PAIR OF TROUSERS COMPRISING A WAISTBAND SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to trousers (H) comprising a waistband system (1) with a circumferential waistband (10) and an inelastic closable strap (140) which is integrated into the waistband (10) as an inelastic waistband section (11a, 11b) at least on a rear side (RS) of the trousers (H), the waistband (10) having at least one waistband section (15) which is monoelastic at least in the longitudinal direction (HR) and can be bridged by means of the strap (140) running parallel thereto, characterized in that the strap (140) comprises two strap parts (141a, 141b) which can be uncoupled from the trousers (H) in each case at a coupling point associated to the respective strap part (141a, 141b) and which can be coupled to the inelastic waistband section (11a, 11b). The invention further relates to a method for producing such trousers (H).

Claims

1. A pair of trousers comprising a waistband system with a circumferential waistband and an inelastic closable strap which is integrated at least on a rear side of the pair of trousers as an inelastic waistband section into the waistband, the waistband having at least one waistband section which is monoelastic at least in the longitudinal direction, which can be bridged by means of the strap running parallel thereto, wherein the strap comprises two strap parts which can be uncoupled from the pair of trousers in each case at a coupling point associated to the respective strap part and which can be coupled to the inelastic waistband section.

2. The pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein the inelastic waistband section and the strap parts comprise positively interlocking coupling means.

3. The pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling means is configured to be plate-shaped.

4. The pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein the strap parts each comprise a barb-shaped, preferably mushroom-shaped contoured, coupling means and the inelastic waistband section comprises two slot-shaped coupling means.

5. The pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein the inelastic waistband section comprises an insertion slot at the coupling points, respectively, into which the coupling means of the strap parts can each be inserted for coupling in an insertion direction and, in an inserted state, hook in at a stop point with a stop edge in the insertion direction, preferably at a stop seam of the insertion slot.

6. The pair of trousers according to claim 5, wherein the inelastic waistband section substantially covers the sacrum of the wearer when the pair of trousers are worn as intended by the wearer and/or wherein the insertion slots on the rear side of the pair of trousers are spaced apart from one another and are preferably arranged eccentrically on the rear side of the pair of trousers in each case along the waistband running direction, wherein the insertion slots are particularly preferably arranged on the waistband to the side of the sacrum of a wearer when the pair of trousers are worn as intended.

7. The pair of trousers according to claim 5, wherein the insertion slot has at least one stop seam which is worked into the insertion slot perpendicularly to the insertion direction and forms a narrowed insertion tunnel with the remaining insertion slot, wherein the insertion slot preferably comprises two such stop seams which together between them delimit an insertion tunnel.

8. The pair of trousers according to claim 5, wherein a maximum transverse dimension of the coupling means of the strap parts perpendicular to the insertion direction is at least 1 mm narrower than the insertion slot, and wherein preferably a maximum transverse dimension of the coupling means of the strap parts perpendicular to the insertion direction is at most 1.5 mm narrower than the insertion tunnel of the insertion slot.

9. The pair of trousers according to claim 2, wherein the coupling means of the strap parts comprise a flexible plastic material, preferably elastomer.

10. The pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein at least one stiffening strip, preferably extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the strap or of the strap parts, is incorporated in each case into the strap, preferably into two strap parts of the strap, wherein the strap or the strap parts are formed for this purpose with, preferably longitudinally running pockets, in which the stiffening strips are received.

11. A strap for the pair of trousers according to claim 1, comprising two strap parts, which each have a coupling means at one end, by means of which they can be coupled to and uncoupled from the pair of trousers at a coupling point of the pair of trousers associated with the respective strap part.

12. A method for producing the pair of trousers according to claim 1, wherein the pair of trousers is provided with a waistband system comprising a circumferential waistband and an inelastic closable strap, which is integrated into the waistband at least on a rear side of the pair of trousers as an inelastic waistband section, wherein the waistband has at least one waistband section which is monoelastic at least in the longitudinal direction and which is bridged by means of the strap running parallel thereto, wherein the strap comprises two strap parts which can be uncoupled from the pair of trousers in each case at a coupling point associated with the respective strap part, which are coupled to the inelastic waistband section.

