Apparel – General structure – Stiffening or staying
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-03-20
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
General structure
Stiffening or staying
C002S255000, C002S257000, C002S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to support stays for use in articles of clothing, and particularly to protective support stays that will flex with the wearers movement without twisting or roll.
2. Technical Background
Support stays are used in ladies undergarments, such as brassieres and corsets, sports garments, orthopedic soft garments and other garments requiring support and anti-roll devices.
One approach that has been considered involves a stay formed of recurring loops of heat treated wire that are fitted with metal caps on the ends. One drawback to this approach involves exposing the wearer to sharp edges produced when the metal caps are separated from the wire. Both the metal caps and the wire have sharp edges. In addition, the edges of the metal caps are prone to catching the fabric during the insertion of the stay within the garment.
In another approach that has been considered, the metal caps are replaced by plastic terminals which are molded onto the wire. While this represents an improvement over the prior art, this approach also has several drawbacks. After repeated usage, the wire has a tendency to corrode and break, exposing the wearer to sharp edges. The recurring wire stay also has the undesirable tendency of completely turning within the pocket of the garment.
In another approach that has been considered, a stay is formed by an injection molding process. The stay includes a thick central strip flanked by a thin edging that has rounded notches. This approach also has a drawback. It is relatively inflexible in that it is incapable of movement in two orthogonol axes. Thus, the stay is characterized by undesirable twisting. In addition, the stay has very little give under a compression force. Hence, the stay is prone to a phenomenon known as “poke-through,” to those skilled in the art.
In yet another approach, a stay is formed from a plastic strip having triangular notches that form a zig-zag pattern. While this stay has more flexibility than the stay discussed immediately above, it too is prone to twisting. Further, the end portion of the stay and the notches are formed with sharp angular edges that tend to catch on the fabric during insertion in the garment.
Thus, a need exists for a support stay that is protective and highly snag resistant. A need also exists for a support stay that will flex with the wearers movement on two axes, bending on the flat side as well as on the edge without twisting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Existing problems with support stays are solved by the present invention. The flexible support stay of the present invention protects the wearer from sharp edges. It is snag-resistant, using rounded edges to facilitate insertion into the garment. The stay includes a sinuous member that allows the stay to flex with the wearers movement on two axes. The stay is manufactured using an injection molding process and can be produced in several lengths and widths.
One aspect of the present invention is a support stay for an article of clothing. The support stay has a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction and includes: a first insert tab having a first rounded end portion for reducing a coefficient of friction between the support stay and the article of clothing; a sinuous member connected to the first insert tab, the sinuous member formed by alternating a plurality of crests with a plurality of troughs, each of the plurality of crests forming a first acute angle with a first rounded vertex situated on a first side of the centerline, and each of the plurality of troughs forming a second acute angle with a second rounded vertex situated on a second side of the centerline; and a second insert tab connected to the sinuous member, wherein the second insert tab includes a second rounded end portion for reducing the coefficient of friction between the support stay and the article of clothing.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed: The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1207104 (1916-12-01), Wallace
patent: 2666202 (1954-01-01), Ongley
patent: 2830300 (1958-04-01), Schwartz
patent: 3030633 (1962-04-01), Chalfin
patent: 3394410 (1968-07-01), Liebowitz
patent: 3531807 (1970-10-01), Devito et al.
patent: 4777668 (1988-10-01), Weston
Calvert John J.
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Higgins Supply Company, Inc.
Salai Esq. Stephen B.
Shaw Esq. Brian B.
LandOfFree
Flexible support stay does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flexible support stay, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flexible support stay will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2539001