Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GARMENT ADJUSTING SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Aspects herein are directed to a garment adjusting system that utilizes straps
to
which male and female coupling components are coupled.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional garments such as nursing bras may utilize various types of clips
or
attachment means to couple, for example, an outer layer of the nursing bra to
a shoulder strap
or areas near the shoulder strap when the wearer is not nursing or pumping.
However, these
clips or attachment means may be difficult to manipulate often requiring two
hands to
effectively couple the outer layer to the shoulder strap. Moreover,
traditional nursing bras
typically lack a way to adjust the level of tension or support of the outer
layer, which is
important when the nursing bra is worn during, for example, athletic
activities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following clauses represent example aspects of concepts contemplated
herein. Any one of the following clauses may be combined in a multiple
dependent manner
to depend from one or more other clauses. Further, any combination of
dependent clauses
(clauses that explicitly depend from a previous clause) may be combined while
staying within
the scope of aspects contemplated herein. The following clauses are examples
and are not
limiting.
Clause 1. A garment adjusting system comprising: a first strap having a first
end and an opposite second end, the second end of the first strap secured to a
first textile
element; a male coupling component fixedly coupled to the first end of the
first strap; a
second strap having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end of
the second
strap secured to a second textile element; and a female coupling component
slidably coupled
to the second strap, the female coupling component adapted to releasably mate
with the male
coupling component, wherein the female coupling component is slidable along a
length of the
second strap such that movement of the female coupling component in a first
direction
increases a level of support provided by the garment adjusting system and
movement of the
female coupling component in an opposite second direction decreases the level
of support
provided by the garment adjusting system.
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Clause 2. The garment adjusting system according to clause 1, wherein the
first textile element and the second textile element form, at least in part,
the garment.
Clause 3. The garment adjusting system according to any of clauses 1 through
2, wherein the first end of the first strap is unaffixed from the first
textile element and the
second textile element.
Clause 4. The garment adjusting system according to any of clauses 1 through
3, wherein the first end of the second strap is unaffixed from the first
textile element and the
second textile element.
Clause 5. The garment adjusting system according to any of clauses 1 through
4, wherein the male coupling component includes a hook.
Clause 6. The garment adjusting system according to any of clauses 1 through
5, wherein the female coupling component includes a body having a receiving
hole at one
end, a release tab at an opposing end, and a through hole between the
receiving hole and the
release tab, and wherein the second strap is slidably threaded through the
through hole. .
Clause 7. The garment adjusting system according to any of clauses 1 through
6, wherein the garment is a bra.
Clause 8. A support garment having an adjusting system, the support garment
comprising: a first strap having a first end and an opposite second end, the
second end of the
first strap secured to a first shoulder strap; a male coupling component
coupled to the first
end of the first strap; a second strap having a first end and an opposite
second end, the second
end of the second strap secured to an upper aspect of the a breast-covering
portion; and a
female coupling component adjustably coupled to the second strap, the female
coupling
component adapted to releasably mate with the male coupling component, wherein
when
tension is applied to the first end of the second strap, a length of the
second strap as measured
between the second end of the second strap and the female coupling component
is adjusted.
Clause 9. The support garment according to clause 8, wherein the support
garment is a bra.
Clause 10. The support garment according to clause 9, wherein the first
breast-covering portion is an outermost layer of the bra.
Clause 11. The support garment according to any of clauses 9 through 10,
wherein the bra further includes an inner layer positioned interior to the
first breast-covering
portion.
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Clause 12. The support garment according to any of clauses 9 through 11,
wherein a lower aspect of the first breast-covering portion is secured to a
lower margin of the
bra.
Clause 13. The support garment according to any of clauses 8 through 12,
wherein the male coupling component includes a hook.
Clause 14. The support garment according to any of clauses 8 through 13,
wherein the female coupling component includes a body having a receiving hole
at one end, a
release tab at an opposing end, and a through hole between the receiving hole
and the release
tab, and wherein the second strap is slidably threaded through the through
hole.
Clause 15. The support garment according to any of clauses 8 through 14,
wherein the first end of the first strap is unaffixed from the first shoulder
strap and the first
breast-covering portion.