Description

[0049] The invention is explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the attached figures by means of exemplary embodiments. In the various figures, identical components are given identical reference numbers. The figures are generally not to scale. They show:

[0050] FIG. 1 a perspective front view of an exemplary embodiment of a pair of trousers according to the invention (upper part shown) with a waistband system according to the invention, with a threaded, partially applied, two-part strap,

[0051] FIG. 2 a perspective rear view of the upper part of the trousers from FIG. 1,

[0052] FIG. 3 a perspective rear view of the two parts of the strap from FIG. 1, in a state separated from the trousers,

[0053] FIG. 4 a schematic top view of a horizontal section through the trousers of FIG. 1, at the level of the waistband,

[0054] FIG. 5 another schematic top view of a horizontal section through trousers according to FIG. 1, but this time in a reinforced version,

[0055] FIG. 6 a perspective rear view of a cut-out of the back of the trousers according to FIG. 2, when threading one of the strap parts into an insertion slot on the waistband of the trousers,

[0056] FIG. 7 a perspective view of a section of the strap parts of the strap to illustrate an alternative variant of fastening the strap parts together, in this case by means of a buckle.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows the trousers H according to the invention with a waistband system 1 in a slightly perspective front view of a front side VS of an upper part of the trousers H. In this front view, the trousers 1 do not differ from a precursor of the trousers 1 from WO 2022/012906 A1.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows the same trousers H in a rear view of the back side RS of the upper part of the trousers H.

[0059] In this respect, reference is made at this point to WO 2022/012906 A1 for the basic structure of the trousers H, in particular to the exemplary embodiment described therein. In order to clarify the differences and relevant improvements in comparison to the already known exemplary embodiment, the already known basic structure will be outlined again in the following and the improvements and innovations will be dealt with in greater detail. In principle, the new trousers H can be constructed very similarly to the trousers described therein, except for the additional improvements which are explicitly explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. As already in WO 2022/012906 A1, the lower part of the trousers H downward of the knees in a distal direction VR or vertical direction VR again plays no significant role for the waistband system 1 according to the invention and is therefore also not shown here in any of the figures.

[0060] As can be seen in the slightly perspective front view of a front side VS of an upper part of the trousers H according to FIG. 1 and in the perspective rear view of a rear side RS of the trousers H according to FIG. 2, the waistband system 1 of the trousers H according to the invention comprises, in addition to a circumferential waistband 10, a slightly curved or ergonomically running, closable strap 140, which runs at least in sections parallel, externally around the waistband 10 and with which the waistband 10 can be fixed, adjusted or tightened in the manner of a belt. Furthermore, on a rear side RS of the trousers H in the region of the waistband 10, the waistband system 1 comprises a back pad 60 on the inside. This has already been described in WO 2022/012906 A1 and again contributes to the special wearing comfort of the trousers H. At this point, it should be mentioned that in the perspective views, all visible seams N, e.g. belt loop seams N, trouser pocket seams N, back pad seams N, etc. are generally shown as dashed lines.

[0061] Said waistband 10 is altogether subdivided along its waistband running direction HR, i.e. a horizontal longitudinal direction of the waistband 10, into a plurality of waistband sections 11a, 11b, 15, 201, 20r, which is particularly well illustrated by the schematic top view of the horizontal section through the waistband system 1 according to FIG. 4.

[0062] On the rear side RS of the trousers H shown in FIG. 2, an inelastic waistband section 11a, 11b begins, here additionally widened in an arc and additionally running around the inside back pad 60 at the bottom, which unites the waistband 10 and the strap 40 in sections (on the rear side RS of the trousers H) into one part. Said waistband section 11a, 11b thereby runs from the rear side RS to the sides of the trousers H, being widest slightly outside the center (along the upper edge of the waistband 10 perpendicular to the waistband running direction HR at the beginning and end of a V-cutout 60v of the back pad 60) of the rear side RS of the trousers H. Said strap 140 is therefore a part of the waistband there (on the rear side RS of the trousers H), i.e. integrated into the waistband 10.

[0063] Elastic waistband sections 15 adjoin the inelastic waistband sections 11a, 11b. Two further inelastic waistband end sections 20l, 20r adjoin these at the ends and can be detachably coupled to one another (at the front end) on the front side VS of the trousers H, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 1.

[0064] For closing the entire circumferential waistband 10 or these inelastic waistband end sections 20l, 20r, respectively, these comprise interlocking fastening means 22. The fastening means 22 are here simply formed as interlocking Velcro surfaces. Equally however, other fastening means 22 are also conceivable, such as buttons, hooks and eyes, etc.

