Abstract:
A drawstring closure system includes a drawstring band assembly comprising a band assembly with a channel having a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring is thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end and has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied. The channel apertures facilitate the insertion and reinsertion of the drawstring.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,486, filed Jul. 8, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention describes a drawstring band to facilitate a convenient means to reinstall a drawstring assembly into a drawstring channel of a garment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are a multitude of clothing items that use a drawstring to fasten or secure the clothing. These items not only include hooded sweatshirts or “hoodies”, but also include sweatpants, windbreakers, swim trunks, and the like. Additionally, there are many non-garment items that use a threaded drawstring as a means of closure. While this common drawstring fastening system has worked well for years, it is not without its disadvantages. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage lies with the ease at which the drawstring can be accidentally removed, or partially remove so that one end becomes stuck inside the article of clothing. A knot is typically tied at an end of the drawstring to prevent such problems, but the knot itself is never quite large enough to prevent entry into the loop fabric area. The process to replace a removed drawstring is a timely process that is filled with aggravations. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which drawstrings in various types of clothing and other items can be easily reinstalled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a drawstring band assembly having a band assembly that comprises a channel with a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring assembly is also provides a drawstring that is adapted to be thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end using the channel apertures to assist in the threading of the drawstring. The drawstring, once threaded, has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied by a user. The present invention can be constructed into an item or garment while it is being produced or constructed, or as a drawstring band assembly that is attached to an existing item at any time. 
         [0005]    Thus, when the present invention is used in the creation of a drawstring closure item, the time to thread or rethread the drawstring item is greatly reduced and the ease to do so is greatly increased. Additionally, if the present invention is used to provide a separate drawstring band assembly to be attached to an existing item this provides a great advantage if the need arises to rethread the item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a drawstring band  10  in a typical application in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a drawstring assembly  20  of a drawstring band  10  inserted into a drawstring channel  32  and emerging at a channel aperture  34  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the drawstring assembly  20  of a drawstring band  10  being reinserted into a channel aperture  34  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an attachable drawstring band  50  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0011]      10  drawstring band 
         [0012]      20  drawstring assembly 
         [0013]      22  tab 
         [0014]      24  leader 
         [0015]      26  drawstring 
         [0016]      28  aglet 
         [0017]      30  band assembly 
         [0018]      32  drawstring channel 
         [0019]      32   a  channel first end 
         [0020]      32   b  channel second end 
         [0021]      34  channel aperture 
         [0022]      36  spacing interval 
         [0023]      50  alternate drawstring band 
         [0024]      52  attachable channel 
         [0025]      54  channel hem 
         [0026]      56  stitching 
         [0027]      100  new article 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 , and an alternate embodiment herein depicted within  FIG. 4 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0029]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0030]    The present invention describes a drawstring band (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to more easily install or reinstall a drawstring assembly  20  into a drawstring channel  32  of an item equipped with the present band assembly  30  as opposed to replacing a broken or missing drawstring of a conventional installation. The apparatus  10  in one embodiment may be disposed about the open edge of a hood of a garment and be constructed integral to the garment as it is being produced. An alternate embodiment of the present apparatus  10  provides a means to install an attachable channel  52  to an existing garment in order to take advantage of the enhanced reinstallation technique of the drawstring assembly  20 . Given the variability in the size of the items to which the apparatus  10  can be applied, it is understood that a multitude of different lengths of the drawstring assembly  20  and the band assembly  30  is possible without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . It should be further understood and appreciated that although the apparatus  10  is illustrated as attached to the hood of a garment, it is not so limited and may be applied to other items such as a pair of pants, drawstring bags, or the like. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10  installed in a new article  100  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a band assembly  30 , which is formed into a new article  100  at the time of fabrication, and a drawstring assembly  20 . The band assembly  30  comprises a portion of the existing article  100  that is folded over upon itself to form a drawstring channel  32 , having an open first end  32   a  and a second open end  32   b,  and secured by stitching, or other such fastening means appropriate to the constituent material of said new article  100 . The drawstring channel  32  is provided with a plurality of channel apertures  34  comprising hemmed openings, or slits, evenly, or unevenly, spaced at spacing intervals  36  on the longitudinal axis of said drawstring channel  32 . In one (1) embodiment, the channel apertures  34  are approximately one inch (1 in.) in length and the spacing intervals  36  are two inches (2 in.) to three inches (3 in.). 
