REPOSITIONABLE BELT LOOP

Abstract

The repositionable belt loop can be placed on a wide variety of garments, providing an anchor for a belt, sash or other elongated fashion article. The belt loop has an elongated body with a wide notch on its inner side to route a belt there through. On either side of the wide notch are garment engaging pads with garment engaging members. In a first embodiment, the garment engaging members include pins facing inwardly from the garment engaging pads and locking caps. In a second embodiment, the garment engaging members include a pivoting pin that is connected to one of the garment engaging pads and a clasp connected to the other garment engaging pad. The repositionable belt loop can be in a variety of shapes and can be used singly or in groups, to provide support for a belt on a garment that previously had few or no integral belt loops.

Claims

1. A repositionable belt loop, comprising: a body, the body comprising: a top surface; a front side; a back side; a left end; a right end; a bottom; a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; and a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; a first garment engaging member on the left garment engaging pad; and a second garment engaging member on the right garment engaging pad; wherein the first garment engaging member and the second garment engaging member are each configured to attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.

2. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 1, wherein: the first garment engaging member is a clasp attached to the left garment engaging pad; and the second garment engaging member is a pivoting pin having a pivot and a tip that is rotatably attached at its proximate end to the right garment engaging pad by the pivot, the tip of the pivoting pin located at a distal end of the pivoting pin; and wherein: when the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the clasp, the pivoting pin extends substantially parallel to the body of the belt loop.

3. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 2, wherein: the left garment engaging pad includes a first recess in its flat bottom surface, the first recess having a bottom surface; the right garment engaging pad includes a second recess in its flat bottom surface, the second recess having a bottom surface; the clasp is attached to the bottom surface of the first recess; and the pivot is attached to the bottom surface of the second recess.

4. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 3, wherein the clasp comprises: two outer stationary clasp plates, each outer stationary clasp plate having an inner surface, a top surface, a bottom surface and an elongated notch extending downwardly from their top surface, the bottom surfaces of the two outer stationary clasp plates being connected to the bottom surface of the first recess; and a rotating clasp plate having two outer surfaces and an elongated notch, the rotating clasp plate being sandwiched between the two outer stationary clasp plates; and wherein: in a first, open position of the rotating clasp plate, the elongated notch of the rotating clasp plate is aligned with the elongated notches of the two outer stationary clasp plates, such that the tip of the pivoting pin can enter the notches; and in a second, closed position of the rotating clasp plate, the elongated notch of the rotating clasp plate is out of alignment with the elongated notches of the two outer stationary clasp plates, such that the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the elongated notches.

5. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 4, wherein: the rotating clasp plate further comprises protrusions on both of its outer surfaces; the two outer stationary clasp plates further comprise circumferential grooves on their inner surfaces; and the protrusions and circumferential grooves lock the rotating clasp plate between the two outer stationary clasp plates, while still allowing the rotating clasp plate to rotate relative to the outer stationary clasp plates.

6. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 5, wherein: the pivoting pin further comprises a through hole adjacent its proximate end; and the pivot further comprises: two pivot pin support plates, each pivot pin support plate having a top and a bottom surface and a through hole adjacent their top, the bottom surfaces of the two pivot pin support plates being connected to the bottom surface of the second recess; and a pivot pin that extends through the through holes in the pivot pin support plates and the through hole in the pivoting pin, to thereby rotatably connect the pivoting pin to the two pivot pin support plates being connected to the bottom surface of the second recess.

7. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 6, wherein: the first and second recesses are hemispherical in shape: and the bottom surfaces of the two outer stationary clasp plates and the two pivot pin support plates are curved to mate with the bottom of the first and second recesses.

8. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 1, wherein: the first garment engaging member comprises a first main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad; and the second garment engaging member comprises a second main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad; and the first main pin and the second main pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.

9. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 8, wherein the first garment engaging member further comprises a first anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad, the first anti-rotation pin being offset from the first main pin; the second garment engaging member further comprises a second anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad, the second anti-rotation pin being offset from the second main pin; and the first anti-rotation pin and the second anti-rotation pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to inhibit rotation of the locking caps.

10. A repositionable belt loop, comprising: a body, the body comprising: a top surface; a front side; a back side; a left end; a right end; a bottom; a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface and a first recess in its flat bottom surface; and a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface and a second recess in its flat bottom surface; a clasp attached to a bottom surface of the first recess; and a pivoting pin having a pivot and a tip that is rotatably attached at its proximate end to a bottom surface of the second recess by the pivot, the tip of the pivoting pin located at a distal end of the pivoting pin; and wherein: when the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the clasp, the pivoting pin extends substantially parallel to the body of the belt loop to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.