Clause 16. The support garment according to any of clauses 8 through 15,
wherein the first end of the second strap is unaffixed from the first shoulder
strap and the first
breast-covering portion.
Clause 17. A method of manufacturing a garment adjusting system, the
method comprising: securing a second end of a first strap to a first textile
element; fixedly
coupling a male coupling component to a first end of the first strap; securing
a second end of
a second strap to a second textile element; and adjustably coupling a female
coupling
component to a first end of the second strap, the female coupling component
adapted to
releasably mate with the male coupling component, wherein when tension is
applied to the
first end of the second strap, a length of the second strap as measured
between the second end
of the second strap and the female coupling component is adjusted.
Clause 18. The method of manufacturing the garment adjusting system
according to clause 17, wherein the first strap and the second strap are
formed from a low-
stretch material.
Clause 19. The method of manufacturing the garment adjusting system
according to any of clauses 17 through 18, wherein the male coupling component
includes a
hook.
Clause 20. The method of manufacturing the garment adjusting system
according to clause 19, wherein the female coupling component includes a
receiving hole,
and wherein when the male coupling component and the female coupling component
are
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releasably mated, the receiving hole of the female coupling component receives
the hook of
the male coupling component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Examples of aspects herein are described in detail below with reference to the
attached drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of a garment adjusting system in an
uncoupled state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 2 depicts a side perspective view of the garment adjusting system of FIG.
1 in a coupled state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of the garment adjusting system of FIG.
1 wherein a length of a second strap as measured between a second end of the
second strap
and a female coupling component is adjusted in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of a male coupling component of the garment
adjusting system described herein in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 5 depicts a side view of a female coupling component of the garment
adjusting system described herein releasably mated with the male coupling
component of
FIG. 4 in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 6 depicts a front view of an example nursing bra that incorporates the
garment adjusting system described herein wherein the garment adjusting system
is in an
uncoupled state in accordance with aspects herein;
FIG. 7 depicts a front view of the example nursing bra of FIG. 6 wherein the
garment adjusting system is in a coupled state in accordance with aspects
herein;
FIGs. 8 and 9 depict an example lower-body garment that utilizes the garment
adjusting system described herein in accordance with aspects herein;
FIGs. 10 and 11 depict an example article of footwear that utilizes the
garment
adjusting system described herein in accordance with aspects herein; and
FIG. 12 depicts a flow diagram of an example method of manufacturing a
garment adjusting system in accordance with aspects herein.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity
herein
to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not
intended to limit the
scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the
claimed or
5 disclosed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include
different steps or
combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in
conjunction with
other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms "step"
and/or "block"
might be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the
terms should
not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various
steps herein
disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly
stated.
Traditional garments such as nursing bras may utilize various types of clips
or
attachment means to couple, for example, an outer layer of the nursing bra to
a shoulder strap
when the wearer is not nursing or pumping. However, traditional nursing bras
typically lack
an ability to adjust the level of tension or support of the outer layer, which
is important when
the nursing bra is worn during, for example, athletic activities. Moreover,
the clips or
attachment means associated with the garment may be difficult to manipulate,
often requiring
the use of two hands.
Aspects herein are directed to a garment adjusting system that includes a
first
strap with a first end and a second end. The second end of the first strap is
secured to a first
textile element, and a male coupling component is fixedly coupled to the first
end of the first
strap. The garment adjusting system further includes a second strap having a
first end and a
second end. The second end of the second strap is secured to a second textile
element, and a
female coupling component is slidably coupled to the second strap. In example
aspects, the
first and second textile elements are part of a single garment or article such
as, for example, a
bra (including a nursing bra), an upper-body garment, a lower-body garment, an
article of
footwear, and article of headwear, and the like.
In example aspects, the male coupling component includes a hook, and the
female coupling component includes a receiving hole through which the hook of
the male
coupling component is received. To couple the first and second textile
elements, the female
coupling component is releasably mated with the male coupling component by
positioning
the receiving hole of the female coupling component over the hook of the male
coupling
component. The hook and receiving hole combination is easy to use and enables
a wearer to
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releasably mate the two components using, for example, one hand making the
garment
adjusting system useable by people with disabilities and/or people whose other
hand may be
engaged in other activities such as, for example, supporting a baby or a
nursing pump.
