Abstract:
A device for securing a string to an article of clothing, such as a garment or shoe, to prevent the string from being drawn away, for example into a string tunnel or through an eyelet. The device includes a clothing attachment mechanism and a string receiver. The attachment mechanism preferably includes a clip have first and second members movable between opened and closed clip positions for securing the device to the clothing at a selected location. The string receiver receives and holds the string preventing the string from being drawn away. The string receiver preferably defines an aperture for slidingly receiving the string. The device preferably includes a spring to bias the clip to the closed position. In one embodiment, the upper clip member is decoratively configured to resemble a wing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/809,073, filed May 26, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to garments having strings received in string tunnels of the garment or shoelaces and, more particularly to a device for preventing loss of the string within the string tunnel of the garment or to capture a shoelace.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Numerous garments include strings received in tunnels or other enclosures formed in the garment. Examples of such garments include sweat pants or shorts having a waist string received in a string tunnel defined at a waist of the garment, and hooded sweatshirts having draw strings received in a string tunnel defined in the hood. In each of the these garments, end portions of the string extend outwardly from openings formed at the opposites ends of the string tunnel. In each of these garments, opposite ends of the string are grasped by a user for application of a pulling force to the string to tighten a portion of the garment (e.g., the waist of a pair of sweat pants) on the user. The ends of the string may then be tied to each other to secure the garment in the desired condition.  
         [0004]     The relative movement between the string and the string tunnel of such garments is necessary for the above-described tightening function. However, the need for relative motion between the string and the tunnel can also have the undesirable effect of one or both of the ends of the string being drawn completely into the string tunnel. Withdrawal of the string end into the interior of the string tunnel in this manner renders the string unusable or “lost.” The risk that the string of such garments will become lost within the string tunnel of the garment is particularly great during laundering of the garment because of the agitation associated with the washing and drying of garments.  
         [0005]     What is needed is a device for securing the end of a string to a garment to limit relative movement between the end of the string and the garment, thereby eliminating the risk that the end of the string will be drawn into a string tunnel of the garment. Also what is needed is a device for capturing and securing loose shoelaces.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a device for securing a garment string to a garment to limit relative movement between the string and the garment, thereby preventing the string from being drawn into the string tunnel and becoming lost in the tunnel rendering the garment string unusable for its intended purpose. The string-securing device comprises a garment attachment mechanism adapted to secure the device to a garment at a selected location on the garment. The string-securing device also comprises a string receiver adapted to receive and hold the garment string such that the garment string is prevented from being drawn into the string tunnel.  
         [0007]     According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the string-securing device includes a clip having upper and lower members. The clip provides an opened clip position adapted to facilitate placement of the garment between the upper and lower members at the garment location and a closed clip position. Preferably, the upper and lower member define teeth to facilitate grasping retention of the garment portion between the upper and lower clip members.  
         [0008]     According to one embodiment the string receiver is carried by the lower clip member and defines an aperture adapted for sliding receipt of a garment string.  
         [0009]     Preferably, the string-securing device includes a spring adapted to bias the upper and lower clip members towards the closed clip position. According to one embodiment, the spring includes elongated arms at opposite ends of a central coiled portion, the arms received in notches respectively defined by the upper and lower clip members.  
         [0010]     Arranged in this manner, the device is adapted for placement onto the string at a desired location through the sliding receipt of the end of the string through the aperture of the string receiver. The clip of the device is adapted to secure the device and, therefore, to secure the string, to the garment at the garment location.  
         [0011]     According to one embodiment, the upper member of the clip is decoratively configured to resemble a wing and includes a clamp end configured to resemble a shoulder area of the wing and a handle end configured to resemble a tip area of the wing.  
         [0012]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a clip for securing a loose shoelace.  
