Patent Publication Number: US-11039650-B1

Title: Elastic strap for apparel use

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements in wearing apparel, particularly in an improved strap, along with auxiliaries for use with the strap. 
     Women&#39;s apparel often has a strap that extends over the shoulder to hold up a bodice or other fabric that covers her torso, leaving the shoulders substantially exposed. Examples are bathing suits, tank tops, brassieres, slips and other garments. 
     It is common these days for bra straps to be allowed to be exposed in public, and it is desirable that the bra straps and other garment straps be decorative. However, it is also desirable if the exposed strap could be used in a functional way to provide versatility to a woman&#39;s garment selection. 
     Heretofore straps of these types have simply been relatively solid strips of fabric or other material that passes over the woman&#39;s shoulder to support and at least partially suspend the torso-covering-portion of the garment. Often there are strap length adjustments, but virtually no functional attributes for straps are known. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention fulfills one or more of these needs in the art by providing a garment with a strap including a garment portion to cover a part of a person&#39;s body and an elastic strap connected to the garment portion in at least two places, so that the garment portion and strap cooperate to hold the garment in place on a person wearing the garment. The strap has a length with a perforation positioned along the strap length. The elastic strap can be stretched to enlarge the perforation and thereby enable the insertion of a solid item that is tethered to an auxiliary into the enlarged perforation. When the stretch is released, the enlarged perforation resumes an unstretched size to retain the solid item and its tethered auxiliary attached to the strap. 
     The garment may be a brassiere, a bathing suit, a tank top, a gown, a slip, a corset, etc. The strap of the garment is not a belt or suspenders for a pair of trousers. 
     There may be a plurality of perforations at positions along the strap length. The strap may be braided of four strands, so the perforations in the strap are located in interstices, between the four strands. In such a four strand braid, the perforations are located with two strands on either side of the perforations. 
     The strap may include two parallel elastic strands encased in a fabric sheath, and the perforation is located in the fabric sheath, between the elastic strands. The strap may include two parallel elastic strands encased in a fabric sheath with a plurality of perforations located between the elastic strands in the fabric sheath at selected positions along the strap length. The strap preferably includes two parallel elastic strands, each elastic strand encased within separate fabric sheaths, the fabric sheaths connected in a fashion to leave a separating fabric web or joint between the sheaths providing a plurality of spaced apart perforations located between the fabric webs. In other embodiments, there can be more elastic strands, such as three or four. The perforations may be slits having a major axis and are preferably arrayed in the fabric sheath in a line substantially parallel with the major axes of the slits. The auxiliary may be a second garment having the solid item tethered to it. The second garment can be affixed to the first-mentioned garment by inserting a solid item tethered to the second item into the enlarged perforation of the elastic strap of the first garment. When the stretch of the perforation is released, the enlarged perforation resumes an unstretched size to retain the second garment attached to the first garment. 
     The strap may be solid stretchable plastic and the perforations may include slits in the strap. 
     The invention can also be considered as a method of combining an auxiliary with a garment includes providing a garment that has an elastic strap attached to it, so that the garment and strap can cooperate to hold the garment in place on a person wearing the garment. The strap has a length with a perforation positioned along the strap length. Tension is applied to stretch the strap to enlarge the perforation, and a solid item that is tethered to an auxiliary is inserted into the stretched perforation. Releasing the tension on the strap so the enlarged perforation resumes an unenlarged size retains the tethered solid item and its tethered auxiliary attached to the strap. 
     In some embodiments the strap is attached to a first garment and the auxiliary is a second garment, so the method attaches the second garment to the first garment. 
     Inserting may include selecting one of a plurality of perforations at positions along the strap length for insertion of the solid item. 
     If the strap is braided of four strands, inserting may include inserting into a perforation in the strap located at an interstice between the four strands. Inserting may include inserting in an interstice located with two strands on either side of the interstice. 
     If the strap includes parallel elastic strands encased in a fabric sheath, inserting may include inserting in a perforation located in the fabric sheath between the elastic strands. 