Once the male and female coupling components are releasably mated, the
amount of support provided by the first and/or second textile elements can be
increased by
pulling on the free first end of the second strap, which decreases the length
of the second
strap as measured between the second end of the second strap and the female
coupling
component. This operation may also be carried out using, for example, one
hand. The ability
to provide an increased level of support when the garment is in the form of,
for example, a
nursing bra enables the bra to be used for athletic activities eliminating the
need for a wearer
to change from a nursing bra to an athletic bra when exercising. When the
increased level of
support is no longer needed, the second strap can be manipulated to increase
the length of the
second strap as measured between the second end of the second strap and the
female coupling
component.
Although examples described herein have been in the context of bras,
including a nursing bra, aspects herein further contemplate using the garment
adjusting
system for other types of garments. For example, the garment adjusting system
may be used
at the waistband of a lower-body garment to quickly couple textile elements
together and to
quickly adjust the circumferential diameter of the waistband. When
incorporated into an
article of footwear such as an upper of a shoe, the garment adjusting system
may be used to
adjust the level of support across, for example, an instep region of the
upper. The garment
adjusting system may also be used as part of an underband of a bra to join two
portions of the
underband together and adjust the circumferential tension of the underband.
These are just a
few examples, and it is contemplated herein that the garment adjusting system
may be
incorporated into any type of garment for which a quick and easy coupling and
adjustment of
support is desired.
As used herein, the term "garment" means any article that may be worn by a
wearer. Example articles include support garments including bras and nursing
bras, upper-
body garments such as tops, pullovers, hoodies, jacket/coats, and the like,
lower-body
garments such as shorts, capris, leggings, pants, and the like, articles of
headwear such as
hats, caps, sweatbands, and the like, and articles of footwear including
athletic shoes. The
adjusting system may also be used in equipment such as backpacks, luggage,
duffle bags, and
the like.
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Positional terms may be used when describing the garment with the
assumption that the garment is being worn as intended by a wearer standing
upright. For
example, the term "inner" means a layer or structure that is positioned closer
to a body
surface of a wearer as compared to other layers or structures of the garment.
The term
"outer" means a layer or structure that is positioned external to other layers
or structures of
the garment. In example aspects, an inner layer may be an innermost layer and
an outer layer
may be an outermost layer of the garment. An upper part of the garment would
be located
closer to a head area of a wearer compared to a lower part of the garment.
The term "support garment" when used herein refers to an upper-body
garment primarily configured to provide support to a wearer's breasts. As
such, the support
garment may be in the form of a bra, including a nursing bra and/or athletic
bra, a tank top, an
athletic top, a swimsuit top, and the like. When the garment is in the form of
a support
garment or bra, the term "breast-covering portion" means the portion of the
support garment
configured to cover a wearer's breast. As such, the breast-covering portion
generally extends
from a top part (e.g., near the wearer's clavicle) to a lower part (e.g., the
wearer's
inframammary fold) of each of the wearer's breasts and from a medial edge
(e.g., near the
wearer's sternum) to a lateral edge (e.g., near the wearer's axilla) of each
of the wearer's
breasts. The term "apex region" when referring to the support garment
generally means the
area where a shoulder strap extends from or is joined to the breast-covering
portion or other
portions of the support garment. The term "underhand" when used in relation
to, for
instance, a bra refers to the portion of the bra that forms a lower margin of
at least the front
portion of the bra. The underband is configured to encircle the torso area of
a wearer and
may include a separate pattern piece or may include an integral extension of
the front portion.
