Abstract:
Provided is a fashion belt including a magnetic retention feature adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. The strap of the belt includes a plurality of magnets embedded therein. The magnets are positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between the magnets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/364,908, filed Jul. 16, 2010. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to wearing apparel and, more particularly, to a new and improved fashion belt which includes a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration without a dangling end portion. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Belts have been a staple part of men&#39;s and women&#39;s wearing apparel for many, many years. A belt is a flexible band or strap typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worm around the waist. Typically, the belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and also serves for style and decoration. 
         [0007]    In most currently known belts, one end portion of the elongate strap is provided with a plurality of circularly configured apertures disposed therein, the apertures being separated from each other at prescribed intervals, often about one inch. Operatively secured to the opposed end portion of the strap is a buckle. A commonly configured buckle comprises a frame member which is of a prescribed shape and includes an elongate stem pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof. 
         [0008]    In using the buckle to secure the opposed end portions of the strap to each other, the end portion of the strap having the apertures disposed therein is advanced through the interior of the frame member, with the stem being manipulated so as to be inserted into and through a corresponding one of the apertures. Typically, the length of the strap is such that even upon the advancement of the stem portion into one of the apertures, a segment of the end portion including the apertures extends beyond the buckle, and is thus susceptible to dangling or flapping since it is not otherwise secured to the remainder of the strap. To prevent such dangling or flapping, a typical practice is to advance such excess segment of the end portion of the strap through a belt loop. However, when the belt is worn with garments not having a belt loop positioned to accommodate such excess segment, another common practice is for the user to secure such segment to the remainder of the belt through the use of, for example, double-stick tape, or to complete an unsightly tuck of such segment into the garment to prevent the unsightly flapping or dangling described above. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a solution to belts including flapping or dangling end portions when worn by a wearer by providing a belt which is outfitted with a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration without a dangling end portion. These, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a fashion belt which includes a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the strap of the belt includes a plurality of circularly configured magnets embedded therein in a prescribed arrangement, the magnets being positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between a prescribed pair of the magnets. In another embodiment of the present invention, certain ones of the circularly configured magnets are substituted with an elongate magnetic plate or strip which is integrated into a cental portion of the strap as allows a stand alone magnet within and end portion of the strap to be magnetically coupled thereto. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip is substituted with an adjustable magnetic slider which is operatively positionable along the length of the strap so as to allow a stand alone magnet within and end portion of the strap to be magnetically coupled thereto. 
         [0011]    The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a prior art belt in an extended state; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a belt including a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  depicts a conventional, prior art belt  1 . The belt  1  comprises an elongate strap  2  which defines opposed first and second end portions  3 ,  4 , respectively. Disposed within the first end portion  3  is a plurality of circularly configured apertures  5  which are separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly spaced intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected to the second end portion  4  is a buckle  6  of the belt  1 . The buckle  6  includes a peripheral frame member  7  having an elongate stem  8  pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof. As explained above, in the normal use of the belt  1  upon a wearer, the first end portion  3  is advanced through the interior of the frame member  7  of the buckle  6 , with the stem  8  thereafter being advanced into and through a corresponding one of the apertures  5 . However, that segment of the first end portion  3  extending between the aperture  5  through which the stem  8  is advanced and a distal end  9  of the strap  2  defined by the first end portion  3  is unsecured, and thus free to dangle when the belt  1  is in use on the wearer. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a belt  10  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Like the prior art belt  1 , the belt  10  comprises an elongate strap  12  which defines opposed first and second end portions  13 ,  14 , respectively. Disposed within the first end portion  13  is a plurality of circularly configured apertures  15  which are separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly spaced intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected to the second end portion  14  is a buckle  16  of the belt  10  which is identically configured to the buckle  6 . In this regard, the buckle  16  includes a peripheral frame member  17  having an elongate stem  18  pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof. 
         [0020]    The belt  10  further comprises a plurality of magnets  20  which are embedded in prescribed locations within in the interior of the strap  12 . More particularly, as seen in  FIG. 2 , three (3) magnets  20  are embedded in a central portion  11  of the strap  12  between the first and second end portions  13 ,  14  thereof. An additional, single magnet  20  is embedded in the first end portion  13  of the strap  12  in a location between the apertures  15  and a distal end  19  of the strap  12  defined by the first end portion  13  thereof. In the belt  10 , each of the magnets  20  preferably has a generally circular configuration, though the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the magnets  20 . 