[0065] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of the strap from WO 2022/012906 A1, the strap 140 of the trousers H according to the invention comprises two separate strap parts 141a, 141b, which here form strap main sections that can be flexibly coupled to the rear waistband section 11a, 11b. In the state when the trousers H are put on as intended, the said strap parts 141a, 141b are coupled to the inelastic waistband section 11a, 11b of the trousers H and thus to the part of the strap 140 integrated in the waistband 10, so that the strap 140 can then be fastened, adjusted or tightened around the waistband 10 in the manner of a belt when worn in the donned state or coupled to the trousers H. The two strap parts 141a, 141b then extend from the inelastic waistband section 11a, 11b integrated into the back of the waistband 10 parallel to the aforesaid inner elastic waistband sections 15 into a front area of the trousers H and run around the front of the latter.

[0066] The strap parts 141a, 141b of the strap 140 each otherwise comprise a strap end section 42, each forming an end border which can be fixed against itself or against a central part 50. The strap end sections 42 are each located centrally on the front side VS of the trousers H and are guided here through a central part 50 and outward again, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

[0067] All in all, this ensures that the trousers H fit snugly on the hips of a wearer, in particular even during special operations with a particular load on the waistband and/or at special temperatures and/or under special external conditions.

[0068] As can be seen from FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the strap parts 141a, 141b can be coupled in the waistband system 1 without tools and can also be uncoupled from it again without tools. For this purpose, the strap parts 141a, 141b comprise coupling means 150, each formed here as a flat or plate-shaped, almost flat barb-shaped injection-molded part made of plastic. In order that the coupling means 150 does not become uncomfortably bulky, i.e. so that a thickening occurs locally along the running direction of the waistband HR, which could then very quickly cause a pressure point on the hip of the wearer of the trousers H, the coupling means is very flat. This means that the plate-shaped coupling means 150 can preferably be at most 3 mm thin, particularly preferably at most 2 mm thin, further preferably at most 1.5 mm thin and very particularly preferably at most 1 mm thin.

[0069] Corresponding to this, the waistband 10 at the outer lateral end of the inelastic waistband section 11a, 11b has respective slit-shaped coupling means 110 symmetrically to an imaginary central crotch line or line of symmetry of the trousers 1 (which, as mentioned, runs upward in extension of a rear crotch seam to the waistband), which here are formed as insertion slots 110 with an insertion tunnel 111, as can be seen particularly well in FIG. 6. In order to couple the strap parts 141a, 141b to the inelastic waistband section 11a, 11b, these are guided or threaded in an insertion direction ER (with their strap end sections 42 first) from the center of the waistband 10 on the rear side RS of the trousers H, i.e. from the direction of the back pad 60, in a sideways direction along the waistband running direction VR through the insertion tunnels 111 of the insertion slots 110 and then pulled out of the insertion tunnel 111 to the front, in each case laterally around the waistband 10, or more precisely the elastic waistband sections 15 of the waistband 10 on the front side VS of the trousers H, until a stop edge 151 of the coupling means 150 stops at a respective stop point P within the insertion slots 110 (see FIG. 6). It should be noted at this point that the insertion slots can, for example, also be formed with an insertion tunnel in such a way that the coupling means of the strap parts can be threaded from an inner side of the trousers through the insertion tunnel in the waistband onto an outer side of the trousers, where the strap parts then strike against once again in the same position at a respective stop point within the insertion slots.

[0070] On the front side VS of the trousers H, the strap parts 141a, 141b can be connected to form a closed strap 140 so that they bridge the elastic waistband 10 of the waistband system 1 on the outside and tighten it in a supporting manner with their non-elastic or inelastic material. For this purpose, as mentioned, the two strap end sections 42 of the strap parts 141a, 141b are passed through two loops of a central part 50 centrally in front of the inner fly of the waistband 10 of the trousers H and are then fixed against themselves again to the outside or to the side. As already described in WO 2022/012906 A1, the strap end sections 42 may have corresponding interlocking or cooperating hook-and-loop surfaces in sections for this purpose, so that the strap end sections 42 adhere to themselves with certain sections.