         [0013]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred. However, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a string clip according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention being used to secure the draw string of a garment to the garment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the string clip of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring to the drawings, where like numerals identify like elements, there is illustrated in the figures a string-securing device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention adapted for use with a garment of the type having a string received by a string tunnel of the garment (e.g., about the waist or neck area of a garment). Referring to  FIG. 1 , the string-securing device  10  is shown in use with a pants-type garment  12  to secure a waist string  14  of the garment  12  to a flap  16  or other portion of the garment  12 . As described below in greater detail, the string-securing device  10  is adapted to receive the string  14  to position the device  10  on the string, and to engage the garment  12  to secure the device  10 , and the string  14 , to the garment  12 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 7 , the string-securing device  10  is shown in greater detail. The string-securing device  10  includes a clip  18  having upper and lower members  20 ,  22  rotatably connected to each other in jaw-like fashion. Terms, such as “upper” and “lower” are used herein for simplicity. It should be readily apparent that the orientation of the members  20 ,  22  is not critical to the invention and, therefore, the use of the terms “upper” and “lower” is by no means intended to be limiting. The rotatable connection provides for relative movement of the clip members  20 ,  22  between an opened position, to facilitate receipt of a portion of a garment between the clip members  20 ,  22 , and a closed position, in which the portion of the garment is captured between the clip members  20 ,  22  to secure the device  10  to the garment.  
         [0024]     Referring to the side view of the device  10  shown in  FIG. 5 , the device  10  preferably includes projecting teeth  24  on at least one and more preferably both the upper and lower members  20 ,  22  of the clip  18  adjacent a front portion of the device  10 . As shown, the teeth  24  of the upper member  20  preferably intermesh with the teeth  24  of the lower member  22 . The intermeshing of the teeth  24  in this manner facilitates capture and securement of a portion of a garment between the upper and lower members  20 ,  22 , thereby promoting retention of the device  10  in a desired location on a garment. As also shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the upper and lower members  20 ,  22  extends rearwardly beyond the rotational axis at  26  to collectively form a handle portion  28  of the clip  18 . The handle portion  28  is adapted to be grasped by a user (e.g., between the thumb and forefinger) for applying a compressive force to the handle to move the clip members  20 ,  22  from the closed clip position to the opened clip position.  
         [0025]     The string-securing device  10  preferably includes a string receiver  30  located on a portion of the lower member  22 , preferably on the bottom surface of clip  18  as shown. The string receiver  30  includes an aperture  32  adapted for slidingly receiving a string of a garment, such as the waist string  14  of the garment  12  of  FIG. 1 . As shown, the string  14  of garment  12  is received in the aperture  32  of clip such that the string  14 , which has a relative thin rectangular or circular cross section, assumes a somewhat rolled condition adjacent the aperture  32 . The rolling of the string  14  in this manner facilitates retention between the device  10  and the string  14  at a given location along the string  14  to which the device  10  has been placed. As should be understood, the rolling of the string  14  depends on the cross section of the string as well as on the size of the aperture  32  of the string receiver  30 . The invention, however, is not limited to any particular cross-sectional shape or size for either the string receiver aperture  32  or a string receivable by the aperture  32 . Preferably, however, the sliding receipt of the string by the aperture  32  will generate sufficient friction to promote retention of the device  10  at a given location along the string  14  to which the device has been drawn.  
         [0026]     Referring the  FIG. 7 , the string-securing device  10  includes a pin  34  having opposite ends received in aligned openings in supports  36 ,  38  of the upper and lower clip members  20 ,  22 . The supports  36 ,  38  are respectively located on bottom and top surfaces of the upper and lower members  20 ,  22 . The receipt of the pin  34  by the supports  36 ,  38  of the clip members  20 ,  22  maintains the connection between the upper and lower members  20 ,  22  while providing for the above-described relative rotation for movement of the clip members  20 ,  22  between the closed and opened clip positions.  