The term "strap" generally means an element having a greater length than
width with generally parallel longitudinal side edges. The strap may be formed
of textile
elements (knit, woven, braided, nonwoven, and the like) or non-textile
elements. In example
aspects, the strap may be formed of a no-stretch or low-stretch material. A no-
stretch or low-
stretch material generally does not have inherent stretch properties
(mechanical or elastic) in
response to a tensioning force and thus the length and/or width of the
material remains
substantially unchanged when subject to the tensioning forces below the
material's
breaking/tearing point. For example, the strap may undergo a change of length
from about
0% of resting length to about 20% of resting length in response to a
tensioning force. The
no-stretch or low-stretch material may include tightly knit, woven, or braided
constructions
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that do not utilize elastic yarns; non-elastomeric films; knit, woven,
nonwoven, or braided
constructions that include a surface treatment to limit stretch, and the like.
The term "fixedly coupled" or "fixedly secured" generally means some type of
permanent attachment through use of stitching, bonding, adhesives, welding,
and the like.
The term "slidably coupled" when referring to, for example, the female
coupling component
and the second strap, means that the female coupling component can be moved
(e.g., slid)
along a length of the second strap while maintaining the integrity of both the
female coupling
component and the second strap. The term "releasably mated" when referring to
the
relationship between the male and female coupling components means that the
components
can be repeatedly mated (i.e., joined together) and unmated without damaging
either of the
components.
FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of a garment adjusting system 100 in an
un-coupled state. The garment adjusting system 100 includes a first strap 110
(indicated with
cross-hatching) having a first end 112 and an opposite second end 114. The
second end 114
.. of the first strap 110 is secured to a first textile element 116 by way of,
for example, stitching
118 although other permanent affixing technologies are contemplated herein. In
example
aspects, the first textile element 116 may include a knit construction, a
braid construction, a
woven construction, a nonwoven construction, and the like.
A male coupling component 120 is fixedly coupled to the first end 112 of the
.. first strap 110. For example, a loop formed at the first end 112 of the
first strap 110 may
extend around the frame of the male coupling component 120 and be secured to
itself using,
for example, stitching, adhesives, bonding, and the like. Other ways of
fixedly coupling the
first end 112 to the male coupling component 120 are contemplated and within
the scope
herein. The male coupling component 120 may be formed of a number of different
materials
including plastics, metals, ceramics, composites, and the like.
The male coupling component 120 includes an extension or hook 122 that
extends at an angle with respect to a plane defined by the surface of the
first strap 110 and/or
the first textile element 116. In example aspects, the angle may be less than
about 90
degrees, less than about 80 degrees, less than about 70 degrees, less than
about 60 degrees,
less than about 50 degrees, less than about 40 degrees, less than about 30
degrees, less than
about 20 degrees, or from about 5 degrees to about 40 degrees. As used herein,
the term
"about" means within 5% of a given value. Having an angle in this range
helps to reduce
the profile of the hook 122 and make it less likely to catch on other
structures.
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The garment adjusting system 100 further includes a second strap 124 (shown
with cross-hatching) having a first end 126 and an opposite second end 128.
The second end
128 of the second strap 124 is secured to a second textile element 132 by way
of, for
example, stitching 130 although other permanent affixing technologies are
contemplated
herein. In example aspects, the second textile element 132 may include a knit
construction, a
braid construction, a woven construction, a nonwoven construction, and the
like. In example
aspects, the first textile element 116 and the second textile element 132 are
part of a single
garment as described and depicted herein. The first and second textile
elements 116 and 132
may include separate elements or they may represent different portions of the
same element.
A female coupling component 134 is removably and slidably coupled to the
second strap 124. In some examples, the female coupling component 134 includes
a body
135, having a receiving hole 136 at one end and a tab 139 at the opposing end.
In addition,
the body 135 can include a through hole 137 extending through the body 139. In
at least
some examples, the through hole 137 can include a bar 138 (e.g., cross bar)
that extends
across the through hole 137 and divides the through hole 137 into a first slot
137a and a
second slot 137b. In some examples, the first end 126 of the second strap 124
can be
threaded through the first slot 137a, around the bar 138, and through the
second slot 137b,
such that the second strap 124 and the female coupling component 134 are
slidable relative to
one another. Although the first end 126 of the second strap 124 is shown
positioned below
the second textile element 132, aspects herein contemplate that the second
strap 124 may be
threaded around the bar in the opposite direction such that the first end 126
of the second
strap 124 may be positioned above the second textile element 132 with respect
to the
perspective view shown in FIG. 1.
