US 11,564,434 B2Granted

Methods and apparatus for adjusting the fit profile of clothing items

OwnerGeorge Gatiinventor

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Abstract

A foam rubber structure, with a base portion with a first rectangular cross-section, a first bevel portion with a first triangular cross-section superjacent the base portion, a first closure region at a first end of the foam rubber structure, and a second closure region at a second end of the foam rubber structure, a first portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the first closure region, and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the second closure region, wherein the first closure region has a second rectangular cross-section that is different than the first rectangular cross-section, a second bevel portion with a second triangular cross-section different from the first triangular cross-section, the second closure region has a third rectangular cross-section different than the first rectangular cross-section, and a third bevel portion with a third triangular cross-section different from the first triangular cross-section and different from the second triangular cross-section.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a foam belt, the foam belt having a first base portion with a rectangular cross-section, a first bevel portion with a first triangular cross-section superjacent the first base portion;
a first closure region at a first end of the foam belt, the first closure region having second bevel portion with a second triangular cross-section, and the first closure region being integral with the foam belt;
a second closure region at a second end of the foam belt, the second end being at an opposite end of the foam belt relative to the first end of the foam belt, the second closure region having a third bevel portion with a third triangular cross-section, and the second closure region being integral with the foam belt;
and
an attachment mechanism having a first portion attached to the first closure region, and a second portion attached to the second closure region;
wherein the first portion of the attachment mechanism and the second portion of the attachment mechanism are configured to detachably engage with each other;
wherein a first force required to detach the first and second portions of the attachment mechanism from engagement with each other is less than a second force required to remove the first portion of the attachment mechanism from the first closure region,
wherein the base portion of the foam belt has a thickness T_base, and a height H_base;
wherein the bevel portion of the foam belt has a height H_bevel, and a bevel slope ∠α;
wherein the first closure region of the foam belt has a thickness T_base_D, a base height H_closure_RegionA_base, a bevel height H_closure_RegionA_bevel, and a bevel slope ∠αD;
wherein the second closure region has a thickness T_base_E, a base height H_closure_RegionB_base, a bevel height H_closure_RegionB_bevel, and a bevel slope ∠αE;
wherein:
T_base_D<T_base,
T_base_E<T_base,
H_base+H_bevel=H_total,
H_closure_RegionA_base+H_closure_RegionA_bevel=H_total;
H_closure_RegionB_base+H_closure_RegionB_bevel<H_total;
H_closure_RegionB_base<H_closure_RegionA_base;
H_closure_RegionA_base>H_base;
H_closure_RegionB_base=H_base;
and
∠αD=∠αE=∠α.

19 more elements

A foam belt, comprising:

a shaped polyurethane foam rubber structure, wherein the shaped polyurethane foam rubber structure has a first base portion with a first rectangular cross-section, a first bevel portion with a first triangular cross-section superjacent the first base portion, a first closure region at a first end of the shaped polyurethane foam rubber structure and integral therewith, and a second closure region at a second end of the shaped polyurethane foam rubber structure and integral therewith, wherein the first end and the second end are at opposite ends of the shaped polyurethane foam rubber structure;
a first portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the first closure region;
and
a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the second closure region;
wherein the first closure region has a second base portion with a second rectangular cross-section that is different than the first rectangular cross-section, a second bevel portion with a second triangular cross-section that is different from the first triangular cross-section,
wherein the second closure region has a third base portion with a third rectangular cross-section that is different than the first rectangular cross-section, and a third bevel portion with a third triangular cross-section that is different from the first triangular cross-section and different from the second triangular cross-section, and
wherein the first base portion is not within the first closure region and not within the second closure region;
wherein the first base portion has a height H_base, and the first bevel portion has a height H_bevel;
wherein the first closure region has a base height H_closure_RegionA_base, and a bevel height H_closure_RegionA_bevel;
wherein the second closure region has a base height H_closure_RegionB_base, and a bevel height H_closure_RegionB_bevel;
wherein:
H_base+H_bevel=H_total,
H_closure_RegionA_base+H_closure_RegionA_bevel=H_total,
H_closure_RegionB_base+H_closure_RegionB_bevel<H_total, and
H_closure_RegionB_base<H_closure_RegionA_base,
H_closure_RegionA_base>H_base, and
H_closure_RegionB_base=H_base.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/484,392Filed 24 Sep 2021 · continuation in part
Priority: 13 Jun 2020
Published: US 2022/0030997 A13 Feb 2022
Granted: 31 Jan 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A41F 17/00
Means for holding-down garments
A41F 9/00
Belts, girdles, or waistbands for trousers or skirts
A41B 2400/80
Functions or special features of shirts, underwear, baby linen or handkerchiefs not provided for in other groups of this subclass: friction or…
A41F 18/00
Garment suspenders covered by two or more of groups a41f3/00 - a41f17/00