Patent Publication Number: US-2023157378-A1

Title: Garment Strap Clips And Garments With Strap Clips

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/282,263, filed Nov. 23, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     Garment strap clips are disclosed which secure otherwise spaced and often generally parallel shoulder straps, such as brassiere shoulder straps, in close proximity to each other so that the shoulder straps are less visible from the rear when a garment having enlarged armholes, such as a sports top or halter top, is worn over the clipped garment. One embodiment of the disclosed strap clip secures the shoulder straps in close proximity from the rear. The position of the straps can also be adjusted by repositioning, e.g. sliding, the disclosed clips up and down to provide different strap configurations. Garments comprising the disclosed strap clips are also disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional brassieres have two breast cups, a generally horizontally extending torso strap, and two shoulder straps extending generally parallel from the top of each breast cup over a wearer&#39;s shoulders and vertically down to the horizontally extending torso strap. Brassiere shoulder straps are not typically visible from the rear when worn with a blouse or t-shirt, but can be visible when worn with other garments, such as halter tops, tank tops, and sports bras. Since visible shoulder straps are regarded by some as being unsightly, there is a need for an improved garment strap clip to secure the two shoulder straps and to minimize the risk of inadvertently unclipping during a wearer&#39;s normal movement or when the wearer is engaged in more rigorous activity such as jogging, yoga, cross-fit and various other sports. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DECRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a rear view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a conventional brassiere having shoulder straps. 
         FIG.  2    is a rear view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a conventional brassiere having shoulder straps with an embodiment of the disclosed garment strap clip attached to the shoulder straps. 
         FIG.  3    is a rear view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a halter top and the conventional brassiere shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a rear view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a halter top and a conventional brassiere with an embodiment of the disclosed garment strap clip attached to the shoulder straps of the brassiere as shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a front view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a tank top and the conventional brassiere shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a front view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a tank top and a conventional brassiere with the embodiment of the disclosed garment strap clip attached to the shoulder straps of the brassiere shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  7    is a front, perspective view of an embodiment of a garment strap clip in the engaged configuration. 
         FIG.  8    is a front, perspective view of an embodiment of a garment strap clip in the disengaged configuration. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross sectional view of the engaged garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  7    along lines  9 - 9 . 
         FIG.  10    is a cross sectional view of the disengaged garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  8    along lines  10 - 10 . 
         FIG.  11    is a rear view of a second embodiment of a garment strap clip. 
         FIG.  12    is a cross sectional view of the garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  11    taken along lines  12 - 12 . 
         FIG.  13    is a rear view of the upper torso of a woman wearing a brassiere having shoulder straps with the second embodiment of the disclosed garment strap clip attached to the shoulder straps. 
         FIG.  14    is a front view of a third embodiment of a garment strap clip. 
         FIG.  15    is a cross sectional view of the garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  14    taken along lines  15 - 15 . 
         FIG.  16    is a front, exploded view of the first clip arm and second clip arm of the garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  17    is a front, exploded view of the first clip arm and the second clip arm of the garment strap clip shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment of the disclosed strap clip, the strap clip  10  is integrally formed and generally oval in shape. With reference to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the illustrated strap clip has a generally figure-eight shaped outer portion with a right side  11  and left side  12 . A first clip arm (right clip arm)  13 , has a distal portion  13   a  and a proximal portion  13   b . As shown in  FIG.  16   , an intermediate portion  13   c  is between the distal portion  13   a  and proximal portion  13   b . The proximal portion  13   b  of the first clip arm  13  is integrally formed with the right side  11  of the outer portion, and extends diagonally inwardly from the right side  11  of the outer portion. The distal portion  13   a  of the first clip arm  13  has a right hook portion  15 . The first clip arm  13  extends to about the center of the strap clip  10  with the right hook portion  15  proximate to the center of the strap clip  10 . Right hook portion  15  has a terminal end  17 . As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , right hook portion  15  also has an inner surface  15   a , a surface  15   b  opposite inner surface  15   a  and an outer hook surface  15   c . The front (or inner) surface  20  is the surface which is closest to the wearer&#39;s skin. 
     A second clip arm  14 , has a distal portion  14   a  and a proximal portion  14   b . An intermediate portion  14   c  is between the distal portion  14   a  and proximal portion  14   b . The proximal portion  14   b  of the second clip arm  14  is integrally formed with the left side  12  of the outer portion and extends diagonally inwardly from the left side  12  of the outer portion. The distal portion  14   a  of the second clip arm  14  has a left hook portion  16 . The intermediate portion  14   c  of the second clip arm  14  is generally parallel to and opposing to the intermediate portion  13   c  of the first clip arm  13 . The second clip arm  14  extends to about the center of the strap clip  10  with left hook portion  16  proximate to the center of the strap clip  10 . Left hook portion  16  has a terminal end  18 . As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , left hook portion  16  also has an inner surface  16   a , a surface  16   b  opposite inner surface  16   a  and an outer hook surface  16   c.    
     The material used to form the strap clip  10  is sufficiently pliable to allow the right and left hook portions  15  and  16 , of right clip arm  13  and left clip arm  14 , respectively, to be selectively positionable in a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration. In the first embodiment, when the first clip arm  13  and the second clip  14  are in the disengaged configuration, the right hook portion  15  and the left hook portion  16  are in contact in the absence of external forces. As used herein, the term “external force” refers to force applied by something other than the clip itself such as a force applied manually by a person. As shown in  FIG.  10   , when this illustrated strap clip is in the disengaged configuration, right hook portion  15  is in contact with left hook portion  16 . As shown in  FIG.  14    which is a front view of the strap clip in the disengaged configuration, right hook portion  215  is positioned behind left hook portion  216 . In  FIG.  14   , a portion of the right hook portion  15  and right terminal end  217  are shown in broken lines to illustrate that left hook portion  216  is positioned in front of the right hook portion  215 . 
