Pin assembly attachment member and versatile method of use
10779581 ยท 2020-09-22
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A pin assembly attachment member with a versatile method of use for support and/or enhancement of apparel. This is an improvement upon conventional attachment hooks designed to attach to a single interchangeable and/or convertible garment. Such conventional hooks have somewhat limited utility. The pin assembly attachment member comprises a solid body comprising of at least one aperture for receiving a formed adjustment loop of straps or apparel, and/or an attachment hook, and comprises of an attachment pin having a distal end for puncturing the fabric of apparel for removably engaging with apparel or combination of a garment and/or a bra or other lingerie. The attachment members can be removably secured to an interior portion adjacent to an upper edge of garment using either the attachment hook or the attachment pin. The attachment hook would be inserted through a loop affixed to the garment. The attachment pin would be inserted through an interior lining of the garment. The attachment members can be attached to two garments using the combination of the attachment hook and the attachment pin.
Claims
1. A detachable bra strap assembly for apparel comprising fabric, the detachable bra strap assembly comprising: a strap having a first end and a second end; a strap adjustment member integrated with said strap, said strap adjustment member enabling adjustment of a length of said strap; a pair of strap attachment members attached to the respective first and second ends of said strap, each strap attachment member including: a strap attachment member body in the form of a solid planar plate having a first strap attachment member aperture provided within an interior area of said solid planar plate such that the first strap attachment member aperture is completely bounded by a first aperture perimeter edge, the solid planar plate having a second strap attachment member aperture extending into the interior area of said solid planar plate from a perimeter edge thereof, such that the second strap attachment member aperture is partially bounded by a second aperture perimeter edge but has an opening extending into the interior area of the solid planar plate from a first location along the peripheral edge of the solid planar plate, the opening extending completely through the solid planar plate in a direction toward but terminating short of an opposite second location along the peripheral edge of the solid planar plate; an attachment hook integrally formed as part of said strap attachment member body said attachment hook created by the formation of said second strap attachment member aperture; and an attachment pin subassembly attached between the first strap attachment member aperture and the second strap attachment member aperture to an attachment surface of said strap attachment member body, said attachment pin subassembly including a pin secured to the attachment surface by a pin subassembly hinge and a pin latch, such that the pin is raised above and extends parallel to the attachment surface of the strap attachment member body and the pin subassembly hinge and the pin latch are mounted perpendicular to the attachment surface enabling the pin to be raised above the attachment surface such that the rotation of the attachment pin pivots from the pivot hinge location when the pin is removed from the pin latch; wherein, each strap attachment member is carried by a respective one of said first and second ends of said strap.
2. The detachable bra strap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said strap is configured with the length of said strap passing through one of the first and second strap attachment member apertures, at least one of said first and second ends of said strap being secured to said strap adjustment member such that an adjustment loop is formed and one of said strap attachment members is carried by said adjustment loop.
3. The detachable bra strap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein, said pin latch is configured for releasably securing a distal end of said pin thereto and wherein the distal end of the pin punctures the fabric of the apparel.
4. The detachable bra strap assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said length of said strap is provided carrying at least one decorative adorning element.
5. The detachable bra strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the apparel is selected from the group consisting of swimwear, lingerie, evening wear, dress wear, casual wear, sports attire, formal wear, and brassieres.
6. The detachable bra strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the strap is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of: a decorative material, a clear material, a transparent material, a clear translucent plastic, and a tinted material.
