In certain embodiments, the inventive subject matter it is directed to a garment, e.g., boardshorts that includes pelvic and leg regions, the pelvic region being free of a fly structure in a fly region. A waistband system included at the top of the pelvic region for encircling the user's waist. The waistband system has an elastic housing configured to fully or partially encircle a user's waist, an elastically tensionable element having a portion slidably disposed in the housing and through an opening formed in the housing. A lock is associated with the tensionable element and the garment to allow for selective adjustment of tension in the tensionable element. The opening and lock are disposed off and away from the front pelvic region so that the front of the garment, or selected areas thereof, may have a flush finish.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A pocket structure for a waistband of a garment, comprising: an outer pocket panel attached to an inner pocket panel along respective first side edges, second side edges, and bottom edges thereof forming a pocket therebetween and a back portion of the waistband; wherein respective unattached top edges of the outer and inner pocket panels are narrower than the respective bottom edges thereof. And, a waistband for a garment, comprising: an outer pocket panel attached to an inner pocket panel along respective first side edges, second side edges, and bottom edges thereof forming a pocket therebetween and a back portion of the waistband; and, a front portion of the waistband attached to the back portion of the waistband along respective first side edges and second side edges thereof; wherein respective unattached top edges of the outer and inner pocket panels are narrower than the respective bottom edges thereof.

A cummerbund belt assembly for retaining a cummerbund in a preferred position includes a cummerbund is wearable around a waist of a user to enhance the appearance of formal dress. A plurality of couplers is each coupled to and extends downwardly from the cummerbund. Each of the couplers is positioned at strategic locations along the cummerbund such that each of the couplers is aligned with a respective plurality of suspender buttons in the trousers. Moreover, each of the couplers releasably engages the respective suspender button to inhibit the cummerbund from riding upwardly on the user's waist when the cummerbund and the trousers are worn.

A waistband for an article of apparel is provided. The waistband may comprise at least one tunnel structure through which one or more cords may extend to allow tensioning of the waistband through pulling of the cord(s), while additionally providing comfort, stretchability, breathability, and adjustability for the wearer through integration of one or more elastic or elastically resilient portions into the waistband.

A support belt (10) includes an elongate belt (12) having a dead end region (14) and a live end region (16) and buckling (18) to releasably connect the dead and live end regions (14,16) in a relaxed tightness condition of the support belt (10) and secure the dead and live end regions (14,16) in a tightened closed condition of the support belt (10) in which a free end (20) of the live end region (16) overlies a free end (22) of the dead end region (14). The buckling (18) comprises a first anchor portion (24) fixedly secured to the live end region (16), a second anchor portion (26) configured to releasably engage apertures (28) provided in the dead end region (14) and a locking mechanism (30) pivotally connected with the first and second anchor portions (24,26) and operable to draw the first anchor portion (24) towards the second anchor portion (26) to change the tightness condition of the support belt (10) from the relaxed tightness condition to the tightened closed condition.

An elastic band for use with articles of clothing. The elastic clothing band is configured to attach or secure to two different portions of an article of clothing, such as shorts or pants, and provide a mechanism for holding up the article of clothing to a user's body. The elastic clothing band may comprise a first end comprising a first article of clothing securing member, a second opposing end comprising a second article of clothing securing member, and a main body separating the first end and the second end.

The invention relates to a pair of trousers (H) comprising a waistband system (1) having an encircling waistband (10) and a non-elastic closable belt (40), which, at least on a rear side (RS) of the pair of trousers (H), is integrated, in the form of a non-elastic waistband portion (11 a, 11 b), in the waistband (10), wherein the waistband (10) has at least one waistband portion (15), which is monoelastic at least in the longitudinal direction (HR) and can be bridged by, means of the belt (40), which runs parallel to it. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a pair of trousers (H) and to the use of the latter.

Examples of a waistband for a garment are disclosed. The waist band includes a front portion for covering at least a portion of an abdomen of a wearer, a back portion for covering at least a portion of a lower back area of the wearer, a first inner panel extending from a front central line at the front portion to a back central line at the back portion, a second inner panel extending from the front central line at the front portion to the back central line at the back portion, and at least one bonding adhesive panel bonding together the back portion with the first and second inner panels. The inside of the disclosed waistbands are seamless.

Disclosed are belt adjustment systems, particularly for wearing around a user's waist, that permit a continuum of belt loop sizes or a larger selection of belt loop sizes. The belt adjustment system includes an elongate belt member having a first end, a second end and a series of teeth positioned on an inner surface near the second end and a fixation member having first and second adjustment elements.