US3828370A

US3828370A - Band adjusting device for garments

Info

Publication number: US3828370A
Application number: US00305034A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Ihmels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-10
Filing date: 1972-11-09
Publication date: 1974-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-13
Also published as: FR2159348A1; DE2202822A1; CH549967A

Abstract

A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping parts separated from each other in the region of the waist or hips, for example trousers with overlapping front and back parts, characterised by the feature that a strip which forms a belt member is secured adjustably within a limited range and fixed in position on a buckle, preferably having a pivotal spike and said strip is provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and the buckle has a member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip and engageable in the opening in the strip.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Ihmels 1 Aug. 13, 1974 1 BAND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR 2;629,104 2/1953 Easlick 2/322 GARMENTS 3,017,641 l/1962 Stollman 2/322 76 I J h [hm I 3,031,682 5/1962 Mihalyi 2/322 t o ann e l 1 men BerchofiBemsstrasse 11, 4505 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Iburg Teutoburgerwald, Germany 526,150 5/1955 Italy 2/322 [22] Flled: 1972 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [21] Appl. No.: 305,034 Attorney, Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion,

Zinn & Macpeak [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Tl Nov. 10, 1971 Germany 7143337 [57] CT .Ian. 21, 1972 Germany 2202822 A band adlustmem devlce for gannems havmg Over- Oct. 17, 1972 Germany 7238011 lapping Parts Separated from each other in the region of the waist or hips, for example trousers with overlap- 52 us. c1. 2/322, 24/74 R P from and back Parts, characterised y the feature 51 Int. Cl. A4lf 9/00 that a strip which forms a belt member is Secured [58] Field 61 Search 2/300, 311, 322, 325, 336, j y Within a limited range and fixed in Position on 2 333 312; 24 74 R, 74 A, 173 R, 171 1 3 a buckle, preferably having a pivotal spike and said 194 strip is provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and the buckle [56] References Ci d has a member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of UNITED STATES PATENTS the strip and engageable in the opening in the strip.

661,689 11/1900 c16w 2/322 7 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures 2.430970 11/1947 Mcyerson et a1. 2/322 PATENTEU Am; 1 31m SHEET 3 BF 5 PATENTED ms 1 31924 3' 828'. 7.

sum u or s PAIENIEB we 1 arm SHEEI 5 BF 5 1 BAND ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR GARMENT S The present invention concerns a band circumference adjusted device for garments, comprising overlapping parts separated in the waist or hip region, more particularly trousers, with an overlapping front and back part and concerns trousers having a band adjusting device.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a band adjustement device for garments, more particularly trousers, said device being simply and economically formed of only a few parts and being readily manipulated and secured to a garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a band adjustment device which is operable with only a few manipulations to effect the adjustment and is capable of manipulation for lengthening the band with only one hand.

A further object of the present invention is seen in the feature that the relatively adjustable parts of the same garment retain their shape without undue crease formation in adjusted positions of the band and also during the adjustment.

Another object of the present invention may be seen in simple and reliable limitation of the amount of adjustment of the band.

Yet a further object of the present invention resides in the feature of applying the band adjustment device in a simple and reliable manner to a garment in a secure position and making it detachable for cleaning purposes and the like.

According to the present invention a band adjustment device for garments having overlapping parts separated from each other in the waist or hip region, for example trousers having overlapping front and back parts, is characterized by the feature that, a buckle, preferably comprising a pivotal spike, is adjustable and securable in position to a limited extent in the longitudinal direction of a strip forming a belt member and the strip is provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of said strip, the buckle being provided with a securing member limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip and engageable in the opening in the strip.

in a preferred embodiment the strip, which forms part of a belt or a part connectable with a belt and thus representing an end of a belt or a part to be secured to a garment, may be connected to two interengageable adjustment means infinitely displaceable relatively to each other in the circumferential direction of the band, such means being for example a rail and a bar, one adjustment means of which is secured to the front of the garment, e.g., the front of a pair of trousers and the other adjusting means to the back of the same garment.

