TROUSER RETAINING STRAP

Abstract

A retaining strap for a trouser leg includes a band of stretchable fabric arranged, in use, to loop around the circumference of a user's foot, and at least one attachment device arranged to releasably attach the band to the trouser leg. The attachment device is further arranged to attach to a front portion of the trouser leg such that, in use, the attachment device is positioned over the top of a user's foot.

Claims

1. A retaining strap for a trouser leg, the retaining strap comprising: a band of fabric, wherein said band of fabric comprises an elongate strip having first and second ends in a longitudinal direction, the second end opposing the first end; engagement means for the first and second ends such that, in use, the band forms a loop to extend around the circumference of a user's foot; and at least one attachment means arranged to releasably attach the band of fabric to said trouser leg, the or each attachment means being further arranged to attach to a front portion of the trouser leg such that, in use, the or each attachment means is positioned over the top of a user's foot, wherein the or each attachment means is secured to the band of fabric at a fixed position in a longitudinal direction of the band of fabric, the fixed position of the or each attachment means being relative to a position of the engagement means such that, in use, when the or each attachment means is attached to a front portion of a lower end of a trouser leg, the engagement means is positioned at an inner side of a user's foot.

2. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, wherein the band of fabric is comprised of stretchable fabric.

3. The retaining strap, according to claim 2, wherein the band of fabric is comprised of knitted or woven elastic.

4. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, further comprising first and second attachment means arranged such that, in use, both first and second attachment means are permitted to simultaneously attach to said front portion of said trouser leg, such that both first and second attachment means are positioned over the top of a user's foot, in use.

5. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, wherein the band of fabric has an adjustable circumference.

6. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, wherein the or each attachment means extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the band of fabric.

7. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises a buckle provided at the first end, and wherein the second end is arranged to engage with the buckle such that the band of fabric forms a loop.

8. The retaining strap, according to claim 1, wherein the fixed position at which the or each attachment means is secured to the band of fabric is closer to one of the first end or the second end than to the other one of the first end or second end.

9. The retaining strap, according to claim 8, further comprising: at least two attachment means, wherein the fixed position of each attachment means is closer to the same end of the band of fabric.

10. The retaining strap, according to claim 8, wherein the fixed position of the or each attachment means is closer to the first end than the second end.

11. The retaining strap, according to claim 9, wherein the or each attachment means comprises a clip.

12. The retaining strap, according to claim 11, wherein the attachment means comprises a clip portion arranged to releasably attach to a trouser leg, an eye portion attached to the clip portion, and a fabric portion affixed to and/or looped around the band of fabric, said fabric portion passing through the eye portion so as to hold the clip portion on the band of fabric.

13. The retaining strap, according to claim 12, wherein the fabric portion is bonded to the band of fabric so as to secure the fabric portion, and thereby the attachment means, to the band of fabric at a fixed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retaining strap in accordance with the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the retaining strap of FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retaining strap of FIG. 1 in use.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a side view of the retaining strap of FIG. 1 in use.

[0038] FIG. 5 is an opposing side elevation view of the retaining strap of FIG. 1, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a retaining strap 1 in accordance with the present invention. The retaining strap 1 comprises a band 2 formed of stretchable fabric, which band 2 is arranged, in use, to loop around the circumference of a user's foot. The retaining strap 1 further comprises a first attachment means 4 and a second attachment means 6, each arranged to releasably attach the band 2 to a front portion of a lower edge (hem) of a trouser leg, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the band 2 is an elongate strip 8 of knitted elastic and comprises a first end 10 and a second end 12 in a longitudinal direction L. A slide buckle 14 is provided at the first end 10 of the band, which acts as an engagement means for engaging the first end 10 of the band 2 and second end 12 of the band 2 such that the band 2 forms a loop, as shown in FIG. 1. The second end 12 of the band 2 is fed through the slide buckle 14 in a conventional manner in order to fasten the first end 10 and second end 12 of the band 2 to form a loop, as shown in FIG. 1. The slide buckle 14 permits the circumference of the band 2 to be adjusted according to the size of the user's foot.

