Abstract:
A martial arts uniform is disclosed that does not require any tying and is easy to put on and secure. The uniform employs a fastener system that those with limited dexterity can easily use. A jacket includes fasteners (VELCRO®) to replace traditional fabric string ties. A martial arts belt is pre-knotted and secured and then is severed so that one can put it on. It includes fasteners (VELCRO®) to fasten the ends of the belt together.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority under 35 USC §119 of Provisional Application 60/691,139 entitled “Easy Fasten Uniform” filed on Jun. 16, 2005 and having Moses S. Chambliss as the inventor. Application 60/691,139 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety but is not admitted as prior art.  
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Traditional martial arts practice includes the use of a standard uniform, or “Gi”, which includes the jacket, pants, and belt. Although some Tae Kwon Do uniforms use a simple pull-over uniform top, many martial arts uniforms for karate and other disciplines still use the traditional wrap/tie uniform jacket. The user dons this top by putting both arms through the sleeves and pulling it up over their shoulders. The right half is folded over the torso and secured on the inside using traditional fabric string ties. Similarly, the left half is folded over the right half and tied on the outside. The pants may include a drawstring used to tighten the waist of the pants in order to secure them at the user&#39;s waist. The belt is typically colored to signify rank or skill level and is tied around the waist over the jacket in a special manner and knotted in the front. The belt also aids to secure the uniform jacket by binding it around the torso.  
         [0003]     FIGS.  1 A-C illustrate a typical prior art martial arts jacket  100 .  FIG. 1A  illustrates the jacket  100  prior to being secured. The jacket includes a tie string  110  on the outside lapel of the right side, a tie string  120  on the outside side seam on the right side, a tie string  130  on the inside lapel on the left side and a tie string  140  on the inside side seam on the left side.  FIG. 1B  illustrates the left side of the jacket being folded out and the right side of the jacket being folded over the left torso and secured in place by tying tie strings  110  and  140 .  FIG. 1C  illustrates the left side of the jacket being folded over the right side of the jacket and secured by tying tie strings  120  and  130 .  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates typical prior art martial arts pants  200 . The pants  200  include an pleated waste band  210  with a draw string  220  run therethrough. The pants  200  may be tightened by pulling the ends of the drawstring  220  to pull the pleated waste band  210  together. To secure the pants  200  at the appropriate width the drawstring  220  is tied together.  
         [0005]     FIGS.  3 A-D illustrate a typical prior art martial arts belt  200 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates the belt  300  being wrapped around an individual (not illustrated). The belt is wrapped around the individual by placing the middle of the belt  300  at the torso  310  and wrapping the belt  300  around the individual with the belt  300  crossing over itself at the back  310  and bringing the ends  330 ,  340  back around the front. An inner  350  and outer  360  loop of the belt  300  are illustrates as being separated for ease, but will be pulled together in actual use.  FIG. 3B  illustrates the ends  330 ,  340  of the belt  300  being tied a first time. The end  330  is placed over the end  340  (at point  370 ) and is then tucked behind end  340  (at point  372 ) and is then tucked back over end  340  (at point  374 ) to form a first knot.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3C  illustrates the first knot  380  after the belt  300  is pulled tight and the ends  330 ,  340  of the belt  300  being looped a second time. For ease of visualization the end  330  has slashes running therethrough to easily distinguish from the end  340 . At the conclusion of the first knot  380  end  330  was proceeding to the right and end  340  was proceeding to the left. Each of the ends  330 ,  340  is wrapped back toward the center. The end  340  is placed over the end  330  (at point  390 ) and is then tucked behind end  330  (at point  392 ) and is then tucked back over end  330  (at point  394 ) to form the second knot.  FIG. 3D  illustrates the belt  300  tied around an individual (not illustrated). The inner loop  350  is against the individual (illustrated with dots for ease of visualization) and the outer loop  360  that crosses over the inner loop  350  at the back  320  is against the inner loop  350 . The ends  330 ,  340  are then double knotted at the torso  310  (only the second knot  385  is illustrated as the first knot will be therebehind). The end  330  is illustrated with slashes. It should be noted that only the outer loop is knotted and that the inner and outer loops  350 ,  360  are not connected. Rather the knots hold the inner and outer loops  350 ,  360  together.  