         [0032]    The drawstring assembly  20  comprises a drawstring  26 , preferably having a plurality of strands of twisted cotton fiber or nylon material covered by a woven cotton or nylon jacket, a leader  24 , and a tab  22 . The drawstring  26  is envisioned to have an approximate width of one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and the tab  22  is preferably flat in shape; however, other sizes and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus  10 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . The drawstring  26  alternatively comprises other textiles or combinations thereof without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The leader  24  preferably comprises a continuing length of the drawstring  26  extending to the tab  22 , and is impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to said drawstring  26 . The leader  24  is envisioned to be approximately three inches (3 in.) to four inches (4 in.) in length and have a flat configuration; however, other lengths and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus  10 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . The tab  22  is preferably a piece of thermoplastic material formed at, and encompassing at least one inch (1 in.) of the free end of the leader  24 . It is envisioned for the tab  22  to have a width of approximately one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and have a flat configuration matching that of the string  26 . A leader  24  and a tab  22  can be furnished on both ends of the string  26  or, alternately, an aglet  28  comprising a short leader  24  can be disposed upon one (1) end. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , isometric views of the installation of the drawstring assembly  20  into the band assembly  30  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The tab  22  of the drawstring assembly  20  is fitted into the first channel end  32   a  of the drawstring channel  32  of the band assembly  30 . The leader  24  portion of the same drawstring assembly  20  is then threaded into the drawstring channel  32  until the tab  22  emerges from the first spacing interval  36  of said drawstring channel  32  at the first channel aperture  34  as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    The tab  22  is reinserted into the same channel aperture  34  at the second spacing interval  36  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The leader  24  is threaded into the second spacing interval of the drawstring channel  32  until the tab  22  emerges from the said second spacing interval  36  at the second channel aperture  34 . The string assembly  20  is thus threaded through each successive spacing interval  36  of the drawstring channel  32  until the tab  22  and the leader  24  finally emerge from the last spacing interval  36  at the second open end  32   b  of said drawstring channel  32 . The drawstring assembly  20  is now completely installed in the band assembly  30  by going through shorter iterations rather than being threaded through the entire length of the drawstring channel  32  in a technique of bunching and stretching of said band assembly  30 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an isometric view of an attachable drawstring band  50  of the apparatus  10  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The attachable drawstring band  50  is intended to be attached to an existing item having a conventional drawstring, but for which a user would like to convert to the present apparatus  10  to more easily install a drawstring assembly  20 . The attachable drawstring band  50  preferably comprises a strip two inches (2 in.) to four inches (4 in.) wide of material in keeping with the constituent material of the existing item such as stretch cotton or nylon. Given the variability in the size of the items to which the attachable drawstring band  50  can be applied, it is understood that a multitude of different lengths of the apparatus  50  is possible without limiting the scope of said apparatus  50 . The material of the attachable drawstring band  50  is preferably folded over symmetrically upon itself to form an attachable channel  52  and a line of stitching  56  is sewn into the material along a longitudinal axis of the strip at a sufficient distance from the matched edges of the material strip to allow a channel hem  54 . The channel hem  54  is that portion of the attachable drawstring band  50  that is subsequently attached to the edge of the existing article selected to receive said attachable drawstring band  50 . The channel hem  54  may comprise both edges of the material strip as a result of a symmetrical fold, or alternately, the attachable channel  52  can be offset such that, after the stitching  56  has been installed, only one (1) edge of the material remains to constitute the channel hem  54  without changing the scope of the apparatus  50 . 
         [0036]    Disposed upon a side of the attachable channel  52  is a plurality of channel apertures  34  comprising hemmed openings, or slits, evenly, or unevenly, spaced at spacing intervals  36  along the longitudinal axis of said drawstring channel  52 . In one (1) embodiment the channel apertures  34  are approximately one inch (1 in.) in length and the spacing intervals  36  are two inch (2 in.) to three inch (3 in.). The attachable drawstring band  50  utilizes a drawstring assembly  20  as previously described in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10 . 
         [0037]    In any of the embodiments described above, the apparatus  10  exists as a further alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, the band assembly  30  is further impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to an inside surface of said band assembly  30 . With this added flexural rigidity, the band assembly  30  may be configured to create a drawstring channel  32  that has a shape complementary to the string  26 . 
         [0038]    It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0039]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the enabled user in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training The illustration in  FIG. 1  would essentially represent a new article  100  purchased or otherwise acquired, with the apparatus  10 . The most benefit achieved from employing this apparatus  10  would occur after the drawstring assembly  20  becomes removed from the drawstring channel  32  for any reason, allowing one to reinstall the drawstring assembly  20  into the drawstring channel  32 . This reinstallation can be achieved by performing the following steps: inserting the tab  22  into either open end of the drawstring channel  32 ; sliding the leader  24  into the drawstring channel  32  until the tab  22  emerges from the first channel aperture  34  as seen in  FIG. 2  (some additional manipulation of the leader  24  may be required to bring about the emergence of the tab  22  from the first channel aperture  34 ); threading a portion of the length of the string  26 , slightly greater than the distance between successive channel apertures  34 , through the first spacing interval  36  and out of the first channel aperture  34 ; reinserting the tab  22  back into the first channel aperture  34  directing it toward the second channel aperture  34 ; sliding the leader  24  into the first channel aperture  34  thereby directing the tab  22  through the second spacing interval  36  of the drawstring channel  32  between the first channel aperture  34  and the second channel aperture  34  until said tab  22  emerges from said second channel aperture as seen in  FIG. 3 ; threading a portion of the length of the string  26  through the second spacing interval  36  while drawing any portion of said string  26  which projects from the first channel aperture  34  (as seen in  FIG. 3 ) back into the drawstring channel  32 ; repeating the previous steps with each successive channel aperture  34  and spacing interval  36  until the tab  22  and the leader  24  are drawn through the open end on the opposite side of the drawstring channel  32 ; thread the drawstring assembly  20  through the drawstring channel  32  until equal portions of the length of said drawstring assembly  20  appear at both ends of said drawstring channel  32  and no portion of the string projects from any of the channel apertures  32 . 
         [0040]    The alternate embodiment of the present apparatus  50  can be utilized by fastening the channel hem  54  to an existing article at a desired location, preferably by stitching with thread of an appropriate material such as cotton or nylon. The direction and orientation of the installation of the attachable drawstring band  50  will of course be at the discretion of the user, however, a preferred installation would be similar to the illustration of  FIG. 1 . The drawstring assembly  20  would be inserted, or reinserted, in the same manner as previously given for the preferred embodiment. 
         [0041]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.