US2257494A - Shoulder-strap-retaining device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1941. M. BROWN STRAPRETAINING DEVICE S HOU ER Filed N 5 1940 INVENTOR 7,20% 2mm .aziorw Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT- orries I 4 snoULnEg sTn a P r:;ammoDEVICE I Morton Brown, New York, N. Y assignor to Strap-'A-Liner Corp., a corporation of New York "Application November 5, 1940, Serial No. 364,352

v v2 Claims.

. This invention relates to a shoulder strap,- retaining device for undergarments, and particularly to a device intended for engaging the superposed shoulder strapsof several undergarments and holding the straps together in a neat and orderly manner.

One of the obstacles encountered in connection with womens undergarments and particularly with brassires and underslips is the tendency of the shoulder straps on the two garments to separate and spread apart on the shoulders. Various devices have been proposed for engaging the two shoulder straps and holding them together in properly superposed relationship. Most of the proposed devices have been in the form of so-called lingerie clasps and the primary objection to a great many of them has been that they were visible through the outer garment by reason of their projection from the straps which they engaged. In other cases, such clasps were pinned through the straps, soon causing the straps to become torn or frayed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for holding the shoulder straps of several garments in superposed rela-- tion, without employing bulky, protruding elements and without using pins or other projections extending through the several shoulder straps engaged by the device.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the employment of an adjusting buckle or slide, generally similar to that customarily employed on the shoulder straps of the ordinary underslip for adjusting the effective length of the shoulder strap, said buckle or slide being however provided with means for detachably and securely embracing the shoulder strap of another garment, such as a brassiere for example, and maintaining the shoulder strap of the latter garment in place beneath the shoulder strap of the slip. By the use of the device the two straps engaged thereby are held in superposed relationship without producing any protrusion likely to be visible through the outer garment of the wearer, and other advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art are attained.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the shoulder strap of a slip or like undergarment,

with the improved strap-retaining device in position thereon and also engaging the shoulder strap of a brassiere or other garment, the latter strap being disposed behind that of the slip; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in position on the two shoulder straps, the straps being twisted to disclose the rear of the strap-retainer and show how the inner, or brassiere strap, is

engaged by the device; Fig. 3 is a front view of the strap-retaining device; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. '3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the two shoulder straps and the strap-retaining device.

With reference to the drawing, 1 indicates a portion of an undergarment, such as for example, a slip, the same being provided with the conventional shoulder strap extending over the shoulder ofthe wearer and supporting the garment in the usual manner. The shoulder strap is composed of two parts, namely that shown at 2 which is in the form of a loop, and the larger portion 4 which extends over the shoulder and is adjustable as to length through the buckle or slide 5 also constituting the strap retainer for the shoulder strap l3 of a brassiere I2 or other garment worn beneath the slip l.

The loop portion 2 of the shoulder strap of the slip l extends through the metallic loop 3 through which the strap portion 4 is also disposed. The length of the strap portion 4 is regulated by looping it through the loop 3 and bringing its end portion upward and around the cross bar 8 of the buckle 5 as indicated at IS in Fig. 5.

The buckle or slide 5 consists of a member formed with spaced side bars 6 connected by the spaced, integrally formed intermediate cross bars 8 and 9 and end bar 1. The bight [5 of strap portion 4 extends around cross bar 8 as shown in Fig. 5 and the end l6 of portion 4 extends behind the end bar I. The upwardly extending portion 4 of the strap extends in back of the( cross bar 9 and in front of the two inwardly extending spaced fingers I0 formed at one end of the buckle, said fingers comprising a split end bar on the buckle.

An opening or mouth II is provided between the ends of the fingers l0 through which the shoulder strap l3 of the brassiere 12 may be inserted. When the brassire strap is inserted in place between the two inwardly extending fingers II] it will be confined between the same and accordingly will be held directly in back of or beneath the strap 4 and thus prevented from lateral movement or disalignment with respect to said strap. When it is desired to free the brassiere strap from engagement between the two fingers ID, the two overlying straps are twisted forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2 and the strap H is drawn out through the opening or mouth H between the fingers [0.

With the retaining device disclosed, no protrusion of parts is had, since the brassire-strap confining means is formed as part of an element normally used upon slip shoulder straps. At the same time, the adjusting buckle may perform its normal function onthe slip strap and may be adjusted at anytime without requiring its de-' tachment from the slip strap.

While I have, for example, described the device,

as particularly adapted for use in holding to gether the overlying shoulderv strapson a slip 1. In combination, a garment provided with a Y shoulder strap, acne-piece buckle secured to strap, a second garment provided with a shoulder strap, said buckle having inwardly directed, opposed, spaced fingers extending from one end thereof providing a passageway between the fingers for the entrance of said second strap between the spaced fingers, said fingers embracing both straps and holding the same in frictional engagement with each other and in superimposed alignment.

2. In combination, a garment provided with a shoulder strap, a one-piece buckle secured to 'said strap, said buckle comprising a plurality of cross bars over one of which a looped end of said strap is passed, said strap being further looped said strap, Is'aid bucklecomprising a plurality of ,cross'bars, to one of. which the end of said strap to provide forlengthwise adjustme'ntof said upon itself and passing between certain of said MORTON BROWN. 5

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