In another feature of the present invention, a stiffening member of an adjustment means having a length defining end and a fixing flap is secured in position on a pair of trousers with a band adjustment device in the band of the front part of the trousers and at the same time the guide rail of this adjustment means projects out of the front part of the trousers in the separating area thereof and the other bar-like adjustment means is secured to the outside of the back of the trousers by sewing, sticking or locking over which the guide rail engages whilst the strip member, as a belt member with its spike buckle, preferably a limiting member, is detachably secured to a loop provided in the front slit portion of the front of the trousers and is detachably secured by its end remote from the buckle by means of a hook-shaped connecting means to a loop of the back of the trousers or by a clamping and sliding connecting means to the adjustment means on the back of the trousers; these two securing positions of the strip to the trousers form two points disposed on opposite sides of the separating line of the trousers whereby their distance from each other varies as the band is adjusted during the displacement of the strip.

The band adjusting device of the present invention makes it possible in a simple economical and reliable manner to effect an infinitely variable adjustment of the band, the adjustment of which may be effected extremely rapidly with only very few manipulations.

It is a special advantage that, due to the design of the device and the guided connection of the two parts of the garment for increasing the band, only on hand is necessary for manipulation, in that only the clamping of the buckle end need be released and the belt is then displaced in the buckle by the pressure of the body of the wearer of the garment and, at the same time, the two parts of the garment connected to the strip are separted. This is a great advantage for persons in motor vehicles, since elargement of the band may be safely effected with one hand during travel.

For decreasing the band only two manipulations are preferably necessary, namely the release of the clamping of the strip in the buckle and drawing the released end of the strip through the buckle.

The two parts of the garment are connected infinitely variably displaceably to each other by extremely simply designed, economically produced ,and reliably cooperating guide means so that the two parts of the garment are secured in position relatively to each other and the garment has a neat and uniform appearance.

A further advantage of the present invention may be seen in the shape-retaining formation of the front part during the adjustment and in each adjusted positiondue to the stiffening member disposed in the band thus avoiding crease formation when a front part of the garment is displaced and providing 'an easy and reliable movement in the reduction of the band.

The displacement mechanism, guide means, the stiffening member and the strip forming an end of the belt,

are simple and inexpensive to make-the strip has a simple and reliable connection with the two parts of the garment and the stiffening member can be used for parts of any size on account of its design. The stiffening member can be attached in position in the band with only a few manipulations and, in the case of parts of different sizes, can be divided to the required lengths.

The time required for the stiffening member of the guide means and the fixing points for the adjusting device is extremely short in the making of the garment.

Manipulation for the adjustment can be effected rapidly and infinitely adjustably by means of a simply designed clamping device, e. g., a clamping roller whereby the adjustment can be made with only a few manipulations. In particular, the possibility of adjustment when a person is seated is an advantage since no complicated opening in the area of the band has to be made, instead, the strip can be separately lengthened or shortened to the desired circumference merely by loosening the clamping device.

The strip is securely held on the buckle by the opening in the strip and the limiting member at the buckle end engages therein so that any unintentional detachment of the connection between the strip and the buckle during the adjustment is impossible.

Furthermore, due to the opening, a buckle on a garment for securing the strip at the buckle end can be provided on the garment, a feature which does not result in a restriction of the adjustment and has a favourable effect on the position of the strip on the garment.

The strip is detachably connected to the band adjustment means in a simple, reliable and easy manner, this connecting point between the strip and adjusting device simultaneously forming a fixed point necessary for the adjustment of the band.

The connection is achieved by a sliding clamp which is mounted infinitely adjustably on the strip and is reliably connected to a connecting member of the adjust ment device by an inserted and or locking connection.

This sliding clamp preferably has a smooth convex shape by which the connecting member can be favourably received by the sliding clamp and this connecting portion is extremely smooth and does not project upwardly.

