METHOD OF THREADING AN ELONGATED CORD THROUGH AN ELONGATE INTERNAL PASSAGEWAY OF A WEARABLE ARTICLE

Abstract

A threading instrument for sliding an elongated cord or drawstring through an elongated internal passageway of a wearable article, and a method of using the same is provided. The present invention incorporates the threading instrument in a kit along with a plurality of different design drawstrings. In the kit, each drawstring is adapted to be threaded through the elongated internal passageway by way of the threading instrument. The kit enables a user to more efficiently than the prior art to interchange the drawstrings through the elongated internal passageway of the wearable article, thereby enabling an expeditious and selectively swap out of the drawstring, whereby they can use the different drawstrings to convey different messages/moods when desired.

Claims

1. A method of threading an elongated cord through an elongated internal passageway of a wearable article, the method comprising: engaging a threading instrument with a leading end of the elongated cord, wherein the threading instrument comprises: an elongated stem extending between a distal end and a proximal end; the proximal end having an arcuate head, the arcuate head having a discontinuous eyelet defining a slot; the slot and the elongated cord mutually dimensioned so a portion of a length of the elongated cord is prevented from sliding through the slot in an absence of urging; and sliding said portion of the length of the elongated cord through the slot; and threading the distal end through a first aperture of the elongated internal passageway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the engagement of the threading instrument with the leading end is form between the discontinuous eyelet and a knot of the leading end.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the knot and the discontinuous eyelet are mutually dimensioned in such a way to prevent the knot sliding through an opening defined by the discontinuous eyelet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the elongated internal passageway has a length-to-width ratio of greater than ten.

5. A threading assembly comprising: an elongated cord having a leading end; an elongated stem extending between a distal end and a proximal end; the proximal end having an arcuate head, the arcuate head having a discontinuous eyelet defining a slot; and the slot and the elongated cord mutually dimensioned so a portion of a length of the elongated cord is prevented from sliding through the slot in an absence of urging.

6. The threading assembly of claim 5, wherein the discontinuous eyelet and a knot of the leading end are engaged.

7. The threading assembly of claim 6, wherein the knot and the discontinuous eyelet are mutually dimensioned in such a way to prevent the knot sliding through an opening defined by the discontinuous eyelet.

8. The threading assembly of claim 7, wherein the elongated cord has a length-to-width ratio of greater than ten.

9. A kit for threading one of a plurality of elongated cords through an elongated internal passageway of a wearable article, the kit comprising: a threading assembly comprising: an elongated stem extending between a distal end and a proximal end; the proximal end having an arcuate head, the arcuate head having a discontinuous eyelet defining a slot; and the slot and the elongated cord mutually dimensioned so a portion of a length of the elongated cord is prevented from sliding through the slot in an absence of urging; and the plurality of elongated cords, wherein each elongated cord has a design indicium distinguishable from one or more of the plurality of elongated cords.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the wearable article is an upper garment, and wherein the elongated internal passageway is along a periphery of a hood of the upper garment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a threading assembly 10 of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a threading instrument of the present invention;

[0015] FIGS. 4-7 are a series of elevation views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the threading of a drawstring; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the present invention configured as a kit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0018] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a threading instrument for sliding an elongated cord or drawstring through an elongated internal passageway of a wearable article, and a method of using the same. The present invention incorporates the threading instrument in a kit along with a plurality of different design drawstrings(and possibly the wearable article). In the kit, each drawstring is adapted to be threaded through the elongated internal passageway by way of the threading instrument. The kit enables a user to more efficiently than the prior art to interchange the drawstrings through the elongated internal passageway of the wearable article, thereby enabling an expeditious and selectively swap out of the drawstring, whereby they can use the different drawstrings to convey different messages/moods when desired.

[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention contemplates a wearable article 11a adapted to have an elongate internal passageway 11c. By elongated, it is understood that the passageway has a length greater than its (cross sectional) width (diameter). The ratio of length to width may be greater than two to one and typically is greater than ten to one. The wearable article 11a may be any type of article of clothing, including but not limited to a hooded upper garment. The elongate internal passageway 11c may extend along a periphery of an opening of the wearable article 11a, such as along a face-opening of a hood. At the two opposing ends of the internal passageway 11c are apertures 11b communicating with the external environment.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention includes a threading assembly 10 comprising a cord 12 operatively associated with a threading instrument 12b. The threading instrument 12a has an elongated stem 16 having a distal end 26 and a proximal end. The proximal end has an arcuate head 18. By elongated, it is understood that the stem 12 has a length greater than its (cross sectional) width (diameter). The ratio of length to width may be greater than two to one and typically is greater than ten to one. The arcuate head 18 may be a portion of the stem 16 bent or curved to form an eyelet 20 defining a slot 22 communicating with the eyelet 20. The void of the slot 22 provides a discontinuity in the stem/head for sliding an elongated object like the cord 12 therethrough, wherein the slot 22 is dimensioned so that such sliding through requires urging on the part of the user. Thereby, the cord 12, once received in the eyelet, will not slide out through the slot 22 inadvertently.

[0021] Critically, the threading instrument 12b engages a leading end of the cord 12 through the above-mentioned sliding of a portion of the length of the cord 12 therethrough and then sliding the eyelet 20 up to a knot 12c at the end of the cord 12. The knot 12c and eyelet 20 are dimensioned and adapted so that the knot 12c cannot slide through the eyelet 20. This combination and/or arrangement is the threading assembly 10.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 7, a user can now take the threading assembly 10, slide its distal end 26 through a desired aperture 11b of the two apertures 11b and into the elongated internal passageway 11c. Thereby facilitating the remaining threading of the threading assembly 10 and thus the cord 12 through the entire elongated internal passageway 11c as the elongated stem 16 affords a rigid structure the user can feel and securely grasp through the material of the wearable article 10. This process enables the user to urge the distal end 26 along the elongated internal passageway 11c until it exits the opposing aperture 11b.

[0023] The wearable article 10 may be a hooded sweatshirt having a garment body with sleeves, and a neck opening communicating to a face opening by way of a hood. Again, it being understood that the wearable article 10 could be a lower garment wherein the elongated internal passageway 11c is along, say, a waist-opening of a waistline. Or the wearable article 10 could be a backpack or the like.

[0024] The threading instrument 12b may be made out of any sufficiently rigid and durable material. The stem 16 may be one or more inches long and have a cross sectional width of one inch or less. The arcuate head 18 may have a cross sectional width of one inch or less. The eyelet 20 may define an opening having a diameter of one inch or less. The slot 22 may be one-quarter of an inch or less and/or complimentary of the width of the cord 12 so as to function as disclosed herein. The elongated internal passageway 11c may have a length of two or more inches and have a finite cross-sectional width.

[0025] The present invention may be configured as a kit 14 comprising a plurality of differently designed cords 14a, each with different design indicia 14b, and the threading instrument 12b.

[0026] As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.

[0027] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.