     The right hook portion  15  and the left hook portion  16  are selectively separable by a person to allow a shoulder strap to be slid under each clip arm. When the first clip arm  13  and the second clip arm  14  are in an engaged configuration, the inner surface  15   a  of right hook portion  15  and the inner surface  16   a  of left hook portion  16  are in contact and abut each other. In this illustrated embodiment, when in the engaged configuration, outer surface  16   c  of left hook portion  16  is in contact and abuts surface  15   b  of right hook portion  15  and outer surface  15   c  of right hook portion  15  is in contact and abuts surface  16   b  of left hook portion  16 . 
     It will be appreciated that when the first and second clip arms  13  and  14  are moved from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration, the right side outer portion  11  and the left side outer portion  12  of the clip  10  are drawn together. The inherent elasticity of the clip and particularly of the outer portions, causes the outer portions to apply an outwardly directed spring force on the arms which helps to maintain the right and left hook portions in the engaged configuration. In other words, in the engaged configuration, the right hook portion  15  and the left hook portion  16  are urged in opposing directions. 
     The right and left hook portions  15  and  16  are shown in an engaged configuration in  FIG.  7    and in a disengaged configuration in  FIG.  8   . The interaction of the two hook portions  15  and  16  permits a wearer to secure the strap clip  10  in the engaged configuration after the strap clip  10  has been attached to the inner garment shoulder straps. When the hook portions  15  and  16  are in the engaged configuration, undesired movement of the strap clip relative to the garment straps, e.g. sliding of the strap clip up and/or down the garment shoulder straps, during normal movement or during intense physical activity is minimized and preferably prevented. Furthermore, when the hook portions  15  and  16  are in the engaged configuration, the risk of unintentional unclipping of the strap clip  10  from the shoulder straps is minimized. 
     In order to connect a strap clip to a garment, if necessary, the wearer first disengages the right and left hook portions  15  and  16  of the strap clip by applying pressure to the right side  11  and left side  12  and moving the first and second clip arms  13  and  14  in opposite directions toward and away from the user, i.e. generally perpendicular to the plane of the clip. The wearer places the right strap under the first clip arm  13  and the left strap under the second clip arm  14 . The first and second clip arms  13  and  14  define two openings within the outer portion of the strap clip, namely an upper opening and a lower opening. As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  13   , the shoulder straps extend into the upper opening from the front of the strap clip, extend around the first and second clip arms, and then extend through the lower opening back out to the front of the strap clip.  FIGS.  2  and  13    illustrate the disclosed strap clip attached to brassiere shoulder straps. Once the shoulder straps are in the desired position in the strap clip, the wearer then engages the right and left hook portions  15  and  16  to interlock the respective terminal ends  17  and  18  of the first clip arm  13  and second clip arm  14 , as seen in  FIG.  7   . Engaging the clip arms prevents relative lateral movement of the first clip arm  13  in a direction away from the second clip arm  14  and reduces the risk of the strap clip  10  slipping off the shoulder straps. As noted above, in the engaged configuration, the right hook inner surface  15   a  and the left hook inner surface  16   a  are urged into contact by opposing forces applied by the right side  11  of the outer portion and the left side  12  of the outer portion. 
     When the strap clip has been positioned in the desired position on the shoulder straps but is still in the disengaged configuration, it will be appreciated that the shoulder straps have been drawn into close proximity. Depending upon the material of the shoulder straps, the material of the strap clip and the position of the strap clip on the garment, there may be sufficient friction and forces to maintain the strap clip in the desired position. The further step of selectively positioning the first and second clip arms in the engaged configuration further secures the strap clip to the shoulder straps and, therefore, the shoulder straps in the desired position. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the strap clip has a flat, smooth front (or inner) surface  20  which is closest to the wearer&#39;s skin while the strap clip  10  is in use and a smooth rear (or outer) surface. As described herein, the orientation of the clip is the same orientation as the wearer. In other words, the front (or inner) surface faces the wearer and the rear (or outer) surface faces away (rearwardly) from the wearer. As shown in the cross-sectional view in  FIG.  15   , according to another embodiment, the strap clip has a smooth rounded front (or inner) surface and rounded rear (or outer) surface. 
     According to another embodiment, the rear (or outer) surface  121  of the strap clip, which does not face the wearer&#39;s skin, is textured, and the front (or inner) surface  120  of the strap clip is smooth, as shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   . The textured rear surface  121  provides an anti-slip functionality which resists sliding up and/or down relative to the garment shoulder straps. The texture can be added to the rear surface during manufacturing, e.g. during 3D printing, of the strap clip. According to another embodiment, the rear (or outer) surface can be knurled or otherwise provided with a high-friction finish to provide the anti-slip functionality. In this embodiment, the front surface  120  which faces the wearer&#39;s back is preferably smooth as shown in  FIG.  12   . 
     According to one embodiment, the strap clip is about 1 cm to about 6 cm in length, preferably about 3 cm to about 4 cm in length, and most preferably about 6 cm to about 4 cm in length. The strap clip is about 1 cm to about 4 cm in width, preferably about 1.5 cm to about 2 cm in width, and most preferably about 2 cm to about 4 cm in width. According to one embodiment, the strap clip is about 1 mm to about 4 mm thick, preferably about 2 to about 3 mm thick, and most preferably about 3 mm to about 4 mm in width. As shown in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , which are cross sections of the strap clip  10  along lines  9 - 9  and lines  10 - 10  respectively, the thickness of the strap clip  10  is preferably consistent throughout the entire strap clip  10 . The below table sets forth dimensions for three sized versions of the disclosed strap clip. Version 2 indicates the presently most preferred dimensions. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Version 1 
                   