         [0027]     The string-securing device  10  also includes a spring  40  for biasing the upper and lower clip members  20 ,  22  towards the closed clip position shown in the figures. Referring to the rear view of  FIG. 7 , the spring  40  includes a central coiled portion  42  and elongated arms  44 ,  46  at opposite ends of the coiled portion  42 . As shown, the arms  44 ,  46  are preferably respectively received in notches  48  defined on the bottom and top surfaces of the upper and lower members  20 ,  22 . The receipt of the spring arms  44 ,  46  in the notches  48  desirably conceals the spring  40  from view when the spring is viewed from the side view shown in  FIG. 5 , thus providing a more visually pleasing appearance.  
         [0028]     Referring the  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the upper clip member  20  of string-securing clip  18  is preferably ornamentally configured. As shown in the top view of  FIG. 3 , the upper clip member  20  is shaped such that, in the exemplary embodiment, the periphery resembles a bird&#39;s or angel&#39;s wing. Also, to enhance the wing-like appearance, the top surface of the upper clip member  20  is formed with longitudinal or curved grooves  50  defining areas of the top surface representing feathers of a wing tip area and a series of transverse or curved grooves  52  defining surface areas representing overlapping feathers of a shoulder area of a bird&#39;s wing. Preferably, the upper and lower clip members  20 ,  22 , including the design features presented on the top surface of the upper clip member  20  are formed by molding the clip members  20 ,  22  from a moldable plastic material. The string receiver  30  is preferably formed integrally with the lower clip member  22 . It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the wing-like design shown in the figures and that the upper clip member  20  could be configured to represent various appearances, including images, alphanumeric characters, designs, etc.  
         [0029]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the string-securing device  10  is adapted for use with the garment  12  in the following manner to prevent an end of the waist string  14  of the garment  12  from being drawn into the string tunnel  54  through one of the openings  56  defined by the string tunnel. As discussed above, such a situation frequently occurs when garments of this type are laundered. To use the device  10 , a user would first feed the end portion of the waist string  14  into the aperture  32  of the string receiver  30  from a first side of the device until the string protrudes from the aperture  32  on the opposite side of the device, until a sufficient length of the string extends out such that it can be grasped by the user (e.g., between the thumb and forefinger). Next, the device  10  is placed in a desired location on the string  14  by grasping the string  14  and the device  10  with opposite hands and pulling the device along the string to the desired location. As discussed above, frictional forces will preferably be sufficient to retain the device  10  in its placed position along the string  14 . The user then grasps the handle portion  28  of the device  10  defined by the upper and lower clip members  20 ,  22  to move the clip members  20 ,  22  to the opened clip position. The user then places the open jaws of the clip members on opposite sides of a portion of the garment  12  (e.g., the flap of the pants-type garment  12  shown). Upon release of the handle portion  28 , the spring  40  will act to return the clip members  20 ,  22  to the closed clip position thereby clamping the garment portion between the teeth  24  of the clip members  20 ,  22 , thereby securing the device  10  and the string  14  to the garment  12 . Alternately, the jaws of the clip could be clamped onto the other end of the string, thereby using one clip to prevent both ends of the string from being drawn into the string tunnel.  
         [0030]     It should be understood that the device  10  is not limited to the pants-type garment  12  shown having a waist string  14  and has application to other garments having strings in string tunnels such as hooded sweatshirts, for example. It should also be noted that it not required that the garment include some feature such as the flap  16  of the pants-type garment  12  shown to facilitate secured placement of the device  10  onto the garment  12 . The device  10  could be placed onto any garment  12 , for example by folding a portion of the garment  12  and then placing the folded garment portion between the teeth  24  of the device  10  in its opened clip position.  
         [0031]     The present invention can also be used to secure a shoelace for capturing loose shoelace ends. In this embodiment, the aperture  32  of the string received  30  is sized to receive a conventional shoelace (either flat or round). Once a end of the shoelace is inserted through the aperture  32 , the device can be clipped to the other end of the shoelace or secured to the shoe.  
         [0032]     The foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.