Particularly for cleaning a pair of trousers to which the adjusting device is secured, the strip member with the buckle can easily be removed with very few manipulations with the clamping slide and the connecting member.

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in and further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beltwith a spike buckle,

FIG. 2 is a front view of the spike buckle with an end of the belt strip secured infinitely adjustably in a certain longitudinal area on the buckle,

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the connecting area between the buckle and the end of the belt, taken on the line I-l of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of trousers with a belt and an infinitely adjustable band,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same pair of trousers without a belt, but having an adjustable band,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the belt with an end infmtely adjustable in the buckle, opposed to the perforated end of the belt and provided with an oblong adjusting opening,

FIG. 7 is a plan of the adjustable portion of the trousers with parts secured displaceably relatively to each other by interengaging guide means, front part and back part, and a belt with a buckle, partly in section,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the adjustable portion of the trousers showing the front part, back part and belt in an exploded view shown partly in section,

FIG. 9 is a side view of the two parts of the trousers with guide means and a stiffening member disposed in the band,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the stiffening member with guide rail and the guide strip to be engaged by the guide rail,

FIG. 11 is a cross section through the guide bar with guide rail partially enclosing said guide bar,

FIG. 12 is a cross section through the guide bar and the guide rails completely enclosing it,

FIG. 13 is a side view of the front of the trousers with guide means extending out of the end of its band on the separating side.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a belt buckle showing the unperforated end of the belt and hook provided on the buckle for securing the buckle to the front of the trousers,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a belt buckle with a hook provided on a bar at the band end for securing the buckle to the front of the trousers,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pair of trousers provided with the belt and band adjusting device,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a clamping slide securable to the belt and detachably connected to adjustment means of the band adjustment device secured to the trousers,

FIG. 18 is an inner view of a portion of the buckle belt showing the band adjusting device formed of two oppositely displaceable adjusting means and sliding clamp,

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the same part of the belt with adjusting device and sliding clamp,

FIG. 20 is a plan on a magnified scale of the two oppositely displaceable adjusting means,

FIG. 21 is a front view of the two adjusting means viewed from the end to be connected to the sliding clamp.

A band adjustment device according to the present invention, for garments 10 having overlapping (front and

back parts

10a, 10b) separated from each other in the region of the waist and hips, more particularly for trousers with overlapping parts (front and

back part

10a, 10b), has a strip 11 which is infinitely displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the strip and secured in position for setting the extension of the waist and is held in a buckle 12, preferably a spike buckle.

The strip 11 preferably forms part of a belt 13 at the opposite end from the perforated end of the belt. The strip 11 can be of onepiece construction with the belt 13 or can be secured to the belt so that the two parts form a belt. The strip 11 could also be directly secured to a garment 10 at a side portion thereof and a second belt member having perforations could be secured to the opposite side of the garment 10.

The strip 11 represents the unperforated end of the belt 13 connected permanently to said belt 13 and the other end of the belt is provided with holes 14 provided in spaced relationship with each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt for connection with the buckle 12. A spike 15 may be inserted into these holes for securing the belt.

The strip 11 is secured adjustably to the buckle 12 in the longitudinal direction of the belt by a device 16 provided on the buckle 12 so that, in addition to the circumferential setting of the belt 13 by the perforated end 13a, circumferential adjustment is possible by the strip 1 1.

The strip 11 is provided with a slotted opening 17 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the strip and in which a part 18 provided on the buckle 12 and limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the strip 11 to a certain extent engages; this limiting member 18 determines, on the one hand, the extent of the longitudinal adjustment by stops at both ends of the opening within the strip 11 and, on the other hand, prevents extraction of the strip out of the buckle 12 since this limiting member 18 prevents any further longitudinal adjustment as it strikes against the end of the recess 17 adjacent to the end of the strip 11.

The limiting member 18 is formed by a bar, pin, projection, rivet, button or the like extending preferably at right angles to the plane of adjustment, i.e., the plane of displacement of the strip 11 relative to adjustment at the buckle end. It is preferable to form the limiting member 18 of a bar bent out of the support member 19 of the buckle: this bar 18 assumes the wall thickness of the support member 19 and is exposed by incisions with the exception of a connecting area in the support member 19 so that it could be bent out in the direction of the strip 11.

