Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Garment extender
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of clothing, and is
more
specifically concerned with a garment extender.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Garment extenders, for example coat or jacket extenders, are useful for
pregnant women, among others. Using such garment extenders, not only can the
pregnant woman use the clothes she owns during pregnancy, but she can also
use the extended garment to protect a baby carried in a baby carrier after
giving
birth. One problem with existing garment extenders is that they typically
attach to
an existing slide fastener, commonly referred to as a zipper, of the garment.
Since
there are many incompatible slide fasteners types on the market, this requires
a
large inventory of garment extenders to fit different brands and models of zip
fasteners. Also, the buyer of the garment extender has to guess which type of
slide fastener is used in the existing garment, or requires the help of a
specialized
salesperson to select the right type of garment extender that will zip to the
existing
slide fastener.
[0003] Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved garment extender. It
is a
general objective of the present invention to provide such an improved garment
extender.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In a broad aspect, there is provided a garment extender usable with a
garment having a garment slide fastener, the garment slide fastener having a
pair
of substantially elongated stringer tapes supporting each a row of teeth
extending
longitudinally therealong, the garment slide fastener also having a slider
movable
along the rows of teeth in a reciprocating movement for selectively attaching
the
teeth of both rows to each other when moved in a closing direction and
selectively
detaching the teeth of both rows from each other when moved in an opening
direction opposed to the closing direction, the garment extender comprising an
extender body defining substantially opposed extender body first and second
side
edges and opposed extender body top and bottom edges extending each between
the extender body first and second side edges; at least two attachment mounts
provided each at a respective one of the extender body first and second side
edges; at least two attachments, each mounted to a respective one of the
attachment mounts, each of the attachments including an attachment body and a
pair of jaws extending from the attachment body, each jaw terminating at a
respective jaw free end, the jaws delimiting a channel therebetween opened at
both channel ends thereof and the jaw free ends defining a slit therebetween
leading to the channel, each jaw defining opposed jaw inner and outer
surfaces,
the jaw inner surfaces facing each other with the channel therebetween;
wherein
each attachment mount includes a foldable material, the attachments being more
rigid than the foldable material, the attachment being mounted to the
attachment
mount with the foldable material running along the jaws so that the jaw inner
surfaces, outer surfaces and free ends are covered by the foldable material;
wherein, with the attachments operatively secured to the garment slide
fastener,
the slit of each attachment receives thereinto a gripped portion of one of the
stringer tapes and the channel of each attachment receives thereinto the teeth
that
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are supported by the stringer tape adjacent the gripped portion, the foldable
material being between the jaws inner surfaces and the teeth and between the
stringer tapes and the jaw free ends.
[0005] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the attachment
body defines a body central portion from which the jaws extend, the foldable
material defining a pair of apertures, an inter-aperture portion therebetween
and a
pair of extra-aperture portions extending away from each other from a
respective
one of the apertures opposed to the inter-aperture portion, the attachment
being
mounted to the foldable material with the body central portion inserted
through
both apertures, the extra-aperture portions each extending from a respective
one
of the apertures and covering a respective one of the jaws.
[0006] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the extra-
aperture portions each extend along a respective one of the jaw inner
surfaces,
jaw free ends and jaw outer surfaces.
[0007] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein a pair of arms
extends from the body central portion away from the jaws, at least part of the
inter-
aperture portion being received between the arms.
[0008] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the extra-
aperture portions further extend over the attachment body and are joined to
each
other so that the attachments are contained in a cavity defined by the
foldable
material with only the body central portion protruding out of the cavity.
[0009] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the arms are
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angled so as to converge towards each other in a direction leading away from
the
body central portion.
[0010] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein a prong extends
from the body central portion opposed to the jaws, the foldable material
defining a
prong receiving aperture in the inter-aperture portion, the prong protruding
through
the prong receiving aperture.
[0011] There may also be provided a garment extender further comprising a
fastener secured to the prong, the foldable material being secured to the
prong
between the body central portion and the fastener.
[0012] There may also be provided a garment extender further comprising a
fastener, the fastener being configured and sized to engage both the
attachment
and the foldable material so that the foldable material is secured to the
attachment.
[0013] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the jaws have
bevelled jaw free end portions so that the slit defines flared slit ends.
[0014] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein at least one of
the jaws has a substantially L-shaped transversal cross-sectional
configuration.
[0015] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein at least one of
the jaws has a substantially arcuate transversal cross-sectional
configuration.
[0016] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein at least one of
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the jaws has a substantially rectilinear transversal cross-sectional
configuration.
[0017] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the foldable
material includes cloth.
[0018] There may also be provided a garment extender further comprising a
locking clip, the locking clip defining a clip body and a locking portion
extending
from the clip body, the locking portion being removably insertable in the
channel
when the attachment is operatively attached to the garment slide fastener,
whereby the locking portion increases frictional forces between the attachment
mount and the garment slide fastener relative to a configuration in which the
locking portion is outside of the channel.
[0019] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the attachment
body includes attachment body first and second portions from which a
respective
one of the jaws extends, the body first and second portions being secured to
each
other with at least part of the foldable material contained between the body
first
and second portions.
[0020] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the body first
and
second portions are secured to each other with at least part of the foldable
material pinched between the body first and second portions.
[0021] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the foldable
material defines a pinched portion pinched between the body first and second
portions and a pair of covering portion extending from the pinched portion,
each of
the covering portion covering a respective one of the jaws.
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[0022] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the body first
and
second portions and the pinched portion are stitched to each other.
[0023] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the body first
portion defines a prong and the body second portion define a prong receiving
recess, the prong engaging the prong receiving recess so that the prong is
locked
in the prong receiving recess to lock the body first and second portions to
each
other; the prong extends through the pinched portion.
[0024] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein an arm extends
from the body central portion away from the jaws, at least part of the inter-
aperture
portion being secured to the arm.
[0025] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein the attachment
has a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration in a plane
substantially
perpendicular to the channel.
[0026] In another broad aspect, there is provided a garment extender usable
with
a garment having a garment slide fastener, the garment slide fastener having a
pair of substantially elongated stringer tapes supporting each a row of teeth
extending longitudinally therealong, the garment slide fastener also having a
slider
movable along the rows of teeth in a reciprocating movement for selectively
attaching the teeth of both rows to each other when moved in a closing
direction
and selectively detaching the teeth of both rows from each other when moved in
an opening direction opposed to the closing direction, the garment extender
comprising: an extender body defining substantially opposed extender body
first
and second side edges and opposed extender body top and bottom edges
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extending each between the extender body first and second side edges; at least
two elongated attachment mounts provided along a respective one of the
extender
body first and second side edges; a plurality of attachments each mounted to
one
of the attachment mounts at longitudinally spaced apart locations, each of the
attachments including an attachment body and a pair of jaws extending from the
attachment body, each jaw terminating at a respective jaw free end, the jaws
delimiting a channel therebetween opened at both channel ends thereof and the
jaw free ends defining a slit therebetween leading to the channel, each jaw
defining opposed jaw inner and outer surfaces, the jaw inner surfaces facing
each
other and delimiting the channel. With the attachments operatively secured to
the
garment slide fastener, the slit of each attachment receives thereinto a
gripped
portion of one of the stringer tapes and the channel of each attachment
receives
thereinto the teeth that are supported by the stringer tape adjacent the
gripped
portion.
[0027] There may also be provided a garment extender wherein each attachment
mount includes a foldable material, the attachments being more rigid than the
foldable material, the attachment being embedded at least partially in the
foldable
material.
[0028] Advantageously, in some embodiments, the proposed garment extender
may be used with garments having a wide variety of slide fastener dimensions.
Also, in some embodiments, the foldable material may provide good friction
characteristics so that the garment extender is relatively securely mounted to
the
slide fastener. The presence of the foldable material may also, in some
embodiments, seal the junction between the slide fastener and the garment
extender, thereby minimizing or eliminating cold air and moisture infiltration
through this junction.
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[0029] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of
preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In the drawings:
[0031] Figure 1, in a front elevation view, illustrates a garment in the form
of a
jacket;
[0032] Figure 2, in a front elevation view, illustrates the garment of FIG. 1
to
which is attached a garment extender in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0033] Figure 3, in a front elevation view with parts removed, illustrates
part of the
garment extender and garment of FIG. 2;
[0034] Figure 4, in a top plan view, illustrates part of the garment and
garment
extender of FIG. 2;
[0035] Figure 5, in a perspective view, illustrates an attachment part of the
garment extender of FIG. 2, the attachment being shown in an open
configuration;
[0036] Figure 6, in a front plan view, illustrates the attachment of FIG. 5;
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[0037] Figure 7, in a front plan view, illustrates a linking portion part of
the
attachment of FIG. 5;
[0038] Figure 8, in a top elevation view, illustrates the attachment of FIG.
