US20200178617A1

US20200178617A1 - Garment cuff attachment

Info

Publication number: US20200178617A1
Application number: US16/216,546
Authority: US
Inventors: Mary Hardin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-12-11
Filing date: 2018-12-11
Publication date: 2020-06-11

Abstract

A removable pant leg cuff attachment, the removable pant leg cuff attachment including a flexible sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The inner surface includes an insert material proximate the upper end of the flexible sleeve, the insert material configured to contact an inside surface of the pant leg, the lower end of the flexible sleeve configured to be folded upwards over the lower end of the pant leg to form a pant cuff.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to garments and more specifically to a garment attachment accessory having a portion that is positioned inside of a pants leg and another portion that can be folded over the end of the pants leg to provide the appearance of a pants cuff.

BACKGROUND

Pants can be worn with or without cuffs. It has become fashionable to cuff ones' pants legs in order to show the material on the interior of the pants leg, which may, at times, be different from the design and/color of the pants. For example, pants can be made with a particular color or design on the outer surface while the interior of the pants have a different color or design. In this way, the lower portion of the pants can be folded upward to form a cuff, the cuff showing the design and color of the interior surface of the pants, which may differ from the design and/or color of the outer surface of the pants.
However, these types of cuffs have their inherent drawbacks. For example, there is no interchangeability, thus limiting wardrobe possibilities. In other words, once you buy the pants, the cuffs will always be the same color and design. Another drawback is that showing certain types of cuffs using the manner described above can be expensive, uncomfortable and/or cumbersome. For example, flannel cuffs are stylish but it can be expensive to line the interior of pants legs with flannel, not to mention bulky and too warm to wear indoors or in certain climates.
There have been attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems, by providing “extensions” which affix to the pants leg or garment. However, these have proven inadequate. Most “add on” cuffs require attachment mechanisms either to the pants legs, the cuffs, or often, both. These mechanisms require the user to physically alter their garments by fastening the cuffs to the pants, which often proves to be unsightly, uncomfortable, expensive, and time-consuming to affix. An effective alternative is required.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a removable pant leg cuff attachment is provided. The removable pant leg cuff attachment includes a flexible sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The inner surface includes an insert material proximate the upper end of the flexible sleeve, the insert material configured to contact an inside surface of the pant leg, the lower end of the flexible sleeve configured to be folded upwards over the lower end of the pant leg to form a pant cuff.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a removable pant leg cuff attachment is provided. The removable pant leg cuff attachment includes a flexible sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The inner surface includes an insert material proximate the upper end of the flexible sleeve, the insert material formed as part of the inner surface and configured to contact an inside surface of the pant leg, the lower end of the flexible sleeve configured to be folded upwards over the lower end of the pant leg to form a pant cuff.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a cuff on a pant leg is provided. The method includes sliding a flexible sleeve over a user's foot such that an insert material is exposed, covering the flexible sleeve with the pant leg such that the insert material of the flexible sleeve contacts an interior surface of the pant leg, and folding the portion of the flexible sleeve over an exterior surface of the bottom of the pants leg to form an initial pant cuff.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure where the cuff attachment is turned inside-out;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure also in an inside-out configuration;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a third step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fifth step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a sixth step of an exemplary process of using the garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The garment cuff attachment of the present disclosure provides a cuff attachment that a user can insert into their jeans or pants as a fashion accessory that is cost-effective and won't alter the fit or design of the pants. The cuff attachment can come in a variety of colors and designs thereby giving the user a multitude of cuff variations that can be paired with the user's jeans or pants, or to match other accessories such as scarves, shirts, jacket liners, etc. As will be discussed in greater detail below and shown in the drawing figures, the lower portion of the cuff attachment can be folded upwards over the bottom of the patent, revealing a cuff design and forming a cuff. The upper portion of the cuff attachment “grasps” the interior of the user's pant leg thereby preventing the cuff attachment from inadvertently separating from the pant leg. In addition, the upper portion of the cuff attachment can be rigid or semi-rigid thereby providing a stiffer, more rigid structural design to prevent the cuff attachment from being dislodged from its desired position underneath the user's pant leg.
The cuff attachment of the present disclosure as described herein is not limited for use only on a pant leg, but may also be applied to other garments, for example, a shirt sleeve to form a shirt sleeve cuff. Thus, although the description here pertains to the formation of a cuff attachment for a pant or jean leg, the present disclosure is not limited to only pants but can be applied to other suitable garments.
The cuff attachment of the present disclosure provides an exchangeable pant cuff without the need to alter the pant leg, or attach the cuff to the pant leg with clips or an attachment mechanism which may be unsightly and/or uncomfortable for the user. Finally, the cuff extension of the present disclosure can be inserted, used, removed and exchanged for another cuff with a different color and/or pattern in just a manner of seconds. The result is a simple, inexpensive and easy way for a user to wear their existing pants/jeans with a wide variety of different cuffs thus creating a multitude of various pant/cuff combinations.
