Apparel – Garment supporters and retainers – Strip connected spaced holders
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-08-28
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Garment supporters and retainers
Strip connected spaced holders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279171
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to decorative garment supports which provide ornamental, accessory items while supporting a garment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Jewelry has been used previously to support women's garments. For example, as early as 1924, U.S. Pat. No. 1,491,578 to Ballou discloses the use of chains made of precious metal, pearls, beads or ribbons for supporting garments. Since different garments may be cut differently, and people are different sizes, there is a need to adjust a garment support. The Ballou patent utilizes a highly visible mechanism wherein each length of support is overlapped upon itself and adjusted in order to obtain the desired length.
Other previously known supports were often not adjustable or are not interchangeable between garments. For example, one previously known garment support shown in
FIG. 1
comprises a length of shiny chain links. The front section of each bra support is sewn to the bra
20
at the uppermost portion of each cup
11
,
11
′. Two separate rear links are also sewn to the back of the bra at intermediate positions
12
,
12
′. Attached to the terminal end of the rear chain lengths
15
are fasteners designed to releasably connect with an intermediate portion of the longer length of (front) chain links. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, however, this arrangement results in excess chain links
13
,
13
′ dangling visibly on the back of the person utilizing this garment support. This illustrated garment support is also not readily interchangeable between garments since it is sewn to the bra
20
at 4 separate points. (
11
,
11
′,
12
, and
12
′)
It is most desirable to provide a garment support which is readily interchangeable between garments. While the garment support disclosed in the Ballou patent is interchangeable, it utilizes safety pins which can readily tear or damage a garment. The entire adjustment mechanism is also visible.
There is a need for a garment support, particularly useful for woman's upper garments such as bras, dresses, halters, and the like which do not have over-the-shoulder or around-the-neck supports for holding the garment at the desired height. It would therefore be desirable to provide attractive, ornamental jewelry-type garment supports which do not require overlap of each length of the garment support in order to provide desired adjustability and which are readily interchangeable between different garments without requiring sewing or otherwise puncturing the garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The various embodiments of the present invention provide improved ornamental jewelry supports for garments, particularly for upper torso garments worn by women such as bras, bikini tops, halters, strapless dresses, dresses with thin straps, strapless tops, tops with thin straps, and the like. Various aspects of the invention advantageously provide adjustable ornamental garment supports which can readily be moved from one garment to another and which, most preferably, do not require puncturing the garment with pins, posts, buttons or which otherwise require modification of the garment. The garment supports of the present invention are advantageously adjustable along their length in order to permit the person wearing the garment to adjust the height of the garment relative to the wearer's shoulders or neck. Unlike some previously disclosed garment supports, the adjusting mechanisms of the present invention do not result in unsightly overlap of the ornamental lengths of jewelry of the present garment. supports. To the extent that adjustment results in an excess length of the garment support, that excess length is substantially concealed between the garment and the body of the person. Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a releasable clasp for releasably connecting one end of the garment support to a garment and a second connector having a clasp which is attachable to an intermediate length of the garment.
These and other embodiments are described along with reference to the drawings.
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patent: 1491578 (1924-07-01), Ballou et al.
patent: 1632716 (1927-06-01), Schweigert
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Calvert John J.
Creative Mines LLC
Galgano & Burke
Hoey Alissa L.
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