7. A strap attachment member adapted for attachment to a strap length for use with fabric of apparel, the strap attachment member comprising: a strap attachment member body in the form of a solid planar plate having a first strap attachment member aperture provided within an interior area of said solid planar plate, such that the first strap attachment member aperture is completely bounded by a first aperture perimeter edge, the solid planar plate having a second strap attachment member aperture extending into the interior area of said solid planar plate from a perimeter edge thereof: such that the second strap attachment member aperture is partially bounded by a second aperture perimeter edge but has an opening extending into the interior area of the solid planar plate from a first location along a peripheral edge of the solid planar plate, the opening extending completely through the solid planar plate in a direction toward, but terminating short of, an opposite second location along the peripheral edge of the solid planar plate; and an attachment pin subassembly attached between the first strap attachment member aperture and the second strap attachment member aperture to an attachment surface of said strap attachment member body, said attachment pin subassembly including a pin having a distal end for puncturing the fabric of the apparel, the pin being secured to the attachment surface by a pin subassembly hinge and a pin latch for releasably securing the distal end of the pin, such that the pin is raised above and extends parallel to the attachment surface of the strap attachment member body, and the pin subassembly hinge and the pin latch are mounted perpendicular to the attachment surface enabling the pin to be raised above the attachment surface such that the rotation of the pin pivots from a location of the pin subassembly hinge when the distal end of the pin is released from the pin latch.
8. The strap attachment member of claim 7, further comprising an attachment hook integrally formed as part of said strap attachment member body, said attachment hook created by the formation of said second strap attachment member aperture.
9. The strap attachment member of claim 7, wherein the apparel is selected from the group consisting of swimwear, lingerie, evening wear, dress wear, casual wear, sports attire, formal wear, and brassieres.
10. An attachment member for apparel comprising fabric, the attachment member comprising: a solid body comprising: an aperture provided within an interior area of the solid body, such that the aperture is completely bounded by a first perimeter edge of the solid body; a cutout formed parallel to and proximate to the aperture within the interior area of the solid body, the cutout being partially bounded by a second perimeter edge, opposite the first perimeter edge, of the solid body from a first location along a peripheral edge of the solid body, the cutout extending completely through the solid body in a direction toward, but terminating short of, an opposite second location along the peripheral edge of the solid body; an attachment pin assembly comprising a spring mounted pin attached to an attachment surface of the solid body and a pin latch, wherein the spring mounted pin has a distal end which punctures fabric of the apparel and the pin latch releasably secures the distal end of the spring mounted pin, such that the spring mounted pin is raised above the solid body between the aperture and the cutout when the distal end of the spring mounted pin is released from the pin latch.
11. The attachment member of claim 10, further comprising a strap having a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end of the strap is received within the aperture of the solid body of the attachment member.
12. The attachment member of claim 11, wherein the strap further comprises at least one decorative adorning element.
13. The attachment member of claim 11, wherein the strap is configured with a length of the strap passing through the aperture of the solid body, at least one of the first end or the second end of the strap being secured to the attachment member such that an adjustment loop is formed and the attachment member is carried by the adjustment loop.
14. The attachment member of claim 11, wherein the strap is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of: a decorative material, a clear material, a transparent material, a clear translucent plastic, and a tinted material.
15. The attachment member of claim 10, wherein the apparel is selected from the group consisting of swimwear, lingerie, evening wear, dress wear, casual wear, sports attire, formal wear, and brassieres.
16. The attachment member of claim 10, wherein the spring mounted pin and the pin latch are parallel to the aperture.
17. The attachment member of claim 10, further comprising at least one strap having a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end of the at least one strap is received within the aperture of the solid body of the attachment member, such that the at least one strap is added to the apparel.
18. The attachment member of claim 10, further comprising an attachment hook integrally formed as part of the solid body, the attachment hook created by the formation of the cutout.
19. The attachment member of claim 10, wherein the spring mounted pin and the pin latch are mounted perpendicular to the solid body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which:
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(16) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(17) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word exemplary or illustrative means serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any implementation described herein as exemplary or illustrative is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms upper, lower, left, rear, right, front, vertical, horizontal, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
(18) Generally, the present invention provides a releasably attachable bra strap assembly including a strap and a pair of strap attachment members carried by respective opposite strap ends. The strap attachment members preferably incorporate a combination of an attachment hook and an attachment pin subassembly for releasable engagement with a strapless garment or a combination of a strapless garment and an underlying bra.
