US2663027A - Elastic belt and support therefor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1953 osso 2,663,027

ELASTIC BELT AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed March- 30, 1950 Inventw; fiwzaZd fPasson,

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v I 2,663,027 I ELASTIC BELT AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Donald G. Posson, Needham, Mass. Application March so, 1950, Serial No. 152,772

This invention relates to an elastic belt and support therefor, and particularly to a belt and support to be wornpreferably on' the inside of a pair of trousers or skirt, to support the trousers or skirt without showing from the outside. Such.

a belt is commonly known as an inner-belt or invisible belt and is designed of course to support the trousers or skirtfon the body of'the wearer, and it also has the additional function of holding down the shirt or shirtwaist of the wearer and to keep it frompulling up andout at the waist This application is a continuationih-part of a'pplicants' copending applicationSerial No. 134,508, filed'December 22,1949 now abandoned.

inner or invisible belts as such are old, but they have generally been non-elastic or nonstretchable, and when worn on the inside of the trousers or skirt at the waist-band loops are provided for holding the belt in position. Another inner belt or band which has, been sold commercially is made from a woven non-stretchable piece of fabric and is made slip-resisting by having a series of uncovered and exposed rubber strands interwoven with the'fabric and forming protuberances extending above the surfaceof the fabric. This belt or band'is normally'sewn into thev garment at the waist-band,'or is used as the apron of the garment. Such inner belts,

whether elastic or non-elastic, have not proved One oi" satisfactory for one reason or another. 7 the difiic'ulties has been that ordinary fabric loops commonly attached at top and bottom on the inside of the waist-band and through which the belt extends, are not satisfactorybecause the trousers (or skirt) tend to. pull down from the pearance and hang of the trousers (or skirt) .2

I havediscovered, however, bycareful study and research, that an elastic and stretchable belt can be made (i. e. having elastic warp threads in its construction) which would yield, stretchand contract with the movements of the wearer, and that such a belt, was much 'more satisfactory than a non-elastic belt. In addition, such a belt should be made slipresisting (i. e. having exposed rubber protuberances on its surface) 'and thus tend to prevent the shirt or shirt-waist of the wearer from pulling up at the waist. v Further, to make the device practical, asuitable belt support had to be provided, which' could be jreadilvattached to the, waist-jband alnd' trousers or skirt,

and in which the belt could be readily inserted 3 Claims. (01. 2-237) and removed therefrom in which the belt may slide longitudinally and which would hold the belt flat and prevent it from curling and rolling. I have succeeded in overcoming and solving the various problems presented by such a belt, and

have succeeded in making an elastic and stretchable belt of woven fabric, and having a slip-re: sisting surface, to be used in combination with a belt support having the characteristics men tioned, and which has proved thoroughly practical in use. My belt has approximately a two. inch stretch, and is worn with a slight tension. It stretches and yields comfortably to the movements of the wearer and particularly when he is sitting down. It is not generally realized that an increase of 1 to 2 inches in the waistline occurs when an individual sits down in a relaxed position, for'instance. The belt is so constructed that it will not curl, or twist, and its slip-resisting surface causes it to cling to the shirt when bending, stretching or breathing, and will bring it back to its original position without binding the wearer. Thebelt supports are clips of wafer thin sheet nylon, which are permanently sewn to the inside of the waist-band of the trousers or skirt, in position to properly hang the lower garment. They are designed so that the belt is held below the top of the garment line-out of sight. The garment thus cannot ride up or down, but'it can be moved around to adjust it evenly. The belt gives a straight line appearance to the waist-band which makes the wearer look slimmer.

Briefly, my invention. includes an elastic and stretchable'belt having a slip-resisting surface provided by exposed rubber protuberances extendingabove the surface of the fabric, and a support for the belt which includes an attaching body of sheet material for attachment to the garment and having a central leg extending downwardly from the body portion and a toe extending upwardly from the lower end of the leg toward the body' portion, whereby the belt maybe extended under the leg and held sup ported by the toe. The lower end or foot of the leg is unattached or unsupported, and hence is,

free .to bend outwardly or inwardly, and the length of the leg from the attaching body por-.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of constructon and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description andnot .of. limitation; and it isnot intended'to limit th'e invention-claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation .ofmy-beltsupport;.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation" of th'e'belt support with a dotted line position indicating-1:.the:1f1'exi- -i bility of the support;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofunybelt;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a piece of: elastic: webbing from which the "belt is made;

Fig. .5 is a perspectivewiew showingmy belt and belt support in positionandimuseon a pair of trousers; and V Fig. 6 is a vertical section .on.-1ine-,B-f-6.of'Fig, 51

