GARMENT TENSIONER

A pair of pants including a torso-encircling portion having a rear area and a coupling portion, a pair of leg sections extending from the torso-encircling portion and a tensioning member. The tensioning member is coupled to the rear area and to the coupling portion. The tensioning member is configured to adjust tension of a crotch area of the garment against a wearer's buttock. The tensioning member runs between the legs of the wearer from the coupling portion to the rear area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garment adjusting devices, and, more particularly, to an adjustable tensioner for the crotch of a pair of pants.

2. Description of the Related Art

Garments in the form of clothing broadly refers to items worn on the human body. Clothing can be made of textiles, animal skin, or other thin sheets of materials assembled using a variety of techniques. The wearing of clothing is mostly restricted to human beings and is a feature of all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn depends on body type, as well as social, and geographic considerations. Some clothing can be gender-specific.

Clothing can serve many purposes such as protection from the elements and clothing can enhance safety during hazardous activities such as hiking and construction work. Clothing can insulate against cold or hot conditions, and can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body. Clothing can even be rated by its ability to provide protection from ultraviolet radiation.

Garments can make a statement about the person. Some garments indicate an adherence to a particular religious group. The styling of the garment can be understood to effect a particular fashion awareness of the person. Fashion styles change and can ebb and flow within various sub-cultures.

The tensioning of garments in the form of a waist tensioning device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,143 where a hook and engagement device are used to adjust a waistband on trousers. The tensioning of garments using stretchable material is widely known and used to provide form fitted clothing.

Drawstrings and belts are often used around the waist to tension the waistband of a garment so that it is held in place during use. If pants are used then the belt or drawstring are used to hold the pants in place by causing the pants to stay in place about the hips.

Form fitting pants can be used to accent the buttock to attract attention and to project a fashion image.

What is needed in the art is a pants garment that can enhance the body's natural curves so the wearer can feel attractive in their pants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a garment in which the form fitting nature of the garment can be adjusted.

The invention in one form is directed to a pair of pants including a torso-encircling portion having a rear area and a coupling portion, a pair of leg sections extending from the torso-encircling portion and a tensioning member. The tensioning member is coupled to the rear area and to the coupling portion. The tensioning member is configured to adjust tension of a crotch area of the garment against a wearer's buttock. The tensioning member runs between the legs of the wearer from the coupling portion to the rear area.

The invention in another form is directed to a garment including a torso-encircling portion having a rear area and a front area, a pair of leg sections extending from the torso-encircling portion, and a tensioning member coupled to the rear area and to the front area. The tensioning member is configured to adjust tension of a crotch area of the garment against a wearer's buttock. The tensioning member runs between the legs of the wearer from the front area to the rear area.

The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of tightening a crotch of a garment including the altering of a tension on a tensioning member coupled to a rear area and to a front area of a torso-encircling portion of the garment. The tensioning member is configured to adjust the tension of a crotch area of the garment against a wearer's buttock. The tensioning member runs between the legs of the wearer from the front area to the rear area. The tensioning member, along a portion of a length thereof, is proximate to a pair of leg sections extending from the torso-encircling portion.

An advantage of the present invention is that a single garment can be adjusted to have a different look by changing the tension on the tensioning member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a Garment100having a tensioner device102(illustrated in other figures). Garment100as shown in a rear view ofFIG. 1is in an untensioned state andFIG. 2illustrates the same garment100now in a tensioned state, with tensioner device102being shown inFIG. 3in an adjusted tensioned state.

Now, additionally referring toFIGS. 4-6, details of tensioner device102are illustrated. Tensioner device102includes a drawstring or band104, a hook106, an anchor108and a series of eyelets110. Drawstring104is positioned along or inside of a middle seam of the pant like garment100allowing drawstring104to draw garment100into the crack of the butt of the wearer. Drawstring104is selectably tensionable by selecting which of the series of eyelets110that hook106engages for a customizable look that is desired by the wearer.

Band104can have an elastic property to provide a constant tension to tensioner device102. Anchor108is coupled to garment100by way of stitching which can be through a piece of fabric, such as polypropylene, to reinforce the attachment of anchor108.

Eyelets110can be plastic, metal or a stitched arrangement positioned along an inner flap112of garment100to allow the wearer the ability to select how much tension to apply to device102, by selecting which eyelet110is to be engaged by hook106. Although eyelets110may be hidden by way of an outer flap114, it is also contemplated that eyelets110may be positioned to be a visible display of tensioning selections displayed by the wearer. Tensioning member102runs through a channel seam116and is movebly situated therein.

It is also contemplated that differing ways of coupling and adjusting drawstring104at each end may be used to accomplish the adjustable tensioning of garment100as illustrated by the present invention.

Garment100can be a pair of pants100having a torso-encircling portion118with a rear area120and a coupling portion122. A pair of leg sections124extend from the torso-encircling portion118. Tensioning member102is coupled to the rear area120and to the coupling portion122. Tensioning member102is configured to adjust tension of a crotch area126against a wearer's buttock. Tensioning member102runs between the legs of the wearer from the coupling portion122to the rear area120.

Tensioning member102is selectively coupled to one of the eyelets110to adjust the effect on tensioning garment100against the buttock. Tensioning member102has hook106on an end situated close to coupling portion122, with hook106being selectively positioned in one of the eyelets110. Band104of tensioning member102, and hence member102, can be substantially non-elastic or elastic in nature to provide the tension desired to tighten garment100.

Another way to describe garment100is that it has torso-encircling portion118along with rear area120and front area122, with tensioning member102being coupled to rear area120and to front area122, with tensioning member102being configured to adjust tension of crotch area126of garment100against a wearer's buttock.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of tightening crotch126of garment100by altering a tension on tensioning member102that is coupled to rear area120and front area122to adjust tension of crotch area126against a wearer's buttock.