         [0007]     Children and those participants with hand disabilities (e.g., arthritis) may have a difficult time utilizing the tie strings to secure the jacket and possibly to secure the pants. Additionally, they may not be able to secure the belt in a proper fashion. A non-properly secured uniform can become a distraction during training to the user, other users and/or the instructor. For example, the student may spend time trying to fix the equipment rather than participating in class, may be restricted in the movements they can make or may get hurt if they, for example, trip on loose equipment. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for an instructor, for example of children&#39;s martial arts classes, to spend time at the beginning of the class fixing the equipment of some of the students. In addition equipment that appears to be secured correctly may become loose or shift during class with the active physical movements associated with martial arts.  
         [0008]     According, what is needed is a martial arts uniform that is easier to put on and adjust. A simple martial arts uniform could be used by all users but would provide advantages to those with limited fine hand motor skills that can adequately secure all parts of typical martial arts uniforms.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the proposed invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in which:  
         [0010]     FIGS.  1 A-C illustrate a typical prior art martial arts jacket;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates typical prior art martial arts pants;  
         [0012]     FIGS.  3 A-D illustrate a typical prior art martial arts belt;  
         [0013]     FIGS.  4 A-B illustrate example easy fastening martial arts uniform jackets, according to one embodiment;  
         [0014]     FIGS.  5 -B illustrate example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants, according to one embodiment; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example pre-knotted easy to secure martial arts belt, according to one embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 4A  illustrates an example easy fastening martial arts uniform jacket  400 . The jacket  400  does not include any tie strings. Rather, the jacket  400  includes a fastener system for securing the inside fold (e.g., the right side being tucked into the left side) and a fastener system for securing the outside fold (e.g., the left side being folded over the right side). According to one embodiment, the fastener systems may include hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO®) components that connect to one another.  
         [0017]     The fastener system for securing the inside fold may include a hook (or loop) piece  410  on or near the right outside lapel and a loop (or hook) piece  420  on or near the inside side seam (at a position where it will be in contact with the right outside lapel when the uniform is on). When the individual is putting on the jacket  400  they would open the left side of the jacket  400  and bring the right side of the jacket  400  to the left torso. They would then connect the piece  410  with the piece  420 . The pieces of VELCRO®  410 ,  420  may be relatively small pieces that simply provide enough surface area to secure to one another and hold the jacket  400  together. Alternatively, one of more of the pieces of VELCRO®  410 ,  420  may be more substantial in size so as to provide more surface area for connecting the pieces of VELCRO®  410 ,  420  and thus providing flexibility in how the jacket  400  is secured on an individual (e.g., amount of overlap, amount of tightening).  
         [0018]     The piece of VELCRO®  410  may extend from the lapel. Extending the VELCRO®  410  from the lapel may enable the jacket  400  to expand even further. The VELCRO®  410  may extend from the lapel so that the VELCRO®  410  need not be secured to the outside of the lapel (exterior of jacket  400 ). The VELCRO®  410  could be connected to inside lapel and extend therefrom or may be connected at the corner of the lapel so as not to extend on either the inner or outer surface of the lapel.  
         [0019]     The fastener system for securing the outside fold may include a hook (or loop) piece  430  on or near the inside left lapel and a loop (or hook) piece  440  on or near the right outside side seam (at a position where it will be in contact with the left inside lapel when the uniform is on). After an individual secured the right side of the jacket  400  to the left torso they would fold the left side of the jacket  400  over the right side of the jacket  400 . They would then connect the piece  430  with the piece  440 . The pieces of VELCRO®  430 ,  440  may be relatively small pieces that simply provide enough surface area to secure to one another and hold the jacket  400  together. Alternatively, one of more of the pieces of VELCRO®  430 ,  440  may be more substantial in size so as to provide more surface area for connecting the pieces of VELCRO®  430 ,  440  and flexibility in how the jacket  400  is secured on an individual (e.g., amount of overlap, amount of tightening). The piece of VELCRO®  430  may extend from the left lapel to enable the jacket  400  to expand even further.  
         [0020]     According to one embodiment, the fastener systems (e.g., VELCRO® pieces) may be permanently connected (e.g., sewn, glued, stapled) to the jacket  400 . However, it is also possible that the fastener systems may be removably connected (e.g., pins, snaps, clips, buttons).  