The female coupling component 134 includes a receiving hole 136 positioned
at a distal end of the female coupling component 134. As further described
herein, the
receiving hole 136 is sized to receive the hook 122 of the male coupling
component 120. As
depicted in FIG. 1, the female coupling component 134 and the male coupling
component
120 are not mated together such that the first textile element 116 is not
coupled or secured to
the second textile element 132. The female coupling component 134 may be
formed of a
number of different materials including plastics, metals, ceramics,
composites, and the like.
As depicted, the first end 112 of the first strap 110 is not directly affixed
to the
first textile element 116 and is not directly affixed to the second textile
element 132.
Similarly, the first end 126 of the second strap 124 is not directly affixed
to the second textile
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element 132 and is not directly affixed to the first textile element 116. In
some instances and
as described above, the first end 112 of the first strap 110 is looped through
the male coupling
component 120 and affixed to itself, though it is also contemplated that the
first end 112 of
the first strap 110 could be looped through the male coupling component 120
and affixed to
5 .. the first textile element 116.
FIG. 2 depicts the garment adjusting system 100 in a coupled state. In the
coupled state, the hook 122 of the male coupling component 120 is received
into the
receiving hole 136 of the female coupling component 134. This is an easy one-
handed action
for the wearer who simply positions the receiving hole 136 over the hook 122
and then
10 lowers it onto the hook 122. The angular orientation of the hook 122 is
great enough that the
wearer can easily slide the receiving hole 136 over the hook 122 and small
enough that once
the hook 122 is received through the receiving hole 136, the male and female
coupling
components 120 and 134 are maintained in a coupled state.
The garment adjusting system 100 may be used to adjust the level of support
provided by the second textile element 132 and/or the first textile element
116. As depicted
in FIG. 2, the second strap 124 is positioned such that it has a first length
210 as measured
between the second end 128 of the second strap 124 and a proximal end of the
female
coupling component 134. The term "proximal" when referring to the female
coupling
component 134 means the portion of the female coupling component that is
located closest to
.. the second textile element 132, and the term "distal" when referring to the
female coupling
component 134 means located farther away from the second textile element 132.
As shown in FIG. 3, to increase the level of support provided by the second
textile element 132 and/or the first textile element 116, the first end 126 of
the second strap
124 may be moved in a first direction 305. In example aspects, the first
direction 305 is
toward the second textile element 132. Because the second strap 124 is
slidably coupled to
the female coupling component 134, movement of the first end 126 in the first
direction 305
causes the distance between the second end 128 of the second strap 124 and the
proximal end
of the female coupling component 134 to decrease to a second length 310, where
the second
length 310 is less than the first length 210. This places the second textile
element 132 under
tension and increases the level of support provided by the second textile
element 132.
Because the second textile element 132 is indirectly coupled to the first
textile element 116
by way of the first and second straps 110 and 124 and the male and female
coupling
components 120 and 134, movement of the first end 126 of the second strap 124
in the first
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direction 305 also places the first textile element 116 under tension and
increases the level of
support provided by the first textile element 116.
Movement of the first end 126 of the second strap 124 in a second direction
opposite the first direction 305 would increase the distance between the
second end 128 of
the second strap 124 and the proximal end of the female coupling component 134
and
decrease the level of support provided by the second textile element 132
and/or the first
textile element 116. For example, in at least some instance, the tab 139 can
be lifted (e.g., by
simply inserting one or more fingers beneath the tab 139), which in turn can
lift or bias the
bar 138 upwards (in the orientation depicted in FIG. 3) and cause the strap
124 to be pulled in
a direction opposite 305. In at least some examples, the tab 139 can be
referred to as a
"release tab" or "support-release tab," based on the operations associated
with the tab 139
that can allow for the level of support to be quickly and efficiently (e.g.,
with one hand)
decreased.
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the male coupling component 120 including the
hook 122 that extends at an angle 410 with respect to the surface plane of the
male coupling
component 120. As described, the angle 410 may be less than about 90 degrees,
less than
about 80 degrees, less than about 70 degrees, less than about 60 degrees, less
than about 50
degrees, less than about 40 degrees, less than about 30 degrees, less than
about 20 degrees, or
from about 5 degrees to about 40 degrees.
