Patent Publication Number: US-7908677-B1

Title: Insert panel for pants

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an insert panel for pants, more specifically but not by way of limitation, an insert panel that functions to cover a gap in the front region of the pant created when a user can not fasten the top portion of the pant with the integrated fasteners of the pant as a result of the user&#39;s waist size exceeding the waist size of the pant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditional pants or jeans are manufactured in a plurality of sizes to accommodate a certain waist size of the wearer. Typically, the pants or jeans are manufactured in size intervals that can accommodate waist sizes within approximately an inch. During pregnancy, a woman&#39;s abdomen undergoes significant size changes. Inevitably, during the later trimester&#39;s, a woman will not be able to fit into a conventional jean or pant. 
     Inevitably the pregnant woman will need to acquire a new wardrobe in order to accommodate her body size during the latter phases of pregnancy. The pregnant women will not only need a different size pant or jean to accommodate their body changes during pregnancy but also to accommodate their body changes after birth while re-attaining their normal size. Currently, a woman must purchase specially designed pants or jeans once their body has changed size. Typically, these pants or jeans have an area that has been removed or is made of a different material from the rest of the garment in order to accommodate the extended abdomen region of the pregnant woman. These garments can be expensive and in addition they require a lengthy top so as to cover the upper area as it is manufactured from a different material than the rest of the garment. 
     Another issue with current maternity garments is that the material utilized to accommodate the abdomen region of the pregnant woman&#39;s body offers little support. The material is usually a different color than the rest of the jean or pant and is aesthetically unpleasing. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a pant insert that will allow a pregnant woman to utilize their current wardrobe that will provide a more cost effective solution than purchasing specialized pants. Additionally, the pant insert will be manufactured from a plurality of materials in order to allow the user to match the color and texture of her pant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a pant insert that will allow a pregnant woman to wear a traditional pant or jean. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pant insert that is the same color and material of the pant or jean to which it is releasably secured. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pant insert that will allow a pregnant woman to wear a traditional size pant or jean that has an expandable waist strap in order to accommodate the different sizes of the waist during the phases of pregnancy. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pant insert that has a removable main panel in order to allow the user to match the color and texture of jean or pant that she is wearing. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pant insert; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the waist strap; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a user wearing a pant insert. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein throughout the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a pant insert  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the pant insert  100  comprises a main panel  10  that is generally rectangular in shape. The main panel  10  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to cotton or polyester. The main panel  10  functions to cover the opening  90  created in the front region of a pair of pants when worn by a user that can not fasten the pant utilizing the fasteners integral to the pant due to the size of the waist of the user exceeding the size of the waist of the pant. Those skilled in the art should recognize that the main panel  10  could be manufactured in numerous different sizes and shapes in order to substantially cover the opening  90  on a pair of pants of a user. 
     Proximate the upper edge  15  of the main panel  10  is a slot  20 . The slot  20  functions to allow the main panel  10  to be releasably secured to the waist strap  25 . The slot  20  is manufactured to accommodate the waist strap  25  such that the waist strap  25  can be journaled through the slot  20  allowing the user to change the main panel  10  of the pant insert  100 . Subsequent, to being placed in position along the waist strap  25  the main panel  10  is releasably secured to the waist strap  25  utilizing suitable mechanical methods such as but not limited to buttons. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the slot  20  could be sized so as to accommodate waist straps  25  of a plurality of different widths. 
     When releasably secured to the waist strap  25 , the main panel  10  generally extends in a downward direction with the bottom edge  30  extending at least partially beyond the opening  90  in the frontal region of the pant being worn by the user. The opposing lateral edges  35 ,  40  of the main panel  10  extend laterally beyond the opening  90  in the frontal region of the pant. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the main panel  10  could be manufactured in numerous different colors and manufactured from numerous different materials in order for the user to be able to match the main panel  10  of the pant insert  100  to the pant that the user is wearing. 
     A waist strap  25  is releasably secured to the main panel  10 . The waist strap  25  is comprised of a body  45  that is generally elongated in shape and being of appropriate width such that the waist strap  25  can be journaled through the slot  20  of the main panel  10 . Furthermore, the waist strap  25  is manufactured such that it can be accommodated by a plurality of different size belt loops  92  integrally mounted on pants. The waist strap  25  is manufactured of a durable resilient material in order to allow a user to stretch the waist strap  25  around their waist and accommodate a plurality of waist sizes. The waist strap  25  functions to assist in supporting the pants on the user. The waist strap  25  further includes a first surface  75  and a second surface  77 . It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first surface  75  and second surface  77  could be manufactured in numerous different colors and textures such that the waist strap  25  could be reversibly mounted by the user. 