         [0021]    In the normal use of the belt  10  upon a wearer, the first end portion  13  is advanced through the interior of the frame member  17  of the buckle  16 , with the stem  18  thereafter being advanced into and through a corresponding one of the apertures  15 . When the belt  10  is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion  13  extending between the aperture  15  through which the stem  18  is advanced and the distal end  19  of the strap  12 , which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap  12 . More particularly, the magnet  20  embedded within the first end portion  13  is magnetically engageable to any one of the magnets  20  embedded in the central portion  11  of the strap  12 . 
         [0022]    Though three (3) magnets  20  are shown in  FIG. 2  as being embedded in the central portion  11  of the strap  12 , those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that greater or fewer than three magnets  20  may be embedded in the central portion  11  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Along these lines, though the magnets  20  embedded in the central portion  11  are also shown in  FIG. 2  as being separated from each other at equidistantly spaced intervals, it is also contemplated that such spacing may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is further contemplated that the belt  10 , and in particular the number, spacing and positioning of the magnets  20  within the central portion  11  of the strap  12 , will be selected so that the magnet  20  within the first end portion  13  may be easily aligned with a corresponding one of the magnets  20  in the central portion  11  when the belt  10  is used on a wearer. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a belt  100  constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The belt  100  of the second embodiment bears substantial structural similarity to the belt  10  of the first embodiment, with only the distinctions between the belts  100 ,  10  being described below. 
         [0024]    The sole distinction between the belts  100 ,  10  lies in the three magnets  20  disposed in the central portion  11  of the strap  12  of the belt  10  being substituted with an elongate magnetic strip  102  in the belt  100 . Thus, the strip  102  is also disposed in a prescribed location within the central portion  11  of the strap  12 . When the belt  100  is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion  13  extending between the aperture  15  through which the stem  18  is advanced and the distal end  19  of the strap  12 , which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap  12 . More particularly, the magnet  20  embedded within the first end portion  13  is magnetically engageable to the strip  102  embedded in the central portion  11  of the strap  12 . 
         [0025]    Though the strip  102  is shown in  FIG. 3  as having a generally quadrangular (e.g., rectangular) configuration, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the strip  102 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the strip  102  will fabricated to be of a thickness which imparts at least some measure of bendability or pliability thereto. Still further, the length of the strip  102  relative to the strap  12  as shown in  FIG. 3  is intended to be exemplary only, in that the length of the strip  102  may be selectively increased or decreased from that shown in  FIG. 3  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a belt  200  constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The belt  200  of the third embodiment also bears substantial structural similarity to the belt  10  of the first embodiment, with only the distinctions between the belts  200 ,  10  being described below. 
         [0027]    The sole distinction between the belts  200 ,  10  lies in the three magnets  20  disposed in the central portion  11  of the strap  12  of the belt  10  being substituted with an magnetic slider  202  in the belt  200 . In the belt  200 , the slider  202  is movably mounted to the strap  12 , and selectively, slidably positionable along the length of the strap  12 . When the belt  200  is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion  13  extending between the aperture  15  through which the stem  18  is advanced and the distal end  19  of the strap  12 , which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap  12 . More particularly, the magnet  20  embedded within the first end portion  13  is magnetically engageable to the slider  202  after the same has been moved to a location on the central portion  11  of the strap  12  by the wearer which effectively aligns the slider  202  with the magnet  20 . 
         [0028]    In each embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that the strap  12  will be fabricated from two layer of a pliable material which are secured to other, with the magnets  20  alone or in combination with the strip  102  being captured between such layers. Along these lines, it is also contemplated that in each of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, an additional layer of a pliable, non-magnetic material may be interposed between the magnets  20  and that layer of the strap  20  which will normally be outwardly presented on the wearer so as to prevent any inadvertent magnetic attraction between the magnets  20  and an external metal object. This objective could also potentially be accomplished by making the outwardly presented layer of the strap  20  of sufficient thickness to prevent such magnetic attraction. 
         [0029]    This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.