     If the strap is solid stretchable plastic, inserting may include inserting into slits in the strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by a reading of the Detailed Description of the Examples of the Invention along with a review of the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a woman (in phantom) wearing a garment with an exposed strap and attached auxiliary according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an auxiliary garment shirt, with beads allowing connection to the straps of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows a braided strap, with four strands suitable for use in the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows an alternate strap embodiment with an attached supplemental tether; 
         FIG. 4A  shows an alternate strap embodiment with an attached supplemental tether; 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment similar to  FIG. 4  with a varying tethered auxiliary connected with a bead; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of another strap embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  shows a strap similar to  FIG. 4 , but instead of only two elastic strands, there are four of them, each elastic strand being encased in its own fabric sheath as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 4A ; 
         FIG. 8  is the view showing the back of a woman (in phantom) wearing a brassiere having the braided straps and a covering attached to the bra straps; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the woman of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a woman (in phantom) wearing a brassiere having an alternate embodiment strap and the covering attached to the bra straps; 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of the woman of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the woman of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a woman (in phantom) wearing a garment  10  with an exposed strap  12  having an attached auxiliary  20 . The strap is braided with a four-strand braid (the pattern of the braid shows in  FIG. 3 ). The garment auxiliary  20  has beads  16 ,  18  sewn to it, typically with a relatively long thread attachment, so that the bead can move through the braid while still locally attached to the thread or tether and auxiliary  20 . The beads  16 ,  18  are shown passed through interstices of the strap  12 . By so attaching one end  12   a  of the strap  12  to the front of the garment  10  and the other end  12   b  to the rear of the garment  10 , the strap  12  passes over the woman&#39;s shoulder to hold the garment auxiliary  20  to her body. The garment  10  may be a brassiere, a bathing suit, a tank top, a gown, a slip, a corset, etc. The strap  12  is not a belt for the waist of a pair of trousers or suspenders for trousers. 
     In an alternative embodiment within the scope of the invention, however, the strap  12  can be sewn to the garment  10  in a relatively permanent fashion. Either way, the interstices of the strap become available for the attachment of various auxiliaries to supplement the garment  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an auxiliary garment such as a T-Shirt  20  having the shoulders and sleeves cut out of it with beads  22  and bars  32 , sewn to it at the top. Those beads and bars can be inserted in an opened part of the braid of the strap  12  of  FIG. 1 , so the shirt  20  can be used as a cover-up, useful when the garment is a bathing suit to which a woman wants to add a cover-up. 
     The array of beads  22  and bars  32  across the top of the auxiliary garment  20  shown in  FIG. 2  allow for selective positioning of the auxiliary garment  20  on the straps  12 . That is, not only can the user select which one of the beads or bars to insert to the right or left strap  12  of the garment  10  that is already in place, the wearer can also select where along the strap  12  to insert the bead  22  or bar  32 . This provides for variability in the amount of coverage provided by the garment  20 , as well as variability in the drape of the garment on the wearer to suit personal preferences. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show another way that the strap and auxiliary can cooperate to supplement a basic garment  10 . In this case, the garment  10  is a brassiere or a two-piece bathing suit top, with straps in accordance with the invention. The exemplary strap shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  is a three-strand braid, and S-hooks  422  are used to connect the auxiliary  420  to the strap at the wearer&#39;s front, providing a fabric cover-up for the basic garment. The S-hooks  422  can be placed at a wide range of possible locations on the strap, to position the auxiliary higher or lower on the strap, controlling the amount of cover-up and the drape of the auxiliary (in the case of the auxiliary having draping characteristics). If changes to the auxiliary&#39;s placement are desired, they can be readily accomplished by removing the S-hook from its strap location and relocating as desired. Alternatively, if it is desired to replace the auxiliary with another auxiliary, that can be done in similar fashion.  FIG. 8  shows that a sheer or thin auxiliary can be poked through the interstice of the strap (left strap of  FIG. 8 ) such that the auxiliary will go completely through the interstice from one side of the strap to the other side of the strap. Another option is connection with a selectively closable ring  522  (like a key ring) for the right strap of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the strap as a braid  30 , which can be a conventional braid with four strands. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the braid  30  has a metal crosspiece  32  inserted in it; the narrow strands  348  extending to the right in  FIG. 3  are tethered to the crosspiece  32  behind the strap and so become an auxiliary attached to the braid  30  when the crosspiece  32  is inserted in interstices of the braid. Various additional auxiliaries can be affixed to the strap using the structure of a bead, crosspiece or other solid item tethered to the auxiliary. Auxiliaries can be any of a variety of garments, decorative accessories or other items. Other forms of auxiliaries include scarves and decorative components such as ribbons, jewelry, bows, or perhaps even a corsage. The auxiliary is usually provided with a suitable tethered solid object to insert within the opening in the strap. 