(19) Referring initially to
(20) The detachable bra strap assembly 100 may have a pair of strap attachment members 130 secured at opposite ends of strap length 110. Each strap attachment member 130 includes a strap attachment member body 132, wherein the strap attachment member body 132 is preferably fabricated of a sheet of metal, plastic or other rigid material, in the form of a unitary planar plate. The strap attachment member body 132 can be formed using a molding process, a casting process, a stamping process, a machining process or any other forming process. In the exemplary implementation, the strap attachment member body 132 is provided having a generally planar rectangular shape, optionally having commonly known latching mechanism, including a rotational latch as illustrated. It is noted that the attachment pin subassembly 140 is perpendicular to the general longitudinal axis formed by the bra strap 110. However, the attachment pin subassembly may be provided parallel to the general longitudinal axis of the bra strap 110, without departing from the intended scope of the invention. Any tension applied, by the bra strap 110 onto the pin, is distributed across the pin-to-fabric interface.
(21) An attachment pin subassembly 140 is assembled to the attachment surface 136 of the strap attachment member body 132. The first exemplary implementation orients the attachment pin subassembly 140 parallel to the attachment hook 150 created by the elongated slot 152. The exemplary attachment pin subassembly 140 includes an attachment pin 142 rotationally, or rotatably, attached to the strap attachment member body 132 via attachment pin hinge 144. A pin latch 146 is located to selectively receive and retain the attachment pin 142 therein when the attachment pin 142 is placed into a closed and secured configuration, as best illustrated in
(22) attaching, to the upper edge of the strapless garment, at least one of the attachment hook to a loop carried by a garment, the loop being located proximate an upper edge of the garment, and the attachment pin to an interior surface of the upper edge of the strapless garment.
(23) A first strap attachment member 130 is carried by a strap fixed end attachment loop 111 formed at a strap fixed end 116 of the bra strap 110. An end of the bra strap 110 is threaded through the strap attachment member aperture 134 of the first strap attachment member 130, and subsequently looped back to a section of the bra strap 110 and attached thereto, forming the strap fixed end attachment loop 111. A second strap attachment member 130 is carried by a loop 113 formed by a first adjustable strap segment 112 and a second adjustable strap length 114 defining a strap adjustment end 118 of the bra strap 110. The loop 113 formed by the first adjustable strap length 112 and the second adjustable strap length 114 is threaded through the strap attachment member aperture 134 of the second strap attachment member 130. The strap adjustment end 118 of the bra strap 110 is configured by passing, or inserting, it through a strap adjustment member 120, and subsequently through the strap attachment member aperture 134 of the second strap attachment member 130, thereby creating the first adjustable strap portion, or length 112 therebetween. The strap adjustment end 118 is then extended toward the strap adjustment member 120 so as to define the second adjustable strap portion, or length 114 therebetween. The end of the bra strap 110 is attached to the strap adjustment member 120 by a strap adjustment end attachment loop 115.
(24) Applications of the detachable bra strap assembly 100 will be further described hereinbelow.
(25) Referring now particularly to
(26) The exemplary implementation is additionally enhanced by integrating a decorative medallion 260 with the bra strap 210. The decorative medallion 260 is included in the aforementioned group of adorning or aesthetically pleasing items. The decorative medallion 260 may take the form of, for example, any solid or peripheral geometric configuration. Again, the decorative medallion 260 may take on any geometric shape, a freeform shape, and the like. The decorative medallion 260 may, in addition to being formed into a geometric shape, be shaped, and incorporate printing representing a likeness of a character, an individual, a phrase, an object, and the like.