Instead of the bent-out bar, the limiting member 18 could also be formed by a pin, rivet or the like secured to the support member 19 and engaging in the opening 17.

The limiting member 18 preferably extends between the bearing portions 15a for the spike 15 of the buckle and a buckle stirrup 21 co-operating therewith and the device 16 holding a strip 11 infinitely adjustably on the buckle 12, see FIGS. 2 and 3.

The limiting member 18 shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 18, 19 is hook-shaped and extends near the bearing point portions at a clearance therefrom. This hook member 18 simultaneously represents a securing member with which the buckle 12 is detachably secured to a loop, metal eyelet 20, or the like in the front region of the front part 10a of the garment.

The oblong opening 17 extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip by its greater basic extension is preferably formed by a slot extending along the lines of the belt 13 and strip 11, bisecting the width. The slot 17 may have a longth for example of approximately 5 to 20 cm preferably approximately l0 cm.

In order to prevent any possible displacement of the bar 18 out of the slot 17 by movement or deformation of the strip 11 in the longitudinal direction of the strip, transversely of the adjustment device the limiting member 18 may engage by a collar or similar enlargement provided on its free end, behind the rear surface of the belt facing the body of the person wearing it, or the strip 11 along slot 17 may be engaged on both surfaces by a button-like roller-shaped limiting member 18.

The supporting member 19 is provided with oppositely disposed bearing shanks 22 engaging over the longitudinal edges of the strip on both sides and extending at an angle, preferably at a right angle, to the plane of adjustment of the strip, said shanks being preferably made in one piece with the supporting member 19 and in each of which shanks an oblong guiding and clamping opening 23 is formed in which a clamping roller 24 is axially rotatable and displaceably mounted transversely of the axial direction of the roller, said clamping roller forming a portion of the holding device 16 for the infinitely variable adjustment of the buckle on the strip 11 at the end of the belt. The two guide openings 23 extend from one end, preferably the spike end of the buckle, to the other end at an incline to the supporting member 19 of the buckle, to the other end at an incline to the supporting member 19 of the buckle, so that the spacing between the opening 23 and the supporting member 19 reduces towards the supporting member 19 and thus the space thereof from the strip 11 is reduced. Due to these inclined guide openings 23 and the clamping roller 24 the strip 11 extending between the roller 24 and supporting member 19 is retained infinitely adjustably on the buckle 12 in which the roller 24 clamps the strip 11 between itself and the member 19. Upon traction on the belt 13 in the direction of the arrow A the clamping roller 24 loosely in contact with the belt 13 is moved into the region of the slot of the guide opening 23 located at a very small space from the belt 13 and effects firm clamping of the belt 13 with the strip 11.

For loosening the attachment of the belt for a change of length, the roller 24 must be manually displaced against the traction, so that the clamping action is cancelled and the strip 11 may have a change of position in the longitudinal direction. The clamping roller 24 preferalby has at both ends an enlargement like the head of a rivet, so that it is secured against falling out of the slots 23.

The belt 23 is drawn by its buckle end, for example through a slot 25 extending in the end portion remote from the spike 15 at a space from the clamping device 24, in the support member 19, so that by bending the belt member 11 in the slot 25 additional security against unintentional longitudinal displacement is obtained.

The belt 13 may also be drawn through the buckle 12 without passing through the slot 25 see the chaindotted position in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7, 8, 14, 18, 19, in which it extends in a straight line along the back of the supporting member 19 without a bend.

It is possible to pass a loop 20 (FIG. 3) provided on the trousers or the like through the slot 17, through which the spike 15 engages for securing the position of the buckle 12 on the trousers.