5, the
attachment being shown in a closed configuration;
[0039] Figure 9, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternative attachment
usable
in the garment extender of FIG. 2;
[0040] Figure 10, in a perspective view, illustrates an other alternative
attachment
usable in the garment extender of FIG. 2;
[0041] Figure 11, in a perspective view, illustrates yet an other alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 2;
[0042] Figure 12, in a perspective view, illustrates yet an other alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 2;
[0043] Figure 13, in a front elevation view, illustrates the garment and
garment
extender of FIG. 2 with part of the garment extender between two garment slide
fasteners removed;
[0044] Figure 14, in a top plan view, illustrates yet another attachment
usable in
the garment extender of FIG. 2;
[0045] Figure 15, in a perspective view, illustrates an attachment string
including
a flexible link to which are secured a series of the attachments of FIG. 14;
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[0046] Figure 16, in a partial perspective view, illustrates a portion of the
attachment string of FIG. 15
[0047] Figure 17, in a rear elevation view, illustrates part of the garment of
FIG. 2
and a garment extender similar to the garment extender of FIG. 2, in which the
attachments are the attachments of FIG. 14 linked to each other in the
attachment
string of FIGS. 15 and 16, with a part of the garment extender between two
garment slide fasteners removed;
[0048] Figure 18, in a side elevation view, illustrates the attachment strip
of FIGS.
15 and 16 with the flexible link folded over itself at a link end thereof;
[0049] Figure 19, in a side elevation view, illustrates a clip usable in
conjunction
with the attachments of FIG. 14, the clip being shown in an open
configuration;
[0050] Figure 20, in a side elevation view, illustrates the clip of FIG. 19,
the clip
being shown in a closed configuration;
[0051] Figure 21, in a perspective view, illustrates an attachment string in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0052] Figure 22, in a front elevation view with parts removed, illustrates
part of
an alternative garment extender attached to the garment of FIG. 2;
[0053] Figure 23, in a perspective view, illustrates an attachment part of the
garment extender of FIG. 22;
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[0054] Figure 24, in a top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment
of
FIG. 23, illustrates the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0055] Figure 25, in a perspective cross-sectional view, illustrates part of
the
garment extender of FIG. 22 attached to the garment of FIG. 2;
[0056] Figure 26, in a side elevation view, illustrates an alternative
attachment
usable in the garment extender of FIG. 25;
[0057] Figure 27, in a partial top plan view, illustrates a foldable material
part of
the garment extender of FIG. 22, here shown prior to assembly of the garment
extender;
[0058] Figure 28A, in a schematic top cross-sectional view, illustrates a step
performed when mounting the attachment of FIG. 23 to the foldable material of
FIG. 27;
[0059] Figure 28B, in a schematic top cross-sectional view, illustrates
another
step performed when mounting the attachment of FIG. 23 to the foldable
material
of FIG. 27;
[0060] Figure 28C, in a schematic top cross-sectional view, illustrates yet
another
step performed when mounting the attachment of FIG. 23 to the foldable
material
of FIG. 27;
[0061] Figure 28D, in a schematic top cross-sectional view, illustrates yet
another
step performed when mounting the attachment of FIG. 23 to the foldable
material
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of FIG. 27;
[0062] Figure 28E, in a schematic top cross-sectional view, illustrates yet
another
step performed when mounting the attachment of FIG. 23 to the foldable
material
of FIG. 27;
[0063] Figure 29, in a top elevation view, illustrates another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0064] Figure 30, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0065] Figure 31, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0066] Figure 32, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0067] Figure 33 in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0068] Figure 34, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0069] Figure 35, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
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[0070] Figure 36, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0071] Figure 37, in a top elevation view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0072] Figure 38, in a front elevation view with parts removed, illustrates a
locking
clip usable with the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0073] Figure 39, in a front elevation view, illustrates an alternative
locking clip
usable with the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0074] Figure 40, in a perspective view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0075] Figure 41, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough, illustrates
the
attachment of FIG. 40;
[0076] Figure 42, in a perspective view, illustrates part of an alternative
foldable
material usable with the attachment of FIG. 41;
[0077] Figure 43, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 40 and 41 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 42;
[0078] Figure 44, in a perspective view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
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[0079] Figure 45, in top plan view, illustrates the attachment of FIG. 44;
[0080] Figure 46, in top cross-sectional view adjacent a top end of the
attachment, illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 44 and 45 mounted to the
foldable
material of FIG. 27;
[0081] Figure 47, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0082] Figure 48, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough, illustrates
the
attachment of FIG. 47;
[0083] Figure 49, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 47 and 48 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 42;
[0084] Figure 50, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0085] Figure 51, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough, illustrates
the
attachment of FIG. 50;
[0086] Figure 52, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 50 and 51 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 42;
[0087] Figure 53, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
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attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0088] Figure 54, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIG. 53 mounted to an alternative foldable
material
shown in FIG. 67;
[0089] Figure 55, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0090] Figure 56, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIG. 55 mounted to the foldable material of FIG.
27;
[0091] Figure 57, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0092] Figure 58, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough, illustrates
the
attachment of FIG. 57;
[0093] Figure 59, in a perspective view, illustrates part of an alternative
foldable
material usable with the attachment of FIGS. 57 and 58;
[0094] Figure 60A, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 57 and 58 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 59;
[0095] Figure 60B, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 57 and 58 mounted to the foldable material
of
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FIG. 42;
[0096] Figure 61, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[0097] Figure 62, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough, illustrates
the
attachment of FIG. 61;
[0098] Figure 63, in a perspective view, illustrates part of an alternative
foldable
material usable with the attachment of FIGS. 61 and 62;
[0099] Figure 64, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 61 and 62 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 63;
[00100] Figure 65, in a perspective view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00101] Figure 66, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIG. 65;
[00102] Figure 67, in a perspective view, illustrates part of the foldable
material of
usable with the attachment of FIGS. 65 and 66 and with the attachment of FIG.
54;
[00103] Figure 68, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 65 and 66 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 67;
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[00104] Figure 69, in a perspective view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00105] Figure 70, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIG. 69;
[00106] Figure 71, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 69 and 70 mounted to the foldable material
of
FIG. 27;
[00107] Figure 72, in a perspective view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00108] Figure 73, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIG. 72 mounted to an unpierced foldable
material;
[00109] Figure 74, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates yet another
alternative attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00110] Figure 75, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIG. 75 mounted to the foldable material of FIG.
59;
[00111] Figure 76, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22, the attachment being
shown in a first configuration;
[00112] Figure 77, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
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attachment of FIG. 76, the attachment being shown in a second configuration;
[00113] Figure 78, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 76 and 77 mounted to an unpierced foldable
material;
[00114] Figure 79, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00115] Figure 80, in a perspective view, illustrates part of another
alternative
foldable material;
[00116] Figure 81, in a perspective view, illustrates the foldable material of
FIG.
80 folded over itself prior to mounting the attachment of FIG. 79 thereto;
[00117] Figure 82, in top cross-sectional view midway through a prong of the
attachment, illustrates the attachment of FIG. 79 mounted to the foldable
material
of FIGS. 80 and 81;
[00118] Figure 83, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00119] Figure 84, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIG. 83;
[00120] Figure 85, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates the attachment of FIGS. 83 and 84 mounted to the foldable material
of
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FIG. 27;
[00121] Figure 86, in top cross-sectional view midway through the attachment,
illustrates an alternative manner of mounting the attachment of FIG 29 to the
foldable material of FIG. 27;
[00122] Figure 87, in top cross-sectional view midway through a prong of the
attachment, illustrates an alternative manner of mounting the attachment of
FIG 79
to two unpierced foldable materials;
[00123] Figure 88, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00124] Figure 89, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIG. 88 mounted to an alternative foldable material;
[00125] Figure 90, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00126] Figure 91, in a perceptive view, illustrates yet another alternative
attachment usable in the garment extender of FIG. 22;
[00127] Figure 92, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIG. 91 partially mounted to an alternative foldable material;
and
[00128] Figure 93, in top cross-sectional view midway therethrough,
illustrates the
attachment of FIGS. 91 and 92 mounted to the alternative foldable material
shown
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in FIG. 92.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00129] The term "substantially" is used throughout this document to indicate
variations in the thus qualified terms. These variations are variations that
do not
materially affect the manner in which the invention works and can be due, for
example, to uncertainty in manufacturing processes or to small deviations from
a
nominal value that do not cause significant changes to the invention. These
variations are to be interpreted from the point of view of the person skilled
in the
art.