Referring to FIG. 1, the garment cuff attachment 10 of the present disclosure is shown. In the view shown in FIG. 1, cuff attachment 10 is shown having an exterior surface 12. Cuff attachment 10 is essentially a pliable and flexible sleeve that is sized to fit over a user's leg, and, at least partially, underneath the user's pant leg. Exterior surface 12 can include a particular design and/or color arrangement. It should be noted that it is the design and color of exterior surface 12 of cuff attachment 10 that is to be folded up over the bottom of the user's pant leg to form the “cuff.” Note that the cuff attachment 10 of the present disclosure may have an exterior surface 12 of any design and/or color and the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. The exterior surface 12 is often of a different color and/or design than the user's pants but this need not be the case.
Cuff attachment 10 can be made of any pliant material, such as, for example, cloth. The cuff attachment 10 is also not limited to particular dimensions. For instance, the dimensions can vary depending on a variety of factors including the design, circumference and/or material of pant leg that the cuff attachment 10 is to be affixed to. For example, in one non-limiting embodiment (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), cuff attachment 10 is approximately 7¼ inches across the top edge, i.e., length A, and slightly smaller across the bottom edge, i.e., length B. This might, for example, be the optimum size to accommodate “straight fit” jeans. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, cuff attachment 10 is approximately 6¾ inches across the top edge, i.e., length A, and approximately 6 inches across its bottom edge, i.e., length B. This embodiment might be used for a different style of jeans, i.e., a “skinny fit.” In yet another embodiment, cuff attachment 10 is approximately 7¼ inches across the top edge, i.e., length A, and approximately 6½ inches across the bottom edge, i.e., length B. This embodiment might be used for yet another style of jeans, i.e., “tapered fit.” The aforementioned dimensions are exemplary only and the present disclosure can be sized in any fashion to accommodate different sizes, designs and styles of garments.
Returning to FIG. 2, an interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10 can be seen. Thus, the view illustrated in FIG. 2 shows cuff attachment 10 in an “inside-out” configuration. The interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10 includes an insert material 16, which extends down at least a portion of the interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10, as shown. Insert material 16 can be affixed to the interior surface 14 via any attachment means including sewing the insert material 16 to the inside of the cuff attachment 10. A seen in FIG. 2, insert material 16 extends from the top of cuff attachment 10 about halfway down the inside of the cuff attachment 10. However, FIG. 2 is merely an illustrative embodiment of the cuff attachment 10 and the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. Thus, insert material 16 may occupy more or less of interior surface 14 than is shown in FIG. 2.
Insert material 16 can be made of various materials and of varying dimensions. In one embodiment, insert material 16 is comprised of polyester and extends down from the top of the interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10 between approximately 2 and 4 inches. As described in further detail below and shown in FIGS. 4-9, it is insert material 16 that will make contact and “grip” the interior of the user's pants leg in order to maintain the position of cuff attachment 10 such that the lower portion of cuff attachment 10 of the pants leg and can be grasped by the user and rolled up above the edge of the pants leg to form the “cuff.” In one embodiment, insert material 16 has a rough, uneven “tacky” surface rather than a smooth surface such that can provide friction to the interior of the pants leg thereby securing the cuff attachment 10 in place. Further, insert material 16 can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material thus providing a more rigid structure, which, as discussed in more detail below, allows the cuff to remain in place when the cuff is rolled up over the bottom of the pant leg. This can be either due to the friction between insert material 16 and the interior of the patent leg, or due to the rigidity of the insert material 16 which provides a structural integrity to the cuff attachment 10 to prevent the cuff attachment 10 from being dislodged from its desired position under the user's pant leg.
In another embodiment, instead of providing a separate insert material that is secured to interior surface 14, at least a portion of the material that comprises interior surface 14 can be treated or otherwise altered to make it stiffer or to provide a better “grip” to the inside surface of pant leg 18. For example, the upper portion of interior surface 14 can be treated with polymer or other chemical or material to provide a rougher and/or more rigid surface, thus, essentially providing an “insert material” but one that is formed from the material of interior surface 14. As with the insert material 16 described above, this treated material would be more rigid and/or provide a friction or static surface that would enable it to “grasp” the interior of pant leg 18, thus preventing cuff attachment 10 from being inadvertently dislodged. The treatment or material that is to be applied to the portion of interior surface 14 to form the “insert material” can be selected from a wide variety of treatments or materials in order to provide the desired effect of securing cuff attachment 10 within the interior of pant leg 18. The present disclosure is not limited to a particular type of treatment or material to achieve this effect.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the cuff attachment 10 of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, length A is longer than length A of the cuff attachment embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is done to, for example, accommodate a different type of pants or jeans style, such as a skinny fit or tapered fit. Also, the tapered upper end improves grip and allows the user an easier way to don cuff attachment 10. The shapes of cuff attachment 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-3 are illustrative only and the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. The size and shape of cuff attachment 10 may vary depending upon the type, shape and style of pant leg. Further, the length and dimension of insert material 16 may also vary in order to accommodate different styles of pants and to allow the user to more easily slip the cuff attachment 10 over their foot.