11. The repositionable belt loop as recited in claim 10, wherein: the clasp and the pivot have bottom surfaces; the first and second recesses are hemispherical in shape: and the bottom surfaces of the clasp and the pivot are curved to mate with the bottom of the first and second recesses.

12. A repositionable belt loop, comprising: a body, the body comprising: a top surface; a front side; a back side; a left end; a right end; a bottom; a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; a first main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad; and a second main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad; wherein a first anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad, the first anti-rotation pin being offset from the first main pin; and a second anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad, the second anti-rotation pin being offset from the second main pin; and wherein the first main pin, the second main pin, the first anti-rotation pin and the second anti-rotation pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment, while inhibiting rotation of the locking caps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of two of the repositionable belt loops attached to a garment, according to the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of a first embodiment of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 1, showing the outwardly facing surface of the belt loop.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 2, showing the inwardly facing surfaces and garment engaging members of the repositionable belt loop.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a side, plan view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 2.

[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective, bottom view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 2, showing details of a first embodiment of the pin/button clasp attachment mechanism.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective, bottom view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 2, showing details of a second embodiment of the button clasps of the belt loop.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 1, showing the outwardly facing surface of the belt loop.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 7, showing the inwardly facing surfaces and garment engaging members of the repositionable belt loop.

[0015] FIG. 9a is a side, plan view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 7, showing the garment engaging members in a closed position.

[0016] FIG. 9b is a side, plan view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 7, showing the garment engaging members in an open position.

[0017] FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective, bottom view of the repositionable belt loop of FIG. 7, showing details of the garment engaging members.

[0018] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] For purposes of better understanding the present teachings and in no way limiting the scope of the teachings, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing length, width, quantities, proportions, or other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. As generally shown in FIG. 1, the repositionable belt loop 10 is shown attached to two locations on a garment or coat C and supporting a belt B. While only two locations on the coat C are shown, it should be understood that any number of the repositionable belt loops 10 can be used depending on the type of garment, the type of belt or sash, or to accent already existing belt loops on the garment. The belt loop 10 can be formed in a variety of shapes but generally has an elongated body with attachment means at either end of the body and a notch on its inner side to route a belt there through. It should be understood that the term “belt” as used herein, refers to any elongated fashion accessory such as support belts, sashes, boas, etc.

[0020] The details of a first embodiment of the repositionable belt loop 10 are shown in FIGS. 2-6. As is shown from a top view in FIG. 2, the belt loop 10 has a body 20 that can be formed in a variety of shapes. The body 20 includes a top surface 22 that faces away from the garment and can be flat or sloped, as desired for a particular fashion. The body 20 further includes a front side 24, a back side 26, a left end 28 and a right end 29. It should be understood that the terms top, bottom, left, right, front and back are used here for descriptive purposes, and the orientation of the repositionable belt loop 10 should not be considered limited by these terms. The repositionable belt loop 10 has an overall length L from the left end 28 to the right end 29. In an embodiment, length L is between 2.3 and 14 cm long, alternatively between 6 and 9.9 cm long, or between 7.5 and 8.5 cm long. The repositionable belt loop 10 has an overall width W from the front side 24 to the back side 26. In an embodiment, width W is between about 0.3 and about 4 cm wide, alternatively between about 0.7 and about 1.3 cm wide, or between about 0.9 and about 1.1 cm wide. It should be understood that the width and length shown are maximum values, and the repositionable belt loop 10 can be in any of a number of shapes with varying width along its length and varying length along its width.

[0021] As is best seen in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the garment engaging members are in the form of locking caps 30 that engage the bottom of the body 20 for securing the repositionable belt loop 10 to a garment. The bottom of the body 20 includes a centrally located notch 32 for receipt of a belt B, a left garment engaging pad 34 on the left end 28 of body 20 and a right garment engaging pad 36 on the right end 29 of body 20. The notch 32 has a length L.sub.N between the left garment engaging pad 34 and the right garment engaging pad 36. In an embodiment, length L.sub.N is between about 1 and about 11.5 cm long, alternatively between about 4.7 and about 8 cm long, or between about 5.7 and about 7 cm long. The garment engaging pads 34, 36 each have a length L.sub.P. In an embodiment, length L.sub.P is between about 0.64 and about 1.27 cm long, alternatively between about 0.8 and about 1.1 cm long, or between about 0.9 and about 1.0 cm long. In some embodiments, each garment engaging pad 34, 36 has a same length. In other embodiments, each garment engaging pad 34, 36 has a different length.

