AU2003100732A4 - Slide fastener - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): FERTILE MIND PTY LTD Invention Title: SLIDE FASTENER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- CLOTHING EXTENSION DEVICE Technical Field This invention relates to clothing extension devices. For convenience only, the invention will predominantly be described as a clothing extension device for use in clothing during pregnancy, for which it is particularly suitable, however it is to be understood that the clothing extension device is not limited to such use.

Background Art Maternity clothing may incorporate clothing extension devices of various styles. These devices are usually an integral non-removable part of the whole garment, for example, a pair of maternity pants or a maternity skirt where the garment is one whole item possibly with an expansion panel incorporated therein.

Maternity clothing is not normally designed to be suitable to wear when the wearer is not pregnant and therefore maternity clothing is generally limited to use during times of pregnancy.

Normal female clothing is not designed to suit or allow for the body expansion that occurs during pregnancy, therefore most women need to obtain extra maternity clothing when they become pregnant.

Some attempts to overcome these problems have been made by using various removable panel systems based on buttons and buttonholes together with an insert panel. Either the buttons and buttonholes are provided on a separate extension belt, with an insert panel through which the extension belt is threaded, or, as in AU 755245, the buttons and buttonholes may be provided on a waistband section which is integral with an extension panel. In either case, in use the buttons and buttonholes are attached to buttons and buttonholes in existing clothing, and the panel covers the opening where the fly or zip is left open.

Summary of Invention According to the present invention, a clothing extension device comprises: a band having a first end and a second end and including at least a portion of -3elastic material, the band including a first fastening means comprising a hook-type fastener at the first end of the band and a second fastening means comprising an eyetype fastener at the second end; and a panel attachable to the band; wherein the fastening means on each end of the band may be attached to reciprocal fastening means on a waistband of an item of clothing, and wherein the panel extends to cover an opening in the item of clothing below the waistband.

The waistbands of modern clothing use not only buttons and buttonholes, but also use hook-and-eye type fasteners. Hook-and-eye type fasteners have been in use for some time and consist of a metal hook or hooks fastened to one side of the open waistband, and loops of metal or thread fastened to the other side of the waistband. This system is less conspicuous than buttons as the fasteners are applied to the inside of the waistband, so they are not visible externally. A particular type of hook-and-eye type fastener is a "slide fastener" which consists of a flat metal tongue and a corresponding flat metal slot on the other side of the waistband. These fasteners are less fiddly than typical hook and eye fasteners and have a low profile.

Preferably, the first fastening means comprises the hook of a slide-type fastener, and the second fastening means includes the eye of a slide-type fastener.

It is also known for garments to include one slide-type fastener and one button and buttonhole, and the band may additionally include a buttonhole at the second end and /or a button at the first end.

Preferably, a plurality of second fastening means are provided at different positions to allow different levels of extension.

Preferably, the band and the panel are formed separately, wherein the panel includes a hollow waistband section to allow passage of the band.

Preferably, the panel is shaped to cover the space left in the garment when the fly or zip and waistband fastening have not been done up.

Preferably, the panel comprises a shaped panel formed of knit or stretch fabric.

-4- The user of the present invention puts on an item of clothing that would be worn by them during periods of"normal weight", but does not do up the fly/zip and waistband fastening. The hook on one end of the band is attached to an eye on the waistband of the item of clothing, and the user stretches it across the waist. The eye on the other end of the band is attached to the other side of the garment by engaging the hook on the garment into the eye on the band.

With the clothing extension device and methods as described above, a user's normal clothing such as jeans, trousers, shorts or skirts, can continue to be worn when the user's stomach expands as is generally experienced in pregnancy.

The present invention is considered to be particularly useful for pregnant women. It can be used to extend the waist and stomach region of their wardrobe so that no extra clothing need be purchased during pregnancy.

The present invention may also be used by any person requiring their clothing to have an expansion in the waist or stomach part of its construction.