[00130] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional garment 12, here shown in the form
of a
jacket, although alternative garments 12 are within the scope of the appended
claims. The garment 12 has a garment slide fastener 14. The garment slide
fastener 14 has a pair of substantially elongated stringer tapes 16 supporting
each
a row of teeth 18 extending longitudinally therealong. The stringer tape 16 is
a
ribbon of any suitable material, such as, non-limitingly, webbing. The garment
slide
fastener 14 also has a slider 20 movable along the rows of teeth 18 in a
reciprocating movement for selectively attaching the teeth 18 of both rows to
each
other when moved in a closing direction and selectively detaching the teeth 18
of
both rows from each other when moved in an opening direction opposed to the
closing direction. Such slide fasteners are conventional and the garment slide
fastener 14 is not described in further details herein.
[00131] Referring to FIG. 2, a garment extender 10 is attachable to the
garment
slide fastener 14 to allow extension of the garment 12. For example, the
garment
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extender 10 is usable with a garment 12 in the form of a jacket to leave room
for
the expanding belly of a pregnant woman or to allow a parent to carry a baby
in a
baby carrier. However, the garment extender 10 is usable for any other
suitable
purpose. In some embodiments, the garment extender 10 is attached between
spaced apart stringer tapes 16 of the garment slide fastener 14. In other
embodiments, for example if the garment extender 10 is used with pants, the
stringer tapes 16 are not separated completely along their whole length.
Instead,
the stringer tapes 16 form a V-shaped gap therebetween in which the garment
extender 10 may be positioned (not shown in the drawings).
[00132] The garment extender 10 includes a body 21 and at least one attachment
22, some of which are seen for example in FIG. 3. The body 21 includes one or
more elements that are positioned in the gap between the stringer tapes 16 of
the
garment slide fastener 14. In a typical embodiment, the body 21 includes one
or
more panels of fabric, and, in some embodiment, insulating material. Referring
to
FIG. 2, The body 21 defines substantially opposed body first and second side
edges 24 and 26 and opposed body top and bottom edges 28 and 30 extending
each between the body first and second side edges 24 and 26.
[00133] Each of the body first and second side edges 24 and 26 is typically
provided with at least one respective attachment 22. In some embodiments, each
of the body first and second side edges 24 and 26 is provided with a
respective
plurality of the attachments 22 spaced apart from each other along the body
first
and second side edges 24 and 26. For example, the attachments 22 are part of
two attachment strings 32, each attachment string 32 including attachments 22
linked to each other and secured to one of the body first and second side
edges
24 and 26. However, in other embodiments, the attachments 22 are each
separately secured to the body 21. In other embodiments, only one attachment
22
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is provided at each of the body first and second side edges 24 and 26.
[00134] Referring for example to FIG. 5, each of the attachments 22 includes
attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36. The attachment inside
portion
34 includes an inside gripping portion 38 and an inside channel forming
portion 40.
The attachment outside portion 36 includes an outside gripping portion 42 and
an
outside channel forming portion 44. As seen in FIG. 4, when the attachment 22
is
operatively secured to the garment slide fastener 14, the inside and outside
gripping portions 38 and 42 grip a gripped portion 46 of one of the stringer
tapes
16 therebetween, and the inside and outside channel forming portions 40 and 44
define a channel 49 receiving thereinto the teeth 18 that are supported by the
stringer tape 16 adjacent the gripped portion 46. The attachment 22 thus
secures
the garment extender 10 to the garment slide fastener 14.
[00135] Typically, the attachments 22 are removably attachable to the garment
slide fastener 14. However, attachments 22 that permanently attach to the
garment slide fastener 14 are within the scope of the present invention. In
some
embodiments, the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36 are movable
relative to each other between a closed configuration, seen for example in
FIG. 8,
and an open configuration, seen for example in FIG. 5. The attachment 22 is in
the
closed configuration when the attachment 22 is attached to the garment slide
fastener 14. The inside and outside gripping portions 38 and 42 are spaced
apart
from each other to a greater extent in the open configuration than in the
closed
configuration to allow detachment of the attachment 22 from the garment slide
fastener 14.
[00136] In some embodiments (not shown in the drawings), the attachment inside
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23
and outside portions 34 and 36 are biased towards each other towards the
closed
configuration, for example by being mounted to a spring or other biasing
element.
In other embodiments, as in the attachment 22 shown in the drawings, each
attachment 22 further includes a lock 48 for selectively locking the
attachment 22
in the closed configuration. For example, the lock 48 prevents the attachment
inside and outside portions 34 and 36 from moving from the closed
configuration
to the open configuration unless a predetermined force moving the attachment
inside and outside portions 34 and 36 away from each other is exerted. In some
embodiments, the predetermined force is such that the lock 48 unlocks if
forces
that could cause damage to the garment slide fastener 14 were exerted on the
garment extender 10.
[00137] A specific example of the lock 48 includes lock inside and outside
elements 50 and 52 provided respectively in the attachment inside and outside
portions 34 and 36. The lock inside and outside elements 50 and 52 are
complementarily shaped to snap to each other in the closed position. However,
in
alternative embodiments, any other suitable lock is used. For example, a lock
using magnets is within the scope of the invention, magnets of opposing
polarity
facing each other in the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36 in
the
closed position. In yet other embodiments, the lock includes a biasing
element,
such as a spring, extending between the attachment inside and outside portions
34 and 36 and biasing the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36
towards the closed position.
[00138] For the purpose of this document, the term "snap" refers to a
structure
and an action in which one part defines a recess accessed through an opening
narrower than deeper parts of the recess. Another part includes a pin that has
a
portion that is slightly larger than the opening. At least one of, and in some
cases
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
24
both, the pin and the opening is resiliently deformable so that when a
suitable
force is exerted pushing the pin into the recess, deformation occurs so that
the
portion that is slightly larger than the opening is allowed to move past the
opening.
Then, the pin and opening, reverse at least partially this deformation, with
the
portion that is slightly larger than the opening received in the recess, which
locks
the pin in the recess.
[00139] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the inside channel forming
portion 40 is between the inside gripping portion 38 and lock inside element
50
and the outside channel forming portion 44 is between the outside gripping
portion
42 and lock outside elements 52.
[00140] In a very specific embodiment of the invention, the attachment inside
and
outside portions 34 and 36 are formed of a relatively rigid polymer and
structured
as follows. In this specific embodiment, the attachment inside and outside
portions
are identical, and only one of them, the attachment inside portion 34, is
described
in details.
[00141] Referring to FIG. 6, the attachment inside portion 34 includes a base
54,
which is for example plate-shaped. The inside gripping portion 38 is a flange
extending from the base 54. The flanges of the attachment inside and outside
portions 34 and 36 face each other and grip the stringer tape 16 therebetween
in
the closed configuration. For example, this flange has a length sufficient to
extend
along a few teeth 18 of the garment slide fastener 14 to distribute stresses
exerted
on the garment slide fastener 14 over a relatively large portion of the
garment slide
fastener 14 when the garment extender 10 is in use to reduce possibilities of
damaging the garment slide fastener 14.
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25
[00142] The lock inside element 50 includes a locking element base 56
extending
substantially parallel to the inside gripping portion 38, spaced apart
therefrom. The
inside channel forming portion 40 is delimited by the locking element base 56
and
inside gripping portion 38. In some embodiments, the locking element base 56
and
inside gripping portion 38 protrude at about the same height from the base 54.
[00143] The lock inside element 50 also includes a recess 58 extending in the
base 54, accessed through an opening 60 that is at least slightly narrower
than the
remainder of the recess 58. Furthermore, the lock inside element 50 includes a
prong 62 protruding from the base 54. The prong 62 includes a prong wider
portion 64 that is slightly larger than the opening 60. The prong 62 and
recess 58
are positioned such that when two of the lock inside elements 50 are
positioned so
that their inside gripping portions 38 face each other, the prong 62 of one of
the
lock inside elements 50 faces the recess 58 of the other one of the lock
inside
elements 50, so that the prongs 62 can engage the recesses 58. The recesses 58
and prongs 62 are configured and sized, and have mechanical properties, such
that the above-described snap action occurs when the prongs 62 are pushed into
the recesses 58.
[00144] In some embodiments, the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and
36 could be each attached, for example using glue, to the body 21. However, in
some embodiments, the attachment 22 includes an attachment linking portion 66
(seen in FIG. 6 for example) linking the attachment inside and outside
portions 34
and 36 to each other. Such a structure facilitates alignment between the
attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36 to achieve the closed
configuration. For example, the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and
36
are more rigid than the attachment linking portion 66. The latter is for
example
relatively flexible to relatively easily allow movements between the open and
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26
closed configurations.
[00145] Referring to FIG. 7, for example, the attachment linking portion 66 is
substantially panel shaped and defines inside and outside portion apertures 70
and 72 respectively receiving the attachment inside and outside portions 34
and
36 (not seen in FIG. 7) thereinto. The attachment linking portion 66 may be
made
of a polymer overmolded on the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and
36.
In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 6 for example, the attachment linking
portion 66 defines at least one groove 74 thereinto, for example two grooves
74,
between the inside and outside portion apertures 70 and 72 for facilitating
hinging
between the attachment inside and outside portions 34 and 36.
[00146] In some embodiments, the attachment linking portion 66 is soft enough
to
allow sewing the attachment linking portion 66 to pieces of fabric. This is
advantageous as sewing is a robust and relatively low cost method of attaching
components that is well understood in the garment industry.
[00147] Referring to FIG. 4, when the attachments 22 are provided in
attachment
strings 32, the attachment strings 32 may be formed as follows. Each string of
attachments includes inside and outside strips 76 and 78, made of a suitable
fabric. The inside and outside strips 76 and 78 extend between the attachments
22
and the body 21. The inside and outside strips 76 and 78 may be formed of a
single piece of material folded along a fold 80 separating the inside and
outside
strips 76 and 78 from each other. In alternative embodiments, the inside and
outside strips 76 and 78 are made of two different pieces of material. The
attachment linking portion 66 of each attachment 22 is secured to the inside
and
outside strips 76 and 78 and the inside and outside strips 76 and 78 are
secured
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
27
to the body 21. For example, the inside and outside strips 76 and 78 extend
generally parallel to each other.
[00148] The inside strip 76 has an inside strip side edge 82, opposed to the
fold
80 and the outside strip 78 has an outside strip side edges 86 , opposed to
the fold
80. Adjacent the fold 80, the inside and outside strips 76 and 78 overlap one
of the
body first and second side edges 24 and 26, the body first side edge 24 being
shown in FIG. 4. Part of the body 21 is secured to the inside and outside
strips 76
and 78. This layered structure including the inside and outside strips 76 and
78
with part of the body 21 therebetween can be sewn or assembled in any other
suitable manner.
[00149] The attachments 22 are provided between the inside and outside strips
76 and 78. In some embodiments, the inside and outside strips 76 and 78 are
folded over the attachment linking portion 66 adjacent the inside and outside
strips
side edges 82 and 86 and the layered structure formed of part of one of the
inside
and outside strips 76 and 78, the attachment linking portion 68 and another
part of
the same one of the inside and outside strips 76 and 78 is sewn together, or
otherwise secured, for example using glue or rivets, among other
possibilities.
[00150] As seen in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the body 21 is provided with
at
least one extender slide fastener 88 extending between the body top and bottom
edges 28 and 30, which allows opening the garment 12 without removing the
garment extender 10. In some embodiments, the garment extender 10 is provided
with a pair of laterally spaced apart extender slide fasteners 88 extending
between
the body top and bottom edges 28 and 30. This allows removal of part of the
garment extender 10, the part between the two extender slide fasteners 88, as
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28
seen in FIG. 13, while preserving the ability to close and open the garment
12.
Also, many different pieces of materials securable to the extender slide
fasteners
88 having different widths could be provided to adjust the garment extender 10
to
different sizes. In some embodiments, the removable portion includes a wider
portion and a narrower portion. When the wider portion is worn over the belly
of a
pregnant woman, the garment extender 10 may be used to accommodate the
expanding belly of the pregnant woman. When the wider portion is worn over the
chest of an intended user, which may be achieved by mounting the garment
extender 10 upside down with respect to the orientation in which the wider
portion
is over the belly, a baby carrier carrying a baby may be worn in register with
the
chest of the intended user and the garment extender 10 may then accommodate
the additional volume occupied by the baby and baby carrier.
[00151] FIG. 9 illustrates another attachment 122 usable instead of the
attachment 22 in the garment extender 10. The attachment 122 differs from the
attachment 22 in that the attachment inside and outside portions 134 and 136
have lock inside and outside elements 150 and 152 that differ from the lock
inside
and outside elements 50 and 52. More specifically, while still employing the
"snap"
principle, the lock inside and outside elements 150 and 152 don't include the
locking element base 56. Instead, the lock inside and outside elements 150 and
152 have a structure similar to that of a conventional push button used
commonly
in the garment industry. Also, the attachment inside and outside portions 134
and
136 are not identical as they each include a single element part of the
conventional push button structure, which need to be complementarily shaped to
the other element of the conventional push button structure. In alternative
embodiments, the same push button structures are used, but two of them are
present on each of the attachment inside and outside portions 234 and 236, as
seen in FIG. 10 for the attachment 222.
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29
[00152] FIG. 11 illustrates yet another attachment 322 usable instead of the
attachment 22 in the garment extender 10. The attachment 322 differs from the
attachment 22 in that the lock inside and outside elements 350 and 352 differ
from
the lock inside and outside elements 50 and 52. One of the lock inside and
outside
elements 350 and 352 include at least one deformable elongated tongue 390
provided with a ledge 392 generally transversal to the tongue 390. The tongue
390
is insertable in a recess 394 of the other one of the lock inside and outside
elements 350 and 352 by resiliently deforming the tongue 390 until the tongue
390
has been inserted enough that it can spring back to its undeformed
configuration
with the ledge 392 abutting against a correspondingly shaped portion of the
recess
394 so that removal of the tongue 390 from the recess 394 requires deformation
of
the tongue 390 to retract the ledge 392 so that the later can be retracted
from the
recess 394. In other embodiments, the tongue 390 deforms enough to be removed
from the recess 394 when enough pulling force is exerted thereonto. The
attachment 322 includes a pair of tongues 390 and recess 394.
[00153] FIG. 12 illustrates yet another attachment 422 usable instead of the
attachment 22 in the garment extender 10. The attachment 422 is similar to the
attachment 322 except that it includes only one tongue 490 and one recess 494,
which are longer than the tongue 390 and recess 394. Also, the attachment 422
includes inside and outside gripping portions 438 and 442 that are provided
with
teeth 443 to better grip the stringer tapes 16.
[00154] FIGS. 14 to 20 present various aspects related to yet another
attachment
522 usable instead of the attachment 22 in an alternative garment extender
510,
the latter being shown in FIG. 17. Typically, but not necessarily, a plurality
of
attachments 522 are used to secure the body 521 to the garment 12, as in the
garment extender 10. The attachments 522 could be individually secured to the
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body 521, for example using stitches, rivets or an adhesive. However, in some
embodiments, the attachments 522 are linked to each other in an attachment
string 532 through a flexible link 533, as shown in FIG. 15 for example and
further
described hereinbelow.
[00155] Referring to FIG. 16, each of the attachments 522 defines a channel
549
defining a channel axis 551 extending substantially parallel to one of the
body first
and second side edges 24 or 26 at which the attachment 522 is provided, as
seen
in FIG. 17. Returning to FIG. 16, each of the attachments 522 also define a
slit 553
parallel to the channel axis 551 and leading laterally into the channel 549
along
the whole channel 549. As seen in FIG. 14, the slit 553 of each attachment 522
faces away from the body 521.
[00156] As seen in FIG. 16, each slit 553 is defined between a pair of slit
edges
555 and 557. Each slit 553 defines axially opposed slit end portions 559 and
561
and a slit intermediate portion 563 therebetween. At least one of the slit
edges 555
and 557, for example both slit edges 555 and 557 as seen in FIG. 16, is
bevelled
in the slit end portions 559 and 561 so that an axial access to the slit 553
is
tapered towards the slit intermediate portion 563. This configuration
facilitates
sliding the attachments 522 along the stringer tapes 16.
[00157] In some embodiments, the attachments 522 may be slightly flexible so
that the slit 553 may be widened slightly against a biasing force forcing the
slit
edges 555 and 557 away from each other when the stringer tape 16 is inserted
thereinto, so that the attachments 522 engage the stringer tape 16 with a
small
axial friction force. In other embodiments, the slits 553 are be wider than
the
typical thickness of the stringer tape 16.
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31
[00158] As seen in FIG. 14, the attachments 522 may have a substantially C-
shaped transversal cross-sectional configuration. With the attachments 522
operatively secured to the garment slide fastener 14, the slit 553 of each
attachment 522 receives thereinto a gripped portion 46 of one of the stringer
tapes
16 therebetween and the channel 549 of the attachment 522 receives thereinto
the
teeth 18 that are supported by the stringer tape 16 adjacent the gripped
portion 46.
[00159] It should be noted that in opposition to the attachments 22, the
attachments 522 typically don't grip the stringer tapes 16 with a large force,
but are
movable therealong by exerting a relatively small force. Thus, the gripping
force is
such that friction between the attachments 522 and the stringer tapes 16 is
relatively low. As described hereinbelow, in some embodiments, a clip 538
(seen
in FIG. 17 for example) is used to prevent the attachments 522 from sliding
out of
the stringer tape 16. However, in alternative embodiments, the attachments 522
grip the stringer tape 16 with enough force that the clip 538 is not required.
Also,
the channel 549 has a transversal cross-sectional configuration such that the
teeth
18 of commercially available slide fasteners 14 may be freely received
thereinto
with minimal or no friction.