The front 10a and the back 10b of the trousers are connected together relatively displaceably by means of guide means 26, 27/28, 29 of the device for adjusting the circumference of the band near the separation 30 of the sides, said means engaging in each other infinitely adjustably, whilst, for adjusting the band the front 10a is displaced more or less over the back 10b.

The guide means 26, according to FIGS. 10-15, of the back portion 10b is formed by 21 preferably smooth guide strip securable to the outside thereof, said strip being disposed near the band 10c and extending by its longitudinal direction round the circumference of the band; the guide means 26 of the front part 10a is provided with a guide rail 31 at least partially engaging round the guide strip 27. The two guide means 27, 31, have complementary cross-sections. The guide rail 31 has for example a C-shaped, dove-tailed or polygonal cross-section and the guide strip 27 has a cross-section corresponding to this form.

The guide strip 27 extends over a certain length along the outside of the band and may be secured thereto by sewing, adhesion, press studs or the like over its entire length at the same time the guide rail 31 engages around the strip 27 by a half-open cross-section and is displaceable over the entire length of the guide strip (FIG. 11). A groove 27a extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip 27 is able to receive the fixing seam for the attachment of the strip.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the guide strip 27 is secured only by its two ends to the back part 10b by sewing, adhesion, or press studs and the guide rail 31 is formed as a sleeve which completely encloses the guide strip 27 and is displaceable between the two securing points thereof. The cross-section of the guide strip 27 and the rail 31 shown in FIG. 12 may be circular, oval or polygonal.

The guide rail 31 is provided on a reinforcing member 32, preferably a bar secured to the front part 10a, imparting rigidity to this part 10a and avoiding during the adjustment of the band any crease formation in the front part 10a during its displacement. The stiffening member 32 is secured in position preferably in the band 100 of the front part 10a by sewing, clips or the like, extends by its entirelength in the band 10c and only the guide means 31 extends through the slot or the like out of the band 100 on the inside or out of the end of the band 100.

The reinforcing member 32 may be secured in the band 100 for example by a seam 33 extending along the front edge of the band 100 on the front of the trousers and a seam 34 leaving the slot free for releasing the guide rail 31, near the separating line 22 or on the separating line 30 of the front part 10a. The reinforcing member 32 has, over its length, at a space from the guide member 31, a reduced cross-section 35 formed by a seam, a crease, a perforation, or a welded edge which extends along the extension of the yoke shaped fold 10d and permits compact folding of the front part 100 when the trousers are hung up or otherwise taken off and disposed of neatly.

The reinforcing member 32 preferably has a rectangular cross-section and is formed as a strip carrying at one end the guide rail 31 and the other end of which represent a lengthening part 32, corresponding to the particular size of the trousers (band) so that only one reinforcing member 32 is provided for all sizes of trousers and the end 3217 of which, adjacent to the front edge of the front part of the trousers is cut off accordingly when the reinforcing member 32 is secured in the band 100. It is preferable to reduce the width of the reinforcing member 32 for a certain length between the guide member 31 and the lengthening end 32b. This reduced portion 32a is made sufficient in its length for the reduced cross-section 35 to be located in this region. The rigidity of the reinforcing member 32 is reduced on the one hand, but is always sufficient for retaining the shape of the front part 10a of the trousers and, on the other hand, for the production of the reduced cross-section 35 to be located next to a seam.

Adjacent the end of the reduced portion 32a in the rea of the guide rail is a stop 32c which occupies the entire width of the reinforcing member and is located behind the seam 34 in the band 10c and serves to secure the reinforcing member 32 in the band 100 against extraction.

The guide rail 31 is displaced in the direction of the back part 10b relatively to the plane of the reinforcing member with its plane of displacement extending in the longitudinal direction; with the guide rail 31 the reinforcing member 32 forms a single part and is preferably made of plastics material however, it may be made as a single metal part.