     The waist strap  25  has a first end  50  and a second end  55  that are distally located from each other. Proximate the first end  50  and the second end  55  are fasteners  60 . The fasteners  60  function to allow the user to releasably secure the first end  50  to the second end  55  once the user has circumvented the waist strap  25  around their waist while journaling the waist strap  25  through the belt loops  92  integrally mounted on the pant. Although no particular type of fastener  60  is required, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the fasteners  60  are manufactured from hook and loop material. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the waist strap  25  could be manufactured in numerous different sizes in order to accommodate a plurality of waist sizes. 
     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , proximate the lateral edge  40  integrally mounted with the waist strap  25  is a first aperture  65 . A conventional pair of pants or jeans typically has mounted thereon a button and mateable aperture utilized to secure the top portion the pant or jean to the user. When a user&#39;s waist exceeds the size of the waist of the pant, the integrated button and slot on the pant can no longer be utilized by the user to secure the top portion of the pant. The first aperture  65  is manufactured in a slot like configuration in order to receive therein a conventional button that is integrally mounted to most types of pants or jeans. 
     A second aperture  70  integrally mounted to the waist strap  25  proximate the lateral edge  35  of the main panel  10  is configured to engage with a conventional button of a pant or jean. Utilizing a first aperture  65  and a second aperture  70  on opposing sides of the main panel  10  allows the user to accommodate a button integrally mounted on the pant in opposing orientations. This configuration further allows the user to mount the waist strap  25  in a reverse orientation to display either the first surface  75  or second surface  77 . 
     Proximate the first aperture  65  is a first fastener  80 . The first fastener  80  is configured to be releasably secured to the conventional slot integrated into conventional pants. As previously mentioned herein, most pants have integrated thereon a button and a mateable slot in order to releasably secure the top portion of the pant to the user around the user&#39;s waist. Subsequent to the user&#39;s waist exceeding the waist size of the pant, such as during pregnancy, the first fastener  80  integrally mounted to the waist strap  25  will be utilized to releasably secure the mateable slot of the pant upon being proximate thereto. This allows the user to secure the pant around their waist without mateably connecting the fastening mechanism integrally mounted on the pant. 
     Integrally mounted on the waist strap  25  proximate the second aperture  70  is a second fastener  85 . The second fastener is configured to be releasably secured to a conventional slot located on the top portion of the pant integrated to mateably connect to an opposing button. The second fastener  80  further allows a user to secure the waist strap  25  to the pant on the opposing side of the opening  90 . While it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first and second aperture  65 ,  70  and the first and second fastener  80 ,  85  are mateable halves of conventional buttons configured to engage with conventional buttons and slots typically integrated into pants or jeans, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that there could exist numerous different configurations. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the waist strap  25  could have mounted thereon mateable portions of conventional snaps or hook and slide fasteners. It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that a plurality of different types and amounts of apertures  65 , 70  and/or fasteners  80 , 85  could be mounted along the waist strap  25  in order to accommodate a plurality of different fasteners utilized on conventional pants. 
     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a description of the operation is as follows. In use, a user will dress themselves in a pair of desired pants. Subsequent to dressing in the desired pants and being unable to fasten the top portion of the pants around their waist utilizing the integral fasteners of the pants the user will secure the pant insert  100  to the pant. The main panel  10  is secured to the waist strap  25  via the slot  20 . The first end  50  of the waist strap  25  is journaled through the belt loops  92  of the pant. The main panel  10  is positioned to substantially cover the opening  90  in the frontal region of the pant. The second end  55  is journaled through the belt loops  92  on the opposing side of the pant. The fasteners  60  on the first end  50  and second end  55  are releasably secured to each other proximate the middle of the user&#39;s back. The user then secures the proximate fastener integrally mounted to the pant to the opposing mateable first aperture  65  or first fastener  80  integrally mounted to the waist strap  25 . Following the securing of the waist strap  25  to one side of the top portion of the pant, the user then secures the opposing side of the top portion of the pant proximate the main panel  10  with the second aperture  70  or second fastener  85  utilizing the appropriate fastener integrally mounted to the pant. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.