[0041] In order to attach the slide buckle 14 at the first end 10 of the strip 8, an end portion 16 of the strip 8 is fed through the slide buckle 14, folded back and affixed to a main portion 18 of the strip 8. The end portion 16 may be affixed to the main portion 18 by any suitable means, for example using adhesive. The point at which the strip 8 is folded defines a terminal point of the first end 10 of the band 2. It is preferable that the end portion 16 is bonded to the main portion 18 in a region immediately adjacent the slide buckle 14 such that the slide buckle 14 is prevented from moving in a longitudinal direction of the band 2.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second attachment means 4, 6 comprises a clip portion 20, 22 in the form of a crocodile clip having opposing serrated jaws 24 (shown most clearly in FIG. 1). In use, the opposing jaws 24 of each clip portion 20, 22 engage opposing surfaces of the hem of a trouser leg to secure the hem between the jaws 24, thus releasably attaching the band 2 to the hem, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0043] Each attachment means 4, 6 further comprises an eye portion 26, 28 attached to the clip portion 20, 22 and a fabric portion 30, 32 which passes through a respective one of the eye portions 26, 28 and is affixed to the band 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each fabric portion 30, 32 is sandwiched between the end portion 16 and the main portion 18 of the elastic strip 8 and is bonded therebetween using hot glue or other adhesive. Accordingly, each of the attachment means 4, 6 is secured to the band 2 at a fixed position and is unable to move in the longitudinal direction L.

[0044] A distance D1 is provided between a hinge axis A1 of the clip portion 26, 28 of the attachment means 4, 6 and an edge 2a of the band of fabric 2 in closest proximity to the attachment means 4, 6. In order to provide the desired proximity, the distance D1 may be in the range 10 mm to 40 mm, more preferably in the range 10 mm to 30 mm and in some embodiments is approximately 20 mm, when the attachment means is in an extended state.

[0045] A distance D2 is provided between a distal point of the attachment means 4, 6 and an edge 2a of the band of fabric in closest proximity to the attachment means 4, 6. In order to provide the desired proximity, the distance D2 may be between 20 mm and 70 mm, more preferably between 20 mm and 60 mm and in some embodiments is approximately 45 mm, when the attachment means is in an extended state.

[0046] It will be appreciated that the attachment means may be arranged to releasably attach the band to a front portion of the hem of a trouser leg by alternative means, which will be apparent to the skilled person. For example, the respective fabric portions of the attachment means may be in the form of a loop arranged to pass through the respective eye portions and loop around the band, such that when the first and second ends of the band are engaged, the attachment means cannot be removed from the band but are free to move about the circumference of the band. In such embodiments, the attachment means are not secured to the band in a fixed position.

[0047] Referring again to FIG. 2, each of the attachment means 4, 6 is secured to the band 2 at a fixed position in the longitudinal direction L, the fixed position of each attachment means 4, 6 being closer to the first end 10 than the second end 12 of the band 2. With this arrangement, when the first and second attachment means 4, 6 are attached to a front portion of a hem of a trouser leg, the slide buckle 14 is positioned at an inner side of the user's foot, as discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0048] FIGS. 3 to 5 show the retaining strap 1 in use. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, each of the attachment means 4, 6 attaches to a front portion of the lower edge (hem) 34 of a trouser leg 36 so as to be positioned over the top of the user's foot. Accordingly, in use, the attachment means 4, 6 provide a retaining force which acts on the trouser leg in a general direction extending along the length of the user's foot towards the toe.

[0049] Each of the attachment means 4, 6 is positioned relative to the slide buckle 14, such that when the attachment means 4, 6 are attached to the front portion of the hem 34, the slide buckle 14 is positioned on the inner side 38 of the user's foot, as shown most clearly in FIG. 4. This is achieved by the attachment means 4, 6 being positioned closer to the first end 10, on which the slide buckle 14 is located, than the second end 12.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, an outer side 40 of the user's foot is only covered with the knitted elastic portion of the band 2. Accordingly, if the outer side 40 of the user's foot is rested against a surface, the user feels no discomfort. The inner side 38 of the user's foot is less likely to be directly rested against a surface, such that positioning the slide buckle 14 at the inner side 38 is less likely to cause discomfort to the user, whilst at the same time allowing the size of the band 2 to be adjustable by means of the slide buckle 14.

[0051] It will be appreciated that the retaining strap 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 is arranged for use on a right foot of the user, such that the engagement means is position on an inner side of the user's right foot. A corresponding retaining strap for use on a left foot of the user can also be provided, which is a mirror image of the retaining step 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, such that the engagement means thereof is arranged to be located on an inner side of the user's left foot.

[0052] The invention has been described above with reference to a specific embodiment, given by way of example only. It will be appreciated that different arrangements of the system are possible, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.