As shown in Figs. 3, .4, 5 andfi, ,theb'eltlil come prises a. strip of stretchable :woven fabricjwebbing whichwebbing is woven. with'jnextensible. body. warp threads of yarn or fiber (not shown), exten: sible rubber body warp threads l2 (Figs- 4 and. 6) which are woven into the bodyofthefabricand. covered by the. filling threads I6} exposed rube berprotuberances -I4 which may be in theform of .extensible warp threads raisedabove .the body of the webbing andproviding a. slipresisting.sur.e face, and filling threads 16'. It will be noted that the exposed rubber protub'erances I4 are; formed on both surfaces of the belt-Ill;v As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the exposed'rubber. protuberances M are warp threads arrangedinaseries of rows, with a pair of such rubber protuberances l4 forming a row, and with foursuch rowson the inside of the beltandthreerowsonlthe. outside. It is to be understood,,.however, .that the precise number, arrangement, or, formation. of the ex-. posed rubber protuberances l4} andwhether in theform of warp threads, or not is immaterial, they. may be varied as. desiredlandthatmy. invention is not .limited in .thatlrespect. Suitable means is further providedat the .ends ofthe belt for connecting. the. ends. together; and .whichas r shown in Figs. 3 and.5 comprises two fiat buckles Isa and I 82) which are flat, substantially triangular pieces of. suitable. sheetmaterial, such as metal, plastic .orthelilie having a. transverse slot I9a andlflb, respectively, .through which .a loop, formed in the end of thebelt'ispassed, .and'loop. isthen closed inany suitable manner, as. by stitching. A snap fastener comprising thecooperating partsilla. and 20b3is providedin the buckles I811 and I81),.respectively,.whereby the two endsof the belt'areconnected. Asuitable separate adjusting buckle, 2.2-'isv preferably pro vided on one end of the belt for adjustingthe. length of'the belt,.,which.holds abucklesuch as 18b for instance- As. such. anadjusting; buckle. 22 is well.knownandflcommonly used on extensible'suspender webbing, garters and, the like, itneed. notbe diescribedlinfltaili. It will beunderstcod that thelength of belt-Ill isnor: mally adjusted. by. buckle. 22..to,..fit-. undenslight tension aroundthe. waist .of. the wearer, and will thus yield orstretch with the movements ofthe.

wearer.

The belt support or clip, tape used, in support. ing my extensible belt ID with the..exposed.rub.-.

her protuberances [4 providing a slip-resisting surface thereon, comprises a single sheet of flexible material 30, such as plastic or metal having springy qualities, and is relatively thin. Preferably the support is made of sheet nylon because of its flexibility, toughness and imperviousness to water, perspiration, dry cleaning solvents and the like. The support 30 includes the body portion 3| and preferably a pair of arms 32 extendinggdownwardly IIOIIlzthe sides of the body portion-3|." A' central leg '33- extends downwardly from the attaching body portion 3| and between the two arms 32 there0f. The lower end or foot portion.34-,-of..the leg 33 is unattached or unsupported'except from the body portion 33 andghenceaiszzfree to be bent outwardly or inwardly... In..the. side elevation of the belt support30' (Fig? 2*) the dotted line position indicatesaihow the lower end of the leg 33 may be bent or flexed. The foot portion 3 3 of the central leg, 33;. carries, preferably atone side,- an upturned toe..35",-..extending upwardly toward one of'the..side.arms. 3.2, jbut'leaving space and clearance.betw.een.them.., It..wil1..be understood, of course, that .a. toe..35..'may,beprovided extending laterally, from both sidesofthe foott iif desired, without departing..from.my.invention. A slot 36 isi thus formedbetweema side arm 32, and the toetfijand the..leg,,33 and .a similar slot 35a is formed b'etweenthe. opposite. side. arm 32. and legfiii; .throughyvhichthe belt .I 0- may, be passed. Aseriesofholes .BTLisLprovidedaround the outer edge -of the; body. portion 3| and down the arms 32,", whereby: the body. portion 3L may be at tached to the garment 40, which in this case is apairoftrousers. The-belt support 30 is attachediatitsbodyportionsili. to the. inside of the waist-band. 4| of the. garment. in. any suitable manner, ,as.by, stitchingtfl, or by rivets, snap fasteners orthelika. Preferably five of my belt supports .30 are attachedstc the inner waist-band 4i ofthe. garmentspacedmore or less evenly apart, -andiasindicatedin Fig.5, two supports 30 'areattachedjat the back. of the waistband and threev at the front; It 'will be. understood, of c0urse,.that'. the number: of supports 31! to be used can. bev varied. as. desired.

