US20210120896A1

US20210120896A1 - Clothing Belt

Info

Publication number: US20210120896A1
Application number: US16/838,312
Authority: US
Inventors: Vicki A. Lynn
Original assignee: Aitb LLC
Current assignee: Aitb LLC
Priority date: 2019-10-29
Filing date: 2020-04-02
Publication date: 2021-04-29

Abstract

Disclosed is an article of clothing that includes a front side, a back side, a first side between the front side and the back side, and a second side between the front side and the back side that is opposite from the first side. Further, the article includes a flexible webbing that traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visible point where the front side meets the first side; (ii) in between an external layer of the backside attached to an inner layer of the backside; and (iii) to a second, visible point where the second side meets the front side. Further still, the article includes a fixed ring located where the front side meets the first side, whereby the article provides hands-free stability to a wearer when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation, which claims priority to U.S. design patent application Ser. Nos. 29/711,202 and 29/711,206, both of which were filed on Oct. 29, 2019, wherein each of these applications are incorporated by this reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to belting within and on clothing, such as vests, jackets, shirts, pants, etc., such that when worn, the belted clothing may fit snugly and provide hands-free stability when a pulling object, such as a dog, is attached thereto, e.g., a leash attached on one of its two ends to a ring on the belted clothing and on the other of its two ends to the dog's collar.

