Garment extender

A garment extender usable with a garment having a garment slide fastener, the garment slide fastener having a pair of substantially elongated stringer tapes supporting each a row of teeth extending longitudinally therealong, the garment slide fastener also having a slider movable along the rows of teeth in a reciprocating movement for selectively attaching the teeth of both rows to each other when moved in a closing direction and selectively detaching the teeth of both rows from each other when moved in an opening direction opposed to the closing direction, the garment extender comprising:

• a body defining substantially opposed body first and second side edges and opposed body top and bottom edges extending each between the body first and second side edges;
• at least two attachments provided each at a respective one of the body first and second side edges, each of the attachments defining a channel defining a channel axis extending substantially parallel to one of the body first and second side edges at which the attachment is provided, each of the attachments also defining a slit parallel to the channel axis and leading laterally into the channel along the whole channel;
• wherein, with the attachments operatively secured to the garment slide fastener, the slit of each attachment receives there into a gripped portion of one of the stringer tapes therebetween and the channel of the attachment receives there into the teeth that are supported by the stringer tape adjacent the gripped portion;
• wherein
• each of the attachments includes attachment inside and outside portions, the attachment inside portion including an inside gripping portion and an inside channel forming portion, the attachment outside portion including an outside gripping portion and an outside channel forming portion;
• with the attachment operatively secured to the garment slide fastener, the inside and outside gripping portions form the slit and grip a gripped portion of one of the stringer tapes therebetween and the inside and outside channel forming portions define the channel receiving there into the teeth that are supported by the stringer tape adjacent the gripped portion;
• the attachments are removably attachable to the garment slide fastener;
• the attachment inside and outside portions are movable relative to each other between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the attachment being in the closed configuration when the attachment is attached to the garment slide fastener and the inside and outside gripping portions being spaced apart from each other to a greater extent in the open configuration than in the closed configuration to allow detachment of the attachment from the garment slide fastener;
• each attachment further includes a lock for selectively locking the attachment in the closed configuration;
• and
• the lock prevents the attachment inside and outside portions from moving from the closed configuration to the open configuration unless a predetermined force moving the attachment inside and outside portions away from each other is exerted.