         [0021]     According to one embodiment, the VELCRO® pieces may be similarly colored to the jacket  400  so as not to stand out visually. However, the colors of the VELCRO® pieces need not be the same as the jacket  400 . In fact the colors may be secondary colors used on the uniform or may be contrasting colors to be a decorative uniform accent. The fastener systems for securing the inside fold and the outside fold may in some way be coded differently (e.g., color, text, numbers) so as to clearly identify which piece connects to which piece. For example, the VELCRO® pieces  410 ,  420  may be coded with a number  1  indicating that they are the first pieces that are to be connected. The pieces may further be coded to identify how the pieces connect (e.g. which piece overlays which piece).  
         [0022]     As illustrated, the jacket  400  includes the fastener systems located roughly in the middle of the jacket  400 . The jacket  400  is not limited thereby. Rather the fastener systems could be located at varying points on the jacket  400  and could possibly be located at more then one location (e.g., top and bottom).  
         [0023]     The embodiments of the uniform jacket  400  have been discussed above utilizing VELCRO® for the fastener systems. However, the various embodiments are not limited thereby. Rather, alternative embodiments may use buttons, snaps, clips, or buckles to secure the uniform tops correctly in an easy manner that does not require tying.  
         [0024]     According to one embodiment, the fastener systems may provide for means of adjustment to accommodate individual fit and comfort, user growth, body weight changes, or multiple sized users. This feature can be accomplished with various methods. In a hook-and-loop system one portion can be longer or over sized to allow flexibility and multiple fastening locations for the mating piece. In systems employing buttons, clips, snaps, or strap-and-buckle there can be one portion that has multiple mating points to accommodate the other portion. A separate extension with complementary mating features can also be used as an expansion device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an example easy fastening martial arts uniform jacket  450 . The jacket  450  includes a fastener system for securing the jacket  450  to an individual in an appropriate manner (right flap over left torso and left flap over right flap and right torso). According to one embodiment, the fastener system may be hook-and-loop (VELCRO®) components that connect to one another. The fastener system may include a hook (or loop) piece  460  that extends on the exterior of the right flap of the jacket  450  and a loop (or hook) piece  470  that extends on the interior of the left flap of the jacket  450 . For example, the hook (or loop) piece  460  may extend from approximately the right lapel to approximately the right side seam and the loop (or hook) piece  470  may extend from approximately the left lapel to approximately the left side seam.  
         [0026]     When the individual is putting on the jacket  450  they would open the left flap of the jacket  450  and bring the right flap of the jacket  400  to the left torso. They would then fold the left flap over the right flap and secure the pieces of VELCRO®  460 ,  470  that extended along the respective outer and inner surfaces of the jacket  450 . As the pieces of VELCRO®  460 ,  470  are substantial in size it provides a very secure connection and also provides flexibility in how the jacket  450  is secured on an individual (e.g., amount of overlap, amount of tightening).  
         [0027]     The jacket  450  may include more than one piece of VELCRO®  460 ,  470  to provide additional support for holding the jacket  450  together (2 pieces illustrated). According to one embodiment, having multiple pieces of VELCRO®  460 ,  470  may enable material to be placed therebetween (e.g., padding for sparring) and then be secured in place when the VELCRO®  460 ,  470  is connected.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5A  illustrates example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants  500 . The pants  500  may include a pleated waste band  510  and may have a drawstring (or belt)  520  located therein for tightening the waste band  510 . The ends of the drawstring  520  may exit the waste band  510  at or near the sides of the pelvis. The drawstring  520  may include a fastener system for securing the ends of the drawstring  520  together and thus securing the waste band  510  at a particular size. The fastener system may include hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO®) components that connect to one another. One end  530  of the drawstring  520  may have a hook (or loop) piece  540  connected thereto facing in (or out) and the other end  550  may have a loop (or hook) piece  560  connected thereto facing out (or in). The VELCRO® pieces  540 ,  560  may extend from the drawstring  520  or may be mounted on an upper surface on one end (e.g.,  540 ) and a lower surface on the other end (e.g.,  530 ).  
         [0029]     To tighten the pants  500  an individual would pull the drawstrings  520  and then place the end of the drawstring  520  having the VELCRO® facing in (e.g.,  530 ) over the end having the VELCRO® facing out (e.g.,  550 ). The pieces of VELCRO®  540 ,  560  may be relatively small pieces that simply provide enough surface area to secure to one another and hold the pants  500  at the appropriate width. Alternatively, one of more of the pieces of VELCRO®  540 ,  560  may be more substantial in size so as to provide more surface area for connecting the pieces of VELCRO®  540 ,  560  and thus providing more flexibility in the width that the pants  500  can be adjusted to.  