The belt 13 may be secured by its strip 11 in two positions on both sides of the division 30 to the two

parts

10a, 10b of the trousers, whilst on the one hand the buckle 12 is detachably secured by the hook 18, a press stud or the like fastener near the front edge of the front part 10a, the belt 13 is detachably secured on the back part 10b at a space from the buckle 12 by means of a hook 36, a press stud or the like fastener. The strip 11 is longitudinally displaceable and secured in position in the buckle 12 so that, upon the longitudinal movement of the belt member, the two belt securing points 18, 36 are changed in their spacing from each other and the front part 10a is displaced relatively to the back part 10b for setting the circumference of the band.

The hook 18provided on the buckle 12 engages in the eyelet 21 mounted near the front edge of the front part 10a and simultaneously effecting an additional fixture of the reinforcing member 32 in the hand 10c and the other hook 36 of the belt engages in a retaining eyelet 37 mounted at its base from the separating line 30 on the back part 10b thus both

parts

10a, 10b of the trousers are detachably connected to the belt 13 and are displaced relatively to each other by the movement of the belt.

A holding loop 38 is secured to the free terminal edge of the strip 11 through which loop the perforated end 13a of the belt is guided and which affords a possibility of engagement upon the displacement of the other end of the belt strip 11.

The bend adjustment device provided in the embodiment shown by interengaging guide means 27, 31 is preferably provided only on one side of the trousers 10; however they may also be provided on both sides, securing

points

18, 36 being provided for the belt also on both sides.

In the case of a band of corresponding trouser material having considerable stiffness the reinforcing member 32 may be omitted so that the guide rail 31 is secured to the inside of the front part 1021 of the trousers.

It is also within the scope of the present invention, whilst using the guide means 27, 26, to provide a belt 13 having any other form of buckle. Again, the clamping roller 24 may be replaced by a clamping lever or the like.

It is also possible to secure the guide rail 31 to the back part 10b and the guide rail 27 to the front part 100.

In the case of the arrangement of the reinforcing member 32 modified relatively to FIG. 9, in the band 10c of the front part the guide means 31 on the separating end of the belt 10c extends out of the band 10c; the entire stiffening member 32 is arranged in the band 100 and the stop 320 is disposed in the end of the band and is secured against withdrawal by two seams 34 closing the end of the band above and below the guide means 31. The two seams 34, preferably closing or quilting seams, close the end of the band with the exception of the opening for the guide means; they are on the separating line 30.

In the case of the other buckle construction shown in FIG. 14, the strip 11 is provided without a slot 17 and is infinitely displaceable and securable by means of the clamping roller 24 or the like. In this case the supporting member 19 of the buckle is provided at the upper and lower edge above and below the belt 13, with respective books 18, by means of which the buckle 12 may be detachably secured to two retaining eyelets 21 on the front part 10a.

FIG. 15 discloses another embodiment of a buckle 12 which also receives displaceably and infinitely adjust ably a strip 11 formed without a slot 17.

This buckle 12 is provided with a hook 18 for securing to a retaining eyelet 21 of the front part 10a, on a bar 19a on the back of the band, said hook 18 being secured for example to the bar 190 halfway up the height of the buckle. The strip 1 1 may be slipped through the part 19 and the bar 19a.

The device for adjusting the circumference of the band, shown in FIGS. 16 21, is formed by two flexible adjustment means 28, 29 displaceable relatively to each other in the peripheral direction of the band one, 29, of which is secured to the back part b and the other, 28, to the front 10a.

The adjustment means 29 on the back is detachably connected to connecting means 39, preferably a sliding clamp, forming an adjustable securing point between the part 10b and strip 11, displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the strip on said strip 11 and securable in position; this sliding clamp 39 is infinitely adjustable on the strip 11 and extends behind the line 30 separating the sides of the trousers. The two

parts

10a, 10b of the trousers, infinitely displaceable relatively to each other within a certain range for setting the circumference of the band are thus disengageably connected with the buckle end of the belt at strip 11 at two points having a space between them, the buckle 12 being connected to the front part 10a and the sliding clamp 39 to the rear part 10b so that the two fixed points are disposed on both sides of the separating line 30.

