ADJUSTABLE BELT

Abstract

An adjustable belt configured to be worn around the waist of a user is disclosed. The adjustable belt includes a bridge having two ends, each end being adjustably connected to a respective sleeve via a closure mechanism. Each sleeve defines an internal pocket configured to receive one end of the bridge, thereby permitting girth adjustment to accommodate a range of waist sizes. The adjustable belt is typically worn over an inner belt and secured to the inner belt by hook-and-loop fasteners. However, in some implementations, the adjustable belt may be worn independently, without the use of an inner belt.

Claims

1. An adjustable belt comprising: a bridge comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of openings separated by posts and arranged between the first end and the second end; a first sleeve defining a first internal pocket configured to slidably receive the first end of the bridge, the first sleeve including an opening at a first end thereof that provides access to the first internal pocket, wherein the opening includes a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the first sleeve in position relative to one of the plurality of openings in the bridge; and a second sleeve defining a second internal pocket configured to slidably receive the second end of the bridge, the second sleeve including an opening at a first end thereof that provides access to the second internal pocket, wherein the opening includes a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the second sleeve in position relative to one of the plurality of openings in the bridge.

2. The adjustable belt of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve includes a stiffening element positioned within the first internal pocket, the stiffening element being configured to provide vertical rigidity and permit horizontal flexibility of the first sleeve, and wherein the second sleeve includes a stiffening element positioned within the second internal pocket, the stiffening element being configured to provide vertical rigidity and permit horizontal flexibility of the second sleeve.

3. The adjustable belt of claim 2, wherein the first sleeve includes a buckle portion located at one end thereof, and wherein the second sleeve includes a buckle portion located at one end thereof.

4. An adjustable belt comprising: a bridge comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of openings separated by posts and arranged between the first end and the second end; a first sleeve defining a first internal pocket configured to slidably receive the first end of the bridge, the first sleeve including an opening at a first end thereof that provides access to the first internal pocket, wherein the opening includes a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the first sleeve in position relative to a selected opening of the plurality of openings in the bridge, the closure mechanism comprising a male portion and a female portion configured to releasably engage within the selected opening of the plurality of openings; and a second sleeve defining a second internal pocket configured to slidably receive the second end of the bridge, the second sleeve including an opening at a first end thereof that provides access to the second internal pocket, wherein the opening includes a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the second sleeve in position relative to a selected opening of the plurality of openings in the bridge, the closure mechanism comprising a male portion and a female portion configured to releasably engage within the selected opening of the plurality of openings.

5. The adjustable belt of claim 4, wherein the first sleeve includes a stiffening element positioned longitudinally within the first internal pocket, the stiffening element being configured to provide vertical rigidity and permit horizontal flexibility of the first sleeve, and wherein the second sleeve includes a stiffening element positioned longitudinally within the second internal pocket, the stiffening element being configured to provide vertical rigidity and permit horizontal flexibility of the second sleeve.

6. The adjustable belt of claim 5, wherein one of the male portion and the female portion of the closure mechanism of the first sleeve is attached to the stiffening element and positioned within the opening to the first internal pocket, and wherein one of the male portion and the female portion of the closure mechanism of the second sleeve is attached to the stiffening element and positioned within the opening to the second internal pocket.

7. The adjustable belt of claim 6, wherein the first sleeve includes a buckle portion located at one end thereof, and wherein the second sleeve includes a buckle portion located at one end thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an adjustable belt according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates an example bridge of the adjustable belt shown in FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates an example sleeve of the adjustable belt shown in FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear elevational view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 4, with a portion of the bridge shown positioned within the internal pocket.

[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates another example sleeve for use with the adjustable belt shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an adjustable belt 100 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The adjustable belt 100 is configured to be worn around the waist of a user and to have an adjustable girth to accommodate a range of waist sizes. The adjustable belt 100 is worn over an inner belt (not shown) and secured to the inner belt by hook-and-loop fasteners.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjustable belt 100 comprises a bridge 110, a first sleeve 112, and a second sleeve 114.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the bridge 110 has a first end 116, a second end 118, a top edge 120, a bottom edge 122, a front face 124, and an opposite back face 126. The bridge 110 includes a single row of openings 128, or cutouts, separated by solid segments 130 or posts. The openings 128 are arranged along the bridge 110 between the first end 116 and the second end 118. The back face 126 of the bridge 110 includes hook fasteners used to removably secure the exposed portion of the bridge 110 to an inner belt. However, in some implementations, the back face 126 of the bridge 110 may include loop fasteners instead.