FIGS. 4-9 illustrate an exemplary process of using the cuff attachment 10 of the present disclosure. Shown in FIG. 4 is a pant leg 18 of a user's pants having a bottom edge 20. The design of pant leg 18 shown in FIGS. 4-9 is merely illustrative, and, as discussed above, cuff attachment 10 can be sized to accommodate different pant styles, lengths, and dimensions. Cuff attachment 10 is shown in FIG. 4 in an inside-out orientation with insert material 16, which is affixed to the interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10, exposed. Thus, at some time prior to use, the user can grasp the edge (upper or lower) of cuff attachment 10 and pull it through the interior such that the cuff attachment 10 is inside-out with the insert material 16 showing. It is in this orientation that the cuff attachment 10 will be used to form the pant cuff.
As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, in order to more properly align and allow the cuff attachment 10 to slide over the user's pant leg, the user cuffs the lower portion of their pant leg 18 to form a pseudo-cuff 22. This is not a required step but merely a way to allow cuff attachment 10 to slide up easily over the bottom of the pant leg 18. In one embodiment, the user's shoe can be removed to also allow for easy movement of cuff attachment 10 along the user's leg. As shown in FIG. 5, insert material 16 on the interior surface 14 of cuff attachment 10 is exposed with insert material 16 being on the upper portion of the cuff attachment.
As shown in FIG. 6, cuff attachment 10 has been slid up over the user's foot. At this time, cuff attachment 10 is against the user's leg, just under the end 20 of pant leg 18. In FIG. 7, the user has slid cuff attachment 10 higher, over their foot and up towards the lower part of their leg (pseudo-cuff 22 is not shown in FIG. 7). The user then turns down the rolled up pseudo-cuff 22 over the insert material 16 as shown in FIG. 7. In one non-limiting embodiment, the bottom edge of the pant leg 18 covers up just the upper insert material 16 portion of the cuff attachment 10 while leaving interior surface 14 exposed and extending beneath the bottom of the pant leg 18 (as shown in FIG. 7). However, there need not be any exposed portion (i.e., interior surface 14) below the pant leg 18 to form the final cuff. For example, the bottom of cuff attachment 10 could be aligned substantially with the bottom of pant leg 18. Or, pant leg 18 may even extend below the bottom of cuff attachment 10. In this case, the user can reach and grasp the material comprising interior surface 14 lift it and fold it up over the end of pant leg 18 to form the cuff.
In one embodiment, insert material 16 is of a different color than interior surface 14, thus giving the user a guide which allows the user to lower their pant leg 18 so that it completely covers the insert material 16 while leaving the lower interior surface 14 exposed and extending below the pant leg 18. Thus, depending upon the dimensions, i.e., height, of insert material 16, the amount of interior surface 14 that will extend down below the pant leg 18 will vary. At this point, the user can also vary the amount of material that extends below pant leg 18 depending upon how much cuff they would like to be shown. Again, once in place, there does not have to necessarily be any portion of the material of cuff attachment 10 extending down below the bottom 20 of pant leg 18 to form the cuff.
Referring to FIG. 8, the user, in one embodiment, grasps the lower portion of cuff attachment 10 (in one embodiment, the portion that extends below the user's pant leg 18), and rolls the lower portion upwards over the bottom of pant leg 18 to form an initial cuff 24, with the exterior surface 12 of cuff attachment 10 showing. Insert material 16 provides a two-fold purpose that allows cuff attachment 10 to remain in place inside the user's pant leg 18 while the cuff is being formed. First, insert material 16 provides an exposed rough surface that adheres to or “grasps” the interior of the pant leg 18 in such a fashion that once inserted on the user's lower leg within the pant leg 18, the cuff attachment 10 will not slide up or down but remain in place. Insert material 16 may provide a “rough” as opposed to a smooth surface such that once the pant leg 18 is rolled down over cuff attachment 10 in the manner described above and shown in the figures, the cuff attachment 10 remains in place.
Further, in one embodiment, insert material 16 can be made of a material that is rigid or semi-rigid. The rigidity of insert material 16 helps secure cuff attachment 10 in place beneath the user's pant leg 18. The rigidity of insert material 16 prevents it from collapsing, being dislodged or otherwise falling out of the pant leg and forms a tighter more “snug” fit when cuff attachment 10 has been slid up over the user's lower leg. Thus, it is the rigidity or semi-rigidity of the insert material 16 and/or the friction between the insert material 16 and the interior of the pant leg 18 that serves to maintain the cuff attachment 10 in place.
Although the initial cuff 24 created by cuff attachment 10 as shown in FIG. 8 can be the “final” cuff, in one embodiment, the user can further secure the cuff by folding the initial cuff 24 one or more times to form a final cuff 26 as shown in FIG. 9. The additional folding of the initial cuff 24 to form the final cuff 26 provides an added procedure to help maintain cuff 24 in place. Although not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, cuff attachment 10 is secured underneath pant leg 18 because the outwards facing insert material 16 is rigid or semi-rigid thus providing improved structural integrity and also because cuff attachment 10 contacts and “grasps” the interior of the pant leg 18 through friction. The uneven or rough exposed surface of interior material 16 and the rigid or semi-rigid material used to form insert material 16 serve both to secure cuff attachment 10 in place partially beneath pant leg 18 while allowing the exposed material, i.e., exterior surface 12 to show in the form of a cuff 26. The additional fold to form the final cuff 26 is often desired, stylistically, as it leaves the ankle exposed.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A removable pant leg cuff attachment comprising:

a flexible sleeve comprising:

an upper end;

a lower end;

an outer surface; and

an inner surface, the inner surface exposed and configured to secure the flexible sleeve beneath the pant leg, the lower end of the flexible sleeve configured to be folded upwards over the lower end of the pant leg to form a pant cuff.

2. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 16, wherein the insert material is sewn into the inner surface of the flexible sleeve.

3. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 16, wherein the insert material is comprised of polyester.

4. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 16, wherein the insert material is comprised of a semi-rigid or rigid material.

5. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 1, wherein the removable pant leg cuff attachment comprises a color that is different from a color of the pant leg.

6. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 1, wherein the removable pant leg cuff attachment comprises a design that is different from a design of the pant leg.

7. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 16, wherein the insert material is formed by treating at least a portion of the flexible sleeve.

8. A removable pant leg cuff attachment comprising:

a flexible sleeve comprising:

an upper end;

a lower end;

an outer surface; and

an inner surface, the inner surface comprising an insert material proximate the upper end of the flexible sleeve, the insert material formed as part of the inner surface and configured to contact an inside surface of the pant leg, the lower end of the flexible sleeve configured to be folded upwards over the lower end of the pant leg to form a pant cuff.

9. A method of forming a cuff on a pant leg, the method comprising:

sliding a flexible sleeve over a user's foot, the flexible sleeve having an exposed surface configured to secure the flexible sleeve beneath the pant leg;

covering the flexible sleeve with the pant leg such that the exposed surface of the flexible sleeve contacts an interior surface of the pant leg; and

folding a portion of the flexible sleeve over an exterior surface of the bottom of the pants leg to form an initial pant cuff.

10. The method of claim 17, wherein the insert material is comprised of polyester.

11. The method of claim 17, wherein the insert material is comprised of a semi-rigid or rigid material.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the removable pants leg cuff attachment comprises a color that is different from the color of the pant leg.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the removable pants leg cuff attachment comprises a design that is different from the design of the pant leg.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising folding the initial pant cuff over an exterior surface of the pants leg to form a final pant cuff.

15. The method of claim 17, wherein the insert material is formed as part of the inner surface by selecting a treatment from a plurality of treatments to apply to the inner surface of the flexible sleeve.

16. The removable pant leg cuff attachment of claim 1, wherein the inner surface further comprises an insert material proximate the upper end of the flexible sleeve, and wherein the insert material is exposed and configured to contact an inside surface of the pant leg.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the exposed surface of the flexible sleeve comprises an insert material, the insert material contacting the interior surface of the pant leg thus securing the flexible sleeve beneath the pant leg.