[0022] As is best seen in FIG. 4, the repositionable belt loop 10 has an overall thickness T from the bottom surfaces of the garment engaging pads 34, 36 to the top surface 22 of the body 20. In an embodiment, thickness T is between about 0.64 and about 1.3 cm thick, alternatively between about 0.8 and about 1.14 cm thick, or between about 0.95 and about 1 cm thick. Also as best seen in FIG. 4, the notch 32 has a depth D. Depth D is selected depending on the thickness of the belt intended to be used with the repositionable belt loop 10. In an embodiment, depth D is between about 0.16 and about 0.64 cm deep, alternatively between about 0.2 and about 0.6 cm deep, or between about 0.3 and about 0.5 cm deep.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the garment engaging pads 34, 36 each have a centrally located main pin 40 extending perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the garment engaging pads 34, 36, for engagement by the locking caps 30. To attach the repositionable belt loop 10 to its desired location, the two pins 40 are driven through the material of the garment and the locking caps 30 are placed on the pins on the inside of the garment. The garment engaging pads 34, 36 may also include optional anti-rotation pins 42. The anti-rotation pins 42 also extend perpendicular to the garment engaging pads 34, 36, but are offset from the centrally located main pins 40, to inhibit rotation of the locking caps 30, to avoid unnecessary wear of the fabric of the garment. The locking caps 30 include openings (not shown) for the pins 40, 42. The openings on each cap 30 are offset from one another to align with their perspective pin 40, 42.

[0024] FIG. 6 shows a different type of locking cap 60 for engaging the main pins 40 of the repositionable belt loop 10. The locking caps 60 include a mechanism (not shown) that releases the locking caps 60 from their respective pins, when the top portions 62 of the locking caps 60 are squeezed between a user's fingers. It should be understood that locking caps 30, 60 are merely examples of suitable locking caps, and any type of existing locking cap that is designed to engage a pin may be used.

[0025] In use, one or more of the repositionable belt loops 10 can be used together, to provide a support for a belt on a garment that previously was without integral belt loops, or to augment a garment with a limited number of integral belt loops. To attach the repositionable belt loop 10 to a garment, the locking caps 30, 60 are removed from the repositionable belt loop 10 and the pins 40 (and 42 if used) are driven through the garment at the desired location and the locking caps 30, 60 are placed onto the pins 40 (and 42 if used), thus locking the repositionable belt loop 10 on the garment. It should be understood that the repositionable belt loop 10 can be used to support any elongated clothing accessory, such as sashes, scarfs, ribbons, etc., and a belt is simply used as an example, herein.

[0026] The details of a second embodiment 70 of the repositionable belt loop 10 are shown in FIGS. 7-10. As is shown from a top view in FIG. 7, similar to belt loop 10, the belt loop 70 has a body 71 that can be formed in a variety of shapes. The body 71 includes a top surface 72 that faces away from the garment and can be flat or sloped, as desired for a particular fashion. The body 71 further includes a front side 74, a back side 76, a left end 78 and a right end 79. It should be understood that the terms top, bottom, left, right, front and back are used here for descriptive purposes, and the orientation of the repositionable belt loop 10 should not be considered limited by these terms. The repositionable belt loop 10 has an overall length L from the left end 78 and the right end 79. In an embodiment, length L is between about 2.3 and about 14 cm long, alternatively between about 6 and about 9.9 cm long, or between about 7.5 and about 8.5 cm long. The repositionable belt loop 70 has an overall width W from the front side 74 to the back side 76. In an embodiment, width W is between about 0.3 and about 4 cm wide, alternatively between about 0.7 and about 1.3 cm wide, or between about 0.9 and about 1.1 cm wide. It should be understood that the width W and length L shown are maximum values, and as with the repositionable belt loop 10, repositionable belt loop 70 can be in any of a number of shapes with varying width along its length and varying length along its width.

[0027] As is best seen in FIG. 8, the bottom of the body 71 includes a centrally located notch 82 for receipt of a belt B, a left garment engaging pad 84 on the left end 78 of body 71 and a right garment engaging pad 86 on the right end 79 of body 71. The notch 82 has a length L.sub.N between the left garment engaging pad 84 and the right garment engaging pad 86. In an embodiment, length L.sub.N is between about 1 and about 11.5 cm long, alternatively between about 4.7 and about 8 cm long, or between about 5.7 and about 7 cm long. The garment engaging pads 84, 86 each have a length L.sub.P. In an embodiment, length L.sub.P is between about 0.64 and about 1.27 cm long, alternatively between about 0.8 and about 1.1 cm long, or between about 0.9 and about 1.0 cm long. In some embodiments, each garment engaging pad 84, 86 has a same length. In other embodiments, each garment engaging pad 84, 86 has a different length. In this embodiment, the garment engaging pads 84, 86 have centrally located hemispherical recesses 80 for housing the garment engaging members. In this embodiment, the garment engaging members are in the form of a pivoting pin 81 that is connected to the bottom of the recess 80 in the right garment engaging pad 86 using a pivot 83, and a clasp 85 connected to the bottom of the recess 80 in the left garment engaging pad 84.