The sliding clamp 39 which forms a clamping buckle, and is preferably made of metal has a base-plate 40 with two lateral bearing lugs 41 in which a clamping lever 42 is pivotably mounted, the swivel axis 43 of which extends transversely at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the strip. This clamping lever 42 has a concave form in the longitudinal direction of the pivotal axis and transversely thereto, by which a connecting member provided on the adjustment means 29 and serving for a detachable insertion and/or locking connection with the clamping lever 42 is received as far as possible in the extension of the sliding clamp 39 and hence there is a reduction of thickness in the region of the fixed point. The multiple convex clamping lever 42 rises only slightly with the connecting member 44 secured thereto, a feature which has a favourable effect on the garment 10 with respect to the thickness of the belt.

The clamping lever 42 of the sliding clamp has a detachably securable bar 42a on the connecting member 44.

The connecting member 44 is formed by a bearing 45 extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the adjusting means and having bars 48 provided on both sides of the adjustment means 29, extending towards each other, providing an insertion slot 46 and forming a bearing opening 47 which are of different lengths and extend with the same clearance above the bearing 45.

The bearing 45 is provided at the end of the adjustment means 29 remote from the other adjusting means 28 and the shorter bars 48 extend adjacently to the free end of the adjusting means.

For securing the sliding clamp 39, its clamping lever 42 is inserted in the slot 46 by its bar 42a having a preferably rectangular cross-section, in the open position of the slide, in which position the clamping lever 42 extends at an angle from the baseplate 40 and is then pushed with pivoting of the clamping lever under the longer bars 48 of the connecting member 44 so that the shorter bars 48 can engage over the clamping lever lug 42a; the clamping lever 42 then extends approximately on the plane of the base body, in the longitudinal direction of the relatively opposed bars 48, and is then pivoted with the bearing 45 into the clamping position, the lug 42a pivoting through approximately 180 about the pivotal axis 43 of the clamping lever in the bearing opening 47 turning about its longitudinal axis.

The connecting member 44 is in the position connected to the guiding clamp 39 behind the pivotal axis 43 of said sliding clamp, see FIGS. 18 and 19.

A reinforcement strip 28 attachable to the front part 10;: of the trousers and projecting by a guide rail 49 on the separating line 30 out of the front part 10a and a guide strip 29 securable to the back part 10b and engaged by the guide rail 49 are provided as adjustment means.

the guide rails 49 preferably has a C-shaped cross section and the guide strip 29, engaged by this rail 49, an H-shaped cross-section, see FIG. 21.

The reinforcement strip 28, securable to the front part 10a in the region of the band and having a rectangular cross section, is formed as a strip and is disposed at one end against the slit seam on the front part 10a of the trousers and secured in position against the separating line 30 of the front part; its other end is enlarged to form a fixing flap 50, said flap adjoining the guide rail 49 extending from the separating line 30.

The end of the adjusting member 28 opposite to the fixing flap 50 may be brought to the desired size of belt by a standard length production of the adjusting member 28. The other adjusting member which is in the form of a guide strip 28 is provided at its end with the connecting member 44 and at the other end has a thickened portion 51, such as an increased crosssection, attachment or the like, as a limiting stop. The guide rail 49 is thus provided infinitely adjustably between this limiting stop 51 and the connecting member 44 forming a second limiting stop. At a space from the limiting member 51 the guide strip 29 has two lateral recesses 52 which make it possible to slide the guide rail 49 onto the guide strip 29.

The two

adjustment members

28, 29 with their parts guide strip 29 with connecting member 44 and limiting stop 51 as also reinforcing member 28 with fixing flaps 50 and guide rail 49 are made as a single piece of plastics material.

The adjustment member 28 is secured in the band of the trousers l0 and the adjusting member 29 secured to the outside of the back part 10b by a seam extending in the centre width of the H-shaped cross section.