(27) Each strap attachment member 230 includes a strap attachment member body 232, wherein the strap attachment member body 232 is preferably of a generally triangular shape having rounded corners. The strap attachment member body 232 is preferably symmetric, having a corner oriented at a top and a lower peripheral side horizontally disposed and located at a bottom thereof. The strap attachment member body 232 has, on opposite faces thereof, an attachment surface 236 and a respective exposed surface 238. A strap attachment member assembly aperture 234 is provided extending completely through the strap attachment member body 232, with the strap attachment member assembly aperture 234 preferably having a circular geometry and located proximate an upper edge of the strap attachment member body 232. The strap attachment member assembly aperture 234 is sized and shaped to receive and reliably retain therethrough a strap fixed end attachment loop 211, wherein the strap fixed end attachment loop 211 may comprise any loop configuration. A hook forming body cutout in the form of an elongated slot 252 is provided generally parallel to, and proximate to, a lower edge of the strap attachment member body 232. The elongated slot 252 begins at one peripheral side edge of the strap attachment member body 232, and continues in a direction toward, but terminating short of, an opposite peripheral side edge of strap attachment member body 232, so as to create an attachment hook 250 proximate to the lower edge of the strap attachment member body 232. The elongated slot 252 also extends completely through the strap attachment member body 232.
(28) An attachment pin subassembly 240 is assembled to the attachment surface 236 of the strap attachment member body 232. This second exemplary implementation orients the attachment pin subassembly 240 perpendicular to the attachment hook 250 created by the hook forming body cutout 252, which is also parallel to the general longitudinal axis of the bra strap 210. The attachment pin subassembly 240 is shown in a closed position in
(29) The dual attachment configuration, comprising the attachment pin subassembly 240 and the attachment hook 250, enables the wearer to utilize the detachable bra strap assembly 200 in a variety of applications. The applications of the detachable bra strap assembly 100, 200 can be considered in two functions: (1) the attachment to the garment and (2) the configuration of the strap portion 110, 210 of the detachable bra strap assembly 100, 200.
(30) Significantly, the strap attachment member 230 can be selectively attached to an upper edge 310 of a strapless upper body garment 300 using either the attachment pin subassembly 240 or the attachment hook 250. The strapless upper body garment 300 is fabricated having a garment upper liner element 312 located upon an inner portion of the strapless upper body garment 300, proximate to the garment upper edge 310. Referring now particularly to
(31) The strap attachment member 230 can be attached to a garment, such as a bra 400, using a combination of the attachment hook 250 and a support loop 420, as presented in the exemplary illustration of
(32) The combination of the attachment pin subassembly 240 and the attachment hook 250 enables the strap attachment member 230 to attach to a pair of garments as illustrated in
(33) The above described variations for attaching the detachable bra strap assembly 100, 200 to one or a pair of garments. A second consideration is the configuration for wearing the detachable bra strap assembly 100, 200. Several exemplary configurations are presented in
(34) In a parallel, over the shoulder configuration 202, a pair of detachable bra strap assemblies 200 is worn, being placed over a shoulder 502 of the individual 500, as illustrated in
(35) In a halter strap configuration 204, the detachable bra strap assembly 200 is worn, being placed about a neck 504 of the individual 500, as illustrated in
(36) A tube top 520 adorns an individual 500 in
(37) Bathing attire 530 adorns an individual 500 in
(38) In any configuration, the individual can adjust an overall length of each detachable bra strap assembly 100, detachable bra strap assembly 200 using the strap adjustment member 120, strap adjustment member 220 respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, the strap adjustment member 220 is a lobster claw styled clip, which engages along any length of an adjustable strap segment 214. The adjustment is accomplished in accordance with the style of adjusting mechanism utilized by the manufacturer. It is understood that the strap adjustment member 120, 220 can be of any form factor known by those skilled in the art, while taking considerations to the material selected for the bra strap 110, 210.
(39) Garments may include straps where the individual may desire to modify the intended configuration of the garment by either removing the straps, or folding and inserting the straps within the upper section. The individual would then attach the detachable bra strap assembly 100, 200 as described above to ornate the garment.
(40) Alternatively, the bra strap 110, bra strap 210 can be fabricated of any material including a metallic chain; a woven cording; a metallic cording; a ribbon; a lace, leather, roping, denim or other fabric strips, and the like; or any combination thereof. The base strap material bra strap 110, 210 can be enhanced with the inclusion of jewels, stones, beading, embroidery, and the like; or any combination thereof.
(41) Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.