       FIG. 4  shows the alternate embodiment strap  40  in greater detail from a perspective view. In this view of this embodiment, an elastic yarn  44  is seen slightly pulled from the body or sheath  42  of a strap  40 . Normally, the elastic yarn  44  is encased in the fabric sheath  42  as demonstrated in the sheath  42  therebeside, however yarn  44  is shown pulled out slightly in  FIG. 4  to illustrate the presence of the elastic yarn  44  from within its fabric sheath  42 . In the strap  40  shown in  FIG. 4 , there are two parallel yarns  44  each covered with a fabric sheath  42  in a fashion to leave a separating fabric web  43  between the sheaths  42 . Holes  46  are cut or otherwise formed in that fabric web  43  between the two parallel yarns  44  contained within sheaths  42 , making openings  46  in which solid items like beads  22  or crosspieces  32  (beads and crosspieces are not shown in this Figure) can be inserted so a tether  48  attached to the bead or crosspiece remains extending through the holes  46  or as seen in  FIG. 7  through holes  246 . Or as an alternate auxiliary, an additional strand can be passed through the openings, like the strand  48  shown coming up and over fabric webs  43  along the strap, in and out of holes  46 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , strand  48  starts underneath strap  40  and passes upward through a hole  46 , goes overtop a fabric web  43  and then passes down through a different hole  46  to continue underneath a different fabric web  43  whereby it then passes upward through another hole  46  and passes overtop another fabric web  43  and then continues downward through yet another hole  46  and is shown extending outward from underneath. As would be understood various other over and under configurations are possible, such as skipping one or two holes to create an aesthetically pleasing attachment. 
       FIG. 4A  presents an additional perspective view of the alternative embodiment strap  40  with certain elements further detailed. In this view, sheaths  42  are partially removed to reveal elastic yarns  44  that are otherwise encased therein. This embodiment of strap  40  illustrates the presence of parallel yarns  44  each encased within separate fabric sheaths  42  in a fashion to leave a separating fabric web or fabric joint  43  between the sheaths  42 . Holes, perforations, or other openings  46  are cut or otherwise formed in that fabric web  43  between the two parallel yarns  44  contained within sheaths  42 , making openings  46  in which solid items like beads  16  or crosspieces  32  (crosspieces are not shown in this Figure) can be inserted so a tether  48  attached to the bead or crosspiece remains extending through the holes  46  or as seen in  FIG. 7  through holes  246 . Or as an alternate auxiliary, an additional strand  48  can be passed through the openings  46 , like the strand  48  shown coming up and over fabric webs  43  along the strap  40 , in and out of holes  46 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , strand  48  with bead  16  connected thereto starts atop strap  40  and passes downward through a hole  46 , goes underneath a fabric web  43  and then passes upwards through a different hole  46  and is shown with bead  16  extending upward therefrom. As would be understood various other over and under configurations are possible, such as skipping one or two holes  46  to create an aesthetically pleasing attachment. 
       FIG. 5  shows a strap  140 , again of two elastic yarns each encased in a fabric sheath, and a hole  146  in the web between the elastic yarns. A bead  122  is shown tethered as at  147  to an auxiliary  148 . As a result the auxiliary  148  is attached to the strap  140  by the presence of the bead  122  tethered at  147  to the auxiliary  148 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a strap  240  similar to the strap shown in  FIG. 4 , except it has four elastic yarns  244  each encased in a fabric sheath  242 . Holes  246  are formed between the fabric sheaths  242 . The result is a plurality of elastic yarns  244  encased in fabric sheaths  242  which are fused or joined at various spaced locations forming fabric webs  243  between adjacent fabric sheaths  242 . Also visible in this figure is an exemplary use, including an S-hook  222  that passes through two of the holes  246  and has an attached auxiliary fabric  248 . Also visible in the figure is the use of a bead  223  with an attached tether  224  that has moved completely through two of the holes  246  of strap  240 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another strap of solid stretchable plastic, showing the elastic portion  302 . The strap is solid except where the slits  245  are cut completely through the thickness of the solid stretchable plastic without obstruction. Slits  245  in the strap result in stretchable plastic areas  241  therearound on either side of each slit so the slits  245  function just as the interstices and holes described above (referring to  FIG. 7 ), and the strap can be used in the same fashion. 