[00160] To ensure that the teeth 18 cannot exit the attachment 522 through the
slit 553, the latter has a relatively narrow width, and, when the attachments
522
are deformable, the attachment 522 is rigid enough to prevent excessive
deformation that would allow such movement of the teeth 18 through the slit
553.
[00161] With reference to FIG. 15, the attachments 522 provided at at least
one
of the body first and second side edges 24 and 26, and typically at both of
the
body first and second side edges 24 and 26, are linked to each other in an
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32
attachment string 532 through a flexible link 533. Typically, the flexible
link 533 is
less rigid than the attachments 522. The attachments 522 are secured to the
flexible link 533 in any suitable manner. For example, the attachments 522 are
glued to the flexible link 533. In other embodiments, the attachments 522
define a
peripherally extending flange (not shown in the drawings) that is embedded in
the
flexible link 533, for example by overmolding that latter over the attachments
522,
and more specifically the flanges. Any other suitable manner of securing the
attachments 522 to the flexible link 533 is also within the scope of the
invention.
[00162] As seen in FIG. 14, the attachment string 532 may be secured to a
strip
576 part of the body 521 and extending parallel to the flexible link 533,
similarly to
the use of the strips 76 and 78 in the garment extender 10. The strip 576 may
be
folded over itself at one strip side edge 582 thereof to form a fold 581
folding over
the flexible link 533. The folded strip 576 may be secured in any suitable
manner
to the flexible link 533, for example using stitches, rivets or an adhesive,
among
other possibilities.
[00163] The attachments 522 include two opposed end attachments 522 and
intermediate attachments 522 provided therebetween. In some embodiments, as
seen in FIG. 18, with the flexible link 533 folded over itself adjacent one
link end
535 thereof, the end attachment 522 adjacent to that link end 535 is
insertable
between two adjacent ones of the intermediate attachments 522. This is
possible if
the spacing between the end attachment 522 and the intermediate attachment 522
to which it is adjacent is large enough to allow such a fold and if the
distance
between the two intermediate attachments is larger than the length of the end
attachment 522. This ability to fold over the attachment string 532 and insert
the
end attachment 522 between two intermediate attachments 522 is useful to
shorten the attachment string 532 so that the attachment string 532 can be
used
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
33
with garment slide fasteners 14 of different lengths. Indeed, the folded over
portion
can be maintained folded by simply engaging the stringer tape 16 between the
two
intermediate attachments 522 with the end attachment 522.
[00164] In some embodiments, a clip 538 is provided, as seen in FIG. 17. The
clip
538 is operable for gripping the stringer tape 16. When the clip 538 grips the
stringer tape, the attachment string 532, and therefore the attachments 522
may
be maintained at a fixed location relative thereto. This functionality may be
achieved in many alternative manners. Two such manners are illustrated in FIG.
17. It should be noted that in some embodiments, only one of these manners is
implemented, at one or both sides of the garment extender 510.
[00165] FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate the clip 538. The clip 538 is movable
between
open and closed configurations, shown respectively in FIGS. 19 and 20. The
clip
538 includes a pair of jaws 540 and 542 that are adjacent to each other in the
closed configuration, and spaced apart from each other in the open
configuration.
The jaws 540 are operated using levers 544 and 546 extending respectively from
the jaws 540 and 542. The lever 546 extends integrally from the jaw 542 in the
embodiment of the clip 538 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, but other types of levers
are within the scope of the invention. The jaws 540 and 542 may be biased
towards the closed configuration, for example using a biasing element, or the
clip
538 may be configured so that when the jaws 540 and 542 are in the closed
configuration, a minimal force is required to achieve the open configuration,
so that
the jaws are maintained in the closed configuration unless this minimal force
is
exerted. The jaws 540 and 542 may also be provided with protrusions 548
configured to engage or penetrate any piece of fabric or any soft material
provided
between the two jaws 540 and 542. Examples of suitable clips 538 are provided
in
US Patent No 8,806,726 issued August 19, 2014 to Tien Chung Ent Co Ltd and in
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
34
US Patent No 7,979,965 issued July 19, 2011 to Tien Chung Ent Co Ltd. However,
any other suitable clip may be used.
[00166] Referring to FIG. 17, the clip 538 may be secured to the remainder of
the
garment extender 510 in many different manners. For example, as shown for the
bottom clip 538 in FIG. 17, the clip 538 is secured to one of the body 521 and
flexible link 533 between two adjacent ones of the attachments 522. In FIG.
17,
the clip 538 is secured to the body 521 with the jaws 540 and 542 positioned
between two attachments 522. With the garment extender 510 operatively secured
to the garment 12 (only partially shown in FIG. 17), the clip 538 is operable
for
selectively and reversibly gripping one of the stringer tapes 16 between the
two
adjacent ones of the attachments 522. When this is achieved, the attachments
522
are prevented from sliding along the stringer tapes 16 accidentally.
[00167] Another manner of providing the clip 538 is illustrated for the top
clip 538
of FIG. 17. The clip 538 is secured to the body 521, for example using a small
piece of rope 550, one end of which being secured to the body 521, and the
other
end of which being secured to the clip 538. Thus, this clip 538 may be moved
relative to the remainder of the garment extender 510. The rope 550 is
positioned
and configured so that with the garment extender 510 operatively secured to
the
garment 12, the clip 538 is operable for selectively and reversibly gripping
jointly
one of the flexible links 533 and one of the stringer tapes 16 adjacent to the
one of
the flexible link 533. Indeed, in this configuration, when the attachments 522
receive therebetween the stringer tape 16, the stringer tape 16 and flexible
link
533 run parallel and adjacent to each other. The clip 538 can therefore
receive
between its jaws 540 and 542 the stringer tape 16 and flexible element 533,
for
example at the top or bottom ends thereof.
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
35
[00168] While each side of the garment extender 510 is provided with only one
clip 538 in FIG. 17, it is within the scope of the invention to provide more
than one
clip 538 for each side of the garment extender 510, for example one adjacent
the
top of the garment extender 510, and one adjacent the bottom of the garment
extender 510, among other possibilities.
[00169] In use, the garment extender 510 is secured to the garment 12 by
simply
aligning the teeth 18 of one half of the slide fastener at one end thereof
with one of
the channels 549 of one of the end attachments 522 and pulling this end
attachment 522 along the stringer tape 16. As they reach the stringer tape 16,
the
other attachments 522 may be automatically aligned with the stringer tape 16
if the
flexible link 533 has enough rigidity, or may need a bit of adjustment by the
intended user to be suitably aligned to suitably engage the stringer tape 16
with
the teeth 18 positioned in the channel 549. If needed, the flexible link 533
is folded
over itself when the end of the attachment string 532 is reached so that the
end
attachment 522 can be suitably positioned to achieve the configuration of FIG.
18.
Then, the clip 538 is used to ensure that the attachments 522 remain fixed
relative
to the garment 12. The other half of the garment extender 510 can be
simultaneously secured to the garment 12 with the first half. In other
embodiments,
when the garment extender 510 includes two portions that can be detached from
each other, each portion can be secured individually to the garment 12,
followed
by attachment to each other of the two separated portions.
[00170] FIG. 21 illustrates another attachment string 632 usable in the
garment
extender 510 instead of the attachment string 532. The attachment string 632
is
very similar to the attachment string 532 except that it also includes a
fixation
attachment 622, which is similar in shape and function to the attachments 22,
122,
222, 322 and 422. The fixation attachment 622 is secured to the flexible link
533
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
36
along the line defined by the attachments 522 in any suitable manner, for
example
through overmolding or use of an adhesive, among other possibilities. The
attachment string 632 includes two fixation attachments 622, but attachment
strings 632 including only one fixation attachments 622 or more than two
fixation
attachments 622 are also possible. In use, the attachment string 632 is used
similarly to the attachment string 532, except that when the attachment string
632
is properly positioned, the fixation attachment 622 is closed to securely grip
the
stringer tape 16. In such embodiments, the clips 538 may not be required and
may
be omitted.
[00171] In alternative embodiments, referring to FIG. 22, attachment strings
732
include attachments 722 that are mounted to attachment mounts 733. Attachment
mounts 733 are, for example, provided each at a respective one of the extender
body first and second side edges 24 and 26 (only the first one being shown in
FIG.
22). The attachment strings 732 are usable with any suitable body 21 and 521
described hereinabove, or with any other suitable alternative body.
[00172] The attachments 722 are at least partially embedded in a foldable
material 735 part of the attachment mounts 733. In some embodiments, the
attachment mounts 733 are entirely made of the foldable material 735, but in
other
embodiments, the attachment mount 733 may include other elements. The
attachments 722 are more rigid than the foldable material 735. For example,
the
foldable material 735 includes a cloth or fabric. In some embodiments, most of
or
all the parts of the attachment 722 that are exposed to the intended user of
the
attachment string 732 are covered by the foldable material 735.