[0028] As is best seen in FIGS. 9a-9b, the repositionable belt loop 70 has an overall thickness T from the flat bottom surfaces of the garment engaging pads 84, 86 to the top surface 72 of the body 71. In an embodiment, thickness T is between about 0.64 and about 1.3 cm thick, alternatively between about 0.8 and about 1.14 cm thick, or between about 0.95 and about 1 cm thick. Also as best seen in FIGS. 9a-9b, the notch 82 has a depth D. Depth D is selected depending on the thickness of the belt intended to be used with the repositionable belt loop 10. In an embodiment, depth D is between about 0.16 and about 0.64 cm deep, alternatively between about 0.2 and about 0.6 cm deep, or between about 0.3 and about 0.5 cm deep.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 9a, after guiding the pivoting pin 81 through the fabric of a garment (twice) the tip 99 (FIG. 9b) of the pivoting pin 81 is engaged by the clasp 85, such that the repositionable belt loop 70 is connected to the garment in the desired position and forming the gap 82 between the belt loop 70 and the fabric of the garment. As shown in FIG. 9b, the tip 99 of the pivoting pin 81 has been released from the clasp 85, so that the tip 99 can be inserted through the fabric of the garment.

[0030] The details of the pivot 83 and the clasp 85 of the repositionable belt loop 70 are best seen in FIGS. 9a, 9b and 10. The pivot 83 includes two pivot pin support plates 90, the curved bottoms 101 of which are connected to the bottom of the centrally located hemispherical recess 80 in the right garment engaging pad 86. The two pivot pin support plates 90 each include a through hole 100. The pivoting pin 81 also includes a through hole 102 adjacent its proximate end. A pivot pin 92 extends through the through holes 100 in the pivot pin support plates 90 and the through hole 102 in the pivoting pin 81, to thereby rotatably connect the pivoting pin to the right end 79 of the body 71.

[0031] The clasp 85 includes two outer stationary clasp plates 94, the curved bottoms 103 of which are connected to the bottom of the centrally located hemispherical recess 80 in the left garment engaging pad 84. A rotating clasp plate 96 is sandwiched between the two outer stationary clasp plates 94. The rotating clasp plate 96 includes protrusions 106 on both of its sides. The protrusions 106 extend into circumferential grooves 104 on the inside surfaces of the two outer stationary clasp plates 94, to thereby lock the rotating clasp plate 96 between the two outer stationary clasp plates 94, while still allowing the rotating clasp plate 96 to rotate relative to the outer stationary clasp plates 94. The rotating clasp plate 96 has an outwardly extending engagement tab 98 adjacent to an elongated notch 107 that extends to the approximate center of the rotating clasp plate 96. Likewise, the two outer stationary clasp plates 94 include elongated notches 105 that align with the elongated notch 107 in the rotating clasp plate 96 when the rotating clasp plate 96 is in the position shown in FIG. 9b, allowing the tip 99 of the pivoting pin 81 to enter the notches 105, 107. Once the tip 99 of the pivoting pin 81 has been driven through the material of the garment in the desired location, and the tip 99 of the pivoting pin 81 is in the notches 105, 107, a user rotates the rotating clasp plate 96 relative to the outer stationary clasp plates 94 using the engagement tab 98. When the rotating clasp plate 96 is in the position as shown in FIG. 9a, the engagement tab 98 has been rotated out of view and below the tops of the plates 94, 96 to avoid contact with the material of the garment. In addition, in the position as shown in FIG. 9a, the notch 107 is out of alignment with notches 105, thereby locking the tip 99 of the rotating pin 81 in the clasp 85.

[0032] By mounting the pivot 83 and the clasp 85 to the bottoms of the centrally located hemispherical recesses 80, the pivoting pin 81 extends parallel to and in close proximity to the flat bottom surfaces of the garment engaging pads 83, 84 in its locked position as shown in FIG. 9a. By guiding the pin 81 through the material of the garment at locations spaced from each other by a distance close to the length of the pin 81, the repositionable belt loop 70 can be supported in a snug and non-sagging manner. It should be noted that the recesses 80 need not be hemispherical and can have other shapes with rounded or flat side and bottom surfaces. Likewise, the bottoms 101, 103 of plates 90, 94, respectively, are shaped to conform to the bottom of the recesses 80 and can be curved as shown or flat.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the recesses 80 may be omitted and the bottoms 101, 103 of plates 90, 94, can be attached to continuous flat bottom surfaces of the garment engaging pads 83, 84 similar to how the pins 40, 42 extend from the flat surfaces of the garment engaging pads 34, 36, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-5.

[0034] It is to be understood that the repositionable belt loop is not limited to the specific embodiments described above but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.