To insertlthebelt'. min each support at the belt l0;is..first"pushed;up,under the leg 33 and over. the. arms.32, ,andlthenover. the toe, 35, to occupy theslots. 36l and.3.6a as shown in Figs. 1 and-5.. Theheighthoflthe. slot..35 is preferably approximately. thewidthof. the belt It. In inserting thebelt, I0 the flexibility ofjthe. sheet V nylonmaterial out.ofjwhich the. support 39 is preferably made permits; the leg 33" to be lifted outwardly (as; indicatedby thedotted line position in Fig. 2). andith'einherent resiliency of the material their .causesltheleg 33 to snapback insubstantially thesameplane as .therestof the support'..3fl. Itjwillthusbe noted" that the belt [0" isheldsuppprtedlby thetoe. 3'52 hooked up underthe.belt lflandllthattliebelt is held flatwise and'is.supportedagainst rolling upor twisting by the leg .313'.. Butiat .thesame. time the belt ports... 30'v are likewise. attached; to. the. inside; of

the waistband]! ofthegarment-AO... When .worn in. this manner the. belt, of. .course, lies. inside the waistband; or; the. garment. 40., and between the waistband 4| and the shirt 50 (represented in dotted lines in Fig. 5), when the shirt 50 is worn tucked in at the waist. In Fig. 6 a vertical section through the waistband, generally indicated at 4|, of the garment 40 is shown with belt I0 worn on the inside of the garment and between the waistband 4| and shirt 50. The body of the wearer is generally indicated by the dotted lines at 60. The exposed rubber protuberances l4 on the inside of the elastic belt l0 thus provide a friction or slip-resisting surface tending to prevent the shirt 50 from pulling up at the waist. At the same time the resilient belt I0 is free to stretch and yield with the movement of the body of the wearer and to slide longitudinally in the belt supports 3|]. With this arrangement the waistband of the garment can be fitted comfortably and even loosely, and it hangs evenly and will not roll or wrinkle as in a tightly fitting garment. A very comfortable garment support is thus provided by means of my elastic belt l0 and belt supports 3|), which belt is very easily placed in the garment 40 and as readily removed. It will be understood, of course, that the belt I0 and belt supports 30 may, if desired, be worn outside of the garment 40 at the waistband, but in so doing many of the advantages of my elastic belt and support therefor are not realized.

I claim:

1. In combination, an inner elastic belt for supporting a garment from the inside thereof, said belt having a slip-resisting surface thereon, a buckle for connecting the ends of the belt, and a support for said belt adapted to be fastened to the inside of the garment at the waistband thereof, said belt support comprising an integral member of flexible material having a body portion and downwardly extending arms at the sides thereof for attachment to the garment, a central leg extending downwardly from the body portion and between said arms, said leg having a foot extending laterally thereof in the same plane and said foot having a toe open at the top extending upwardly, and said leg being capable of being flexed outwardly at its lower end whereby the belt may be passed over said arms and behind said leg and be held supported on said toe.

2. In combination, an inner elastic belt for supporting a garment from the inside thereof, said belt having exposed rubber protuberances forming a slip-resisting surface raised above the surface of the belt, a buckle for connecting the ends of the belt, and a support for said belt adapted to be fastened to the inside of the garment at the waistband thereof, said belt support comprising a body portion for attachment to the garment having downwardly extending arms at the sides thereof, a central leg extending downward- 1y from the body portion and between said arms, said leg having a foot extending laterally thereof in the same plane and said foot having a toe open at the top extending upwardly toward one of said arms, whereby the belt when extended behind said leg and foot may be held supported on said toe.

3. In combination, an inner elastic fabric belt for supporting a garment from the inside thereof, said belt having covered extensible body warp threads therein, and a slip-resisting structure interwoven therein comprising rubber warp threads having exposed portions raised above the surface of the belt, a buckle for connecting the ends of the belt, and a support for said belt adapted to be fastened to the inside of the garment at the waistband thereof, said belt support comprising a body portion for attachment to the garment having downwardly extending arms at the sides thereof, a central leg extending downwardly from thebody portion and between said arms, said leg having a foot extending laterally thereof in the same plane and said foot having a toe open at the top extending upwardly toward one of said arms, whereby the belt when extended behind said leg and foot may be held supported on said toe.

DONALD G. POSSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 665,518 Goodman Jan, 8, 1901 1,755,291 Fox Apr. 22, 1930 2,173,469 Bennett Sept. 19, 1939 2,236,693 Newman Apr; 1, 1941 2,501,749 Trent Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 550,455 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1943

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