Advantageously,
this improves the aesthetics of the attachment string 732. Also, since the
attachment strings 732 may be used in a baby carrying context, this
configuration
may protect a carried baby from exposure to relatively rigid and irritating
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
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attachments 722. Furthermore, the foldable material 735 may improve the seal
between the attachment string 732 and the slide fastener 14, reducing cold air
infiltration in the garment 12. The foldable materials, such as foldable
material 735,
used in garment extenders described hereinbelow is represented schematically
as
a single line, with no thickness, to reduce clutter in the drawings and
facilitate
understanding of the structure of the garment extender. However, the foldable
material 735 and all the other foldable materials may have any suitable
thickness.
[00173] The attachments 722, and all the other attachments described
hereinbelow, may be slightly flexible, similarly to the attachment 522, or may
be
stiffer so as to deform with difficulty in normal use. Also, similarly to the
attachment
22, the attachments 722, and the other attachments described hereinbelow, may
be used individually, in other words one attachment 722 attached to the
garment
slide fastener 14, or in a plurality, in the attachment string 732.
[00174] Referring to FIG. 23, the attachment 722 includes an attachment body
740 and a pair of jaws 742 extending from the attachment body 740, each jaw
742
terminating at a respective jaw free end 746. The jaws 742 delimit a channel
748
therebetween opened at both channel ends thereof and the jaw free ends 746
define a slit 750 therebetween leading to the channel 748. In that respect,
the
attachment 722 acts similarly to the attachment 522 described hereinabove.
Each
jaw 742 defines opposed jaw inner and outer surfaces 752 and 754, the jaw
inner
surfaces 752 facing each other and delimiting the channel 748. Typically, the
channel 748 is wider than the slit 750.
[00175] Referring to FIG. 24, each attachment mount 733 includes a foldable
material 735, and is typically made entirely of the foldable material 735. The
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
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foldable material 735 may be formed by a single continuous sheet of the
foldable
material 735, or by many such sheets secured to each other and to the
attachment
722. The attachments 722 are mounted to the attachment mount 733 with the
foldable material 735 running along the jaws 742 so that the jaw inner
surfaces,
outer surfaces and free ends 752, 754 and 746 are covered by the foldable
material 735.
[00176] With the attachments 722 operatively secured to the garment slide
fastener 14, the slit 750 of each attachment 722 receives thereinto a gripped
portion 46 of one of the stringer tapes 16 and the channel 748 of each
attachment
722 receives thereinto the teeth 18 that are supported by the stringer tape 16
adjacent the gripped portion 46. The foldable material 735 is present between
the
jaws inner surfaces 752 and the teeth 18 and between the stringer tape 16 and
the
jaw free ends 746. In such embodiments, the foldable material 735 may increase
friction between the attachment string 732 and the stringer tape 16 so that
the
attachment string 732 grips the stringer tape 16 better than in the case in
which
similar attachments 722 are not covered with the foldable material 735.
[00177] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the attachment body 740
defines a body central portion 758 from which the jaws 742 extend. For example
the body central portion 758 is substantially plate-shaped and perpendicular
to the
jaws 742, but any other suitable configuration is within the scope of the
invention.
The foldable material 735 defines a pair of apertures 760, an inter-aperture
portion
762 therebetween and a pair of extra-aperture portions 764 extending away from
each other from a respective one of the apertures 760 opposed to the inter-
aperture portion 762. The attachments 722 are mounted to the foldable material
735 with the body central portion 758 inserted through both apertures 760, the
extra-aperture portions 764 each extending from a respective one of the
apertures
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
39
760 to cover a respective one of the jaws 742. More specifically, the extra-
aperture
portions 764 each extend along a respective one of the jaw inner surfaces 752,
jaw free ends 746 and jaw outer surface 754.
[00178] In some embodiments, a pair of arms 766 extend from the body central
portion 758 away from the jaws 742 and at least part of the inter-aperture
portion
762 is received between the arms 766. Also, in some embodiments, the extra-
aperture portions 764 further extend over the attachment body 740 and are
joined
to each other so that the attachments 722 are contained in a cavity 768
defined by
the foldable material with only the body central portion 758 protruding out of
the
cavity 768. Since the body central portion 758 is in the channel 748, in use,
when
attached to a garment 12, the attachments 722, which are typically made of a
suitable polymer or metal, have no exposed part and therefore present a more
pleasing aesthetic aspect and cannot directly contact skin or other surfaces.
In
such embodiments, the extra-aperture portions 764 may be sewn together, along
with the body 21 at one of the body first and second side edges 24 and 26,
thereby securing the attachment string 732 to the body 21. In some
embodiments,
the foldable material 735 has one end portion thereof folded over the other
one
prior to sewing to the body 21.
[00179] FIG. 27, 28A to 28E and 24 illustrate a method of attaching the
attachments 722 to the foldable material 735. FIG. 27 illustrates the foldable
material 735 in the form of a piece of cloth into which pairs of apertures 760
have
been formed, which are slit-shaped for example. The pairs of apertures 760
have
been provided at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the foldable
material
735. Each pair of apertures 760 is used to mount a respective attachment 722
to
the foldable material 735.
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40
[00180] As seen in a schematic cross-section along line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG.
27,
the foldable material 735 is first laid flat, as shown in FIG. 28A, and then
folded
over itself in the inter-aperture portion 762, as seen in FIG. 28B, for
example along
the whole length of the foldable material 735, so that the apertures 760
within each
pair are in register with each other. Then, one of the jaws 742 is inserted
through
both apertures 760. The foldable material 735 is then slid over the whole jaw
742,
as seen in FIG. 28D and over one of the arms 766, as seen in FIG. 28E, until
the
inter-aperture portion 762 is located between the two jaws 742. Subsequently,
the
extra-aperture portions 764 are folded over the jaw outer surfaces 754 and
joined
to each other and to the body 21, for example using stitches, as seen in FIG.
24. It
should be noted that this manner of manufacturing the attachment string 32
uses
no glue and no fastener, and only a single piece of foldable material 735. It
can
therefore be efficiently implemented for mass production.
[00181] The attachments 722 may have a uniform cross-sectional configuration
along their whole length, in other words along the channel 748, so that they
can be
manufactured by cutting a suitably shaped extrusion at regular intervals. In
other
embodiments, as seen in FIG. 26, the slit 750a of an alternative attachment
722a
is flared at both ends 753a thereof, similarly to the attachment 522. Other
suitable
configurations are also within the scope of the invention. Many alternatives
to the
attachment 722 are described hereinbelow. Only the differences between these
alternatives and the attachment 722 are described in details and it should be
assumed that unless otherwise mentioned, an alternative is to be presumed to
work similarly to the base embodiment to which it is compared.
[00182] The attachment 722 has a pair of jaws that each have a substantially L-
shaped transversal configuration, with two proximal portions extending from
the
attachment body 740 parallel to each other and distal portions extending
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
41
perpendicular to the proximal portions and towards each other to define the
slit
750. However, in other embodiments, as seen for example respectively for
attachments 722b and 722j in FIGS. 33 and 37, one of both of the jaws 742b and
742j has a substantially arcuate transversal cross-sectional configuration. In
the
latter case, both jaws 742j and the attachment body 740j are arcuate, so that
the
attachment 722j as a whole has a substantially arcuate configuration,
traversing
most of a circle. In the case of the attachment 722b the other jaw 743b has a
substantially rectilinear transversal cross-sectional configuration.
[00183] The arms 766 may also have various configurations. In the attachment
722, as seen in FIG. 23, the arms 766 are rectilinear and are angled so as to
converge towards each other in a direction leading away from the body central
portion 758. However, as seen for attachment 722f of FIG. 29, the arms 766 may
be omitted in some embodiments. In other embodiments, as seen for attachment
722g and 722h of respectively FIGS. 30 and 31, the arms 766g and 766h may be
rectilinear and parallel to each other. The arms 766g extend each opposed and
in
register with a respective one of the jaws 742, or may be located inwardly
relative
to the jaws 742. In yet other embodiments, the arms 7661 are L-shaped,
similarly
to the jaws 742. As seen in FIG. 33 for attachment 722b, in some embodiments
only one arm 766b is provided. In other embodiments, as seen for attachment
722c of FIG. 34, two rectilinear arms 766c diverging from each other are
provided.
However, converging arms 766d, seen in FIG. 35 for attachment 722d having a
curved jaw 742d, or parallel arms 766e, seen in FIG. 36 for attachment 722e
having a curved jaw 742e are usable. The various configurations of the arms
766
to 7661 described above are selected according to the properties of the
foldable
material 735 so that the attachments 722 to 722j are properly held in place in
the
foldable material 735 while being relatively easy to attach thereto.