FIG. 5 depicts a side view of the female coupling component 134 releasably
mated with the male coupling component 120. As shown, the hook 122 of the male
coupling
component 120 extends through the receiving hole 136 of the female coupling
component
134. After mating, a surface 510 of the female coupling component 134 is
positioned
overtop, and is flush with, a surface 512 of the male coupling component 120
to provide a
low-profile aesthetic. The angle 410 of the hook 122 helps to prevent the
female coupling
component 134 from inadvertently disengaging from the male coupling component
120.
Stated differently, in example aspects, an affirmative action by the wearer
may be needed to
disengage the female coupling component 134 from the male coupling component
120.
FIGs. 6 and 7 depict a first example use of the garment adjusting system
described herein in the form of a support garment and particularly a nursing
bra 600 being
worn by a wearer 601. FIG. 6 depicts the garment adjusting system in an un-
coupled state,
and FIG. 7 depicts the garment adjusting system in a coupled state. In
general, nursing bras
typically include an outer layer that can be raised and lowered as needed to
respectively
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conceal and expose the breast, particularly the nipple area so that the wearer
can nurse or
pump. With this as a background, the nursing bra 600 includes a first shoulder
strap 610 and
a second shoulder strap 612 that extend respectively over the shoulders of the
wearer 601.
The first and second shoulder straps 610 and 612 extend from apex regions 614
of an inner
layer 616. The inner layer 616 has an "M-shape" or an inverted "W-shape" with
a central leg
620 connected to an upper framework 618. The central leg 620 is configured to
extend
between the wearer's breasts (i.e., over the wearer's sternum), and the upper
framework 618
is configured to be located at the top part of the wearer's breasts. A lower
portion of the
central leg 620 is shown in dashed line to indicate that the lower portion is
positioned internal
to one or more additional layers as described below. In example aspects, the
lower portion of
the central leg 620 may be anchored to an underband 625. The upper framework
618 and the
central leg 620 define right and left openings through which the wearer's
breasts, and
particularly the wearer's nipples extend. The configuration of the inner layer
616 is
illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that other configurations may
be used.
The nursing bra 600 further includes a first breast-covering portion 622 and a
second breast-covering portion 624 where the first and second breast-covering
portions 622
and 624 are positioned external to at least a portion of the inner layer 616.
Lower edges 623
of the first and second breast-covering portions 622 and 624 may be affixed to
the underband
625 in order to secure or anchor the first and second breast-covering portions
622 and 624
when tension is applied to the first and second breast-covering portions 622
and 624 through
use of the garment adjusting system. Alternatively, the lower edges 623 of the
first and
second breast-covering portions 622 and 624 may form a lower margin of the
nursing bra 600
when an underband is not used. With respect to FIG. 6, the upper part of the
first and second
breast-covering portions 622 and 624 are shown lowered or folded downward to
expose or
partially expose the wearer's breasts. The first and second breast-covering
portions 622 and
624 may be lowered in order to, for example, nurse or pump. In FIG. 7, the
first and second
breast-covering portions 622 and 624 are raised such that they generally fully
cover the
wearer's breasts.
A first garment adjusting system 650 is located on the first shoulder strap
610
and the first breast-covering portion 622, and a second garment adjusting
system 652 is
located on the second shoulder strap 612 and the second breast-covering
portion 624 (shown
in FIG. 7). A description is provided herein with respect to the first garment
adjusting system
650 located on the first shoulder strap 610 and the first breast-covering
portion 622. The
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description is equally applicable to the second garment adjusting system 652
located on the
second shoulder strap 612 and the second breast-covering portion 624. The
garment
adjusting systems described with respect to the nursing bra 600 may be the
garment adjusting
system 100.