For increasing the circumference of the band the buckle 12 is gripped in one hand and the clamping roller 24 thereof released so that, as a result of the pressure of the body, the strip 11 at the end of the belt slides through the buckle 12 until it reaches the desired extension when this increase is reached the clamping roller 24 is released so that it moves automatically to the desired clamping rotation and retains the belt strip 11 again. If the circumference of the band is to be reduced the buckle 12 is again grasped in one hand, drawn with the other hand on a guide and actuating member 38, such as a sliding stirrup, metal loop or the like secured to the free end of the strip and engaging around the other perforated end 13a of the belt, whereby the belt 11 can be drawn through the buckle 12 with automatic movement of the clamping roller 24 into the release position until the desired reduction is achieved. The buckle 12 serves as an abutment and the metal loop 38 as a traction member. When the desired reduction in the dircumference of the band is achieved,

spike pivotally mounted on said plate for engagement with one of a plurality of holes in the opposite end of said strip and holding means for frictionally engaging ans securing said buckle means to said strip in an

adboth parts

12, 38 are released and the clamping roller j t d position,

24 then moves again into the fixing position.

During the enlargement or reduction of the band, the two parts a, 10b, of the trousers are released or increased in their overlap and both

parts

10a, 10b displaced relatively to each other the two adjusting

members

28, 19 26, 27 providing the

parts

10a, 10b with a perfect guide and avoid any creases within the

parts

10a, 10b.

The strip 11 may be a separate member or an extended portion of the belt 13 which extends from the loop 38 so far as the connecting

means

36, 39. This strip 11 with the connecting

means

36, 39 and guide means 26, 27 28, 29 provides the adjusting means of the band circumference.

The adjusting device is also suitable for skirts, coats of other garments.

I claim:

1. A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping parts separated from each other in the region of the waist comprising a strip forming a belt member and buckle means adjustably secured for limited movement on one end of said strip, said strip being provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and said buckle means being provided with a member extending into said opening for limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the buckle means on said strip, two interengageable adjustment means infinitely displaceable relative to each other in the peripheral direction of the band, one of said adjustment means being adapted for connection to one of said overlapping parts and the other adjustment means being adapted for connection to the other of said overlapping parts and means for detachably and adjustably securing said strip to one of said adjustment means.

2. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said buckle means is comprised of a plate, a

3. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said limiting member is of integral onepiece construction with said plate, said limiting member having a portion extending at right angles to the plate and a portion for engagement with a loop on a garment.

4. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate is provided with a pair of opposed flanges having oblong slots therein with one end of each slot being closer to said plate than the opposite end and said holding means comprises a clamping roller rotatably and transversely displaceable in said slot whereby said strip will be frictionally engaged between said roller and said plate.

5. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said adjustment means is comprised of a smooth elongated guide strip and the other said adjustment means is comprised of an elongated strip having a complementary guide member at one end thereof at least partially engaging over said guide strip for free movement therealong.

6. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the elongated strip of said adjustment means is adapted to be secured within the waist band of a garment with the guide member thereon protruding outwardly adjacent the overlapping parts of the garment.

7. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting one of said adjustment means to said strip comprises a slidable member slidably mounted on said strip, locking means on said sliding member for adjustably locking said sliding member and fastening means for detachably engaging complementary fastening means on one of said adjustment means.

Claims

1. A band adjustment device for garments having overlapping parts separated from each other in the region of the waist comprising a strip forming a belt member and buckle means adjustably secured for limited movement on one end of said strip, said strip being provided with an oblong opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and said buckle means being provided with a member extending into said opening for limiting the longitudinal adjustment of the buckle means on said strip, two interengageable adjustment means infinitely displaceable relative to each other in the peripheral direction of the band, one of said adjustment means being adapted for connection to one of said overlapping parts and the other adjustment means being adapted for connection to the other of said overlapping parts and means for detachably and adjustably securing said strip to one of said adjustment means. 2. A band adjustment device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said buckle means is comprised of a plate, a spike pivotally mounted on said plate for engagement with one of a plurality of holes in the opposite end of said strip and holding means for frictionally engaging ans securing said buckle means to said strip in an adjusted position.