[0018] The bridge 110 is a single piece of thermoplastic composite material overlaid with a nylon laminate material, making it rigid in the vertical plane but flexible in the horizontal plane. The bridge 110 is preferably made of a Tegris brand thermoplastic composite material, but could also be made of a CURV brand thermoplastic composite material. A layer of hook fasteners (e.g., Velcro brand) is secured to the back face 126 of the bridge 110.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the first sleeve 112 and the second sleeve 114 each have a first end 132 with a buckle portion 134 and a second end 136 with an opening that provides access to an internal pocket 138. The buckle portion 134 on the first end 132 of each sleeve 112, 114 may be a G-hook buckle. The opening of each sleeve 112, 114 provides access to the internal pocket 138 and includes a closure mechanism 140, such as a pull-the-dot snap. The internal pocket 138 of each sleeve 112, 114 is sized to receive either the first end 116 or the second end 118 of the bridge 110. The front face 142, or outer side, of each sleeve 112, 114 may include an array of MOLLE-compatible slits 144, well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The back face 146, or inner side, of each sleeve 112, 114 includes hook fasteners used to removably secure the sleeve 112, 114 to an inner belt. However, in some implementations, the inner side 146 of each sleeve 112, 114 may include loop fasteners instead.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, each sleeve 112, 114 comprises a piece of nylon laminate material 150 folded onto itself to form the internal pocket 138, with the first end 132 sealed and the second end 136 forming the previously mentioned opening. A stiffening element 152 is positioned longitudinally within and secured to one side of the internal pocket 138. The stiffening element 152, which may comprise a single piece of thermoplastic composite material sold under the brand Tegris, is configured to impart vertical rigidity to the sleeve 112, 114 while permitting horizontal flexibility, thereby supporting items attached to the sleeve and allowing the sleeve to comfortably contour around the user. The male portion 154 of the closure mechanism 140 is secured to the stiffening element 152, and the female portion 156 is secured to a flap 158 of the nylon laminate material 150.

[0021] In the example embodiment, the male portion 154 of the closure mechanism 140 comprises a post 154A that extends through the nylon laminate material 150 and the stiffening element 152 to secure the stud 154B positioned on the stiffening element 152 within the opening of the internal pocket 138. The female portion 156 of the closure mechanism 140 comprises a cap 156A and a socket 156B. A portion of the cap 156A extends through the nylon laminate material 150 to secure the socket 156B on the interior side of the flap 158, so that it can be removably secured to the stud 154B.

[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates another example sleeve 614 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The sleeve 614 is similar to the sleeves 112, 114 discussed above but includes an angled array of MOLLE-compatible slits 644 near the first end 632. The sleeve 614 is configured to be used instead of the second sleeve 114 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but could also be configured to replace the first sleeve 112.

Use and Operation

[0023] The first sleeve 112 and the second sleeve 114 are adjustably and slidably secured to the first end 116 and the second end 118 of the bridge 110, respectively, allowing the user to adjust the length, and thus the girth, of the adjustable belt 100. The closure mechanism 140 of each sleeve 112, 114 cooperates with a selected opening 128 in the bridge 110 to secure each sleeve 112, 114 at a desired position on the bridge 110. Specifically, the male and female portions 154, 156 of the closure mechanism 140 are secured together in the space defined by the selected opening 128, with the posts 130 that define the width of the opening 128 preventing each sleeve 112, 114 from sliding inadvertently.

[0024] To adjust the length, and thus the girth, of the adjustable belt 100, the user simply unfastens the closure mechanism 140 and slides the selected sleeve 112, 114 to the desired position on the bridge 110. The user then resecures the male and female portions 154, 156 of the closure mechanism 140 together within the selected opening 128. The width of the posts 130 separating the openings 128 and the length of the internal pocket 138 in each sleeve 112, 114 determine the available range for sizing the adjustable belt 100.

[0025] While the adjustable belt 100 is described as being worn over an inner belt, it should be understood that, with a suitable buckle, the adjustable belt 100 could be adapted to be worn independently of an inner belt. In such an implementation, the hook fasteners on the back face 126 of the bridge 110 and/or the back face 146 of the sleeves 112, 114 may be omitted.

[0026] The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be illustrative; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing description and associated drawings.

[0027] Reference throughout this specification to an embodiment or implementation or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase in some implementations or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0028] The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.