The first garment adjusting system 650 includes a first strap 654 having a
first
end 656 and an opposite second end 658, where the second end 658 is fixedly
secured to the
first shoulder strap 610 at or around a location corresponding to where the
first shoulder strap
610 curves over the wearer's shoulder. This location is illustrative and other
securement
locations for the second end 658 are contemplated herein. In this aspect, the
first shoulder
strap 610 corresponds to the first textile element 116 of the garment
adjusting system 100. In
example aspects, the first end 656 of the first strap 654 may be maintained
adjacent to the
first shoulder strap 610 using, for example, a strip of material (not shown)
that extends over
the first end 656 and has opposing ends that are fixedly coupled to the first
shoulder strap
610. This may prevent the first end 656 of the first strap 654 from hanging
loose or flapping
which may be a distraction to the wearer. A male coupling component 660, which
may be
the male coupling component 120 is fixedly secured to the first end 656 of the
first strap 654.
The male coupling component 660 includes a hook 662.
The first garment adjusting system 650 further includes a second strap 664
having a first end 666 and an opposite second end 668, where the second end
668 is fixedly
secured to the first breast-covering portion 622 at or near the apex region
614 of the nursing
bra 600 with respect to when the first breast-covering portion 622 is fully
covering the
wearer's breast (e.g., is not folded over). In example aspects, the first
breast-covering portion
622 corresponds to the second textile element 132 of the garment adjusting
system 100. A
female coupling component 670, which may be the female coupling component 134
is
slidably coupled to the second strap 664 and includes a receiving hole 672.
The first end 666
of the second strap 664 hangs freely.
In FIG. 6, the male coupling component 660 is not releasably mated with the
female coupling component 670 such that the first shoulder strap 610 is
uncoupled from the
first breast-covering portion 622. In this configuration, the first breast-
covering portion 622
may be lowered to expose the wearer's breast and nipple area to allow for
example, nursing
or pumping. In FIG. 7, the male coupling component 660 and the female coupling
component 670 are releasably mated by, for example, inserting the hook 662 of
the male
coupling component 660 into the receiving hole 672 of the female coupling
component 670.
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In this configuration, the first breast-covering portion 622 is coupled to the
first shoulder
strap 610 such that the first breast-covering portion covers the wearer's
breast. To adjust the
level of support provided by the first breast-covering portion 622 and/or the
first shoulder
strap 610, the wearer 601 may grasp the first end 666 of the second strap 664
and pull in a
downward direction to decrease the length of the second strap 664 as measured
between the
second end 668 and the female coupling component 670. This may easily be
accomplished
using, for example, one hand. An increased level of support may be desirable
when the
wearer 601 is engaged in, for example, athletic activities. In at least some
examples, the level
of support can be easily decreased, such as by lifting the tab 639 away from
the strap that is
threaded through the female coupling component 670.
By utilizing both the first garment adjusting system 650 and the second
garment adjusting system 652, the first and second breast-covering portions
622 and 624 can
independently be raised and lowered. Additionally, the level of tension of the
first and
second breast-covering portions 622 and 624 and/or the first and second
shoulder straps 610
and 612 can be independently adjusted to account for differences in breast
morphology
between the two breasts and/or support needs of the wearer 601.
FIGs. 8 and 9 depict the garment adjusting system described herein
incorporated into a waistband of a lower-body garment 800. The lower-body
garment 800 is
shown in the form of a pant, but other configurations such as shorts,
leggings, capris, and the
like are contemplated herein. The lower-body garment 800 includes a torso
portion 810
configured to cover a lower torso of a wearer, a first leg portion 812
terminating in a first leg
opening 814, and a second leg portion 816 terminating in a second leg opening
818. The
lower-body garment 800 further includes a waistband area 820 configured to
encircle a waist
area of the wearer. In example aspects, a garment adjusting system 822
(indicated in FIG. 9)
may be associated with the waistband area 820. The garment adjusting system
822 includes a
first strap 824 having a first end 826 and an opposite second end 828 where
the second end
828 is fixedly attached to a first side of the waistband area 820. The first
end 826 of the first
strap 824 is fixedly attached to a male coupling component 830 having a hook
832.
The garment adjusting system 822 further includes a second strap 834 having
a free first end 836 and an opposite second end 838 where the second end 838
is fixedly
attached to an opposite second side of the waistband area 820. The second
strap 834 is
slidably coupled to a female coupling component 840 having a receiving hole
842.