                 Version 2 
                 Version 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Length 
                 4-6 
                 cm 
                 3-4 
                 cm 
                 1-3 
                 cm 
               
               
                   
                 Width 
                 2-4 
                 cm 
                 1.5-2 
                 cm 
                 1-1.5 
                 cm 
               
               
                   
                 Thickness 
                 3-4 
                 mm 
                 2-3 
                 mm 
                 1-2 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The integrally formed strap clip can be formed using heat-forming manufacturing techniques such as molding or by other known fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, stamping or cutting. In one preferred embodiment, the strap clip is 3D printed. The strap clip can be formed of various polymers or resins, and is preferably formed of recycled polyethylene terephthalate glycol, commonly known as PETG. The use of PETG is preferable due to its durability, its good formability for manufacturing and its cost-effectiveness. For example, the strap clip can alternatively be formed of beer filaments, recycled beer filaments, polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     The disclosed strap clip is intended to be used with any garment, such as bras, and bathing suit tops, having straps running up and over the shoulder of a wearer. The strap clip is attached to minimize the visibility of shoulder straps while wearing certain overgarments such as halter tops and from slipping down the wearer&#39;s shoulders.  FIG.  3    illustrates a user wearing a halter top with a conventional brassiere shown in  FIG.  1   , wherein the brassiere straps are highly visible and considered unsightly.  FIG.  4    illustrates a user wearing a halter top with a conventional brassiere with the disclosed strap clip attached to the shoulder straps as shown in  FIG.  2   . As can be seen in  FIG.  4   , when the strap clip is attached, the brassiere straps are noticeably less visible and are prevented from slipping down the user&#39;s shoulders. A further benefit of the use of the disclosed strap clip with a conventional brassiere is also providing further generally vertical support to the breast cups.  FIG.  5    illustrates a woman wearing a tank top with a brassiere without the use of the disclosed strap clip. Once the strap clip  10  is attached to the brassiere shoulder straps, the parallel gap of the straps narrows thereby increasing tension on the straps and providing further uplifting support to a wearer&#39;s breasts.  FIG.  6    illustrates a woman wearing a tank top with a brassiere wherein the disclosed strap clip is attached to the shoulder straps. When the strap clip is attached to the shoulder straps, the user can manually adjust the positioning of the strap clip on the shoulder straps, thereby changing strap configurations. As shown in  FIG.  13   , an embodiment of the disclosed strap clip  10  can be positioned on the brassiere shoulder straps above the strap sliders of the brassiere. The strap clip  10  can alternatively be positioned below the strap sliders depending on the user&#39;s preference, fit and comfort. 
     The configuration of the outer portion of the disclosed strap clip is not limited to the shape shown in  FIG.  1    and can be any closed curve. More specifically, the configuration of the outer portion of the strap clip can alternatively be generally circular, rectangular, flower-shaped or butterfly-shaped. When used with brassiere undergarments, it is sometimes preferable that the strap clip be as concealed as possible and not obtrusive to others. However, some users may wish to display the strap clip as a decorative accessory to. The disclosed garment clip can be also be used with swim suits having shoulder straps wherein the wearer attaches the garment clip to provide further support and provides a decorative accessory for the swim suit.