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[00184] Referring to FIG. 38, in some embodiments, a locking clip 780 is
provided. The locking clip 780 defines a clip body 782 and a locking portion
784
extending from the clip body 782. The locking portion 784 is removably
insertable
in the channel 748 when the attachment 722 is operatively attached to the
garment slide fastener 14. The locking portion 784 increases frictional forces
between the attachment mount 733 (not seen in FIG.38) and the garment slide
fastener 14 relative to a configuration in which the locking portion 784 is
outside of
the channel, helping in ensuring that the garment extender 10 remains fixed
relative to the garment 12. It should be noted that the presence of the
foldable
material 735 (not shown in FIG. 38 for clarity) in the channel 748 is
advantageous
as this foldable material will provide a cushioning effect that allows use of
a single
locking clip 780 with teeth 18 of various dimensions.
[00185] For example, the locking portion 784 is rectilinear and the clip body
782 is
substantially C-shaped and defines clip body first and second ends 786 and
788.
The locking portion 784 extends from the clip body 782 at the clip body first
end
786. There is a gap 790 between the clip body second end 788 and the locking
portion 784. The locking clip 780 is for example made of a resiliently
deformable
material, such as a suitable polymer or metal. The locking clip 780 is
configured so
that the locking portion 784 can be slid along the channel 748 until the gap
790 is
outside of the channel 748, at which point the locking clip 780 can be
deformed so
that the clip body second end 788 clears the attachment 722, which allows
removal of the locking portion 784 from the channel 748 by sliding the locking
portion 784 therealong. Attachment of the clip 780 proceeds by following these
steps in reverse. The locking clip 780 is configured so that it remains
secured to
the attachment 722 unless the gap 790 is positioned outside of the channel
748.
For example, the clip is configured so that unless sufficient external forces
are
exerted thereonto, the gap 790 remains inside the channel 748. As seen in FIG.
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43
39, in alternative embodiments, a locking clip 780a has a clip body 782a
defining
an aperture 792a thereinto, allowing to secure the locking clip 780a to the
garment
extender 10 using a rope or in any other suitable manner (not shown in the
drawings) so that the locking clip 780a is less likely to be lost.
[00186] FIGS. 40 and 41 illustrate yet another attachment 722k that omits the
arms 766. Instead, a prong 766k extends from the body central portion 740k
opposed to the jaws 742k. As seen in FIG. 42, the foldable material 735k
defines a
prong receiving aperture 761k in the inter-aperture portion 762k. When the
attachment 722k is mounted to the foldable material 735k similarly to the
manner
described hereinabove with respect to the attachment 722, the prong 766k
protrudes through the prong receiving aperture 761k, as seen in FIG. 43, which
helps in maintaining the attachment 722k at a suitable location in the
foldable
material 735k. In some embodiments, the prong 766k terminates with a head 763k
larger than the remainder of the prong 766k and sized relative to the prong
receiving aperture 761k so that the head 763k is insertable in the prong
receiving
aperture 761k, but not easily removable therefrom accidentally. For example,
insertion and removal of the head 763k from the prong receiving aperture 761k
may require slightly stretching or otherwise deforming the foldable material
735.
[00187] In the attachment 722, the arms 766 extend along the whole length of
the
attachment 722. However, as seen in the alternative attachment 7221 shown in
FIGS. 44 to 46, in other embodiments, the arms 7661 of an attachment 7221
extend
each along only part of the length of the attachment 7221. In that case, more
than
two arms 7661 may be provided, for example two pairs of arms 7661, one at each
end of the attachment 7221.
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44
[00188] With the attachments 722 to 7221, the attachments 722 to 7221 are
movable relative to the foldable material 735, and it is the configuration of
the
attachments 722 and 7221 and the manner in which they are inserted in the
foldable material 735 that ensures that the attachments 722 to 7221 remain
fixed
relative to the foldable material 735. In other embodiments, as shown below,
attachments may be secured to the folding material 735 using an adhesive,
stitches, a fastener or by pinching part of the folding material 735.
[00189] Referring to FIGS. 47 to 49, there is shown an attachment 822 similar
to
the attachment 722k in that it includes a prong 866 insertable in the prong
receiving aperture 761k of the foldable material 735k, as seen in FIG. 49.
However, the attachment 822 further includes a fastener 865 or 865' in the
form of
respectively a square or round washer that is insertable on the prong 866 to
pinch
the foldable material 735k between the attachment body 840 and the fastener
865
or 865'. It should be noted that although FIG. 47 illustrates two different
fasteners
865 or 865', typically only one of the fasteners 865 or 865' is used, although
use of
both fasteners is within the scope of the invention. The fastener 865 or 865'
typically snaps in place when inserted on the head 863 so that accidental
removal
of the fastener 865 or 865' from the prong 866 is unlikely.
[00190] In another embodiment, an attachment 822a similar to the attachment
822 and shown in FIGS. 50 to 52 includes an alternative fastener 865a taking
the
form of a panel in which an aperture 867a is provided, the prong 866a being
configured to snap to the fastener 865a when the prong 866a is inserted in the
aperture 877a. In some embodiments, the fastener 865a is hinged to the
attachment body 840a so attachment of the fastener 865a to the prong 866a is
facilitated.
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
45
[00191] FIGS. 53 and 54 illustrate an other alternative attachment 822b. In
this
embodiment, the foldable material 835b, seen in FIG. 54 and illustrated
separately
in FIG. 67, is not secured to the body central portion 848b but to an arm 866b
extending therefrom, using for example a fastener 865b in the form of a rivet.
To
that effect, the arm 866b defines an arm aperture 863b and a pair of rivet
apertures 867b are provided in the inter-aperture portion 862b of the foldable
material 835b. The rivet apertures 867b are configured and positioned so that
when the attachment 822b is mounted to the foldable material 835b and the
latter
is folded so that the two rivet apertures 867b are in register with each
other, the
arm aperture 863b is in register with the rivet apertures 867b so that the
fastener
865b can be inserted therethrough to secure the foldable material 835b to the
arm
866b.
[00192] FIGS. 55 and 56 illustrate another attachment 822c similar to the
attachment 822b except that the foldable material 835c does not necessarily
include the rivet apertures 867b and the arm aperture 863b may be omitted.
Instead, the inter-aperture portion 862c is secured to the arm 866c using for
example an adhesive (not shown in FIGS. 55 and 56) provided between the arm
866c and the inter-aperture portion 862c or stitches (not shown in FIGS. 55
and
56) extending through both the arm 866c and the inter-aperture portion 762c.
In
some embodiments, a groove 869 is formed along the arm 866c to receive the
adhesive or to provide a thinner portion of the arm 866c that facilitates
stitching
therethrough.
[00193] FIGS 57 to 60B illustrate yet another attachment 822d and FIGS 61 to
64
illustrate yet another attachment 822e that use respectively one or two
fasteners
865d and 865e, for example rivets. The attachments 822d and 822e both omit the
arms 766 and prong 866 and are substantially C-shaped. In the attachments 822d
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
46
and 822e, one or more fasteners 865d or 865e are configured and sized to
engage both the attachment 822d or 822e and the foldable material 835d or 835e
so that the foldable material 835d or 835e is secured to the attachment body
840d
or 840e or the jaws 842d or 840e. A fastener receiving aperture 863d extends
through the body central portion 840d of the attachment 822d. A fastener
receiving
aperture 863e extends through each of the jaws 842e of the fastener 822e. The
foldable material 835d used with the fastener 822d defines a rivet receiving
aperture 867d and the foldable material 835e used with the fastener 822e
defines
a pair of rivet receiving aperture 867e. The rivet receiving apertures 867d
and
867e are positioned and configured to be in register with the fastener
receiving
aperture 863d and 863e when the foldable material 835d and 835e is inserted in
the channel 848d and 848e of respectively the attachments 822d and 822e so
that
each fastener 865d or 865e can be inserted through the fastener receiving
apertures 863d and 863e and the rivet receiving apertures 867d and 867e to
secure the foldable material 835d and 835e to the attachments 822d and 822e
when the fastener 865d and 865e is suitably locked to the attachments 822d and
822e, as seen respectively in FIGS. 60A and 64. It should be noted that in
these
embodiments, the apertures 760 may be omitted. The foldable material 835d and
835e can then be folded over the remainder of the attachment 822d and 822e as
in the attachment 722. As seen in FIG. 60B, in other embodiments the apertures
760 are provided and the fastener 865d acts similarly to the prong 866.
[00194] FIGS. 65 to 68 illustrate yet another attachment 822f that combines
features of the attachments 822b and 822a. In the attachment 822f, a single
arm
866f defining an arm aperture 869f extending therethrough extends from the
middle of the central body portion 848f. A fastener 865f is hinged to the arm
866f
and includes a prong 861f positioned for engaging and snapping to the arm
aperture 869f when the fastener 865f is folded over the arm 866f. The rivet
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
47
apertures 867b are positionable in register with the arm aperture 869f so that
the
prong 861f can extend therethrough. When the attachment 822f is mounted to the
foldable material 835b, the foldable material 835b is pinched between the
fastener
865f and the arm 866f.