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FIG. 8 depicts the garment adjusting system 822 in an un-coupled state where
the female coupling component 840 is not releasably mated with the male
coupling
component 830. This configuration may be useful when a wearer is donning the
lower-body
garment 800. FIG. 9 depicts the garment adjusting system 822 in a coupled
state where the
5 female coupling component 840 is releasably mated with the male coupling
component 830
such that the hook 832 is received within the receiving hole 842. The
configuration shown in
FIG. 9 effectively couples the first side of the waistband area 820 with the
opposite second
side of the waistband area 820. To tighten the waistband area 820, a wearer
may grasp the
first end 836 of the second strap 834 and pull to decrease the length of the
second strap 834
10 as measured between the second end 838 of the second strap 834 and the
female coupling
component 840.
FIGs. 10 and 11 depict yet another example use of the garment adjusting
system described herein where the garment adjusting system is incorporated
into an article of
footwear 1000 in the form of an upper for a shoe. The article of footwear 1000
includes an
15 upper 1010 and a sole structure 1012 secured to a bottom aspect of the
upper 1010. The
upper 1010 may be formed from a variety of materials including leather,
synthetic leather,
knit materials, woven materials, braided materials, polymer sheets, rubber,
and the like.
In example aspects, the article of footwear 1000 includes a garment adjusting
system (indicated by reference numeral 1014 in FIG. 11). The garment adjusting
system
1014 extends across an instep area of the upper 1010 when in a coupled state.
The garment
adjusting system 1014 includes a first strap 1016 having a first end 1018 and
an opposite
second end 1020 fixedly secured to the article of footwear 1000. A male
coupling component
1022 is fixedly secured to the first end 1018 and includes a hook 1024.
The garment adjusting system 1014 further includes a second strap 1026
having a free first end 1028 and an opposite second end 1030 that is fixedly
secured to the
article of footwear 1000. A female coupling component 1032 is slidably coupled
to the
second strap 1026 where the female coupling component 1032 includes a
receiving hole
1034.
FIG. 10 depicts the garment adjusting system 1014 in an uncoupled state.
Having the garment adjusting system 1014 in an uncoupled state may facilitate
a wearer
inserting their foot into the article of footwear 1000. FIG. 11 depicts the
garment adjusting
system 1014 in a coupled state where the female coupling component 1032 is
releasably
mated with the male coupling component 1022 by positioning the hook 1024
within the
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receiving hole 1034. This action may be accomplished using one hand. To
increase the
amount of tension across the instep area of the article of footwear 1000, a
wearer may grasp
the first end 1028 of the second strap 1026 and pull to decrease the length of
the second strap
1026 as measured between the second end 1030 and the female coupling component
1032.
This step may also be accomplished using one hand. Use of the garment
adjusting system
1014 in an article of footwear, such as the article of footwear 1000 may be
ideal for people
with disabilities and/or for young children.
FIG. 12 depicts a flow diagram of an example method of manufacturing
(labeled as 1200) a garment adjusting system such as the garment adjusting
system 100. At a
step 1210, a second end of a first strap, such as the first strap 110 is
secured to a first textile
element, such as the first textile element 116. At a step 1212, a male
coupling component,
such as the male coupling component 120, is fixedly coupled to a first end of
the first strap.
At a step 1214, a second end of a second strap, such as the second strap 124,
is secured to a
second textile element, such as the second textile element 132. At a step
1216, a female
coupling component, such as the female coupling component 134, is slidably
coupled to a
first end of the second strap. The female coupling component is adapted to
releasably mate
with the male coupling component by, for example, positioning a receiving hole
of the female
coupling component over a hook of the male coupling component. Once coupled,
an amount
of tension or support provided by the first and second textile elements may be
adjusted by
manipulating the first end of the second strap to either increase or decrease
the length
between the second end of the second strap and the female coupling component.
Aspects of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be
illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative aspects will become apparent
to those skilled
in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop
alternative means
of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the
scope of the
present disclosure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility
and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations
and are
contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the
various figures need
be carried out in the specific order described