The fabric panel could be provided in a range of different colours or fabrics so as to complement different shades or fabrics of the clothing it is worn with.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely different embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1A is a plan view of a band of one form of clothing extension device according to the invention; Figure 1B is a side view of the band of Figure 1A; Figure 2 is a plan view of the band of a second embodiment of a clothing extension device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of a band of a third embodiment of a clothing extension device; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatical elevation of a panel of a clothing extension device.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention As shown in Figure 4, a panel 2 of a clothing extension device has a top edge 3, and side edges 4 and 5. The panel 2 may be able to stretch at least in the side to side direction. To this end the panel 2 may be formed from some form of stretch or knit fabric such as cotton lycra. The panel 2 is provided in a size and shape so that it will cover the space left when inserted into an item of clothing that is both unzipped and open at the waistband, and so that it will stay fitted into that space. The panel 2 includes a hollow waistband section 6 along the top edge 3 of the panel 2 for passage of a band.

Darts 16 may be provided adjacent each end of the waistband section 6 to allow the panel 2 to be positioned underneath the fly line.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate embodiments of bands 7. The band 7 includes a central elastic portion 15 and two end portions 12a, 12b.

The first end portion 12a includes a flat hook 10 of a slide type fastener. A buttonhole 9 and a flat loop 11 of a slide type fastener are provided on the second end portion 12b.

The device 1 as described in the embodiments above may be used for a number of applications. It will be particularly useful as a clothing extension device for women during pregnancy. In this case the device 1 is inserted into an item of clothing that is both unzipped and unbuttoned. The flat hook 10 of a slide type fastener on one side of the clothing extension device is attached by fitting it over the flat loop on the waist of the chosen item of clothing. The panel 2 is attached by threading the band 7 through the hollow waistband section 6. The band 7 is then stretched across the waist and the flat loop 11 and the buttonhole 9 are attached to a flat hook and/or button on the other side of the garment waist. Different length bands as shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be chosen to suit the size and shape of the woman. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each band 7 may include a plurality of flat loops 11 a, 1 lb to allow different amounts of extension.

-6- The device 1 may also be ideal for people requiring an extension to their clothing for other reasons apart from pregnancy, for example, during periods of weight gain.

The applicants consider the advantages of at least the preferred form of the invention to be as follows, however, other advantages of the present invention may be found by users.

The device provides a means so that the same items of clothing can be worn during both pregnant and non-pregnant periods.

The device provides a fully adjustable clothing extension to suit a wide variety of shapes and sizes of person and to suit every stage of a pregnancy.

The device provides a means for women to save money during pregnancy by not having to purchase items of maternity clothing.

The device provides a means for a pregnant woman to maintain her own sense of style and image during pregnancy.

The device is easily fitted.

2 5 The device is easily opened and/or removed.

The device is easily adjusted to different sizes and shapes.

The device is easily adjusted to changes in size and shape.

The device provides a means for people to adjust items of their clothing to different periods of weight gain or loss.

The device provides a means to extend clothing fitted with hook and eye type fasteners, not previously possible with button/buttonhole type extension devices.

It is to be understood that a reference herein to a prior art document does not -7constitute an admission that the document forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A clothing extension device comprises: a band having a first end and a second end and including at least a portion of elastic material, the band including a first fastening means comprising a hook-type fastener at the first end of the band and a second fastening means comprising an eye- type fastener at the second end; and a panel attachable to the band wherein the fastening means on each end of the band may be attached to reciprocal fastening means on a waistband of an item of clothing, and wherein the panel extends to cover an opening in the item of clothing below the waistband.

2. A clothing extension device according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening means comprises the hook of a slide-type fastener, and the second fastening means' includes the eye of a slide-type fastener.

3. A clothing extension device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the band may additionally include a buttonhole at the second end and /or a button at the first end.

4. A clothing extension device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of second fastening means are provided at different positions on the band to allow different levels of extension. A clothing extension device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the band and the panel are formed separately, and wherein the panel includes a hollow waistband section to allow passage of the band. Dated this 19th day of August 2003 FERTILE MIND PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK