attached to the pants and blouse by means of suitable fasteners such as suspender clips, or buttonholes. The ornamental element can be affixed to the straps and can be substituted by other elements as desired by the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of the suspender made in accordance with the present invention. [0003]
FIG. 2 is a front view of the torso of the wearer showing one embodiment for fastening the distal ends of the suspender to the lower edge of the blouse and waistband of the pants. [0004]

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0005] 10—suspender
[0006] 12 and 14—upper two straps
[0007] 16—lower strap
[0008] 20—detachable decorative piece
[0009] 22, 24 and 26—fasteners
[0010] 28—blouse
[0011] 30—pants
[0012] 32, 34 and 36—double-slotted strap slides

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a suspender [0013] 10 embodying the invention. The suspender 10 has a “Y” configuration, with two upper straps 12 and 14, and a lower strap 16. The straps 12, 14 and 16 are made of flexible elastic material and are adjustable in length as described below. A variety of straps 12, 14 and 16 of different colors and lengths may be provided. An ornamental element 20 is attached at or near the center of the suspender 10. Although the ornamental element 20 is depicted in the form of a butterfly, such is one example only. Thus, the ornamental element 20 can be replaced by other ornamental elements, of different designs and colors.
Although the illustrated [0014] suspender 10 has a “Y” configuration, other configurations are possible, such as a pair of crossed straps in an “X” configuration, or a single vertical strap in an “I” configuration. The straps 12,14 and 16 may be separate pieces sewn together, or a single piece.
The [0015] straps 12, 14 and 16, as well as the ornamental element 20, may be secured at the center by snaps, clips or other removable devices (not shown) hidden behind the ornamental element 20 in FIG. 1. Conventional double-slotted strap slides may be employed as removable attachments.
At the distal ends of the [0016] straps 12, 14 and 16 are suitable fasteners 22, 24 and 26, such as suspender clips, or buttonholes, for attachment to upper and lower garments 28 and 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The ends of the [0017] straps 12, 14 and 16 are looped through slots in the illustrated suspender clips 22, 24 and 26, and are adjustable secured by being passed through the two slots of respective double-slotted strap slides 32, 34 and 36, in a conventional manner.
A set of [0018] straps 12, 14 and 16 of different colors and lengths, and a set of ornamental elements 20 of different designs and colors, can be provided as a kit, to be assembled in various color and decorative design configurations as desired by the wearer.
It will be appreciated that the positioning of the [0019] suspender 10 in the in-use configuration of FIG. 2 is one example only. The suspender 20 can be positioned by the wearer wherever desired.
Modifications may be made in the embodiments as shown and described without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. As an example, two suspenders could be worn in the front, and two in the back. [0020]

Claims

I claim:

1. A suspender which will be used between an upper and lower garment comprising:

a. one strap or a plurality of straps made of a flexible or elastic material.

b. a strap slide or other means attached to said straps enabling said straps to be adjusted in length.

c. a device at the distal ends of said straps enabling said straps to secure said suspender to said upper and lower garment.

2. A suspender as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a. a strap slide or other means attached to said straps enabling said straps to be removed and replaced with straps of different colors made of flexible or elastic material.

3. A suspender as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a. a decorative piece which is attached to the suspender by means of straps, clips or other removable devices to enable the embodiment to be removed and replaced by other embodiments.