[00195] FIGS 69 to 71 illustrate yet another type of fastener 865g usable with
an
attachment 822g similar to the attachment 822 in which the prong 866 is
omitted.
Instead, the fastener 865g is substantially C-shaped and conforms to the shape
of
the body central portion 848g and part of the jaws 842g. The fastener 865g
includes protrusions 867g positioned to engage correspondingly shaped recesses
863g formed in the jaws 842g. It should be noted that jaws including the
protrusion
and the fastener including the recess is also within the scope of the
invention. The
fastener 865g is resiliently deformable and configured to snap in place when
the
protrusions 867g are in register with the recesses 863g, thereby attaching the
fastener 865g to the attachment 822g with the inter-aperture portion 862g
pinched
therebetween. As seen in FIGS. 72 and 73, in other embodiments the fastener
865h may instead be insertable in the channel 848h of the attachment 822h, and
both the attachment 822h and the fastener 865h may be substantially C-shaped,
with a recessed portion present in both that engage each other to prevent
undesired rotations therebetween. The attachment 822h works similarly to the
attachment 822d, except that the aperture 863d may be omitted and replaced by
a
protrusion/recess pair, as in the attachment 822g and fastener 865g assembly.
However, as seen in FIGS. 74 and 75, the fastener 8651 may be usable with the
foldable material 835d and include a prong 867i inserted in a suitable
positioned
aperture 8631, In such embodiments, the prong extends through a suitable
formed
aperture 867d formed in the foldable material 835d.
[00196] In yet other embodiments, the foldable material is pinched between two
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
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portions of a two parts attachment body, which are then secured to each other
in
any suitable manner. An example of an attachment 922 using this principle is
shown in FIGS. 76 to 78. In the attachment 922, the attachment body 940
includes
attachment body first and second portions 941 and 943 from which a respective
one of the jaws 942 extends. When the attachment 922 is mounted to the
foldable
material 935, the body first and second portions 941 and 943 are secured to
each
other with at least part of the foldable material 935 contained between the
body
first and second portions 941 and 943, as seen in FIG. 78.
[00197] To that effect, the attachment body first and second portions 941 and
943
are each substantially L-shaped, with a central portion 945 corresponding to
the
body central portion 758, and an arm portion 947 extending therefrom away from
the jaws 942. When the body first and second portions 941 and 943 are secured
to
each other, the arm portions 947 are substantially parallel and adjacent to
each
other and pinch the foldable material 935 therebetween. In the embodiment
shown
in FIGS. 76 to 78, the arm portions 947 are secured to each other to form a
hinge
949 opposed to the central portions 945, but in other embodiments, the body
first
and second portions 941 and 943 are not permanently attached to each other
before the attachment 922 is mounted to the foldable material 935.
[00198] The attachment 922 is mounted to the the foldable material 935
similarly
to the attachment 822h in that no apertures are needed in the foldable
material
935. To mount the attachment 922, the attachment 922 is laid with the hinge
949
open, and seen in FIG. 77, and the foldable material 935 (not seen in FIG. 77)
is
laid flat on the open attachment 922, which is then closed to achieve the
configuration of FIG. 76, which pinches the foldable material 935 between the
arm
portions 947. Stitches 951, represented schematically in FIG. 78, passing
through
the arm portions 947 and the portion of the foldable material 935 pinched
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
49
therebetween can then be used to secure the arm portions 947 to each other so
that the foldable material 935 has a portion thereof that remains secured
between
the arm portions 947. Then, the remainder of the foldable material 935 can be
folded over the remainder of the attachments 922 as described hereinabove to
cover the attachment 922.
[00199] FIG. 79 illustrates yet another attachment 922a mounted to the
foldable
material 935a (seen in FIGS. 80 and 81) using a similar manner, except that no
stitches 951 are required and that the body first and second portions 941a and
943a are not hinged to each other. Instead the body first and second portions
941a and 943a are manufactured detached from each other and attached to each
other afterwards. For example, the body first portion 941a defines at least
one
prong 952a (here two prongs 952a are defined) and the body second portion
defines a corresponding number of prong receiving recesses 954a. When the
attachment 922a is mounted to the foldable material 935a, the prongs 952a each
engage a corresponding prong receiving recess 954a so that the prong 952a is
locked in the prong receiving recess 954a to lock the body first and second
portions 941a and 943a to each other. Such prongs and apertures are known in
the art and may for example involve a prong 952a having a hooked free end
configured to engage a ledge formed at the opening of the prong receiving
recess
954a. When the prongs 952a are suitably resiliently deformed, they can enter
the
prong receiving recesses 954a until the resilient deformation is allowed to
reverse
due to the configuration of the prong receiving recesses 954a, at which point
the
body first and second portions 941a and 943a are joined to each other. Other
types of prongs and corresponding recesses are also within the scope of the
invention.
[00200] The prongs extend through a pinched portion 937a of the foldable
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material 935a, for example through suitably located pinched portion apertures
939a seen in FIGS. 80 and 81. More specifically, a pair of pinched portion
apertures 939a may be provided for each prong 952a and the foldable material
935a may be folded so that the pinched portion apertures 939a within each pair
are in register with each other. The foldable material 935a is then positioned
so
that the prongs 952a are inserted in the pinched portion apertures 939a and
the
body second portion 943b may then be mounted to pinch the pinched portion 937a
between the body first and second portions 941a and 943a. Afterwards, the
foldable material 935a can be folded over the remainder of the attachment 922a
as in the attachment 922, as seen in FIG. 82.
[00201] FIGS. 91 to 93 illustrate an attachment 922b that incorporates aspects
of
both attachment 922 and 922a. More specifically, a hinge 949b extends between
substantially L-shaped body first and second portions 941b and 943b, similarly
to
the attachment 922, but instead of stitches, a combination prong 952b and
prong
receiving recesses 954b is used to lock the body first and second portions
941b
and 943b to each other. Only one prong 952b and prong receiving recess 954b
pair is provided, but any other suitable number is usable. Since there is only
one
prong 952b, the foldable material 935b can define a single pair of suitably
shaped
prong receiving apertures 937b.
[00202] Yet another type of attachment 922c is seen in FIGS. 83 to 85. The
attachment 922c is similar to the attachment 722g except that it includes a
resiliently deformable body central portion 948c allowing opening and closing
of
the jaws 942c and a lock 951c provided between the two jaws 942c. The foldable
material 935c is not pinched by the attachment 922c, but defines a pair of
lock
receiving apertures 937c that receive the lock 951c therethrough after the
foldable
material 935c is folded over itself as in the attachment 922. The lock 951c
includes
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
51
lock first and second portions 952c and 954c that each extend from a
respective
jaw and which are configured to snap to each other during the attachment 922c
mounting process.
[00203] The above-described attachments may, in some embodiments, not
require the use of glue or other adhesives to mount the attachment to the
foldable
material. However, in other embodiments, such an adhesive is used. As seen for
example in FIG. 86 in which the attachment 722f is secured to the inter-
aperture
portion 762 using an adhesive 1000. FIG. 86 is only one example of how an
adhesive 1000 may be used to secure foldable materials to attachments and
other
variants are also within the scope of the invention.
[00204] Also, the above-described attachments have been described as attaching
to a single piece of foldable material. However, referring to FIG. 87, if an
adhesive
is used, two pieces of foldable materials 1135 may each be secured inside a
respective jaw 942a of an attachment, for example the attachment 922a, using
the
adhesive 1000, instead of pinching the foldable material 935a as described
hereinabove. The foldable material 1135 is then folded over the attachment
922a
as described hereinabove. The other attachments described herein could also be
similarly adhered to the foldable material in a similar manner. In such
embodiments, the foldable material 1135 exposed to the environment when used
may be made of a weatherproofed material, while the foldable material 1135
provided closer to the intended user may be softer, for example made of
fleece.
[00205] FIG. 89 illustrates another manner of mounting an attachment 1222. The
attachment 1222 defines a substantially flat base 1224, which is for example
rectangular, although other shapes, such as, non-limitingly, an L-shaped base
CA 3072430 2020-02-13
52
1224a, seen in FIG. 90 for attachment 1222a, is within the scope of the
invention.
An arcuate clip 1226 extends from the base and curves back towards the base
1224 so as to define a gap 1228 therebetween. The interior of the clip 1226
forms
the channel 1248, while the gap 1228 acts like the slit 750. The foldable
material
1235 defines a single slit 1260 receiving the clip 1226 therethrough so that
the
base 1224 is entirely received into a cavity defined in the foldable material
1235,
while the clip 1226 is outside of the cavity and is therefore not covered by
the
foldable material 1235. The attachment 1222 is free floating in the cavity or
adhered or stitched to the foldable material 1235.
[00206] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way
of exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that many
modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially
departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention.
Accordingly,
the scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments,
but
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as
a
whole.
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