[0071] At the two aforementioned stop points P, the insertion tunnels 111 of the insertion slots 110 are narrowed from above and below by two stop seams 112 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 (shown in dashed lines). The distance between them is at least somewhat smaller than a transverse dimension 150q of the coupling means 150 of the strap parts 141a, 141b, so that the stop edges 151 of the barb-shaped coupling means 150 strike against or hang on them accordingly and cannot be pulled further forward through the insertion tunnel 111. This intended wearing position of the strap parts 141a, 141b in the waistband system 1 of the trousers H is shown in FIG. 4.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows another modified version of the strap parts 141a, 141b, in which the strap parts 141a, 141b are provided with inner pockets or pockets 144, in which flexible stiffening strips 145 running along the strap parts 141a, 141b are inserted and sewn in. The stiffening strips 145 can completely fill the strap 140 or the strap parts 141a, 141b. Furthermore, they can extend into a front area of the trousers H in order to be able to attach or holster various deployment means or additional equipment almost along the entire strap parts 141a, 141b. This reinforced variant also allows more weight to be attached to the strap parts 141a, 141b without them twisting or curling. For example, the weight, e.g. in the form of objects such as a weapon, possibly with weapon holder, gloves, helmet, etc., can be attached to the strap parts 141a, 141b directly or indirectly, e.g. by means of a holster or the like.

[0073] As can also be seen in FIG. 5, a flexible stiffening strip 160 can also be incorporated or integrated into the central section 50 on the front side VS of the trousers H, e.g. again in a pocket provided for this purpose.

[0074] In order to improve the wearing comfort, a knitted fabric can be incorporated on the inside or waistband side of the stiffening strips 145, 160 as a soft, somewhat flexible intermediate layer. Specifically, a layer of a 3D knitted fabric 146 (see in particular FIG. 5) can be integrated or worked into the pockets 144 on an inner side of the pocket, i.e. on a side of the stiffening strips 145 facing the body.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows an alternative variant of fastening the strap 140 on the front side VS of the trousers H by means of a simple arbitrary buckle 170 instead of a central part 50. For this purpose, the strap end sections 42 are indirectly coupled to one another by passing each through a loop or opening of the buckle 170 and folding over and securing the strap end sections 42 in the region of the Velcro surfaces on themselves, so that the two strap parts 141a, 141b of the strap 140 and thus the waistband 10 can be tightened in this way. The buckle 170 shown here is only an example of a possible buckle shape. Of course, buckles of other shapes, such as a quick-release buckle, buckles with a magnetic fastener, plastic or synthetic buckles and others are also conceivable.

[0076] Compared to the prior art, the construction according to the invention offers the wearer of the trousers several advantages overall: on the one hand, the wearer himself can decide at any time whether he wants to wear the strap according to the invention with the two strap parts and different buckle versions or whether he wants to replace it, for example, with a simple belt, a combat belt or even a conventional underbelt. On the other hand, the design according to the invention reduces the number of layers of material required for the connection between the waistband and the strap at the inelastic waistband section. This reduces a potential cause of pressure points that can occur when wearing additional equipment and fixing it around the waist or hips.

[0077] Finally, it is pointed out once again that the devices described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments which can be modified by the person skilled in the art in a wide variety of ways without leaving the scope of the invention. For example, the invention is not limited to a particular type of trousers, such as long trousers, short trousers or shorts, trouser suits, etc., or to a single intended use, but can be used with any type of trousers, even a jumpsuit with an incorporated waistband and belt and for any occasion. However, it is particularly advantageous for action forces, e.g. police, military, special forces, etc., who need such tactical clothing for special outdoor missions, routine outdoor missions as well as for the normal office routine in the coordination center, as this is where its flexibility can be really used. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles one or one does not exclude the possibility that the features in question may also be present more than once. Similarly, the terms element and arrangement do not exclude that the component in question consists of several interacting subcomponents, which may also be spatially distributed.

REFERENCE LIST

[0078] 1 Waistband system [0079] 10 Waistband [0080] 11a, 11b Waistband section [0081] 15 Waistband sections [0082] 20l, 20r Waistband end sections [0083] 22 Fastener [0084] 41 Strap main sections [0085] 42 Strap end sections [0086] 50 Central part [0087] 60 Back pad [0088] 60v V-cutout [0089] 140 Strap [0090] 141a, 141b Strap parts [0091] 110 Coupling means, slot-shaped/insertion slot [0092] 111 Insertion tunnel [0093] 112 Stop seam of insertion slot [0094] 144 Pockets [0095] 145 Stiffening strips [0096] 146 3D knitted fabrics [0097] 150 Coupling means of strap parts [0098] 151 Stop edge of insertion slot [0099] 150q Transverse dimension of the coupling means of the strap parts [0100] 160 Stiffening strips [0101] 170 Buckle [0102] ER Insertion direction [0103] H Trousers [0104] HR Waistband direction/longitudinal direction of the waistband [0105] N Seams/strap loop seams/trouser pocket seams/back pad seams [0106] P Stop point [0107] VS Front side of the trousers [0108] RS Back/rear side of the trousers [0109] VR Distal direction/vertical direction of the trousers