BACKGROUND

Clothing items, such as dogwalker's vests, may permit a wearer to hold items in pockets, but they fail to provide hands-free stability when a pulling object, such as a dog, is attached thereto, e.g., a leash attached on one of its two ends to a ring on the belted clothing and on the other of its two ends to the dog's collar. Additionally, the state of the art fails to provide the wearer with a tailored look; instead, dogwalker's vests in the prior art are loose-fitting and look sloppy on the wearer. Accordingly, these improvement(s) are illustrative of improvement(s) that this disclosure seeks to redress in the state of the art.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of this disclosure are attained and may be understood in detail, a more particular description, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front and partial side views of the exterior an article of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a back side and partial side views of the exterior an article of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a front and partial side views of the interior of an article of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a back side and partial side views of the interior of an article of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various specific embodiments, versions and examples are described herein, including exemplary embodiments and definitions that are adopted herein for purposes of understanding. While the following detailed description gives specific preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are exemplary only, and that the disclosure can be practiced in other ways. For purposes of determining infringement, the scope of the invention will refer to the any claims, including their equivalents, and elements or limitations that are equivalent to those that are recited.
Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention. Many variations and modifications of embodiments disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the present disclosure.
Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”
The use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim is intended to mean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, is not required. Both alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, having, etc. should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, comprised substantially of, and the like.
As used herein, “about” means the number itself and/or within 5% of the stated number. For instance, with about 5%, this means 5 and/or any number or range within the range of 4.75 to 5.25, e.g., 4.75 to 4.96, 4.81 to 5.1, etc.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
It is to be appreciated that reference to “one example” or “an example” of the disclosed subject matter is not made in an exclusive sense. Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention, whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. These examples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing what is disclosed and claimed, and are not intended to limit the overall scope of the invention in any way unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Generally, disclosed are articles of clothing, such as a shirt with one or more sleeves, vest, jacket or other item worn on a torso, or in alternative embodiments, be at least a portion of a pair of pants, skirt, or other item worn below the midsection. With reference to the Figures, disclosed is an example embodiment of such an article 10 of clothing that comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a front side 12, a back side 14, a first side 16 between the front side 12 and the back side 14, and a second side 18 between the front side 12 and the back side 14 that is opposite from the first side 16. Further, the article 10 of clothing may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of a flexible webbing 20 that traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article 10, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visible point 22 at least proximate to where the front side 12 meets the first side 16; (ii) to in between an external layer 28 of the back side 14 attached to an inner layer 26 of the back side 14; and (iii) to a second, visible point 24 at least proximate to where the second side 18 meets the front side 12.
The article 10 of clothing may further include at least one fixed ring 28, which is located at least proximate, e.g., at, about at, within 0.5 inches, 1 inches or 2 inches, to where the front side 12 meets the first side 16, i.e., at least proximate to the first, visible point 22. In addition or alternatively, the article 10 may include at least one fixed ring 30, which is located at least proximate to where the front side 12 meets the second side 18, i.e., at least proximate to the second, visible point 24.
For a wearer of such an article 10 of clothing, the article 10 provides hands-free stability when a pulling object such as a dog, is attached thereto, e.g., a leash attached on one of its two ends to one or more fixed rings 28, 30 and/or one or more movable rings 32, 36 on the flexible webbing 20 and on the other of its two ends to the dog's collar. Additionally, the article 10 may fit the wearer snugly so as to provide the wearer with a tailored appearance.
In still additional and alternative example embodiments, the article 10 of clothing, as the previous paragraph notes, may include at least one movable ring 32 on the flexible webbing 20 between the first, visible point 22 and a first, side point 34, which is located at least proximate to where the first side 12 meets the back side 14. Additionally and alternatively, the article 10 may include at least one movable ring 36 on the flexible webbing 20 between the second, visible point 24 to a second, side point 38, which is located at least proximate to where the second side 18 meets the back side 14.
The article 10 may further include a first, back opening 40, which is located at least proximate to where the first side 16 meets the back side 14, i.e., at least proximate to the first, side point 34. Further, the article 10 may also include a second, back opening 42, which is located at least proximate to where the second side 18 meets the back side 14, i.e., at least proximate to the second side point 38.
In some embodiments, a portion of the article's 10 flexible webbing 20 may extend through a first, front opening 44 to be underneath the front side 12 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 12, and, thereby, fixes the fixed ring 28 into location. In yet additional embodiments, the article 10 may include at least one fixed ring 36, which may be located: (i) at least proximate to where the front side 12 meets the second side 18, wherein a first portion of the flexible webbing 20 extends through a second, front opening 46 to be underneath the second side 18 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 18; (ii) where the back side 14 meets the first side 16, wherein a second portion of the flexible webbing 20 extends through a first, back opening 40 located where the first side 16 meets the back side 14 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 14; (iii) where the back side 14 meets the second side 18, wherein a third portion of the flexible webbing 20 extends through a second, back opening 42 located where the second side 18 meets the back side 14 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 14; and (iv) combinations thereof.
Notably, the flexible webbing 20, itself, in the article 10 may be a single piece 20 of flexible webbing 20 or multiple pieces 50, 52, 54 of flexible webbing 20 joined together by sewing or any other known means of affixing. For instance, the flexible webbing 20 may include a first piece 50 of the flexible webbing 20 located between the external layer 28 of the back side 14 and the inner layer 26 of the back side 14, wherein a first end 51 of the first piece 50 is joined to the inner layer 26 where the back side 14 meets the first side 16, and a second end 53 of the first piece 50 is joined to the inner layer 26 where the back side 14 meets the second side 18. Further, the article 10 may include a second piece 52 of the flexible webbing 20 located between the first, visible point 22 where the front side 12 meets the first side 16 and at least proximate to where the back side 14 meets the first side 16, wherein a first end 55 of the second piece 52 is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing 20 that optionally extends through a first, front opening 44 to be underneath the front side 12, and a second end 57 of the second piece 52 is joined where the first side 16 meets the back side 14 or is joined to the first end 51 of the first piece 50.
Further still, the flexible webbing 20 may include a third piece 54 of the flexible webbing 20 located between the second, visible point 24 where the front side 12 meets the second side 18 and at least proximate to where the back side 14 meets the second side 18, wherein a first end 59 of the third piece 54 is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing 20 that optionally extends through a second, front opening 46 to be underneath the front side 12, and a second end 61 of the third piece 54 is joined where the second side 18 meets the back side 14 or is joined to the second end 53 of the first piece 50.
In additional and alternate embodiments, the first piece 50 at first end 51, and, optionally, the second end 57 of the second piece 52, may be joined to the back side 14 by two box stitches 63, 65 or other method for joining known in the art, wherein one 63 of which is located where the back side 14 meets the first side 16, and the other one 65 of which is where the back side 14 meets the second side 18. Similarly, in additional and alternate embodiments, the second piece 52 and third piece 54 at their first ends 55, 59 may each 55, 59 be joined to the front side by two box stitches 67, 69 or other method for joining known in the art, wherein one 67 of which is located where the front side 12 meets the first side 16, and the other one 69 of which is where the front side 12 meets the second side 18.
As for where sides, ends, portions or otherwise meet, join, or affix, as disclosed herein, such meetings, joining, and affixings may be accomplished by known methods in the art. For instance, such meetings, joining, and affixings may be accomplished by sewing, gluing, complementary components for snapping, fastening, and so forth. Furthermore, any or all of such meetings, joining, and affixings may permit removable meetings, joining, and affixings, such the opening or closing of an opening through use of Velcro® fastening systems or irremovable meetings, joining, and affixings, such as through the use of sewing, which is viewed as being irremovable because opening effectively requires removal of the stitching.
With regard to the article 10, itself, may include one or more pockets 70 of variable size and shape located on its 10 inside, outside or a combination thereof. The article 10 of clothing may include a zipper 74 that at least partially opens and closes. In an example embodiment where the zipper 74 is on the front side 12 and fully opens, then the zipper 74 may bifurcate the front side 12. In some embodiments, the article 10 may include a collar, one or more loops 72, hooks, logos, reflective materials, and so forth of variable size, shape, and arrangement in and/or on the article 10.
As for materials that may be used for the article 10, the following brief discussion ensues, but it is understood that other materials than these may be used in various embodiments. Functional seams, such as reinforced seams, may additionally take on a decorative appearance, e.g., raglan seams, Merrow ActiveSeam® seams, etc. Hemlines of the article 10 may be chosen to be of a type and/or place to provide aesthetic appeal, e.g., a hemline that accentuates or de-emphasizes the hips of the wearer. The article 10 may be made from fabric(s) having a warp and weft or other construction that provides suitable properties, e.g., robustness, lifespan, tear-resistance, waterproof, webbing, optionally removable inner lining(s), and so forth. The rings 28, 30, 32, 36 and other non-depicted rings, if present, of the article 10 may be made of metal or non-metal, plastic, or combinations thereof and may be circular, D-shaped, or any other shape for optional mating, in any fashion, with a carabiner. Furthermore, each of the rings 28, 30, 32, 36 and other non-depicted rings, if present, of the article 10 may be welded so that each ring is an unopenable solid ring or may be openable and closeable, e.g., screwably opens and closes, clips into place to close and unclips to open, slides into place to close in the sense of being on the article 10 and slides off to open in the sense of being removed from the article 10, etc. The article's 10 pockets 70, loops 72, zipper 74, rings 28, 30, 32, 36, seams and any other parts of the article 10 may have weights and tolerances that provide the wearer with countless utilities, e.g., attaching or storing carabiners, poop bags, identification and credit cards, phones, wallets, treats, food, beverages, keys, sprays (e.g., pepper, mosquito, etc.), sanitizer, small flashlight, umbrella, and so forth.
Although written in claim format, the following constitute further example embodiments of the disclosed subject matter:

1. An article of clothing comprising:
- a front side, a back side, a first side between the front side and the back side, and a second side between the front side and the back side that is opposite from the first side;
- a flexible webbing that traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visible point at least proximate to where the front side meets the first side; (ii) to in between an external layer of the back side attached to an inner layer of the back side; and (iii) to a second, visible point at least proximate to where the second side meets the front side; and
- at least one fixed ring located at least proximate to where the front side meets the first side,
- whereby the article provides hands-free stability to a wearer when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.
2. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable ring on the flexible webbing between the first, visible point and a first side point, which is located at least proximate to the first side meets the back side. article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable ring on the flexible webbing between the second, visible point and a second side point, which is located at least proximate to where the second side meets the back side.
3. The article of claim 1, further comprising: (i) a first, back opening, which is located at least proximate to where the first side meets the back side; and (ii) a second, back opening, which is located at least proximate to where the second side meets the back side.
4. The article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, front opening to be underneath the front side and is joined thereto, and, thereby, fixes the fixed ring into location.
5. The article of claim 5, further comprising at least one more fixed ring located: (i) where the front side meets the second side, wherein a first portion of the flexible webbing extends through a second, front opening to be underneath the second side and is joined thereto; (ii) where the back side meets the first side, wherein a second portion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, back opening located where the first side meets the back side and is joined thereto; (iii) where the back side meets the second side, wherein a third portion of the flexible webbing extends through a second, back opening located where the second side meets the back side and is joined thereto; and (iv) combinations thereof.
6. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises more than one piece of the flexible webbing joined together.
7. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a first piece of the flexible webbing located between the external layer of the back side and the inner layer of the back side, wherein a first end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where the back side meets the first side, and a second end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where the back side meets the second side.
8. The article of claim 8, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a second piece of the flexible webbing located between the first, visible point where the front side meets the first side and at least proximate to where the back side meets the first side, wherein a first end of the second piece is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing that optionally extends through a first, front opening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the second piece is joined where the first side meets the back side or joined to the first end of the first piece.
9. The article of claim 9, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a third piece of the flexible webbing located between the second, visible point where the front side meets the second side and at least proximate to where the back side meets the second side, wherein a first end of the third piece is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing that optionally extends through a second, front opening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the third piece is joined where the second side meets the back side or joined to the second end of the first piece.
10. The article of claim 8, wherein the first piece is joined to back side by two box stitches, wherein one of which is located where the back side meets the first side, and the other one of which is where the back side meets the second side.
11. The article of claim 1, wherein the article further comprises one or more pockets located inside, outside or a combination thereof.
12. The article of claim 1, further comprising a zipper that at least partially opens and closes.
13. The article of claim 12, wherein the zipper opens to bifurcate the front side.
14. The article of claim 1, further comprising one or more sleeves on the article.
15. The article of claim 1, further comprising loops on the article.
16. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a vest.
17. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a portion of a pair of pants.
18. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is for clothing worn on a torso.