       FIG. 10  shows a side view of a women (in phantom) wearing a garment  10  with an alternate embodiment of exposed strap  40  having an attached auxiliary  20 . The strap  40 , is attached to the garment  10 , in the front at the site  12   a  and the other end of the strap  40  is attached to the rear of the garment  10  at the site  12   b , the strap  40  passes over the woman&#39;s shoulder and is adapted to cooperatively hold the garment  10  in place against her torso, all similar to that of strap  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 . The auxiliary garment  20  attaches to the strap  40  with a tether  48  and bead  16 . This tethered bead  16  is shown passed through openings  46  of strap  40  in  FIG. 10  and is also demonstrated in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 10  shows the strap  40  joined to a brassiere garment  10 . Instead of joining with a brassiere the strap  40  can be joined in the same manner with an alternate garment  10  such as a bathing suit, a tank top, a gown, a slip or a corset to function with the strap  40  to hold that garment in place against the woman&#39;s torso. 
       FIG. 11  demonstrates the strap  40  as presented in  FIG. 10  viewed from the back of a women (in phantom) wearing a garment  10 . As described above, strap  40  is attached to the garment  10  at opposing strap ends at attachment sites  12   a  and  12   b . Unlike  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  show that a sheer or thin auxiliary  20  can be poked completely through the interstice  46 , of the strap  40 , (back right strap of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ) such that the portion of auxiliary  20  will go completely through the opening  46  from one side of the strap  40  to the other side of the strap  40  and remain in place because of the tension applied from the pinching effect or tension of the elastic strands  44  and associated sheathes  42  on the auxiliary  20  threaded between the two sheathes  42  of the strap  40 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the attachment of the auxiliary garment  20  by virtue of passing tether  48  and bead  16  through one or more of the openings  46  defined between sheaths  42  containing elastic strands  44 . Also represented on a woman (in phantom) wearing a garment  10 , this front view demonstrates a bead  16  and associated tether  48  passing completely through the transverse opening  46  before exiting a different opening  46  defined in respective straps  40  as described above. 
     Without wishing to be bound to a particular theory, it is believed that the effectiveness of the invention works from the elasticity of the components of the strap, which under tension cause the openings, perforations, slits and interstices to close and pinch down around the tether of the beads or bars or other item which has previously been inserted through that opening. This adds friction to help retain the solid item and its tethered auxiliary in place. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , beads  16  and  18  are sewn to the auxiliary  20 . Each bead is passed through two aligned interstices of the strap  12  of  FIG. 1 , so that there are two such friction points on the tether of the bead to the strap  12 , providing additional assurance that the bead will not become dislodged from the strap. When it is desired to intentionally cause a separation, the tension on the strap can be released expanding the interstice and allowing withdrawal of the bead or other tethered solid item to allow the auxiliary to be separated from the strap. 
     Other forms of attachment to perforations in the strap can be used, in addition to the beads and bars shown previously. For example, as seen in  FIG. 4 , an alternative strand  48  can be inter-engaged by passing through various ones of the perforations, perhaps even knotting upon itself. Also within the scope of the invention are other solid items such as S hooks which are commonly used with conventional bra straps, hooks and eyes, buttons, and the like. 
     While a braid of an odd number of strands can be used, a four strand braid is preferred for some instances so that by inserting a solid object in a central interstice, the braid remains balanced. If it were inserted through one of the interstices of the three strand braid, the result would be still functionally acceptable, but not as aesthetically pleasing and may in fact be uncomfortable for the wearer. 
     When the auxiliary is another garment, additional ways to affix the garments together can be added as supplements, such as hook-and-loop connectors, snaps, button and button holes, zippers, etc. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been omitted for the sake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scope of the following claims. 
     The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.