Apparel – Nether garments – Bifurcated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-01-23
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Nether garments
Bifurcated
C002S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wearing apparel, and more particularly to a protector or wear guard for the legs of trousers.
Many different types of devices are known in the prior art for use in protecting trouser legs from wearing and/or soiling. Most of such devices, however, cannot be used or even adapted to be used with trousers having “pipe” legs, also known as “wide” legs. These types of trousers present a style wherein the legs of such trousers are long enough and the bottoms wide enough to extend over a wearer's shoes so that the bottom edge or hem is purposely designed to actually drag on the ground when a user is walking. As a result, the hems and/or bottom edges of such trousers wear and become frayed very quickly. Also, due to the length of the legs, the bottom edges thereof become soiled very quickly. Further, in wet conditions, the lower portions of such trouser legs become quickly saturated with water, and water can actually wick upwardly because of the fabric used to make the trousers. Due to the above conditions, the pipe legs or wide legs of such trousers quickly become unsightly resulting in frequent cleaning and/or replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a leg protector for trousers wherein a leg portion of the trousers has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a bottom edge defining a leg opening. A protector comprising a strip of rubber material extends along the inner surface of the leg portion to encompass the entire circumference of the leg opening in the trouser leg. Stitching passing through both the leg portion and the protector attaches the protector to the inner surface of the leg portion in such a manner that a finished hem is formed while at the same time the protector projects below the bottom edge of the leg opening of the trousers.
Since the protector extends below the bottom edge of the trouser legs, the protector itself engages the ground and prevents wearing of the bottoms of the trouser legs. The protector also helps to prevent soiling of the bottoms of the trouser legs, and in addition, since it is made of rubber, the protector can itself be easily cleaned. Finally, the protector prevents moisture from contacting the bottom edge of the trouser legs, and since it is composed of rubber, prevents wicking of moisture into the fabric of the trouser leg.
The present invention also provides a method of forming a leg protector for trousers. The method comprises the steps of providing a leg portion for trousers wherein the leg portion has an inner surface, an outer surface, a bottom edge defining a leg opening, and a bottom edge margin extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the leg portion, and further providing a protector for the bottom edge of the trouser leg comprising a strip of rubber material having a length substantially greater than its width. The protector is then positioned around the leg opening so that it engages or bears against the outer surface of the trouser leg adjacent the bottom edge thereof so that it extends both above and below the bottom edge. The protector is then sewn to the trouser leg by stitching passing through both the protector and the fabric of the trouser leg. Thereafter, the protector, now attached to the bottom edge of the trouser leg, is folded inwardly so that a hem is formed. After this folding step, what was the lower part of the protector in the previous step now becomes the upper part of the protector extending adjacent to the hem inside the leg opening of the trouser leg. Likewise, what was the upper part of the protector in the previous step now becomes the lower part of the protector and extends or projects downwardly from the hem to form the wear guard of the protector. Finally, stitching passing through the protector, the bottom edge margin and the trouser leg fabric attaches the protector in place and forms a finished hem. Thus, a simple method of attaching the protector to trouser legs is accomplished while at the same time forming a finished hem.
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Andrus Sceales Starke & Sawall LLP
Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
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