While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosed invention, other and further embodiments may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, wherein the scope of the disclosed compositions are determined by one or more claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An article of clothing comprising:

a front side, a back side, a first side between the front side and the back side, and a second side between the front side and the back side that is opposite from the first side;

a flexible webbing that traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visible point at least proximate to where the front side meets the first side; (ii) to in between an external layer of the back side attached to an inner layer of the back side; and (iii) to a second, visible point at least proximate to where the second side meets the front side; and

at least one fixed ring located at least proximate to where the front side meets the first side,

whereby the article provides hands-free stability to a wearer when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.

2. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable ring on the flexible webbing between the first, visible point and a first side point, which is located at least proximate to the first side meets the back side. article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable ring on the flexible webbing between the second, visible point and a second side point, which is located at least proximate to where the second side meets the back side.

3. The article of claim 1, further comprising: (i) a first, back opening, which is located at least proximate to where the first side meets the back side; and (ii) a second, back opening, which is located at least proximate to where the second side meets the back side.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, front opening to be underneath the front side and is joined thereto, and, thereby, fixes the fixed ring into location.

5. The article of claim 5, further comprising at least one more fixed ring located: (i) where the front side meets the second side, wherein a first portion of the flexible webbing extends through a second, front opening to be underneath the second side and is joined thereto; (ii) where the back side meets the first side, wherein a second portion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, back opening located where the first side meets the back side and is joined thereto; (iii) where the back side meets the second side, wherein a third portion of the flexible webbing extends through a second, back opening located where the second side meets the back side and is joined thereto; and (iv) combinations thereof.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises more than one piece of the flexible webbing joined together.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a first piece of the flexible webbing located between the external layer of the back side and the inner layer of the back side, wherein a first end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where the back side meets the first side, and a second end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where the back side meets the second side.

8. The article of claim 8, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a second piece of the flexible webbing located between the first, visible point where the front side meets the first side and at least proximate to where the back side meets the first side, wherein a first end of the second piece is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing that optionally extends through a first, front opening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the second piece is joined where the first side meets the back side or joined to the first end of the first piece.

9. The article of claim 9, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a third piece of the flexible webbing located between the second, visible point where the front side meets the second side and at least proximate to where the back side meets the second side, wherein a first end of the third piece is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing that optionally extends through a second, front opening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the third piece is joined where the second side meets the back side or joined to the second end of the first piece.

10. The article of claim 8, wherein the first piece is joined to back side by two box stitches, wherein one of which is located where the back side meets the first side, and the other one of which is where the back side meets the second side.

11. The article of claim 1, wherein the article further comprises one or more pockets located inside, outside or a combination thereof.

12. The article of claim 1, further comprising a zipper that at least partially opens and closes.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the zipper opens to bifurcate the front side.

14. The article of claim 1, further comprising one or more sleeves on the article.

15. The article of claim 1, further comprising loops on the article.

16. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a vest.

17. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a portion of a pair of pants.

18. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is for clothing worn on a torso.