         [0030]     The VELCRO®  540 ,  560  may be permanently attached to the drawstring  520  or may be removably connected thereto. The VELCRO®  540 ,  560  may be the same color as the pants  500  or may be different colors. The VELCRO®  540 ,  560  may be coded in some fashion to help determine which piece gets folded over which piece. The fastener system is not limited to VELCRO®. Rather, it may be any alternate easy connecting system that does not requires tying such as buttons, snaps, clips, or strap-and-buckle as described with regard to the jacket  400 .  
         [0031]     The drawstring  520  is not limited to exiting the pants  500  in the front (on the sides of the pelvis), having both ends of the drawstring  520  being movable, or having a single position (e.g., front) with which to tighten the pants  500 . Rather, the drawstring  520  could exit the pants  500  from the side. The drawstring  520  may have one side secured and may provide for the tightening of the pants  500  by pulling the other side. For example, the end  550  of the drawstring  520  may be secured to the pants  500  and the end  530  may be pulled to tighten the pants  500 . The end  530  may include VELCRO®  540  connected to an interior surface that is secured to VELCRO®  560  that is connected to either an exterior of the end  550  (if the end is secured external to the waste band  510 ) or the exterior of the pants  500  (if the end  550  is secured internal to the waste band  510 ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 5B  illustrates example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants  570 . The pants  570  may include a pleated waste band  575  and may have multiple (e.g., 2) drawstrings (or belts)  580 ,  585 . One drawstring  580  may control the front of the waste band  575  and one drawstring  585  may control the back of the waste band  575 . The drawstring  580  may be secured at around the left hip and may extend around the front and then exit at around the right hip. The drawstring  580  may include VELCRO®  590  on an interior surface and the pants  570  may include VELCRO® (not visible) on an exterior surface behind about the right hip. The drawstring  585  may be secured at around the right hip and may extend around the back and then exit at around the left hip. The drawstring  585  may include VELCRO®  595  on an interior surface and the pants  570  may include VELCRO®  597  on an exterior surface in front of about the left hip.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example pre-knotted easy to secure martial arts belt  600 . The belt  600  is pre-tied into its correct configuration including the knot (or double knot)  610  for a range of waste sizes. The knot  610  may be secured together either temporarily or permanently using, for example, glue, a rivet, a stitch, VELCRO® or other securing mechanism. The belt  600  may be wrapped around an individual twice so that it includes an inner loop  620  and an outer loop  630 . The inner and outer loops  620 ,  630  of the belt  600  may also be secured together either temporarily or permanently using, for example, glue, a rivet, a stitch VELCRO® or other securing mechanism. The belt  600  may be severed at a portion away from the knot (e.g., side, back) and a fastener system may be included to secure the belt  600  back together. According to one embodiment, the fastener system includes hook-and-loop (VELCRO®). For a belt having dual loops  620 ,  630  each loop may be severed at a different location. One end  640  of the belt  600  (inner loop for dual loop belt) may have a hook (or loop) piece  650  connected to an exterior surface and the other end  660  (outer loop for dual loop belt) may have a loop (or hook) piece  670  connected to an interior surface.  
         [0034]     An individual puts the belt  600  on so that the knot  610  is in the front and then connects the belt together using the VELCRO®  650 ,  670  (placing the end  660  over the end  640 ). For a dual loop belt  600  the VELCRO® would be hidden, for the most part, under the top lop  630  of the belt  600 . The tightness and size of the belt  600  may be controlled by the amount of overlap of the two sides  640 ,  660  of the belt  600 . According to one embodiment, a dual loop belt  600  may be the tightest when the outer loop  630  completely covers the inner loop  620  and the severed sides of the inner and outer loops  620 ,  630  connect. The belt  600  may be loosened by reducing the overlap of the outer and inner loops  620 ,  630  and thus providing a view of the inner loop.  
         [0035]     The VELCRO®  650 ,  670  may be permanently attached to the belt  600  or may be removably connected thereto. The VELCRO®  650 ,  670  may be the same color as the belt  600  or may be different colors. The VELCRO®  650 ,  670  may be coded in some fashion to help determine which piece gets folded over which piece. The fastener system is not limited to VELCRO®. Rather, it may be any alternative fastening system, such as, buttons, snaps, clips, or strap-and-buckle.  
         [0036]     Although the various embodiments have been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made. Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
         [0037]     The various embodiments are intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.